Best All Time Starting Lineup

by sap on May 31, 2008 11:45 PM CDT

If you had to create an all time starting lineup, who would be in it? I think you have to consider the players situations and such. An example is that as good as Wilt Chamberain many people, including me, think that he would not be anywhere as dominant if he played against better competition.

My starting lineup consists of:

PG: Magic Johnson

SG: Michael Jordan

SF: Larry Bird

PF: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

C: Bill Russell

Magic Johnson was an extremely versatile who could play any position. He could shoot, pass, and play defense.

Michael Jordan. Enough Said.

Larry Bird is an extremely clutch shooter, and had the chance of making or creating a play anywhere on the court.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a sky hook that is godly and is great defensively.

Bill Russell is the most winningnest player in NBA history. Has incredible defense in rebounding and blocking shots.

Considerations/Reserves

Oscar Robertson, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, and Jerry West.

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Easy

PG-Chris Duhon
SG-Kirk Hinrich
SF-Larry Hughes
PF-Andres Nocioni
C-Ben Wallace

Rusty Longley v 2.0

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 1, 2008 12:11 AM CDT 0 recs

Why wouldn't you go

with a four guard lineup there?

by YaoPau on Jun 1, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

I need some size

Rusty Longley v 2.0

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 1, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ozzie

I think this one kills your lineup:

PG: Randy Brown (awesome PG)
SG: Chris Duhon (I loved when Duh would switch to SG, very effective)
SF: Jalen Rose (he’d score 27 pts on 40 shots and hog the ball at will).
PF: Marcus Fizer (my favorite #4 pick all time)
C: Ben Wallace (the Big Ben of 2007-08 folks, not earlier Big B)

by majoyenrac on Jun 2, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

You gotta have Wilt

he played the same competition as many of the guys on your list. I think you have to consider Kobe as well. If you want to go for a single championship, and take single season dominance Pete Maravich could be there. But on consistent body of work I would probably agree with you, except Wilt is my Center and Russell is PF.

by gillrowdy on Jun 1, 2008 12:20 AM CDT 0 recs

Or even 'The Bron'

At the very least he is not a ball hog…and at the best, i dont know if anyone could stop when he is slashing….Here is mine

Magic
Jordan
Kobe
James
Shaq

All in thier prime….oh and for 6th man i would have kirk. (i had to, he might not be a bull anylonger and me throwing him in conversation will become obsolete)

On Behalf of Sue, Wjb, Bullshooter, and all the other Hinrich fans...Ill keep the Hinrich Hope coming...There will be light....

by piccolomair on Jun 1, 2008 1:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

Oh BEST lineupyou say?

PG-John Stockton
SG-MJ
SF-Scottie Pippen
PF-Tim Duncan
C-Hakeem Olajuwan

Let’s say all of them are in peak athletic condition, that means I have 2 of the greatest perimeter defenders of all-time, 2 of the greatest interior defenders, one of whom is the best shot blocker of the modern era. Offense, I have a top 2 PG, Michael freaking Jordan, the greatest PF of all-time, and a top 5 center who possessed some of the greatest footwork a big man has ever displayed, not to mention an unbelievably gifted passer.

Competitively, this team rips the heart out of anyone. The quiet and humble leadership of Dream and Duncan coupled with the “Look at me the wrong way and I’ll drop 50 on you” intensity of Jordan.

Rusty Longley v 2.0

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 1, 2008 12:22 AM CDT 0 recs

Bench players

Magic, Kobe, Bird, Malone(maybe Kevin McHale), Shaq

Rusty Longley v 2.0

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 1, 2008 12:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

I like this squad

because it would be a real team, instead of just 5 amazing players. Not sure about your bench though.

by sic on Jun 1, 2008 4:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

nice

this was what i was thinking. i always liked stockton over magic.

I don't know what to put there...

by Yibs on Jun 1, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

To be fair I am too young to have watched Magic's glory days

My knowledge of the 80s superstars is based on ESPN Classic, NBA TV, and YouTube. I just like Stockton because he’s a deadly shooter, plays tough defense, and seemed to know when to always make the right pass. You don’t need 5 scorers, that’s why Pip’s the ideal SF for any of these kinds of teams.

