RealGM

I searched for a thread on this but didn't find one. Seems like it would be a fun topic.

Which players would you select to form your best "Starting Five" from the 90s? This hypothetical team would be playing in the 90s, but it would be fine to discuss how they'd translate to other eras, too.

I would say that we'd want to restrict this to players who had their best years during the 90s and played most of if not the entire decade. In other words, Bird/Magic and Bryant/Duncan and other players straddling the corners of the decade need not apply. I do think it would be OK for Shaq to be included. He started in 93 and some prefer his more mobile years. We can use some common sense on debatable cases, if there are any more.

For my team, we can go ahead and get the player of the decade Michael Jordan out of the way. While some may prefer to use a nominal power forward, to me it's a no-brainer to pair the two-way dominance of Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson together in the frontcourt.

While trying to slot an elite shooter in at small forward (Miller and Mullin at 6'7 are the best candidates) is tempting, I feel like I should probably maintain the Jordan/Pippen pairing, so I'm going to go with Scottie.

That leaves the point guard position. I'm a big fan of Mark Price, but at this point I think I'd like to say I have an elite defender at each position. I like Gary Payton, but I don't like his offensive fit (heavy on post-ups and a poor shooter), so I'll look elsewhere. That narrows it down to John Stockton and Joe Dumars. Yes, for those unfamiliar, Dumars was a combo guard. For me, the question is how the ball handling gets divided up between Jordan, Pippen, and the PG. I have a feeling those responsibilities might be shared more equitably with Dumars. Plus, I like that he has a proven role as an off-ball shooter, and I view his defense as a notch above Stockton's. Someone feel free to prove me wrong on this pick!

Anyway, here is my nominal lineup:

PG: Joe Dumars
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Hakeem Olajuwon
C: David Robinson

Looking forward to seeing everyone's team!

Rice/Ellis/Scott could be reasonable options for a shooting 3 as well.

I'd toss Blaylock into the PG discussion based on what you're looking for.

Give me

'PG': Jordan
SG: Miller
SF: Mullin
PF: Pippen
C: Olajuwon

Lets get some buckets.

There are two ways how I would want to build my team in the 1990s when taking into account the entire player pool.

David Robinson spread Pick & Roll or a 4-out style Hakeem Olajuwon build. Why these two? Well, for starters, they are the best two Centers in the decade and nobody else comes close when factoring in the rules. They also are different in styles and optimization. The 3rd thing is Michael Jordan is the obvious best player here and is, without a doubt, going to be on every team.

Michael Jordan
Reggie Miller
Scottie Pippen
Karl Malone
David Robinson

Unfortunately we don't have the lethal P&R duo with Robinson, but we still get Robinson's rim pressure which opens up the court for everyone else. Malone/Jordan/Miller take the pressure off, offensively, of Robinson/Pippen. The super size line-up is too valuable and as we continue to see in the NBA, pseudo-PG who are scoring guards thrive at Point Guard like SGA and Jamal Murray. I don't see a Haliburton/Curry/Magic/Nash level shot creator at Point Guard to sacrifice size or defense for offensive purity from the 1990s.

I'd pick one of Don Nelson, Pat Riley, George Karl or Larry Brown as coach.

eminence wrote:Rice/Ellis/Scott could be reasonable options for a shooting 3 as well.

I'd toss Blaylock into the PG discussion based on what you're looking for.

Give me

'PG': Jordan
SG: Miller
SF: Mullin
PF: Pippen
C: Olajuwon

Lets get some buckets.

If you could choose any player from the ‘90s, wouldn't you want them to be plus defenders since you could get enough offense anyway? Mullin was a poor defender and Miller not as poor but not good either. I suppose if they played a modern style and bombed three pointers I suppose that offensive boost would make up for two negative defenders Knowing you still have Olajuwon and Pippen there.

Michael Jordan
Reggie Miller
Scottie Pippen
Hakeem Olajuwon
David Robinson

homecourtloss wrote:

eminence wrote:Rice/Ellis/Scott could be reasonable options for a shooting 3 as well.

I'd toss Blaylock into the PG discussion based on what you're looking for.

Give me

'PG': Jordan
SG: Miller
SF: Mullin
PF: Pippen
C: Olajuwon

Lets get some buckets.

If you could choose any player from the ‘90s, wouldn't you want them to be plus defenders since you could get enough offense anyway? Mullin was a poor defender and Miller not as poor but not good either. I suppose if they played a modern style and bombed three pointers I suppose that offensive boost would make up for two negative defenders Knowing you still have Olajuwon and Pippen there.

Miller was an above-average defender.

Stockton
Jordan
Pippen
Olajuwon
Robinson

Stockton is a great scorer, defender and passer, the best PG of the 90s. Olajuwon and Robinson can play together and are better both ends than having either Malone or Barkley there. Likely the best team formed for any decade.

Stockton
Jordan
Pippen
Malone
Hakeem

PG : Mark Price
SG : Jordan
SF : Glen Rice
PF : Pippen
C : Hakeem
6th : Penny

Great interior defense with Hakeem and wing defense with Scottie. Hakeem can play great help even with illegal defense rule so having Rice in the lineup won't hurt overall defense too much
Combine some help to space the floor due to Rice/Mark shooting ability while MJ can engine the offense with his Scoring load ( also be the POA defender )
Penny as secondary creator off the bench with value impact both end.

ReggiesKnicks wrote:

homecourtloss wrote:

eminence wrote:Rice/Ellis/Scott could be reasonable options for a shooting 3 as well.

I'd toss Blaylock into the PG discussion based on what you're looking for.

Give me

'PG': Jordan
SG: Miller
SF: Mullin
PF: Pippen
C: Olajuwon

Lets get some buckets.

If you could choose any player from the ‘90s, wouldn't you want them to be plus defenders since you could get enough offense anyway? Mullin was a poor defender and Miller not as poor but not good either. I suppose if they played a modern style and bombed three pointers I suppose that offensive boost would make up for two negative defenders Knowing you still have Olajuwon and Pippen there.

Miller was an above-average defender.

You mean above average defender in term of relative to Position or as a whole?
If it the latter I might say he is average D and Very limited in many aspect to be consider any higher than that.