Choose One Squad ...

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
I don't think it would matter which era... Team B is sending out half of the original Dream Team... and just like then, the other teams will be asking for their autographs after the crushing.
 
B. Why? Because that lineup is just unfair, that's why.
 
julius said:
What rule set are they playing? Because if it's modern NBA, I'd go with A. If it's the rules that were in place during B, I'd go with B.

I wouldn't go with C no matter what though.
Click to expand...

I'd go with C and bench everyone but AI, maybe keep Shaq out there for some picks.

Know @HCP would rock A. Westbrick is GOAT in his eyes.
 
B looked like the easy choice, until I got to C. Timmy would be miserable with AI, Kobe, and Shaq surrounding him, but at least McGrady would fit his mellow vibe.

The problem with B is that Barkley always got torched by Malone, one of the few guys he had no physical advantage against. I imagine that would be even worse against Duncan. And as great of a defender as Hakeem was, his agility wouldn't have done much against the freight train known as prime Shaq. (I feel dirty just saying that.)

I don't know if Payton/Jordan/Pippen is enough of an advantage over AI/Kobe/McGrady to overcome that front line deficit. Each of those three match-ups could be a toss-up any given night.
 
B because they'd win
 
handiman said:
B looked like the easy choice, until I got to C. Timmy would be miserable with AI, Kobe, and Shaq surrounding him, but at least McGrady would fit his mellow vibe.

The problem with B is that Barkley always got torched by Malone, one of the few guys he had no physical advantage against. I imagine that would be even worse against Duncan. And as great of a defender as Hakeem was, his agility wouldn't have done much against the freight train known as prime Shaq. (I feel dirty just saying that.)

I don't know if Payton/Jordan/Pippen is enough of an advantage over AI/Kobe/McGrady to overcome that front line deficit. Each of those three match-ups could be a toss-up any given night.
Click to expand...

I know it wasn't "Prime Shaq" quite yet but Olajuwon absolutely owned Shaq in the 1995 Finals. Plus Team C couldn't pass it in to Shaq in the 4th quarter because other teams would just play Hack-A-Shaq.
 
hoopsjock said:
I know it wasn't "Prime Shaq" quite yet but Olajuwon absolutely owned Shaq in the 1995 Finals. Plus Team C couldn't pass it in to Shaq in the 4th quarter because other teams would just play Hack-A-Shaq.
Click to expand...

Well, it was ORL Shaq, not LAL Shaq, but Shaq led the league in scoring that year at 29.3 ppg (the second highest of his career). The only time Shaq had a higher scoring average was 1999-2000, when he also led the league in scoring, at 29.7 ppg.

Hakeem outscored Shaq 32.8 ppg to 28.0 ppg as HOU swept ORL in the finals.

Anyone who thinks Hakem couldn't guard Shaq needs to also look at if from the other direction. Even young, more agile Shaq was hopeless at stopping the Dream Shake. Hakeem totally torched Shaq in that series.

BNM
 
You also have to wonder about the chemistry of Squad A. The last time Westbrook and Durant teamed up it didn't end so well. They blew a 3-1 series lead and one guy left town.

BNM
 
HCP said:
Which squad and why?

View attachment 19801
Click to expand...

What is the original source for this question? It would be fun to see how the opinions of this forum correlate to the general population. Younger fans who didn't see Jordan, Pippen, Hakeem, Barkley, or even Payton in his prime, play may not realize just how good those guys were. I mean none of those guys ever averaged a triple-double for a season, so how good could they have been?

BNM
 
hoopsjock said:
I know it wasn't "Prime Shaq" quite yet but Olajuwon absolutely owned Shaq in the 1995 Finals.
Click to expand...

Shaq was nowhere near his best in Orlando. All he could do back then was dunk. Admittedly, he did that quite well. That was back when he talked openly of being better than Olajuwon/Robinson/Ewing before long. It seemed laughable at the time, but it eventually became a reasonable debate.

As for Shaq guarding Hakeem, he has a huge element in his favor: Duncan. Right there with KG as the best defenders at PF, able to cover anywhere on the floor and provide help as needed.

Plus Team C couldn't pass it in to Shaq in the 4th quarter because other teams would just play Hack-A-Shaq.
Click to expand...

Fair point. But, once you get down to that level of detail, you need to account for who each team has on the bench, since they're not going to foul out their starters hacking him.
 
I will say, you swap out Barkley for Malone and it becomes no contest.
 
