💪 Beasts of the East: Ewing Arrives, 86 still belongs to...🏀

THE SUMMER THAT BROKE THE NBA

The 1987–88 season in the Re↠Written Rings universe did not begin on opening night—it began the moment the draft clock started. Because once David Robinson was selected #1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the entire league shifted. 

In this world, there was no military delay. The Admiral suited up immediately, and Cleveland didn’t just rebuild—they detonated the balance of power. 

The Cavs followed that historic pick by signing the biggest free agent on the market, Dominique Wilkins. The Admiral and the Human Highlight Film formed one of the most terrifying duos the league had ever seen, blending power, defense, and highlight-reel athleticism into an instant contender.

While Cleveland rose, a legend stepped away. Julius Erving retired after leading the 76ers to a championship the year before, leaving behind a throne no one could easily fill. 

But the 1987 draft made sure the future would not wait. Scottie Pippen joined the Utah Jazz, a franchise that only a few years ago had been in the Finals in this universe. 

Reggie Miller went #3 to the Nets, giving them a sharpshooting star, while Reggie Lewis followed at #4 to the Suns, creating a youth movement in Phoenix.  As their lineup featured many past draft picks

Then came one of the most ironic twists in league history. Horace Grant went #5 to the Bulls, so he still starts his career in Chicago, but instead of teaming with Jordan, he joined Patrick Ewing, forming a rugged, defense-first frontcourt. 

At #6, Kevin Johnson landed with the Seattle SuperSonics, joining Len Bias, who had been drafted the year before. Speed met power, and for the first time in this universe, Seattle had a real future to believe in.

The season itself delivered just as much chaos. Doc Rivers was traded to the Celtics, and by the All-Star break, Boston had surged back into first place. 

The Indiana Pacers, led by Chris Mullin, shocked the league by sitting atop the Central and claiming the #2 seed at midseason. The defending champion 76ers, now without Dr. J, fell to third, while the Washington Bullets, powered by John Stockton and Clyde Drexler, held the fourth seed, quietly becoming one of the most dangerous teams in the East.

Behind them, the Bucks sat in fifth, while the newly rebuilt Knicks climbed to sixth after signing Bill Laimbeer. Paired with Brad Daugherty and joined by Joe Dumars, New York suddenly looked like the Bad Boys of the East. 

The new-look Cavaliers landed at seventh, and a healthy Patrick Ewing carried Chicago into the final playoff spot. The mighty Pistons, who had ruled the Central for four straight seasons, were now on the outside looking in, leaving Isiah Thomas alone. With Wilkins gone, the Hawks collapsed to the bottom of the standings.

Out West, the defending conference champion Mavericks led the early charge, but the Lakers were right behind them. The Rockets followed in third with a terrifying lineup of Dell Curry, Larry Nance, Karl Malone, and Ralph Sampson. 

The Kings, led by Alvin Robertson, stayed steady at fourth, while Hakeem Olajuwon and the Clippers claimed fifth. The Nuggets, still driven by Alex English, sat sixth, the Warriors followed in seventh with Buck Williams, and for the first time in history, the Sonics were fighting for a playoff spot in eighth, led by Bias and rookie Kevin Johnson. 

Left behind were the Blazers, now in their second year after losing Drexler, and the Jazz, who found themselves dead last despite drafting Pippen.

When the season ended, history was made again. For the first time in this universe, Magic Johnson was not MVP. The honor went instead to Charles Barkley, last year’s Finals MVP, while David Robinson claimed Rookie of the Year. 

The Celtics finished first in the East, followed by the Bucks, 76ers, and Bullets. The Cavs surged to fifth, the Pacers fell to sixth, the Bulls rose to seventh, and the Pistons snuck in at eight, leaving the new look Knicks outside looking in. 

Out West, the Lakers finished first, barely edging the Mavericks, with the Rockets third. The Warriors stunned the league at fourth with a 42–40 record, while the Blazers, Kings, Clippers, and Sonics filled out the bracket—separated by only three games from fourth to eighth.

Order seemed restored.
But the playoffs were coming.
And in this universe—history is not only made, but rewritten.

NO MERCY: THE FIRST ROUND ERUPTS

The 1988 playoffs opened with a statement: this would not be a year of balance. Out of eight first-round series, four ended in sweeps, three finished in four games, and only one was pushed to the limit. From the very first tip, the message was clear—this postseason would be ruthless.

We begin in Indiana, where the league’s new king made his presence felt immediately. Charles Barkley, flanked by Moses Malone and the defending champion 76ers, overwhelmed the upstart Pacers in three swift games. Terry Cummings and Chris Mullin never found their footing. Experience crushed surprise, and the champs moved on without a scratch.

Next came one of the most anticipated matchups of the round: the new-look Cavaliers versus the Washington Bullets. Cleveland had David Robinson and Dominique Wilkins. 

