The most popular NBA teams might reside in California and New York right now. After all, the amount of talent that has played for both cities is at an all-time high. Californian teams include the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers, specifically, have hosted some incredible players that were not all native to the iconic city of Los Angeles. In fact, there have been some elite Californian players that have played for a host of other franchises.
Meanwhile, as it pertains to New York, the Knicks and Nets are two teams in the Eastern Conference that have also had some success in their history. Specifically, some iconic native New Yorkers have found success in the NBA even if they did not actually play for the Knicks or Nets. An example of an iconic New Yorker is none other than Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time.
What if we took the five best players from California and New York and made them compete against each other in a seven-game series? We have already seen how New York Natives took on the Chicago Natives in a seven-game series, and it ended with Team New York getting the victory in six games. Could a matchup between the Californians and New Yorkers end up the same way?
Representing the California Natives are Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and Bill Walton. Clearly, this team combines elite offensive ability with a dominant center in Walton. For New York, Tiny Archibald and Michael Jordan form an iconic backcourt and the frontcourt of Julius Erving, Bernard King, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In a competitive 5-on-5 matchup between the best players in each city, here is the game analysis between the California Natives and New York Natives.
Russell Westbrook vs. Tiny Archibald
Russell Westbrook cherishes matchups against an elite guard and will be the attack-first player he has always been. Russ will play fast, creating shots for others but also turning the ball over as usual. The most athletic point guard ever, Russell Westbrook, will also create arguably the most exciting matchup in this series.
This matchup brings plenty of excitement, athleticism, and offensive firepower. Tiny Archibald tends to have a great series whenever he has a challenge and will likely continue to take his level up a notch against a former MVP in Westbrook. Archibald can attack the paint, shoot the jumper, and has plenty of playmaking ability to bring a ton of pressure at the point guard spot.
James Harden vs. Michael Jordan
James Harden will average a double-double in the series while being the primary scorer/playmaker throughout the series. The Beard does not need much space to get his shots off, and not even Jordan will stop him from averaging 22 PPG and 10 APG in the series. As the best pure point guard in the series, Harden will headline the offense in a very respectable fashion. But will it be enough to counter the GOAT?
It won’t be easy for The Beard. Michael Jordan tends to feast on other shooting guards who love to score and play little defense because he is simply the most unstoppable force in NBA history from the perimeter. The GOAT will lead all scorers in the series because Harden will have a lot of trouble defending Jordan. In critical moments, MJ will have the most success as the go-to player in the clutch.
Klay Thompson vs. Julius Erving
At the small forward position, Klay Thompson and Julius Erving will go head-to-head on both ends of the floor. Klay is an elite shooter but will have his hands full, helping Harden out with Jordan and Erving. When Klay gets a” break” from Jordan, he has to handle Julius Erving. Thompson will do an admirable job, limiting Erving to under 25 PPG in the series, but it will come at the expense of his own offense. Klay will average 17.0 PPG in the series, below his usual average.
Meanwhile, “Dr. J” Julius Erving can fly with the best of them and will be unstoppable on the fast break alongside Jordan and Westbrook. Creating some of the best plays in the series, Erving will also make a ton of highlights while putting up 22 PPG and 9.5 RPG. Defending Klay will be his priority, however, and he will do a great job limiting the sharpshooter’s looks as he posts 17.0 PPG in the series.
Kawhi Leonard vs. Bernard King
A two-way superstar, Kawhi Leonard will bring a focused style of play to the court every game in the series. The Claw does not need to force the offense either because he drops a cool 25.5 PPG in the series on 47% shooting. Defensively, Kawhi will have his hands full with Bernard King and will also tackle Jordan at times.
At the power forward position, Bernard King will be the perfect power forward alongside the dominant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. King will always be a force on the offensive end and will have a big series by averaging 21.0 PPG, albeit on 45% shooting. King will force the action in the post early and will try to use his size at 6’7” and athleticism to put as much pressure as possible on The Claw.
