Are the Lakers the greatest team ever assembled if every player was in their prime?

[DaHeezy]

Prime:

Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Ron Artest (obviously his better years were under this name)
Pau Gasol
Dwight Howard

Jamison off the bench

Great case. Any better?

Possibly 1983 Lakers:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bob McAdoo
James Worthy
Byron Scott
Magic Johnson

Bench:
Jamaal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Norm Nixon

[DuMa]

2011 Celtics

[Horatio33]

Celtics 2011 Starting five.

Shaq
KG
Pierce
Ray
Rondo

[KingBeasley08]

C Shaquille O'Neal
PF Karl Malone
SF Devean George (weak link on team)
PG Gary Payton
SG Kobe Bryant

Plus Fisher, Horace Grant, and Rick Fox coming off bench. I think this team could take them

[Odinn]

2010-11 Celtics, 1985-86 Celtics, 1982-83 Lakers, 2003-04 Lakers, 1984-85 Sixers

All of them would be better than 2012-13 Lakers imo for that situation.

[RoseCity07]

The Celtics with Shaq are better if everyone is in their primes.

[DaHeezy]

Celtics 2011 Starting five.

Shaq
KG
Pierce
Ray
Rondo

Definately a great case considering Jermaine O'Neal was on this squad

[tmacattack33]

I thought they also signed Grant Hill?

Am I wrong?

[Rubio2Gasol]

Denis Johnson
Ainge
Larry Bird
Mchale
Bill Walton

Robert Parish and Wedman off the bench.

[kurple]

Definately a great case considering Jermaine O'Neal was on this squad
+ sheed?

and havent finley been there recently?

[L.Kizzle]

I thought they also signed Grant Hill?

Am I wrong?
LA Jr.

[Overdrive]

1997-98 Rockets, not deep, but I think they'd be great
2001-02 Magic (Hill, Ewing, Grant, McGrady)

[DaHeezy]

+ sheed?

and havent finley been there recently?

That was the previous season, with no Shaq

[kurple]

That was the previous season, with no Shaq
weak

[imnew09]

Like everyone else stated, the 2011 Celtics. With Rondo running the point, KG and Shaq dominating the paint, along with Pierce and Ray spotting up shots.

Also, they're all good defensive players as well...

[DaHeezy]

Any love for the 2008 Phoenix Suns?

Shaq
Amare
Marion
Hill
Nash

Not bad

[Doctor Rivers]

Any love for the 2008 Phoenix Suns?

Shaq
Amare
Marion
Hill
Nash

Not bad

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166092&page=13

[wally_world]

Any love for the 2008 Phoenix Suns?

Shaq
Amare
Marion
Hill
Nash

Not bad

Shaq was traded for Marion so they werent on the team at the same time.

I think the Celtics team with Shaq takes it.

[kennethgriffin]

C Shaquille O'Neal
PF Karl Malone
SF Devean George (weak link on team)
PG Gary Payton
SG Kobe Bryant

Plus Fisher, Horace Grant, and Rick Fox coming off bench. I think this team could take them


this... quite easly


prime shaq and prime kobe alone with scrubs was a force that won 3 b2b2b titles


2000 shaq + 2006 kobe + 1997 malone + 1998 payton + 1994 horace grant

[blacknapalm]

celtics team with shaq could make a case.

LA

- nash: 2x MVP, led league in assists multiple times

- kobe: MVP, 2x scoring champ

- artest: DPOY

- gasol: 5x all-star, in consideration for best PF in the game at one point

- howard: 3x DPOY, 6x all-star

that's pretty damn stacked but a KG/shaq frontcourt in their prime? allen, pierce and rondo? god, that would be devastating. you also have the 2004 lakers of course...

[JaggerCommaMick]

For arguments sake mates ill nominate the Cavs team which had Shaq and Bron (likely the most potent pairing ever if respective primes are used) and then they had i believe Z and Jamison who had allstar caliber primes.

Still not as good as the shaq celtics but one of the better theoretical teams out there, mates.

Bron and shaq :bowdown:

[CavaliersFTW]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6rb0e95kW1r5woc1o2_500.jpg

1992 dream team...

