Team spycam1:
PG - Magic Johnson / Derrick Rose
SG - Chris Mullin / Bruce Bowen
SF - James Worthy / Glen Rice
PF - Charles Barkley / Zach Randolph
C - Alonzo Mourning / Marc Gasol
Team gandalfe:
PG - Russell Westbrook / Meadowlark Lemon
SG - Pete Maravich / Jeff Hornacek
SF - Julius Erving / Jerry Sloan
PF - Kevin McHale / Bob Pettit
C - Bill Russell / Bob Lanier
spycam1’s Case:
n/a
gandalfe’s Case:
The centerpiece of this team is the greatest winner in NBA history, Bill Russell. 11 championships, 2 of them as a player/coach. Simply one of the smartest players in the game ever, 5 time MVP, 12 time All Star (consecutively, may I add), averaged 15.1 pts and 22.5 rebounds over his entire career. Unfortunately, he played at a time when they didn't record blocks, or he would have been one of the all-time leaders. A legendary big man who could see every angle and knew all of his opponent's strengths and weaknesses. He is 2nd all time in both rebounds and rebounds/game, and 1st in rebounds and RPG in the playoffs. And then, just to prove it, twiice he lead the playoffs in assists.
Kevin McHale adds 3 more rings, 7 more all-star appearances, and was the first player ever to average 60% from the field and 80% from the line in the same season. An absolutely dominant force in the post, Charles Barkley called playing against him "the torture chamber."
Dr J brings 3 more rings, 4 more MVPs, and 16 All Star appearances between the NBA and the ABA. He was the first great dunker, that much we all know, but he was a vastly underrated defender. In his ABA days, he would guard the best forward, whether small forward or power forward, for over 40 minutes a game, and simultaneously be the best passer, ball handler, and clutch scorer every night.
Pistol Pete is, obviously, one of the greatest scorers and passers in the NBA. While the three point line only existed in his last year in the league, during his 43 games that year he hit 66% on 3 balls. If he were playing today, he would still be one of the best in the league, without changing his game a bit.
Russell Westbrook is one of the most dynamic players today, and was MVP last season. Only the second player ever to average a triple double, he has been one of the most impressive players of his generation.
Off the bench, I want to highlight one of the all-time great defensive guards, Jerry Sloan. Nobody can score from outside against him. Also, the man Wilt Chamberlain called the greatest player of all time, Meadowlark Lemon. He never played in the NBA, but just watch some videos of him with the Harlem Globetrotters. That hook shot of his would have been one of the deadliest things in the NBA, and his ball handling skills were second to none.
Coach Russell can make so many looks out of this team, it's crazy. If he needs to go small ball, Westbrook, Pistol Pete, Meadowlark, Dr J and McHale will run rings around you. Defensive specialists? Westbrook, Jerry Sloan, Dr J, either of the Bobs, and himself. 3 point shooting? Pistol at point, Hornacek, Meadowlark, Pettit, and then he'd keep himself in the game to pick up any misses. Physical play? Big ball? Heck, he could even make up 5 players of trick shooters if he needed to. Unimaginable versatility put together by one of the highest basketball IQs of all time.
PG - Magic Johnson / Derrick Rose
SG - Chris Mullin / Bruce Bowen
SF - James Worthy / Glen Rice
PF - Charles Barkley / Zach Randolph
C - Alonzo Mourning / Marc Gasol
Team gandalfe:
PG - Russell Westbrook / Meadowlark Lemon
SG - Pete Maravich / Jeff Hornacek
SF - Julius Erving / Jerry Sloan
PF - Kevin McHale / Bob Pettit
C - Bill Russell / Bob Lanier
spycam1’s Case:
n/a
gandalfe’s Case:
The centerpiece of this team is the greatest winner in NBA history, Bill Russell. 11 championships, 2 of them as a player/coach. Simply one of the smartest players in the game ever, 5 time MVP, 12 time All Star (consecutively, may I add), averaged 15.1 pts and 22.5 rebounds over his entire career. Unfortunately, he played at a time when they didn't record blocks, or he would have been one of the all-time leaders. A legendary big man who could see every angle and knew all of his opponent's strengths and weaknesses. He is 2nd all time in both rebounds and rebounds/game, and 1st in rebounds and RPG in the playoffs. And then, just to prove it, twiice he lead the playoffs in assists.
Kevin McHale adds 3 more rings, 7 more all-star appearances, and was the first player ever to average 60% from the field and 80% from the line in the same season. An absolutely dominant force in the post, Charles Barkley called playing against him "the torture chamber."
Dr J brings 3 more rings, 4 more MVPs, and 16 All Star appearances between the NBA and the ABA. He was the first great dunker, that much we all know, but he was a vastly underrated defender. In his ABA days, he would guard the best forward, whether small forward or power forward, for over 40 minutes a game, and simultaneously be the best passer, ball handler, and clutch scorer every night.
Pistol Pete is, obviously, one of the greatest scorers and passers in the NBA. While the three point line only existed in his last year in the league, during his 43 games that year he hit 66% on 3 balls. If he were playing today, he would still be one of the best in the league, without changing his game a bit.
Russell Westbrook is one of the most dynamic players today, and was MVP last season. Only the second player ever to average a triple double, he has been one of the most impressive players of his generation.
Off the bench, I want to highlight one of the all-time great defensive guards, Jerry Sloan. Nobody can score from outside against him. Also, the man Wilt Chamberlain called the greatest player of all time, Meadowlark Lemon. He never played in the NBA, but just watch some videos of him with the Harlem Globetrotters. That hook shot of his would have been one of the deadliest things in the NBA, and his ball handling skills were second to none.
Coach Russell can make so many looks out of this team, it's crazy. If he needs to go small ball, Westbrook, Pistol Pete, Meadowlark, Dr J and McHale will run rings around you. Defensive specialists? Westbrook, Jerry Sloan, Dr J, either of the Bobs, and himself. 3 point shooting? Pistol at point, Hornacek, Meadowlark, Pettit, and then he'd keep himself in the game to pick up any misses. Physical play? Big ball? Heck, he could even make up 5 players of trick shooters if he needed to. Unimaginable versatility put together by one of the highest basketball IQs of all time.
