RealGM

Was just watching some games from 08-10. I think all three guys had distinct advantages that made it impossible to gameplan against when they were healthy.

You could plug in any roster with them and win titles. Incredibly complementary pieces. Phil really struck gold.

Lol.

2019 Raptors was ridiculous.

Siakam/Gasol/Ibaka was an insane front court rotation that gave them a lot of advantages over opposing teams.

In terms of a 3-man "Big" rotation, I think they are the best since they won (since 2010). 2011 Mavs with Dirk, Chandler, Marion is the closest to challenge since imo. In terms of before 2010, the 1998-99 Spurs with Duncan, Robinson, Elliot and 2004 Pistons with Ben, Rasheed and Okur are above them.

The Parish-Mchale-Larry Bird-Walton was ridiculous as well

Holy ****. I've time travelled back to 2009 again!!

Edit : din realise its a ceiling thread. Hahaha.

Ben Wallace / Elden Campbell / Zeljko Rebraca
Rasheed Wallace / Mehmet Okur / Darko Milicic
Tayshaun Prince / Corliss Williamson / Darvin Ham

Gasol-Odom-Bynum was a really awesome big rotation. As you pointed out, the three of them could be used in different combinations at PF and C to create mismatches because of their individual characteristics. Odom (and later Artest) was the key to making it work on defense though, while Kobe carried them on offense.

I don't think it was the best since the 1986 Celtics. If Bynum was less injured and Pau Gasol wasn't soft on defense when playing Center, then you could try to make that case. Off the top of my head, Spurs (Duncan, D-Robinson, Malik Rose/Elliot) and Suns (Amar'e, Boris Diaw, Kurt Thomas, Marion) were better rotations immediately before.

And how do you feel about these rotations that came after? I think quite a few of them are comparable or better.

2011-12 Spurs: Duncan, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, Aron Baynes
2012-13 Heat: Bosh, Birdman, Haslem, Rashard Lewis
2014-15 Hawks: Horford, Milsap, Elton Brand, Mike Muscala
2015-16 Cavs: Kevin Love, Bogut, Mozgov, Tristan Thompson, Channing Frye
2016-17 Warriors: Durant, Draymond, Zaza, McGee, Looney, David West
2017-18 Raptors: Ibaka, Siakam, Poeltl, Valenciunas
2018-19 Raptors: Ibaka, Marc Gasol, Siakam
2019-20 Lakers: AD, Dwight, McGee, Kuzma, Markieff
2020-21 Bucks: Giannis, Portis, BroLo, PJ Tucker
2021-22 Celtics: Horford, RW3, Theis, Grant Williams, Tatum

No, 1999 Spurs are better. They were extremely good though.

Tayshaun/Sheed/Ben Wallace

The ability of being able to play at 4 and 5 evenly effciently that Paul had, made this trio most versatile frontcourt rotation.

The #4 and #5 foul trouble/garbage time big men on that team were Josh Powell (killer 15 ft jumper) and DJ Mbenga great rim defense as well

In an era where there was zero expectation that centers had to defend further than 15 ft, they were great backups as well

Up-And-Coming wrote:In terms of a 3-man "Big" rotation, I think they are the best since they won (since 2010). 2011 Mavs with Dirk, Chandler, Marion is the closest to challenge since imo. In terms of before 2010, the 1998-99 Spurs with Duncan, Robinson, Elliot and 2004 Pistons with Ben, Rasheed and Okur are above them.

McDyess joined the Pistons at some point as well.

As good as they were, they could have been much better if Bynum actually tried harder. He didn't care for the game at all though. The Lakers had him working with Kareem and he barely learned anything. Wish we could have kept both Gasol brothers instead.

OdomFan wrote:As good as they were, they could have been much better if Bynum actually tried harder. He didn't care for the game at all though. The Lakers had him working with Kareem and he barely learned anything. Wish we could have kept both Gasol brothers instead.

It's so frustrating to think about what Bynum could have been. He had the body and tools to be something special. But he just didn't care about the game of basketball and it's a shame.

I guess over a decade is enough time for this to be blurred by nostalgia. But Bynum was never healthy - he unluckily banged his knees every year. His playoff stats from the finals runs attests to this. Not that he wasn’t a decent or valuable player. But he wasn’t the athletic and mobile Allstar Bynum during those runs. Actually, Bynum was already past his athletic peak when he became an allstar. Granted, they were really really good and chemistry was great. They had prime Kobe taking most of the defensive attention though.

I’d take the following below. Add Kobe and Ariza/Artest to these and they probably go 3/3 instead of 2/3 in the finals.
Shaq Horry Madsen (lol)
Duncan Robinson
Giannis Lopez Tucker
Chandler Dirk Marion

They'll brick all the 3's.

Isaac, Banchero, Wagner

Dwight, Rashard, Hedo