[kennethgriffin]

celtics team with shaq could make a case.

LA

- nash: 2x MVP, led league in assists multiple times

- kobe: MVP, 2x scoring champ

- artest: DPOY

- gasol: 5x all-star, in consideration for best PF in the game at one point

- howard: 3x DPOY, 6x all-star

that's pretty damn stacked but a KG/shaq frontcourt in their prime? allen, pierce and rondo? god, that would be devastating. you also have the 2004 lakers of course...


prime payton > prime nash ( don't care what the mvp voters say )

prime kobe = prime kobe

prime grant = prime artest

prime malone >>>x50> prime pau

prime shaq >>>>>x20> prime howard


as nice as the lakers look now... give me the prime 2004 lakers

[noosaman]

How about the 2011-2012 Mavs?

You have The Almighty, Shawn Marion, Vince Carter, and Kidd. That's an insane prime team!

[kennethgriffin]

surprised no one said

2000 blazers


- sabonis
- wells
- schrempf
- rasheed
- pippen
- grant
- o'neal
- smith
- stoudemire



or

1997 lakers

- Shaq
- Kobe
- Jones
- Ceballos
- Van exel
- campbell
- horry
- scott
- fisher

[kennethgriffin]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6rb0e95kW1r5woc1o2_500.jpg

1992 dream team...


2000 blazers would have a shot

[tikay0]

Like many people have said, Celtice with Shaq is downright NUTS.

[DaHeezy]

surprised no one said

2000 blazers


- sabonis
- wells
- schrempf
- rasheed
- pippen
- grant
- o'neal
- smith
- stoudemire



or

1997 lakers

- Shaq
- Kobe
- Jones
- Ceballos
- Van exel
- campbell
- horry
- scott
- fisher

How is that surprising? They aren't good

[DaHeezy]

The 83 Lakers are severely getting overlooked.

Prime KAG and McAdoo would create the biggest mismatch problems out of any frontcourt. They also have Magic. Norm Nixon, Jalmaal Wilkes, and Byron Scott make a great rotation at gaurd. Prime Cooper and Worthy as your SF rotation. That's as deadly as you can get.

[Flash31]

2006 heat
prime Payton,shaq,mourning,DWade,j will,posey,haslem

2012-13 heat
prime DWade,lebron,bosh,r Allen,rashard,battier,mike miller,
chalmers

[kennethgriffin]

How is that surprising? They aren't good
2000 blazers


- sabonis 22/13/2 ( prime before nba projected ) 1988 gold medal mvp
- wells 17/6/3 in 2002
- schrempf 19/9/6 in 1993
- rasheed 19/8/2 in 2002
- pippen 21/8/7 in 1992
- grant 15/9/1 in 2001
- o'neal 24/9/2 in 2005
- smith 20/4/4 in 1998
- stoudemire 20/9/2 in 1997

:biggums:

[Remix]

Also, a shoutout to the 2006 Miami heat.

Gary Payton
D-Wade
'Toine
Mourning
Shaq

with Haslem, Jason Williams, James Posey, Derek Anderson on the bench.

dat defense

[Remix]

2006 heat
prime Payton,shaq,mourning,DWade,j will,posey,haslem

2012-13 heat
prime DWade,lebron,bosh,r Allen,rashard,battier,mike miller,
chalmers
damn ya got me

[DaHeezy]

2000 blazers


- sabonis 22/13/2 ( prime before nba projected ) 1988 gold medal mvp
- wells 17/6/3 in 2002
- schrempf 19/9/6 in 1993
- rasheed 19/8/2 in 2002
- pippen 21/8/7 in 1992
- grant 15/9/1 in 2001
- o'neal 24/9/2 in 2005
- smith 20/4/4 in 1998
- stoudemire 20/9/2 in 1997

:biggums:

You're comparing them to the greatest players of all-time. Sorry, barely top 20. Every team mentioned in this thread is on another level.