Being old enough to see all of these players in their prime, it's B, easy.

Jordan is the best player I've ever seen. Hakeem is the best center I've ever seen (I stand by this and have forever). Pippen and Glove are two of the best perimeter defenders I've ever seen. And, well - Chuck is chuck. He was the most statistically dominant player on the Dream Team**. Sign me up.

**EDIT: while playing ON the Dream Team
 
The Professional Fan said:
Being old enough to see all of these players in their prime, it's B, easy.

Jordan is the best player I've ever seen. Hakeem is the best center I've ever seen (I stand by this and have forever). Pippen and Glove are two of the best perimeter defenders I've ever seen. And, well - Chuck is chuck. He was the most statistically dominant player on the Dream Team**. Sign me up.

**EDIT: while playing ON the Dream Team
Click to expand...

Apparently, you never saw Jabbar in his prime nor Wilt the Stilt.
 
The Professional Fan said:
Being old enough to see all of these players in their prime, it's B, easy.

Jordan is the best player I've ever seen. Hakeem is the best center I've ever seen (I stand by this and have forever). Pippen and Glove are two of the best perimeter defenders I've ever seen. And, well - Chuck is chuck. He was the most statistically dominant player on the Dream Team**. Sign me up.

**EDIT: while playing ON the Dream Team
Click to expand...

I agree with you on Jordan, but Kobe was too much of a competitor to not at least hold his own. I mean, John Starks went straight from grocery bagging to giving Jordan a solid challenge, so it's not like the GOAT was above being fought tooth and nail.

I put Hakeem in the same group as Ewing and Robinson. All in the conversation as best ever, but no different from the tier Shaq is in.

Barkley is where I disagree. He could dominate in a setting like the Olympics because there was no one to match up with him. He literally bullied the opponents. But, when facing an even bigger bully like Malone, he tended to disappear. He would be absolutely shut down by Duncan, and wouldn't have the slightest glimmer of hope of slowing Timmy at the other end. As long as Team C holds close to even at the other 4 positions, they kill Team B at the PF. Pippen can't leave McGrady open to cover for Barkley's "short" comings.
 
handiman said:
I agree with you on Jordan, but Kobe was too much of a competitor to not at least hold his own. I mean, John Starks went straight from grocery bagging to giving Jordan a solid challenge, so it's not like the GOAT was above being fought tooth and nail.

I put Hakeem in the same group as Ewing and Robinson. All in the conversation as best ever, but no different from the tier Shaq is in.

Barkley is where I disagree. He could dominate in a setting like the Olympics because there was no one to match up with him. He literally bullied the opponents. But, when facing an even bigger bully like Malone, he tended to disappear. He would be absolutely shut down by Duncan, and wouldn't have the slightest glimmer of hope of slowing Timmy at the other end. As long as Team C holds close to even at the other 4 positions, they kill Team B at the PF. Pippen can't leave McGrady open to cover for Barkley's "short" comings.
Click to expand...

Barkley and Malone is interesting. Early in their careers, Barkley tended to dominate Malone in head-to-head matchups. Mid to late career Malone tended to dominate Barkley. Malone had a much longer career and a much longer prime than Barkley, but comparing peak Barkley to peak Malone favors Barkley in many areas (mostly scoring efficiency).

Unfortunately, with Barkley and Duncan, there wasn't sufficient overlap between their careers to draw any conclusions from their limited head-to-head matchups.

Here's an interesting article that compares Barkley's advanced analytics to Malone and Duncan:

Charles Barkley Doesn’t Love Analytics, But Analytics Sure Love Him

Barkley was a ridiculously efficient scorer.

BNM
 
A ......and it's not close. Who is this OlajuwoM guy, and who is he going to guard?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

illmatic99
One year ago
Replies
26
Views
1K
DaLincolnJones
DaLincolnJones
BigGameDamian
OT B/R's All-2000s NBA Team: Who Joins Kobe, LeBron on Squad of the 21st Century?
Replies
10
Views
772
SIeepwalker
SIeepwalker
Further
Event Finally!! Blazers have a legit Bench. Nickname?
2 3
Replies
78
Views
4K
TorturedBlazerFan
TorturedBlazerFan
Further
I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS TEAM!
Replies
18
Views
1K
LittleAlex
L
T
Which two Trail Blazers (past or present) would you want on your 3-on-3 squad?
2
Replies
39
Views
5K
Minstrel
Minstrel

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top