Round One begins
The Times has asked an online sports simulation site to run atournament involving the 12 greatest Lakers title teams of alltime, as selected by The Times.
The simulations were done by Imagine Sports, a SiliconValley-based Internet company developing multiplayer online sportssimulation games, including Total Hoops, an online basketball gamewhere users are the general managers of their own pro basketballfranchises and can draft or sign players from throughout thehistory of basketball, and Diamond Mind Online, an online baseballmanagement game licensed and promoted by MLB Advanced Media.
The top four seeded teams receive first-round byes.
And now, the first round results. Each series is best-of-seven,with the better seeded team receiving home court advantage:
Fifth-seeded 2000-01 Lakers vs. 12th-seeded 1953-54 MinneapolisLakers
The matchup: Minneapolis fans complained before thetournament began that none of the championship teams from theirarea received a first-round bye. In fact, the three Minneapolisteams in the tournament received the three worst seedings. But,will playing with a 24-second clock help or hurt the Minneapolisteams? Can Shaquille O’Neal play at 100% against George Mikan, acenter he has great respect for?
The results
Game 1: at 2000-01 Lakers 100, 1953-54 Lakers 96. High scorer: KobeBryant, 30
Game 2: at 2000-01 Lakers 93, 1953-54 Lakers 92. High scorer:Bryant, 29
Game 3: 2000-01 Lakers 101, at 1953-54 Lakers 77. High scorer:Bryant, 25
Game 4: 2000-01 Lakers 111, at 1953-54 Lakers 100. High scorer:Bryant, 39
2000-01 Lakers win series, 4-0.
The recap: The Kobe-Shaq Lakers were just too strong forMikan and crew. O’Neal averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds a game.Kobe Bryant averaged almost 31 points a game. Mikan and Jim Pollardled Minneapolis with 18 points per game each.
Series MVP: Kobe Bryant (30.8 points, five rebounds, fourassists per game)
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Sixth-seeded 1979-80 Lakers vs. 11th seeded 1952-53 MinneapolisLakers
The matchup: Another chance for a George Mikan team toadvance to the second round. They get the start of the ShowtimeLakers, with a rookie Magic Johnson bringing his enthusiasm to a
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar team.
The results
Game 1: at 1979-80 Lakers 97, 1952-53 Lakers 88. High scorer:George Mikan, 21
Game 2: at 1979-80 Lakers 109, 1952-53 Lakers 93. High scorer:Mikan, 23
Game 3: 1979-80 Lakers 119, at 1952-53 Lakers 102. High scorer:Norm Nixon, 28
Game 4: at 1952-53 Lakers 104, 1979-80 Lakers 103. High scorer: JimPollard, 31
Game 5: 1979-80 Lakers 99, at 1952-53 Lakers 94. High scorer:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 26
1979-80 Lakers win series, 4-1.
The recap: The lack of depth really hurts Minneapolis, asthey fade in every game. Abdul-Jabbar averages 23 points and ninerebounds a game. Magic averages eight assists a game, including 19in the Game 4 loss, and Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon score indouble figures in all five games. Mikan averages 20 points a gamein the loss.
Series MVP: Abdul-Jabbar (23 points, nine rebounds, fourblocks per game).
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Seventh-seeded 1981-82 Lakers vs. 10th seeded 1951-52Minneapolis Lakers
The matchup: The last chance for Minneapolis to save faceagainst the start of the Pat Riley era.
The results
Game 1: 1951-52 Lakers 103, at 1981-82 Lakers 74. High scorer:George Mikan, 27
Game 2: 1951-52 Lakers 104, at 1981-82 Lakers 102. High scorer:Mikan, 34
Game 3: at 1951-52 Lakers 95, 1981-82 Lakers 81. High scorer:Mikan, 20
Game 4: at 1951-52 Lakers 101, 1981-82 Lakers 82. High scorer: JimPollard, 26
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers win series, 4-0.
The recap: The Minneapolis squad wins Game 1 in a rout andnever looks back, using tough defense and a standout performancefrom Mikan to sweep the series.
Series MVP: Mikan (25.8 points, 12.5 rebounds per game).
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Eighth-seeded 1987-88 Lakers vs. Ninth-seeded 2001-02Lakers
The matchup: A marquee matchup between the Showtime Lakersand the Kobe-Shaq Lakers.
The results
Game 1: at 1987-88 Lakers 110, 2001-02 Lakers 98. High scorer: KobeBryant, 46
Game 2: 2001-02 Lakers 118, at 1987-88 Lakers 111. High scorer:Bryant, 41
Game 3: at 2001-02 Lakers 114, 1987-88 Lakers 110. High scorer:Bryant, 27
Game 4: 1987-88 Lakers 112, at 2001-02 Lakers 99. High scorer:Magic Johnson, 39
Game 5: at 2001-02 Lakers 106, 1987-88 Lakers 99. High scorer:Bryant, 33
Game 6: 2001-02 Lakers 98, at 1987-88 Lakers 91. High scorer:Bryant, James Worthy, 25
2001-02 Lakers win series, 4-2.
The recap: Kobe Bryant puts on a one-man show as anotherShowtime era team is eliminated.
Series MVP: Bryant (31.2 points per game).
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Up next: Round 2.
The matchups:
1971-72 Lakers vs. 2001-02 Lakers
1986-87 Lakers vs. 1951-52 Lakers
1999-2000 Lakers vs. 1979-80 Lakers
1984-85 Lakers vs. 2000-01 Lakers
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