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

[Who]

Los Angeles Lakers


Kobe Bryant 2002-03
Chris Webber 1999-00
Damian Lillard 2019-20
Nikola Jokic 2018-19
Metta World Peace 2003-04
Pascal Siakam 2019-20
Michael Jordan 2002-03
Marcus Camby 2006-07
Baron Davis 2003-04
Jason Terry 2006-07
Brandon Ingram 2019-20
Al Jefferson 2013-14
Avery Bradley 2015-16
Kendrick Perkins 2008-09

I am leaning towards you guys as the top team in the West. I love your offense.

[bdm860]

Los Angeles Lakers


Kobe Bryant 2002-03
Chris Webber 1999-00
Damian Lillard 2019-20
Nikola Jokic 2018-19
Metta World Peace 2003-04
Pascal Siakam 2019-20
Michael Jordan 2002-03
Marcus Camby 2006-07
Baron Davis 2003-04
Jason Terry 2006-07
Brandon Ingram 2019-20
Al Jefferson 2013-14
Avery Bradley 2015-16
Kendrick Perkins 2008-09

Repost for some feedback.

I like that my team has a lot of options offensively. Could run through Jokic in the high post, with Webber down low taking advantage of smaller PF's and also the ability to step out and hit longer jumpers. I like that both my bigs are incredible passers and floor spacers, who can excel in the pick and roll with Dame and Kobe. Kobe will get a lot of touches and be kept happy, whether he's initiating the offense or coming off screens where 3 elite passers (Webber, Jokic, Lillard) can find him. I chose the younger version of Kobe because of his incredible athleticism and defense (he also posted career highs in steals and 3 point %). My wing defense of Kobe and DPOY Artest will lock down opponents and make up for the not as great defenders in the starting lineup (Dame and Jokic).

Against teams with dominant bigs, we will neutralize them with our incredible spacing. Plus while Jokic isn't exactly a winning a DPOY soon, he definitely is big enough to hold his own down low, and has great hands and instincts. If we are getting abused in the paint, Camby (DPOY season) can come in and handle business.

My bench will probably go 9 deep, Siakam will get some major minutes as a do it all 3/4 that can lock down on defense and doesn't need the ball in his hands. Jason Terry will provide some microwave offense and spot up shooting, while Baron Davis can penetrate and dish while playing tough physical defense on the other end. And we got this Michael Jordan guy too. While he might be past his prime, he still is difficult to stop in a 1 on 1 setting- his footwork and ability in the post is next level. We could let Jordan create and have situations where he is surrounded by 4 shooters (Jokic, Siakam, Terry, Lillard for instance) and will have all the space for his patented post fades. Camby will serve as a defensive anchor for the second unit, with Perk getting spot minutes if necessary against some of the bigger tougher guys. Bradley could also be used for a couple of spot minutes in defensive situations.

Our end of game lineup when we need a basket will be : Jokic, Webber, Jordan, Bryant, Lillard.

For late defensive lineups-  Camby, Webber/Siakam, Artest, Kobe, Bradley can put the clamps on any team.


We have 2 of the best closers of all time in MJ and Kobe, a guy that is throwing himself into that conversation in Lillard, and 2 bigs that can shoot and pass with the best of them.


I think my team balances out very well. A starting lineup full of floor spacers and passers creating dynamic versatile offense (Jordan or Siakam could spend some time with that unit instead of Artest if Artest is becoming a ball stopper in certain instances)- a bench full of instant offense (MJ/JET) and hard nosed tough back ups that will play physical defense (Davis and Camby).

We have a TON of championship experience - and having his idol in MJ will do wonders for the maturity of a young Kobe.

Would love to hear some feedback.

Why '03 Jordan vs '02?  Is that because his shooting numbers were better in '03?  I think you should have taken the youngest version you could get here. 

