Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Not necessarily the five best individual players, but a starting lineup that collectively you'd want in place now for a full season and the playoffs. Pick your coach too, since someone will need to meld these guys.

PG - Billups
SG - Bryant
SF - Marion
PF - Duncan
C - Ben Wallace
Coach - Phil

Guys that I thiink could be great players on a team like this that didn't make the cut:

Brad Miller
Michael Redd (I'd like a pure shooter in here somewhere, though Billups is very reliable from 3)
Rasheed Wallace
Shaq (injury problems)
LeBron
AK47

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

No KG? Not even in the list of "honorable mentions"?

-McGee

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
No KG? Not even in the list of "honorable mentions"?

-McGee

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm so sold on my starting PG and PF that I didn't list the backups. The others I listed because I was less sure about my selection. I suppose I could list KG at the 3 as an alternate, but I preferred to keep them in their natural position. KG's obviously an outstanding player.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm so sold on my starting PG and PF that I didn't list the backups. The others I listed because I was less sure about my selection. I suppose I could list KG at the 3 as an alternate, but I preferred to keep them in their natural position. KG's obviously an outstanding player

[/ QUOTE ]

Fair enough. This is interesting. I think you could come up with a bunch of different lineups. Yours is strong defensively and on the glass, which I suspect a lot of people will forget about when they put their list together.

I wouldn't worry too much about three-point shooting on your squad; Billups, Bryant, and Marion are capable enough, and both Chauncey and Kobe have proven able to hit the big three in crunch time.

One thing lacking is a true creator. I'm toying with lineups that include Kidd or Nash; I'll see if I can come up with something that works.

-McGee

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Also, Clark, are these guys playing against "normal" NBA teams, or other similar dream teams? I think it matters, although I'm not sure exactly how.

-McGee

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Kidd
Kobe
Lebron
KG
Duncan

I know it's basically a team of top players at each position. Four of these guys (not Kobe) are not only great players, but are great passers, not known for their selfishness. Four of them (not James, he's decent though) are also great defenders. They can all get to the foul line.

D'Antoni, cuz I want to see this team put up 483 ppg.

Honorable mention:
Any Detroit Piston
AK47
Marion
Nash
Wade

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

I'm not a huge fan of KG at the 5. Heck, he barely wants to play the 4.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

How close is Ray Allen to this list?

I like that you left Wade off (seriously).

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Nash
Bryant
James
KG
Duncan

Unlike other all-star lineups, this team would function well with one ball. To continue my previous argument (regarding the evolution of basketball), I also believe this team would crush the following all-time team:

Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
and 2 of the following: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Final score 112-88

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
Nash
Bryant
James
KG
Duncan

Unlike other all-star lineups, this team would function well with one ball. To continue my previous argument (regarding the evolution of basketball), I also believe this team would crush the following all-time team:

Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
and 2 of the following: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Final score 112-88

[/ QUOTE ]

Just like the other thread, expect to get flamed mightily.

I'll begin: lemme guess, you just started watching NBA games 4 years ago?

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

1st team
PG: Kidd
SG: Kobe
SF: Marion
PF: Garnett
C: Duncan
Coach: Phil Jackson

2nd team
PG: Nash
SG: LeBron
SF: AK47
PF: Ben Wallace
C: Shaq
Coach: Larry Brown

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not a huge fan of KG at the 5. Heck, he barely wants to play the 4.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I considered that, but I wanted two things from each player. I wanted that player to be able to defend his position, and more importantly, to me, I wanted to build a solid transition team (see my coach).

Also, I listed them 1 to 5, so I figured KG at the 4 & Duncan at the 5. I know KG hates the post & Duncan hates playing center, but they're both more than capable of D'ing up those spots. Also, this would be my Olympic starting team.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

marbury
iverson
jefferson
odom
duncan

larry brown

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Nash
Bryant
James
KG
Duncan

Unlike other all-star lineups, this team would function well with one ball. To continue my previous argument (regarding the evolution of basketball), I also believe this team would crush the following all-time team:

Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
and 2 of the following: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Final score 112-88

[/ QUOTE ]

Just like the other thread, expect to get flamed mightily.

