All-NBA Teams Project: 2006-10 All-NBA First Team

[70sFan]

Here is the link to the project thread:

viewtopic.php?f=64&t=1998780

Pick the first team from 2005/06 to 2009/10 season. Explain all your choices at least in short description.

Edit:

Official 2006-10 All-NBA First Team

G: 2007/08 Kobe Bryant
G: 2008/09 Dwyane Wade
F: 2008/09 LeBron James
F: 2007/08 Kevin Garnett
C: 2006/07 Tim Duncan


rules:

1. Include both RS and playoffs (it's not RS award like in real life).

2. You can pick only one season per player - for example, you can't use 2016 and 2018 James in different teams.

3. Votes will be counted per player, not per version of player. I think that otherwise, we'll have players with multiple great seaosns (like James or Kareem for example) unfairly downgraded.

4. We vote in a G/G/F/F/C system.

If you want to participate, just let me know. I'm trying to get consistent list of voters.

Spoiler:

I'm in.

Sounds fun. I'm in.

I'm in.

I'm in lol.

yes

I would love to participate

Sure

Interesting I'm in

I wanna play

I'm down but my participation won't be super consistent like usual, sorry for that.

I'm in.

I can participate, but not reliably

[Odinn21]

C: 2007 Duncan
He just dominated the league and I don't he needs any further explanation.

F: 2008 Garnett
The season which Garnett got to show off his winning basketball.

F: 2009 James
One of the top one-man army performances in basketball history. I personally don't but many have it as his best season.

G: 2009 Wade
Another insane one-man army performance. And to think that he was actually close to James' level. Could've been 2006 or 2010 versions as well, I have 2009 as his best though. I think the "this is my house" stretch might be the best 10+ game in regular season stretch by any player I followed daily and live.

G: 2008 Bryant
For me, this was the best version of an all-time great guard. He still had that explosive scoring in him like he did in 2006 and 2007, but he was also just as good at making his team work.

---

It's feels bad to snub players like 2005/2007 Nash and 2008 Paul for guard rotation but I'd rate the SG duo over the PG duo.
Also 2006 Nowitzki vs. 2008 Garnett was a very very close call, basically a coin-toss for me.

---

Personally, I like and would rate this 1st team over the previous one.

[HeartBreakKid]

G: 2009 Dwayne Wade. I think he's the best guard this gen, and could probably replicate what he did in 2006 with a better roster. His ability to attack the paint made him a comparable offensive threat to a statistically superior Kobe Bryant. He was a more willing passer I thought during this period and a much better defender than Kobe or any one else.

G: 2008 Kobe Bryant. So the second spot is between Kobe and Nash for me. Kobe often dominates a lot of offensive metrics, so I'll give him a slight benefit of the doubt. I pick the 2008 version because he played less gimmicky style of basketball than 06 and 07 and wasn't as putrid on defense. I think 2008 CP3 has very pretty boxscore stats but not as impactful as his statline suggest.

F: 2009 Lebron James . God like defender and just an energizer stat bunny for every boxscore stat you can think of. My guess is he'll be unanimously voted in.

F: 2010 Dirk Nowitzki . This version is almost certainly going to lose because people typically think of Dirk in only 3 years (06 because he made the finals, 07 because he won MVP and 2011 because he won a championship). This is essentially peak Dirk, he is as good as he was in 2011 it's just that the Mavericks had some serious flaws that would get fixed when they added Tyson Chandler. Dirk was just as clutch and god like in his first round that year as he was in 2011, team just wasn't quite there yet. I think he is probably better than an aging Kevin Garnett but I could be convinced otherwise.

C: 2007 Tim Duncan. So another reason why Dirk makes the team is because Duncan's best years here are at center. This is the last prime year for Tim Duncan and impact stats suggest he was the best player in the league. I haven't seen an argument for why he would should be listed as a power forward for his 2007 season which is his best season available. The other centers available are one way players not good enough at their dimension to be better than Tim.

[Orin]

The competition at the guard position is honestly insane. Wade/Bryant/Nash/Paul all had ATG seasons. Thank god we can put Duncan at C, otherwise the forward spot would be even crazier.

[E-Balla]

2009 Dwyane Wade

2008 Kobe Bryant

2009 LeBron James

2008 Kevin Garnett

2007 Tim Duncan

This one is easy. 2nd team should be near consensus too.

