Best NBA Team All-Time

GeoffM · #1 11-19-04, 08:46 AM

Okay guys, I just got into an argument with someone about how the team of about 2 decades ago would crush today's team. I argued the opposite, and began listing off a starting lineup that consisted of:

Shaq-C, all day, best centre of all-time
Garnett-SF, can play any position on the floor, so I gave him this one
Duncan-PF, again, all-day, I don't like him but he is good
Kidd-PG, Mr. Everything, he can match up against the best point guards of any era
Stojakovic-SG, again, a very good shooter and good height for the position.

He begins naming off:
Jordan-PG, can't argue there
Bird-SG, again can't argue, but Peja has a few inches on him
K. Malone-SF, Garnett would school him
Olajuwon-PF, Duncan would food him
Abdul-Jabbar-C, Shaq would snap him like a twig.

I know a lot of you guys grew up during both eras, so who would win. I say today's NBA would dominate. This all started when I said LeBron is sick and will be better than Jordan, which drew some backlash. Oh well, I guess averagin 21 a game out of high school doesn't get the respect it should. He is going to be the BEST player of all-time, possibly any sport.

jimmytheg · #2 11-19-04, 09:01 AM

That 2 decades ago team is all wrong. Magic, Jordan, Bird, Moses Malone and Jabbar would destroy today's 5.

Stojakovic wouldn;t even get a shot off...Jordan was one of the best defenders all time and would bottle Kidd up....Malone could guard Shaq better than anyone ever has in his career... Garnett would still be good but not enough to carry the team....and Olajuwon would have some success against jabbar but still not enough....the guard play from the 2 decades ago would roll over your current squad

Aequitas58 · #3 11-19-04, 09:38 AM

So many things to address here... lol.

Saying LeBron will be better than Jordan is sacreligious! Jordan is THE best player of all time. His stats stand alone, and it will take a long time before anyone can surpass what he has accomplished. Although Lebron has considerable talent, I don't buy the "21/ppg in HS" argument. He was able to shit on high school kids because they were so young and he was just GOOD. It's a different game in the NBA. I look forward to watching him mature and just get better - even though he's already very good. I don't think Lebron will be better than Jordan, but only time will tell.

It's hard to argue against Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan, but at the height of Karl Malone's and Hakeem Olajuwon's careers - they were NASTY. Bird was disgusting, and if you allow Michael Jordan to run the point, I don't think the new team has a shot of winning.

Sidenote: I would exchange Iverson for Kidd, and here's why: Jordan would just shit on Kidd everytime they're matched up. I feel like Iverson is more of a streetballer and he would be able to "keep up" with Jordan... (more than Kidd would.)

Who knows.

This kinda stuff is tough to argue online - but makes for great "around the TV" debates.

Penguinfan · #4 11-19-04, 01:36 PM

I will take the 95-96 Chicago Bulls who were 72-10 if memory serves, you can have anyone else not on that team from any time period and I think you get crushed.

junYUN · #5 11-19-04, 01:59 PM

dood, old school team would murder your squad. peja shouldnt even be your 2 guard (kobe - pierce - mcgrady?).

junYUN · #6 11-19-04, 02:12 PM

uh he actually scored 30+ in HS, what he was referring to was 21ppg straight out of high school (in the nba). lebron is not just "good" he's a fucking stud. but, either way, i don't think he'll be better than mike.

eddo31 · #7 11-19-04, 02:22 PM

i think the old team would kill the new team, but not as it was constituted in the original post. you have too many people in the wrong positions for it to be right.

the old team has to be

pg - either magic or isaih.
sg - jordan
sf - bird
pf - pick between moses/barkley/malone, etc.
c - jabbar/olajuwon

this puts players in their natural positions, and it also makes a much better team as a whole.

Kidd7138 · #8 11-19-04, 02:51 PM

Gotta go with the old school on this one.
A team made up of something like Jordan, Magic, Bird, M. Malone and Abdul-Jabbar would make a much better team than anything the NBA can throw its way now. Or you can just grab the original Dream Team and they'd wipe the floor with today's squad. The old school team's would play much better all-around basketball and the new school team would be left in the dust.

omahilo · #9 11-19-04, 03:39 PM

lets think of one thing old school NBA does and new school NBA doesnt... Old School plays DEFENSE...

Peja is a shooter... alot of todays players are shooters... they rather cherrypick at the other end and wait for the ball.

Jordan was one of the best defensive players ever... Malone would limit Shaq... Malone would give him a few elbows right in the head and that will slow him down. Nobody want to mess with Malone's elbows.

Old School is so much tougher than New School... todays players sit out with a hang nail. Then you got Jordan who is throwing up all over himself go out and score 63pts vs the celtics.

I think this is a pretty easy decision.

omahilo · #10 11-19-04, 03:44 PM

All the old school players have rings to back it up... todays amazing players rarely have the rings to back it up since they are not team players. McGrady, Iverson, Garnett, etc...

One player I wish I could exclude from new school is Duncan... he was born in the wrong era. Duncan all he does is make his bankshots, plays amazing defense, and wins championships...

the old school team... Jordan, Bird, Isiah, Magic, Kareem, Hakeem... they all have MULTIPLY rings to back it up. Malone/Stockon should of had a ring but cant mess with the bulls. Why do you think the original dream team played so amazing. All the players knew how to play as a team.

