An NBA Challenge for Smarty Jones (and others!)

[Valmore]

Okay, here's the challenge.

Pivk a roster of 12 players you would consider the BEST team possible to make under these guidelines:

(1) Only retired players - no current NBA roster players.
(2) You must fill out the team like you were planning a full team - 2 centers, 2 power forwards, 2 small forwards, 2 shooting guards, 2 point guards and any 2 other players. You MAY finagle players into other positions if they played there at times. (i.e., Larry Bird was known to play the 4 slot, especially late in his career; Michael Jordan has been known to run point; etc.)
(3) They must have played in the NBA.

I'm interested to see the teams made.

[Guts/Batman]

C - Robert Parrish, Kareem Abdul Jabbar
- Parrish more for defense than offense, his ability to block shots and rebound puts him in this category. Don't need Wilt because Kareem is the all time leading scorer afterall.

PF - Karl Malone, Moses Malone -Karl is a scoring machine in the low post and has the J, but Moses was a freak under the hoop. You want a rebounder you get Moses.

SF - Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird
-Bird quite literally is one of the best (if not the best shooter) ever, Oscar Roberson has the whole package. No all time team would be an all time team without him.

SG - Michael Jordan, Walt Frazier
-Mj forobvious reasons, he is exactly like Oscar (well, cept more controlling) and Walt Frazier was a defensive badass.

PG - John Stockton, Magic Johnson
-Both are great sharers of the ball who look to get other people the ball. However, in crunch time they can get the ball in the hole themselves.

"Others" - Bob Cousy, Dr. J
-Bob Cousy is playmaker. This team has all sorts of playmakers but this man is on a different level then anyone of these guys. His dribbling skills are easily better than any one of the above guys. Dr. J cuz, well see MJ and Oscar.

EDIT: Take off Dr. J cuz we already have the "Thrill" factor covered. I would add Wilt Chamberlain because it never hurts to have an unstoppable scoring machine on the floor plus he is a freak under the boards.

[Guts/Batman]

No one else?

[Smarty Jones]

I see it pays to do a search on my name every once in a while.

I would change the rules to make it NBA players we saw play in our lifetime. I don't see the point in someone picking players they never saw except on ESPN Classics or in textbooks.

And I know this is somewhat subjective, but how about picking a team that functionally could work, with guys who would not have clashes over shot attempts or egos? Really, how realistic is it to have Isiah Thomas on the same team with Michael Jordan or as the backup for Magic Johnson? For instance, pick one superstar/hall-of-fame starter and then one quality player as a backup who theoretically can accept the role of a reserve.

I'll even put together more than one team:

TEAM ONE:

POINT GUARDS: Magic Johnson (starter) and Maurice Cheeks (reserve). Magic is the greatest point guard in NBA history, whose size, unselifshness and enthusiasm makes him an absolute nightmare. Cheeks is the consummate team player and the perfect beckup.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Michael Jordan (starter) and Lafayette Lever (reserve). Jordan was the greatest player I ever saw play, a magnificent talent whose drive to win is almost unparalleled. For those who never saw Lever play, he was a 6-foot-3 guard who was a triple-double machine (think Steve Francis without the overdribbling issues).

SMALL FORWARDS: James Worthy (starter) and Glen Rice (reserve). Worthy is the perfect wingman for this team, not only because of his transition skills but because he played with Jordan in college and Magic in the NBA. Rice is somewhat of a surprise, but he was a devastating three-point shooter/scorer who had one of the best shooting strokes I've ever seen.

POWER FORWARDS: Larry Nance (starter) and Buck Williams (reserve). Nance is the perfect complement to this team, a shot-blocking forward who can run the break and throw it down with authority. Williams was a classic, hard-working power forward who could bump with the best and yet was a strong, quite leader.

CENTERS: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (starter) and Brad Daugherty (reserve). The most accomplished basketball player ever, Kareem was an incredible scorer, rebounder and defender for such a long time. Daughtery was a Tim Duncan-type player, sans the shot-blocking but better passing.

SIXTH MEN: John Havlicek and Bobby Jones. Imagine having a player like Hondo coming off the bench, running the other players ragged in transition and hounding the opposing team's best shooter on defense. And then add in Jones, yet another outstanding defender.

