Whimsical: Would an "All-time" Pacer team beat the Warriors superteam

[Topofthekey]

The Pacers aren't as illustrious a franchise as say the Celtics or Lakers

But say you were able to put together a Pacer starting 5 by picking from the best Pacer players in the last 30 years or so

I'm saying last 30 years or so, because I'm thinking only of players who either entered the league or were in their prime from mid-late 80's onwards, as the game was quite different before that, I feel

Who would be your starting 5, and how do you think they would perform against the current version of the Warriors superteam

I suppose you can throw in a 6th man as well, and just assume the rest of the squad is filled up by average-ish FA fillers

[cruwinas]

Nope. Under current rules it would take a bunch of Hall of Famers to have a competitive series against of them. Guys, who are in HOF, were not such prolific and deadly three point shooters. Though, they could defend, but defense is forbidden in modern NBA.

[Wizop]

you make a big mistake thinking the older players wouldn't be stars today if they trained like the current players.

McGinnis, gives us the edge at 4. O'Neal, Smits, and Daniels hold their own at 5. Brown and Klay offset. Artest lock down defender. Reggie shoots. Lewis, Jackson, and Buse aren't slouches.

guarding Durant is a problem. duh. what current player guards him?

Sent from my phone.

[SmashMouthRod]

Absolutely. But Its not a fair proposal because Golden States advantage is that they run about a 9 deep row. Thats always been their ace in the pocket.

Green
Durant
Iguodala
Thompson
CUrry
Livingston
McCaw
J. Bell or D. West
McGee 2017/Cousins 2018

Indy All-Time

J. O'Neal
Granger
Artest
P. George
Oladipo
M. Jackson
R. Miller
J. Rose
A. Harrington or M. Turner

Matchups
Artest on Klay
George on Curry
Oladipo on Iguodala
Granger on Durant
O'Neal on Green

In this scenario Green gets into foul trouble quickly, while Curry and Klay struggle to find space.

[Scoot McGroot]

Absolutely. But Its not a fair proposal because Golden States advantage is that they run about a 9 deep row. Thats always been their ace in the pocket.

Green
Durant
Iguodala
Thompson
CUrry
Livingston
McCaw
J. Bell or D. West
McGee 2017/Cousins 2018

Indy All-Time

J. O'Neal
Granger
Artest
P. George
Oladipo
M. Jackson
R. Miller
J. Rose
A. Harrington or M. Turner

Matchups
Artest on Klay
George on Curry
Oladipo on Iguodala
Granger on Durant
O'Neal on Green

In this scenario Green gets into foul trouble quickly, while Curry and Klay struggle to find space.

You are young, aren’t you!

[SmashMouthRod]

Absolutely. But Its not a fair proposal because Golden States advantage is that they run about a 9 deep row. Thats always been their ace in the pocket.

Green
Durant
Iguodala
Thompson
CUrry
Livingston
McCaw
J. Bell or D. West
McGee 2017/Cousins 2018

Indy All-Time

J. O'Neal
Granger
Artest
P. George
Oladipo
M. Jackson
R. Miller
J. Rose
A. Harrington or M. Turner

Matchups
Artest on Klay
George on Curry
Oladipo on Iguodala
Granger on Durant
O'Neal on Green

In this scenario Green gets into foul trouble quickly, while Curry and Klay struggle to find space.

You are young, aren’t you!

Yes. I know I didnt exactly put all of the best Pacers in there based on all-time rankings. I compiled a roster of the best pacers who could beat Golden State playing them within the current rules.

[Boneman2]

Reggie Miller was absolutely built for today's NBA. Could you imagine him shooting over 800 threes in a season? He'd fit right in.

[Wizop]

I was so focused on the old times I forgot PG13. he guards Durant. that gives us a front court of PG, JO. and Big Mac. lots of depth too. Rik, Mel, Davises, DWest, Rajah, Artest.

Sent from my phone.

[Ruaidri]

Mckey and Dale Davis would also be good fits. Remember we were experimenting Artest as PF before the brawl.

Rookie Tinsley.
Reggie miller
Paul George
Ron artest
Jermaine O’neal

Bench:
Granger, Dale Davis, derrick McKey, mark Jackson.
This team can defend GSW and has a lot of power and scoring to destroy them.

[winter_mute_13]

Eh...

The Warriors have 2 MVPs in Curry and Durant. In the NBA, the Pacers have never had anyone even named to 1st team All-NBA. To put it in context, the best ever NBA Pacers are on the talent level of Draymond and Klay. Maybe an "All-time" NBA Pacers team can win with depth, but they aren't winning with talent.

Now maybe if you include the ABA Pacers, there would be more of an argument. It's way before my time though, so I can't really judge.