I think you built one of the best teams around around a ball dominant and unpopular CelticsStrong player that you possibly could.  Guys like Kobe, Melo, Westbrook, Harden are always a challenge to draft despite their talent, because it can be really tough to make the pieces fit, but you did it.  I think Webber/Jokic can be a better version of Odom/Gasol from those '08-'10 Lakers that Kobe can play with.  And I think Kobe would respect Lillard's effort/style/cojones.  And I'm a big fan of Artest, a guy I feel like can guard all 5 positions, and doesn't need the ball, plus gives your team just the right mix of crazy. Camby's a good alternative look to Jokic with his D, and Perk's a good Defensive alternative to Camby with his girth.  Unsure if Baron Davis fits the style I envision, and also wouldn't be so quick to claim Jordan will be in the closing lineup.  But overall I like the team a lot.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Los Angeles Lakers


Kobe Bryant 2002-03
Chris Webber 1999-00
Damian Lillard 2019-20
Nikola Jokic 2018-19
Metta World Peace 2003-04
Pascal Siakam 2019-20
Michael Jordan 2002-03
Marcus Camby 2006-07
Baron Davis 2003-04
Jason Terry 2006-07
Brandon Ingram 2019-20
Al Jefferson 2013-14
Avery Bradley 2015-16
Kendrick Perkins 2008-09

Repost for some feedback.

I like that my team has a lot of options offensively. Could run through Jokic in the high post, with Webber down low taking advantage of smaller PF's and also the ability to step out and hit longer jumpers. I like that both my bigs are incredible passers and floor spacers, who can excel in the pick and roll with Dame and Kobe. Kobe will get a lot of touches and be kept happy, whether he's initiating the offense or coming off screens where 3 elite passers (Webber, Jokic, Lillard) can find him. I chose the younger version of Kobe because of his incredible athleticism and defense (he also posted career highs in steals and 3 point %). My wing defense of Kobe and DPOY Artest will lock down opponents and make up for the not as great defenders in the starting lineup (Dame and Jokic).

Against teams with dominant bigs, we will neutralize them with our incredible spacing. Plus while Jokic isn't exactly a winning a DPOY soon, he definitely is big enough to hold his own down low, and has great hands and instincts. If we are getting abused in the paint, Camby (DPOY season) can come in and handle business.

My bench will probably go 9 deep, Siakam will get some major minutes as a do it all 3/4 that can lock down on defense and doesn't need the ball in his hands. Jason Terry will provide some microwave offense and spot up shooting, while Baron Davis can penetrate and dish while playing tough physical defense on the other end. And we got this Michael Jordan guy too. While he might be past his prime, he still is difficult to stop in a 1 on 1 setting- his footwork and ability in the post is next level. We could let Jordan create and have situations where he is surrounded by 4 shooters (Jokic, Siakam, Terry, Lillard for instance) and will have all the space for his patented post fades. Camby will serve as a defensive anchor for the second unit, with Perk getting spot minutes if necessary against some of the bigger tougher guys. Bradley could also be used for a couple of spot minutes in defensive situations.

Our end of game lineup when we need a basket will be : Jokic, Webber, Jordan, Bryant, Lillard.

For late defensive lineups-  Camby, Webber/Siakam, Artest, Kobe, Bradley can put the clamps on any team.


We have 2 of the best closers of all time in MJ and Kobe, a guy that is throwing himself into that conversation in Lillard, and 2 bigs that can shoot and pass with the best of them.


I think my team balances out very well. A starting lineup full of floor spacers and passers creating dynamic versatile offense (Jordan or Siakam could spend some time with that unit instead of Artest if Artest is becoming a ball stopper in certain instances)- a bench full of instant offense (MJ/JET) and hard nosed tough back ups that will play physical defense (Davis and Camby).

We have a TON of championship experience - and having his idol in MJ will do wonders for the maturity of a young Kobe.

Would love to hear some feedback.

Why '03 Jordan vs '02?  Is that because his shooting numbers were better in '03?  I think you should have taken the youngest version you could get here. 

