I got this idea from Bill Simmons, but the basic premise of it is that if aliens came to Earth and challenged us to a basketball game with the fate of the universe resting on who won the game, which players would you choose to protect the world? Simmons chose from every NBA player ever, but for our sake, we will choose only players from this last season. This doesn't mean I'm choosing the best players at their positions, but rather I'm creating the best team (for example - Kobe and LeBron are the best at their respective positions, but could you really see them playing well together? Probably not).
Starting 5
PG - Chris Paul - He is unselfish, the best pure passer in the league, and a great defender.
SG - Dwayne Wade - Just as many points as Kobe but with less shots, and a higher assist average. He is also the best defender of the elite SG's.
SF - LeBron James - Who else could I pick? Can score at will, fights for rebounds, and gets others involved. But will take over when he feels the team needs him to.
PF - Chris Bosh - Athletic and energetic, can spread the floor and make 15 footers which clears out space for Wade and LeBron who need to drive to be effective. Also, a better defender than his challengers for this spot.
C - Dwight Howard - On the condition that we tell him his only job is to rebound and defend. We have enough scoring options already, and we need to make him get offensive boards and make those aliens scared to drive to the hoop.
Sixth Man - Carmelo Anthony - You want your sixth man to come off the bench and provide scoring, and Melo is the best pure scorer in the league. He has also improved defensively in the last few years to where it isn't a total liability.
Bench
1. Dirk Nowitzki - Another phenomenal score who can make you pay at the free throw line.
2. Tim Duncan - His veteran presence will keep everyone playing loose throughout the game, plus his defensive savvy will anchor the subs.
3. Deron Williams - Another great passer who can also light up the scoreboard and defend bigger guards.
4. Gerald Wallace - We might need a lock down defender who can guard 3 positions, and Wallace is our man.
5. Stephen Curry - Young player who will know his place on the team and can come in as a three point specialist and a cooler (aka he will make free throws to put away games).
Good luck aliens.
7 years ago
First off LeYawn and Kobe play pretty well together if you recall the 2008 Redeem Team that won the gold (even though they are no where near the dream team)
ReplyDeletealso how are you not even going to have Kobe on your bench? I understand starting Wade with the facts you gave but not even having him travel to the game?
where is Nash? what was that earlier blog about him being in the top 20 all time? and how bout your up and coming boy Kevin Durant? and after the Celtics post season performance I think Rondo should at least be in this conversation.
lets not forget the Celtics road to the finals was first against Wade then LeYawn then Howard and top it off by going to the seventh game against Kobe that's a pretty impressive road.
My rebuttals to all of your points:
ReplyDelete1.) They did play pretty well together, but not extremely well. I won't start Kobe for the points I have already made, but do you really think Kobe would take a back seat and come off the bench? I would compare him to Allen Iverson in that regard. Detroit asked AI to come off the bench and that situation blew up. Same thing would happen if Kobe were asked to come off the bench.
2.) Nash is one of the best PG's ever, but thats his career as a whole. I was picking people based on this season only, not their careers as a whole. This season, Nash was terrible on defense and that is too much of a liability.
3.)Kevin Durant still isn't there defensively, and Melo is still a better and more efficient scorer. I already had enough scorers, and needed some defenders (aka Wallace).
4.) Rondo has proved that he is an elite point guard, but is he better than Deron and Paul? I just don't think so, and I don't need 3 PG's on my team.