Bored? Me too? Choose Your All Time Starting Five!

Well I’m jonesing for some basketball like all of us I’m sure, but I don’t think that is happening soon.  So in the meantime, how about a little fun with your all time starting five?

Every player is 26 years old, in perfect health, and has the same diet and training available.  In other words, we don’t have to worry about the difference in eras.  So pick your best starting five of all time, no sixth men, no limits on how many guards or forwards or centers.....

Bill Russell
Bill Walton
Larry Bird
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan

My five will beat your five!  Don’t you agree?      

Center: Jabbar
PF: Garnett
SF:Bird
SG: Jordan
PG: Magic
* While I'm not sure that Garnett is the best PF of all time (he is definitely in the running, he has to be the most talented "glue guy" ever) his intensity and defense puts him on my all time team. The other 4 are in my opinion the greatest at their position. Hate to leave LeBron off but Larry is THE MAN at SF!

Front court - O'Neal - Bird - James
Back court - Jordan - Johnson(Magic)

swish

C  Shaq
PF Garnett
SF Bird
GF Tatum
G  Jordan

A lot of guys have Magic and Jordan, that backcourt might be too slow defensively, going against other HoF types, Magic could be exposed and attacked. My team is ferocious in the paint both ends with Shaq and KG in their primes. Also on this team I love Tatum’s versatility and long range shooting and defense over Magic’s pushing the ball....going by bobc33’s rules, at 26 Magic still did not have a jumper, he got that later.

gyso wrote:Center/PF: Dave Cowens
PF/Center: Bill Russell
SF:Larry Bird
SG: John Havlicek
PG: Jo Jo White

Dynasty!!!

.

Love this team, really wanted to go with Cowens as my PF, but KG with his extra length, 4 time rebounding league leader and Cowens like intensity, had to go with KG.

Well off topic, but in this present era you really don’t need a great 5 to win. The top 5 centers of all time, no matter who you pick, none relied on their 3 point shot. Guys like Kareem, Shaq and Hakeem could create shots and 3’s for others AFTER going into the post first.

On another note, I was comparing a lot of stats recently, as I was putting my team together. Tim Duncan is credited with being the best PF of all time by a lot of pundits, but KG is better by my eye test and stats. How many times did Duncan lead the NBA in rebounding? How many times did Duncan ever do a 20-10-5 assists? KG only did it 6 times. I have to give Duncan credit for being the anchor on that team, but he had a much superior cast early and in his prime years and he had Pop. I also think KG’s defense was superior as he could cover more of the floor than any 7 footer I’ve ever seen.

gyso wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:

gyso wrote:Center/PF: Dave Cowens
PF/Center: Bill Russell
SF:Larry Bird
SG: John Havlicek
PG: Jo Jo White

Dynasty!!!

.

Love this team, really wanted to go with Cowens as my PF, but KG with his extra length, 4 time rebounding league leader and Cowens like intensity, had to go with KG.

I originally had Paul Pierce at the SG spot, but in the end had to put in my all time favorite, Hondo.  He would run everyone else off the court, they'd be crying, "No Mas!!"

Some folks went with Jabbar, but with Cowens on him and Russell coming from the weak side, Jabbar wouldn't have a chance.

With modern rules, Shaq would't be able to play bully ball and he would draw too many offensive fouls.  I'd like to see Shaq cover out to the three point line!

I guess that it all comes down to which rules we play under; do we allow hand checking, no-touch Jordan rules, 90's bully ball, current pace and space, or others that occurred as the game evolved (or devolved).

I think the guys that I picked could play in any era, even the modern three-point centric one.

Hondo and JoJo White, 2 of my favorites, also had great shooting touch and could have transitioned to this 3 point era very very well.

Hate to say this but I'm picking Kareem at center over the fantastic Bill Russell, Shaq, and Wilt.
KG at PF, although Tim and the other Kevin run close behind.
Larry at SF - sorry LeBron - you come in 2nd.
Magic and MJ in the backcourt. MJ was a superior defender.

Worcester, “great minds think alike”!
Our guys were pretty good at defense as well
KG-12 times all nba def
KAJ-11
MJ- 9
LB-3
Magic - above average “help” defender, great rebounder and 21st all time in steals.

Magic was always a weak defender, too slow, he was lucky he was surrounded by a lot of great defenders on his team. Magic improved a lot offensively as he got to his 30’s, but that was Kareem constantly carrying that team in the early 80’s IMHO. Worthy also doesn’t get enough credit for his contributions on that team.

When asked if the Lakers played (then illegal) zone defense in the mid 80’s Magic said “of course we do, the best”! He was really good at weak side double teams and playing the passing lanes.

F - Jabbar
F - Chamberlain
F - James
G - Jordan
G - Magic

Be still my heart...............

BILL RUSSELL
MICHAEL JORDAN
BIRD
UGH...JAMES
SAM JONES

6TH MAN....JOHN HAVLICEK

Dboss I’m curious who your picks are?

RosalieTCeltics wrote:Be still my heart...............

