If you had to narrow it down to one what-if per franchise, which one makes the cut?

I’ll give examples using the team I support (the Celtics):

Injuries - KG’s injury in 2009. The Celtics had a scorching start to the season, but lost in 7 to the Magic. KG’s absence let Dwight loose on the boards, & the next year when they did make the finals the Big Ticket had clearly lost a step.

Deaths - Len Bias in 1986. Red Auerbach had drafted a potentially transcendent player to back-up the greatest frontcourt in the history of professional basketball. Instead, a cocaine overdose killed him hours after being drafted No. 2.

Draft Picks - Kedrick Brown in 2001. Know who the Celtics had wanted to draft? Tony Parker. Unfortunately then-GM Chris Wallace was overruled by Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach.

Suspensions - Ime Udoka in 2022. Just months after taking the Celtics to the NBA finals, the former Spurs assistant was suspended for inappopriate relations with a female employee.

Made/missed shots - Artest’s 3-pointer in 2010. I will always believe we’d have stolen that game if Ron Artest Metta World Peace doesn’t drive that dagger through our hearts.

  • ActivBowser9177@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    There are some teams with interesting what-if’s.

    Houston Rockets: What if Yao Ming never had a king’s ransom of foot problems?

    Los Angeles Lakers: What if the Chris Paul trade wasn’t vetoed?

    Cleveland Cavaliers: What if Carlos Boozer never backed out of his verbal agreement to stay with the Cavaliers in 2004?

    Portland Trail Blazers: What if Arvydas Sabonis was able to join the Blazers in the mid-1980s and not in 1995?

    Dallas Mavericks: What if Steve Nash wasn’t lowballed by Mark Cuban and stayed with the Mavericks in 2004?

    Philadelphia 76ers: What if Kawhi never hit the the 4-bounce game-winner in 2019?

    Milwaukee Bucks: What if the Bucks traded Andrew Bogut for Stephen Curry in 2012?

    Chicago Bulls: What if Michael Jordan didn’t take a hiatus from basketball from 1993 to 1995?

    There’s likely a lot more what-if’s out there, but these aforementioned what if’s are what came to my mind as I was typing this.