All Time NBA Team

[diamond6]

After another Laker championship that resulted in only the fifth threepeat champion in NBA history, I thought about all the great players that have worn a Laker uniform. Then I came up with an idea. What would be the best team of players that I could up using only Laker players. Here's my All Time Laker Team:

Starters

Center - Shaquille O'Neal 7'1", 345

Power Forward - Wilt Chamberlain 7'1", 275

Small Forward - James Worthy 6'9", 225

Shooting Guard - Jerry West 6'3", 180

Point Guard - Magic Johnson 6'9", 225

2nd String

Center - Kareem A.-Jabbar 7'2", 267

Power Forward - George Mikan 6'11", 245

Small Forward - Elgin Baylor 6'7", 225

Shooting Guard - Byron Scott 6'4", 200

Point Guard - Kobe Bryant 6'7", 210

Bench Warmers

Guard - Gail Goodrich 6'1", 170

Guard - Michael Cooper 6'7", 176

Anybody have a better Laker team to rival mine? How about a team made up of only Celtic players, or any other team? I challenge you to find a better team than I have put together.

[diamond6]

Yeah, I know Wilt and Mikan are not power forwards, but they would work great with the chemistry of this team. Wilt had many seasons in which he averaged over 20 rebounds per game, and he would also be a defensive force against any other power forward. Mikan had the size that power forwards have now, so he would also be a natural at that position.

Kobe at point guard? Yes. On this team, we need another guard that has his slashing, penetrating style, and Scott was more of a jump shooter.

[diamond6]

What do you think, guys?

[diamond6]

Like my team? I challenge you to compose one better.

[diamond6]

Can you compose a team to contend with mine?

[diamond6]

Bump!

[diamond6]

Thought you would enjoy this, Laker fan. What do you think?

[SoCal Pubbie]

These kinds of things are really impossible to judge, but I would offer an all time Laker lineup of Shaq, Jabbar and Chamberlain as the centers, power forwards Happy Hairston, Horace Grant and A.C Green, small forwards Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, and Jamal Wilkes, with the guards Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Gail Goodrich. I think that puts me one over the limit for an NBA team so if you have to throw one out I'd say Hairston probably sits in street clothes.

[diamond6]

Who would be your starters?

[SoCal Pubbie]

On the other hand you could probably win the NBA title with Mikan at center backed up by Leroy Ellis or Mel Counts, Bob MacAdoo at power forward with Kurt Rambis and Robert Horry coming off the bench, Jim McMillan at small forward with Rick Fox and Michael Cooper providing defensive relief, and Hot Rod Huntley and Derek Fisher bringing the ball up the court feeding Byron Scott at shooting guard, with Flynn Robinson providing a "point a minute" contribution off the bench. Oops, that's thirteen again, isn't the roster limited to twelve?

[SoCal Pubbie]

Like the Olympic team, you'd have to rotate starters game by game. If we judge by how they played as Lakers, rather than at other times of their careers, I can't see Chamberlain at forward.

[diamond6]

I think that brings you to 26 on a 12 man roster! You've got to cut somebody!

[diamond6]

If we judge by how they played as Lakers, rather than at other times of their careers, I can't see Chamberlain at forward.

You're right, I am basing this on how they played as Lakers. Did you know Wilt averaged 21.1, 18.4, 18.2, 19.2, and 18.6 rebounds in his five years with the Lakers? Did you know he averaged 22.9 rebounds per game lifetime? These years were also years in which he played great defense and was a team player. I dare you to find any power forward who could rebound and defend like this.

[diamond6]

Take a look at this team!

[SoCal Pubbie]

I actually think it would be easier to pick the top five Celtics, as most of their success came with one set of players. Here's my team:

FIRST TEAM

Center, Bill Russell
Power forward, Kevin McHale
Small forward, Larry Bird
Shooting guard, John Havlicek
Point guard, Bob Cousy

SECOND TEAM

Center, Dave Cowens
Power forward, Don Nelson
Small forward, ?
Shooting guard, Bill Sharman
Point guard, Jo Jo White

THIRD TEAM

Center, Robert Parrish
Power forward, ?
Small forward, ?
Shooting guard, KC Jones
Point guard, Dennis Johnson

I need help with the forwards!

[mrustow]

<I>Yeah, I know Wilt and Mikan are not power forwards, but they would work great with the chemistry of this team. Wilt had many seasons in which he averaged over 20 rebounds per game, and he would also be a defensive force against any other power forward. Mikan had the size that power forwards have now, so he would also be a natural at that position.</I>


Na na na -- in those days, centers were the big rebounders (see also Russell, Bill; Reed, Willis; Thurmond, Nate, et al.). Wilt and Mikan were centers, and centers they must remain.


<I>Kobe at point guard? Yes. On this team, we need another guard that has his slashing, penetrating style, and Scott was more of a jump shooter.</I>


Similar problem -- Byron Scott was a shooting guard, but so too is Kobe. Until Bryant actually plays the point, you can't make him a point guard.

[SoCal Pubbie]

"I think that brings you to 26 on a 12 man roster! "

I meant that the next thirteen (not even the Lakers best players) would be good enough to win a title or two, not that they should be included on an all time team.

[mrustow]

How'd you get the italics to work? I can't make head or tail of this G/d system, and I tried several times to get it right.

[diamond6]

OK, Smarty. How about your team?

[diamond6]

Center, Bill Russell v. Shaquille O'Neal

Power forward, Kevin McHale v. Wilt Chamberlain

Small forward, Larry Bird v. James Worthy

Shooting guard, John Havlicek v. Jerry West

Point guard, Bob Cousy v. Magic Johnson

Lakers in 4!

[SoCal Pubbie]

I think a better exercise would be to choose the winner of a three team play off, with the '72 team playing the winner on the '85 or '87 roster and the 2001 team. I give the 72' squad the bye due to their better regular season record. The Mikan teams are from too long ago and while you could throw in the '80 or '82 team it would be too weird to have Jabbar face Jabbar, etc.

On the other hand I guess you could have '82 face 2001, and '72 face '85/'87, with the winners facing off for the all time best team honors.