BILL RUSSELL
MICHAEL JORDAN
BIRD
UGH...JAMES
SAM JONES

6TH MAN....JOHN HAVLICEK

UGH...JAMES

Yesterday's quote of the day.

I could never put Wilt ahead of Russ on any basketball team.

It all boils down to heart, Worcester. Chamberlain may have had the stats on his side, but he did not have the heart. No way, no how, would He ever be considered by me as better than Russ. You do not accomplish what Russell did without loving every minute of every game he played.

Prejudiced? You bet, I as well as alot of you here, saw them both play. Russell was the greatest. He made defense what it is today.

Yes indeed.

Russell was a great competitor - but during his years of competing with Wilt he had the good fortune of being supported by a vastly superior cast - a team that was destined to beat Wilt and company for the championship on a regular basis. The Celtics got the rings - but the 76ers had Wilt as the best player.

swish

Well Swish,, you have your opinion and I have mine!!!! Everyone is different

And the Lakers? That 1969 team was loaded, and Russ and the Celts still vanquished them in the Finals. Russ played all 48 minutes, Wilt only 43. Celts won by 2.

Swish, most NBA players, coaches, and GM's, and fans think Bill Russell was a better center than Wilt, even though Wilt had amazing stats. Why? Because Russ could figure out how to win and would do whatever it took to win. Wilt did not.

I think Jerry West was MVP for that series, ironically, even though the Celts won.

Boston Celtics (4-3)
Basic Box Score Stats
Player MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
John Havlicek 48:00 11 19 .579 4 7 .571 9 5 5 26
Bill Russell 48:00 2 7 .286 2 4 .500 21 6 5 6
Em Bryant 42:00 9 21 .429 2 3 .667 5 3 4 20
Sam Jones 32:00 10 16 .625 4 4 1.000 7 2 6 24
Don Nelson 25:00 6 12 .500 4 7 .571 6 2 5 16
Bailey Howell 23:00 4 11 .364 1 2 .500 4 0 4 9
Larry Siegfried 22:00 2 9 .222 3 4 .750 2 2 5 7
Team Totals 240 44 95 .463 20 31 .645 54 20 34 108

Los Angeles Lakers (3-4)
Basic Box Score Stats
Player MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Jerry West 48:00 14 29 .483 14 18 .778 13 12 2 42
Elgin Baylor 43:00 8 22 .364 4 5 .800 15 7 4 20
Wilt Chamberlain 43:00 7 8 .875 4 13 .308 27 3 5 18
Keith Erickson 39:00 2 11 .182 2 2 1.000 7 3 6 6
Johnny Egan 27:00 3 10 .300 3 6 .500 3 4 4 9
Mel Counts 21:00 4 13 .308 1 2 .500 7 1 4 9
Tom Hawkins 19:00 1 4 .250 0 0 2 0 4 2
Team Totals 240 39 97 .402 28 47 .596 74 30 29 106
Officials: Rudolph, Strom

+11111

worcester wrote:And the Lakers? That 1969 team was loaded, and Russ and the Celts still vanquished them in the Finals. Russ played all 48 minutes, Wilt only 43. Celts won by 2.

Swish, most NBA players, coaches, and GM's, and fans think Bill Russell was a better center than Wilt, even though Wilt had amazing stats. Why? Because Russ could figure out how to win and would do whatever it took to win. Wilt did not.

I think Jerry West was MVP for that series, ironically, even though the Celts won.

Boston Celtics (4-3)
Basic Box Score Stats
Player MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
John Havlicek 48:00 11 19 .579 4 7 .571 9 5 5 26
Bill Russell 48:00 2 7 .286 2 4 .500 21 6 5 6
Em Bryant 42:00 9 21 .429 2 3 .667 5 3 4 20
Sam Jones 32:00 10 16 .625 4 4 1.000 7 2 6 24
Don Nelson 25:00 6 12 .500 4 7 .571 6 2 5 16
Bailey Howell 23:00 4 11 .364 1 2 .500 4 0 4 9
Larry Siegfried 22:00 2 9 .222 3 4 .750 2 2 5 7
Team Totals 240 44 95 .463 20 31 .645 54 20 34 108

Los Angeles Lakers (3-4)
Basic Box Score Stats
Player MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Jerry West 48:00 14 29 .483 14 18 .778 13 12 2 42
Elgin Baylor 43:00 8 22 .364 4 5 .800 15 7 4 20
Wilt Chamberlain 43:00 7 8 .875 4 13 .308 27 3 5 18
Keith Erickson 39:00 2 11 .182 2 2 1.000 7 3 6 6
Johnny Egan 27:00 3 10 .300 3 6 .500 3 4 4 9
Mel Counts 21:00 4 13 .308 1 2 .500 7 1 4 9
Tom Hawkins 19:00 1 4 .250 0 0 2 0 4 2
Team Totals 240 39 97 .402 28 47 .596 74 30 29 106
Officials: Rudolph, Strom

worcester

Poor Wilt - In this big game he outscores Russ 18 to 6, out rebounds him 27 to 21 - while his teammates are outscored 102 to 88 - and the credit for winning you give to Russ. Not in my book. And this game is symbolic of most of the games that were played against each other.

swish