I think you built one of the best teams around around a ball dominant and unpopular CelticsStrong player that you possibly could.  Guys like Kobe, Melo, Westbrook, Harden are always a challenge to draft despite their talent, because it can be really tough to make the pieces fit, but you did it.  I think Webber/Jokic can be a better version of Odom/Gasol from those '08-'10 Lakers that Kobe can play with.  And I think Kobe would respect Lillard's effort/style/cojones.  And I'm a big fan of Artest, a guy I feel like can guard all 5 positions, and doesn't need the ball, plus gives your team just the right mix of crazy. Camby's a good alternative look to Jokic with his D, and Perk's a good Defensive alternative to Camby with his girth.  Unsure if Baron Davis fits the style I see, and also wouldn't be so quick to claim Jordan will be in the closing lineup.  But overall I like the team a lot.

I chose the older Jordan because the first year he suffered a knee injury towards the end and was also significantly more efficient in year 2 with the Wizards. He also played 82 games and didn't mind coming off the bench more often. With regards to the closing lineup, it was more along the lines of - we just called a timeout and need one shot- instead of him being in there the last few minutes of every game. Even at 39 years old, you gotta have him in there with 5 seconds left and your team with the ball.

As for Baron, he was too talented to pass up on and I missed an opportunity for some of the backups I really wanted (guys like Conley). He's not the most perfect fit but he's tough and works hard, and could at least give some smaller back up point guards problems on both ends. He doesn't need to play a ton either unless the matchup is right- could at times put Terry at the 1 to get more spacing while running the offense through Kobe while Lillard sits.

[Jvalin]

Los Angeles Lakers


Kobe Bryant 2002-03
Chris Webber 1999-00
Damian Lillard 2019-20
Nikola Jokic 2018-19
Metta World Peace 2003-04
Pascal Siakam 2019-20
Michael Jordan 2002-03
Marcus Camby 2006-07
Baron Davis 2003-04
Jason Terry 2006-07
Brandon Ingram 2019-20
Al Jefferson 2013-14
Avery Bradley 2015-16
Kendrick Perkins 2008-09

I am leaning towards you guys as the top team in the West. I love your offense.

Is Kobe willing to share the ball?
Is Lillard still a net positive if he's only playing second/third/fourth fiddle to Kobe-Webber-Jokic?

Absolutely love the frontcourt pairing of Webber and Jokic. Don't really like the backcourt pairing of Lillard and Kobe.

Imo, the team to beat in the West is Utah.

Kidd and Shaq would have been the best pick n roll duo of all time. Even better than Stockton and Malone.

Reggie-Peja-Horford are stretching the floor for Shaq and Kidd. Love the fit of all these guys playing together.

[Who]

Los Angeles Lakers


Kobe Bryant 2002-03
Chris Webber 1999-00
Damian Lillard 2019-20
Nikola Jokic 2018-19
Metta World Peace 2003-04
Pascal Siakam 2019-20
Michael Jordan 2002-03
Marcus Camby 2006-07
Baron Davis 2003-04
Jason Terry 2006-07
Brandon Ingram 2019-20
Al Jefferson 2013-14
Avery Bradley 2015-16
Kendrick Perkins 2008-09

I am leaning towards you guys as the top team in the West. I love your offense.

Is Kobe willing to share the ball?
Is Lillard still a a net positive if he's only playing second/third/fourth fiddle to Kobe-Webber-Jokic?

Absolutely love the frontcourt pairing of Webber and Jokic. Don't really like the backcourt pairing of Lillard and Kobe.

Imo, the team to beat in the West is Utah.

Kidd and Shaq would be the best pick n roll duo of all time. Even better than Stockton and Malone.

Reggie-Peja-Horford are stretching the floor for Shaq and Kidd. Love the fit of all these guys playing together.

Yeah, I believe C-Webb and Jokic will bring that team together. They are the real leaders of that group.

I am putting a lot of value on players that I believe will make teams play together as a unit rather than as individuals. Like Kidd on that Utah team.

Also I like the Lakers bench. I don't like the benches of most of the teams in the West. That gave LAL an edge of others to my eyes.

