2020 Historic Draft: How’s My Team Look: Conference Finals winners announced!!

[action781]

Boston Celtics

C: Marc Gasol
F: Pau Gasol
F: Kevin Durant
G:
G: Steve Nash


So my plan for this team solidified itself in the 4th round with the selection of Marc Gasol. I was going back and forth between building a team in this style (a big lineup) or whether to go with Pau at center alongside a quicker PF to play uptempo.


My team plan is similar to the Spanish National team - both because I admire their team makeup and because I got both of their starting bigs who formed the foundation of that team.

Twin towers alongside 3 outside shooters to space the floor for them. Basic enough. My twin towers are both highly gifted passers and with Nash at PG, this team should share the ball well. Unselfish guys who will look for the best shot for the team rather than just themselves.

This is one of my favorite teams so far if not my favorite.  I think the Gasol bros chemistry will be fantastic.  Nash I mentioned I'm a huge fan of (had him as my #10 overall player) and think he'd be scoring 25+ppg today only because he's just too unselfish to get to 30.  You'd have to do something pretty crazy with your pics to mess this up.

[Somebody]

Now for my team: Denver Nuggets:
PG: Gary Payton
SG: ??
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Draymond Green
C: Tim Duncan

If anyone has any suggestions/critiques, please let me know! If you feel like giving specific suggestions, you can pm me. I'd definitely appreciate it!

I love the frontline. It's probably the only frontline besides mine that I'd consider giving the title of best defensive frontcourt as of right now, and the offensive fit is fantastic - Draymond was a very good three point shooter in 2016 (he was shooting almost 39% on over 3 attempts per game), which would work wonders for spacing around Duncan. His passing also helps him synergise with Duncan offensively by helping Duncan get easy looks around the basket.

I think Payton in the backcourt is great for your team - he was a very good offensive player who could do everything except for spamming three pointers like a modern star PG (which you really don't need tbh, it would diminish Duncan's offensive value). I don't think his defence moves the needle much, I think his not-sublime foot speed and tendency to really use his hands on that end makes him a good but not great guard defender. I'd consider selecting a defensive maestro at SG to help contain point of attack guards.

I like the Carmelo pick on offence, there's enough evidence out there that he can scale into a deadly spot up isolation scorer on absolutely stacked teams. I don't like how he hurts your defence though - to me a certain modern wing would've been perfect for your squad with his all round offensive game and strong wing defence.

I'd say try and find two wings who can shoot and defend to play as your SG and SF, that would really tighten up your defence - and if one of them has creation abilities it'd add extra value to your offence. Or select another combo guard who isn't a sieve on defence but can provide offensive value to pair with Payton in the backcourt and follow it up with a 3 and D savant.

[Somebody]

I’m pretty psyched with my team, but I’ll open it up to analysis.

Alonzo Mourning
Karl Malone
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Manu Ginobili

That’s two MVPs, a DPOY and a four-time champion.  We’ll add shooting and somebody who can run the pick-and-roll at the PG position, I imagine.

I like how physical your frontcourt is, although I have concerns about their mobility on defence (Mourning should be fine, but Malone is just pretty risky imo when you're playing a frontline of this size). Absolutely love your Manu pickup, he's an underrated offensive engine who powered the San Antonio attack to further heights as they moved away from Duncan-ball. Would probably want a strong two way PG to round out the lineup (Lowry would've been perfect for you lol).

[Somebody]

Thoughts about my team?

C - Joel Embiid
PF - Dirk
SF - Hayward
G -
PG - Tony Parker

2 Finals MVPs, numerous Championship between Parker and Dirk, solid offense from Dirk-Embiid-GH and defensive anchor in Embiid.

The offence looks good - you've got one of the rare big man engines in Dirk and have a truly underrated floor general in Parker to run offence with. Hayward adds nice extra value to the offence while Embiid gives you a second post option to score with. Not enamoured with the defence - Dirk will have a hard time defending in this format, I think you should've went for a more mobile defensive anchor (sort of in the Robinson/Big Ben/Howard mould) who can both protect the rim and provide lightning-quick help defence without compromising the former.

[Somebody]

Want to take a minute to give my thoughts on a few of my favourite teams. In no particular order...

