NBA what ifs?

Some recent Detroit What Ifs

Pistons draft Carmello over Darko
Pistons don't trade Chauncey for Allen Iverson


If the Pistons draft Carmello, than you get Billups at the point, Rip at 2, Carmello at small forward, Elden Campbell at power forward, and Big Ben at center to start the season. Tayshaun Prince and Mehmet Okur would headline the bench. The big question for that season is whether or not they still trade for Sheed. It's also likely that the terms of the trade would be different. Whatever the case, Detroit is going to be better in the long term, but might take a chemistry hit in the short term. If Denver takes Darko, then they are screwed.

The second question has less important implications. Detroit is going to be better but not a title contender. Denver is going to take a hit and gets even less for Mello in the Knicks trade.
 
What if Agent Zero doesn't hurt his knee in 2007-2008?

What if Abe Pollin builds the Cap Centre in Chinatown?

What if Les Bullets don't draft that dude in the first round in 2001?

What if Chris Webber was carry H instead of weed?

Man what if?

Another Washington what if:

What if they would have come back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Detroit in three straight to win their 1988 first-round series?

Does Washington make a surprise run to the conference finals?

Do the 50-win Bulls go to the finals three years earlier?

Do the Celtics go back to the finals and lose to the Lakers for the third time in four years?

Do the Hawks finally make it?

Interesting, to be sure.
 
From a sheer amount of basketball talent that never got to display itself on the NBA floor, have to go with the death of Len Bias. He was a HUGE talent. Simply huge - Top 50 all time player talent, and probably in the top half of that. If he lived, Boston wins several more championships for Boston.

Would also have been interesting to see a David Thompson career unmarred by knee injury or substance abuse.
 
What happens with the Nets if Drazen Petrovic lives?

The Nets were two games better the season following his tragic and untimely death in summer 1993.

I remember seeing highlight reels of his play back when I was in high school (I never really followed basketball all that closely, but as a casual fan, I could appreciate talent when I saw it) and he had a sort of spark, that "It Factor" that makes a special player special. He was coming off back to back 20+ ppg seasons with .500+ FG% and was close to .45 from behind the arc.

With Draz still alive (and uninjured, let's say he doesn't get into the car accident at all) doubt they're signing Kevin Edwards, so where would the best place to spend their money to improve the team be?

Depending on who they bring in, with Michael Jordan heading into his brief "retirement" *COUGH*un-official, un-announced suspension for gambling*COUGH* could the Nets contend for the NBA title over the next two years? Or were the Knicks and Magic just too strong for them to overcome without a better draft in '93 (I think they should have dealt the picks, looking at where they were drafting and what was available.) and not much to build with in 1994 either.

Maybe deal their 1993 and 1994 first rounders to try and trade up in the 1993 draft (With the right package, there's always a chance to rob the Warriors at #3 and get Penny) or maybe make a play on FA market?
 
What if Reggie Miller hits that 20-footer in New York at the end of game 7 of the 1994 ECF?

What if the Pacers select Kobe Bryant instead of Erick Dampier?

What if Ron Artest doesn't go into the stands in Detroit in November 2004?
 
Stokes

What if Maurice Stokes doesn't have that fall in 1958?

What if the Royals are put into the Western Conference in 1962 or 63 when the Chicago Zephyrs moved to Baltimore and became the Bullets?

We could have had some epic finals struggles every year between Bill Russell and Maurice Stokes, and maybe one with Wilt and Stokes.

The Royals become more of an NBA power, and maybe they don't leave Cincy by the early-70's.

If they are still there, they are in the East, and their 02 matchup with the Lakers would have been in the NBA Finals.
 
1. Jerry Krause does NOT hire Tex Winter in 1985, therefore Phil Jackson does not implement the famous triangle offense.

What strategy in offense do the Bulls play?
Do the Bulls still win an NBA championship (if so how many?)

2. Jerry Krause gives Phil Jackson a new contract thus...Rodman, Longley, Jordan, Pippen don't leave the Bulls after 1997/98 how many more NBA titles do they win?
 
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