Ladies and gentlemen, here's your . . .
HOUSTON ROCKETSTHE ROSTERDwyane Wade 08-09 I chose this version of Wade over his his 2006 season where he ran roughshod in the playoffs on his way to a Finals MVP. Wade was still at the peak of his powers in 09. His 30.2ppg led the league, he made the all-defensive team, it was the first season he was will to shoot 3's. Picking late in the first round, I wanted a guy that was two-way beast that has proven he can be an alpha dog on offense for a team, and drafting as late as I did I was worried I wouldnt get one. Thankfully Wade was there.
James Harden 17-18 I went with Harden's MVP season. Dude was dynamo that year, putting up crazy counting stats with 30ppg and 9apg. While not a great defender, he is a playmaker, averaging 1.5ppg. I also like that defensive metrics show that Harden does a solid job guarding bigger players, which makes him usable in switches.
Amar'e Stoudemire 04-05 I chose Amare's 04-05 season because it was pre-knee injury. While prime Amare was a beast, his athleticism was otherworldly before the injury. That year as a 22 year old he started 80 games as a center on 62 win Suns team, averaging 26ppg on 56% shooting. While not a deep threat, he had one of the better mid range jumpers in the league, and was absolutely deadly when he put it on the floor. And though not a great defender, he was a fine weakside shot blocker, averaging 1.6bpg. He is going to thrive in PnR with Wade or Harden. And he'll kill it in transition, as a 22 year old Amare would be on of the fastest bigs in this league.
Chris Bosh 09-10 A perfect complimentary big in today's game. He could do it all. Shoot, score, down low, run the court, rebound, and had a beautiful outside jumper. I targeted Bosh for many of the same reasons i targeted amare. I wanted bigs who had good jumpers, and could punish closeouts by putting it on the floor.
Eddie Jones 99-00 I was so psyched to get Jones. His 99-00 was great. All-NBA and all-defensive team. One of the best perimeter defenders of his era. And he's a great open court finisher, and would be a killer on cutbacks, as he was a great finisher at the rim. If he would've had a mid-game he wouldve been a 25ppg scorer in his prime. He also shot 38% from 3 that season. Dude is one of the best complimentary pieces in this league IMO.
Joe Johnson 04-05 I went with the 04-05 season because he shot an unreal 48% from downtown. And to keep with a theme on my team, joe johnson is a fantastic creator off the dribble, so he will be able to destroy closeouts. He would prove in ATL and Brooklyn that he could be the no.1 option on offense, and that an offense could run through him. Dude was a steal in the 6th round. Plus, he's one of the top 10 most clutch players of his era. Dude was a killer late in games. If you don't believe me, check the youtubes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_TCiGVsbyMAntonio McDyess 00-01 Pre-knee injury McDyess was a beast. Just an athletic freak that would back down to no one. Amazing roll man in a PnR. Great shotblocker and rebounder. Also owned a nice midrange jumper. Would've been much more lauded if he hadn't spent his prime years on a dysfunctional Nuggets franchise.
Kristaps Porzingas 19-20 The Unicorn. A 7-3 freak that can shoot threes, drive to the hoop, and block shots. In 19-20 Porzingas was putting up 19/10 with 2 blocks a game for a playoff-caliber Mavs team.
Devin Booker 19-20 I chose DB's 19-20 season, where he became an all-star for the first time. Dude is a deadly scorer, and has developed into a quality distributor, averaging 7apg. Booker was very effecient in 19-20, shooting 49/36/92. Those percentages should only improve now that he is no longer the only quality offensive weapon on his team.
Brook Lopez 18-19 I was psyched to get Brook because in this Western Conference, you need to account for Shaquille O'Neal. Brook will be a phenomenal anti-Shaq weapon. He is 7 feet tall and weighs 270 pounds, making him one of the largest players in this league. His outside shot (he shot 37% from 3 in 18-19) will force Shaq to defend him on the perimeter. He is also one of the better defensive big men of his time, averaging 2.4bpg. He and Arvydas are the savvy veteran big men this team needed
Arvydas Sabonis 99-00 He's not my vydas. He's not your vydas. He's our Arvydas. In the twilight of his career in 99-00, Arvy was still a beat in limited minutes. And at 7'3" and nearly 300 pounds he will pair with Brook to provide some of the best anti-shaq defense this league has to offer. And like Brook, Arvy can make Shaq get out from under the hoop thanks to his outstanding outside jumper. plus, we can run the offense through Arvy in the high post, just to give teams another look to deal with.
