Design the optimum team around Wilt Chamberlain

[cjx]

F 24-year-old Wondrous Willie Wise (21.0 ppg / 10.0 rpg / 50.5% fg)

F 22-year-old Buck Linwood Williams (17.0 ppg / 12.5 rpg / 59.0% fg)

C 26-year-old Wilt Chamberlain (45.0 ppg / 24.0 rpg / 3.4 apg / 53.0% fg)

Why? My front line is defensively oriented. Buck and Willie were high character players who could play complementary roles adeptly.

G 25-year-old Deron Williams (19.0 ppg / 11.0 apg / 47.0% fg)

G 25-year-old Joe Dumars (17.0 ppg / 6.0 apg / 50.5% fg)

Why? Again, there is an emphasis on defense; concurrently, both guards distribute well, pose a threat from the perimeter, and can score in the clutch.

Bench: 26-year-old Chris Mullin (25.0 ppg / 54% fg / 37.2% 3-pt fg) and 21-year-old Antoine Walker (22.0 ppg / 10.0 rpg / 3.3 apg)

Why? The primary responsibility of my bench is to score, and they'll do that in bunches.

[Matt15]

G-Walt Frazier
G-Clyde Drexler
F-Scottie Pippen
F-Dirk Nowitzki
C-Wilt Chamberlain

[YvesSmith1]

Wilt is a special kind of player...if he's put on a team where the other players are pretty efficient offensively and decent defenders his team would always win....and I'm referring to the high scoring young chamberlain. As long as you make sure he defends as hard as he possibly can(tell him to make his goal to run back to the defensive end ASAP and try to block every shot but instead of swatting it grabbing it with his HUGE hands, and he'll do it). In other words, the other players don't necessarily have to be all stars....they just have to know how to take care of themselves and shoot at a decent clip. All of you are smart enough to know what types of players fit this criteria, so I won't name names.

In other words, having Wilt play in a team oriented system would go against his game style, which is why I partly argue he still wasn't as successful as he should have been from 68-73. Having an individualized team where none of the starting 5 "sucks" and that use their full effort on defense and offense they will always win.

One last thing: if Wilt is to still score 30+ ppg he will need one other rebounder other than himself.

[ThaRegul8r]

Wilt is a special kind of player...if he's put on a team where the other players are pretty efficient offensively and decent defenders his team would always win....and I'm referring to the high scoring young chamberlain. As long as you make sure he defends as hard as he possibly can(tell him to make his goal to run back to the defensive end ASAP and try to block every shot but instead of swatting it grabbing it with his HUGE hands, and he'll do it). In other words, the other players don't necessarily have to be all stars....they just have to know how to take care of themselves and shoot at a decent clip. All of you are smart enough to know what types of players fit this criteria, so I won't name names.

If you bothered to read the OP, the point is to give Wilt the optimum teammates that give him everything he needs to win. You talked about Wilt's team, here's your chance to say would his ideal team would be that would give him the personnel he needs. The whole POINT is to get specific. To NAME NAMES. No one else who participated in this thread had any problem doing so. I'm rather disappointed.

[YvesSmith1]

Ok fine: John Stockton, Sean Elliot, Havlicek(not sure about his offensive capabilities though), Rodman(actually not a good choice because he also is bad free throw shooter, but not necessarily bad either), Wilt 1962.

There, happy? I'm not as a big a buff on a lot of players individual strengths, which is why I gave you and others the option of picking those players given my criteria. You should be happy I gave you the true criteria to getting the most out of Wilt, a formula anyone else wouldn't be able to give you.

Actually at power forward I'd put Happy Hairston, not only is a decent shooter but also a fantastic rebounder, forget rodman.

[ThaRegul8r]

Ok fine: John Stockton, Sean Elliot, Havlicek(not sure about his offensive capabilities though), Rodman(actually not a good choice because he also is bad free throw shooter, but not necessarily bad either), Wilt 1962.

There, happy? I'm not as a big a buff on a lot of players individual strengths

So you didn't "name names" because you didn't actually know much about anyone to be able to provide examples, unlike the other people who have posted in this thread.

You're not aware of any other player in NBA history besides Chamberlain?

Odd. There are plenty of Wilt fans (and fans of other players) whose knowledge is not restricted to Chamberlain (or insert other player here) only. You really should expand. There have been lots of great players who have played the game.

which is why I gave you and others the option of picking those players given my criteria.

I set out the rules for this exercise in the OP. Since you talk about Wilt all the time, I was curious as to what your response to the question being posed would be.

You should be happy I gave you the true criteria to getting the most out of Wilt, a formula anyone else wouldn't be able to give you.

