00's All Decade Team?

[wdleehi]

First two guys have to be Shaq and Duncan.  Between them, 8 titles.


Then, unfortunately, you have to go Kobe for riding with Shaq.


Nash at PG because of two MVPs.


I am going to put KG at SF.  Since they can start two PFs at the all-star game, why not the all decade team.


1st team
Nash
Kobe
KG
Duncan
Shaq


2nd team
Kidd
AI  (I can't put a winner of the League MVP lower)
Lebron
Dirk
Wallace

3rd team
Billups
Ray
Pierce
Webber
R. Wallace

[Redz]

Shaq's got to be on any list here if we're including all of this decade.

Here are his numbers since the beginning of 1999-2000 season (in which he led the league in scoring with a career high 29.7 and led that unspeakable team from the other coast to the first of 3 consecutive titles)

G:    692
FG%: .583
PPG: 22.5
REB: 10.6
BLK: 2.13

[xmuscularghandix]

I picked Pierce over Lebron becuase of the difference in amounts of games played, LBJ got drafted in 04 and will EASILY be on the All-10(?) team. thats why i dont have him, i'm not crazy, and i'm not a homer.

[USG]

Nash shouldn't start. He's overrated. Played on a stats-inflating D'Antoni team for his most productive years. D'Antoni leaves, and Nash returns to his normal great-but-not-greatest level while Duhon over in NY starts performing at a level about 150% that which he'd shown before.

[KCattheStripe]

I picked Pierce over Lebron becuase of the difference in amounts of games played, LBJ got drafted in 04 and will EASILY be on the All-10(?) team. thats why i dont have him, i'm not crazy, and i'm not a homer.

He got drafted in '03.

[wdleehi]

Nash shouldn't start. He's overrated. Played on a stats-inflating D'Antoni team for his most productive years. D'Antoni leaves, and Nash returns to his normal great-but-not-greatest level while Duhon over in NY starts performing at a level about 150% that which he'd shown before.

What other PG won two league MVPs during this decade?


What other PG even won an MVP this decade (remember, Snow was the PG, not AI)

[celticmaestro]

Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Shaquille O'neal

Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Dirk Nowitzki
Ben Wallace

Chauncey Billups
Dwyane Wade
Paul Pierce
Chris Webber
Dwight Howard

Tough omissions: Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Rasheed Wallace.

Debated ever so slightly: Pau Gasol, Mike Bibby, Reggie Miller.

Easy omissions: Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker.

[wdleehi]

Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Shaquille O'neal

Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Dirk Nowitzki
Ben Wallace

Chauncey Billups
Dwyane Wade
Paul Pierce
Chris Webber
Dwight Howard

Tough omissions: Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Rasheed Wallace.

Debated ever so slightly: Pau Gasol, Mike Bibby, Reggie Miller.

Easy omissions: Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker.

I think T-mac is an easy ommission.  Never made it out of the 1st round despite playing with players like Yao and Carter.

[Fafnir]

Nash shouldn't start. He's overrated. Played on a stats-inflating D'Antoni team for his most productive years. D'Antoni leaves, and Nash returns to his normal great-but-not-greatest level while Duhon over in NY starts performing at a level about 150% that which he'd shown before.

What other PG won two league MVPs during this decade?


What other PG even won an MVP this decade (remember, Snow was the PG, not AI)

Jason Kidd doesn't have the MVP trophies but that is because he played his best at the same time as Tim Duncan and Shaq. Over the course of the whole decade he's been a better player than Nash. Primarily because he was much better defensive player. I'll never forget watching him D up Paul while Kenyon ate Walker's lunch .

[wdleehi]

Nash shouldn't start. He's overrated. Played on a stats-inflating D'Antoni team for his most productive years. D'Antoni leaves, and Nash returns to his normal great-but-not-greatest level while Duhon over in NY starts performing at a level about 150% that which he'd shown before.

What other PG won two league MVPs during this decade?


What other PG even won an MVP this decade (remember, Snow was the PG, not AI)

Jason Kidd doesn't have the MVP trophies but that is because he played his best at the same time as Tim Duncan and Shaq. Over the course of the whole decade he's been a better player than Nash. Primarily because he was much better defensive player. I'll never forget watching him D up Paul while Kenyon ate Walker's lunch .

And people were making cases for other players when Nash won his two.  So it is not like the rest of the league had off years the two times he won.


I would probably have choosen Kidd over Nash if putting together a real team, but in terms of who had more success, Nash's two MVPs put him ahead.

[action781]

Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Shaquille O'neal

Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Dirk Nowitzki
Ben Wallace

Chauncey Billups
Dwyane Wade
Paul Pierce
Chris Webber
Dwight Howard

Tough omissions: Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Rasheed Wallace.

Debated ever so slightly: Pau Gasol, Mike Bibby, Reggie Miller.

Easy omissions: Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker.

You've got it (IMO)!  TP  This is my EXACT first team that I was thinking of!  It was tough for me to come up with a SF, then I debated Dirk because he used to be a 3 and then I thought, hell so did KG (although not this decade he wasn't, but he's the best available).  

-I put a lot of thought into the backup 5.  I strongly considered Ben (he was the glue during that Pistons run), but I think I'd take Yao.  
-I also put a lot of thought into Wade/Ray.  Allen has had the more solid decade, but Allen never was the talk of a season or postseason like Wade was.  That counts.  
-Howard has only had 4 very good years and really hasn't done anything really that has made a difference in the league (hasn't even made a conference final).  I take Sheed at the 5 there for a solid 9 seasons and his guarensheeds.
-I also think I'd take Parker over Billups but thats nitpicking.

Notes on other posters comments:
-You can't demerit Nash's 2 MVPs and ridiculous win totals.
-Lebron has only had 5 spectacular (top 10 player) years this decade.  KG and Dirk have him beat for now.  Even worse, Howard has only had 4 very good seasons.
-Pierce/Lebron is tough.  Pierce has had more better seasons and is a Finals MVP although hasn't had the impact on the league that Lebron has.  I guess maybe I would take Pierce here though remembering his 2001 and 2002 heroics as well.

TP for the great thread!!