[Papaya Petee]

2005-2006 Miami Heat all day

PG- Gary Payton (99-00) 24\9\7 :bowdown: DPOY

SG- Dwyane Wade (08-09) 30\7\5 :rockon: 2x Champion 1x FMVP 1x ASG MVP OLYMPIC GOLD, 1x Scoring Title

SF- Antoine Walker (97-98) 22\10\4 :eek: 1x Most Donuts Ate and Fortunes Blown

PF- Alonzo Mourning (95-96) 23\11\3 2x DPOY , 2nd in MVP (98-99)

C- Shaquille O-Neal (99-00) 30\14\4 4x Champion 3x FMVP 1x MVP 3x ASG MVP


Beat that starting line-up b******

[Remix]

01-02 Mavs

Nash
Tim Hardaway
Michael Finley
Juwan Howard
Dirk

Johnny Newman, Danny Manning, Van Exel

[jayfan]

Here we go:

1996/1997 Houston Rockets

Olajuwon
Barkley
Drexler

Does the rest of the roster even matter?

[Remix]

02-03 Spurs

Tony Parker
Terry Porter
Steve Smith
Duncan
D-Rob

Ginobili, Sjax, Kevin Willis, and Bowen on the bench

[jayfan]

Remix, were your last two posts attempts at humor?

[kennethgriffin]

You're comparing them to the greatest players of all-time. Sorry, barely top 20. Every team mentioned in this thread is on another level.

no we're not.. it has nothing to do with how great a player is all time

its "how good a team can be if everyones in their prime"


a team full of guys who had great years at their absolute best is a good team no matter what the players name is...

if you have 10 guys who at their best were allstar level players... its a god damn amazing team

:facepalm

[Smoke117]

You're comparing them to the greatest players of all-time. Sorry, barely top 20. Every team mentioned in this thread is on another level.

I dunno, that's a pretty sick front court right there. An in his prime Sabas, Sheed, and Pippen with Steve Smith and I guess Stoudamire. Frankly I would just run Sabas, Sheed, Schrempf, Smith, and Pippen as my PG. (as Mike Dunleavy did as Stoudamire was a shitty pg) Though the person had it wrong. Pippen in his prime would be a 94/95 Pippen not 92 Pippen. You would have an excellent bench to go with that starting line up too. They would definitely be a force defensively that's for sure.

[Remix]

Remix, were your last two posts attempts at humor?
Tell me a team that meshes better than Parker/Ginobili/Bowen/Duncan/D-rob with Pop coaching:biggums:

[kennethgriffin]

2005-2006 Miami Heat all day

PG- Gary Payton (99-00) 24\9\7 :bowdown: DPOY

SG- Dwyane Wade (08-09) 30\7\5 :rockon: 2x Champion 1x FMVP 1x ASG MVP OLYMPIC GOLD, 1x Scoring Title

SF- Antoine Walker (97-98) 22\10\4 :eek: 1x Most Donuts Ate and Fortunes Blown

PF- Alonzo Mourning (95-96) 23\11\3 2x DPOY , 2nd in MVP (98-99)

C- Shaquille O-Neal (99-00) 30\14\4 4x Champion 3x FMVP 1x MVP 3x ASG MVP


Beat that starting line-up b******


ummm



1963 Celtics

- Bill Russell 19ppg/24rpg/5ast in 1962
- Sam Jones 26ppg/5rpg/3ast in 1965
- Tom Heinsohn 22ppg/11rpg/2ast in 1960
- John Havlicek 29ppg/9rpg/8apg in 1971
- Bob Cousy 21ppg/6rpg/8apg in 1955
- Frank Ramsey 16ppg/7rpg/2apg in 1958
- Clyde Lovellette 23ppg/12rpg/2apg in 1958



/thread

[DaHeezy]

no we're not.. it has nothing to do with how great a player is all time

its "how good a team can be if everyones in their prime"

I think I know what the thread is about, I created it. Read the title again. It's the greatest team of all-time if every player is in their prime. You clearly have a reading comprehension problem

:facepalm.



a team full of guys who had great years at their absolute best is a good team no matter what the players name is...

if you have 10 guys who at their best were allstar level players... its a god damn amazing team


I don't disagree, but they are nowhere near the level of some of the teams discussed.

