These sorts of threads are fairly common, but I spent a very long time mullin over who would make my all time 5, and was very pleased with the team I came out with. It's a team that neglects some of the obvious, hugely visible NBA stars (Michael Jordan, notably), in favor of the style of play that I'd want to put together presuming I wanted to run a team that would be guaranteed to perform every night, and likely win every night. Important to note that for the purposes of this excercise, I'm presuming perfect health on the part of all the players. PG Baron Davis - He makes the team by virtue of being a complete point guard. Lost in the flash and glitz of Baron's game are all the things he brings fundamentally; he's an excellent passer, creates his own shot, and is unselfish with the ball. He's an expert at appreciating when he's needed to score and when he's needed to pass, and perhaps most importantly, he's a physical specimen at 6'3 and 205 lbs. capable of locking down any other point guard at any given time. SG Reggie Miller - Miller makes the team as, in my mind, the most underrated guard of all time. In addition to being the NBA's leader in three point field goals, he's underratedly athletic, an irritant on defense, a constant mover without the ball, has stamina for ages, and is automatic from the line. Throw in his clutch abilities, and it's a solid pick. SF Larry Bird - I doubt I'd get many arguments on this selection, but for the sake of discussion, Bird is certainly the best passing small forward of all time, one of the best rebounding small forwards, and the greatest shooting small forward (although in a set shooting contest with no defense, I'd be intrigued to match him against Chris Mullin), which, to my mind, makes him the greatest small forward. PF Charles Barkley - Thanks in large part to Barkley's boisterous personality, people seem to forget what an absolute beast he was, in addition to what a physical abnormality. Able to run, dribble, shoot, and most of all rebound, Barkley holds down the 4 spot. C Hakeem Olajuwon - To my mind, the most athletic center to play in the NBA, and also the smartest. Every move Olajuwon made on a basketball court was a conscious, tactical one, every one designed to create an advatage for his team, whether noticable or not. Hakeem's defense, "dream shake," and rebounding prowess rounds out my top 5. --- Anybody else have a dream team they've thought about?
yeah. my team would be: Hakeem Olajuwon (lean and mean center) Steve Nash (arguably the best point guard since Isaiah or John Stockton, yep i put him slightly above Gary Payton and J Kidd because of his passing and PG is a passing position) Allen Iverson (still the best SG in the league i reckon, yep, better than DWade and Kobe - AI got to the finals, Wade and Kobe both had the Diesel) Tracy McGrady (most fun to watch SF of alltime!) Kevin Garnett (most talented 4 i've seen) that'd be fun to watch
This could go on forever and I could list so many combinations of "All Time Starting 5's" that even my head starts to hurt!!! For the sake of it though, I have put together a relaible, skilled and highly entertaining starting five. Based on past performance and future (projected) ability here is my 5: PG - Allen Iverson (I know he is technically a SG but not in this team. Plus he has played the point for a long time and knows the game.) SG - Michael Jordan (No reason needed. The best ever.) SF - LeBron James (Amazing athlete, team player, excitement machine) PF - Dwight Howard (Most will scoff at this but I think he has the tools, the drive and has shown enough skill, work ethic and determination to be the best PF of all time) C - Amare Stoudemire (Not as tall as some but super athletic. Will finish his career as one of the best to play this game. Still has many years left in him and still improving, still learning.) This would be one wicked line up and I know I have left out a million people for a million reasons, but this is the best I have right now!!!
Some weird choices up there so far. I'll follow the trend and be "creative" PG- Kidd SG- Jordan SF- KG PF- Rodman C- Shaq
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll follow the trend and be "creative"</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PG- Kidd</div> That my friend, isn't creative, it's a known fact.
<div class="quote_poster">Kidd Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That my friend, isn't creative, it's a known fact.</div> Lol, i meant overall. And it is debatable with Kidd. He is definitely top 5. I mostly meant creative with my KG at the 3 and Rodman choices. But if i just want the best 5 players it'd be a little different. I just my 5 guys would play really well together. Shaq and Jordan get all there shots and KG doesn't mind picking up the leftover junk. Kidd and Rodman don't demand the ball at all so it's great.
PG- Magic Johnson SG- Michael Jordan SF- Scottie Pippen PF- Tim Duncan C- Hakeem Olajuwan That team isn't missing anything, it has both post/perimiter scoring and defense. Tough rebounders and not too demanding scorers other than Jordan.
^replace Pippen with Bird and you have yourself an all-time starting five. Most of you are a bunch of homer hahaha.
<div class="quote_poster">kobe4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^replace Pippen with Bird and you have yourself an all-time starting five. Most of you are a bunch of homer hahaha.</div> I don't like the idea of putting Jordan and Bird on the same squad. First of all Jordan and Pippen played much of their career's together, they know how to compliment each other. Also, Bird is most effective when he gets a ton of shots, if you have Bird and Jordan on the same team it could potentially turn into a messy offense.
