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

[Who]

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.

I disagree with Doug Christie, I like him as a glue guy in this setting.

He was a very under-rated ball-handler and passer who could move without the ball, was good in transition and was a solid but unexceptional spot up shooter. Add to his strong defense and solid rebounding and I think you have a very good versatile role player.

I think Christie is particularly useful alongside Penny Hardaway because of his defensive versatility and ability to defend all three backcourt positions. Allows Penny to slide over the two defensively while Christie takes the PG. Penny was a good defensive player at the two and along with Grant Hill, that gives your team three long athletic active perimeter defenders to harass opponents.

I think Christie will end up being more valuable than some of these all-offense no defense SGs.

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Also, I disagree on starting Stickland. I would have liked to slide Penny to the two alongside a PG but I wouldn't do that with Rod Strickland. Too ball-dominant. Too self-important, consistently put himself above his team (and teammates). Lousy shooter. Too difficult for ball-handling wings (like Penny and Hill) to play with.

Let Strickland play off the bench and dominate the ball with the second unit. That's when he is at his best. Give him 10 minutes a night to beat up the opposing team's backup PG.

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If you can find a more suitable starting PG to play alongside Penny and Hill, I would move Doug Christie to the bench in a utility player role (as the backup SG). A guy who can plug holes where needed.

Suitable PG = a genuine leader who can push the tempo and run the offense (which Penny is dodgy at) while being effective alongside two ball-dominant wing players (Hill, Penny) -- Which means someone who is comfortable playing off the ball for large chunks of the offense (shooting ability is important) and who can also defend and rebound his position.

Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill are the creative hubs of the offense. They are the guys who are going to break down the opponent's defense and the guys who will create shots for everyone else (especially Ewing).

[Who]

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.

You don't think Odom + Webber is a significantly better offensive duo than Odom + Ratliff or Webber + Ratliff?

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Sorry, yes, you can do that -- you have enough offense elsewhere in the lineup to live with Ratliff's limitations -- but does Ratliff add enough to justify doing that?

Does he add enough with his strong team defense, so-so man-to-man defense, dodgy rebounding and weak offensive play to take minutes away from players like Lamar Odom, Chris Webber and Vlade Divac.

I don't think he does.

[Who]

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.

I like them a lot as a combo. I think they'll be hell to play against because they'll be able to go all out for 48 minutes with that relentless physically overpowering style of play. They are going to be very tough to play against.

[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.

You don't think Odom + Webber is a significantly better offensive duo than Odom + Ratliff or Webber + Ratliff?

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Sorry, yes, you can do that -- you have enough offense elsewhere in the lineup to live with Ratliff's limitations -- but does Ratliff add enough to justify doing that?

Does he add enough with his strong team defense, so-so man-to-man defense, dodgy rebounding and weak offensive play to take minutes away from players like Lamar Odom, Chris Webber and Vlade Divac.

I don't think he does.

In his all star season, he averaged 3.7 blocks and 8.3 rebounds. I'd have to evaluate the minute, but I don't see why he wouldn't be good for about 10 minutes and possibly more if the match up dictates it.

For me, I liked the pick b/c it gives me another look. In the event that the offense isn't flowing perfectly, I've got another approach I could take.

[KCattheStripe]

Celtics

C: Marc Gasol/ Andrew Bogut
PF: Dirk Nowitzki/ Juwan Howard
SF: Reggie Lewis/ James Posey
SG: Vince Carter/ Jamal Mashburn
PG: Chris Paul

Lewis is a SG. 


I am not sure what it is, but there is something about this team that make me think it is not very strong.

Probably the Vince Carter effect and that I am not huge Gasol fan.

Reggie's listed as 6'-7 and a Guard -Forward on Basketball reference. I agree it's probably the  negative feelings people have towards Carter , even though he was a top 5 player in the early 2000s and took over game after game in the clutch. Also, people still can't believe that Dirk won as the only top 15 player on his team, so it's hard to imagine him with talent all around him.

[Who]

Celtics

C: Marc Gasol/ Andrew Bogut
PF: Dirk Nowitzki/ Juwan Howard
SF: Reggie Lewis/ James Posey
SG: Vince Carter/ Jamal Mashburn
PG: Chris Paul

Lewis is a SG. 


I am not sure what it is, but there is something about this team that make me think it is not very strong.

Probably the Vince Carter effect and that I am not huge Gasol fan.

Reggie's listed as 6'-7 and a Guard -Forward on Basketball reference. I agree it's probably the  negative feelings people have towards Carter , even though he was a top 5 player in the early 2000s and took over game after game in the clutch. Also, people still can't believe that Dirk won as the only top 15 player on his team, so it's hard to imagine him with talent all around him.

I think Reggie Lewis is more effective as a SG too.

I think you lose a fair bit of his effectiveness by using him a SF. I thought he really benefited both defensively and offensively from having that size advantage. Take it away and I think there is drop off on both ends of the court. His rebounding will also be dodgy for a SF.

It's fine ... but definitely not ideal.

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You could always start James Posey and use Mashburn as your backup SF with Reggie sliding to backup SG.