[Dutchball97]

Guard: Dwyane Wade, 2005/06 - I can definitely see the argument for picking 08/09 Wade but Wade had an All-Time great play-off run in 2006. When the regular season performances are close enough I prefer the deeper and more impactful play-off runs over regular season excellence. In any case he has 3 seasons in this timeframe that could be first team so he should be good either way.

Guard: Kobe Bryant, 2008/09 - The regular season performances and play-off performances of Kobe's 07/08 and 08/09 are nearly identical but I prefer the slightly better play-offs culminating in a ring and Finals MVP over the regular season MVP. I really considered Chris Paul for first team as well. His 07/08 season is insane both in the regular season and play-offs but I got to give it to the two guys that willed their teams to championships through great performances.

Forward: LeBron James, 2008/09 - One of the highest regular season peaks of All-Time, followed by an amazing play-off run. It's a shame the Cavs lost to the Magic in the ECF because this season crowned with a ring would've been a contender for best ever. Even now he makes first team comfortably.

Forward: Dirk Nowitzki, 2005/06 - This was another tough one between Dirk and KG. Garnett did win it all, while Dirk lost in the finals but I'd say the Celtics were also a considerably better team than those Mavs. Regular seasons are close with a slight edge for Dirk but Dirk's 2006 play-off run, while not as legendary as the 2011 one, was insane. It's close but I favor Dirk here.

Center: Tim Duncan, 2006/07 - Luckily there is no need for tough cuts like CP3 and KG at the center position. Dwight is once again Duncan's main competition but while there isn't much of a difference between 08/09 and 10/11 Dwight, there is a massive difference between 06/07 and 12/13 Duncan. Other guys that came to mind for this era like Shaq and Yao really don't have competitive seasons compared to Duncan or even Dwight.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

are we really fine in having 2007 Duncan in as a center?

[AdagioPace]

are we really fine in having 2007 Duncan in as a center?

can you imagine being forced to put Dwight in two consecutive best-of-5 year stretch All-NBA while leaving out two of Dirk,TD, KG and Lebron ....here's the answer I think

[E-Balla]

are we really fine in having 2007 Duncan in as a center?

Tell me who's doing the tip offs for San Antonio because that doesn't look like Fabricio Oberto to me.

Watch on YouTube

Duncan started the majority of his games at C, so he should be considered one.

[E-Balla]

are we really fine in having 2007 Duncan in as a center?

can you imagine being forced to put Dwight in two consecutive best-of-5 year stretch All-NBA while leaving out two of Dirk,TD, KG and Lebron ....here's the answer I think

06 Shaq > 09 Dwight

[Jaivl]

Ugh, missed the first one. Let me know if I have to elaborate, I find this one pretty clear.

2008 Kobe
2009 Wade
2009 LeBron
2008 Garnett
2007 Duncan - barely edging very tough competition in Marcus Camby and Samuel Dalembert

Other than them, I'm really only considering Nash and Dirk here. Choosing a center for the 3rd team is going to be hell.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

are we really fine in having 2007 Duncan in as a center?

can you imagine being forced to put Dwight in two consecutive best-of-5 year stretch All-NBA while leaving out two of Dirk,TD, KG and Lebron ....here's the answer I think

Howard has an year with top5 mvp voting + dpoy + final run this time.
that's actually a strong candidacy, even if nowhere near Duncan 2007 in his last really great year.
Still, depends on the rule of engagement, that year he was in as a F.

[Dutchball97]

Early standings:

Guard
Dwyane Wade 5
Kobe Bryant 5

Forward
LeBron James 5
Kevin Garnett 3
Dirk Nowitzki 2

Center
Tim Duncan 5

Looks like we're heading to a consensus for 4 of the 5 spots with a tough battle between KG and Dirk for the final forward spot.

[eminence]

Hard pass on '06 Shaq as over '09 Dwight or really anywhere near any of these teams for me.

Kobe/Wade/Nash for guard, Nash probably the odd man out for me. KG/LeBron/Dirk with Dirk probably the missing for forward. Duncan a pretty easy center choice. Will just have to go through and select some of the seasons later.

[clearlynotjesse]

I'm a stan for this era of players so hyped to see some commentary on them.

