No Jordan, No Pistons, No Problem: A New NBA Power Rises 🏀🔥
We ended last season by crowning the Dallas Mavericks as first-time champions. In only their fourth season, Charles Barkley and John Stockton accomplished something they never had in real life. Now the question looms: Could they make it two in a row? Or will another team rise to take their crown?
Before we get there, everything starts — as always — with the draft. This was the first draft of the post-lottery era, where the worst team received the first pick. In real life, that honor would’ve gone to the Los Angeles Clippers, but in our timeline? It went to the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings selected Danny Manning at No. 1, while Rik Smits landed in Utah, forming what could be an elite frontcourt alongside David Robinson. Chris Morris headed to Indiana, and Mitch Richmond found his way to Seattle.
Cleveland continued building through new draft picks, adding Willie Anderson to join Ron Harper. With Larry Nance now surrounded by weapons, the Cavs look poised for a better future.
There were other picks too — some who won’t crack rotations just yet but are sure to matter down the line. And that’s just the beginning.
Moving to the East, the Atlanta Hawks (54–28) rose from the #2 seed last season to #1 this year. Adding Moses Malone to Brad Daugherty has fans calling them the new Twin Towers of the East.
At #2, the New York Knicks (45–37) secured the seed by winning the Atlantic Division, despite not having the second-best overall record. Patrick Ewing now has a second All-Star frontcourt partner in Roy Tarpley, strengthening their inside presence.
The Cleveland Cavaliers (52–30) come in as the #3 seed, holding the second-best record in the East. Larry Nance is now joined by two other All-Stars — Ron Harper and rookie Willie Anderson — giving Cleveland a formidable trio.
Rounding out the top four are the Milwaukee Bucks (44–38). John “Hot Plate” Williams, a passed draft pick, boosts the team’s depth. While Williams originally landed with the Bullets in real life, here in Milwaukee he provides valuable support to All-Star Terry Cummings.
Seeds five through eight include the Washington Bullets, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers. Two of these teams are loaded with playoff experience.
The Bullets feature key contributors from their alternate draft success — Alvin Robertson and Horace Grant — while the Celtics, champions only a couple years ago, endured a tough season with Larry Bird out most of the year, leaving Robert Parish and Kevin McHale to carry the load.
Out West, there was no debate about who ruled the regular season. The defending champion Dallas Mavericks (67–15) finished with the best record in the league. This also marks their third straight year as the #1 seed in the West.
With Charles Barkley, John Stockton, and Reggie Lewis, the Mavericks have assembled a juggernaut built almost entirely through the draft — and they enter the playoffs on a mission to repeat as champions.
The Portland Trail Blazers (56–26) claimed the No. 2 seed for the second straight year, marking their best season yet in this alternate history.
Led by Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Jerome Kersey, Portland boasts a balanced, tested squad that has reached the Western Conference Finals the last two seasons.
The San Antonio Spurs (51–31) are also enjoying their best year to date. Karl Malone is joined by past draft pick Ken Norman, who had an outstanding season, bolstering the Spurs’ frontcourt.
Rounding out the top four are the Phoenix Suns (49–33), a mix of youth and experience headlined by two All-Stars — Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers.
Seeds five through eight — the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and LA Lakers — bring a blend of pedigree and potential.
The Lakers, with their 1985 championship, and the Rockets, 1986 Finals participants, both have the experience for a deep playoff run. The Kings, meanwhile, make their playoff debut in this universe, capitalizing on the decline of franchises like the Jazz and Sonics.
Sacramento’s rise is largely due to others falling, but they’ve taken full advantage. The Nuggets continue to be playoff regulars — can they finally advance further this year?
Unlike real life, the 1989 playoffs in this timeline are missing the Sonics, Jazz, and Warriors. Xavier McDaniel thrives in Phoenix instead of Seattle. The Jazz, without Karl Malone (now in San Antonio) and John Stockton (Dallas), never find their footing. The Warriors, missing both Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond, lack the firepower to compete.
Meanwhile, Dallas, Sacramento, and San Antonio all built strong foundations through smart drafting — and now they’re reaping the rewards. With so many alternate paths colliding, the 1989 playoffs promise to be the most unpredictable and exciting yet.
