Reassemble the 2006-2007 roster

[gift]

I was just thinking generally about how players generally improve with experience. We all know that young teams usually struggle and that you can win more games with veterans, even if those veterans don't have the same upside as some younger players.

I thought about the 2006-2007 roster and just wondered if you put the core of those players together today, how would they fit? Would they play like you would expect veterans would? Would they be a better team than their younger selves?

Obviously, it's tricky to compare, but I thought it might be a fun discussion. Let's say the starters are the current versions of:

Rajon Rondo
Tony Allen
Paul Pierce
Al Jefferson
Kendrick Perkins

Off the bench are guys who are still in the league or only recently out of the league, but presumably can still play a little:

Sebastian Telfair
Delonte West
Gerald Green
Brian Scalabrine
Ryan Gomes

And some guys who obviously would not be able to play at all (I suggest inserting any replacement level player in their place):

Wally Szczerbiak
Leon Powe
Olowakandi
Ratliff

How differently would this team play than they did in '06-07? Would they be considered a savvy bunch? How many wins would they get?

[Donoghus]

Team has no depth but, with that starting unit, it could probably be a top 4 team in today's Eastern Conference.  Desperately need an outside shooter too.  I think the starting unit could play extremely well together, though. 

I guess are we considering Jefferson hurt right now in this pseudo world too?

The question is, how would you fill out that bench?

[pearljammer10]

That's a real solid starting 5 and a great 6th man in Green... After there its way too thin. Telfair could maybe give some minutes as your 7th guys but we'd need to fill in the rest of the lineup though...I'd love to watch that starting 5 play however.

[gpap]

Going from this season to the 2006-07 season is like going back into Alcatraz.

[Roy H.]

With the regression of Pierce and Perkins, plus playing Big Al at PF, I'm not sure that the current team would be better.  Maybe, because Rondo is much better than in 2007, but it's not a given.

[gift]

Team has no depth but, with that starting unit, it could probably be a top 4 team in today's Eastern Conference.  Desperately need an outside shooter too.  I think the starting unit could play extremely well together, though. 

I guess are we considering Jefferson hurt right now in this pseudo world too?

The question is, how would you fill out that bench?

I was thinking current players discounting injuries. So yeah, let's pretend a healthy Jefferson (otherwise the team has no decent bigs at all).

I agree the bench would stink, assuming you replace the bigs with comparable current players. But I do kind of like that starting unit.

[Who]

TA and Rondo is a troublesome backcourt due to combined lack of shooting. Especially if Perk is on the floor as well. That is 3 non-shooters. Big Al would have a tough time in the post. Forced to spend more time looking for mid-range jumpers. Pierce only perimeter threat. TA would need to come off the bench. Delonte West would be best starting option.

Big Al and Perk are far too slow as a tandem. Both guys need speed alongside them from 2nd big man. Not capable of being a quality starting big man duo. Too deficient defensively. They would make a good 1-2 punch at the C position though.

Pierce is an old and on his way out of the league. A useful role player as a 6th man or last piece of a starting lineup ... but not capable of leading a team, being a primary or secondary option on offense. A 4th option level player.

PG: Rondo, Telfair
SG: Delonte, TA
SF: Pierce, G.Green
PF: Gomes, (Powe?)
 C: Big Al, Perk

That looks like a 30-something win type team to me.

[gift]

TA and Rondo is a troublesome backcourt due to combined lack of shooting. Especially if Perk is on the floor as well. That is 3 non-shooters. Big Al would have a tough time in the post. Forced to spend more time looking for mid-range jumpers. Pierce only perimeter threat. TA would need to come off the bench. Delonte West would be best starting option.

Big Al and Perk are far too slow as a tandem. Both guys need speed alongside them from 2nd big man. Not capable of being a quality starting big man duo. Too deficient defensively. They would make a good 1-2 punch at the C position though.

Pierce is an old and on his way out of the league. A useful role player as a 6th man or last piece of a starting lineup ... but not capable of leading a team, being a primary or secondary option on offense. A 4th option level player.

PG: Rondo, Telfair
SG: Delonte, TA
SF: Pierce, G.Green
PF: Gomes, (Powe?)
 C: Big Al, Perk

That looks like a 30-something win type team to me.

I thought about switching up the starting lineup, but didn't want to make that a distraction. In fact, I'd probably start Gerald Green at SG. I think Scal might still be better at PF than Gomes.