I'm disregarding the 60s, as there just isn't enough competition to justify putting all those 60s players as the best.
I'm talking purely game, not "if he had these training methods, and had this experience" etc.
The goal: Make 3 teams that are the best you can make from these eras. Each team can't have overlapping players. Discuss your reasoning for making each team with those players. Specify the year for each player. All three teams have to be elite, not just one, and rank each team.
1.
PG: Magic '87
SG: Michael Jordan '88
SF: Kevin Durant '17
PF: Kevin Garnett '04
C: Hakeem '87
Magic is running the show. A bunch of hyper-athletic shooters and great defenders who all can play off-ball, and dominate in transition. KD is there for the pull-up 3 threat, that stretches defenses. A young hakeem in transition is what the Lakers couldn't handle in 86, and it will be hard for any team to handle Hakeem in transition with Magic. MJ is there to slash and shoot.
2.
PG: Curry '16
SG: Klay Thompson '16
SF: Kawhi Leonard '17
PF: Larry Bird '84
C: Shaq '00
The offense on this team primarily goes through Shaq. So I built a team with elite defenders(not including curry) and shooters at every position. Larry Bird at PF provides a stretch offensive player with decent m2m defense considering the lack of elite scorers at PF. This team has an obvious defensive issue with Curry at point, but the passing and shooting game on this team creates great ball-movement, and it's hard to double team shaq when every player is a great shooter near the 3 point line. This team will play a slow half-court offense, and try to hide curry defensively with Kawhi and Klay.
3.
PG: Gary Payton '96
SG: James Harden '15
SF: LBJ '12
PF: Anthony Davis '15
C: David Robinson '94
Precursor: James Harden was a legit defender before his offensive load ballooned, and I expect his defense to improve on this team.
I ran out of time and will edit this team and finish it later. But this is a rough sketch of the players I'm favoring.
GOAT Teams
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Re: GOAT Teams
- KobesScarf
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Re: GOAT Teams
Making teams with no bench is unrealistic
My #1 my GOAT team
Magic 80
Curry 16
Dr J 76
Bird 84
Wilt 72
bench: 90 Rodman 90 K.Malone 02 Kidd
untouchable rebounding, passing and transition offense.
My #1 my GOAT team
Magic 80
Curry 16
Dr J 76
Bird 84
Wilt 72
bench: 90 Rodman 90 K.Malone 02 Kidd
untouchable rebounding, passing and transition offense.
Re: GOAT Teams
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Re: GOAT Teams
KobesScarf wrote:Making teams with no bench is unrealistic
My #1 my GOAT team
Magic 80
Curry 16
Dr J 76
Bird 84
Wilt 72
bench: 90 Rodman 90 K.Malone 02 Kidd
untouchable rebounding, passing and transition offense.
that defense... easily touchable. even in a team from one decade
Magic 87
MJ '88
Dr J 82
Larry Bird 86
Hakeem '87
or a team from the 90s
Gary Payton 96
Reggie Miller '98
Pippen 94
Barkley 93
Shaq 95
or a team from the 00s
CP3 '09
DWade '09
LBJ '09
KG '04
Duncan '03
even the 10s could beat it
Curry '16
Klay '16
Kawhi '17
KD '14
Anthony Davis '15
Re: GOAT Teams
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Re: GOAT Teams
KobesScarf wrote:Making teams with no bench is unrealistic
My #1 my GOAT team
Magic 80
Curry 16
Dr J 76
Bird 84
Wilt 72
bench: 90 Rodman 90 K.Malone 02 Kidd
untouchable rebounding, passing and transition offense.
Why '72 Wilt instead of '67?
I like this team but I think I'd take Payton instead of Kidd.
Add Bobby Jones to the bench.
With Wilt, Payton, Rodman, and Jones you have some serious defense. I'd go to war with that team against anyone.
"It's scarier than Charles Barkley at an all you can eat buffet." --Shaq on Shark Week
"My secret to getting rebounds? It's called go get the damn ball." --Charles Barkley
"My secret to getting rebounds? It's called go get the damn ball." --Charles Barkley
Re: GOAT Teams
- KobesScarf
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Re: GOAT Teams
SkyHookFTW wrote:KobesScarf wrote:Making teams with no bench is unrealistic
My #1 my GOAT team
Magic 80
Curry 16
Dr J 76
Bird 84
Wilt 72
bench: 90 Rodman 90 K.Malone 02 Kidd
untouchable rebounding, passing and transition offense.
Why '72 Wilt instead of '67?
I like this team but I think I'd take Payton instead of Kidd.
Add Bobby Jones to the bench.
With Wilt, Payton, Rodman, and Jones you have some serious defense. I'd go to war with that team against anyone.
I want Wilt focused more on D. Kidd>Payton for his leadership and his outlet passing. Bobby Jones could be on the team lol but he won't play
Re: GOAT Teams
- KobesScarf
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Re: GOAT Teams
euroleague wrote:KobesScarf wrote:Making teams with no bench is unrealistic
My #1 my GOAT team
Magic 80
Curry 16
Dr J 76
Bird 84
Wilt 72
bench: 90 Rodman 90 K.Malone 02 Kidd
untouchable rebounding, passing and transition offense.
that defense... easily touchable. even in a team from one decade
Magic 87
MJ '88
Dr J 82
Larry Bird 86
Hakeem '87
or a team from the 90s
Gary Payton 96
Reggie Miller '98
Pippen 94
Barkley 93
Shaq 95
or a team from the 00s
CP3 '09
DWade '09
LBJ '09
KG '04
Duncan '03
even the 10s could beat it
Curry '16
Klay '16
Kawhi '17
KD '14
Anthony Davis '15
all those teams are getting run off the floor.
Re: GOAT Teams
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- RealGM
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Re: GOAT Teams
1.
PG: Magic '87
SG: Michael Jordan '91
SF: Kevin Durant '17
PF: Tim Duncan '2003
C: Hakeem '1994
PG: Magic '87
SG: Michael Jordan '91
SF: Kevin Durant '17
PF: Tim Duncan '2003
C: Hakeem '1994
"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."
- Michael Jordan
Re: GOAT Teams
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Re: GOAT Teams
PG: Curry '16
SG: Jordan '91
SF: Durant '17
PF: Bird '86
C: Shaq '00
There is no way to beat this Shaq with ATG shooters/scorers. Giving Shaq 1 on 1s is a nightmare.
SG: Jordan '91
SF: Durant '17
PF: Bird '86
C: Shaq '00
There is no way to beat this Shaq with ATG shooters/scorers. Giving Shaq 1 on 1s is a nightmare.
smartyz456 wrote:Duncan would be a better defending jahlil okafor in todays nba