Try again

[kennethgriffin]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/hyreh.png

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/wtf-is-this-shit.jpg

[DaHeezy]

I dunno, that's a pretty sick front court right there. An in his prime Sabas, Sheed, and Pippen with Steve Smith and I guess Stoudamire. Frankly I would just run Sabas, Sheed, Schrempf, Smith, and Pippen as my PG. (as Mike Dunleavy did as Stoudamire was a shitty pg) Though the person had it wrong. Pippen in his prime would be a 94/95 Pippen not 92 Pippen. You would have an excellent bench to go with that starting line up too. They would definitely be a force defensively that's for sure.

Not sold as Pippen being an all-world PG. He's an all-time SF but a servicable PG at best.
Front court is definately great but back court is too weak to consider being amongst the greatest of all-time. That's like saying the '9 Bullets would compete beacuse they had a frontcourt of Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Gheorge Muresan, and had Mark Price and Robert Pack as the back court.

[Sleu27]

What about the magic with Arenas and Carter?

[DaHeezy]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/hyreh.png

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/wtf-is-this-shit.jpg

You clearly don't understand still. They don't mean the same thing

Try again

You honestly think that that team is the GREATEST OF ALL-TIME in their primes?

:facepalm

[ImmortalNemesis]

Prime:

Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Ron Artest (obviously his better years were under this name)
Pau Gasol
Dwight Howard

Jamison off the bench

Great case. Any better?

Possibly 1983 Lakers:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bob McAdoo
James Worthy
Byron Scott
Magic Johnson

Bench:
Jamaal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Norm Nixon

http://gifsforum.com/images/gif/op%20is%20gay/grand/op_is_gay_gif.gif

[Smoke117]

Not sold as Pippen being an all-world PG. He's an all-time SF but a serviable PG at best.
Front court is definately great but back court is too weak to consider being amongst the greatest of all-time. That's like saying the '9 Bullets would compete beacuse they had a frontcourt of Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Gheorge Muresan, and had Mark Price and Robert Pack as the back court.

He was much more than serviceable. While on the Blazers what do you think he did? That last season on the Blazers he literally played at the PG position. Not Point forward, but PG. Mike Dunleavy was sick of starting Stoudamire completely by then and Pippen started at pg. An in his prime Pippen out of the triangle and in control of the offense completely could easily have run any team.

[DaHeezy]

He was much more than serviceable. While on the Blazers what do you think he did? That last season on the Blazers he literally played at the PG position. Not Point forward, but PG. Mike Dunleavy was sick of starting Stoudamire completely by then and Pippen started at pg. An in his prime Pippen out of the triangle and in control of the offense completely could easily have run any team.

And the end result was?

Not saying servicable is a bad thing, it still means effective, but that was a talented team. They still won with Damon running the point. They probably still would have won if they put a player like Larry Hughes as the point. They were that good.
You think that very Pippen could have played point for the 2011 Knicks and made them better? Probably not. Not slighting Pippen, just don't see him as an all-world PG.

[DaHeezy]

[IMG]...

Hey EuroLeague, contribute or GTFO.

[L.Kizzle]

Here we go:

1996/1997 Houston Rockets

Olajuwon
Barkley
Drexler

Does the rest of the roster even matter?
They had Kevin Willis also who was like 18/15 one season and Seadele Threatte, lol.

[Smoke117]

And the end result was?

Not saying servicable is a bad thing, it still means effective, but that was a talented team. They still won with Damon running the point. They probably still would have won if they put a player like Larry Hughes as the point. They were that good.
You think that very Pippen could have played point for the 2011 Knicks and made them better? Probably not. Not slighting Pippen, just don't see him as an all-world PG.

Before he got injured? A lot media and people were praising the job he was doing that year in 2002-2003. It's been so long, but before his knees gave out the Blazers were something like 20 games over .500. He started off on the bench with Stoudamire starting the first five games where they went 2-3. After that he was put in the starting line up as the starting pg and before his knees gave out and he had to go to the injured list they went 38-19 with him as their pg.

