Comments on: Who would you build a team around?

By: Keegan

Keegan — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:24:06 +0000

For the people who’ve actually seen the guy play, is Chris Paul the real deal or not? I know his numbers are great and all, but the Hornets are never prime-time material, so I never see him in action as much as I’ve seen Deron Williams play.

By: Keegan

Keegan — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:17:23 +0000

That Chauncey interview was a lot of the same-ol’, same-ol’. Just Chauncey being a class-act, as usual.

I’d go with Tim Duncan, if this was 5 years ago. But it’s not, so I’ll take Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, or LeBron (hit THAT siren).

Oh, and the future Detroit #6, of course.

By: joejoejoe

joejoejoe — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:03:24 +0000

If I was building the Fort Wayne Mad Ants I’d build them around the point guard for Canada in the FIBA tournament, Jermaine Anderson. He’s 24, was a good player for Fordham, currently plays in Poland, and has a better assist-to-TO ratio (4.4-1) than Deron Williams. Sign him up Joe D. and keep him in Ft. Wayne just in case.

Note: Jason Kidd has a sick 11-1 assist-TO ratio in Vegas. Enjoy Andrew Bynum Laker fans!

By: Sauce1977

Sauce1977 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:35:04 +0000

Un-semi-related:

Chauncey Billups did an interview today with Jim Rome concerning Team USA and how the Pistons went out against Cleveland.

It still bothers Chauncey about how that went down.

Kobe is apparently the top dog on Team USA, according to Chauncey.

By: kevin s.

kevin s. — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:29:22 +0000

Craig,

For several years, however, dominating point guards won championships. Since then, Jordan, Duncan and Shaq have won most of them, so it’s tough to say whether the PG position can get it done because those are such solid players. Further, there aren’t as many true point guards as there are two guards and PF-Centers.

I’d happily build around Chris Paul.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:17:18 +0000

There is only one choice, Adam Morrison

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:29:06 +0000

I think you’re going to wait a long time to win a championship if you’re starting with a Deron Williams, Chris Paul, or Steve Nash. Last I can remember, Isiah was the last HOF pg to win a ring ( I don’t count GP, since he was a back up player on that squad). So, Kidd, Nash, Stockton, Price, Hardaway, etc., all failed to bring home the ring. I know chaucy was finals mvp, but that was a collection of talent. Not many would’ve called that Chauncy’s squad (most would say it was ben’s). So I have a hard time with the arguement about starting a team with a pg. Look back, Duncan, Shaq, Wade, Kobe, Jordan, Dream. Isiah and Magic are the only two teams that were “led” by the pg. And you have to admit they had a lot of help on those teams. Championship teams tart at the pivot or the wing.

By: Brad

Brad — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:48:01 +0000

joejoejoe,

I like the way you broke things up. Personally, I don’t even consider people 28+ years old people to “build” around, but I like your approach. Also, you’re the only who mentioned Deron Williams whom I believe deserves to be in the top 5.

By: Lucas

Lucas — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:41:52 +0000

Kobe.

Wait, if we pick Kobe do we have to wait 5 more full rounds before we get to select a second player?

By: Rob G

Rob G — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:24:28 +0000

We should probably consider coaches. My coach: PG4L.

By: PistonsGirl4Life

PistonsGirl4Life — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:38:40 +0000

You are all fools…

Obviously the only correct answer here is Dale Davis. You just can’t win championships without locker room chemistry and that dude is hilarious.

*grins*

No offence and this was clearly a successful post because it already has 16 responses…but… NBA teams aren’t really “built” like this anyways. Due to the rediculous contract language of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement the act of “building” an NBA team almost always consists of blending “what you can afford” with “what the last guy left you with before he got fired” and hoping for the best. A considerably more interesting debate (at least in my mind) would be “How would you save the Sacramento Kings” complete with what trades you’d make, who you’d buy out and how you’d get rid of Ron Ron (or perhaps why you’d get rid of everyone else and keep him)……THAT would be interesting and relevant to actually “building” NBA teams. Plus when you ask me to throw out Salary and Contracts the entire excersise seems kinda pointless. The whole REASON one wouldn’t build around Kobe is BECAUSE he eats up like 45% of the team’s cap every year. Without considering how much a player costs and what percentage of both the cap and shots he’ll take up there are simply no legitimate answers OTHER than Lebron and Kobe. Otoh, taking those things into account allows me to say “I’d take Tayshaun Prince, because for about 8 million dollars a season he negates the other team’s 15 million dollar a year player thus allowing me to retain more cap space to find cheaper scoring.”

Seriously, not trying to tell anyone what to talk about but the entire debate makes very little sense to me.

By: Garrett

Garrett — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:28:22 +0000

(and to see if his creaky tonsils, back, wrists, and knees hold up)

By: Garrett

Garrett — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:27:07 +0000

Man, you guys are really high on Oden. I’ll wait until he plays a few pro games before I’m sold.

By: joejoejoe

joejoejoe — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:58:50 +0000

LanierFan - I’ll acknowledge that Shaq was much more polished offensively, had better footwork, and was generally a better player than Dwight Howard but Howard is much quicker, a much greater leaper, and almost as big as Shaq. I think Shaq seems more dominating because he was better offensively and was violently backing people down in the post and then dunking over them. Howard is getting his points almost entirely on put backs and little 10 ft. jumpers. Maybe ‘dominating’ was the wrong word because the young Shaq was awesome.

I probably should have said more athletic than the young Shaq.

By: LanierFan

LanierFan — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:32:00 +0000

I gotta tell ya, the comparison of Dwight Howard to a young Shaq is now reaching myth status. Howard is a better rebounder, but the young Shaq was vastly more overpowering. Vastly. Even if you believe as I do that the hoop he tore down on national TV was rigged by the NBA.