Post your ideal current PLAYOFF starting five

[OldSkoolball#52]

It occurred to me to make this thread because I feel a lot of people judge the "best players" or rank guys based on their current production during the regular season. But the regular season is a marathon, and the postseason is a sprint, and subsequently veterans tend to approach them in different ways. So a guy who is holding back in the regular season and perceived as "declining" may still be a better player than his young star counterpart when push comes to shove.


Chris Paul
Ray Allen
Lebron James
Tim Duncan
Marc Gasol

I tried to only use guys at their "listed" positions. Which forced me to exclude Durant for James, even though if I were trying to create the best team possible I might consider putting Durant and SF and bumping James and Duncan up a position.



A lot of people think guys like Westbrook, Rose, Parker etc. are better than Paul, because Paul doesn't play a 'regular season style' which is to basically just try and outscore you. Same with Kevin Love at PF. Many now think he's the best PF in the game, and in the regular season it's hard to argue. But by now everyone knows the playoffs are different. Duncan is so proven. Until he actually SHOWS he's slowed down in the playoffs, why assume?

Paul is a beast playoff performer and certifiably clutch by the statistics. Anybody who judges this guy based on TEAM playoff success is simply lacking in intellect. Every measure shows that he beasts in the playoffs and has simply faced squads with better overall talent than his own. He's not raining thunderous dunks and dropping 40 in the regular season, but he controls the PLAYOFF style game better than any Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose


Is there any shooting guard today you'd rather have on an ideal PLAYOFF team than Ray Allen? Jumpshooting is so capricious and for most teams unreliable in the postseason. What a insane blessing to have this guy in your corner. The best three point sniper in history. Again, will he wow you with his fadeaway step back contested jumpers in the regular season? No. Is there a reason he's been an integral part of SO many decisive playoff moments in the last 5 years? ABSOLUTELY.

I'm sure a lot of people will criticize the James pick for his well documented moments of "shrinking" during the playoffs. And I'm no apologist for James. He has cowered at times. But at the end of the day, you'd still be nuts NOT to take him at small forward if you have the choice, and I think deep down every person here knows that.


Duncan and Gasol just have playoff games. It's that simple. Defense, passing, post up, midrange. Duncan should be obvious, and if I have to pick a playoff center I will take Gasol.



OK NOW U GO

[christian1923]

Parker
Kobe
Lebron
Love
Howard

[OldSkoolball#52]

Also, my other question is, if you know you'd take an 'old dog' for the PLAYOFFS, even if he's a somewhat marginalized regular season player, wouldn't you have to consider him still the "better" player?

Like if you're ranking guys and you know one of them is in his prime, putting up big stats, and carrying his team in the regular season, and he's a popular pick to be considered one of the "best" players in the game currently... but you know deep down you'd rather have a guy playing 30 minutes and getting 12 and 9 in the regular season once the postseason comes around... How do you justify calling the prime young 'superstar' the better player when everyone here puts so much emphasis on rings, playoffs, 'clutch' etc???

Basically do you think people should rank players based on who they would want right now in a post season rather than a regular season? It just seems to me people often talk about how the playoffs determine your legacy, but they use regular season production/hype/momentum to rank current players.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Stephan Curry
Paul George
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Dwight Howard

If forced to go by listed position i'd swap Durant for Love

[kamil]

Chris Paul
Ray Allen
Lebron James
Tim Duncan
Marc Gasol

Is Ray Allen there to bail out LeBron* ?

[Droid101]

Is Ray Allen there to bail out LeBron* ?
Boom.

[AintNoSunshine]

You nailed it man, and as you said alternatively James+Durant would be a lethal combo

[OldSkoolball#52]

Is Ray Allen there to bail out LeBron* ?


Of course. It's all about chemistry.


For instance if I'd have picked Kobe Bryant at SG, I'd have had to include Fisher at PG.

[T-Time3]

same as op
but i replace jesus shuttlesworth with paul george

[kamil]

Of course. It's all about chemistry.


For instance if I'd have picked Kobe Bryant at SG, I'd have had to include Fisher at PG.

I gotta applaud that save, lol.

[Blackisbig]

Steph Curry
Tony Allen
Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan
Marc Gasol

Twin towers line up at center and power forward. Shooters in Durant and Curry. Dominant perimeter defender in Allen. Lack of dominant ball handlers is compensated for by having two big men that can handle passing the ball and having plays run through them.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Steph Curry
Danny Green
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Tim Duncan

Curry plays mostly off the ball. Green in there for D&3 purposes, since he grades out as one of the best at that and I couldn't think of anyone else. Durant is Durant. LeBron is LeBron. Duncan is Duncan.

Great ball movement and 3pt shooting. Load up on some defensive bigs for the bench just in case.