Washington had something deeper—continuity, chemistry, and unfinished business. The Bullets had rebuilt a year earlier, adding Clyde Drexler and trading for rookie Arvydas Sabonis to pair with John Stockton. 

They had been one shot away from the Conference Finals the year before, losing in Game 7 to the eventual champions. This time, there would be no heartbreak. The Bullets didn’t just beat Cleveland—they swept them.

Sweeps were the theme, but survival still had its moments. The Detroit Pistons were on the brink of elimination when Isiah Thomas delivered one of the defining plays of the round—a last-second coast-to-coast layup that saved their season. 

The Kings were also seconds away from disaster, but like Detroit, they survived when the Rockets failed to get a shot off at the buzzer. Chaos spared them both—for now.

It did not spare the Portland Trail Blazers. They were swept by the rising Golden State Warriors, a team that had nearly eliminated the Lakers the year before. 

This marked Golden State’s first trip out of the first round since Year One, and the storyline was poetic. That season, Jim Paxson had carried Portland to the Conference Finals. Now, wearing Warrior colors, he helped eliminate his former team in three.

Another unexpected sweep came at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. A year removed from their first Conference Semifinals appearance, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Clippers believed they belonged. 

But in Game 3, down three, they suffered the same fate as the Rockets earlier—no shot at the buzzer. This time, there was no escape. The Clippers were gone.

The four-game series carried their own drama. In Chicago, the Bulls held a 2–1 edge over the Bucks and closed them out at home. For Milwaukee, it was a familiar nightmare—five straight first-round exits, four of them as the favorite. Two years earlier, Patrick Ewing and the Bulls had beaten them as a fifth seed. History repeated itself.

In Detroit, the magic finally ran out. There would be no more Isiah heroics as Larry Bird and the Celtics ended the Pistons’ season. Meanwhile, in Sacramento, the Rockets failed to close out the Kings in Game 4, forcing the only series to reach a decisive fifth game. 

Houston had never advanced out of the first round in this universe, while Alvin Robertson and the Kings had already been there twice since entering the league. Everything was on the line.

Before that Game 5 could tip, the Lakers eliminated the Sonics in four. After dropping Game 3 by nine, Los Angeles responded with a dominant blowout to move on. Seattle’s dream season ended, but their future was only beginning.

Back in Houston, the pressure was suffocating. One more early exit would cement the Rockets as the league’s greatest “what-if.” Instead, they exploded. Karl Malone nearly posted a triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists) as Houston finally broke the curse and advanced for the first time in this universe.

When the dust settled, the bracket looked nothing like real history. In the East, Boston and Chicago advanced in both worlds—but in this one, the Bulls were led by Ewing, not Jordan. 

In the West, the Lakers and Mavericks survived again, but here, Dallas was the defending conference champion. In reality, the Jazz reached the second round—yet in this universe, the men who would define them, Karl Malone and John Stockton, were starring elsewhere and still advancing. The Nuggets, Hawks, and Pistons advanced in real life, but in this world, star migrations rewrote their destinies.

The teams that remained were forged differently. The Warriors, powered by former Net star Buck Williams, were finally dangerous. And the 76ers, with Barkley and Moses Malone, boasted the most brutal frontcourt in basketball.

The first round didn’t just eliminate teams.
It erased expectations.

GIANTS FALL, NEW LEGENDS RISE

The Conference Semifinals proved what the first round had already warned: there would be no mercy. Of the four series, three were decided in five games, and the last stretched to six. Every matchup felt like a final, and by the end of the round, the league looked nothing like it had only weeks earlier.

We begin in Chicago, where the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers were once again staring at a potential sweep—this time against Patrick Ewing and the Bulls. 

Chicago refused to go quietly. Ewing delivered one of the greatest playoff performances in franchise history, scoring 39 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a dominant, 20-plus point victory. 

For one night, it felt like a turning point. But when the series returned to Philadelphia, reality struck back. The champions slammed the door. Charles Barkley, the league MVP, was unstoppable—38 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a statement closeout. The Sixers advanced, and Chicago was left wondering how close they truly were.

Out West, the Lakers found themselves one win away from eliminating the rising Warriors, holding a 3–1 advantage with the chance to close it out at home. 

Golden State had shown heart—stealing Game 3 and nearly taking Game 4, which they lost by just one point. But unlike last year, when the Lakers needed five games to survive, this time they left no doubt. 

Magic Johnson delivered a masterpiece: 34 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals, sealing the series with a 10-point victory. Showtime marched on.

Then came the series that changed everything.

The Washington Bullets had the mighty Boston Celtics on the brink, leading the series 3–1. Game 5 was in Boston—where dreams go to die. But instead of folding, Washington shocked the basketball world, winning by 12 on the road. 

