Magic Johnson lost 4 Finals. One against Sub .500 Houston

[LAZERUSS]

Since you've never watched Moses Malone play, you may want to sit at the back of the class until you have.

Moses easily outplayed a near-prime KAJ in that series, and then two years later, he CRUSHED Kareem in the Finals.

[LAZERUSS]

Here is the REALITY of Magic's prime 12 years.

His team easily beat Philly in both '80 and '82, and he was their best player in both series (FMVP in both.)

In '81 he came back from missing half the season with an injury, and yes, he played poorly, albeit, with a 17-14-7 stat-line (yes, 13.7 rpg.) Furthermore, the first round was a best of three series. Keep in mind that Boston had to comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the Sixers (winning three straight games by the narrowest of margins) and then struggling with that same 40-42 Rockets team in the Finals. Given that LA easily dispatched the Sixers in both '80 and '82, I don't think there is any question that a fully healthy Magic would have led them to a title in '81.

In 82-83, and with Worthy missing the Finals, Philly swept LA, but the last three games were close losses. And again, Moses just mopped the floor with KAJ in that series. With a healthy Worthy... who knows?

In 83-84, "Tragic" put up a 17-8-13 .560 series in the Finals (and led LA in rebounding.) The Lakers easily won game one, and routed Boston by 33 points in game three. In game two, they had the lead, and the ball, with only a few seconds remaining. Instead of just handing the ball to Magic, Worthy's inbounds pass was stolen, and it led to a tying basket. Boston would eke out an OT win. In game four, the Lakers had a 5 point lead with 41 secs left. BOTH Magic and Worthy missed FTs in the last few seconds, and the game again went into OT, where Boston again won. So, LA was one pass away, and one made FT away, from SWEEPING Boston in the '84 Finals.

Magic and Kareem led the '85 Lakers to an easy title.

in '86, Magic played well against Houston, but Sampson neutralized KAJ, and Hakeem had a great series. Magic had a 22-8-16 .533 FG% series (yes, 16,2 apg.)

In '87, and with KAJ just a "third-wheel" now, the Lakers won a dominating world title. In the Finals, Magic put up a 26-8-13 .541 series, and oh BTW, was the leading scorer in that series. One of the greatest Finals prformances of all-time.

In the '88 Finals, and with KAJ just puking all over the floor in the playoffs and Finals, Magic put up a 21-6-13 .550 FG% series (and was defended by Rodman for much of it)...against the same Piston team that held a prime Bird to 19 ppg on a .351 FG% the series before...in leading LA to another title. Somehow Worthy beat Magic out for FMVP though.

In '89, Magic's Lakers came into the Finals on an 11-0 playoff run. However, they lost Byron Scott and his 20 ppg playoff average to an injury, and he missed the Finals. Magic would go down in game two, and with the score tied at the time. Detroit would sweep the series, but the last three games were very close. A healthy Magic and Scott, and who knows?

'90. The 63-19, without a retired KAJ, lose to the Suns in the second round. Magic can only put up a 30-6-12 series (yes, 30 ppg), including back-to-back "must-win" games of 43 points.

'91. Magic's last prime season. He drags an injury-plagued Laker team that is on a rapid decline, to a 58-24 record, which included a 4-2 series win over the 63-19 Blazers (and Magic with a 21-8-13 series), and then to the Finals, where a peak MJ and company beat LA, 4-1.

Magic retires, and the next two seasons LA goes 43-39 and 39-43.

FIVE titles in NINE Finals, in 12 seasons. And they were a couple of points away from SIX. And key injuries away from a title in '81, and possibly in '83 and '89...or NINE titles.

THAT was Magic's true IMPACT.

[Combat Wombat]

Thanks for both corrections.

Good job you dopey cunt.

[swagga]

Here is the REALITY of Magic's prime 12 years.

His team easily beat Philly in both '80 and '82, and he was their best player in both series (FMVP in both.)