I'll begin: lemme guess, you just started watching NBA games 4 years ago?

[/ QUOTE ]

You obviously haven't watched many reruns of old basketball games. Seriously you guys need to consider how much the game and the players have evolved. Basketball just like any sports has seen a skill and efficiency increase in the past 20 years. The increase is not as dramatic as the increase in the 20 years prior, but it is enough of a jump that I can confidently say that if current players were put in a time machine, they could go back 20 years and dominate.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Are we going clean slate as far as injuries are concerned? Is this current (as of today) talent-wise?

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Nash
Bryant
James
KG
Duncan

Unlike other all-star lineups, this team would function well with one ball. To continue my previous argument (regarding the evolution of basketball), I also believe this team would crush the following all-time team:

Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
and 2 of the following: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Final score 112-88

[/ QUOTE ]

Just like the other thread, expect to get flamed mightily.

I'll begin: lemme guess, you just started watching NBA games 4 years ago?

[/ QUOTE ]

You obviously haven't watched many reruns of old basketball games. Seriously you guys need to consider how much the game and the players have evolved. Basketball just like any sports has seen a skill and efficiency increase in the past 20 years. The increase is not as dramatic as the increase in the 20 years prior, but it is enough of a jump that I can confidently say that if current players were put in a time machine, they could go back 20 years and dominate.

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, I hate arguments that are impossible to prove. I just have to say though, you are wrong.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Your second team is better than your your first team.

Wade
Lebron
AK47
Dirk
BWallace

That's not even close to the 5 best players in the league, but given a bench of at least acceptable quality and a coach who isn't an idiot this team would win 80 games.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Wade Kobe KG TD Shaq

with AK47 and LBJ coming off the bench.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Kobe may well be the MVP and I am a huge fan, but I dont think he belongs on one of these type of teams. He is a great volume scorer and is a great fit for any subimmortal NBA team. But I want this team to shoot higher than 45 percent from the and I dont need any of its players racking up 30ppg.

Nash
Lebron (this guy is scoring 30+ on 50%+ shooting...no way he comes off the bench)
Marion*
KG
Shaq* (assuming this is just for one game...if its a season I want Ben Wallace and then Wade in for Marion to get more scoring)

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
marbury
iverson
jefferson
odom
duncan

larry brown

[/ QUOTE ]

MARBURY?????

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

PG - Iverson
SG - Kobe
SF - Lebron
PF - Garnett
C - Duncan

Coach - wouldn't matter

With Iverson and Duncan being the only no-brainers on the list.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
marbury
iverson
jefferson
odom
duncan

larry brown

[/ QUOTE ]

MARBURY?????

[/ QUOTE ]

this team should be familiar.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

you guys are insane putting lebron on the bench. look at his numbers: 31 on 49%, 6.7 boards and 6.2 assists.

dude can play 1,2, or 3.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Ah [censored].

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

PG: Iverson
SG: Kobe
SF: LeBron
PF: Duncan
C: Wallace

Iverson plays pass first and creates instead of shooting. If you don't trust AI in this role, put in Nash or Billups; whatever.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
Iverson plays pass first and creates instead of shooting.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly how are you going to accomplish this?

-McGee

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

In my opinion, AI is more than capable of doing this if he had capable teamates, which he obviously has on that list. If you disagree, substitute Nash or your favorite PG.

How am I going to accomplish this? I'm not the coach; not my problem.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

I'm trying to find a way to get Amare Stoudamire AND Dwight Howard on my team ... which proves why this will be my first AND last NBA post on this forum.

(Nash, Kobe, James, KG, Duncan.)

