article on Durant - his top 5 all-time team

[ederson]

The only think about this list that disappoints me is that people still get upset about other people's top 5 lists.

tp 

It`s his favourite 5men team .. he likes KB and of course he wants him in his team ... so what

[Celtics4ever]

Safe to say that Durant is not a student of the history of basketball.  Kobe over Bird is an absolute farce, Bird at his peak contributed and beat you in more ways than scoring and kicking people.

[Celtics17]

If we are talking about the top 5 by their respective positions I would have to take MJ at shooting guard, Magic at point, Bird at small forward, probably Duncan at pf although I would like to move Russell here, and Wilt at center. That team has a huge bb iq, the most dominant force ever to play the game in Wilt, and the most dominant scorer in MJ, one of the best basketball minds ever in Bird and Duncan and the best point guard ever in Magic. You could assemble a better all around defensive or offensive team but I dont think you can get a better combination of both.

Does anyone really think that Duncan or Kareemm or Russel for that, is going to stop a young Wilt who also has other players on his team who are almost as good as he was? In this game Wilt dominates the boards and defends the goal like noone has ever seen. He doesnt have to score but no one can stop hiime if he wants to.

[Vermont Green]

Does anyone really think that Duncan or Kareemm or Russel for that, is going to stop a young Wilt who also has other players on his team who are almost as good as he was?

Wilt had free throw issues plus I think Russell did stop Wilt a number of times, or at least stop him enough.  I guess you are arguing that Russell had better teams around him than Wilt did?

[GC003332]

I am waiting for Jon Koncak's all time starting 5, should be interesting to see his take on NBA history.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Both Shaq and Duncan can pretty easily be considered superior players to McHale.

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

If we're going strictly by position, Shaq was a center, not a PF like Duncan and McHale.

Also, I'm curious to know why you guys think Duncan and Malone are better than McHale. I confess to being a complete homer on this question, but I would take McHale over those two.

[Csfan1984]

It is actually an interesting approach to take both Kobe and Jordan.  Think of it this way, after Durant makes his picks, now you get to pick from the rest and have the two teams play.

He has Magic-Kobe-Jordan-Duncan-Shaq

To match up against this team I would take

Oscar Robertson (PG)
Jerry West ? (SG)
LeBron (SG)
Bill Russell (PF)
Kareem (C)

4 of 5 positions are clear.  I love Larry but I would rather have LeBron to match up with Jordan and I know that Bill Russell played Center but he could play PF along side of Kareem and would be perfect to match up with Duncan. But with Kobe and Jordan off the board, who is the next best SG?  I put Jerry West in but feel he would be the weak point in my team.  Other options off of the all time scoring list are Havlicek, Ray Allen, and Reggie Miller but I feel that any of these are kind of a drop off from Kobe or Jordan.

Taking Kobe and Jordan is kind of smart.  If Durant took Bird for example, I could then take Kobe at SG and Lebron at SF and actually have a better team.  I am sure that is Durant's plan   

To take on Durant's team I go
PG-Big O
SG-LeBron
SF-Bird
PF-KG
C-The Dream

I let Bird guard Magic, LeBron on Jordan, Big O on Kobe, KG on Duncan, Olajuwon on Shaq. KG and Bird help spacing they also rebound high levels. Big O and LeBron can slash. Hakeem can work the post and defend at a high level. I don't think people think about team balance much(your team is a good one). There has to be spacing and roles.

[slamtheking]

You also don't see the question which was translated from a Spanish speaking site.  Maybe the question asked him about players he saw play. 

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

You cannot bail him out on that he lost all credibility once he forced Kobe on the team by putting him out of position. Kobe and MJ play the same position. MJ in Kobe out. Once he tried to force Kobe in he opens himself to criticism. Force Kobe in then you have to force Hakeem in next to Russell.

Absolutely love Hakeem and Duncan, but I would have them on the 2nd team (Kareem could take Hakeem's spot) if we are 'forcing' players into position. Russell and Wilt could probably work it out if they had to play together and I would put them along with Bird, Jordan, and Magic on my team.

yup, that'd be my top 5.  I have no doubt that as great as they were, Wilt and Russ would figure out how to play together without much problem

[slamtheking]

Both Shaq and Duncan can pretty easily be considered superior players to McHale.

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

If we're going strictly by position, Shaq was a center, not a PF like Duncan and McHale.

Also, I'm curious to know why you guys think Duncan and Malone are better than McHale. I confess to being a complete homer on this question, but I would take McHale over those two.

as would I. 

nothing against Timmy but Mchale was much better in the post, better FT shooter, better range on his shot as his career progressed and always took the tougher defensive matchup at forward for Bird as well as covering center.  Timmy's great, but I'd take Mchale personally.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Both Shaq and Duncan can pretty easily be considered superior players to McHale.

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

If we're going strictly by position, Shaq was a center, not a PF like Duncan and McHale.

Also, I'm curious to know why you guys think Duncan and Malone are better than McHale. I confess to being a complete homer on this question, but I would take McHale over those two.

as would I. 

nothing against Timmy but Mchale was much better in the post, better FT shooter, better range on his shot as his career progressed and always took the tougher defensive matchup at forward for Bird as well as covering center.  Timmy's great, but I'd take Mchale personally.

I like Duncan's play (and Malone's), but I was thinking along similar lines as you—that McHale was the better post player and developed greater shooting range in the latter part of his career. And good point about the FT shooting—McHale is a full 10 percentage points better in that category.

