1. I agree that the Magic wouldn't have beaten the Bulls. That Magic team was very talented which is the reason they would get so far. But the reason they would get far and then swept in later rounds is because they played off their talent alone. Unless they would have found a way to fix their weakness(which they weren't going to do under Brian Hill) they weren't going to beat the Bulls. Their biggest weakness being defense. Not to mention the Bulls were still a better rebounding team. As long as the Bulls could guard Shaq and Penny straight up like they did in 96 and neutralize the role players(like they were unable to in 95 because of the lack of interior defense) Bulls would still be able to handle the Magic. And even if Pippen wasn't 100% the Bulls still had Jordan and Harper to guard Penny.That Magic team had the same weakness as the Lakers when Shaq went over. And even though the Lakers were talented and had 4 all stars they still got swept by the Jazz because of their lack of defense. If that Lakers team couldn't beat the Jazz, Magic ain't beaten them either even if they find a way to get past the Bulls that is unless Chuck Daly finds away to fix their weakness. 2. I'm not sure how this video figures the Knicks still wouldn't pull the plug on Oakley and acquire Camby. No matter how you slice it that's just a better move regardless if Shaq is still in the East or not. 3. That Blazers team was always unstable. I don't think that team would have ever lasted long even if they did win a championship. They imploded in 01 because they didn't have strong leadership.

@@blueblur2273 Jordan was a good defender, but he wasn't the same after he came back from baseball. Those DPOY awards he won in the late-90's were fixed by his buddy Stern. Also, in 96, the Magic had Grant and some other players banged up. Also, I agree that Portland was unstable. However, with one title, I see them winning another before Sabonis retires in 2001. After that, things start going downhill. Honestly, in reality, they should have fired Whitsitt after being swept by LA in the 2001 first round and started over (within cap restrictions, of course).

@@jab1289 Doesn't matter if Jordan wasn't as good a defender that he use to be. He didn't need to be because the team was better defensively. They had 3 wing players in Harper, Jordan and Pippen that had length and could play lock down defense. As for the Magic the key player that was missing was Grant. Grant's presence could have possibly stopped them from getting swept but he wasn't gonna change the outcome of the series. And that's because with the addition of Rodman they didn't need to double Shaq anymore. So because they didn't have to double Shaq anymore it didn't leave the role players like Grant, Anderson and Scott wide open for shots. Bulls also got the better of them during the regular season with Grant in the lineup. So again Grant's not making a huge difference in this particular series outside of maybe a couple of games. As for a title giving them stability. I highly doubt that. One of the reasons for their instability was a guy like Rasheed Wallace who was notoriously hard to coach. What did winning a championship do for the Pistons stability? They had successful regular seasons yet always came up short because the team would implode. After Larry Brown left Detroit they hired Flip Sauders and even after their best regular season they turned on the coach in the post season. And that team had better leadership than the Blazers. So I don't see it. I also don't think they win in 2000 if they had to go up against a Penny and Shaq Magic in the Finals. Kobe didn't really hit Penny's level until 01. So if a lesser version of Kobe with Shaq could beat the Blazers than certainly prime Penny with Shaq could. We also can't forget the Lakers and what they would have turned into. West recently said he had a chance to get Tmac but didn't pull the trade because of Shaq(West didn't want to have too many young players on the team cause Shaq wanted to win now). With Shaq not there he probably makes that trade. Then if he gets a big guy to pair with them like maybe a Jermaine Oneal who wasn't being utilized by the Blazers at all and was eventually traded in the end, they could have a big 3 around to rule the West for years to come.

@@blueblur2273 Actually, the Bulls went 1-1 against the Magic early in the season without Shaq in the lineup. And, the Magic only lost by four to Chicago in April with Shaq only playing 33 minutes and not there at the start. Also, I didn't say that a title would make the Blazers magically stable. However, it would help some. And, I don't see the Blazers trading Jermaine O'Neal to the Lakers.

@@jab1289 Magic played the Bulls 4 times that year. They only beat the Bulls once. The one time they did beat the Bulls was early in the season where you conveniently left out that *Rodman didn't play* plus Bulls were still figuring out their chemistry and MJ was still working out his new style of play(which was basically playing in the post more). Shaq and Grant were both present for 2 games against the Bulls that season. You mentioned the game where Shaq came back in the *2nd qtr* (so not that big a deal) to play but once again conveniently left out the game in February where Shaq and Grant played the entire game against the Bulls and got blown out. As for the Blazers, they ultimately ended up trading O'neal for Dale Davis. He was unhappy during his time there because the coach didn't trust a high school kid and wasn't playing him. West could have easily gotten to his agent(which West did a similar thing with Shaq to get him in L.A. during free agency) and convince his agent to get Oneal to ask for a trade so they could get him to L.A.(which O'neal ultimately ended up doing to go to the Pacers). Lakers had a lot of talent they could have sent the Blazers way for O'neal. And history shows when the Lakers want someone bad enough they *usually* always get their way. From Kareem to Shaq to Kobe to LBJ and Anthony Davis. On top of that West is a genius when it comes to building teams. If he can't get O'neal he is definitely going to find another big man to bring there. I believe Webber was unhappy in Washington around that time too.

Crazy coincidence

FACT.💯

Appreciate it man

The NBA Draft usually happens before free agency plus Kobe Bryant was one of the pitches Jerry West used to recruit Shaq to LA

@@hendoghoops9034 but then how will the Lakers do without a true center, cause they will not just trade away Vlade if they know they cannot get Shaq?

@@khaitranngoc4176 Yeah, and I think they traded Divac in part to clear cap room for Shaq.

@@khaitranngoc4176 Jerry West would have still traded for Kobe Bryant. He fell in love with Kobe and thought he was gonna be an all-time great. He would have still traded Divac for Kobe because he thought Kobe was gonna be big time. That Lakers team had tons of talent so if West wouldn't have been able to get Shaq he would have found a way to get another big man there. Considering Jermaine O'neal wasn't getting much playing time with the Blazers I can see West trying to get him over via trade. West recently said he wanted to bring Tmac to the Lakers but ultimately decided not to because it would make the team too young and Shaq wanted to win now. Well if Shaq isn't there then Tmac makes sense and if he gets that done then the Lakers have an incredible big 3 for years to come. As for the coaching I still think everything remains the same and Phil takes over in 00

Korzemba was a huge influence for me when I made this video

@@hendoghoops9034 yea I really loved when he did videos like this I hope you keep doing these I’ll watch everyone of them maybe a couple of times

Thanks man! I really appreciate you checking out my content and showing support.

Thank you

If he wins a ring man that would be amazing

Him, Chris Paul, Kawhi and KD all have a case

It would be impossible given the overlapping timelines but the Magic have fumbled the bag multiple times since the 90s

I did not know of that stipulation regarding the Rockets 2021 1st round pick. Definitely makes the trade better for the Rockets. If 2023 becomes the year high school kids come to the draft, the Rockets can end up winning this trade in the end.

I want whatever you’re smoking.

Needs to change expeditiously

I mean 5 MVPs and 6 rings is a good resume but to each their own

Just playing but yeah I respect your opinion

I like the new instrumental for this video, and the overall scenario you presented