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

PG - Nash
SG - Bryant
SF - Marion
PF - Amare
C - Wallace
Phil Jackson

I think the Nash/Marion/Amare combo is unstoppable especially if you add in Wallace to play some D.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
AI is more than capable of doing this

[/ QUOTE ]

He's certainly capable of this, he's an excellent passer. But he won't. Not in a million years. Doesn't matter who he's playing with.

[ QUOTE ]
If you disagree, substitute Nash or your favorite PG.


[/ QUOTE ]

This sort of defeats the whole purpose of the exercise, don't you think?

-McGee

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
PG - Nash
SG - Bryant
SF - Marion
PF - Amare
C - Wallace
Phil Jackson

[/ QUOTE ]
Why Phil? D'Antoni's offensive scheme is so much better for this group of players.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

PG - Nash
SG - Bryant
SF - Lebron
PF - Duncan
C - Wallace
Coach - D'Antoni

Honorable mention to Marion, who is as underrated as an all-star can be, and Amare, who pn3ed Duncan last season in the playoffs but I can't give him a spot due to his current status.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
PG - Nash
SG - Bryant
SF - Marion
PF - Amare
C - Wallace
Phil Jackson

[/ QUOTE ]
Why Phil? D'Antoni's offensive scheme is so much better for this group of players.

[/ QUOTE ]
To be perfectly honest...I could coach this team.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

PG- Chauncey
SG- Kobe
SF- Garnett
PF- Brand
C- Amare

Coach- Rick Carlisle


Garnett and Brand probably won't want to and won't have to score. They can D up and grab boards all day long. Chauncey will sit around, dish, and shoot the open three. Kobe gets to chuck shots as much as he wants, unless he sees Amare wide open under the basket.

As for coach, we've seen what this man can do with a starting lineup of Anthony Johnson, Fred Jones, James Jones, Austin Croshere, and David Harrison. He's had overachieving teams every year. He's be pretty sick with real talent, especially the defensive monsters to fit alongside his mantra.

All of my starting five are defensive beasts, with the exception of Amare (so naysayers, substitute Duncan if you want). I just don't think Duncan fits as well.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

c - kg
pf - brand
sf - marion
sg - kb
pg - james

gotta have players that "play on both ends of the court"

besides, these players wouldn't even care if kb ball hogs like jordan.

duncan - should be on the list if he runs and jumps better.
shaq - please. he's just never in optimal shape.

only players you can replace are kb with allen.
and nash with james (although im not so sure with this one).

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Best superstar lineup:

PG- AllenIverson
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Lebron James
PF- Elton Brand
C- Shaq

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

ok heres my lineup.

pg: lbj
sg: kobe
sf/pf: garnett and duncan
c: ben wallace

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

PG- Billups, I think he is just sooo much better defensively than any of his competition and you're gonna want that for a team like this.

SG- Redd, close between him and Ray Allen, I like the pure shooter for the abundant kickouts. No way I let Kobe anywhere near this team.

SF- LeBron, I think a 3 who can handle the ball is key here and he'll rack up steals with strong D behind him. Also, his mismatch potential in the post on a team like this is off the charts.

PF- KG
C- Duncan, I don't care if Timmy doesn't like playing C, he'd get over it and I think you have to find a way to get KG on the floor.

If Duncan hypothetically refused to play C, I'd move him to the 4 and put in Big Ben.

Coach- Gotta be Phil

I thought a lot about putting AK47 at the 3, and he's the first guy I would want in off the bench

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

PG- TJ Ford
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Shawn Marion
PF- Amare
C- Duncan

Players I had a hard time leaving off: KG, AK47, Bron Bron, Artest, Nash, Kendrick Perkins (HAHAHA JK but i think hes gonna be a 14 and 12 guy by next year).
Of these guys, only two can create their own shot (Duncan and Kobe), they are all premier defenders, and Ford is such a good passer (we would be ignoring injuries as this is a dream anyway.)

EDIT: coach- doc rivers. HAHAHHAAHAHHA just kidding. Gotta be Carlisle.

Re: Build your NBA starting lineup
 

Taking Redd over Bryant... WTF?