🏀 Eastern Conference First Round – 1989 Alternate NBA Playoffs
The 1–8 matchup in the East pitted the Atlanta Hawks (54-28) against the Indiana Pacers (37–45). The Hawks were coming off their first Conference Finals appearance last year and were determined not only to return but to win it all.
Led by Dominique Wilkins and a confident roster, Atlanta believed they had what it took. The Pacers, meanwhile, were making just their second playoff appearance in this timeline.
Their previous run in 1986 ended in a sweep by the Bucks. This time, Indiana managed to grab a win in Game 3, but the Hawks quickly regained control and closed the series out in Game 4, winning 3-1.
The 2–7 series featured two playoff newcomers: the New York Knicks (45-37) and the Chicago Bulls (38–44). While the Bulls had debuted in last year’s playoffs, the Knicks were back after missing out the previous season.
Patrick Ewing finally had an all-star partner in Roy Tarpley, while Chicago leaned on the rising stars Chris Mullin and Scottie Pippen. The series went the full distance, culminating in a decisive Game 5 at Madison Square Garden where the Bulls prevailed. Mullin’s sharp shooting proved pivotal, leaving the Knicks to face tough questions after the hard-fought loss.
The 3–6 matchup featured the Cleveland Cavaliers facing the two-time champion Boston Celtics. These teams had met in the first year of our timeline as the 1 vs. 8 seed, with the Celtics taking that series 3-1.
However, without Larry Bird—“Larry Legend”—this Celtics team looked very different. Robert Parish put forth his best effort and even earned an All-Star nod, but the squad as a whole lacked the same firepower and cohesion.
On the other hand, the Cavaliers had transformed into a powerhouse, boasting three All-Stars in Larry Nance, Ron Harper, and rookie Willie Anderson.
This new-look Cavs team was starting to resemble the dominant Celtics squads of old. In this series, it was Cleveland that claimed the upper hand, taking the series 3-1.
Meanwhile, the 4–5 battle pitted the Milwaukee Bucks (44-38) against the Washington Bullets (39-43)—two teams that had made the playoffs every year of our timeline.
Both had also reached the Conference Finals once: the Bullets in 1986 and the Bucks in 1987. Notably, the Bucks had eliminated the Bullets in the first round during their Finals run year.
This series went the distance, with Alvin Robertson and the Bullets seeking revenge for that past defeat. However, the Bucks' combination of John “Hot Plate” Williams and All-Star Terry Cummings proved decisive, pushing Milwaukee to a narrow 3-2 series victory.
🏀 Western Conference First Round – 1989 Alternate NBA Playoffs
Out West, the first-round spotlight opened with a familiar clash — the Dallas Mavericks (67–15) against the LA Lakers (41–41). This marked their third playoff meeting, and Charles Barkley remained undefeated against Magic Johnson.
Magic had another solid season, but his supporting cast was aging, and the dominant presence of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was fading; in what would be his final season, Kareem had little impact.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks were only getting stronger. With three key players drafted by the team — including emerging third option Reggie Lewis — Dallas was a powerhouse.
The outcome was the same Dallas Wins: This time in a sweep! behind their star trio of Barkley, Stockton, and Lewis, with one clear goal in mind: to repeat as champions.
The 2–7 series pitted the Portland Trail Blazers (56–26), a deep and dynamic contender, against the Sacramento Kings (42–40), who were making their playoff debut in this alternate timeline.
The Kings had veteran leadership in Danny Ainge, bringing championship experience from his time with the Celtics, but it wasn’t enough. The Blazers simply had too much firepower and depth to overcome.
Portland’s trio of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Jerome Kersey made it look easy, handling the Kings in a convincing 3–1 series win. The Blazers have one thing on their minds — winning the NBA title. With two straight Conference Finals appearances behind them, they look ready to go further.
The 3–6 series was a matchup of contrasts: the San Antonio Spurs (49–33) were enjoying their best season yet, while the Houston Rockets (47–35) were trying to reclaim the magic of their 1986 Finals run.
Back then, Hakeem Olajuwon was a promising young center as part of the original Twin Towers. Now, he was the league MVP, but the rest of the roster hadn’t kept pace.
Still, Houston pushed the series to the limit, and in Game 5, Olajuwon took over. Karl Malone and the Spurs had no answer, and just like that, the Rockets pulled off the upset.
