What do you guys think are the requirements for a team to truly contend for a championship? Here's what I think: Outside shooting - the Bulls lacked this last year, the Magic has plenty of this. Example: Derek Fisher, Robert Horry Post Game - Only Jordan when he had Grant has won a championship without a great big man. Literally every championship team had a great big man or two. I'm not saying Millsap or Scola second tier level. I'm talking top 3-5 big man level. This is a huge must for a team with championship aspirations. Example: Tim Duncan, Hakeem, Shaq Perimeter scorer - a great swingman to depend on in the fourth when your point guard or center isn't hitting shots. Example: Manu Ginobili, Kobe Bryant Leadership - What Dallas has always lacked, the reason they have never won a championship. The leader must influence his teammates with his work ethic and fire/passion for the game. Example: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan With all that said, the teams with the best chance to win this season due to having all of these qualities are: Celtics, Lakers, Spurs. It's gonna be that kind of season again, as much as I'd LOVE to see a new winner this season. Teams that are close: Bulls - they don't have a perimeter scorer (not shooter) on the team and Boozer is a 2nd tier PF. Thunder - they need Aldrich or Ibaka to develop into a game-changing big man. Otherwise, unless a third player steps it up and plays on the level of Durant and Westbrook. They have no chance of winning yet. Magic and Mavericks - both of these teams lack real leadership and a perimeter scorer who finishes games. Jazz and Hornets - Unless their big man can develop into top 5 players. They stand no chance in making noise in the playoffs. ...our Rockets? Don't ask.
I forgot the Heat... Well they have the perimeter scoring down to a T. Leadership isn't there yet I think, not with players disrespecting the coach or players saying "we want to chill". Outside shooting is there in some role players... Jones and House. Post game? Pretty weak so far. Bosh plays like a perimeter player. Overall they're pretty bad right now. Role ambiguity is their problem. Too many ISOs when they should be maximizing their skills but at the same time they can't because their skills overlap. We'll see in the future...
Well I was talking about the Championship Heat team with Shaq, Wade, Payton, Mourning and co. They had the refs as the 6th man.
no, outside shooting is not necessary. Look at the Lakers last year they sucked in 3 point shooting and they sucked in the playoffs as well. They however made timely 3 pointers and baskets.
control the paint. 1. teams that allow the fewest points in the paint are usually among the top teams in the league. 2. teams that out-rebound their opponents are usually among the top teams in the league. 3. teams that get shots in the paint (via post players, guards who can cut through a defense, or the fast break) are usually... well you get the idea. this is what killed the rockets the last 2 years. if you notice, the lakers (with bynum) and celtics have two 7 foot shot blockers in the starting lineup. the spurs always had duncan at PF so another center can play next to him. teams that control the paint the best are usually competing for a championship. the key is the power forward. most centers can block shots, but if you have a shot blocking F/C next to your center, then you really start to control the paint. when yao plays he dominates all 3 paint categories. scola is great at 2/3, he just can't defend the paint. our future looks bright though because jordan hill has great size for a PF and is showing his potential to exceed in all 3 paint categories. even if he turns out to only be a role player, he may help dominate the paint enough to become a contender.
I would also add defense and a couple of bench players who can pick up the slack when needed (shannon brown, nate robinson)
Superstar perimeter/wing player and a dominant big man. Kobe/Shaq Kobe/Gasol Wade/Shaq Parker/Duncan Tmac/Yao and in the making imo.....Tyreke Evans/DeMarcus Cousins The other recipe would be just have solid players at every position. 04' Detroit Pistons Current Boston Celtics
Common misconception. Is this the first time you've watched the regular season? A lot of teams get hot, especially in the beginning of the season.