[Jvalin]

Was reading some of the older posts in oder to have a solid grasp on all of the teams. Allow me to respond to a comment by gouki that I just saw.

if we redo this draft in 5 years Zion & Luka could both be top 2 round picks

If we redo this draft in 5 years, I bet Luka will be a top 3 pick.
If we had done the draft after the 2020 playoffs, I bet Luka would have been selected in the first round.

I truly believe that Luka is a GOAT candidate in the making. When all is said and done, him and Bron are gonna be considered the top 2 players in this draft.

Many NBA fans still sleep on Luka cause they haven't seen him play in do-or-die situations yet (=playoff games). Coming from Europe myself, I've seen him responding to stressful situations numerous times. I can assure you that Luka thrives under pressure! I've seen 18-year-old Luka leading tiny little Slovenia (alongside Dragic) to the gold medal in the 2017 European Championship! I've seen 19-year-old Luka leading Real Madrid to the 2018 Euroleague title while winning Regular Season and Final Four MVP honors! The Euroleague and the European Championship are no joke. Luka was just a kid and he was dominating everybody! I'm telling you guys, Luka is the real deal! He is a LeBron-Larry legend hybrid. Jordan, LeBron and Luka are the best players I've seen since I started following basketball in the mid 90s.

The way Luka runs the point is almost unparalleled for a man of his size. Imo, he's already a better floor general than LeBron. The only guy 6'7'' or taller who read the game better than Luka was Magic. Mind you, Luka is just a 21-year-old kid. He has all the time in the world to surpass Magic.

He's already considerably better than Magic at the same age, his curve rn is absolutely bonkers.

Could someone please explain to me why Luka fall in the 3rd round? This is mind-boggling to me. I mean, would 2004–2005 LeBron have fallen in the 3rd round? That was his second season in the league. He played his first playoff game in the following season (his 3rd season).

04-05 LeBron was hardly comparable to 2020 Doncic though. And Doncic was my #2 guy after Vince iirc, I was just wary of him due to his defence and lack of playoff sample size (yes he's been clutch throughout his career, but I really want to see him play against NBA playoff competition).

Fwiw, here are the stats of LeBron and Luka in their second season (both at the age of 20).

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=LeBron+James&player_id1_select=LeBron+James&y1=2005&player_id1=jamesle01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=Luka+Don%C4%8Di%C4%87&player_id2_select=Luka+Don%C4%8Di%C4%87&y2=2020&player_id2=doncilu01&idx=players

Luka is the better scorer, better passer, better rebounder. He is more efficient as well (eFG%: 5.31 > 5.04). Lebron is the better defender. I get that stats are inflated in the modern era (due to faster pace), but LeBron was playing 9 more minutes (33.3 < 42.4). 2005 LeBron is definitely comparable to 2020 Luka.

Not to mention, Luka was about to lead the Mavs in the playoffs in his second season. It took 3 seasons for LeBron to reach the playoffs with the Cavs.

Just like LeBron, Luka is playing winning basketball. He's not putting up empty stats.

[Moranis]

Was reading some of the older posts in oder to have a solid grasp on all of the teams. Allow me to respond to a comment by gouki that I just saw.

if we redo this draft in 5 years Zion & Luka could both be top 2 round picks

If we redo this draft in 5 years, I bet Luka will be a top 3 pick.
If we had done the draft after the 2020 playoffs, I bet Luka would have been selected in the first round.

I truly believe that Luka is a GOAT candidate in the making. When all is said and done, him and Bron are gonna be considered the top 2 players in this draft.

Many NBA fans still sleep on Luka cause they haven't seen him play in do-or-die situations yet (=playoff games). Coming from Europe myself, I've seen him responding to stressful situations numerous times. I can assure you that Luka thrives under pressure! I've seen 18-year-old Luka leading tiny little Slovenia (alongside Dragic) to the gold medal in the 2017 European Championship! I've seen 19-year-old Luka leading Real Madrid to the 2018 Euroleague title while winning Regular Season and Final Four MVP honors! The Euroleague and the European Championship are no joke. Luka was just a kid and he was dominating everybody! I'm telling you guys, Luka is the real deal! He is a LeBron-Larry legend hybrid. Jordan, LeBron and Luka are the best players I've seen since I started following basketball in the mid 90s.

