90s C - Marcus Camby (99) PF - Sam Perkins (91,96) or Toni Kukoc (96-98) SF - Robert Horry (94-95) or Jerome Kersey (90,92) SG - Vernon Maxwell (94) PG - Kenny Smith (94-95) or Derek Harper (94) - Personally, I would choose Derek Harper, especially since they played against each other in the Finals. Steve Kerr (96-99) Ron Harper (96-98) Shandon Anderson (97-98) Luc Longley (96-98) or Kurt Thomas (99) Danny Ainge (92-93) 2000s C - Kendrick Perkins (08, 00) PF - Lamar Odom (08-00) SF - Jalen Rose (00) SG - Bruce Bowen (03,05,07) or Stephen Jackson (03) PG - Eric Snow (01, 07) Tayshaun Prince (04-05) Brent Barry (05,07) Devin Harris (06) Derek Fisher (00-02,04, 08-00, 12) Richard Jefferson (02-03) Rick Fox (00-02) Hedo Turkoglu (09) Nazr Mohammed (05)
Not sure why you picked these players. Bench? Your favorites? Best players for their position those years?
I would probably take today, just because I currently rank Durant and Lebron's offensive peaks (Assuming this year is Durants peak) ahead of everyone except for Jordan.
Against Hakeem or DRob's defense, Bron and KD stop peaking. Is this game played with or without hand checking? Either 90's perimeter players ball extra hard (no hc) or LeBron and KD ball less than their current standard (with hc)
Kobe is a street baller and that has always been his kryptonite. Whenever he gets in a pissing contest with someone on the other team, he will take his entire team down that road. But that said, I think Kobe makes more incredible shots than anyone in the history of the NBA including MJ. It's just the shot selection that is questionable. I don't know why, but Kobe seems to be cursed with the comparisons to MJ for his entire career. I see those two as more like DiMaggio and Mantle...why compare? Wilt is Babe Ruth.
Any team that has this player will just be too much of a hand full..sorry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UruofXufVuo
Dwight kills whatever chance the 00s have in this game, he wouldn't score more that 7 points on Hakeem and Hakeem would drop at least 25 a game on him. But if there is any chance for the 00s its because of Paul and James control of the offensive flow. Kobe can somewhat even out MJs production. Its a tough match up, maybe move Duncan to 5, and try to use James in a mismatch against Malone and hope he can win the mismatch by not giving up too much in the post. Get Durant out there to open up space and bring Pippen further away from the basket to take away his ability to help on defense. But thats alot of maybes lol
Honestly, Lebron is the only thing giving the "today" team any chance whatsoever. PG? Fuggetaboutit. Stockton is more effective on offense than any PG today (on a "team" level, not an individual level), and his defense also is top-notch. He plainly outclasses everyone today. PF? Duncan's easily a superior iso player, easily a superior defender. But again... team. Malone runs the floor better, passes better, hits from outside better. Duncan wins a 1-on-1 matchup with Malone, but he doesn't make more of a difference to the team when both lineups are all-star teams. SF? Well yeah, Lebron dominates Pippen. Only shot the today team has. Though it could be worse. Pippen might be the best perimeter defense player ever. SG & C are more interesting. To someone else's point, I think Hakeem & Jordan together wouldn't work well. Hakeem would clog Jordan's lane, and Jordan isn't the most effective long-ball option off a Hakeem post-up. You swap Hakeem for D-Rob or you swap Jordan for Mitch Richmond. Either Richmond completes the Hakeem-centered offense with a post-and-kick lineup that makes grown men weep, or D-Rob chills out in the 15-foot area and uses that jumper he liked so much off of Jordan's kick-outs. Either way, the combo's more potent than the today team. What sinks the today team is they're a bunch of iso guys who render each other meaningless on offense. Their best bet is to hand the ball to Lebron and get out of the way. Whereas the Dream Team guys were special because, when they were at their best, the ball never touched the floor. Being iso'd against Lebron is scary. A 90s lineup that never stops passing is terrifying.
Mostly agree except the bolded.. Kobe and (no jump shot) Shaq worked together. What makes you think MJ and 16 footer Olajuwon wouldn't?
Because they were playing mere mortal teams, and Shaq and Kobe were 2 of the best 5 players in the league when they were winning titles together. Iso ball does work when the talent differential is huge. Don't get me wrong... the Hakeem + Jordan lineup would still beat the today lineup. It would work. I just don't think it would work quite as well is all. I'd rather pair D-Rob with Jordan as his mid-range jumper seemed more reliable than Hakeem's, and he was even better at running the floor IMO. Though certainly Hakeem is better to run the offense through and overall a better player, and he'd be best when handing out the wide-open threes (plus the shooters would prevent the lane getting clogged).
Best players to appear in the NBA Finals for the 90s and 2000s/2010s who are not in the hall of fame or have one single all-star appearance to their resume. None of the players on my list ever appeared in one-all star game. I wanted see if someone picked up on that...
Has LeBron ever played anyone with Pippen's level of defense? Not likely. Pippen would give LeBron fits. Pippen was in a league of his own on defense. Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9vFHYVXtRk
Sure, which is why I suggested he might be the best perimeter defender ever. You have to give Lebron the matchup, though. After all, if you flip it around, Pippen never dealt with a physical specimen like Lebron (best since Wilt?).
Well he did play against the 2008 celtics, which is arguably the GOAT defensive team. Also, Pippen has never had to guard a player of Lebron's caliber either-Lebron's peak and Jordan's peaks are essentially the same
Considering Pippen often got dominated by MJ in practices and exhibition games, while Pippen could never really slow down Kobe when he got into his rhythm or motivated. I doubt he could stop a prime LeBron, who could post him up all day or even blow right by him. In fact, I think Pippen would have hard time slowing down Durant or Melo, as well.
Is it a foregone conclusion that John Stockton was a better player than Gary Payton in the 90's? Would Stockton been as effective without Malone's mid range game to P&R with? I get that Stockton was a great assist man but with Dream, Pippen & Jordan playmaking would you not appreciate the versatility and fire that Payton would bring you on the defensive end?
Agreed. I don't think there's anyone better to guard Lebron, but that doesn't mean Pippen can stop him. All things being equal, great offense trumps great defense, due to the very nature of defense: it's reactionary. Lebron just has too many tools at his disposal. Pippen would slow him down, he wouldn't stop him. If we're assuming the lineup stays as it is on the first page, and you're just proposing replacing Stockton with Payton... noooo way. If I'm the today team, I'm jumping for joy at that substitution. It means I can bring a double team off Payton or Pippen to guard Jordan & Hakeem, and I live with Payton & Pippen taking long jumpers. I wouldn't be able to live with leaving Stockton alone for a shot, though. That affects my whole offense... for some gain on defense, but not enough.