Boston: Despite stealing Marc Gasol from right under my nose, I love the makeup of this team. Durant is the most efficient high-level scorer (in terms of repeatedly putting up points) we've seen since Bird, and he's put alongside another 50/40/90 guy in Nash. Crazy stuff. Nash is also a top-3 passer available in the draft pool, so that could unlock some real fun.
The Gasol brothers are great too. Great passing, good scoring from all 3 levels, Pau is a good rebounder and Marc is an elite defender. And we know they have chemistry - they're brothers.
I'd like to see a defensive minded guard taken to be put alongside Nash, as I think he's rather weak defensively. Yet considering the offensive firepower, it doesn't need to be a guy who could score 20PPG too. A solid 3&D guy to basically stand in the corner and cut all over the place on offence would be awesome.

Milwaukee: The most physically imposing team of the group, which I think is extra impressive considering they don't have Shaq. This team wants to bury you inside and is not interested in making friends. A couple of great steals (Malone & Ginobili) who probably shouldn't have fallen as far as they did, and who probably weren't Roy's initial targets. However, I think they fit right in. Obviously there's a shooting concern, but there are a number of great shooters available to open up for that Hydra of inside forces.

Brooklyn: Another team that is heaps of fun. I loved prime T-Mac - thought he was going to compete with Kobe for the crown of best SG for years before he got hurt. Reuniting him with Yao and then adding in AD and Marion is great stuff. That is one hugely long team. Trying to score on this team is going to be an issue, especially at the rim. So much vertical spacing.

Utah: Shaq and Al up front is a real fire and ice duo, and I like it. Then you have one of the most underappreciated shooters ever on the wing, and a do it all dynamo point guard. Think you've constructed a roster to highlight Shaq's strengths and cover his weaknesses quite well, which is basically the key way to build around him. Everyone knows how much of a force he is.

Denver: I love the wildly different personalities on this team. I think the fire that GP and Draymond bring would really help Melo, but Timmy is always there whenever they need to be reigned in. Melo IMO shouldn't have really fallen this far, I rate him as highly as I rate Vince Carter, so he was a really strong pickup. Very interested to see where you go with the next two rounds.

Toronto: I love KG and The Admiral. Two amazing defensive bigs with different strengths on offence. Vince was a good pick, both in terms of fit and talent at the time available. Volume scorer who was efficient. I think there are better PG's available than Lowry, but conversely I think of the remaining All-Star level PG's he fits your team the best. Lowry and KG is tied for most annoying duo to face with Draymond and Payton.

I actually thought of KG and the Admiral in a similar vein on offence - both were bigs who could stretch the floor and pass while providing teammates a great lob threat. I guess their manner of isolation attacks were different (the Admiral loved to slash or pull up while KG loved to execute spins and fades), but they both operated in the high post.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I’m pretty psyched with my team, but I’ll open it up to analysis.

Alonzo Mourning
Karl Malone
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Manu Ginobili

That’s two MVPs, a DPOY and a four-time champion.  We’ll add shooting and somebody who can run the pick-and-roll at the PG position, I imagine.

That is a ton of size in the frontcourt, it's downright scary.

And I drafted Zo in the previous Historical Draft, and I can attest that he has enough a range on his jump shot for this team to stretch the floor. It could probably use a little bit more top tier shooting, but anyone else thinks that a Malone-Zo combo can't stretch the floor enough, I would disagree.

[Somebody]

Now, if anyone would be so kind as to give a few thoughts on my Clippers:

PG: Steph Curry (2015-2016)
SG: Michael Redd (2005-2006)
SF: Grant Hill (1999-2000)
PF: Elton Brand (2005-2006)

I think it's a pretty good team on both ends of the floor - you don't have any problematic defenders and you've got a good but not great cast around Curry (I'm not a fan of the Redd pick, there were better wings on the table who would've killed it alongside Curry). You pretty much only need a versatile big to round out the frontcourt, I think you know who I'm pushing for

[Somebody]

I’m pretty psyched with my team, but I’ll open it up to analysis.

Alonzo Mourning
Karl Malone
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Manu Ginobili

That’s two MVPs, a DPOY and a four-time champion.  We’ll add shooting and somebody who can run the pick-and-roll at the PG position, I imagine.

That is a ton of size in the frontcourt, it's downright scary.

And I drafted Zo in the previous Historical Draft, and I can attest that he has enough a range on his jump shot for this team to stretch the floor. It could probably use a little bit more top tier shooting, but anyone else thinks that a Malone-Zo combo can't stretch the floor enough, I would disagree.