The new school "dream team" barely wins a medal because they rather steal the ball from each other than share it.

Aequitas58 · #11 11-19-04, 03:44 PM

Peja would be a good 6th man ... maybe! He's like the guy you have to go to when you're down double digits, and you absolutely need to start hitting some threes.

But then again, Peja doesn't compare to the Bird-man.

Aequitas58 · #12 11-19-04, 03:48 PM

You misinterpreted my use of the word good. Either way, I think we both agree he's no Mike and probably won't get to that level. (It would be awesome if he did, though.)

2Tone · #13 11-19-04, 04:37 PM

Great thread. But what’s with Peja being included here? The initial post had him out of position – he’s a forward. And sure, he’s a good forward, but no where near being the best in his position. I’d go with Dirk ahead of him for my today’s team, opposite Duncan/KG. Moving him away from shooting guard leaves room for TMac as well.

Meanwhile, for my old school forward, the second Bird sits down, I’ve got Bernard King (the most underrated player ever?) coming off the bench.

And I’d probably start Olajuwon over Jabbar as well.

eddo31 · #14 11-19-04, 05:59 PM

king may be the most underrated SCORER ever, but he wasnt as complete a player as bird was. there is a pretty good reason why bird won three straight mvps at a time when the nba was a great league, and it is no slight to king to be sitting behind larry legend.

who would even make up the new team? i basically have no idea who to include.

i do know that kg and duncan both have to be in the frontcourt though. they are the best two players out there right now, and both of them are complete players who can score, rebound, make their teammates better, and play some serious defense. shaq has to be up front, i guess, and the guard spots are very unsettled. i think you need kobe at the two, just because he is the best defensive guard who can also play some offense. the point should probably be kidd, but whoever it is, they are at a huge disadvantage against either magic or isaih.

i think if you put the old school players at the correct positions, then that team blows away whoever we put on the floor right now, basically because their guard play will be better. the frontcourts would be pretty evenly matched, but the old school guards would kick our asses now.

eddo31 · #15 11-19-04, 06:02 PM

by the way, this is a fantastic thread. it makes you remember why the nba was a great league, and why the league basically sucks right now.

Chutups · #16 11-19-04, 10:32 PM

Basketball used to be my favorite sport, it's now Basbeball, football, then basketball. I remember the days when people actually knew how to make a jumpshot, and players would develop there game in college.

bigjohnstud2o · #17 11-20-04, 04:56 AM

G- Magic
G- Jordan
SF- Bird
PF- Barkley
C- Kareem

No arguments other than maybe Hakeem at C. This team would beat any of todays. Todays could take 10 man team(top 10 in last 5-7 years) and sub in and out and let the old school players play the full 48 and still beat them by 15+.DEFENSE is the key. Reason being is who would you take off and replace from the old school team with a new player? No way jordan bird magic or barkley. Barkley was one of the most amazing players i have ever seen play the game at his position. He had so much love for the overall game and it showed by his physicallity and perseverance. Is there anyone else you can think of that worked harder than him in the league ever? If so please name him. Also, watch out for a Jr in High school named OJ Mayo. He is the man coming up.

omahilo · #18 11-20-04, 01:10 PM

I agree with everything you said BigJohn... I agree that Barkley was an unreal player. I also think Karl Malone could play PF with Barkley. People dont realize Karl Malone is SECOND on the alltime scoring list and the record is all but his if he keeps playing. Malone was also a beast on defense like Barkley. I agree that those 5 would own any new school team.

bigjohnstud2o · #19 11-20-04, 05:37 PM

basketball is my forte. It always has been. I have played and watched it all of my life and became a High School official after i graduated. Malone was the man omahillo....no doubt but i would have to stick with barkley there IMO. Just too much of a fighter not too

omahilo · #20 11-20-04, 05:47 PM

yeah I agree with you... cant go wrong with either guy anyways lol.

junYUN · #21 11-20-04, 10:30 PM

what? no love for my man wilt chamberlin? 100 points in a game! or what about bill russell? oscar robertson? dr. j? theres no way you can say "current NBA" vs "old NBA" because there are decades and decades of players, vs the current ones. there are too many great players. maybe if you chose a decade, and THEN built the teams you might have a reason to argue this.

omahilo · #22 11-21-04, 12:13 AM

I thought we were talking about the 80s... I know Russell and Wilt were amazing in the 60s. Russell won 11 titles... try topping that.

bigjohnstud2o · #23 11-22-04, 01:41 AM

if you read the whole thing it says 80's. Im only 22 so im not a stud on 60's and 70's. I would have to say that for the 80's i have the optimum team IMO.

jimmytheg · #24 11-23-04, 09:31 AM

if it's the 80's....moses malone has to be the power forward over barkley. He was an absolute force and i believe one of the most underrated players of all time. Barkley was a great player, but undersized, and his scoring ability wouldnt be needed on this team.

PShabi · #25 11-23-04, 10:23 AM

Jordan's not a PG, Bird not a SG, Malone not a SF, Olajuwon not a PF.

You must be 10 to think that anyone is ever going to eclipse Jordan. Kobe is the closest thing and they both have the will and skill to hit game winning shots time after time. If LJ starts doing that and sniffs the playoffs then look me up again.