In terms of traditional positions 1 to 5, which are the purest players (not necessarily best) at each position in modern NBA history? And which actual team had the "purest" 1-5 starting five?
CPtree Demar Derozan I dont know what a pure small forward is TBH, they could be anything really. Zach Randolph Steven Adams? Tyson Chandler maybe
My criteria: PG: floor game, shooting, dribble penetration, ball pressure SG: shooting, off ball movement, dribble penetration, ball pressure SF: off ball movement, defensive versatility, shooting, dribble penetration PF: post play, rebounding, defensive versatility, shooting C: rebounding, rim protection, post play Current Players: Chris Paul Klay Thompson Kawhi Leonard Blake Griffin Rudy Gobert Modern NBA History (> 80s) John Stockton Ray Allen Scottie Pippen Karl Malone Hakeem Olajuwon
Of the modern all time greats, wouldn't Shaq be more of a pure center? Olajuwon was highly skilled and I could see him play all of the front court positions which is what made him so great. Shaq though was only ever going to be great playing center. Also is John Stockon more or less "pure" of PG than Jason Kidd? Ray Allen seems like a great example of a pure SG. Another name I can think of is Reggie Miller. As for pure PF, I guess it depends on how you define it. If you limit to someone who can shoot, then that leaves out a lot of people who I think were great pure PF but just weren't great shooters or scorers. I mean other than PF, what other position could Rodman ever play even though he was not a scorer at all? Pure SF is perhaps the hardest position to really nail down. Scottie Pippen and Kawhi Leonard though are probably as pure as I can think off the top of my head.
I see what you're saying. I was approaching this somewhat differently. You're defining a pure position player as one who would not be able to play effectively at another position. From that standpoint, the more versatile a player is, the less "pure" he is with respect to a given position. I was going by what I consider the "quintessential" player at a particular position. What are the most important skills to have, on average, for a given position, and which player excels at those various skills. I don't detract from Hakeem because he's also capable of facing up a defender 18 feet from the basket and making moves like a small forward. I think he epitomized the important skills I'd expect from a center better than anyone else in the modern era. Shaq's a good example as well, but I don't think he provided the same defensive presence, which I consider somewhat more important than post play for centers, so I give Hakeem the advantage. By the same token, Dennis Rodman is not my pick because he was so limited as a scorer (basically put backs, and earlier in his career he was a good transition player). Give me a player who can hit face up jumpers, play low post and high post, runs the floor, as well as plays good position/team defense and rebounds. I think Karl Malone checks the most boxes. Stockton vs Kidd is a good debate. Stockton was a better pure shooter and I think better in half-court offense, so I'd stick with him.
Do this again, but for fun, let's define Modern Era as 2000-on. Also, for any era definition you want to choose, answer the OP's question wrt "Actual Teams" I think this is a more fun question....(ie more difficult vs naming an all-star team). So, 2000-Present would have to include our very own Winning Streak Houston Rockets. Alston TMac Battier Scola Yao other teams with pretty "pure"/prototype lineups of recent era Championship Celtics Rondo Ray Allen Pierce Garnett Perkins Championship Lakers Fisher Kobe Odom Gasol Bynum there are probably some average to bad teams that have prototype lineups, too. INB4 this devolves into an argument of which of the "prototype" teams was the best defines which teams is most pure.
Championship Celtics is a good pick. I somehow forgot Garnett as a candidate for most "pure" PF. He has to be up there, especially factoring in defensive versatility.
All-Pure Team (> 2000s) PG: Chris Paul SG: Ray Allen SF: Kawhi Leonard PF: Kevin Garnett C: Dwight Howard
Some great replies. This makes me think, how pure are the current Warriors or other recent top teams starting lineups? Pachulia is certainly a pure C. Green is a somewhat atypical PF. He is a mediocre rebounder but makes up for it with assists, blocks and being the defensive floor general. To call him just a PF really doesn't do justice to his role. Durant is a SF in a PF body. Curry is a great player but he seems more like a combo guard than a pure PG. Klay looks like he plays some combination of SG and SF. People have given good examples of "pure" 1-5 lineups. What actual teams has the most unpure lineup?
