1998 Utah Jazz defeated the most talent ever to make a Finals

[3ball]

Hakeem Olajuwon got destroyed in 1st round.

Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Greg Popovich and their 56-win Spurs got destroyed in 5 games in the conference semifinals.

Shaq's most stacked team ever (4 All-Stars) were swept in the conference finals (the Jazz also defeated Shaq the prior year in 1997 - they owned Shaq).

Has anyone defeated three top 15 all-time players like that just to make a Finals (Hakeem, Duncan, Shaq)?

Btw, Utah was relatively unathletic at the center position, but Ostertag and the Jazz handled Shaq easily because they had a reputation of being one of the smartest teams in the league.. Smart teams have always exploited guys like Shaq who can't adjust and attack in different ways because their game is based mostly on athleticism..

The Jazz's victories over Shaq in 1997 and 1998 reminds me of how the relatively unathletic, but smart Spurs and Mavs routinely exploit the rigidity of Lebron-ball - unathletic, smart teams own Lebron, just like they do Shaq.

[dubeta]

They would've dismantled the Bulls in 6 if the refs officiated the series correctly.

[SouBeachTalents]

Here are some Finals runs that rival that

1967 76ers: Oscar, Russell, Hondo
1988 Pistons: Moses, Jordan, Pippen, Bird, McHale, Parish
1994 Rockets: Drexler, Barkley, Malone, Stockton
1995 Rockets: Malone, Stockton, Barkley, Robinson
2011 Mavs: Kobe, Gasol, Durant, Westbrook, Harden
2012 Thunder: Dirk, Kobe, Gasol, Duncan, Parker, Ginobili

[dubeta]

Even Jordan's navigational efficiency™ wouldn't be able to stop them in a fairly officiated series.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

All stars don't mean anything when they don't perform up to par. NVE, Jones and Kobe all respectively shit the bed against Utah; they were literally awful.

I agree that the Jazz circa '97 and 98 are underrated when it pertains to ATG teams, but you can do away with the hysterics.

[Eric Cartman]

Here are some Finals runs that rival

1988 Pistons: Moses, Jordan, Pippen, Bird, McHale, Parish

This one takes the cake imo.

[Lebron23]

OP needs to check his eyesight and memory. Hakeem was a shadow of his former self in the 1998 NBA Season. He just averaged 16.4 ppg on 48.3 FG%, and 9.8 rpg. The Rockets only won 41 games during that season.

[John Tesh]

They would've dismantled the Bulls in 6 if the refs officiated the series correctly.

Shut up.

[John Tesh]

Here are some Finals runs that rival that

1967 76ers: Oscar, Russell, Hondo
1988 Pistons: Moses, Jordan, Pippen, Bird, McHale, Parish
1994 Rockets: Drexler, Barkley, Malone, Stockton
1995 Rockets: Malone, Stockton, Barkley, Robinson
2011 Mavs: Kobe, Gasol, Durant, Westbrook, Harden
2012 Thunder: Dirk, Kobe, Gasol, Duncan, Parker, Ginobili

Stopped at the bold. Pointless to name big name players if were not even close to their prime.

[LAZERUSS]

Here are some Finals runs that rival that

1967 76ers: Oscar, Russell, Hondo
1988 Pistons: Moses, Jordan, Pippen, Bird, McHale, Parish
1994 Rockets: Drexler, Barkley, Malone, Stockton
1995 Rockets: Malone, Stockton, Barkley, Robinson
2011 Mavs: Kobe, Gasol, Durant, Westbrook, Harden
2012 Thunder: Dirk, Kobe, Gasol, Duncan, Parker, Ginobili

Oscar, Lucas, Russell, Sam Jones, Havlicek, Thurmond, and Barry, ALL in their PRIMES...as well as HOFers Satch Sanders, KC Jones, Baily Howell, and Wayne Embry...

all in all...ELEVEN HOFers...

[Lebron23]

Kobe Bryant only averaged 15.4 ppg during that season. A 26 yrs.old Shaq was the only consistent performer for the Lakers during that season.

Both Jones and Van Excel under performed in the playoffs.

[TheMarkMadsen]

2010: KD/WB/ Harden/Deron/Boozer/Milsap/Nash/Amare/KG/Ray/Rondo

[dubeta]

2010: KD/WB/ Harden/Deron/Boozer/Milsap/Nash/Amare/KG/Ray/Rondo

Yup, Gasol was historically great.

[ShawkFactory]

2001 lakers were better.

[r0drig0lac]

Pistons

/thread