Comments on: NBA Fantasy Finals: ‘95 Magic vs. ‘08 Lakers

By: Andi

Andi — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:27:44 +0000

The ability of penny (in his prime) was a combination of michael jordan and magic johnson.

The young shaq was a monster that could break records.

Magic wins… no doubt!

By: svigi

svigi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:51:21 +0000

isotope says:
“Wait you guys talking about Fisher couldnt hold Penny. Who held him in 95? Kenny Smith? Really. Kenny and Cassell are THAT much better than Fisher/Farmer? Y’all funny.”

Actually they couldn’t guard Penny he was the only one who wasn’t hold by the rockets. Hakeem played with Shaq , Nick lost his confidence after the infamous freethrow accident,and Dennis was just tired overall.They were too young i guess and the Rockets wanted it better.Drexler and Olajuwon treated it like it was the last chance to win it all and they really fired up the team.In every game somebody else step up to Drexler and Hakeem.Cassel had a big game,Horry had big games,Elie and Kenny Smiths looked like they reborn and found some youth.Ok thats enough of the memories:P Magic in 5.Man it would be great to see this match happens.

By: Alex Akopyan

Alex Akopyan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:45:55 +0000

JEH says:

It’s easy to look @ the 95 Magic and think that young Shaq + Penny = Easy Win…but I tend to believe that the overall talent level of the NBA increase with every passing year. A 1995 NBA scrub would be a D league regular in 2009. Not to say that there wasn’t exceptional talent then…but my money would be on the 08 Lakers

Hey JEH. We’re not discussing a team from the 50s here. In 95′, the avg NBA height & weight was the same as what it is now (6′7, 225ibs). Here, we’re talking about a team from just this very past decade. There are many players that played in 95′ that are still in the league as players today. Penny Hardaway was just as athletic as Tracy McGrady (4.2 40 & 42in vertical). The 95′ Shaq was more of a physical specimen than any player in the NBA today. I don’t know that I quiet put the 95′ Penny on the level of 08′ Kobe, as Penny was only beginning to hit his prime at age 23 at that time. He was truly a magician with the ball; too bad we’ll never know just how truly great he would’ve become. Kobe Bryant is this decade’s version of Michael Jordan, and could single-handedly will his team to victory. The 95′ Magic may have had more firepower with Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott, Horace Grant, Donald Royal & Brian Shaw, but I think the 08′ Lakers just have too much depth on that great bench, are too clutch, plus Phil Jackson. I’m a diehard Magic fan, but I have to say Lakers in 6.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:35:47 +0000

I’m not including Bynum on that team. It’s not right. He didn’t play a minute in the playoffs, heck he didn’t even play a game with Pau Gasol. He needs to be left out.

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Sweep … Magic to sweep the Lakers.

There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that Pau Gasol could keep Shaquille O’Neal from scoring 40+ppg in that series. None. Pau is easily the most inept defender Shaq would have faced in the finals — at least for defending a 300lb mammoth like Shaquille which Pau simply cannot do.

Shaq would feast on the Lakers — 40+ points per game and 15+ rebounds.

By: dragonyeuw

dragonyeuw — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:29:08 +0000

Interesting series. The difference is Shaq. Kobe and a young Penny would be interesting, obviously Kobe has the edge but Penny in 95/96 weren’t a slouch. I say Magic in 6 with homecourt, or 7 without homecourt.

By: jay

jay — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:48:40 +0000

shaq would own the la front court! kobe vs penny would be sick..i would say kobe guards penny! if i am not mistaken…in 96 in the magic classic..kobe took the challenge of guaring kobe and went off from what i remember..sick match up!

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:49:40 +0000

no iso you are funny penny would have do whatever he wanted with those 2

By: Lakers Nation

Lakers Nation — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:08:24 +0000

Dwight is Shaq without the post moves . . stop the comparisons until Dwight gets a real offensive game!

By: AY

AY — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:10:24 +0000

why is bynum on that list? he didn’t play in the playoff last year. You take bynum out and stick odom in there, the lakers would be dead because gasol would have to guard shaq.

By: isotope

isotope — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:11:41 +0000

Wait you guys talking about Fisher couldnt hold Penny. Who held him in 95? Kenny Smith? Really. Kenny and Cassell are THAT much better than Fisher/Farmer? Y’all funny.