1998 vs. 1979 Draft Tournament 2nd Round

[RollWithEm]

The next draft class match-up is brought to you by the LaRue Martin Region. We have the team that knocked off McHale against the team that knocked off Shaq. Here’s the 1/5 Match-Up:

(1) 1998
Starters:
PG Mike Bibby
SG Vince Carter
SF Paul Pierce
PF Antawn Jamison
C Dirk Nowitzki
Bench:
F Rashard Lewis
G Larry Hughes
G Jason Williams
F Al Harrington
C Raef LaFrentz
Utility:
F Matt Harpring
G Ruben Patterson

VS

(5) 1979
Starters:
PG Magic Johnson
SG Sidney Moncrief
SF Jim Paxson
PF Calvin Natt
C Bill Laimbeer
Bench:
G Vinnie Johnson
C Bill Cartwright
F Cliff Robinson
F Dave Greenwood
G Johnny Moore
Utility:
C James Donaldson
G Allen Leavell

A team built to run is squaring off against a team led by Magic Johnson. Something’s gotta give. Who do you think would win?

[JerryWest]

98 hands down... the 1979 squad has Magic, but that's not enough. I'd probably start cliff robinson over Paxson but that's just me.

[VCHighFly]

Moncrief is the best defender but he couldnt stop Carter or Pierce if his lie depended on it. got 2 go 98.

[Dornado]

I'm going '79...

Magic is the best player on the court... Moncrief is a lockdown defender and competent offensively...

Cartwright (who was solid offensively for the Knicks) and Laimbeer would simply kill '98 on the boards and would likely control the paint over Nowitzki.

Plus, you've got the microwave giving your second unit a scoring kick...

[kflo]

Originally Posted by VCHighFly

Moncrief is the best defender but he couldnt stop Carter or Pierce if his lie depended on it. got 2 go 98.

why couldn't moncrief stop carter? pierce would probably be too big for moncrief and take him in the post, but carter's a perimeter guy, and moncrief would be all over him.

[BadBaronRudigor]

79 squad takes this pretty easily; 98's only shot is to get really hot from outside because the 79 squad has the better defenders (every position but Pierce . . . Jim Paxson in his prime was 10 times the player John Paxson was both offensively and defensively and should start for the outside shooting, with Magic and Moncrief as your backcourt, you are fine for size and rebounding), the better rebounding, the better bench, the best player, the more efficient scoring, and the more team oriented players (though no complaints about 98 there, it's just hard to beat Magic for creating a team ethos and you add his great and unselfish teammates and it's a slam dunk)

Easy win for 79,

[Krstic All-Star]

The difference is toughness. A number of guys on that '79 team were tough players. While the '98 team has athleticism to spare, and a fair number of multi-skilled players, getting laid on their behinds time and again would affect them, some in particular.

[jericho]

Some great matchups here. The '98 team is mega-talented, but I don't see them as a very cohesive bunch. By contrast, with Magic running the show the '79 team will be more than the sum of their parts. And Laimbeer and Natt will put serious bruises on their opponents. '79 gets the nod.

[RollWithEm]

I hate to be redundant, but I like the 1979 team on the basis of cohesiveness. This 5 seed has a legit shot of making it out of their part of the draw.

[PauloCatarino]

Originally Posted by BadBaronRudigor

79 squad takes this pretty easily; 98's only shot is to get really hot from outside because the 79 squad has the better defenders (every position but Pierce . . . Jim Paxson in his prime was 10 times the player John Paxson was both offensively and defensively and should start for the outside shooting, with Magic and Moncrief as your backcourt, you are fine for size and rebounding), the better rebounding, the better bench, the best player, the more efficient scoring, and the more team oriented players (though no complaints about 98 there, it's just hard to beat Magic for creating a team ethos and you add his great and unselfish teammates and it's a slam dunk)

Easy win for 79,

I agree.

And, for teh record, Bill Laimbeer would make Dirk his girlfriend all game long...