5 round thoughts on every team other than mine. Plus whoever's taken in Round 6 by the time I'm done typing all this out...
1) Wilmore - Kobe and AI makes for an interesting, exciting and dynamic backcourt. Joel Embiid and the Chuckster give you four alphas. It amazes me how great a rebounder Barkley was despite being an undersized power forward in his era, and then Embiid is a big capable of draining some outside shots. That makes him a tough cover and gives your 'O' another dimension. Paul Pierce can do it all. Excellent 3 man for your squad.
2) Cowtown - In a first round of great centers, Kareem may well be the gold standard. His sky hook was a thing of beauty. Kawhi first played a complimentary role with the Spurs, but has quickly emerged as a 3 and D superstar whose been the head of the snake on championship teams. Cousy just wins, as two of my players know all too well. Your Clyde played alongside my Round 2 pick for a while both in college and the pros. He eventually expanded his game to include a 3 point shot. Then the underrated Bob Pettit led the Hawks to a title over... *gasp*, Bill Russell and the C's! That was Russell's only Finals loss, and the four losses came by a combined 8 points.
3) JHannibal - Certainly couldn't go wrong with Larry Legend at Pick 3. He had ice water in the veins in crunch time, and may have been part of the best rivalry in NBA history, lining up across from Earvin Magic Johnson, a rivalry that dated back to a national title game in college. The fact that Giannis can be so dominant without a reliable three point shot speaks volumes about him. While 'The Admiral' might be a slight notch below the top five centers, he gives you a more all-around game than a couple of them and a guy who can at least hold his own against them for the most part. The Glove and Mullin are perfect compliments to one another. Mullin was a deadeye shooter from deep, but not the best defender. GP20 is one of the best defensive point guards in NBA history, but not the best outside shooter. Alhough he wasn't awful and had a couple solid seasons shooting from deep.
4) YaySports - This is quite an interesting blend of talent. Isiah was a great get for you in Round 4 or 5, not just for his game, but also because he could help keep Dennis Rodman happy. Things in Detroit didn't end well for Dennis, but he loved it there when he first got there, and he meshed well with Isiah, the coaching staff and the rest of those players. As for Dennis, he embodies wanting to do the 'little things' as well as anyone. He wants to be physical, grab those rebounds and frustrate the hell out of opponents. At his peak, KG was arguably the best power forward in the game. If it wasn't him, he was 1A with Tim Duncan. His competitive drive was surreal. KD and The Beard are two of the games current superstars. I'm not sure they've played much together with the Nets thus far, but it'll be interesting when they do.
5) jrpross - Magic is the gold standard at the point guard spot. He was the maestro of those showtime Lakers teams. And of course, he could not only just fill in for an injured Kareem at center on the big stage when it was needed., but shine. 'The Logo' is one of the most accomplished shooting guards of all-time, and he could certainly play a little point guard if necessary. Dirk is one of my all-time favorite recent players. He revolutionized the long distance shooting big guy, and he was deadly from distance. Dirk also had an excellent fadeaway jumper that was very difficult to defend. Rick Barry didn't have the reputation for being the nicest guy, but he's an extremely accomplished three man. Don't put him on the line late in a close game, as he was a deadeye foul shooter with his unique underhanded style. Phil Jackson's triangle offense was a thing of beauty and he was as great as anyone at managing egos. Made sure Dennis Rodman was able to co-exist with Michael and Scottie, and kept Shaq and Kobe from killing one another for a while in LA.
6) GoBIgBlue - How did you get both of the Splash Bros? Yeesh. That'll be a nightmare for opposing defenses, especially when you combine them with the accomplished big man Moses Malone as well as one of the best small forwards the game has ever seen in Elgin Baylor. Jason Kidd was an excellent bench selection who you can play with Thompson or Curry or have all three of them out there at once if you wanted to go with a three guard lineup. It'll be interesting to see how you go after the 4 spot or maybe do what I did in getting another center to play with Moses Malone.