The way Luka runs the point is almost unparalleled for a man of his size. Imo, he's already a better floor general than LeBron. The only guy 6'7'' or taller who read the game better than Luka was Magic. Mind you, Luka is just a 21-year-old kid. He has all the time in the world to surpass Magic.

He's already considerably better than Magic at the same age, his curve rn is absolutely bonkers.

Could someone please explain to me why Luka fall in the 3rd round? This is mind-boggling to me. I mean, would 2004–2005 LeBron have fallen in the 3rd round? That was his second season in the league. He played his first playoff game in the following season (his 3rd season).

04-05 LeBron was hardly comparable to 2020 Doncic though. And Doncic was my #2 guy after Vince iirc, I was just wary of him due to his defence and lack of playoff sample size (yes he's been clutch throughout his career, but I really want to see him play against NBA playoff competition).

Fwiw, here are the stats of LeBron and Luka in their second season (both at the age of 20).

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=LeBron+James&player_id1_select=LeBron+James&y1=2005&player_id1=jamesle01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=Luka+Don%C4%8Di%C4%87&player_id2_select=Luka+Don%C4%8Di%C4%87&y2=2020&player_id2=doncilu01&idx=players

Luka is the better scorer, better passer, better rebounder. He is more efficient as well (eFG%: 5.31 > 5.04). Lebron is the better defender. I get that stats are inflated in the modern era (due to faster pace), but 2005 LeBron is definitely comparable to 2020 Luka.

Not to mention, Luka was about to lead the Mavs in the playoffs in his second season. It took 3 seasons for LeBron to reach the playoffs with the Cavs.

Just like LeBron, Luka is playing winning basketball. He's not putting up empty stats.

If the 05 season had been cut short and you did this draft with the prior 20 years, then Lebron probably does go in the 3rd round.  I mean you are talking about 1985 - 2005, that includes almost the entire prime of Bird, McHale, Jordan, Pippen, Magic, Barkley, Malone, Thomas, Wilkins, Hakeem, Robinson, Payton, Stockton, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Garnett, Ewing, English, King,  etc. and still very good (if not back end of prime) seasons from guys like Kareem, Moses, Dr. J, etc.  Lebron probably does go in the 30's, if not later, if this was done in the middle of Lebron's 2nd season. 

It isn't some travesty that a basically unproven 20 year old isn't given credit like he has already had his HOF career as you never know what can happen.  I mean Ralph Sampson looked like a monster in the making in year 2, led his team to the finals in year 3, and then got hurt in year 4 and basically disappeared.  Maybe Luka doesn't develop anymore, never really has playoff success, or just gets hurt and is never the same.  But a Luka that is in the middle of his 2nd season, in which he had already missed 13 games to injury after fading tremendously his first year and missing 10 games as a rookie, shouldn't be treated like he is a possible GOAT in this exercise.  You can't miss nearly 10% of your games, never play in the playoffs, show a propensity of fading in the stretch of seasons and somehow be given this extreme benefit of the doubt.  3rd or 4th round is probably the right place for Luka to be drafted in this sort of draft.  Talent is immense, no question, but less than 2 seasons, is still less than 2 seasons.

[Jvalin]

Was reading some of the older posts in oder to have a solid grasp on all of the teams. Allow me to respond to a comment by gouki that I just saw.

if we redo this draft in 5 years Zion & Luka could both be top 2 round picks

If we redo this draft in 5 years, I bet Luka will be a top 3 pick.
If we had done the draft after the 2020 playoffs, I bet Luka would have been selected in the first round.

I truly believe that Luka is a GOAT candidate in the making. When all is said and done, him and Bron are gonna be considered the top 2 players in this draft.

