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Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:26 am
by Iwasawitness
I've seen threads about this before and I always think it's an interesting and fun topic, especially for the off season. So basically, name a team in NBA history that actually existed, but they're all in their prime. But I'm thinking for this one, we could do teams that most people don't think of.

So for example, one I always thought would be insane is the 2010 Cavaliers.

You'd get LeBron/Shaq with Jaminson as your third option, and your backcourt consists of Mo Williams and Danny Green. Then off the bench, you've got Varejao, Big Z, and Delonte West.

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:48 am
by Up-And-Coming
2018/19 Lakers

Rondo/Caruso
Hart/Lonzo/Stephenson
Ingram/KCP
Lebron/Kuzma
Chandler/Zubac/McGee

Probably a little less talked about than other Lakers squads

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:53 am
by Daddy 801
2004 Lakers. Payton, Malone, Kobe, and Shaq in their prime is a stupid crazy squad.

2014 Spurs was the most beautiful basketball I’ve ever seen and it was no where near Duncan, Manu, or Parker’s prime. If those guys were in their prime that team would be truly amazing.

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:02 am
by SlimShady83
Kobe/Shaq Lakers =3peat GG NBA

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:09 am
by Stan
2011 Celtics

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
KG
Shaq

I feel like that'd be hard to beat.

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:34 am
by Bornstellar
2016 Spurs are pretty nasty:

Tim Duncan/Matt Bonner/Boban Marjanovic
LaMarcus Aldridge/David West/Boris Diaw
Kawhi Leonard/Kyle Anderson/Jonathon Simmons/Rasual Butler
Manu Ginobili/Danny Green/Kevin Martin
Tony Parker/Andre Miller/Patty Mills

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:46 am
by Dominator83
Stan wrote:2011 Celtics

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
KG
Shaq

I feel like that'd be hard to beat.

This. Not to mention, they also had Jermaine O'Neal too

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 9:40 am
by trelos6
‘86 Celtics would be quite good.

DJ, Bird, Walton, McHale, Parish, Ainge

‘12 Thunder

KD, Westbrook, Harden, Fisher, Ibaka, Perkins, Jackson

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 9:56 am
by -Luke-
Late 80's Lakers won championships. Now put Kareem in his 20s instead of old man Kareem on that team.

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:05 am
by Haldi
Daddy 801 wrote:2004 Lakers. Payton, Malone, Kobe, and Shaq in their prime is a stupid crazy squad.

2014 Spurs was the most beautiful basketball I’ve ever seen and it was no where near Duncan, Manu, or Parker’s prime. If those guys were in their prime that team would be truly amazing.


You should go with 2013 Spurs instead. Same squad, same “most beautiful basketball” but unfortunately lost in 7 in the finals buuuut… you get to add a prime Tmac to the team lol

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:14 am
by _NoMas
2021 Clippers:

Rondo, PG, Kawhi, Ibaka, Boogie

2023 Clippers:

Westbrook, Harden, PG, Kawhi, Zubac

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:15 am
by -Luke-
1985-86 Philadelphia 76ers

Maurice Cheeks
Andrew Toney
Dr. J
Charles Barkley
Moses Malone

Bobby Jones and Bob McAdoo on the bench

2008-09 Phoenix Suns

Steve Nash
Raja Bell
Grant Hill
Amar'e Stoudemire
Shaquille O'Neal

Bench: Diaw, Jason Richardson, Dragic, Barbosa, Matt Barnes

2012-13 Lakers

Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Ron Artest
Pau Gasol
Dwight Howard

2013-14 Brooklyn Nets

Deron Williams
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce
Andrei Kirilenko
Kevin Garnett

Bench: Jason Terry, Brook Lopez

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:19 am
by FreeBird23
Stan wrote:2011 Celtics

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
KG
Shaq

I feel like that'd be hard to beat.


This starting five is perfect.
Pass-first PG
Elite shooters
PF who can spread the floor
Dominant force inside
Elite defense

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:35 am
by Haldi
FreeBird23 wrote:
Stan wrote:2011 Celtics

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
KG
Shaq

I feel like that'd be hard to beat.


This starting five is perfect.
Pass-first PG
Elite shooters
PF who can spread the floor
Dominant force inside
Elite defense


You’re not wrong… but this is also pretty dope and checks off your whole list too.

Parker
Manu
Tmac
Kawhi
Duncan

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:13 am
by Yoshun
07-08 Heat

Penny
Wade
Marion
Zo
Shaq

Bench would kind of suck, but those 5 guys in their prime is pretty damn good.

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:50 am
by DaddyCool19
13/14 Nets seems lowkey nice.
D-Will
Iso Joe
Pierce
Garnett
Brook Lopez

With Jason Terry, Shaun Livingston, Kirilenko and Mason Plumlee off the bench.

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:04 pm
by basketballRob
2003 Lakers.

Gary Payton
Karl Malone
Shaq
Kobe
Fox

Horace Grant

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:12 pm
by gavran
Yoshun wrote:07-08 Heat

Penny
Wade
Marion
Zo
Shaq

Bench would kind of suck, but those 5 guys in their prime is pretty damn good.

Marion was traded for Shaq, so you can't really have both of them.

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:13 pm
by MartyConlonJr
06-07 Heat
C - Shaquille O'Neal / Alonzo Mourning
PF - Antoine Walker / Udonis Haslem
SF - Eddie Jones / James Posey
SG - Dwyane Wade / Dorell Wright
PG - Gary Payton / Jason Williams

Re: Teams in their prime

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:22 pm
by bledredwine
That Kobe team with Dwight and Nash is an obvious contender, or the one with old Payton/Malone.


D Rose bulls with Pau Jimmy J. Noah 8-)