[Heavincent]

Steph Curry
Andre Iguodala
Lebron James
Anthony Davis
Tim Duncan

[zoom17]

Why are people choosing Howard he is a liability in close games and cant make free throws.

[OldSkoolball#52]

Steph Curry
Tony Allen
Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan
Marc Gasol

Twin towers line up at center and power forward. Shooters in Durant and Curry. Dominant perimeter defender in Allen. Lack of dominant ball handlers is compensated for by having two big men that can handle passing the ball and having plays run through them.

That's pretty nice, I like that


Altho the way Lance Stephenson has been playin I'd probably be inclined myself to use him at the 2 as the designated "crazy guy" :lol

[Heavincent]

Why are people choosing Howard he is a liability in close games and cant make free throws.

Yeah I don't get that either. I want good FT shooters on the floor at all times in a playoff series. Somebody like Shaq is the exception to the rule.

[branslowski]

Chris Paul can put up all the fun bun advance stats he wants, but he's simply not a winner. He doesn't posses that will to win, nor that Alpha dog presence you need in the playoffs. Once you stat nerds understand this, the world would be a better place. It isn't like the teams he played on was garbage.

Anyway:

PG. Curry
SG. Kobe
SF. Paul George
PF. Ibaka
C. Hibbert

Team led by Kobe with size down low? Easy title. Kobe don't even need offence from Hibbert, I mean Lakers won a title with Bynum Mr starting Center avg 6ppg 3reb lol.

Ibaka has a solid all round game.

Then you get Paul George? Dudes already a star. I mean, he just kills teams on both ends of the floor, I'd also place him on any hard perimeter matchup.

Then Curry, will be open ALOT! Don't need much out of him either, Kobe won with a PG avg less than 8ppg.lol

My team got dominate offense and defense. Easy titles.

[OldSkoolball#52]

PG. Curry
SG. Kobe
SF. Paul George
PF. Ibaka
C. Hibbert



This is probably the worst serious submission anyone could have possibly submitted seriously.



:facepalm

[aj1987]

Parker
Kobe
Lebron
Love
Howard
That team would need 5 balls.

[chazzy]

CP3
Arron Afflalo
Kevin Durant
Kevin Love
Roy Hibbert

CP3 creating open looks all day for the 3 knockdown shooters. Hibbert providing rim protection/paint intimidation and won't complain about offensive touches Frontcourt cleaning up the glass. KD or CP3 can create baskets in crunch time, KD plays off ball so won't have issues conceding primary ball handling to CP3. Afflalo a great perimeter defender for SGs and PGs and can hit open shots very well. Thought about swapping in a better defender at either the 3 or 4 but that spacing and offense is too good to pass up.

[imdaman99]

You want Lebron to make a great PG like CP3 into a spot-up shooter? :facepalm

Just give him Steph Curry, he can stat pad his assists that way with Curry coming off screens.

[TheReal Kendall]

Lebron
Paul George
Durant
Duncan
Hibbert

[russwest0]

LeBron kills ball movement and on a TRULY stacked team there is no need for him other than to ensure you don't have to go up against him

Chris Paul
Thabo Sefolosha
Paul George
Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan

Good luck guarding that team and/or scoring on it. Absolutely no egos on that squad, no guys who are gonna demand control of the basketball, perfect floor spacing, and a boss frontcourt that makes it so your opponent absolutely can't double team either Duncan or Durant. A CP3/Durant pick and roll. Sefolosha there for defense and his 40% 3pt shooting. Paul George acting as the glue guy, he does everything.

I win niqqas

[secund2nun]

Curry
Durant
Lebron
Love
Howard

[InspiredLebowski]

LeBron kills ball movementInsidePoops guys

[red1]

Steph Curry
Danny Green
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Tim Duncan

Curry plays mostly off the ball. Green in there for D&3 purposes, since he grades out as one of the best at that and I couldn't think of anyone else. Durant is Durant. LeBron is LeBron. Duncan is Duncan.

Great ball movement and 3pt shooting. Load up on some defensive bigs for the bench just in case.
:bowdown: If healthy this team is flawless. Green is underrated defender, he made some huge plays in the finals and we all know how well he can shoot when given good looks.

[russwest0]

InsidePoops guys

Name a player in the NBA that dominates the basketball more than LeBron

Pro-Tip: You can't.

[red1]

LeBron kills ball movement and on a TRULY stacked team there is no need for him other than to ensure you don't have to go up against him

Chris Paul
Thabo Sefolosha
Paul George
Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan

Good luck guarding that team and/or scoring on it. Absolutely no egos on that squad, no guys who are gonna demand control of the basketball, perfect floor spacing, and a boss frontcourt that makes it so your opponent absolutely can't double team either Duncan or Durant. A CP3/Durant pick and roll. Sefolosha there for defense and his 40% 3pt shooting. Paul George acting as the glue guy, he does everything.