Many NBA fans still sleep on Luka cause they haven't seen him play in do-or-die situations yet (=playoff games). Coming from Europe myself, I've seen him responding to stressful situations numerous times. I can assure you that Luka thrives under pressure! I've seen 18-year-old Luka leading tiny little Slovenia (alongside Dragic) to the gold medal in the 2017 European Championship! I've seen 19-year-old Luka leading Real Madrid to the 2018 Euroleague title while winning Regular Season and Final Four MVP honors! The Euroleague and the European Championship are no joke. Luka was just a kid and he was dominating everybody! I'm telling you guys, Luka is the real deal! He is a LeBron-Larry legend hybrid. Jordan, LeBron and Luka are the best players I've seen since I started following basketball in the mid 90s.

The way Luka runs the point is almost unparalleled for a man of his size. Imo, he's already a better floor general than LeBron. The only guy 6'7'' or taller who read the game better than Luka was Magic. Mind you, Luka is just a 21-year-old kid. He has all the time in the world to surpass Magic.

He's already considerably better than Magic at the same age, his curve rn is absolutely bonkers.

Could someone please explain to me why Luka fall in the 3rd round? This is mind-boggling to me. I mean, would 2004–2005 LeBron have fallen in the 3rd round? That was his second season in the league. He played his first playoff game in the following season (his 3rd season).

04-05 LeBron was hardly comparable to 2020 Doncic though. And Doncic was my #2 guy after Vince iirc, I was just wary of him due to his defence and lack of playoff sample size (yes he's been clutch throughout his career, but I really want to see him play against NBA playoff competition).

Fwiw, here are the stats of LeBron and Luka in their second season (both at the age of 20).

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=LeBron+James&player_id1_select=LeBron+James&y1=2005&player_id1=jamesle01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=Luka+Don%C4%8Di%C4%87&player_id2_select=Luka+Don%C4%8Di%C4%87&y2=2020&player_id2=doncilu01&idx=players

Luka is the better scorer, better passer, better rebounder. He is more efficient as well (eFG%: 5.31 > 5.04). Lebron is the better defender. I get that stats are inflated in the modern era (due to faster pace), but 2005 LeBron is definitely comparable to 2020 Luka.

Not to mention, Luka was about to lead the Mavs in the playoffs in his second season. It took 3 seasons for LeBron to reach the playoffs with the Cavs.

Just like LeBron, Luka is playing winning basketball. He's not putting up empty stats.

If the 05 season had been cut short and you did this draft with the prior 20 years, then Lebron probably does go in the 3rd round.  I mean you are talking about 1985 - 2005, that includes almost the entire prime of Bird, McHale, Jordan, Pippen, Magic, Barkley, Malone, Thomas, Wilkins, Hakeem, Robinson, Payton, Stockton, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Garnett, Ewing, English, King,  etc. and still very good (if not back end of prime) seasons from guys like Kareem, Moses, Dr. J, etc.  Lebron probably does go in the 30's, if not later, if this was done in the middle of Lebron's 2nd season. 

It isn't some travesty that a basically unproven 20 year old isn't given credit like he has already had his HOF career as you never know what can happen.  I mean Ralph Sampson looked like a monster in the making in year 2, led his team to the finals in year 3, and then got hurt in year 4 and basically disappeared.  Maybe Luka doesn't develop anymore, never really has playoff success, or just gets hurt and is never the same.  But a Luka that is in the middle of his 2nd season, in which he had already missed 13 games to injury after fading tremendously his first year and missing 10 games as a rookie, shouldn't be treated like he is a possible GOAT in this exercise.  You can't miss nearly 10% of your games, never play in the playoffs, show a propensity of fading in the stretch of seasons and somehow be given this extreme benefit of the doubt.  3rd or 4th round is probably the right place for Luka to be drafted in this sort of draft.  Talent is immense, no question, but less than 2 seasons, is still less than 2 seasons.

