Stakesarehigh
One day it will all make sense
I'm willing to say they weren't completely washed, but they were on their way out. Nobody at the time thought the Lakers were what they were in the 80's. It was seen as their last horrah. I don't think you were there and know what you're talking about. I think you're a newbie who is trying to put together things without context.
It was like the 1969 Celtics, except the Celtics actually beat a much better team (With Jerry West, Wilt, and Elgin Baylor), led by a guy (Bill Russell) who you discredit because you have no context of history, but I digress.
The Pistons swept the Lakers two years earlier even with Kareem, granted Magic was dinged up. Its already been pointed out to him that that group never won another playoff series after Magic retired. And even with that they're probably the best team Jordan faced in the finals. Maybe the Jazz. Either way his opponents in the finals are a major reason he went undefeated