All time NBA Starting 5

[tagged]

I saw Jordan play, but in my team I felt he'd have a greater impact off the bench. And lets be honest, do you really lose much between some of these other players mentioned ?
There's some amazing talent, you might lose a point or two and gain an extra rebound.
One day someone will create a program that calculates a teams worth when five players are blended, looking forward to that. Until then we can only guess how Wilt would have contained Shaq.
Surely there's a smarty here some where that can make this program ?

 

[spurlec]

interesting comment craig, good topic.

 

[drob50]

A program that can cater for rule changes over time??? And the level of physicality allowed by the refs??? The current technology in shoes/jerseys/drinks etc which effect endurance???

I don't think it will ever be possible to compare someone like George Mikan to any current day player!! There is no formula that can work that out for you!

That's why these threads are so fun. It isn't necessarily about 'who would win' so much as 'who would YOU like on YOUR team?'


BTW - Lebron sucks!

 

[tagged]

Oh, I understand.
PG Craig Slattery
SG Leroy Loggins
SF Grant Hill
PF Charles
C Alonzo
We wouldn't win many games, but it'd be fun.

 

[drob50]

Fun for who??? The u13's netball team that beat them?

 

[tagged]

I don't care, I'm getting a run.

 

[chaddy42]

Big O
MJ
Bird
Russell
Wilt

Skip got it right first go. I would also accept Dr J in place of Bird, or Malone in place of Russell (but only if the argument is that Russell isn't a true 4).

 

[FabFiveFan]

Being old school, this has been an awesome topic to read about. It is great to see how many different age groups are included, and the range of players as a result. Now back to old school - the reason we play sport at a competitive level is to win, so IMO one of the major categories in my selection process was championships. And with that said...here's my list.

Magic - Court vision 2nd to none at 6'9, could play tempo bball with the best of any era.
Jordan - GOAT. Enough said
Bird - Gotta have someone to stretch the floor with the post up game of Duncan and Shaq.
Duncan - Had to have someone who could play the high post. Very close 2nd being Karl Malone.
Russell - The Winner gets this Centre position due to having more rings than fingers. Shaq and Wilt both deserve spots here as well as they changed the way the game was played (officiated?) whilst in their prime but Bill Russell's 'chips get him over the line, besides, on this team, do you really need more scoring?
Since a few people mentioned 6th men, then Big O is hands down the man for the job. Could play PG, SG & SF easily, so fitting in where required would be easy for him.

Great thread
Richard

 

[lukesicari]

Not a lot for Malone so far, the guy is the number 2 leading scorer of all time....

 

[ratsdm]

Not a lot for Malone so far, the guy is the number 2 leading scorer of all time....

Good player. Will open myself up here for criticism, but he just wasnt a winner. Leading scorer because he played for so long and was durable.

 

[A_Iverson_I]

A program that can cater for rule changes over time??? And the level of physicality allowed by the refs??? The current technology in shoes/jerseys/drinks etc which effect endurance???

I don't think it will ever be possible to compare someone like George Mikan to any current day player!! There is no formula that can work that out for you!

That's why these threads are so fun. It isn't necessarily about 'who would win' so much as 'who would YOU like on YOUR team?'


BTW - Lebron sucks!

I say we get some of the old players DNA and then clone em and then we can match em up against each other in the same era

 

[hairyangryfella]

I posted this on BO and still stand by it. Didn't get any discussion from it...

There are better all-time players, but I think this could be an all-time starting lineup:

PG: Nash (great shooter and playmaker)
SG: Jordan (GOAT)
SF: Pippen (brings D and we all know he and MJ were a good team...)
PF: Rodman (rebounder and mind-game specialist)
C: Olajuwon (scorer and great all-round game)

Honorable mentions to Magic, Lebron, Bird, Malone, Duncan, Shaq, Chamberlain... Bill Russell was a winner but he was only 6'9" and was a career .440 shooter with .561 FT%. He wouldn't get that far in current times... I don't really think there are many flaws with this lineup.

 

[taffster74]

Karl Malone was a good scorer - no question about it - but he was also a dirty player. I think this is why he's not on too many all-time lists.

 

[Mully]

Karl Malone was a good scorer - no question about it - but he was also a dirty player. I think this is why he's not on too many all-time lists.

Also had one of the best PG's of all time silver spooning him.

 

[spurlec]

Seems im the only one to go with kareem. Surely the goggles would get him a run!!

 

[drsma1]

No-ones had Lin at PG?.......Weird.

 

[jay87]

1. Penny Hardaway
2. Michael Jordan
3. Larry Bird
4. Hakeem Olajuwon
5. Shaq

6th man: Kevin Durant.

Id put those 6 vs anyone!

 

[GarnettFan4Life]

Karl Malone was a good scorer - no question about it - but he was also a dirty player. I think this is why he's not on too many all-time lists.

There's a couple of recent interesting Bill Simmons podcasts to listen to - one where Bill and the guest discuss Karl Malone (re Stockton, his play and overrated etc) -another where Larry Bird talks about Bill Laimbeer (plus a heap of other stuff) Very interesting stuff.

 

[GarnettFan4Life]

I'll mix it up a bit for fun;

Maravich
Jordan
Durant
Garnett
Hakeem

 

[steve--]

First of all, LeBron has an INSANELY high bball IQ, hence him averaging almost a triple-double this season.

Secondly, Purely based on skill and NOT career achievements LeBron is the best Small Forward to play the game. When you're on the court its not about who has the most rings, its about who is going to get the job done.

Magic
Jordan
LeBron
Garnett
Shaq

I'm probably gunna cop it for the front court selections, but to be honest, I dont really care too much for your opinion.

For some odd reason I'm forced to value Michael Jordan's opinion on this matter more than yours, and Jordan is of the opinion that Larry Bird is the best small forward to ever play the game, by far.



Straight from the mouth of Michael Jordan...

"People ask me all the time who my all-time five top players are, and when I start saying Larry, they interrupt me. They say, 'You've got to be kidding me. He can't play with Lebron James!' I tell them, 'You guys don't get it. Larry is far better than any small forward who played the game, and to be honest, I'm still not sure if he is a small forward or a power forward."