[Smarty Jones]

TEAM TWO:

POINT GUARDS: Isiah Thomas (starter) and Norm Nixon (reserve). Talk about an ultra-quick backcourt. Isiah is the best ballhandler I ever saw, not to mention he has a killer instinct that won't quit. Nixon was a great penetrator who could score almost at will off the dribble.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Clyde Drexler (starter) and Sidney Moncrief (reserve). Drexler was devastating in the open floor, which overlooked a very sound all-around game (he, John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson are the only players in NBA history to have 22,000 points, 6,000 assists and 6,000 rebounds in a career). Sid the Squid was another all-around player and a tenacious defender.

SMALL FORWARDS: Marques Johnson (starter) and Walter Davis (reserve). Superstar Marques was a very sound all-around player some people considered as good as Julius Erving at one point. The Greyhound was a terrific mid-range jump-shooter who also scored a ton of points in transition.

POWER FORWARDS: Shawn Kemp (starter) and Dan Roundfield (reserve). Before he turned into Sherman Klump, The Reign Man was an athletic monster who was a strong rebounder and a terrifying player on the break. Roundfield is a good backup, given Kemp's history of foul problems. Roundfield was a solid scorer and strong interior defender.

CENTERS: Hakeem Olajuwon (starter) and Jack Sikma (reserve). My all-time favorite center, The Dream was incredible. We're talking about a center who is the top shot-blocker of all time and in the top 10 in steals. Sikma was a solid scorer and rebounder who could draw out the defense with his top-of-the-key shot.

SIXTH MEN: Bob McAdoo and Michael Cooper. Can you imagine having a former MVP coming off your bench? The Big Mac Attack was just that for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, a big-time scorer who once averaged 30 points per game for three consecutive seasons. Cooper was a incredibly versatile guard who could play all three perimeter positions. He and Moncrief were the premier perimeter defenders of the early to mid-1980s.

[Handcannon]

Hello I like long walks on the beach.

[Smarty Jones]

TEAM THREE:

POINT GUARDS: John Stockton (starter) and Dennis Johnson (reserve). Stockton is the all-time leader in steals and assists, a very efficient scorer and an underrated dirty player. DJ was a classic defensive stopper who can play both guard positions and do a little everything.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Joe Dumars (starter) and Andrew Toney (reserve). Another rock solid defender and capable scorer, Joe D. also can bring the ball up the floor and generate the offense. Before foot problems ended his career, Toney was known as The Boston Strangler for his toughness and clutch shots (think of a thicker Ben Gordon).

SMALL FORWARDS: Adrian Dantley (starter) and Jamaal Wilkes (reserve). He was candid and headstrong, but A.D. was a dominant small forward who could score at will in the paint. Wilkes is a excellent complement, with his smooth outside shooting (and unusual rotation).

POWER FORWARDS: Karl Malone (starter) and Maurice Lucas (reserve). There's going to be a lot of pain on the baseline with The Mailman and Lucas. Malone is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history and a solid defensive rebounder, while Lucas was the prototype for the enforcer at the power forward slot.

CENTERS: Moses Malone (starter) and Wes Unseld (reserve). Again, more pain on the blocks. Moses is arguably the best offensive rebounder in NBA history and a former three-time MVP who will lay lumber in the paint. Unseld is another bruiser who will not complain about getting shots.

SIXTH MEN: Ricky Pierce and Thurl Bailey. Pierce is one of my all-time favorite players, a physical power guard (6-foot-4, 230 lbs.) who was killer with the midrange shot. Bailey was a prolific scorer coming off the Utah bench in the mid-1980s.

[foxfire]

Hell I'll go for an all-out All Star team. It may not work (cough 2004 Lakers cough), but whatever.

Starting Five-
PG- Magic Johnson
SG- Michael Jordan
SF- Larry Bird
PF- Karl Malone
C- Hmmm... Wilt or Russell... its a good thing Shaq isn't here to complicate things even more... offense or defense... screw it I'm taking Wilt

Reserves-
PG-John Stockton
SG- Clyde Drexler (im a huge Clyde fan)
SF- Oscar Robertson (not sure what his main position was...)
PF- Charles Barkley
C- Bill Russell

Others-
Kareem (you can never have too many big men) and Elgin Baylor

[Smarty Jones]

TEAM FOUR:

POINT GUARDS: Tim Hardaway (starter) and Mark Jackson (reserve). Hardaway was a great off-the-dribble point guard before his devastating knee injury prior to the 1993-94. He's got guts and that knuckleball 3-pointer can be streaky deadly. Jackson is a great complementary player who will get the ball to the scorers.