The final West matchup — 4 vs. 5 — brought together the Phoenix Suns (49–33) and the Denver Nuggets (48–34), two teams separated by just one regular season win.
Denver entered with their best record yet, led by the dynamic duo of Fat Lever and Alex English, bringing a new level of balance and consistency. But the Suns were evolving — and improving at the right time. Led by their All-Star pair, Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers, Phoenix looked like a team finding its identity just in time for a deep postseason run.
The series lived up to expectations, going five games. In front of a roaring home crowd, the Suns won Game 5 and advanced to the second round for the third time in our alternate history. The blend of youth and experience, led by Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers, proved just enough to outlast a strong Denver team.
🔁 Alternate Reality vs. Real Life – 1989
In the real 1989 playoffs, the Pistons, Knicks, Sonics, and Warriors all advanced out of the first round. But in this universe, it's a very different story.
In the East, only the Bucks and Bulls managed to match their real-life counterparts by advancing. The Pistons, who went on to win the title in reality, didn’t even qualify for the postseason here. Meanwhile, the Knicks, despite taking a step forward, were eliminated at home by Chicago.
Out West, only the Suns mirrored real life by winning their first-round matchup. The Sonics and Warriors, both second-round teams in 1989, missed the playoffs entirely in this timeline. And the Lakers, who advanced in real '89, fell to the Mavericks for a third straight time — once again proving unable to solve the Barkley-Stockton-led Dallas machine.
🏀 1989 Alternate NBA Playoffs – Conference Semifinals
The Eastern Conference Semifinals opened with a familiar postseason clash: the Atlanta Hawks (1) vs. the Milwaukee Bucks (4). These two had met three times before in our timeline, including twice in the Conference Semis, and both teams entered this series believing they could make a run to the Finals.
Milwaukee brought a balanced mix of youth and experience — with John "Hot Plate" Williams and Jay Humphries representing the youth, and Terry Cummings, Paul Pressey, and Jack Sikma providing veteran leadership.
The Hawks, built to win now, were determined to build on last year’s success, where they had finally broken through the Bucks to reach their first Conference Finals.
This time, the Bucks forced a Game 7, but Dominique Wilkins and company rose to the occasion. Fueled by the home crowd, Atlanta powered through the finale and returned to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The other East Semifinal featured two teams hungry for a breakthrough: the Cleveland Cavaliers (3) and the Chicago Bulls (7). Neither franchise had ever reached the Conference Finals in our timeline, and both were making their first-ever Semifinal appearance. But the Cavs were more than ready.
With a 3–1 lead heading into Game 5 at home, Cleveland’s trio of Larry Nance, Ron Harper, and rookie standout Willie Anderson got the job done.
While Harper and Anderson provided excellent support, it was Nance who stole the show, leading the Cavs to their first trip to the Conference Finals.
Out West, the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks (1) took on the Phoenix Suns (4) — a team making its third straight Semis appearance and hoping to break through to the next level. But Dallas had other plans.
The Mavericks spoiled the party, dispatching the Suns in six games. Charles Barkley, John Stockton, and Reggie Lewis once again proved too much, sending Dallas to their fourth straight Conference Final.
The final Semifinal out West was a rematch steeped in history — the Portland Trail Blazers (2) vs. the Houston Rockets (6). These two last met in the 1986 playoffs, when the Rockets advanced in five. But this time, the outcome wasn’t so simple.
With only Clyde Drexler and Sam Bowie remaining from that ’86 Blazers squad, Portland had evolved — deeper, stronger, and more poised. Yet the MVP-level dominance of Hakeem Olajuwon kept the Rockets alive, pushing the series to Game 7.
In the end, it was Portland who came out on top — feeding off their home crowd and showcasing the talents of Terry Porter and Jerome Kersey. The Blazers reached the Western Conference Finals for the third time in this alternate timeline.
🔁 Alternate Reality vs. Real Life (1989)
In actual history, the Pistons defeated the Bulls in the East, and the Suns fell to the Lakers in the West.
In this world? No Pistons. No Celtics. No Lakers.
Instead, it’s a fresh Final Four:
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Hawks vs. Cavaliers in the East
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Mavericks vs. Blazers in the West
Can the Mavericks repeat? Or will we see a new champ crowned?
