Let's play a game. I want you to try to build the best roster (starting 5, bench 5) you can without using any top 10 players, and without putting any current starters on your bench.
For the sake of this game only -- leave argument over this point to other threads -- let's have the list of top 10 players be as follows (no particular order):
Lebron
Wade
Kobe
Durant
Dwight
Melo
Rose
Love
CP3
Griffin
Your goal is to make the team that would have the best shot at winning a title this season. My idea in proposing this game is to try and demonstrate how difficult it is to create such a team -- a serious contender without a top 10 player.
Here's my best attempt:
Rajon Rondo / Mo Williams
Joe Johnson / James Harden
Andre Iguodala / Corey Brewer
LaMarcus Aldridge / Al Harrington
Marc Gasol / Chris Andersen
Just how good would that team be? Really good. Tons of production off the bench, good defense, scoring potential at every starting position, and a great passer with tons of weapons at his disposal.
Here's the thing -- I don't think they'd even necessarily be the title favorite, despite being about as stacked as I could possibly make them without using any superstars.