SHOOTING GUARDS: George Gervin (starter) and Reggie Miller (reserve). Outside of Michael Jordan, The Iceman was the best pure scorer I ever saw. Gervin could put it in the basket with uncanny grace. Miller would be great coming off the bench to give this team much needed outside firepower.

SMALL FORWARDS: Julius Erving (starter) and Alex English (reserve). Imagine Dr. J in his prime, doing incredible baseline sweeps and monster jams off Jackson alley-oops. English, like Miller, was a great jump-shooter who also could score effortlessly and run for days.

POWER FORWARDS: Elvin Hayes (starter) and Terry Cummings (reserve). What a pair -- the surly low-post beast and the graceful preacher. The Big E was devastating scorer in the low post with that turnaround, and was a top-flight rebounder and defender. Cummings was graceful and powerful, with the flexibility to play both forward positions.

CENTERS: David Robinson (starter) and Dan Issel (reserve). Built like a small forward and just as athletic as any, The Admiral was an incredible specimen. Robinson was great in transition and defending the weakside. Issel was undersized for center, but he was great running the floor and scoring from 15 feet out.

SIXTH MEN: Detlef Schrempf and Paul Pressey. As a sixth man in Indiana, Schrempf was a multi-faceted scoring threat who could play all frontcourt positions well. Pressey was Don Nelson's first point forward in Milwaukee, a strong defender who didn't need a lot of plays run for him to be effective.

[Valmore]

I have to say, you threw an interesting twist on the situation by tossing in the "can these players get along" notion. It made for some interesting teams, though I'm wondering about the lack of Larry Bird on any of them, since you have said he's one of the best forwards to ever play. I've never heard anything about him hurting team chemistry, but I could be wrong about that.

I especially like Team One, since it includes the highly underrated "Fat" Lever. The guy had 46 triple-doubles for the Nuggets - more than all the other Nuggets players in the modern era combined.

Though including the often-forgotten Detlef Schrempf is a nice touch, too.

The most interesting selection I saw was Glen Rice. No doubt the guy was good, but it always seemed like he needed to ball a little too often. I'm not sure how that would mesh with Michael Jordan, who admittedly deserves the ball most often out of just about anyone in NBA history. Of course, you have Rice in a reserve role.

I'm impressed, though. A lot of names I wasn't thinking I'd see, like Alex English and Paul Pressey.

[Smarty Jones]

Hi, Valmore.

I understand what you mean about Glen Rice, particularly since he had some issues with the triangle offense with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he also was playing on a team that had Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, who aren't nearly as demonstrative as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

I'm assuming Magic and Jordan will get in his face if the issue of not enough touches come up -- which are going to be limited anyway, since he's coming off the bench.

Speaking of Larry Bird, who said I was finished putting together teams?

TEAM FIVE:

POINT GUARDS: Tiny Archibald (starter) and Mark Price (reserve). The only man to lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season, the Archibald that plays on this team is more like the general who led the Celtics to the 1980-81 title. Price was an outstanding outside shooter who played a solid, fundamental game.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Pete Maravich (starter) and Paul Westphal (reserve). Creative and flashy, Maravich could ignite this team's transition game, especially with a team full of scorers and unselfish passers. Westphal was great driving to the basket and putting pressure on defenses.

SMALL FORWARDS: Larry Bird (starter) and Chris Mullin (reserve). Bird is the greatest forward in NBA history. A great scorer, passer, rebounder and outside shooter, Bird was one of the best big-game shooters ever. Mullin was a very good shooter and scorer who also had very strong court vision, like Bird and Pistol Pete.

POWER FORWARDS: Charles Barkley (starter) and Leonard "Truck" Robinson (reserve). Barkley was a bombastic, unbelievable freak of a basketball player -- a 6-foot-4 power forward who was a dynamite rebounder, strong scorer in awesome low-post threat who can go wire-to-wire for a dunk. Robinson was a traditional pounder who was great inside 10 feet.

CENTERS: Robert Parish (starter) and Jeff Ruland (reserve). The Chief would be the perfect big man for this team. Parish was durable, consistent and reliable in the post. Ruland was a thumper who showed surprising scoring ability despite being an undersized center.

SIXTH MEN: Kevin McHale and Dan Majerle. McHale had some of the best low-post moves ever for a big man, a capable rebounder and one of the best sixth men ever. Majerle was an athlete who could run all day and later added long-range bombing to his repetoire.

