Who was hurt more?

[Reality]

In a playoff year that saw injuries determine a lot, which team do you think was adversely effected the most?

MN:  Cassell and THud

Lakers: Malone

Indy J Oneal and Game 6 Artest

Myself I think MN was.  Your backcourt who is proven in playoffs past.

Haterz I do think its board consensus and I agree that Malone played his role perfectly for the Lakers, the missing "glue".

[Joe Vancil]

This is a tough call, because Minnesota has its first and second point guards out, but Los Angeles has its first and second power forwards out (don't forget about Horace Grant).  Given the fact that LA's biggest weakness has always been power forward, and Laker dominance has generally been because of dominating rebounding, LA is really hurting.

Minnesota at least had a former NBA starter as a replacement point guard in Darrick Martin.  Granted, that's not a lot, but I think it's better than Medvedenko and Cook.

 

[spursfan101]

Indy took the biggest hit. B)  

[ziggy]

Considering the Lakers record with a healthy Malone, and with a hurting Malone, losing him is the biggest impact.  When he was on the floor playing well, and healthy, the Lakers were easily the best team in the league.

[ziggy]

Considering the Lakers record with a healthy Malone, and with a hurting Malone, losing him is the biggest impact.  When he was on the floor playing well, and healthy, the Lakers were easily the best team in the league.

[Reality]

zig we heard you the 1st time.   B)

Malone played his role perfectly.  But besides rebounds, timely shots and cheapshots it was Malones attitude of inspiring the Oversized Aristotle that seemed to big one of his biggest contributions.  

However, his 39 game absense also had long stretches of no Kobe and no Shaq.  Also Game one Detroit he was not hurt.  

JV you will no doubt end up being right about THud-Cassell, however did not MN play those two at the same time very often?  Its all "what if" but MNs chance looked much better with those two in.

Even so.  All hail Detroit.[/size]