You just need to read the words ''LeBron'' and ''third round'' written in the same sentence in order to realise that something is very wrong here with Luka's draft stock. It doesn't matter what he'll do in the future. We've already seen what he has done till today (btw, he has been playing pro basketball since the age of 16). The 2019-2020 Luka season is a season worthy of a GOAT candidate. The rules of the game dictate that we only choose 1 season. Based on this single season, Luka should have been a surefire first rounder. At least this is the way I see it.

[hwangjini_1]

are you also going to organize some sort of TP betting pool for the rest of CSers?

That would help entertain us by inviting us to wildly spend TPs like were are drunken sailors. What fun!!! 

[nickagneta]

are you also going to organize some sort of TP betting pool for the rest of CSers?

That would help entertain us by inviting us to wildly spend TPs like were are drunken sailors. What fun!!! 

No...but please vote!

[action781]

The Utah Jazz

Starters
Jason Kidd (2002-03)
Reggie Miller (1999-00)
Peja Stojakovic (2003-04)
Al Horford (2017-18)
Shaquille O’Neal (1999-2000)

Bench
Rajon Rondo (2011-12)
Jaylen Brown (2019-20) 6th man
Jamal Mashburn (2002-03)
PJ Tucker (2017-18)
Carlos Boozer (2006-07)
Mehmet Okur (2006-07)

Deeper Situational Bench
Trae Young (2019-20)
Marcus Smart (2019-20) in not-so-rare situations
Tristan Thompson (2015-16)

-----

Did You Know??? ... about the Utah Jazz

-That 1999-00 Shaq finished second in DPOY voting with 21 first place votes?  He was #2 in the league in Def Rating and #1 in Defensive Win Shares that season.  He finished higher in voting and both statistics than several players being used in their 99-00 seasons in this game mainly for purposes of being a defensive specialist.  We all remember Shaq for his offensive dominance.  I drafted Shaq for his offensive dominance.  But he was still a defensive force in the day too.

-Mehmet “The Moneyman” Okur apparently is Mr Clutch.  I had no idea until I drafted him.  There is a SIXTEEN MINUTE youtube video out there just containing big shots he’s made in clutch situations.  It's absolutely wild.  Regardless of how my team finishes in this game, I will be eternally grateful that it allowed me to stumble upon that video.

-10 players in this game have averaged 10+ assists per game at some point in the 2000s.  Before I even defined this filter, these 10 players are pretty much what my complete list would have been for the "elite passers" in this game (with 37-year-old Stockton probably joining that group too).  Two of those 10-11 elite passers in the game are members of the Utah Jazz.  One of them has been confirmed by doctors to have eyes in the back of his head.

-Utah Jazz have the only multiple Three-Point Contest winner in this game.  Jazz also have the only NBA player that wrestler Kevin Nash (aka Diesel) named his dog after.

-Peja Stojakovic is one of only two players to shoot a TS% above 62% in the first decade of this game.  The other was Amare Stoudemire.

-----

Offense

I created a detailed post of my team's offense on page 9.  Not much has changed since that post.  I've become more pleased with the idea of Rondo bringing the same strengths to the offense that Kidd brings.  I've drafted two perimeter players in Jaylen and Mashburn who can spread the floor and cut to the hoop (perfect complementary offensive pieces) while also adding some athleticism (Jaylen) and strength (Mash) into the mix. 

I drafted a backup PF in Carlos Boozer who thrived as an efficient (58 TS%) pick and roll big man in Utah alongside an elite passing point guard there.  I will be playing him exclusively in the minutes when Shaq is sitting, paired with a floor-spreading center in Horford or Moneyman Okur, and one of my two elite passing point guards or maybe even better -- Trae Young.

Lastly, I've rounded out niche roles I might need, such as if I need of a 3 pointer at the end of the game? 
Kidd (passer) - Reggie - Peja - Mashburn/Horford - Okur. 
Go ahead and write us into overtime. 
You can use pen.