[Smarty Jones]

TEAM SIX:

POINT GUARDS: Kevin Johnson (starter) and Micheal Ray Richardson (reserve). KJ was an electric-fast, athletic point guard who was deadly within 20 feet. KJ could score 20 per night, but he also can dish out 10-plus assists. Before Sugar Ray destroyed his career, he was a tall point guard wh could lead the break and disrupt the passing lanes with his standout defense.

SHOOTING GUARDS: David Thompson (starter) and Alvin Robertson (reserve). The Skywalker was a Michael Jordan/Vince Carter-type high-flyer who once dropped 73 points in a game. Robertson was an intense defender, whose aggressive style helped him lead the NBA in steals three times.

SMALL FORWARDS: Dominique Wilkins (starter) and Xavier McDaniel (reserve). The Human Highlight Film is one of five players to average 25 points per game for at least 10 seasons. The X-Man was a very phyisical and intimidating small forward. Knee injuries ravaged McDaniel's career at age 28.

POWER FORWARDS: Tom Chambers (starter) and Charles Oakley (reserve). Chambers was an all-out scorer who had the athleticism to play both forward slots. Oakley was a very physical defender and chief bully who could knock down an occasional jumper.

CENTERS: Patrick Ewing (starter) and Bob Lanier (reserve). The Hoya Destroya was awkward-looking at times, but he had a devastating turnaround jumper. Ewing was a sold scorer, an above-average rebounder and rebounder and a physical presence in the paint. Lanier was a solid rebounder with a good jump hook and played with a lot of determination.

SIXTH MEN: Vinne Johnson and Anthony Mason. The Microwave was tough as nails and an instant shooter off the bench. Mason was a versatile, brutal power forward who could bring the ball up and apply intense defense.

[foxfire]

That said, which of your 6 teams would win? :)

Im putting my money on any team with Magic and MJ...

[Smarty Jones]

This is my final offering:

TEAM SEVEN:

POINT GUARDS: Scottie Pippen (starter) and Gus Williams (reserve). Pippen traditionally lined up at small forward, but his versatility allowed him to handle the ball as a point forward and be a great passing lane defender. The Wizard was a great scoring point guard (basically, he was like Gilbert Arenas) who quickness and unique moves around the basket made him had to catch.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Mitch Richmond (starter) and Reggie Theus (reserve). Richmond, appropriately nicknamed "Rock," was strong and extremely steady during his time in Golden State and Sacramento. Theus was a shooting guard who handled the ball very well and was a strong shooter and transition player.

SMALL FORWARDS: Bernard King (starter) and Kiki Vandeweghe (reserve). The King of New York was an incredible and resilient offensive weapon who was dynamic on the baseline. Vandweghe was a tremendous shooter and scorer who specialized in the transition game.

POWER FORWARDS: Dennis Rodman (starter) and Larry Johnson (reserve). Rodman stands as one of the best defenders and rebounders in NBA history. Despite his lunacy, he was the master of getting in people's head and being focused. LJ was a strong low-post scorer with uncommon athleticism before back injuries derailed a budding career.

CENTERS: Artis Gilmore (starter) and Bill Laimbeer (reserve). Gilmore was incredible strong and durable, with a very accurate touch and solid interior game. Laimbeer could score from the top of the key and clean the glass, but his biggest attribute was his ability to antagonize opponents.

SIXTH MEN: Downtown Freddie Brown and Eddie Johnson. Brown was a great long-range shooter who shot with high accuracy. Johnson also was a long-range shooter who could get incredibly hot quickly; he averaged 21.5 points per game for Phoenix 1988-89 as a sixth man.

[Smarty Jones]

"That said, which of your 6 teams would win? :)

Im putting my money on any team with Magic and MJ..."

Good question.

I think any team with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan in the starting lineup and John Havlicek coming off the bench is going to shine. I built that team in the mold of the Los Angeles Lakers "Showtime" team, and Team One looks like the perfect transition team. Magic, Jordan and Kareem are also three of the biggest big-game and big-shot makers in NBA history.

Another thing I've noticed is that Team One may be the best defensive team of the seven. Jordan was a nine-time first-team All-Defensive team member (and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1988); Kareem 11 times (and led the NBA in blocks four times); Jones nine times (eight on the first team), Havlicek eight tiimes (five on the first team), Cheeks five times (four on the first team), Nance three times and Lever once.