^Oh? So we're creating the best starting five which include chemistry? I thought it's the best ALL-TIME starting five, which I would include best player at each position. But then again, you have no outside shooter on your lineup. I would've put Bird or Reggie Miller at the SF position to spread the floor. And then replace Magic with John Stockton, a better defender at the 1 than Magic. Any defensive deficiency can be make up with a Hakeem and Duncan on the inside. Actually I would also replace Duncan with Rodman, a better low post defender who does the dirty work like cleaning up the rebound, taking charge, etc... You can't have two great low post players on the same court, it creates a lot of confusion. Nevermind me about John Stockton, Magic can run the point. With Bird or Reggie Miller, you don't need Stockton outside shooting. So my official lineup includes chemistry issue. pg: magic sg: jordan sf: bird pf: rodman c: hakeem
<div class="quote_poster">kobe4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^Oh? So we're creating the best starting five which include chemistry? I thought it's the best ALL-TIME starting five, which I would include best player at each position. </div> This is a team that would win the most games not neccesarily look the best on paper. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> But then again, you have no outside shooter on your lineup. I would've put Bird or Reggie Miller at the SF position to spread the floor. And then replace Magic with John Stockton, a better defender at the 1 than Magic. Any defensive deficiency can be make up with a Hakeem and Duncan on the inside.</div> Alot of great franchises stack three piont shooters as role-players. That way Jordan, Pippen, Duncan, Olajuwan, or Magic can create an easy shot for a bench player who will then knock down the rythem three pointer.
PG: Kidd SG: Jordan/KB SF: Pippen PF: Tim Duncan C: ShaQ You cant go wrong with alot of these players top noch
<div class="quote_poster">GArenas Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This is a team that would win the most games not neccesarily look the best on paper. Alot of great franchises stack three piont shooters as role-players. That way Jordan, Pippen, Duncan, Olajuwan, or Magic can create an easy shot for a bench player who will then knock down the rythem three pointer.</div> Uhhh you sort of expanding this 5 men roster into a 12 men roster. BTW, okay you can have that starting five, but let me counterattack you with my own starting five. pg: Oscar sg: Kobe sf: Bird pf: Russel c: Wilt
PG- Steve Nash SG- Michael Jordan SF- Kevin Garnett PF- Dirk Nowitski C- Shaq This is more like my fantasy of the past 25 years, Im not going to pretend I watched basketball before then, players before 1980 were in a different league, IMO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>PG- Steve Nash SG- Michael Jordan SF- Kevin Garnett PF- Dirk Nowitski C- Shaq</div> Even if you are talking about the past 25 years...you put Nash over Kidd, Magic, and Stockton? Dirk at PF? Wtf? Over Malone and Duncan? It's not fair to put Garnett in the SF position, either.
hahaha you just said its "not fair" to put KG at SF, hahah. look at what we are doing man, is anything fair or real? Or does it even matter? Why did I pick Nash? First off it doesnt matter, and secondly because I honestly just straight up like him more, Stockton and Malone were both dirty players to me. I would honestly put Nash over Kidd. Kidd is awesome but lets be honest he is not a good shooter. Lets count the MVP's. As for Duncan, he is too boring for my awesome team, simple as that. I dont need Duncan when I already "have" Shaq.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DesielizedSuns @ Feb 7 2008, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>hahaha you just said its "not fair" to put KG at SF, hahah. look at what we are doing man, is anything fair or real? Or does it even matter? Why did I pick Nash? First off it doesnt matter, and secondly because I honestly just straight up like him more, Stockton and Malone were both dirty players to me. I would honestly put Nash over Kidd. Kidd is awesome but lets be honest he is not a good shooter. Lets count the MVP's. As for Duncan, he is too boring for my awesome team, simple as that. I dont need Duncan when I already "have" Shaq.</div> Is anything fair or real? Does that even make sense, honestly? What are you are talking about? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Why did I pick Nash? First off it doesnt matter,</div> Shows your intelligence. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Stockton and Malone were both dirty players to me.</div> I don't remember Stockton being a dirty player, and even if he was, that doesn't make him any worse of a player. You can't deny a player's greatness because they were a bit "dirty". Makes no sense. That's like saying Kobe isn't one of the best because of that time he hit Marko Jaric in the face. Oh yeah. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Kidd is awesome but lets be honest he is not a good shooter. Lets count the MVP's.</div> Kidd isn't a good shooter, ok. Nash can't play defense. Everybody has weaknesses. Count MVP's? The award itself is beyond overrated, let's not take it any further. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>As for Duncan, he is too boring for my awesome team, simple as that. I dont need Duncan when I already "have" Shaq.</div> That doesn't even deserve a proper response.