Rusty Longley v 2.0

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 1, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Magic
Jordan
LeBron – Pippen
Duncan
Shaq

by TRiCioNeRo on Jun 1, 2008 1:03 AM CDT 0 recs

You think Wilt wouldn't have been as good against better competition, but

you still pick Russell? The starting lineup thing is a little more interesting if you consider that the five guys would have to be able to play with each other. I might be inclined to do something a little different. Surround Jordan with great defenders and unselfish offensive players that are used to playing without the ball.

C-David Robinson-better than his rep, and better suited for twin towers than Hakeem
PF-Tim Duncan-could have been Shaq, but went with the better defender
SF-Kevin Garnett-can defend SF, unselfishness an asset in this role
SG-Michael Jordan
PG-Scottie Pippen-could be Magic, but I again lean toward the superior defender

formerly sbulls

by Scotter on Jun 1, 2008 1:12 AM CDT 0 recs

wilt

when Bill Russell came into the league he dominated Chamberlain showing that Wilt could not stand up to tougher competition.

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"-Bluto Blutarsky

by sap on Jun 1, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Russell's teams may have won

but Wilt dominated the individual, head to head match ups. Considering the wide disparity in talent between Russell’s Celtics and Chamberlain’s 76ers and Warriors, it says much more for Chamberlain that he was able to push the Celtics to 7 game series on a regular basis.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jun 1, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Easy...

Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, and Longley… 72 and 10 baby!

Don't call me doughboy!

by Khalid El-Amin on Jun 1, 2008 3:32 AM CDT 0 recs

Harper too I guess.

Don't call me doughboy!

by Khalid El-Amin on Jun 1, 2008 3:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

Exactly right...

You beat me to it!

Tyrus Thomas is spending the summer as "Greg" on the Real World

by smash! on Jun 2, 2008 10:02 AM CDT up 0 recs

Too hard to pick players before my time

But from my generation, I’d go…

PG Paul
SG Jordan
SF Battier
PF Duncan
C Olajuwon

After the olympic team flops that had a bunch of scorers and no role players, I’d be weary of putting five superstar scorers on the same floor. I imagine Paul, Battier (obviously), and Duncan would take supporting roles and just let Jordan and Hakeem carry the load.

by YaoPau on Jun 1, 2008 10:45 AM CDT 0 recs

i'll give it a shot

1. The Big O
2. 23
3. Scottie Pips
4. Duncan
5. Wilt

my era:

1. Magic
2. 23
3. Scottie Pips
4. Duncan
5. Shaq circa 1999-2000

by Orlando Woolridge on Jun 1, 2008 10:59 AM CDT 0 recs

NIce call on the Big O.

Starters:

1 – Magic
2 – Jordan
3 – Bird
4 – Duncan
5 – Wilt

Subs:

1 – Oscar Robertson
2 – Kobe
3 – Pippen
4 – McHale/Malone (couldn’t decide)
5 – Hakeem

Best defensive 5 ever:

1 – Pippen
2 – Jordan
3 – Bowen
4 – Rodman
5 – Motumbo

"It’d be ridiculous to hate someone for simply what they say in a sports blog. But I greatly dislike every syllable of your angst-filled, smarmy, nondescript, half-assed, elitist-garbage responses." –Rogerspark Kris

by bullhockey on Jun 1, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ummm

Big 0
Jordan
Bird
Duncan
The Dream

and my favorite team is

Penny
Jordan
Pippen
Kemp
The Dream

by McCabe on Jun 1, 2008 1:47 PM CDT 0 recs

Ummmm....You're crazy.

I didn’t read the rest of your post after the views on Wilt.

Wilt Chamberlain is, without a doubt, the best player in NBA history. He would dominate during any era, against any players. If he had swingmen like McGrady or Wade or Kobe or Manu on his team….omigosh. Throw in a defensive power forward like Rodman or Ben Wallace and you’d never score a bucket.

And stating that Wilt “would not be anywhere as dominant if he played against better competition” ignores several facts. In college, at Kansas, he was frequently double- and triple-teamed, while opponents designed strategies specifically to combat his mere presence on the court. In his first decade in the pros he was doing battle with Red and Russel’s Celtics, widely considered to be one of the top dynasties in NBA history. Then at the end of his career, when he completely re-tooled his game for the Lakers, he was battling a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the Milwaukee Bucks.