For the first time in this universe, the Celtics failed to reach the Conference Finals. The warning signs had been there. The Bullets stole Game 1 in Boston. 

The Celtics barely survived Game 2. Then Washington returned home and delivered two blowout wins. By the time Game 5 tipped, Boston was already broken. Clyde Drexler poured in 30 points, and a dynasty crumbled.

The final semifinal saw the Rockets face the defending West champions, the Dallas Mavericks. Heading back to Houston with a 3–2 lead, the Rockets smelled history. 

And they seized it. Houston closed the series with an 11-point victory as Karl Malone erupted for 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. A team that had never escaped the first round was now headed to its first Conference Finals. The curse was gone. The dream was alive.

The stage was set.
New powers had risen.
And the old kings were finally bleeding.

Next up: the battle for the Finals.

GAME SEVENS AND BROKEN DYNASTIES

For the first time in the postseason, the Conference Finals became something entirely different. Where the earlier rounds showed no mercy, this stage demanded endurance. After four games, both series were tied 2–2, setting the stage for a pair of unforgettable showdowns.

In the East, the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers claimed a crucial Game 5 victory at home and traveled to Washington with a chance to close the door. 

But the Bullets refused to die. They responded with a seven-point win, forcing yet another Game 7 in Philadelphia, just like the year before. The tension was unbearable. Would the Bullets fall short again—or would history finally break?

Out West, the script repeated itself. The Lakers, like the Sixers, protected home court in Game 5 and went to Houston looking to end the series. And just like Washington, the Rockets answered with a seven-point victory to force a decisive Game 7. 

Ralph Sampson, towering over the moment, led the charge with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Two conferences. Two tied series. One fate left to decide.

Back in Philadelphia, there would be no last-second heartbreak this time—because the ending was far more shocking. The underdog Bullets didn’t just beat the champions—they crushed them, winning Game 7 by 24 points. 

Clyde Drexler poured in 31, but the soul of the victory belonged to John Stockton, who carved up the defense with 16 assists and 4 steals. Before Game 7, the home team had won every contest in the series. That streak ended with a roar. 

In the West, another blowout awaited—but this time, the home crowd got its moment. The Lakers dominated Game 7 by 20, powered by Magic Johnson’s triple-double (26 points, 13 rebounds, 18 assists). 

The series had been chaos: the Rockets stole the first two games in Los Angeles, then the Lakers returned the favor in Houston, winning Games 3 and 4 on the road. Nothing made sense—until it did. Showtime rose again.

The Lakers were headed to their third Finals in five years.
The Bullets were headed to their first since 1979, back when Wes Unseld ruled Washington.

This was not the Finals the world remembered. In reality, it was Lakers vs. Pistons. Here, the Lakers remained—but across from them stood something entirely new: John Stockton and Clyde Drexler, rewriting history together.

The stage was set.

THE IMPOSSIBLE COMEBACK?

The Finals were set.
The stage was bright.
And before anyone could even breathe—the Bullets were on the brink of being swept.

After three games, the Lakers led 3–0. It looked over. Yet every result hid a deeper truth—this series was razor thin. Los Angeles won Game 1 by three, Game 2 by one, and Game 3 in Washington by three. Three possessions. Three moments. Three swings away from a completely different story.

In Game 4, the Bullets finally found their answer, winning by eight behind Xavier McDaniel’s 22 points and 14 rebounds. The series shifted west for Game 5. In real life, this era used a 2–3–2 format—but in this universe, the Lakers returned home with a chance to raise the trophy in front of their fans, because of a 2k setting.

The Bullets stole Game 5 in Los Angeles by five, powered by John Stockton’s 26 points and 11 assists. The crowd went silent. The impossible suddenly felt possible. 

And back in Washington, the Bullets made it real. They won Game 6 by 14, the first true blowout of the series, as Clyde Drexler exploded for 37.

Down 3–0.
Now tied 3–3.

Only one game remained.

Last season, the 76ers became the first team in this universe to come back from 3–1 in the Finals—something real life wouldn’t see until 2016. Now, the Bullets stood on the edge of something that has never been done anywhere, at any level of playoff basketball.

On the road.
Under the brightest lights.
The Washington Bullets won by 23.

They didn’t survive.
They conquered.

Clyde Drexler led the way with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals.
John Stockton delivered another masterclass with 16 assists and 4 steals, and earning Finals MVP.  Together, they completed the first 3–0 comeback in Finals history—in this universe and beyond.

A story no one would believe.
A legacy no one could deny.

And with that, history shifted once again.

In real life, Magic Johnson won his fifth title in 1988.  Here, he remains stuck at three—because the rings he claimed were taken by the players history denied.

Charles Barkley, who retired ringless in reality, lifted the trophy in 1987.
Now, in 1988, John Stockton does the same—rewriting his destiny by denying Magic in the most dramatic way possible.

How can 2K top this?

Stay tuned.