7) 420 - The Shaq daddy was so big and strong that he could just dominate and overwhelm just about anyone trying to guard him down low. But he was also way more athletic than people would expect for his size, with a solid short turnaround shot and spin moves. Dr. J is one of the flashiest players in NBA history. I strongly considered him for my Round 2 selection. Although the Lakers were without James Worthy in the 83 Finals, it's still no small feat beating a team led by Kareem and Magic. About the only thing D-Wade didn't have in his arsenal was a reliable three point shot, but it didn't matter. He took an underdog Miami team back from down 0-2 against Dirk and the Mavs as the star player and put them on his back. Kevin McHale was a winner and beast down low. Luka's drawing Bird comps already. What he's done through now 2 and a half seasons is unreal, but I'm glad for him that he's not yet putting himself on that pedestal.
8) drcats - Mr. Triple Double/The Big O was a great start to your squad. I likely would have snagged him if he'd made it to me at 12. Despite not winning a title, 'The Mailman' was a surefire top 5 power forward in league history and arguably higher depending upon a person's preferences. Ewing is right there in that tier behind the big five centers you target if you miss out on those five (Kareem/Wilt/Russell/Shaq/Hakeem). Reggie Miller is one of the best shooters this league has ever seen. I still have very fond memories of him in the playoffs at MSG staring down Spike Lee in his courtside seat after cold-bloodedly knocking down a three. Finally, James Worthy was the guy I was hoping would fall to me in Round 5/6. His 'Big Game James' moniker is obviously well deserved. Vince Carter was a great value in Round 6. I felt he very easily could have been picked sooner than he was. I gave him some thought, but I kind of wanted to protect Nash on the defensive end some more, and Walt Frazier was a better bet for me in that regard than Air Canada.
9) Richie - When it comes to point guards that can pass, defend and shoot from deep at the highest level, few are as accomplished in that regard as John Stockton. It would have been cool to see you grab Karl Malone in Round 2 to go with him, but Elgin Baylor aka 'The Big E' is an excellent consolation prize at the power forward spot. George Mikan was the game's first true great center, a pick I really liked once the top 5 and other more well known centers were off the board. Adrian Dantley and George 'Ice Man' Gervin may not have been the greatest winners, but they were walking buckets on the wing. Definitely had Dantley in mind once 'Big Game James' was off the board. Kyrie is an amazing ball handler, outstanding individual talent and excellent #2 type of option when he wasn't making a fuss about being considered the Robin to LeBron's Batman. Even made a HUGE shot in Game 7 against a loaded Golden State team, helping LeBron get Cleveland its first professional sports title in any of the major pro sports in I'm not sure how long it was.
10) DraftCat - Grant Hill was another one of my favorites growing up. I really wish that guy had stayed healthy for much longer than he did. He'd be much higher on all-time lists had the health gods been kinder to him. Many people consider Tim Duncan to be the greatest power forward to play the game. I loved how he utilized the glass on a number of his shots. Being a quieter person myself outside of this forum, I can also appreciate that he had a quiet greatness about him. Humbleness may be boring, but it gets my respect. Scottie Pippen as I've said a couple times here is someone I loved to dog a bit growing up just because it was easy to do since he played with Michael, the guy many consider the G.O.A.T. But I now know that I didn't give Scottie enough credit for his contributions and have a greater appreciation for his impact on those Bulls teams. McGrady had a lot of Kobe to him, so obviously an excellent player. But obviously that was minus the playoff success. Carmelo is a very interesting player. Kind of similar to McGrady in that he also had great counting stats and not a ton of playoff success. Again, not taking anything away from Melo. He did win a national title for Syracuse, but obviously that doesn't really mean a ton for purposes of this draft.
11) BigBlueFan - While AD may not be the most consistent outside shooter for a big, you do have to respect that he can bury it if left open. Then Wilt does get dogged a bit for not having more than two titles, but in terms of statistical prowess, there may have been nobody better. This guy once averaged 50 points and nearly 26 boards per game and scored 100 points in a single game. I don't care what era you do that in, it's extremely impressive. Alex English is right there with Adrian Dantley for me, another walking bucket I gave some consideration once Worthy was picked. You stole my point guard target in Chris Paul, who I wanted for his ability to run a team, outside shooting and strong defense. Then Ray Allen is a great sniper as one of the best shooters of all-time. Somehow missed Lillard in typing all of this. Dame Time has been one of the best point guards and players of his era. He's had his ups and downs in the playoffs, but just like in the regular season, when he's on, few are more fun to watch play.
