NBA Draft #1 picks

Optimus Prime 4

Redshirt
May 1, 2006
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I don't know how well your team would play together. Shaq couldn't run the court with Magic, and Iverson couldn't play with that many other scorers. Lebron and Magic also overlap a lot. I think my team of Kareem, Hakeem, Lebron, Magic and Oscar Robertson could take you.
 

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
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When Shaq made his name for himself in the league he wasn't such a blob. But if we're considering that Shaq the Shaq that's in this team, I'll go for Ewing.
 

johnson86-1

All-American
Aug 22, 2012
15,275
5,813
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Wow, lots harder to come up with a team that makes sense andn without a glaring weakness than I thought. Plenty of centers and power forwards to pick from. A little harder to fill out the perimeter. Iverson is a tough one. He was good, and really only he and James fit at the two, and James is probably who you want at the 3, but picking him gives you a weak spot on D and somebody who spent his career dominating the ball, which wouldn't make sense on a team full of talented players.

The other issue is that now that we understand how valuable the 3 pointer is, you're going to end up with a team that's not optimized for today's game.


At first I thought I'd focus on Defense and go:

1- Derick Rose
2- Lebron James
4- Duncan
5- Hakeem (I'd consider taking Robinson here just because Robinson is clearly happy being a second banana which you might need on a team like this, but Hakeem really was better at everything comparing prime to prime)

That just left the last position as a tough call to me. You're not going to have a scary outside shooter regardless. Worthy would give you a traditional lineup; I don't really remember what kind of shooter he was (or really even what kind of player). So ignoring him, I was thinking Magic. I'm not sure what kind of defense he would play as a 3, but that would give you a good mix of scorers and passers.

But looking at that lineup and the potential for lanes to clog, I think I'd go:

1 - Rose
2/3 - Lebron
2/3 - Magic
4/5 - Anthony Davis
4/5 - Hakeem

Might be jumping the gun on Davis, and it feels like it can't be right to leave Duncan off, but Hakeem could actually help keep the lanes clear by setting up 15 ft out. Once he gets the ball, tons of opportunity to cut and if there's no deadly shooter, everybody is good enough to keep people honest. If you really wanted to focus on offense, maybe you could take Kyrie over Rose just for outsdie shooting ability.
 

johnson86-1

All-American
Aug 22, 2012
15,275
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When Shaq made his name for himself in the league he wasn't such a blob. But if we're considering that Shaq the Shaq that's in this team, I'll go for Ewing.

I don't think there's a way you could compare them in their prime and end up with Ewing or Shaq over Hakeem. His prime was short, but Hakeem offered everything that Ewing did on defense but with much better offense. Shaq in his prime was closer and he was at least a little more physically imposing, but Hakeem was pretty large himself, could score in more than one way, and could shoot free throws.
 

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
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Good point about Iverson. I just have a hard time leaving off a guy who is arguably one of the most electrifying players in league history.

If sharing the ball was my concern, I'd move Magic to the point, put Larry Johnson at the 2, keep LeBron at the 3, and match AD and Duncan underneath.

Ewing is the best of both Shaq and Hakeem, in my opinion. Not that I think he's better than either. He was the most athletic of the 3 but was a brute in the post. Scoring from the 5 is a bonus. I love Shaq for having the ability to manhandle. If my concern was that he couldn't handle a guard heavy offense, I'd try my luck with Ewing.
 
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DawgatAuburn

All-Conference
Apr 25, 2006
11,192
2,329
113
Kareem couldn't run the floor with Magic either. Very very few centers could. That's not why they get paid. Shaq was a dominant low post scorer, as was Kareem. Iverson - who knows. He never had a teammate even in the proximity of any of those guys. He had to shoot a lot if his team wanted to win. And you never heard anyone question his effort (in games anyway...not practice.) Give him a team like this and it would have been interesting.
 

johnson86-1

All-American
Aug 22, 2012
15,275
5,813
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Ewing is the best of both Shaq and Hakeem, in my opinion. Not that I think he's better than either. He was the most athletic of the 3 but was a brute in the post. Scoring from the 5 is a bonus. I love Shaq for having the ability to manhandle. If my concern was that he couldn't handle a guard heavy offense, I'd try my luck with Ewing.

I don't think Ewing was the athlete that Hakeem was. I had to go look at stats because I wanted to make sure my memory wasn't playing tricks on me.

They played in the same era and Hakeem made the All-NBA defensive first team five times and was the defensive player of the year twice. Hakeem finished with more than 1/2 a block per game higher average, more then 1/2 steal per game higher average, more than a rebound per game higher average, and their scoring was similar. Ewing's best year for blocks was 1989-90 with a 4.0 average. That same year, Hakeem led the league with 4.6 per game. That same year, Hakeem led the league in rebounds with more than 3 more per game than Ewing. Just glancing at their wikipedia stats, it doesn't look like Ewing really every had a better season than Hakeem. He had about a 3 year streatch where hsi scoring was a little bit higher and I'd say it was a wash considering defense and rebounding, but after that, Olajowon pretty much wins all the statistical categories consistently.

Hakeem doesn't get as much credit because he was apparently so unlikeable throughout the early part of his career. Ewing's stats actually held up much better than I expected going on memory. I guess that's because Hakeem aged a little better.
 

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
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Stats are where every discussion should start, but I don't think they paint the entire picture. Ewing was an enforcer with a nasty streak. If I'm starting LeBron I'm probably not necessarily looking for a pure shot blocker in the post. I'd rather have a gut checker, and if space was my concern for not starting Shaq... Ewing just seems like a good fit.

Hypotheticals are fun.
 
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