However, don't underestimate some of the other teams. Team Five has the starting frontline of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Charles Barkley, with Kevin McHale as the sixth man. Players like Pistol Pete Maravich, Chris Mullin and Mark Price can score from all over and with high efficiency and it looks like a very dangerous fullcourt team.

I also like Team Four, with Julius Erving, George Gervin, Elvin Hayes, Alex English and David Robinson. That's a ton of firepower and a point guard in Tim Hardaway who was also a very dynamic one-on-one player who could find the open man.

And finally, Team Three has a bump-and-grind team with no defensive weaknesses. Moses Malone wore out Kareem in the 1983 Finals and Joe Dumars actually did a credible job with Jordan during those Bulls-Pistons matchups. The Malones, Maurice Lucas and Wes Unseld could keep Team One off the boards to slow down its transition game, and you figure the Malones, Adrian Dantley and Ricky Pierce to make a living off the free-throw line.

[Valmore]

Hmmmm... I'd say Teams 1 and 5 are probably your strongest teams with the last two not quite being able to match the other 5, despite being very, VERY good teams. Team 4 would be a tough match as well.

Very well thought out, though, with some names I hadn't heard in a while.

[Smarty Jones]

"Hmmmm... I'd say Teams 1 and 5 are probably your strongest teams with the last two not quite being able to match the other 5, despite being very, VERY good teams. Team 4 would be a tough match as well.

Very well thought out, though, with some names I hadn't heard in a while."

Glad you liked 'em.

Team Four will be a run and gun team, because it may be the weakest of them all defensively. David Robinson and Paul Pressey are the ones who would be considered standout defenders, though Julius Erving was sound defensively. I modeled Team Four after the ABA teams and the go-go-go Denver Nuggets of the 1980s.

What hurts Teams Six and Seven is the lack of depth at power forward. Both teams have the athleticism and offensive firepower to match up with most of the other teams.

Team Six's biggest downfall may be its defense. Anthony Mason, Alvin Robertson and Micheal Ray Richardson were standout defenders, but they're all reserves on this squad. Team Seven is actually a little on the short side when it comes to its frontline (Dennis Rodman is 6-foot-8 and Larry Johnson is a generous 6-7 at power forward).

The team I feel is overlooked is Team 3. That's obviously the most physical, halfcourt-based team of the seven. It's a good mix of blue-collar, mentally tough players. What do you think of them?

[Valmore]

The team I feel is overlooked is Team 3. That's obviously the most physical, halfcourt-based team of the seven. It's a good mix of blue-collar, mentally tough players. What do you think of them?

The only thing about Team 3 is, if I remember correctly, they're a little undersized at the big positions, especially at center with Moses being around 6-9 to 6-10 and Unseld at 6-7 to 6-8. The two power forwards are both about 6-9, so they lack a bit in height combined at the 4-5 slots. However, they're all tough enough to overcome that slight disadvantage.

But I agree that the team is a good, blue-collar, hard-work ethic sort of team. The kind that gets overlooked until they rip someone apart that didn't take them quite seriously enough.

Is it wrong that I almost called Team 5 "Team Whitey?" :D

[Smarty Jones]

"The only thing about Team 3 is, if I remember correctly, they're a little undersized at the big positions, especially at center with Moses being around 6-9 to 6-10 and Unseld at 6-7 to 6-8. The two power forwards are both about 6-9, so they lack a bit in height combined at the 4-5 slots. However, they're all tough enough to overcome that slight disadvantage.

But I agree that the team is a good, blue-collar, hard-work ethic sort of team. The kind that gets overlooked until they rip someone apart that didn't take them quite seriously enough.

Is it wrong that I almost called Team 5 'Team Whitey?' :D"

Team Three is undersized overall, with the 6-foot-5 Adrian Dantley and 6-6 Jamaal Wilkes at small forward and the 6-3 Joe Dumars and 6-2 Andrew Toney at shooting guard. But I designed that team to be a hard-working, physical team that would be a good halfcourt team that can dish out some punishment. That team is a homage to the mid- to late 1980s Utah teams and the late 1970s to late 1980s Washington Bullets teams featuring first Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld, then Jeff Ruland and Rick Mahorn and later the Jeff Malone/Moses Malone years.

I designed Team Five with an obvious classic Boston Celtics feel. The team has a good group of shooters and some players who can handle the ball in the open court. Imagine Larry Bird on the wing with Tiny Archibald and Pete Maravich running down the middle of the floor and Charles Barkley coming from behind. Outside of Team One, it's the best transition team.