Defense

The Utah Jazz have a sound defense in place.  Jason Kidd is a multiple time first-team all-nba defender.  Shaq was 2nd in DPOY voting for the season I selected.  Horford was 2nd team all-nba defense in the season I selected, but we all know what value Horford brings on defense.  Reggie and Peja have their weaknesses, but Jaylen as 6th man can come in quickly to address those weaknesses if desperate.  Rondo is a game-changer on defense with his ability to generate steals.  Marcus Smart can come in and really change the complexion of our defense if needed.  PJ Tucker will play bigger minutes in situational matchups against players like Durant and Lebron.  We have a player on our roster who I feel good about throwing on every first rounder in the game.

Are we in need of a stop in the last possession of the game?  Against a traditional lineup I feel good about Kidd-Smart-Horford-Shaq with one of Rondo, Jaylen, or Tucker depending on the size of the opponents.  Is the other team trying to go small and spread the floor?  We can sub Thompson in for Shaq and have a solid switchable 5 on the floor.

Overall

Everybody thinks they have an elite defense.  The reality is that great offense beats great defense in this league.  2000 Shaq actually dismantled in real life the best defensive centers in this game.  The Utah Jazz wanted to focus instead more on offense and allowing Shaq to be at his absolute best.  So we surrounded him with 2 of the top-8 shooters in the game on the wings, a shooting PF, and a top-10 passer in the game at all times at point guard.  The passing point guard is particularly what excites me.  Old footage of Shaq I've been watching revealed that when passes were put in the right places, he could get the ball in places that defenders had absolutely no chance at stopping him.

[RPGenerate]

So I typed I out this nice summary of my team, but then I lost it all when I got logged out  . I'll try to make a condensed version soon.

[Jvalin]

So I typed I out this nice summary of my team, but then I lost it all when I got logged out  . I'll try to make a condensed version soon.

I bet we've all been there.

TP cause I know it sucks big time when it happens.

[Donoghus]

So I typed I out this nice summary of my team, but then I lost it all when I got logged out  . I'll try to make a condensed version soon.

I bet we've all been there.

TP cause I know it sucks big time when it happens.

Definitely been there.

[action781]

Man you guys are right.  The East is really tough to rank.

One team I feel has gotten no attention but I really like is Miami.  CP3 was a force that season with great efficiency for a point guard along with elite passing.  As was Dwight who completely dismantled Paul Pierce and Ray Allen's Celtics that postseason along with Lebron's Cavs.  Brandon Roy is a terrific three-level scorer, playmaker, and shooter while Jimmy Butler and Rashard Lewis are perfect fits into the offense.  The starting lineup has 3 top notch defenders (CP3, Butler, Dwight) alongside 2 players that aren't liabilities.  Then they bring AK47 off the bench who I absolutely love.  Here's a bit I found about Kirilenko that I was waiting to share after I drafted him:

When Dan Rosenbaum, then an economics professor at University of North Carolina at Greensboro, first successfully reverse-engineered Wayne Winston and Jeff Sagarin’s proprietary Adjusted Plus/Minus (APM) metric in 2004, a few of the usual suspects topped his player rankings: reigning MVP Kevin Garnett and statistical legend Tracy McGrady. But third on the list was a surprise: Kirilenko, then a third-year player with modest traditional numbers. It was no fluke, either: Kirilenko showed up third overall in the combined 2005 and 2006 APM ratings computed by Rosenbaum disciple Dave Lewin, and Kirilenko peaked at second overall in Jeremias Engelmann’s Real Plus/Minus (RPM) ratings for 2006. During his best years, you could count on one hand the number of NBA players who more positively influenced their team’s performance than Kirilenko.

Source: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/ode-to-the-underrated-andrei-kirilenko-edition/

Yeah its just one article and some stats, but I feel that AK47 truly is the kind of player that significantly influences winning and can do it on any team.  This is just one team that he'd fit great on to.

Guys like Arenas, Josh Howard, Kevin Love are more guys that when you tighten up the rotations make for a really strong core 9 players.  They could use a better backup C IMO, but other than that I really like the Miami Heat.