They started off a bit slow but grew momentum as Pippen started getting going. I remember the back to back games that he killed the Magic and Heat. I've been looking forever to see the game again where he went for 27pts 17rebs 7assist 1blk 1to 7/13fg 11/13ft against the Magic or footage of the game the next day where he went for 26pts 6rebs 4assist 5stls 9/14fg 7/8ft 1/1 3pt against the Heat. You have to remember how combustible that team was especially with Sheed and Wells starting. Scottie always kept everybody under control and kept things from completely imploding. Running the Blazers was no picnic.

[boozehound]

not even the greatest hypothetical lakers squad (glove, kb, malone, shaq and whoever, fox I guess at the 3). That squad in their imaginary prime would beat this one

[TAZORAC]

2010-11 Celtics, 1985-86 Celtics, 1982-83 Lakers, 2003-04 Lakers, 1984-85 Sixers

All of them would be better than 2012-13 Lakers imo for that situation.


NO TEAM AND NO SPORT, can you go back to the fking 80s and say that it's better then today.

[KOBE143]

97 Bulls

Parish
Rodman
Pippen
Jordan
Harper
Phil Jackson :oldlol:

[Horatio33]

2000 blazers


- sabonis 22/13/2 ( prime before nba projected ) 1988 gold medal mvp
- wells 17/6/3 in 2002
- schrempf 19/9/6 in 1993
- rasheed 19/8/2 in 2002
- pippen 21/8/7 in 1992
- grant 15/9/1 in 2001
- o'neal 24/9/2 in 2005
- smith 20/4/4 in 1998
- stoudemire 20/9/2 in 1997

:biggums:

Probably a top five worst chemistry team ever. BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE STATS!!!!! Typical Kobe fan. Stats stats stats.

[ImmortalD24]

Celtics 2011 Starting five.

Shaq
KG
Pierce
Ray
Rondo
Unless they're going Rondo ball (which they won't), I don't see the point of having Rondo on the floor.

[pauk]

Yes, by far

[Johnni Gade]

Like everyone else stated, the 2011 Celtics. With Rondo running the point, KG and Shaq dominating the paint, along with Pierce and Ray spotting up shots.

Also, they're all good defensive players as well...
:applause:

[Odinn]

As for raw stats;

2013 Lakers; 118.4 ppg 39.2 rpg 23.3 apg 6.8 spg 5.8 bpg
2006 Nash, 2006 Kobe, 2008 MWP, 2007 Gasol, 2011 Howard

2012 Mavs; 109.4 ppg 43.9 rpg 24.5 apg 8.1 spg 5.1 bpg
1999 Kidd, 2005 Carter, 2006 Marion, 2004 Odom, 2005 Nowitzki

2011 Celtics; 120.8 ppg 43.1 rpg 27.4 apg 7.2 spg 5.9 bpg
2010 Rondo, 2007 Allen, 2006 Pierce, 2004 Garnett, 2000 Shaq

2006 Heat; 130.7 ppg 44.4 rpg 28.0 apg 7.3 spg 7.8 bpg
2000 Payton, 2009 Wade, 2001 Walker, 1996 Zo, 2000 Shaq

2004 Lakers; 127.7 ppg 40.5 rpg 21.4 apg 6.7 spg 4.7 bpg
2000 Payton, 2006 Kobe, 2004 George, 1990 Malone, 2000 Shaq

2003 Spurs; 117.5 ppg 36.4 rpg 26.4 apg 6.3 apg 6.8 bpg
2009 Parker, 2008 Ginobili, 2009 Jackson, 2002 Duncan, 1994 DRob

1997 Rockets; 111.6 ppg 51.3 rpg 18.6 apg 7.9 spg 7.1 bpg
1997 Elie, 1989 Drexler, 1988 Barkley, 1992 Willis, 1993 Olajuwon

1986 Celtics; 110.8 ppg 44.2 rpg 23.6 apg 5.9 spg 7.5 bpg
1982 DJ, 1990 Ainge, 1985 Bird, 1987 McHale, 1977 Walton

1985 Sixers; 116.8 ppg 45.2 rpg 22.0 apg 9.2 spg 6.9 bpg
1986 Cheeks, 1980 Erving, 1977 Jones, 1988 Barkley, 1982 Moses

1983 Lakers; 128.4 ppg 50.3 rpg 26.5 rpg 7.1 spg 7.5 bpg
1989 Magic, 1981 Wilkes, 1990 Worthy, 1975 McAdoo, 1976 Kareem


I picked every player's best statistical season since the L started to keep bpg and spg numbers.