🏆 1989 Conference Finals – Rewritten Rings Timeline
The Eastern Conference Finals gave us a clash between a team that had been knocking on the door and one making its breakthrough.
The Atlanta Hawks, now in their second consecutive Conference Finals, had just knocked out the Bucks. Many believed the road to the Finals was finally theirs.
But standing in their way were the Cleveland Cavaliers, making their first Eastern Finals appearance in this timeline. Though the Cavs lacked deep playoff experience as a unit, they had star power in Anderson, Harper, and Nance.
Meanwhile, the Hawks were fueled by rising superstar Brad Daugherty and the ever-explosive Dominique Wilkins — and they were determined to prove they were more than just a feel-good #1 seed story.
The series was a grind. Both teams had a mix of youth and veterans, but by Game 7, the wear and tear showed — especially among the older legs. Ultimately, homecourt made the difference.
In front of a roaring Atlanta crowd, the Hawks dug deep and closed it out. For the first time in this timeline, the Atlanta Hawks were Eastern Conference champions.
Meanwhile, in the West, the Dallas Mavericks — owners of the league’s best record and arguably the greatest roster in this alternate NBA universe — continued their march toward redemption.
Their opponent: the Portland Trail Blazers, a dangerous and talented group featuring Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Jerome Kersey. This was part III of a classic Western Conference rivalry. Could the Blazers finally break through?
Once again, Charles Barkley dominated, while John Stockton controlled the tempo and delivered in every clutch moment. Derek Harper added crucial support on both ends of the floor.
The Blazers pushed it to a Game 7 for the second straight year, but the Mavericks were too tough at home. Dallas returned to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive season.
🏆 1989 NBA Finals — Can Barkley, Stockton & the Mavericks Repeat?
The Dallas Mavericks had been nearly untouchable all season — finishing 67–15 in the regular season. After dropping just two games across the first two rounds, they showed a more human side in the Conference Finals, losing three to Portland.
Their opponent? The Atlanta Hawks, making their first-ever Finals appearance in this timeline. They had just defeated a talented Cavaliers team in seven games and were flying high behind the size and experience of Moses Malone, Brad Daugherty, and Dominique Wilkins.
Surely, this was where the magic ended for Atlanta.
On paper, the Hawks were a step down from Portland.
This had all the makings of a Dallas sweep… right?
Wrong.
The Eastern Twin Towers — Malone and Daugherty — made life miserable for Charles Barkley, dominating the glass and clogging the lane. The Hawks played smart, physical basketball and shocked the Mavericks by winning Game 5 at home, taking a 3–2 series lead back to Dallas.
Suddenly, the Mavericks’ dream season was on the brink of disaster.
But in Game 6, facing elimination, Dallas answered.
Reggie Lewis played his finest game of the postseason — not only defending Wilkins, but matching him shot for shot with 25 points. Derek Harper nailed the dagger late, helping the Mavericks pull away and force a decisive Game 7.
Game 7 was back in Dallas, and all the momentum belonged to the Mavericks. But even with the home crowd behind them, the Hawks’ size continued to frustrate Charles Barkley. Someone else needed to rise to the moment.
John Stockton and Derek Harper answered the call.
Both guards delivered monster performances, dictating the pace, making timely buckets, and locking in on defense. When the final buzzer sounded, the Mavericks had done it — back-to-back NBA champions.
They now sit tied with the Celtics for the most titles in this alternate timeline: two apiece.
Charles Barkley and John Stockton — two legends who never captured a title in real life — are now two-time NBA champions. In this world where Michael Jordan never entered the 1984 Draft, they've become the league’s most feared duo.
🔁 What Really Happened in 1989?
In our reality, the “Bad Boy” Pistons claimed their first championship, defeating a battered Lakers team in the Finals. But here? The Pistons didn’t even qualify for the postseason.
👀 Looking Ahead
The Dallas Mavericks sit atop the league. But can they stay there?
Young challengers like the Bulls, Suns, and Blazers are rising fast. And as we enter a new decade, the landscape is shifting.
Season 6 of Re↠Written Rings begins soon — and with Jordan still absent, the race for the throne is wide open.
Stay tuned.
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