It's not like Reggie will get a lot of shots in that starting unit anyway. Your team will be running a lot of pick and rolls and isolations for your three main offensive weapons. Then probably Marc Gasol as a fourth option.

So as a defender/rebounder (SF) and primarily a spot up shooter, does Reggie really add more to your team than Posey does?

And if even if you start Posey, it could still be as a 20mpg part time starter role with Reggie getting more minutes off the bench if you so wished. You could still use Vince and Reggie alongside one another at other junctures in the game.

[Who]

Philadelphia 76ers

PG: Terry Porter, Kyle Lowry
SG: Tracy McGrady, James Harden
SF: Josh Howard, Rudy Gay, Danny Manning
PF: Shawn Kemp, Serge Ibaka, (Danny Manning)
C:  Shaquille O'Neal, Roy Tarpley

Okay, my bench and team is pretty much done now. For the last two picks, I'd probably add another guard and whoever the best available talent is.

There is no set rotation off the bench. Well, the backcourt is pretty straight forward but the frontcourt will depend on what type of matchups and adjustments to style of play the coach wants. Some nights Manning will the first frontcourt player off the bench, other nights he may not play. Same with Ibaka, Gay and maybe even Tarpley.

[wdleehi]

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/SF Robert Horry
PF/C Clifford Robinson (big headband one)
PF/C Aldridge

[Celtic Fan Forever]

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/SF Robert Horry
PF/C Clifford Robinson (big headband one)
PF/C Aldridge

Love your starting lineup and how they all fit together. Some great glue guys on the bench. Only complaint I have is your defense doesn't seem great, but without a doubt this is an elite offensive team. I'd say you need one more good player that can play the 1 and 2 and you're pretty set.

[Moranis]

2 picks left for me.  With the addition of Barbosa that slides Stack over to the backup SF position for the team.  Really like how it is shaking out and see a lot of interchangeable parts here and nice fits.  I am still undecided on which year to utilize from Westbrook.  He was better statistically last season, but he seems to be a bit more mature this season, so I'm really torn there.   

PG - Rose 11, Westbrook ?
SG - Pierce 02, Barbosa 07
SF - J. Johnson 05, Stackhouse 01
PF - K. Malone 97, Bosh 07, AC Green 89
C  - Bynum 12, Seikaly 93

[indeedproceed]

Nash
Finley/Battier
Pippen/Rice
Elton Brand/J Smith
J O'Neal/M Okur/Big Z

1 pick in the 12th, 2 picks in the 13th left.

So here is how I see it playing out: steve  Nash sets the pace offensively, with him and Brand or him and jermaine O'neal being the primary pieces in a dual side p&r attack, while Finley and Pippen wait for opportunities and resets from Nash. The tempo will be breakneck, counting on a good amount of fast reams from rebounds from the misses caused by the tight defense led by Pippen and Oneal.

There isn't a sure fire second unit yet, but I want Oneal in particular to be super aggressive, when Okur is in (and battier) they'll be spot up shooters and facilitators, while smith will be the finisher on Steve Nash's pick and roll attack. Glen rice will be the king of the trailing 3 in transition, and will be a reset option/spot up man on offense. Big z comes in only when facing other titans, harassing Shaq and those like him with hard fouls and a murderous 18 foot shot

[GreenFaith1819]

Nash
Finley/Battier
Pippen/Rice
Elton Brand/J Smith
J O'Neal/M Okur/Big Z

1 pick in the 12th, 2 picks in the 13th left.

Personally, I think ALL of your 4's and 5's are estatic, in that to my memory NONE of them have ever played with a PG like Nash.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

How's the new Nuggets now.

G - Penny Hardaway / Rod Strickland / Derek Fisher
G - Doug Christie / Nick Anderson
F - Grant Hill / Tayshaun Prince
F - David Lee / PJ Brown
C - Patrick Ewing / Rik Smits / Luc Longley

[Rondo2287]

2 picks left for me.  With the addition of Barbosa that slides Stack over to the backup SF position for the team.  Really like how it is shaking out and see a lot of interchangeable parts here and nice fits.  I am still undecided on which year to utilize from Westbrook.  He was better statistically last season, but he seems to be a bit more mature this season, so I'm really torn there.   

PG - Rose 11, Westbrook ?
SG - Pierce 02, Barbosa 07
SF - J. Johnson 05, Stackhouse 01
PF - K. Malone 97, Bosh 07, AC Green 89
C  - Bynum 12, Seikaly 93

I really think your team lacks meaningful championship experience.  In your starting 5 only one player has won the title and he also happens to be your most immature player.  I could be wrong here but are AC Green and Bynum the only players on your team to have won a title?  I think in this format where there are so many quality players that have not only put up good stats but also played and won on the biggest stage your lack of championship experience will hurt you.

[Rondo2287]

How's the new Nuggets now.

G - Penny Hardaway / Rod Strickland / Derek Fisher
G - Doug Christie / Nick Anderson
F - Grant Hill / Tayshaun Prince
F - David Lee / PJ Brown
C - Patrick Ewing / Rik Smits / Luc Longley

I like the your team though David Lee does worry me as a starting PF in this league, not much defense but he does rebound at an excellent rate.  Again for your team the lack of championship experience worries me.