list the number one players to build a contender around

[D.o.s.]

Buncha doomsayers up in here.

[Donoghus]

I think if they nab one of those top 3 draft slots and hit on the guy, keep Rondo, and continue working towards cap flexability...they are in really good shape to get that ensemble thing going.  With the assets Danny already has, its certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

[Celtics18]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

Given the current roster and with no one in this draft jumping out at me as an obvious transcendent talent, I think trying to build an ensemble cast is the Celtics' best hope for another championship.

I agree. I only see two real SUPERSTAR players in the NBA right now. I think the only way to go about it is the way Indian did.

You guys keep forgetting about the seven additional transcendent super stars that will be entering the league next season. 

[Mr October]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

Even the tanscendant talent needs all star weapons. Parish, McHale,  Dj, Kareem, Worthy, Pippen,  bosh, wade, shaq had Kobe. Kobe had Pau and odom.

Olajuwon had Drexler in 95' and amazingly just role player teammates in 94.

Indeed, The dynasties belong to the superstars when they have star power teams and or elite role player depth.

It will be interesting to see if Indiana or the old Spurs can win it all this year. Luck and health of course plays a big role. Miami might get knocked out due to cumulative fatigue and wade's busted body. OKC will probably be knocked out if Westbrook can't come back and help carry the load.

[BballTim]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

Given the current roster and with no one in this draft jumping out at me as an obvious transcendent talent, I think trying to build an ensemble cast is the Celtics' best hope for another championship.

I agree. I only see two real SUPERSTAR players in the NBA right now. I think the only way to go about it is the way Indian did.

You guys keep forgetting about the seven additional transcendent super stars that will be entering the league next season.

  Imagine the change in strategy for the top teams. With so many superstars in the league the title will go to the team with the best glue guys.

[LilRip]

In today's nba, I think you have to go with those players that have nearly zero weaknesses in their games. That said, the list reads:

1 Lebron
2 Durant
3 Paul George
4 CP3
5 pre-injured Wade

Of course, one guy can't do it alone. That's where the next tier of superstars come in like Rondo, Blake, Bosh, etc. As nick said, you don't necessarily need one of those "transcendent" talents if you have a collection of all stars.

[Onslaught]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

Given the current roster and with no one in this draft jumping out at me as an obvious transcendent talent, I think trying to build an ensemble cast is the Celtics' best hope for another championship.

I agree. I only see two real SUPERSTAR players in the NBA right now. I think the only way to go about it is the way Indian did.

You guys keep forgetting about the seven additional transcendent super stars that will be entering the league next season.

I keep forgetting that this is the greatest draft of all time. That any of the top 10 guys will take you from zero to hero all by themselves.

[PhoSita]

As I posted earlier this season, teams that win the championship almost always have at least one guy who gets 10 win shares or more in the regular season.

Guys currently on track for 10 win shares or more this season:

Durant*
James*
Love*
Griffin
Curry
Lowry
George
Deandre Jordan
Dirk
Dragic
Melo
Harden
Drummond
Ibaka
Aldridge
Howard
Lillard
Noah

*(These guys are all on track for 15+ Win Shares; Durant already has 13.5 -- wow)

This is not to say every one of these players could have a contender built around them (or that their teams are all contenders), but it gives you a sense of which players are making the biggest impact this season.


I've highlighted the names of guys who I think can be the focal point for a contender.  The other guys on the list are all fantastic supporting stars.

I'd also note that the San Antonio duo of Parker and Duncan might be excused for not appearing on this list because Popovich rests them so aggressively.

[Celtic]

It's my belief that the NBA is more and more becoming a wing players league. With the extreme use of the three pointer, removal of shot blocking by way of the egregiousness of most charging calls, as well as the allowance of undercutting driving players, the center is fading away in the NBA. A great one is good to have, but a good one is great too.

As for power forwards there are a lot of stat fillers in the league, but Blake, when defended properly can easily be eliminated from a game, Love is awesome but can not take over a game. Davis is looking like the player to maybe buck the trend, but for now Duncan and Aldridge are the closest things to difference makers at the power forward spot.

Point guards, aside from our guy Rondo, are mostly merging with shooting guards, becoming score first players, the problem is due to their limited size, in crunch time of a playoff series they can be prevented from getting to the rim,

Now we're left with Lebron, Durant, George. You have to be realistic, if we're building a contender based around one player, that means your best player has to be able to beat a team built around Lebron and Durant.

This is the thinnest the NBA has been in a long time, after the top two there is a ridiculous drop off. I love Rose, Westbrook, Love, Aldridge etc. as much as any other NBA fan but those guys aren't going to win you a championship as long as Lebron and Durant are surrounded by real talent.

I wholeheartedly believe that the Pacers are the best team in the NBA, the worst part about it is I know that they will still lose to the Heat in the ECF. We all wish it wont happen, but deep down we know it will. Sure, seems a bit gloomy, but the honest answer to the original question, "List the number one players to build a contender around," yields bleak results.

1st. Durant
2nd. Lebron
Distant 3rd. George

[slamtheking]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

I think you could make a case where KG was still a transcendent player in 2008 as well as Moses Malone for the '83 Sixers (plus Dr J).

[BballTim]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

I think you could make a case where KG was still a transcendent player in 2008 as well as Moses Malone for the '83 Sixers (plus Dr J).

  Isiah as well. played great in big games and was the 2nd best pg in the game.

[Donoghus]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

I think you could make a case where KG was still a transcendent player in 2008 as well as Moses Malone for the '83 Sixers (plus Dr J).

  Isiah as well. played great in big games and was the 2nd best pg in the game.

Thomas excluded, not having multiple titles during those respective stretches probably serves them a bit of an injustice.

[Moranis]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

I think you could make a case where KG was still a transcendent player in 2008 as well as Moses Malone for the '83 Sixers (plus Dr J).

  Isiah as well. played great in big games and was the 2nd best pg in the game.

I don't think I'd call Isiah a transcendent player.  Moses probably was though even that is a bit of a stretch, I just don't see it with Isiah.

[D.o.s.]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

I think you could make a case where KG was still a transcendent player in 2008 as well as Moses Malone for the '83 Sixers (plus Dr J).

  Isiah as well. played great in big games and was the 2nd best pg in the game.

I don't think I'd call Isiah a transcendent player.  Moses probably was though even that is a bit of a stretch, I just don't see it with Isiah.

Seriously?

[BballTim]

Since the 70's the #1 way to win championships is to have the transcendent talent in the league at that time on your team or a very deep group of All-Stars.
 
2010's - Lebron
2000's - Kobe, Shaq, Duncan
1990's - Jordan Olajuwah
1980's - Bird, Magic

Teams like 2011 Dallas, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, 1989 and 1990 Pistons and 1983 Sixers are more in line with being teams with a large group of All-Stars rather than having the transcendent singular talent of that decade.

So knowing this I would have to say the answer for future title winners that are led by a player will be Lebron, Durant and Davis and I really don't see anyone else for right now.

I think you could make a case where KG was still a transcendent player in 2008 as well as Moses Malone for the '83 Sixers (plus Dr J).

  Isiah as well. played great in big games and was the 2nd best pg in the game.

I don't think I'd call Isiah a transcendent player.  Moses probably was though even that is a bit of a stretch, I just don't see it with Isiah.

  Is that from actually watching them play?