I also take into consideration that McHale's numbers (particularly rebounds) were lower than they might've been because he was part of a dominant frontcourt with Chief and Bird his entire career, whereas Duncan has had only one dominant frontcourt mate—David Robinson—and that was for only the first 6 of Duncan's 18 (and counting) years.

Not that you could go wrong with either of those guys. 

[slamtheking]

Both Shaq and Duncan can pretty easily be considered superior players to McHale.

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

If we're going strictly by position, Shaq was a center, not a PF like Duncan and McHale.

Also, I'm curious to know why you guys think Duncan and Malone are better than McHale. I confess to being a complete homer on this question, but I would take McHale over those two.

as would I. 

nothing against Timmy but Mchale was much better in the post, better FT shooter, better range on his shot as his career progressed and always took the tougher defensive matchup at forward for Bird as well as covering center.  Timmy's great, but I'd take Mchale personally.

I like Duncan's play (and Malone's), but I was thinking along similar lines as you—that McHale was the better post player and developed greater shooting range in the latter part of his career. And good point about the FT shooting—McHale is a full 10 percentage points better in that category.

I also take into consideration that McHale's numbers (particularly rebounds) were lower than they might've been because he was part of a dominant frontcourt with Chief and Bird his entire career, whereas Duncan has had only one dominant frontcourt mate—David Robinson—and that was for only the first 6 of Duncan's 18 (and counting) years.

Not that you could go wrong with either of those guys. 

good point on the rebounding.  I would give Timmy the edge there but Mchale did play with 4 other guys that were good to excellent rebounders in Bird, Parish, Maxwell and Walton.  Mchale was a solid offensive rebounder so it's reasonable to think that could have translated into more defensive boards if he had to carry more of that load

[Moranis]

Both Shaq and Duncan can pretty easily be considered superior players to McHale.

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

If we're going strictly by position, Shaq was a center, not a PF like Duncan and McHale.

Also, I'm curious to know why you guys think Duncan and Malone are better than McHale. I confess to being a complete homer on this question, but I would take McHale over those two.

as would I. 

nothing against Timmy but Mchale was much better in the post, better FT shooter, better range on his shot as his career progressed and always took the tougher defensive matchup at forward for Bird as well as covering center.  Timmy's great, but I'd take Mchale personally.

Duncan is a much better passer, better shot blocker, better overall defender, better rebounder, etc.

Duncan is regarded as the best PF by virtually everyone and those that don't have Malone.  I get why Celtics blog may favor McHale, but that is just homerism.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Both Shaq and Duncan can pretty easily be considered superior players to McHale.

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

If we're going strictly by position, Shaq was a center, not a PF like Duncan and McHale.

Also, I'm curious to know why you guys think Duncan and Malone are better than McHale. I confess to being a complete homer on this question, but I would take McHale over those two.

as would I. 

nothing against Timmy but Mchale was much better in the post, better FT shooter, better range on his shot as his career progressed and always took the tougher defensive matchup at forward for Bird as well as covering center.  Timmy's great, but I'd take Mchale personally.

Duncan is a much better passer, better shot blocker, better overall defender, better rebounder, etc.

Duncan is regarded as the best PF by virtually everyone and those that don't have Malone.  I get why Celtics blog may favor McHale, but that is just homerism.

Well, I've already admitted to being a homer  , but I'd be interested in seeing some advanced defensive stats on each guy. I also mentioned my theory on why McHale didn't average as many rebounds—he had a lot more good-rebounding teammates with whom to compete. Plus, he was a better shooter from virtually every area of the floor (FG: .554 vs. .506, eFG: .555 vs. .507, 3PT: .261 vs. .181, FT: .798 vs. .696).

[Moranis]

Both Shaq and Duncan can pretty easily be considered superior players to McHale.

But Duncan or Malone are clearly the 2 best PF's and he mentioned them both and then went with the guy who most people think is the greatest PF in history (i.e. Duncan).

If we're going strictly by position, Shaq was a center, not a PF like Duncan and McHale.

Also, I'm curious to know why you guys think Duncan and Malone are better than McHale. I confess to being a complete homer on this question, but I would take McHale over those two.

as would I. 

nothing against Timmy but Mchale was much better in the post, better FT shooter, better range on his shot as his career progressed and always took the tougher defensive matchup at forward for Bird as well as covering center.  Timmy's great, but I'd take Mchale personally.

Duncan is a much better passer, better shot blocker, better overall defender, better rebounder, etc.

Duncan is regarded as the best PF by virtually everyone and those that don't have Malone.  I get why Celtics blog may favor McHale, but that is just homerism.

Well, I've already admitted to being a homer  , but I'd be interested in seeing some advanced defensive stats on each guy. I also mentioned my theory on why McHale didn't average as many rebounds—he had a lot more good-rebounding teammates with whom to compete. Plus, he was a better shooter from virtually every area of the floor (FG: .554 vs. .506, eFG: .555 vs. .507, 3PT: .261 vs. .181, FT: .798 vs. .696).

McHale didn't get the rebounds (and I'm talking rate also) because he didn't have very good rebounding positioning.  He was a master offensively in the low post, but wasn't great boxing out and was not a very good defender in the low post or help defender for that matter.  That is the reason Bird, who played mostly on the outside, almost always outrebounded McHale.  Bird had the instincts and the technique that McHale lacked. 

I know DRTG isn't the most advanced stat, but Duncan was always among the league leaders, McHale was worse than average every year. 

[Forza Juventus]

The only think about this list that disappoints me is that people still get upset about other people's top 5 lists.

THIS. TP.