Ver. 2018: Pick an all-time starting 5

[blueadams]

Rules of the game: Modern-NBA rules. Pick an all-time starting 5.. to play in a tournament.. against other starting 5's that any other board member or nba expert may come up with. In other words.. pick a team that could best match up against ANY team.

My team..

C: Hakeem. I'd love to play LeBron as a super stretch-5. But I'd get killed inside against an all-time great big man (Hakeem, Kareem, Shaq, Wilt, etc.). Shaq, Wilt, Russell.. I don't consider.. as all were career 50'ish % FT shooters.. and I don't want to get hack-a-Drummond'ed. For me, this pick came down to Hakeem or Kareem. Both obviously great offensive players. Both obviously great defensive players. Both great competitors, team players, etc.. all the intangibles. But I picked Hakeem > Kareem because I think he'd be better guarding perimeter greats on switches, or someone like LeBron at the 5 if someone got cute and went there.

Michael Jordan. Position TBD. Best perimeter scorer of all-time. Maybe the best perimeter defender of all-time. Maybe the best winner of all-time. Maybe the best player of all-time. Easy pick for me.

LeBron James. Position TBD. Incredible perimeter scorer. Incredible perimeter (and interior) defender. Great competitor. Pass-first guy who would really thrive on a team like this. Another easy pick for me.

Kobe Bryant. Position TBD. Closest thing there is to a clone of Mike. Great perimeter scorer. Great perimeter defender. Great competitor. Hasn't always been known as a team player. But always loved his role as the shut-down defender on Team USA. And that's what he'd be here.

Larry Bird. Position TBD. Toughest pick of them all. Great team-player. Great competitor. Great scorer. Great outside shooter. Okay defender. Okay athleticism. Magic was never that great of a defender, or an outside shooter. Durant isn't what I'd call tough, or a winner. Steph could be exploited defensively. Bird.

C: Hakeem
PF: LeBron
SF: Bird
SG: Kobe
PG: MJ