In '81 he came back from missing half the season with an injury, and yes, he played poorly, albeit, with a 17-14-7 stat-line (yes, 13.7 rpg.) Furthermore, the first round was a best of three series. Keep in mind that Boston had to comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the Sixers (winning three straight games by the narrowest of margins) and then struggling with that same 40-42 Rockets team in the Finals. Given that LA easily dispatched the Sixers in both '80 and '82, I don't think there is any question that a fully healthy Magic would have led them to a title in '81.

In 82-83, and with Worthy missing the Finals, Philly swept LA, but the last three games were close losses. And again, Moses just mopped the floor with KAJ in that series. With a healthy Worthy... who knows?

In 83-84, "Tragic" put up a 17-8-13 .560 series in the Finals (and led LA in rebounding.) The Lakers easily won game one, and routed Boston by 33 points in game three. In game two, they had the lead, and the ball, with only a few seconds remaining. Instead of just handing the ball to Magic, Worthy's inbounds pass was stolen, and it led to a tying basket. Boston would eke out an OT win. In game four, the Lakers had a 5 point lead with 41 secs left. BOTH Magic and Worthy missed FTs in the last few seconds, and the game again went into OT, where Boston again won. So, LA was one pass away, and one made FT away, from SWEEPING Boston in the '84 Finals.

Magic and Kareem led the '85 Lakers to an easy title.

in '86, Magic played well against Houston, but Sampson neutralized KAJ, and Hakeem had a great series. Magic had a 22-8-16 .533 FG% series (yes, 16,2 apg.)

In '87, and with KAJ just a "third-wheel" now, the Lakers won a dominating world title. In the Finals, Magic put up a 26-8-13 .541 series, and oh BTW, was the leading scorer in that series. One of the greatest Finals prformances of all-time.

In the '88 Finals, and with KAJ just puking all over the floor in the playoffs and Finals, Magic put up a 21-6-13 .550 FG% series (and was defended by Rodman for much of it)...against the same Piston team that held a prime Bird to 19 ppg on a .351 FG% the series before...in leading LA to another title. Somehow Worthy beat Magic out for FMVP though.

In '89, Magic's Lakers came into the Finals on an 11-0 playoff run. However, they lost Byron Scott and his 20 ppg playoff average to an injury, and he missed the Finals. Magic would go down in game two, and with the score tied at the time. Detroit would sweep the series, but the last three games were very close. A healthy Magic and Scott, and who knows?

'90. The 63-19, without a retired KAJ, lose to the Suns in the second round. Magic can only put up a 30-6-12 series (yes, 30 ppg), including back-to-back "must-win" games of 43 points.

'91. Magic's last prime season. He drags an injury-plagued Laker team that is on a rapid decline, to a 58-24 record, which included a 4-2 series win over the 63-19 Blazers (and Magic with a 21-8-13 series), and then to the Finals, where a peak MJ and company beat LA, 4-1.

Magic retires, and the next two seasons LA goes 43-39 and 39-43.

FIVE titles in NINE Finals, in 12 seasons. And they were a couple of points away from SIX. And key injuries away from a title in '81, and possibly in '83 and '89...or NINE titles.

THAT was Magic's true IMPACT.

[swagga]

Magic isn't winning any rings in the 80's ECF with the Bulls roster. And he was retired by the start of the '92 season. He's not sniffing 5 rings, let alone winning 6 rings.

Bulls lucked out due to Magic's entitled cowardice.

We got the GOAT. Who then molded a young Scottie Pippen to his image, and became the best sidekick of all-time.

Then to add insult to injury, MJ curb stomped Magic and his Lakers in the Finals.

doe lay off the pipe, your boy MJ took it raw in the post. Poor phil had to put mvscottie on magic.

"The biggest decision of the game was putting Scottie Pippen on Magic Johnson, while Michael Jordan guarded Vlade Divac. This proved to be effective as Scottie Pippen stopped Magic from "going off" keeping him to only 14 points and 10 assists"

[jlip]

Here is the REALITY of Magic's prime 12 years.

His team easily beat Philly in both '80 and '82, and he was their best player in both series (FMVP in both.)

As much as a Magic fan as I am, he was not the best Laker player in the '80 Finals.