The only other team that has not gotten any review has been Team 2, featuring Isiah, Drexler, Kemp, Olajuwon and Marques Johnson. Any comments?

[Valmore]

The only other team that has not gotten any review has been Team 2, featuring Isiah, Drexler, Kemp, Olajuwon and Marques Johnson. Any comments?

I'm imagining the completely sick alley-oops Isiah could toss up to any of Drexler, Kemp or Hakeem. It's almost like the NBA equivalent of Phi Slamma Jamma, with Thomas leading the show. Their fast-break should be pretty unbelievable, since those guys can really run the floor in transition, breaking up any sort of half-court defense one throws at them.

[Smarty Jones]

"I'm imagining the completely sick alley-oops Isiah could toss up to any of Drexler, Kemp or Hakeem. It's almost like the NBA equivalent of Phi Slamma Jamma, with Thomas leading the show. Their fast-break should be pretty unbelievable, since those guys can really run the floor in transition, breaking up any sort of half-court defense one throws at them."

I did model Team 2 after Phi Slamma Jamma. Isiah Thomas and Norm Nixon were very fast and exceptional ballhandlers, so they can push the break repeatedly. You also have Marques Johnson (who should not be overlooked), who like Clyde Drexler was a very good all-around player, and Walter Davis, who played in a up-and-down system in Phoenix.

[Evil Sneak]

Hmmm... Players I've seen, and who could co-exist on the same team.

PG
Magic Johnson - Spud Webb
Everyone knows Magic, and Spud Webb would be my energy guy and defensive stopper on the small PGs that gave Magic problems.

SG
Michael Jordan - Danny Ainge
Michael Jordan is well Jordan, but Ainge was an incredible spot up shooter and a tenacious defender.

SF
James Worthy - Bernard King
Worthy was the best finisher on the transition ever. Bernard King was just a dynamite scorer.

PF
Dennis Rodman - Detlef Schrempf
Someone's gotta go get the rebounds to lead my fastbreaking team, and that's Rodman to a tee, plus he'd defend Magic & Jordan whenever the opponents tried to get to physical with star backcourt. Schrempf could do it all and he never complained about coming off the bench.

C
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Bill Laimbeer
Kareem was Mr. Automatic. Great scorer and an underappreciated defender & passer. Laimbeer was thug, but a talented thug. He could hit the three, rebound and he ran well enough in transition. But his ability to get underneath the opponents skin was his greatest assest

Bench
Michael Cooper & Charles Oakley
Cooper was arguably the best defensive wing player of his era. He'd shut down the opposing PG, SG or SF, and he could hit the three, so he was a threat on the offensive end. Oakely was a reboudning machine, and great enforcer.

[Smarty Jones]

James Worthy and Bernard King could not co-exist on the same team, especially if you're expecting King to be Worthy's backup. King was an intense competitor and can make the claim he actually was better than Worthy.

I also cannot see Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Laimbeer co-existing. Kareem didn't hide his dislike for Laimbeer's tactics when L.A. and Detroit faced off in the 1988 and 1989 Finals.

[Ray R.]

My team, such as it is:

Point Guard: Magic Johnson and Jerry West

Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson

Power Forward: Elvin Hayes and Charles Barkley

Small Forward: Dr. J and Larry Bird

Center: Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

6th Men: Kevin McHale and Vinnie Johnson

[Dreadstar]

My team, such as it is:

I'll take Ray's team with the exception of putting Russel at power forward in place of Chuck, and slap Wilt into the open center position (and it was close between him and Moses, frankly)

And I'd take either Cousy or Stockton at sixth man in place of Vinnie.

[matrix]

i'm surprise no one pick charles oakley or reggie miller :cool:

[Smarty Jones]

"I'll take Ray's team with the exception of putting Russel at power forward in place of Chuck, and slap Wilt into the open center position (and it was close between him and Moses, frankly)."

The problem, though, is it's not a team, but an assemblage of talent. I know this is somewhat subjective, but you're trying to pick a team that functionally could work, with guys who would not have clashes over shot attempts or egos. You're not only trying to mesh players' playing styles together but their personalities as well.

I created my teams with the concept that I was looking to create a team based on a certain playing style. From there, I looked at players who I thought could play in that style, and which personalities would fit in with that team. Pretend you're the general manager or director of player personnel for that team, and it's your job to make that vision work.