If you had to take a five man starting unit that gives you the best odds to win a championship regardless of who is the supporting cast, who would you take?
Version 1:
PG: '90 Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
SG: '88 Byron Scott (Los Angeles Lakers)
SF: '92 A.C. Green (Los Angeles Lakers)
PF: '90 James Worthy (Los Angeles Lakers)
C: '82 Mychal Thompson (Portland Trail Blazers)
Version 2:
PG: '90 Magic Johnson
SG: '88 Byron Scott
SF: '85 Orlando Woolridge (Chicago Bulls)
PF: '90 James Worthy
C: '82 Mychal Thompson
Version 3:
PG: '90 Magic Johnson
SG: '88 Byron Scott
SF: '85 Orlando Woolridge
PF: '90 James Worthy
C: '95 Vlade Divac (Los Angeles Lakers)
Version 4:
PG: '90 Magic Johnson
SG: '81 Michael Cooper (Los Angeles Lakers)
SF: '85 Orlando Woolridge
PF: '90 James Worthy
C: '95 Vlade Divac
Version 5:
PG: '83 Larry Drew (Kansas City Kings)
SG: '81 Michael Cooper
SF: '85 Orlando Woolridge
PF: '90 James Worthy
C: '95 Vlade Divac
Version 6:
PG: '83 Larry Drew
SG: '81 Michael Cooper
SF: '85 Orlando Woolridge
PF: '85 Jay Vincent (Dallas Mavericks)
C: '95 Vlade Divac
Version 7:
PG: '83 Larry Drew
SG: '88 Byron Scott
SF: '92 A.C. Green
PF: '90 James Worthy
C: '82 Mychal Thompson
Version 8:
PG: '90 Magic Johnson
SG: '81 Michael Cooper
SF: '92 A.C. Green
PF: '90 James Worthy
C: '82 Mychal Thompson
Version 9:
PG: '90 Magic Johnson
SG: '88 Byron Scott
SF: '92 A.C. Green
PF: '85 Jay Vincent
C: '82 Mychal Thompson
Version 10:
PG: '90 Magic Johnson
SG: '88 Byron Scott
SF: '92 A.C. Green
PF: '90 James Worthy
C: '95 Vlade Divac
Which starting lineup will give you the best odds of an NBA Championship?
Moderators: trex_8063, PaulieWal, Doctor MJ, Clyde Frazier, penbeast0
Which starting lineup will give you the best odds of an NBA Championship?
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- Junior
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Re: Which starting lineup will give you the best odds of an NBA Championship?
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- Senior Mod - NBA Player Comparisons
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Re: Which starting lineup will give you the best odds of an NBA Championship?
Well, let's start by eliminating any version that has Larry Drew instead of Magic Johnson. Second, not a fan of Orlando Woolridge's fit with Worthy or Vincent, too much interior scoring, not enough defense, playmaking, or rebounding. Third, Divac is better than Thompson, a bit less of a scorer but a better defender and playmaker, so we can eliminate the Mychal Thompson teams as well. That leaves version 10.
I haven't looked at the particular years so I may not have the cleanest take on this but that's at least my first cut at it.
I haven't looked at the particular years so I may not have the cleanest take on this but that's at least my first cut at it.
“Most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamppost; more for support than illumination,” Andrew Lang.
Re: Which starting lineup will give you the best odds of an NBA Championship?
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- RealGM
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Re: Which starting lineup will give you the best odds of an NBA Championship?
I'm not sure Vlade was that much better then Thompson's dad (certainly not at the difference between Magic vs no Magic lineups). Can't really remember how good Woolridge was. Scott vs Cooper at SG is an interesting debate. I guess from my current perspective I think the lineups are generally low on shooting so I'd take Scott for his volume perimeter scoring threat.
Never seen AC listed at SF with Worthy at PF - that's really odd but not terribly relevant. From a modern point of view I'd try for Magic/Scott/Cooper/Worthy/Vlade. Still plenty of size (Magic's a full-sized PF on defense) and more perimeter shooting to really open up the offense.
Of the options listed 1, 8 and 10 are likely the top. 2, 3, 4 perhaps as well (again not sure on Woolridge).
Never seen AC listed at SF with Worthy at PF - that's really odd but not terribly relevant. From a modern point of view I'd try for Magic/Scott/Cooper/Worthy/Vlade. Still plenty of size (Magic's a full-sized PF on defense) and more perimeter shooting to really open up the offense.
Of the options listed 1, 8 and 10 are likely the top. 2, 3, 4 perhaps as well (again not sure on Woolridge).