[Soundwave]

'97 Bulls?

C- '82 Parrish
PF- '94 Rodman
SF- '94 Pippen
SG- '91 Jordan
PG- '90 Harper

There's no team listed in this thread that this group would not be able to more than hang with.

Remember Ron Harper used to be an All-Star 20+ ppg scorer himself. Parrish was one of the best centers of the 80s, coming in close to 20/10 for several seasons.

This group would be unbelievable defensively too.

[jayfan]

As for raw stats;

2013 Lakers; 118.4 ppg 39.2 rpg 23.3 apg 6.8 spg 5.8 bpg
2006 Nash, 2006 Kobe, 2008 MWP, 2007 Gasol, 2011 Howard

2012 Mavs; 109.4 ppg 43.9 rpg 24.5 apg 8.1 spg 5.1 bpg
1999 Kidd, 2005 Carter, 2006 Marion, 2004 Odom, 2005 Nowitzki

2011 Celtics; 120.8 ppg 43.1 rpg 27.4 apg 7.2 spg 5.9 bpg
2010 Rondo, 2007 Allen, 2006 Pierce, 2004 Garnett, 2000 Shaq

2006 Heat; 130.7 ppg 44.4 rpg 28.0 apg 7.3 spg 7.8 bpg
2000 Payton, 2009 Wade, 2001 Walker, 1996 Zo, 2000 Shaq

2004 Lakers; 127.7 ppg 40.5 rpg 21.4 apg 6.7 spg 4.7 bpg
2000 Payton, 2006 Kobe, 2004 George, 1990 Malone, 2000 Shaq

2003 Spurs; 117.5 ppg 36.4 rpg 26.4 apg 6.3 apg 6.8 bpg
2009 Parker, 2008 Ginobili, 2009 Jackson, 2002 Duncan, 1994 DRob

1997 Rockets; 111.6 ppg 51.3 rpg 18.6 apg 7.9 spg 7.1 bpg
1997 Elie, 1989 Drexler, 1988 Barkley, 1992 Willis, 1993 Olajuwon

1986 Celtics; 110.8 ppg 44.2 rpg 23.6 apg 5.9 spg 7.5 bpg
1982 DJ, 1990 Ainge, 1985 Bird, 1987 McHale, 1977 Walton

1985 Sixers; 116.8 ppg 45.2 rpg 22.0 apg 9.2 spg 6.9 bpglong
1986 Cheeks, 1980 Erving, 1977 Jones, 1988 Barkley, 1982 Moses

1983 Lakers; 128.4 ppg 50.3 rpg 26.5 rpg 7.1 spg 7.5 bpg
1989 Magic, 1981 Wilkes, 1990 Worthy, 1975 McAdoo, 1976 Kareem


I picked every player's best statistical season since the L started to keep bpg and spg numbers.

Nice work. As much as I believe that prime Drexler, Barkley and Olajuwon would be unstoppable, no one is beating that '83 Lakers team. Kareem in his prime, along with Magic and Worthy in theirs? The discussion ends right there.

[PHILA]

1967 Sixers with a '68 Jackson & '69-'70 Cunningham would be that much more deadly.

[jayfan]

As to the original question posed by the thread, the answer is not even close. While Kobe and Nash are a top-notch back court, they won't be able to carry their inferior front court mates. We can't project what Howard's prime might become, we can only go by what his prime has been so far. And while that prime has allowed him to dominate the woeful big men of today, it's not good enough for the all-timers on these rosters. This front court of Howard, Gasol and Artest would get worked by every front court on the above rosters except for the Mavericks team.