'15 NBA Draft/Offseason Thread

[sgreenwell]

The All-Star Game is your frame of reference?

I mean, this is just mental masturbation anyway, but for the purposes of the debate I figure we all assume each team would try as if it's the playoffs and not the All-Star Game.

It's not like one team is trying in the all-star game, and the other isn't. :D Most years, they're both taking it easy. The MLB all-star game also has a 53-51 all-time record.

At a certain point, adding another incredible player on a team has diminishing returns. Like even if the Bulls had to play "just" a really good player like Horace Grant at the 4 or 5, the games are still probably going to be close vs. the All-Time Lakers, and from there, you only need a couple 50-50 plays to go in your favor to flip the result. I'd still favor the Lakers to win a 7-game series, but it wouldn't be impossible for the Bulls to win a 7-game series.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Would the Bulls even be guaranteed as one of the top two teams? I'd take the Celtics above them and would think about the Sixers. Even the Warriors (core of Wilt, Barry, Curry) would give them a run.

 

[sgreenwell]

Would the Bulls even be guaranteed as one of the top two teams? I'd take the Celtics above them and would think about the Sixers. Even the Warriors (core of Wilt, Barry, Curry) would give them a run.

Celtics and Lakers would be the top two for me. Without putting a ton of thought into it, Bulls would probably be third, because I think there is more value to having the absolute best player, even if the rest of the starting five might be just REALLY good vs. Hall of Fame talent. (Meaning, Jordan plus four all-stars or near all-stars might ultimately be better than some teams that have five mid-tier Hall of Fame players.) For similar reasons, Miami and/or Cleveland probably rank higher than you'd think, because they'd get Lebron. And as always, the Spurs are probably underrated - Duncan, Robinson, Parker, Gervin and Manu, with good options like Sean Elliott and Leonard off the bench.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Would the Bulls even be guaranteed as one of the top two teams? I'd take the Celtics above them and would think about the Sixers. Even the Warriors (core of Wilt, Barry, Curry) would give them a run.

Iverson, Erving, Barkley, Wilt and Greer? With Moses, Cunningham, McGinnis, Toney and others coming off the bench? I'd take that in a heartbeat over almost anyone.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Celtics would dress 12 Hall of Famers. Tentative starting five would be Russell, Bird, McHale, Cousy and Sam Jones. Off the bench you'd have Cowens, Havlicek, Dennis Johnson, Pierce, Parish, Sharman. I'm not even using Garnett as he spent most of his career elsewhere. I'd say a tough team to beat, although the Lakers are really just as good.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Well, I did say almost anyone. :)

 

[Michael_ Gee]

That Sixers team is no slouch either. I'd buy a ticket, but the series would have to be at the okl Garden and Convention Hall, or maybe the Palestra.

 

[Stoney]

Iverson, Erving, Barkley, Wilt and Greer? With Moses, Cunningham, McGinnis, Toney and others coming off the bench? I'd take that in a heartbeat over almost anyone.

Where's my man Mo Cheeks on your list?

 

[MTM]

They wouldn't win it all in an all-time team challenge, but the Bucks could put out Kareem, Oscar Robertson, Sidney Moncrief, Jack Sikma and Terry Cummings.
Off the bench would be Dale Ellis, Junior Bridgeman, Brian Winters, Ray Allen and Bob Dandridge.

Pretty good all-time team for a franchise with one title 40+ years ago.

 

[Stoney]

Should the Bucks be able to claim a guy like Dale Ellis who only spent like 2 seasons out of his 18 year career there?

Seems like maybe there should be some durational ground rules to this game.

 

[sgreenwell]

They wouldn't win it all in a all-time team challenge, but the Bucks could put up Kareem, Oscar Robertson, Sidney Moncrief, Jack Sikma and Terry Cummings.
Off the bench would be Dale Ellis, Junior Bridgeman, Brian Winters, Ray Allen and Bob Dandridge.

Pretty good all-time team for a franchise with one title 40+ years ago.

Yeah, a more interesting thing to me might be who has the "worst" all-time team. Most of the long-running franchises have had enough quality players to put up pretty decent All-Time teams. The Cavs have never won a title, but can still run out Lebron, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Irving, Boozer. The Wolvers have Cassell, Garnett, Kevin Love, Laettnar or Tom Gugliotta (above average PF), and some combination of Wallyworld, Ricky Rubio, Sprewell and Andrew Wiggins to round out the starting five and rotation. New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans and the Bobcats would probably be the worst, but they only have a decade or so in the bank.

 

[Songbird]

Where's my man Mo Cheeks on your list?

Ask Mokeski.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Where's my man Mo Cheeks on your list?

Right behind Tony Wroten, says Sam Hinkie.

 

[sgreenwell]

Where's my man Mo Cheeks on your list?

They can probably find someone better to sing the anthem. The Roots, Teddy Pendergrass.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Just thought about the Knicks. The only two guys who'd make their all-time team who weren't on the early '70s team are Ewing and Bernard King. Kind of sad, seeing they're an original franchise.

 

[sgreenwell]

Just thought about the Knicks. The only two guys who'd make their all-time team who weren't on the early '70s team are Ewing and Bernard King. Kind of sad, seeing they're an original franchise.

Carmelo is probably on the 12-man roster at least, no? I'd think Sprewell or Allan Houston might be as well.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Oakley too.

 

[MTM]

If we base it on a player's contribution while with the franchise, are there even 12 Clippers?

Griffin, Paul and Jordan joined by Danny Manning, Michael Cage, Randy Smith, Ernie D and World B. Free?

 

[Songbird]

Cage had one of the great season finales of all time.

Michael Cage Becomes Boss of the Boards : He Takes League Rebounding Title, but Clippers Fall in Finale - latimes

 

[sgreenwell]

If we base it on a player's contribution while with the franchise, are there even 12 Clippers?

Griffin, Paul and Jordan joined by Danny Manning, Michael Cage, Randy Smith, Ernie D and World B. Free?

Lamar Odom was disappointing as a Clipper to most, I think, but he was still a good player. Also, Elton Brand was a monster with the Clippers, and that probably gets overlooked because he cratered seemingly the second he signed with the Sixers. While not a world beater, Chris Kaman made an all-star team as a Clipper and was an above-average center.