1) Wilmore - Kobe and AI makes for an interesting, exciting and dynamic backcourt. Joel Embiid and the Chuckster give you four alphas. It amazes me how great a rebounder Barkley was despite being an undersized power forward in his era, and then Embiid is a big capable of draining some outside shots. That makes him a tough cover and gives your 'O' another dimension. Paul Pierce can do it all. Excellent 3 man for your squad.
2) Cowtown - In a first round of great centers, Kareem may well be the gold standard. His sky hook was a thing of beauty. Kawhi first played a complimentary role with the Spurs, but has quickly emerged as a 3 and D superstar whose been the head of the snake on championship teams. Cousy just wins, as two of my players know all too well. Your Clyde played alongside my Round 2 pick for a while both in college and the pros. He eventually expanded his game to include a 3 point shot. Then the underrated Bob Pettit led the Hawks to a title over... *gasp*, Bill Russell and the C's! That was Russell's only Finals loss, and the four losses came by a combined 8 points.
3) JHannibal - Certainly couldn't go wrong with Larry Legend at Pick 3. He had ice water in the veins in crunch time, and may have been part of the best rivalry in NBA history, lining up across from Earvin Magic Johnson, a rivalry that dated back to a national title game in college. The fact that Giannis can be so dominant without a reliable three point shot speaks volumes about him. While 'The Admiral' might be a slight notch below the top five centers, he gives you a more all-around game than a couple of them and a guy who can at least hold his own against them for the most part. The Glove and Mullin are perfect compliments to one another. Mullin was a deadeye shooter from deep, but not the best defender. GP20 is one of the best defensive point guards in NBA history, but not the best outside shooter. Alhough he wasn't awful and had a couple solid seasons shooting from deep.
4) YaySports - This is quite an interesting blend of talent. Isiah was a great get for you in Round 4 or 5, not just for his game, but also because he could help keep Dennis Rodman happy. Things in Detroit didn't end well for Dennis, but he loved it there when he first got there, and he meshed well with Isiah, the coaching staff and the rest of those players. As for Dennis, he embodies wanting to do the 'little things' as well as anyone. He wants to be physical, grab those rebounds and frustrate the hell out of opponents. At his peak, KG was arguably the best power forward in the game. If it wasn't him, he was 1A with Tim Duncan. His competitive drive was surreal. KD and The Beard are two of the games current superstars. I'm not sure they've played much together with the Nets thus far, but it'll be interesting when they do.
5) jrpross - Magic is the gold standard at the point guard spot. He was the maestro of those showtime Lakers teams. And of course, he could not only just fill in for an injured Kareem at center on the big stage when it was needed., but shine. 'The Logo' is one of the most accomplished shooting guards of all-time, and he could certainly play a little point guard if necessary. Dirk is one of my all-time favorite recent players. He revolutionized the long distance shooting big guy, and he was deadly from distance. Dirk also had an excellent fadeaway jumper that was very difficult to defend. Rick Barry didn't have the reputation for being the nicest guy, but he's an extremely accomplished three man. Don't put him on the line late in a close game, as he was a deadeye foul shooter with his unique underhanded style. Phil Jackson's triangle offense was a thing of beauty and he was as great as anyone at managing egos. Made sure Dennis Rodman was able to co-exist with Michael and Scottie, and kept Shaq and Kobe from killing one another for a while in LA.
6) GoBIgBlue - How did you get both of the Splash Bros? Yeesh. That'll be a nightmare for opposing defenses, especially when you combine them with the accomplished big man Moses Malone as well as one of the best small forwards the game has ever seen in Elgin Baylor. Jason Kidd was an excellent bench selection who you can play with Thompson or Curry or have all three of them out there at once if you wanted to go with a three guard lineup. It'll be interesting to see how you go after the 4 spot or maybe do what I did in getting another center to play with Moses Malone.
