ATL -1 Player League Draft COMPLETE

[-Kees-]

Autopick for docking, Glen Rice.

[-Kees-]

Andrei Kirilenko for Riot, per his list

[bastillon]

Spacing is overrated.

And 3-point shooting doesn't automatically mean spacing threat.

can you mention a poorly spaced team with good offense ? (historically speaking)

to my knowledge the greatest offensive teams were also properly spaced. Oscar's Royals relied heavily on Oscar/Embry pick and roll or Oscar/Lucas pick and pop with the rest of the guys being spread out. Wilt's 76ers had some good shooters, some great slashers, but you couldnt really leave anyone open. Kareem-Oscar Bucks had the best spacing ever seen at the time. Oscar could put up a contested 20 footer relatively efficiently, Kareem was always a concern with his skyhook, McGlocklin was one of the NBA's best shooters, Dandridge had great midrange game, only their PF was a typical Ben Wallace-type player but Oscar hit him on cuts and stuff so his efficiency was high as well. Knicks at the time were obviously a primarily jumpshooting team. Blazers were actually different, as Lucas was more of an inside player, Walton scored a lot inside too (though both had midrange game) but that was bult around motion offense with tons of screens and wasn't particularly effective in the HCO anyway.

after merger happened there were some offensive dynasties. in the 80s Bird's Celtics relied heavily on spacing, with Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ and Ainge all being able to make high percentage midrange shots and Ainge/Bird being the best 3pt shooters in the game. Magic's Lakers not only had their fastbreak but in set offense Cooper/Scott were spacing the floor + Worthy had excellent midrange game, Magic was a great slasher and could shoot midrange as well (+ added 3pt shot later). on top of that Kareem wasn't scoring deep inside like Shaq but more like from 10 feet so that let everybody else slash inside without too much defensive pressure. there were also complimentary players that helped them spread out... like my McAdoo except years older. Isiah's Pistons were pretty much a jumpshooting team. him, Dumars, Laimbeer etc you can't really argue they were poorly spaced.

and that was before the modern defense was invented in the late 80s/early 90s "Jordan Rules". from that point on teams started doubling and triple teaming everyone off of useless offensively players. you didn't really see championship teams without at least couple 3pt shooters (as 3pt shooter I mean someone who had to be guarded at 3p line):

Bulls: MJ, Pippen, BJ/Kerr/Paxson/Harper all being legit outside threats + Grant and centers being able to hit out to 18 feet. excellent spacing.

Rockets: Hakeem making entire defenses collapse because of must-double-team rule when playing Dream in the post. Horry, Cassell, Kenny, Maxwell, Drexler... all shot 3s, sometimes too often (Mad Max)

Lakers: Shaq making the defense collapse, his PFs being stretch 4s with at least 18 feet range (Grant, Horry, Malone), Kobe a dangerous outside scorer, Fisher, Fox, Glen Rice all amazing shooters.

Sacramento had a team where everyone could make a jumpshot. all perimeter players had excellent 3pt shooting: Bibby, Christie, Peja, Turkoglu; their bigs could knock down midrange shots consistently: Brad Miller, Divac, Webber. jumpshooting offense.

Spurs: Robinson had a 16 footer as his go-to move in HCO... Duncan shot some midrange shots though wasn't a particularly dangerous midrange scorer. but his perimeter players were generally great shooters. tons of guys were there, Elliots, Bowens, Manus, Barrys, Horrys... either way they could shoot.

Pistons were purely a jumpshooting offense with everyone being able to knock down 3pters + Ben Wallace dominating the offensive boards.

Suns with Nash, shooters and finishers were the greatest offensive dynasty in history. spacing was perfect.

Dallas early in the decade was purely offensive team based on 3p shooting and small ball. result ? best offense in the league (until Nash departed to Suns and made them top1 offense). all decade long no spacing problems, particularly easy when you have Dirk.

that's like vast majority of all-time offensive teams and I don't really see anyone as poorly spaced as some of the teams here, despite the talent discrepancy in favor of ATL teams. either the make up of your has been thought-out so that you'll take shooters late, or your offense sucks. no, spacing isn't overrated. spacing is necessary, fundamental factor to have a good offense.

[Snakebites]

I'm sorry to derail discussion, but did bast just list the 04 Pistons on a list of great offensive teams?

As for my selection:

Larry Nance!



Great defense and athleticism, a terrific mid range number to help spread the floor, great shot blocking, and enough athleticism to defend against the more mobile power forwards of the modern era. Extremely happy to be able to snag him in this round. Not an overpowering offensive force, but without a doubt a terrific complementary player for our lineup.

[dockingsched]

Autopick for docking, Glen Rice.

thanks kees, was at a wedding and totally forgot about picking.

[-Kees-]

Autopick for joboblollipop, Marcus Camby

[poopdamoop]

Dale Ellis

[bastillon]

I'm sorry to derail discussion, but did bast just list the 04 Pistons on a list of great offensive teams?

haha, of course thats not what I wanted to say. I included both top offenses of all time as well as championship teams of the last 30 years. either way you don't see poorly spaced teams

[Warriorfan]

Billy Cunningham 20 10 4 avg through career HOF player. HOF coach

[Miller4ever]

Brandon Roy

[CellarDoor]

Joe Johnson

[MJallday59]

Walt Bellamy

[TMACFORMVP]

Mitch Richmond.



I've had the other two guys I was considering.

[TMACFORMVP]

Andre Iguodala for bast.

[lorak]

112 - Robert Horry
113 - Bruce Bowen

[bastillon]

great defender, the one who was truly responsible for Bucks defense in the mid 80s, the original point forward, guy who was a pioneer in everything he did - Paul Pressey

[TMACFORMVP]

Willie Wise.

[MJallday59]

Allen Iverson

[CellarDoor]

Micheall Ray Richardson

[-Kees-]

Miller will take Dan Majerle, per his list.