I'm confused. Duncan and Parker can carry a team by themselves but they are teammates? Lebron, yes, but Wade sans LeBron or Shaq? Westbrook sans Durant? Amare could carry a team by himself but Peirce couldn't in his prime? Genuinely confused. Am I reading it wrong.
I'm using what I undertand is your definition. You're saying Peirce couldn't do it until they got Allen and KG right?
You can't build a successful playoff team with Pierce as your go-to/franchise player. The Celtics were a perpetual lottery team when Pierce was their best player. They were dead last before the Celtics picked up Allen and KG.
You can build a successful playoff team around the other guys I mentioned.