Bill Walton vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bill Walton will be critical for his team in the series at times because he has enough size and helps to stop Kareem from being efficient. A big man shooting a high percentage from the floor spells trouble, and Walton will see that early. The Hall of Famer will average a double-double with 11.0 PPG and 15.0 RPG, but his impact will be largely nullified by Kareem and his unstoppable sky hook shot.
At the center spot on the opposite end, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will have his hands full with his matchup. Walton is a very talented big man who can defend at a very high level, but he still won’t be able to stop Kareem from averaging 24 PPG on 55% shooting over the series. Abdul-Jabbar will also chip in 2 BPG and 5 APG, showcasing his all-around greatness. Overall, the big man matchup will be important, but all eyes will be on the superstar guards and forwards because of their scoring abilities.
California Natives Advantages
Team California has a roster built on speed, playmaking, and floor spacing. Russell Westbrook’s pace will give the team a boost early because he will act like a point-center on most occasions. Klay will aim to spread the floor as much as possible, keeping pressure from the perimeter as Harden and Russ attack the basket.
Leonard will also put pressure on New York’s defense by shooting outside shots, attacking the basket, and running on the break. With Bill Walton standing in the post as well, Russ and also James Harden will be excellent creators. Harden will try to put pressure on Jordan through his playmaking because that is an attribute that California will bring at an elite level.
New York Natives Advantages
Clearly, Team New York has the advantage of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan. The big man will dominate the series, using his skyhook shot on most occasions. With a dominant big man in the paint, New York can choose whether to play fast or dump it to Kareem in the half-court.
Not to mention, Michael Jordan might make New York unstoppable. The team already has plenty of firepower with Tiny Archibald, Julius Erving, and Bernard King, but Jordan provides the final touches to a legendary offense. Defensively, both Jordan and Kareem will also have a fantastic series, and they should dictate the outcome.
Who Wins A Best-Of-7 Series?
This series will come down to which players can make the right plays at the right times and also which team can get critical defensive stops. Other than Game 2, every game in the series will be close, with a four-point margin of victory on average.
Game 1 is a fast-paced game, resulting in both teams shooting close to 47% from the field. Russell Westbrook sets the tone early, dropping 12 points in the first quarter and ending the game with 24 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds. But New York counters with efficient shooting, as MJ drops 30 points on 55% shooting. Bernard King also chips in 26 points, including back-to-back jumpers to seal the deal for his side.
Game 2 goes to Team New York because Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar combine for a whopping 64 points on 52% shooting. The duo brings it on every level, from the paint and from mid-range. California find it difficult to slow down the stars when they got going, and Kareem chips in a game-high 18 rebounds to seal a 110-90 victory. With the series 2-0, California needs to respond via some elite offense.
Team California needs a response, and they get it through Harden and Leonard. The duo combines for 55 points and 13 assists, putting a ton of pressure on New York’s perimeter defense. The three-point shot is key, with each player draining four three-pointers apiece. The game is tied with a minute left, but a Kawhi Leonard corner three gives the team a lead that leads to a Harden steal and jam to cut the series lead to 2-1.
Game 4 goes to Team New York because there is no stopping Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the paint. The big man has his best performance in the series, dropping 37 points and 15 rebounds. There was little that Bill Walton could do because the sky hook is simply on point all game long. Other players have big performances, but this game is all about Kareem.
Team California gets out to a convincing 60-45 start at the end of the first half and has to survive a massive comeback by New York. Westbrook notches a triple-double, James Harden drops his series-high 32 points, and Kawhi hits a jumper with 30 seconds to give his team a 4-point lead with 10 seconds left. However, despite all this production, Michael Jordan is the difference-maker. The GOAT has 43 points in the game, including 15 in the fourth quarter. The game is tied 100-100, and Jordan scores the final eight points of the game. Jordan goes toe-to-toe with Harden, Leonard, and Thompson, but the shooting guard outscored them 8-2 over the final two minutes to seal a 4-1 series victory. Of course, Jordan ends up with the Finals MVP award.