G: 2007-08 Kobe Bryant

Peak Kobe for sure. I think he could sense he had a championship level squad with Bynum popping off in the first half and Gasol coming in the second half. Passing was on point this year with better spacing/more trustworthy teammates. Defense was good too, just generally in the right spots and occasionally ramping up his man defense. On fire for the whole West playoffs and was kinda bad against Boston.

G: 2008-09 Dwyane Wade
F: 2008-09 LeBron James

Everybody on that 08 Olympics team came out guns blazin' in 09. Two of the best stat stuffing seasons ever and they played great defense too. This is when Wade as a shotblocker became a thing and James trademarked chasedown blocks. An early sneak peek into the heliocentric offenses we see today.

F: 2007-08 Kevin Garnett
C: 2006-07 Tim Duncan

Two of the GOAT defensive seasons. Duncan fully healed from plantar fasciitis and KG finally on a competent team. Both ceded offensive primacy to their perimeter stars and just did their thing on defense.

Sucks to leave Nash, Paul, and Dirk off but they'll be locks on the second team.

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

2009 Dwyane Wade

2008 Kobe Bryant

2009 LeBron James

2008 Kevin Garnett

2007 Tim Duncan

I agree with consensus.
The issues for me are is 2008 better than 2006 KG. Is KG better than Dirk. Is Duncan a Center.

I have always felt that Duncan would be a Center for most teams. Pop thought playing Duncan at power forward kept Duncan fresher to play at center in the 4th quarter. Most years after Robinson the Spurs had a non-Duncan power forward that was better than their best non-Duncan center. Duncan at center creates a more mobile Spurs defense and keeps Duncan in position to provide rim protection. 2007 is a bit of an exception because Horry was too old and Bonner was not clearly better than Oberto. Even if we call Oberto the center Duncan still played half of his 2007 minutes without another center on the floor.

2006 KG presumably could outplay 2008 KG but 2008 KG won a championship and 2006 KG was not playing that much better than 2008 KG.

Dirk was very good but I watched my 2007 home team Warriors eliminate the 2007 Mavs. I think KG adjusts better than Dirk to what the opposing defense is doing and KG was a much better defender.

[70sFan]

Duncan definitely played at center in 2007, Oberto was typical power forward and they played Horry off the bench.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

If we accept Duncan at center I have...

Guards
Kobe 08
Wade 06
if it wasn't for cheap shot rob I could take Nash 07, who also had the best RS in that group in my view.
D-Whistle I take the championship season, even if he was probably at his peak in 2009

Forwards
Lebron 09
Dirk 06
I think we are really underrating the crazy run Dirk had that year. It would have eclipsed his '11 heroics if the refs didn't suddenly implement that no tolerance on getting too close to Wade

Center
Howard 10
the distinction itself is irrelevant, at the time teams were playing 1 PG, 2 wings and 2 bigs, where the PF was just a "smaller center". But Duncan got in the All NBA 1st as a forward, and that classification got him a long streak of all NBA 1st teams that wouldn't have lasted long, otherwise, so for me it's about consistency.

[HeartBreakKid]

Anyone else want to elaborate on Garnett>Nowitzki?

[ardee]

G: 2008 Kobe Bryant

I've said so much about this season over the years. Led a 7.34 SRS team on which Pau played only 27 games, was Jordanesque through the Western Conference Playoffs, and was the best blend of athleticism and skill he ever displayed. Biggest shame Bynum got hurt and he wasn't able to top it off with a ring.

G: 2009 Dwyane Wade

I thought about Paul a little longer than I thought I would but in the end defaulted here. Ridiculous stat-stuffing season and the RS gap over 06 and 10 is big enough to make up for any Playoff gap those seasons have.

F: 2009 LeBron James

I really don't think I need to say much... completely dominated the league to an unfathomable level. The 37.4 PER in the Playoffs will imo never be topped for an extended run.

F: 2006 Dirk Nowitzki

I think KG has no case here at all. When you compare their supporting casts, the extra RS wins don't mean anything. In the Playoffs, Dirk was utterly fearsome, while Garnett was as up and down as it gets. Dirk was poor in the Finals, sure, but Garnett was downright putrid. 18 ppg on 46.5% TS....

C: 2007 Duncan

I think this season gets overrated and honestly isn't an all-time season the way people think it is, but this was a weak era for centers and he is the clear pick.