Teams in their prime

Iwasawitness · Post #1 » by **Iwasawitness** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:26 am

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.

Up-And-Coming · Post #2 » by **Up-And-Coming** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:48 am

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

Daddy 801 · Post #3 » by **Daddy 801** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:53 am

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.

SlimShady83 · Post #4 » by **SlimShady83** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:02 am

Kobe/Shaq Lakers =3peat GG NBA

Stan · Post #5 » by **Stan** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:09 am

2011 Celtics

Rondo
Allen
Pierce
KG
Shaq

I feel like that'd be hard to beat.

Bornstellar · Post #6 » by **Bornstellar** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:34 am

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

Dominator83 · Post #7 » by **Dominator83** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:46 am

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

trelos6 · Post #8 » by **trelos6** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 9:40 am

‘86 Celtics would be quite good.

DJ, Bird, Walton, McHale, Parish, Ainge

‘12 Thunder

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

-Luke- · Post #9 » by **-Luke-** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 9:56 am

Late 80's Lakers won championships. Now put Kareem in his 20s instead of old man Kareem on that team.

Haldi · Post #10 » by **Haldi** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:05 am

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

_NoMas · Post #11 » by **_NoMas** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:14 am

2021 Clippers:

Rondo, PG, Kawhi, Ibaka, Boogie

2023 Clippers:

Westbrook, Harden, PG, Kawhi, Zubac

-Luke- · Post #12 » by **-Luke-** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:15 am

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

FreeBird23 · Post #13 » by **FreeBird23** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:19 am

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

Haldi · Post #14 » by **Haldi** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:35 am

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

Yoshun · Post #15 » by **Yoshun** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:13 am

07-08 Heat

Penny
Wade
Marion
Zo
Shaq

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

DaddyCool19 · Post #16 » by **DaddyCool19** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:50 am

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.

basketballRob · Post #17 » by **basketballRob** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:04 pm

2003 Lakers.

Gary Payton
Karl Malone
Shaq
Kobe
Fox

Horace Grant

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

gavran · Post #18 » by **gavran** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:12 pm

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.

MartyConlonJr · Post #19 » by **MartyConlonJr** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:13 pm

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

bledredwine · Post #20 » by **bledredwine** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 12:22 pm

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-)