7) 420 - The Shaq daddy was so big and strong that he could just dominate and overwhelm just about anyone trying to guard him down low. But he was also way more athletic than people would expect for his size, with a solid short turnaround shot and spin moves. Dr. J is one of the flashiest players in NBA history. I strongly considered him for my Round 2 selection. Although the Lakers were without James Worthy in the 83 Finals, it's still no small feat beating a team led by Kareem and Magic. About the only thing D-Wade didn't have in his arsenal was a reliable three point shot, but it didn't matter. He took an underdog Miami team back from down 0-2 against Dirk and the Mavs as the star player and put them on his back. Kevin McHale was a winner and beast down low. Luka's drawing Bird comps already. What he's done through now 2 and a half seasons is unreal, but I'm glad for him that he's not yet putting himself on that pedestal.
8) drcats - Mr. Triple Double/The Big O was a great start to your squad. I likely would have snagged him if he'd made it to me at 12. Despite not winning a title, 'The Mailman' was a surefire top 5 power forward in league history and arguably higher depending upon a person's preferences. Ewing is right there in that tier behind the big five centers you target if you miss out on those five (Kareem/Wilt/Russell/Shaq/Hakeem). Reggie Miller is one of the best shooters this league has ever seen. I still have very fond memories of him in the playoffs at MSG staring down Spike Lee in his courtside seat after cold-bloodedly knocking down a three. Finally, James Worthy was the guy I was hoping would fall to me in Round 5/6. His 'Big Game James' moniker is obviously well deserved. Vince Carter was a great value in Round 6. I felt he very easily could have been picked sooner than he was. I gave him some thought, but I kind of wanted to protect Nash on the defensive end some more, and Walt Frazier was a better bet for me in that regard than Air Canada.
9) Richie - When it comes to point guards that can pass, defend and shoot from deep at the highest level, few are as accomplished in that regard as John Stockton. It would have been cool to see you grab Karl Malone in Round 2 to go with him, but Elgin Baylor aka 'The Big E' is an excellent consolation prize at the power forward spot. George Mikan was the game's first true great center, a pick I really liked once the top 5 and other more well known centers were off the board. Adrian Dantley and George 'Ice Man' Gervin may not have been the greatest winners, but they were walking buckets on the wing. Definitely had Dantley in mind once 'Big Game James' was off the board. Kyrie is an amazing ball handler, outstanding individual talent and excellent #2 type of option when he wasn't making a fuss about being considered the Robin to LeBron's Batman. Even made a HUGE shot in Game 7 against a loaded Golden State team, helping LeBron get Cleveland its first professional sports title in any of the major pro sports in I'm not sure how long it was.
10) DraftCat - Grant Hill was another one of my favorites growing up. I really wish that guy had stayed healthy for much longer than he did. He'd be much higher on all-time lists had the health gods been kinder to him. Many people consider Tim Duncan to be the greatest power forward to play the game. I loved how he utilized the glass on a number of his shots. Being a quieter person myself outside of this forum, I can also appreciate that he had a quiet greatness about him. Humbleness may be boring, but it gets my respect. Scottie Pippen as I've said a couple times here is someone I loved to dog a bit growing up just because it was easy to do since he played with Michael, the guy many consider the G.O.A.T. But I now know that I didn't give Scottie enough credit for his contributions and have a greater appreciation for his impact on those Bulls teams. McGrady had a lot of Kobe to him, so obviously an excellent player. But obviously that was minus the playoff success. Carmelo is a very interesting player. Kind of similar to McGrady in that he also had great counting stats and not a ton of playoff success. Again, not taking anything away from Melo. He did win a national title for Syracuse, but obviously that doesn't really mean a ton for purposes of this draft.
11) BigBlueFan - While AD may not be the most consistent outside shooter for a big, you do have to respect that he can bury it if left open. Then Wilt does get dogged a bit for not having more than two titles, but in terms of statistical prowess, there may have been nobody better. This guy once averaged 50 points and nearly 26 boards per game and scored 100 points in a single game. I don't care what era you do that in, it's extremely impressive. Alex English is right there with Adrian Dantley for me, another walking bucket I gave some consideration once Worthy was picked. You stole my point guard target in Chris Paul, who I wanted for his ability to run a team, outside shooting and strong defense. Then Ray Allen is a great sniper as one of the best shooters of all-time. Somehow missed Lillard in typing all of this. Dame Time has been one of the best point guards and players of his era. He's had his ups and downs in the playoffs, but just like in the regular season, when he's on, few are more fun to watch play.
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