You seem to have a very inflated opinion of yourself and come off as very arrogant in saying that you have so graciously deigned to bestow upon all the ignorant denizens of RealGM knowledge they wouldn't have had otherwise. (As well as knowledge that evidently no coach or GM who were actually there did, but you do. You should have been coaching Wilt then.)



There are many knowledgeable people here. I directed you to this thread because I was curious as to what your answer would be, as I had presumed you had given this some thought. My mistake.

[Sunk Cost]

Chamberlain
Dirk
Havlicek
Allen
Manning

[Warspite]

67 Wilt is going to play in the high post. So I need a low post PF or SF. I need spot up shooters and def stopper on the wing. A good PG with a great long range shot.

If you look at my sig I put that team together in a 16 team draft with the stipulation I had to have a starters from 5 differant decades. I should have taken Gasol and instead of Richmond. That team could play with any team built under the same rules.

1.C Wilt, McHale, Pippen, Dale Ellis, Nash
2.C Wilt, Laimbeer, King, Miller, Isiah


Team 1 would use McHale in the low post with Pippen as a great wing defender/slasher and 2 of the GOAT 3pt shooters in Ellis and Nash.

Team 2 would used King in the low post with laimbeer and Miller on the 3pt line with Isiah able to run the show.

More importantly I fully expect Wilt to develope a mental toughness being around Laimbeer and Isiah. Making Wilt an offical Bad Boy would add a chip to Wilts shoulder that would allow him to destroy any bigman.

[That Nicka]

Gary Payton
Joe Dumars
Scottie Pippen
Lamar Odom
Wilt Chamberlain

[ThaRegul8r]

2.C Wilt, Laimbeer, King, Miller, Isiah

[...]

Team 2 would used King in the low post with laimbeer and Miller on the 3pt line with Isiah able to run the show.

More importantly I fully expect Wilt to develope a mental toughness being around Laimbeer and Isiah. Making Wilt an offical Bad Boy would add a chip to Wilts shoulder that would allow him to destroy any bigman.

*shudders*

[Asianiac_24]

PG Jerry West - Best teammate he worked with, proven chemistry.
SG Dwyane Wade - closer of the game.
SF Scottie Pippen - for defending the best opposing perimeter player.
PF Kevin Garnett - Twin towers with Wilt? His defense, unselfishness, passing ability, it fits Wilt to a T.
C Wilt 62' - Absolute dominant scorer and rebounder

[therealbig3]

PG-Magic: played with one of the GOAT big men in Kareem, and is a big reason why Kareem was so successful...I can see him putting up the same numbers, maybe better, with Wilt, while Wilt gets most of the credit; he also serves as the team's closer; this one is tricky though, as I have Magic top 4, so he kind of is in the discussion for GOAT
SG-Allen: arguably the GOAT shooter, very clutch; perfect person to pair with Wilt
SF-Pippen: GOAT perimeter defender, does everything that a team needs to win, such as scoring, rebounding, defense, and playmaking...strengthens an already formidable frontcourt
PF-Rodman: arguably GOAT rebounder, one of the best defenders of all time, will help Wilt a TON on defense and the boards
C-67 Wilt

Bench: Nash from the Mavs (amazing shooter, can facilitate very well, doesn't dominate the ball); Bowen (another shooter and a perimeter defender that can fill in for Pippen admirably), and Artest (defender that can fill in for Pippen or Rodman admirably)

My team is a little weak with FT shooting though, with Wilt, Bowen, Rodman, Artest, and Pippen...but Nash and Allen are two of the best ever in that department, and Magic was excellent as well, so I don't think it's that big of a deal, just as long as one of them handles the ball down the stretch of close games.

[fatal9]

Didn't want to use more than one MVP caliber player...

Wilt - ideally you want to keep him in exclusively a finishing role on offense (18-20 ppg on 60% or something like that) where he is devoting energy to defense and "playing like Russell"
Grant - workhorse who has a nice midrange game (doesn't clog paint for Wilt/Kobe), great team defender, great interior passer and offensive rebounder. always need players like him in the lineup who don't need touches to be effective.
Pippen - perfect compliment to any team, can score, defend, create and rebound, whatever is needed he can do it.
Kobe - has the takeover mentality on offense that Wilt (and other players on this team) lack, also a demanding leader, makes up for things Wilt lacks (killer instinct, clutch play, leadership etc) but possible ego problems.
Price - one of the GOAT shooters, needed to stretch the floor for Kobe/Wilt, make passes in the post, run/split pick and rolls

Bench: McHale (similar to his early 80s Celtics role), Ray Allen, Porter

Defensively the frontcourt is a nightmare with Wilt/Grant/Pippen and then another great wing defender in Kobe. Offensively, the team would be great at running the triangle, has a proven clutch go to guy in Kobe, nice post offense and finishing in Wilt, outside shooting in Kobe/Price and Pippen to an extent and great playmakers all around.

