BadBaronRudigor

I'd probably start Nick Anderson ahead of Mookie, Mookie and Timmy were both little guys under 6-1, as good defensively as Mookie was, they get overpowered. Mookie, Elliot and a reasonably healthy Pervis (well, he had one good year) would be my top 3 off the bench with Uncle Cliffy in for situational substitutions.

In terms of breakdowns it would be very interesting:

Inside play -- Daugherty and Kemp are both good scorers, Rodman and Vlade good defenders, Sabonis would play a role like Bill Walton did with the Celtics . Edge to 86 assuming everyone healthy (and Ellison is even more fragile than Sabos though 89 has MUCH better depth).

Wing/Point scoring -- Price and Person are great outside scorers, Harper was a nice slasher; similarly Hardaway and Rice were outside shooters, Nick Anderson the slasher/post up wing, Hornacek is the best bench scorer on either team. Edge to Price's 86 team, he and Hornacek were better shooters than Hardaway/Mookie and the wings are pretty close.

Playmaking -- Hardaway is the best playmaker on either team, Price and Hornacek (and Skiles) are the next two, the centers on both teams are excellent passers, particularly Sabonis. Edge 86.

Rebounding -- Rodman is clearly the big man here. Edge 86.

Defense -- Rodman and Mookie Blaylock are the stoppers. Vlade (the mad flopper) and Ellison were also good defenders whereas Daugherty and Sabonis were average. No one else stands out, maybe a slight edge to 89.

Depth -- There were two John Williamses that started in 86-87. Hot Rod Williams was a very solid big man for Cleveland, "Hot Plate" Williams was a talented 3-4 type forward for Washington who couldn't keep his weight under control but was a good young reserve during his early career. I had to look up Otis Smith, he was a G-F, pretty forgettable. Sabonis, Hot Rod, Curry or Drazen, Hornacek, and Skiles is a pretty nice bench (with the other John Williams and Newman at the 11-12 since there's no need for another pure shooter). The 89 team is deeper, particuarly in big men but doesn't have Sabonis's star power. I'd give the edge to 86.

Intangibles -- Rodman, Tarpley (if he is on the team which I wouldn't do personally), Hot Plate, Drazen . . . these are some serious flakes. Neither team has guys who were known for stepping up in the clutch (ok, Sabas and Drazen in Europe, Ellison in college). Slight edge to the team with less flakes, 89.

Still, overall, the 86 team has more star power and slight edges in most areas. Edge 86. Without Sabonis off the bench, I give it to 89 though, this was a close matchup.

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