Mike Bibby 02-03 In 02-30 Mike Bibby was the starting point guard on a 59 win Kings team. He was ultra-efficient, shooting 47/41/86. He's a sweet shooting vet with playoff experience, and will make a nice component at the end of the Rockets' bench.
Eric Bledsoe 19-20 This season Bledsoe was the starting point guard on a Bucks teams that would've won well over 60 games. He's coming off an all-defensive team nod, and would likely have been in the running. Never known as a great shooter, Bledsoe shot a respectable 35% from deep this year. Bledsoe will be a nice defensive specialist off the bench.
John Collins 19-20 Collins' 19-20 season was off the charts. He averaged 22/10 along with 1.6bpg. He shot an incredible 58% from the field, while also shooting 40% from deep, along with 80% from the line. It's absurd that he was available in the last round. He's the perfect power forward for today's NBA. Will be able to fit in seamlessly if my big man rotation was to ever fall prey to injury.
THE STARTING LINEUP:DWAYNE WADE / JAMES HARDEN / EDDIE JONES / CHRIS BOSH / AMARE STOUDEMIRE
Love this team. Wade and Harden can both initiate the offense. Tons of different directions this team can go. Either Wade or Harden can run pick n rolls with Stoudamire or Bosh. Wade and Harden can create on their own on the perimeter, and both Bosh and Stoudemire can produce in the high post. So. Many. Options. And as required with most Wade-centric teams, this lineup surrounds him with shooters. But mostly, with this team, we want to run. Outside of Harden these guys are all freak athletes. And Harden is a great creator in transition, and he's also the owner of an amazing pull-up 3 point shot. This team will be gonzo on the run. Dunk City.
Defensively, Wade and Jones are monsters on the perimeter. Harden will guard the weakest option. Both Bosh and Amare are athletic enough to stick with today's quicker 4's. Both Bosh and Amare are also sold weak-side help defenders. But what about when you have to guard Shaq, you ask?
THE "OH CRAP, SHAQ'S BACK!" STARTING LINEUPDWAYNE WADE / JAMES HARDEN / EDDIE JONES / AMARE STOUDEMIRE / BROOK LOPEZ
This lineup will feature Lopez to combat Shaq, or anything other big 5 that proves to be too much for Amare. Amare moves to the 4. Bosh becomes first big off the bench. Arvydas will also feature a big role off the bench.
ROTATION BENCH GUYS:Antonio McDyess and Krinaps Porzingas will sub in for Bosh and Amare, fitting in seamlessly as hyper athletic freaks who will run, rebound, finish at the hoop, and block shots. Krisnaps will also be a threat from 3. Joe Johnson and Devin Booker will provide shooting and playmaking off the bench. Arydas and Brook will do their thing when needed against bigger opponents. Bibby will pick up a few minutes every game as a steady hand at the point guard spot.
END OF THE BENCH:Eric Bledsoe will be a defensive specialist that occasionally picks up minutes against premier. Thinking guys like Curry and Iverson. John Collins will politely wait at the end of the bench until he has to fill in due to injury.
SYNOPSISThis team will simply be too much for most teams to handle. Too much athleticism. Too much skill. Minimal weak spots on defense. It can just keep pouring all-star caliber offensive weapons at you. Every big can shoot from at least mid-range, and besides Lopez, all can put it on the floor. And they all average at least 1bpg.
And what I think is underrated about this squad is the lack of knuckleheads on this lineup. Since I don't have that Duncan-type vet who can demand respect, I wanted everyone to be pretty level-headed. Not a lot jerks on this lineup. Just a bunch of dudes that lace up their shoes and ball. And you have guys like McDyess, Arvydas, and Lopez who will insure they don't get pushed around.