How's my Historical Team? (Awesome right!)

[wdleehi]

And with that, I think I have commented on every team here and responded to every question. 

[Roy H.]

Allright, now that I took shots at everyone else's team...

*GULP*

Vlade Divac / Theo Ratliff
Chris Webber
Shawn Marion / Lamar Odom
Manu Ginobli / Andre Iguodala
Baron Davis / Stephon Marbury

Quick thoughts: Strong team with pretty good balance.  You're right, Theo was a big pickup to add some defense.  I'm not a fan of the Starbury selection at all -- I think he's subtraction by addition -- but the rest of the team is excellent if focused.  The Divac/Webber/Iggy/Manu/Diddy lineup is probably the best passing lineup in the game.

You could use some more shooting, and maybe some more leadership.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Hey guys, what about this Nuggets squad huh?

Denver Nuggets

C - '94 - '95 Rik Smits
F - '89 - '90 Patrick Ewing
F - '95 - '96 Grant Hill
G - '02 - '03 Doug Christie
G - '94 - '95 Penny Hardaway

Bench

'97 - '98 Rod Stirckland,
'96 - '97 Glen Rice,
'04 - '05 Tayshaun Prince,
'00 - '01 PJ Brown,
'96 - '97 Luc Longley,

[wdleehi]

Hey guys, what about this Nuggets squad huh?

Denver Nuggets

C - '94 - '95 Rik Smits
F - '89 - '90 Patrick Ewing
F - '95 - '96 Grant Hill
G - '02 - '03 Doug Christie
G - '94 - '95 Penny Hardaway

Bench

'97 - '98 Rod Stirckland,
'96 - '97 Glen Rice,
'04 - '05 Tayshaun Prince,
'00 - '01 PJ Brown,
'96 - '97 Luc Longley,

I like the team as long as Christie can guard the PGs.  Need an athletic PF added to the bench. 

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Tricity Blackhawks  (we are going historical name)


PG  Williams
SG  Ray Allen
SF  Deng
PF  Love
C   Howard

Bench

PG Brandon
SG Petrovic
SF Glen Robinson
PF/C Clifford Robinson (big headband one)
PF/C Aldridge

This is one team my team would have a hard time. Shooters in the starting and bench. Great point guard with great court vision. Rebounders all around.

[Roy H.]

C - '94 - '95 Rik Smits
F - '89 - '90 Patrick Ewing
F - '95 - '96 Grant Hill
G - '02 - '03 Doug Christie
G - '94 - '95 Penny Hardaway

Bench

'97 - '98 Rod Stirckland,
'96 - '97 Glen Rice,
'04 - '05 Tayshaun Prince,
'00 - '01 PJ Brown,
'96 - '97 Luc Longley

A lot of talent here, but I'd like to see you make some trades.

C:  Ewing / Smits
PF:
SF:  Hill / Rice
SG:
PG:  Penny / Strickland

The above is a foundation for a really strong team.  However, to compete in this league you're going to see excellent players at PF and SG.  I don't think that playing Ewing out of position and starting Christie is the answer.

I don't think Christie was ever a great player.  In his best season, he shot 43% from the field, and 33% from three.  Those numbers would take a big hit in this league.

I recommend making some trades, but if you can't, I'd probably run with a Strickland / Penny starting back court.  I like Penny at SG more than I do Grant Hill.  Both are much better choices than Christie, though.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

C - '94 - '95 Rik Smits
F - '89 - '90 Patrick Ewing
F - '95 - '96 Grant Hill
G - '02 - '03 Doug Christie
G - '94 - '95 Penny Hardaway

Bench

'97 - '98 Rod Stirckland,
'96 - '97 Glen Rice,
'04 - '05 Tayshaun Prince,
'00 - '01 PJ Brown,
'96 - '97 Luc Longley

A lot of talent here, but I'd like to see you make some trades.

C:  Ewing / Smits
PF:
SF:  Hill / Rice
SG:
PG:  Penny / Strickland

The above is a foundation for a really strong team.  However, to compete in this league you're going to see excellent players at PF and SG.  I don't think that playing Ewing out of position and starting Christie is the answer.

I don't think Christie was ever a great player.  In his best season, he shot 43% from the field, and 33% from three.  Those numbers would take a big hit in this league.

I recommend making some trades, but if you can't, I'd probably run with a Strickland / Penny starting back court.  I like Penny at SG more than I do Grant Hill.  Both are much better choices than Christie, though.

Nothing but the best insight from sir Roy.

How about if I start PJ at F and move Ewing back to C.

As bad as you think Christie is, he's the only perimeter defender I have that's capable of guarding both guard spots, which is why I'm starting him over Glen Rice. I trust Penny and GHills offense and eqings as well to carry the load and Doug for a few minutes, at least stay up front opposing guards until such time more offense is needed.

But in any case, do you think I need to solidify th 4 spot?

[StartOrien]

In defense of Marbury:

Obviously, the guy is/was a knucklehead. In fact, and I've mentioned this to a few other people, that he's such a knucklehead that it completely outshines what really was a very good career, for a fairly extended period of time.

Check out these assist numbers:

Assists
1997-98 NBA 704 (4)
1998-99 NBA 437 (2)
1999-00 NBA 622 (10)
2001-02 NBA 666 (6)
2002-03 NBA 654 (3)
2003-04 NBA 719 (1)
2004-05 NBA 668 (2)
Career NBA 6471 (21)
Career 6471 (21)

Guy consistently scored 20 ppg, pretty great range, and was consistently a league leader in assists. He was a dynamic scorer, and one of the most inventive passers I've seen.

[wdleehi]

In defense of Marbury:

Obviously, the guy is/was a knucklehead. In fact, and I've mentioned this to a few other people, that he's such a knucklehead that it completely outshines what really was a very good career, for a fairly extended period of time.