[Subway Token]

Steve Nash
Ray Allen
Wilt Chamberlain
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowitzki

[YvesSmith1]

So you didn't "name names" because you didn't actually know much about anyone to be able to provide examples, unlike the other people who have posted in this thread.

You're not aware of any other player in NBA history besides Chamberlain?

Odd. There are plenty of Wilt fans (and fans of other players) whose knowledge is not restricted to Chamberlain (or insert other player here) only. You really should expand. There have been lots of great players who have played the game.

I'm familiar with every all star and super star that has ever been in the NBA. However, I like to give precise answers and if I feel I can't do it then I normally don't...especially if I'm supposed to be telling someone about the strengths of weaknesses of role players whom aren't analyzed as extensively by me.

I set out the rules for this exercise in the OP. Since you talk about Wilt all the time, I was curious as to what your response to the question being posed would be.

And you should have been content with the type of answer I gave the first time....I really don't care to hear you blabber about me not following some rule in a thread on an internet forum.

:confused:

You seem to have a very inflated opinion of yourself and come off as very arrogant in saying that you have so graciously deigned to bestow upon all the ignorant denizens of RealGM knowledge they wouldn't have had otherwise. (As well as knowledge that evidently no coach or GM who were actually there did, but you do. You should have been coaching Wilt then.)

Is that your point? So what if I'm arrogant? You should find it refreshing to see it every now and then, but then again given your jack-ass/douch attitude apparently you're not the type to appreciate it. The fact is, most people will give you 1967 Wilt as the shining example when in fact playing to Wilt's strengths would have given him far more success, and 1962 Wilt exemplifies him playing to his peak in terms of his offensive and rebounding prowess...just tell him to put his goal on rebounding the ball and being an ultimate defender and you've got it made. I've told this to others and I'll tell it to you: there is a very qualitative difference between ignorance and arrogance, and don't forget that. Edited.

:roll:

There are many knowledgeable people here. I directed you to this thread because I was curious as to what your answer would be, as I had presumed you had given this some thought. My mistake.

Edited. Check your PM. ~ Doc

[lorak]

Built a perfect team around Wilt = give that team things that Wilt was lack of. And Wilt lack of:
- FT%
- leadership, mental side of the game
So I need players who are good-great FT shooters and who are known for their leadership. I would also like to have at least one player who would be very controversial so part of the journalist attention could be taken away from Wilt – too much public attention was something what always bothered him.

C – Wilt, of course 1967 version
PF – Maurice Lucas. Great leader (he was the leader of 1977 Blazers championship team), strong mentally, you don’t mess with him. Well, read this article about him: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... rice-lucas

SF – Scottie Pippen. Perfect role player, who could do everything.

SG – Kobe Bryant. Leader, clutch player and probably more controversial than Wilt, so all that we need.

PG – Chauncey Billups. Another player with great leadership + great FT%, clucthness, don’t need a lot of a ball to be effective (in fact on offense he could play like pure off guard).

Bench:
Bill Laimbeer – another player as controversial as Wilt + all time great mental toughness and PF/C with three point range
Mark Price – all time great shooter
Bobby Jones – another perfect role player

[Point forward]

Making Wilt an offical Bad Boy would add a chip to Wilts shoulder that would allow him to destroy any bigman.

Man, that would be so SICK.

Wilt, Bird (perfect fit), Aguirre, Dumars, Isiah + Vinnie Johnson, Laimbeer, Rodman, Edwards, Salley

[Laimbeer]

Surround him with guys that can shoot and know how to take a game by the throat.

Wilt - play defense, rebound, and if we see a mismatch we dump the ball in to you and you slam it like you wanted to kill somebody.


Wilt
Duncan
Bird
Reggie
Isiah

Laimbeer
Horry
Chauncey

[Laimbeer]

More importantly I fully expect Wilt to develope a mental toughness being around Laimbeer and Isiah. Making Wilt an offical Bad Boy would add a chip to Wilts shoulder that would allow him to destroy any bigman.

You are a sick person. I like it.

Why not put him on the Bad Boys with Laimbeer, Mahorn, and the whole gang, and drop in Karl Malone for fun?

[ThaRegul8r]

Great responses. I'm considering doing this with all the 5 GOAT centers and taking the consensus answers and perhaps do a round robin or something with all five being on equal footing with teammates that complement their unique games.