[Wizop]

the Pacers have never had anyone even named to 1st team All-NBA. ...Now maybe if you include the ABA Pacers, there would be more of an argument. It's way before my time though, so I can't really judge.

it's the other way around. the ABA Championship teams would give them a run all by themselves. let them upgrade the 2 spot and the bench with NBA Pacers and we're a superteam too.

FYI, George McGinnis was 1st team all NBA after he left the Pacers for bigger money. any all-time Pacer team starts George at the 4.

[Vorda]

M.Jackson-Miller-PG-O'Neal-Smits

Oladipo-Person-J.Rose-D.West-A.Davis

GSW is better team... they just have more talent...

[Topofthekey]

I actually think a lineup of

Vic
Reggie
PG
Granger
Dale Davis

Can beat the Warriors in a 7 game series

Defensively, that starting 5 is sound

On offense, you basically put the ball in Vic and PG's hands and let them take turns going at the Warriors' defense; if either of them can't get going, Granger is always a reliable scoring option and can easily step up

Reggie's ability to move off the ball should also create plenty of scoring opportunities for the team and make it even easier for Vic and PG to do their work; I'd like to see Klay or whoever chase after Reggie all over the court

As long as the Vic and PG (or Granger) can keep the score close (I think they can), it doesn't matter when PG inevitably mentally checks out near the end of the game, Reggie is going to deliver those daggers at the end

[pizza guy]

For me, I think you've gotta come at GSW with real defense and athleticism. As much as I hesitate to do it, I think Ron Artest has to be on a team built to compete with the greatest offense of this generation. I like the front court of JO and Rik because both can score and defend, but it would be a little slow and not the best rebounding. So I'd probably play JO at center and put Rik and Dale Davis on the bench.

Reggie is the SG, there's no doubt. He and Chuck Person could shoot well enough to keep up with Curry and Klay.

Where I really have an issue is deciding on Paul George, because he's clearly the best match-up we'd have against Durant. Since Paul don't make the decisions around here, I'd play him at PF next to JO.

Point Guard is a little tough as well, but mostly because it's a pretty shallow pool to pick from. Mark Jackson has always been one of my favorite players, though, and he could work Curry in the post.

Mark Jackson
Reggie
Artest
PG
JO

Vic
Person
Jalen
DD
Rik

I think that lineup could play pretty strong defense on the Warriors while also being able to shoot well enough to stay in it.

The ABA guys are legends, but sadly I don't know enough about them to speak knowledgeably, so I stuck with NBA guys.

[mirrornick]

This one is easy
Tinsley
Miller
Artest
PG13
JO

Not going to add old players who played in 70s/80s due to gap of eras.

[Wizop]

This one is easy
Tinsley
Miller
Artest
PG13
JO

Not going to add old players who played in 70s/80s due to gap of eras.

you'd want Freddie Lewis or Don Buse at point to defend Curry. Artest on Klay and PG on Durant. JO probably forces them to play a true center which puts Draymond at 4. so maybe we put Reggie on Klay and Artest on Draymond. if they play small, we play Granger instead of JO.

I'd want Roger Brown, George McGinnis, and Mel Daniels but I get you guys never saw them play. There's a reason though that their numbers are retired.

Sent from my phone.

[mirrornick]

This one is easy
Tinsley
Miller
Artest
PG13
JO

Not going to add old players who played in 70s/80s due to gap of eras.

you'd want Freddie Lewis or Don Buse at point to defend Curry. Artest on Klay and PG on Durant. JO probably forces them to play a true center which puts Draymond at 4. so maybe we put Reggie on Klay and Artest on Draymond. if they play small, we play Granger instead of JO.

I'd want Roger Brown, George McGinnis, and Mel Daniels but I get you guys never saw them play. There's a reason though that their numbers are retired.

Sent from my phone.

Let's not forget to mention that the Warriors have Demarcus Cousins now. JO would get that assignment.

Also I would rather put Artest on KD. Klay Thompson is not much of threat other than catch and shoot. Artest is a better defender than PG13. I would remove Tinsley then, insert Oladipo at the point.

Oladipo - Curry
Miller - Thompson
Artest - KD
PG13 - Draymond
JOneal - Cousins

probably goes 7 games

[Wizop]

Let's not forget to mention that the Warriors have Demarcus Cousins now.

if we get all time Pacers, do they get all time Warriors? That puts Wilt at center and Dr. J. at small forward. McGinnis could be on either team.

[mirrornick]

Let's not forget to mention that the Warriors have Demarcus Cousins now.

if we get all time Pacers, do they get all time Warriors? That puts Wilt at center and Dr. J. at small forward. McGinnis could be on either team.

I think OP question was would an all time pacers team beat the current Warriors.

[Wizop]

I think OP question was would an all time pacers team beat the current Warriors.

yes, I took it to mean last year's Warriors which is why I hadn't considered Cousins. it's a fun question but I doubt any one season team could beat any team's all-time best playing at their prime.