Check out these assist numbers:

Assists
1997-98 NBA 704 (4)
1998-99 NBA 437 (2)
1999-00 NBA 622 (10)
2001-02 NBA 666 (6)
2002-03 NBA 654 (3)
2003-04 NBA 719 (1)
2004-05 NBA 668 (2)
Career NBA 6471 (21)
Career 6471 (21)

Guy consistently scored 20 ppg, pretty great range, and was consistently a league leader in assists. He was a dynamic scorer, and one of the most inventive passers I've seen.

Nobody will question his talent.


It is his head and asking him to come off the bench that has some of us worried.

[Moranis]

Since the Mavericks haven't posted at all, I think it is time for the owner to present the team thus far.  The years chosen are in my signature bar.

PG - Rose, Westbrook

SG - Pierce, Stackhouse

SF - Johnson

PF - Malone, Bosh

C - Bynum, Seikaly

I fully expect to have a very up tempo brand of basketball.  

I also tried to find similar style of players for the backup roles as the starters (obviously not quite as talented, but similar styles) that way when I sub in, I can play the exact same brand of basketball.  

I will pick up a few specialists for the deep bench.

[StartOrien]

Nobody will question his talent.


It is his head and asking him to come off the bench that has some of us worried.

I think he'd thrive in a 6th man role. More free reign than he'd be able to get in a starting lineup in any team.

[wdleehi]

Since the Mavericks haven't posted at all, I think it is time for the owner to present the team thus far.  The years chosen are in my signature bar.

PG - Rose, Westbrook

SG - Pierce, Stackhouse

SF - Johnson

PF - Malone, Bosh

C - Bynum, Seikaly

I fully expect to have a very up tempo brand of basketball.  

I also tried to find similar style of players for the backup roles as the starters (obviously not quite as talented, but similar styles) that way when I sub in, I can play the exact same brand of basketball.  

I will pick up a few specialists for the deep bench.

I would use Pierce and Stack as the SF.


I would use Johnson and Westbrook as SG. 


I would find a pass first PG to back up Rose.


I don't like Rose and Westbrook as the two PGs.  One of them as the starting PG is good, but I don't like them as a combo.

[Moranis]

Since the Mavericks haven't posted at all, I think it is time for the owner to present the team thus far.  The years chosen are in my signature bar.

PG - Rose, Westbrook

SG - Pierce, Stackhouse

SF - Johnson

PF - Malone, Bosh

C - Bynum, Seikaly

I fully expect to have a very up tempo brand of basketball.  

I also tried to find similar style of players for the backup roles as the starters (obviously not quite as talented, but similar styles) that way when I sub in, I can play the exact same brand of basketball.  

I will pick up a few specialists for the deep bench.

I would use Pierce and Stack as the SF.


I would use Johnson and Westbrook as SG. 


I would find a pass first PG to back up Rose.


I don't like Rose and Westbrook as the two PGs.  One of them as the starting PG is good, but I don't like them as a combo.

The years I have chosen for Pierce he was primarily a SG and Johnson was primarily a SF, which is why I have them in that position.  Clearly they both could play the other position.  I am actually considering a trade where I move Rose and Bynum and pick up a more traditional PG and a very solid big man. 

Why don't you like Rose and Westbrook as the PG rotation?

[Who]

Allright, now that I took shots at everyone else's team...

*GULP*

Vlade Divac / Theo Ratliff
Chris Webber
Shawn Marion / Lamar Odom
Manu Ginobli / Andre Iguodala
Baron Davis / Stephon Marbury

Quick thoughts: Strong team with pretty good balance.  You're right, Theo was a big pickup to add some defense.  I'm not a fan of the Starbury selection at all -- I think he's subtraction by addition -- but the rest of the team is excellent if focused.  The Divac/Webber/Iggy/Manu/Diddy lineup is probably the best passing lineup in the game.

You could use some more shooting, and maybe some more leadership.

I am surprised Theo Ratliff has been singled out a few times as a big pickup for this team.

I don't see Ratliff as anything more than a third string center here. I think this team's big man rotation will almost always be better off with a three player rotation of Webber, Divac and Odom with Webber sliding to the five alongside Odom's four.

Theo Ratliff was a really good defender but he was primarily a help defender. It's not like he's going to give you a guy who can out-muscle and lock down these talented scoring centers. He just doesn't have it in him. And, in addition to his limited offensive game, Ratliff was a weak rebounder too.

Which brings me to my question: Does Theo Ratliff have enough added value as a team defender to go away from the vastly superior offensive strength, plus rebounding and sound (even if inferior) defensive combination of Odom/Webber? For me, the answer is no.

So, I wouldn't use Theo Ratliff as a rotation regular here. I don't think he adds enough to go away from your three main big men.

This isn't to say that I think Ratliff is bad player or not useful. He has a role to play here but it's a very small part time role (third string center = help defender and shot-blocker).

I think this team should also consider adding a power based center who can play one-on-one defense against other power based centers. Someone who provides a nice contrast to Ratliff's defensive skill-set. So that you can go with whichever type of defender suits you best for the occasion.

I'd go with 6 big men on this team. I'd also add a physical PF to play behind Lamar Odom. Someone who can give you more physical toughness where necessary without hurting your offense (like Ratliff will and/or new power based defensive center will). I think that added flexibility will be very good for your bench.

[StartOrien]

Which brings me to my question: Does Theo Ratliff have enough added value as a team defender to go away from the vastly superior offensive strength, plus rebounding and sound (even if inferior) defensive combination of Odom/Webber? For me, the answer is no.

I don't think I'd have to 'get away' from the offensive strength though. I've filled the team with good scorers and great passers, I think Ratliff's offensive weaknesses would be hidden by what he'd be asked to do.