- Tyronn Lue has the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers as the best team ever
- The 2001 Lakers went 15-1 in the postseason
- Their only playoff loss came in overtime in Game 1 of the Finals
The 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers are always in the conversation when talking about the greatest teams of all time. Led by Shaquille O’Neal in his prime and an ascending Kobe Bryant, the Lakers romped to the title in dominant fashion.
Current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was a part of that team, and he believes they are the greatest ever.
“Nobody could beat that team.”
Ty Lue calls the 2001 Lakers team the best ever 🔥
(via All The Smoke Podcast, @shobasketball) pic.twitter.com/iRajg9kBQj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 28, 2023
The Lakers were only 56-26 in the regular season and had the second-best record in the Western Conference, but they went up a gear in the playoffs. They first swept the Portland Trail Blazers and then the Sacramento Kings to set up what seemed like a heavyweight clash against the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs.
The Lakers crushed the Spurs, however, as they swept them as well to enter the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers with an 11-0 record. They shockingly then lost Game 1 at home but went on to win the next four games to finish the playoffs with a 15-1 record.
O’Neal and Bryant were simply phenomenal in those playoffs. Shaq averaged 30.4 PPG, 15.4 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.4 SPG, and 2.2 BPG, while Kobe put up 29.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 0.8 BPG. O’Neal recently claimed he and Kobe are the greatest duo ever, and this season would certainly support his case. The two would lead the Lakers to another title the following season to complete a historic three-peat.
The 2001 Lakers Or The 2017 Warriors?
The 2001 Lakers had the title of the team with the best postseason record for a while, until the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors went 16-1. The two teams have been compared to each other since then, and their contrasting styles make it quite an interesting debate.
Stephen Curry claimed the Warriors would win because of the Splash Brothers and the fact that three is better than two. Shaq responded to those comments by stating he’d score 60 points against them without free throws every game if they didn’t double him.
As for who we’d have coming out on top, it would just about be the Lakers in seven games.
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