Magic
MJ
LeBron
Duncan
Wilt

by BullsFanInSeattle on Jun 1, 2008 4:12 PM CDT 0 recs

BullsFaninSeattle along with Sam Smith is 100% correct that Wilt Chamberlin is the best player in NA history

Some evidence to make this case.
At Kansas he was a track star in the 440 and the NCAA high jump champion. He was a professional vollyball player in his 50’s and competed in the Ironman competion. In other words, a magnificient athlete at 7”1” , 300 lbs. with quickness and passing skills of a guard who not only averaged over 30 pts. a game, but also led the league in assists one season.

Wilt, the all time rebounding chamption (23.9 pg lifetime) once got 55 in a single game against Bill Russell. In 1961-2 he averaged 50.4 ppg and 25.7 reb, playing every minute of all the games including OT, despite being triple teamed in an era where there was no such thing as a hard foul.
.
In 3 seasons between 1960-1964. Wilt played in every game, averaging an amazing floor time of 47.4 minutes. He NEVER FOULED OUT DURING HIS ENTIRE CAREER because of his superior athleticism and legendary strength. If records for blocked shots were kept in the past he would hold most of them. According to the book “Wilt”, he outbenched pressed Arnold Schwarzenhegger during the filming of “Conan the Barbarian”. He was truly a man among boys and if medical technology was more advanced, he likely could have competed at a high level into his mid forties after his knee operations limited his mobility but did not prevent him from being a professional volleyball star. To leave him off an all-time NBA lineup is equivilant to leaving Babe Ruth off an all time list of home run leaders. This is truly a no-brainer..

If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost. You can still call him vile names.
Elbert Hubbard

by Tyrusmancrush on Jun 1, 2008 8:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Probably right

Cross generation comparisons are similar to evaluating draft picks; what translates? Wilt did dominate against greatly inferior players. For example, the first time Shaq played against the Bulls, MJ swatted his first shot attempt into the cheap seats just as a statement. There were NO guards and not many forwards challenging the big boys back then. Also, a lot, if not most of Wilt’s scoring feats were accomplished prior to the offensive goaltending rule. I saw some of those games, and a LOT of points came from just putting a hand on the ball on its way in. However, with the amazing package that Wilt possessed, had he been born in say 1975, he’d have developed an entirely different game, but probably still be the strongest, fastest, most vertical etc. So, who knows?

But, I’m assuming Phil as my coach, so I don’t want a low post presence clogging the lane.

Walt Frazier
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Dennis Rodman
Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Think that gets me around 105-110 ppg with the best defensive squad I can imagine. And I only need one ball for it to work.

by California Al on Jun 2, 2008 3:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

Since there's only one ball,

Stacking offensive juggernauts might not be the way to go.

My lineup:
Stockton
MJ
Big O
Hakeem
Wilt

With Subs:
Magic
Kobe
Bird
Russell
Moses Malone

And extras:
Gervin, Kareem and West

"I tell you, Steve Blass, you pitch me inside, they never, never find that ball."
-Roberto Clemente

by cubbybear on Jun 1, 2008 5:16 PM CDT 0 recs

all injury team...

pg TJ Ford/Jay Williams
sg T MAC
sf Grant Hill(He had a chance to be a top 25 player of all time)
pf Jermain Oneal
C Brad Daugherty(he used to be a beast for Cleveland)

CHICAGO MANE!!!!

by YEP on Jun 2, 2008 10:48 AM CDT 0 recs

Bill Walton should be on there, over O'Neal or Daugherty

He would rank with Wilt, Kareem, and Shaq in terms of best centers if it weren’t for his feet

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jun 2, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

You definitley need the Deadhead Walton at starting C

Hell, maybe even Arvydas Sabonis.

Rusty Longley v 2.0

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 2, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

Oden is on his way to breaking the starting lineup too.

by Alogicalperspective on Jun 2, 2008 7:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

But wasnt Walton still a hall of famer....

and Arvydas Sabonis was good but wasnt better than Daugherty…he was a 5 time all star before injuries cut his career short

CHICAGO MANE!!!!

by YEP on Jun 3, 2008 10:57 AM CDT 0 recs

Walton's in the Hall, but remember the basketball HOF is not solely for pro players

He would have been inducted for his time at UCLA more than what he did in the NBA

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jun 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up 0 recs