Both of them provided more than enough floor spacing back then, they'll do fine in this format even if they don't develop a three point shot.

[gouki88]

Now, if anyone would be so kind as to give a few thoughts on my Clippers:

PG: Steph Curry (2015-2016)
SG: Michael Redd (2005-2006)
SF: Grant Hill (1999-2000)
PF: Elton Brand (2005-2006)

I think it's a pretty good team on both ends of the floor - you don't have any problematic defenders and you've got a good but not great cast around Curry (I'm not a fan of the Redd pick, there were better wings on the table who would've killed it alongside Curry). You pretty much only need a versatile big to round out the frontcourt, I think you know who I'm pushing for

If you don't take him (or someone else) I might have to

[Somebody]

Now, if anyone would be so kind as to give a few thoughts on my Clippers:

PG: Steph Curry (2015-2016)
SG: Michael Redd (2005-2006)
SF: Grant Hill (1999-2000)
PF: Elton Brand (2005-2006)

I think it's a pretty good team on both ends of the floor - you don't have any problematic defenders and you've got a good but not great cast around Curry (I'm not a fan of the Redd pick, there were better wings on the table who would've killed it alongside Curry). You pretty much only need a versatile big to round out the frontcourt, I think you know who I'm pushing for

If you don't take him (or someone else) I might have to

That's what I like to hear

[wdleehi]

I’m pretty psyched with my team, but I’ll open it up to analysis.

Alonzo Mourning
Karl Malone
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Manu Ginobili

That’s two MVPs, a DPOY and a four-time champion.  We’ll add shooting and somebody who can run the pick-and-roll at the PG position, I imagine.

I have just  one question, does having two big men like Mourning and Malone clog the lanes to much for Giannis to be at his best?   

[Roy H.]

I’m pretty psyched with my team, but I’ll open it up to analysis.

Alonzo Mourning
Karl Malone
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Manu Ginobili

That’s two MVPs, a DPOY and a four-time champion.  We’ll add shooting and somebody who can run the pick-and-roll at the PG position, I imagine.

I have just  one question, does having two big men like Mourning and Malone clog the lanes to much for Giannis to be at his best?

I don’t think so.  Malone and Mourning both had face up games and jumpers out to 20 feet.  I think they both would have added a jumper in the modern era.

And, I think for elite players the “clogged lane” thing gets overrated.  The lane was clogged throughout the history of basketball, and the truly great guys have always found a way to score.

[gouki88]

I’m pretty psyched with my team, but I’ll open it up to analysis.

Alonzo Mourning
Karl Malone
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Manu Ginobili

That’s two MVPs, a DPOY and a four-time champion.  We’ll add shooting and somebody who can run the pick-and-roll at the PG position, I imagine.

I have just  one question, does having two big men like Mourning and Malone clog the lanes to much for Giannis to be at his best?

I don’t think so.  Malone and Mourning both had face up games and jumpers out to 20 feet.  I think they both would have added a jumper in the modern era.

And, I think for elite players the “clogged lane” thing gets overrated.  The lane was clogged throughout the history of basketball, and the truly great guys have always found a way to score.

Plus, if you note Roy's signature, he's got Somebody Amazing running the point a deadly floor-spacer if I've ever seen one.

I think given a) Giannis and Malone are good passers and b) Malone and Mourning are good mid-range shooters it isn't an issue

[Somebody]

Toronto Raptors

PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: David Robinson

Plan for this team is to attack the opposing team's weak link(s) with global offence: all of my players can handle the ball, pass and score on all three levels. We'll be relying on the best defensive frontcourt in this draft to buoy our defence with length, speed and intensity while having some pesky perimeter defenders in Lowry and Middleton. Thoughts on the team?

[gouki88]

Toronto Raptors

PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: David Robinson

Plan for this team is to attack the opposing team's weak link(s) with global offence: all of my players can handle the ball, pass and score on all three levels. We'll be relying on the best defensive frontcourt in this draft to buoy our defence with length, speed and intensity while having some pesky perimeter defenders in Lowry and Middleton. Thoughts on the team?

Nasty team. KG is fricken awesome, and he's got three ~40% three point shooters next to him, as well as a great defensive anchor. I think a defensive specialist wing could be an awesome addition. Or a super-offensively focused big