I win niqqas
Did the 2012 finals traumatize you? The outcome of that series seems to have destroyed the rational part of your brain

[russwest0]

Did the 2012 finals traumatize you? The outcome of that series seems to have destroyed the rational part of your brain

Did you watch 2011 or 2013 finals since you gonna pick and choose shit?

Dude damn sure wasn't playing like the best player in basketball in either of those series. He's turned Bosh and Wade into STRICT jumpshooters, I don't wanna see him play with a player like Durant who usually goes ham in the 4th and would be slowed down massively by LeBrons style

[OldSkoolball#52]

CP3
Arron Afflalo
Kevin Durant
Kevin Love
Roy Hibbert

CP3 creating open looks all day for the 3 knockdown shooters. Hibbert providing rim protection/paint intimidation and won't complain about offensive touches Frontcourt cleaning up the glass. KD or CP3 can create baskets in crunch time, KD plays off ball so won't have issues conceding primary ball handling to CP3. Afflalo a great perimeter defender for SGs and PGs and can hit open shots very well. Thought about swapping in a better defender at either the 3 or 4 but that spacing and offense is too good to pass up.


You know I was tempted to put Hibbert, given how proficient he's become in guarding the paint. Ultimately I picked Gasol since he's also a good defender but has a more versatile/consistent offensive game.


I do think Hibbert is an underrated playoff quality player compared to where people generally rank him when they're simply ranking players.

[red1]

Did you watch 2011 or 2013 finals since you gonna pick and choose shit?

Dude damn sure wasn't playing like the best player in basketball in either of those series
The moment I realized your mental condition was that time when you came into the raptors heat gamethread and flat out made up a lie just to try and discredit bronzy when he had a decent game. Not that your obsessive posting wasn't a red flag already. Get help son

[russwest0]

Ad-hominem = you lost the debate :rockon:

Sorry, don't want a dude who is gonna dominate the basketball a ton taking looks from Chris Paul/Paul George/Kevin Durant/Tim Duncan

Sue me

[red1]

Ad-hominem = you lost the debate :rockon:

Sorry, don't want a dude who is gonna dominate the basketball a ton taking looks from Chris Paul/Paul George/Kevin Durant/Tim Duncan

Sue me
Ad hominem? :oldlol: I didnt make a single comment about the team you assembled in your post. Simply asked you a question that I had on my mind. Besides, all I did was state a fact. Would you claim ad-hominem if I told you that grass is green?

[russwest0]

Ad hominem? :oldlol: I didnt make a single comment about the team you assembled in your post. Simply asked you a question that I had on my mind. Besides, all I did was state a fact. Would you claim ad-hominem if I told you that grass is green?


not knowing what ad-hominem is :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[zoom17]

Chris Paul
Thabo Sefolosha
Paul George
Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan


:roll: :roll: :roll:

[russwest0]

You lost the debate pal, you (for no reason) tried to play the 2011-2012 Finals card just like how Wade dickriders try to play the 2006 Finals card even though everyone who has no bias cares less about that year and discredits it for obvious reasons.

So I think an offense would run better through a CP3/Durant pick and roll as opposed to LeBron holding the ball at the elbow for 20 seconds before kicking it out and turning everyone but himself into strict jumpshooters. Sue me

[red1]

not knowing what ad-hominem is :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made
Dumbass. Read the definition and explain how my post was a form of ad-hominem reasoning. Ad-hominem =/= statement about another person.

[Mr. Jabbar]

kobe

[RoundMoundOfReb]

LeBron kills ball movement


LeBron:

MPG: 37.4 minutes
Time with ball/game: 4.0 minutes
10.7% of the time he's on the floor he has the ball
527 total touches
3.18 seconds per touch


Paul George (who's on your team):

MPG: 37.5
Time with ball/game: 3.6 minutes
9.6% of the time he's on the floor he has the ball
515 touches total
2.94 seconds per touch

LeBron is barely more ball dominant than Paul George. This doesn't even take into account that Lebron average 2x the assists George does, 3x the secondary assists.

http://stats.nba.com/playerTrackingTouches.html?pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=100&sortField=TOP&sortOrder=DES

[zoom17]

LeBron:

MPG: 37.4 minutes
Time with ball/game: 4.0 minutes
10.7% of the time he's on the floor he has the ball
527 total touches
3.18 seconds per touch


Paul George (who's on your team):

MPG: 37.5
Time with ball/game: 3.6 minutes
9.6% of the time he's on the floor he has the ball
515 touches total
2.94 seconds per touch

LeBron is barely more ball dominant than Paul George. This doesn't even take into account that Lebron average 2x the assists George does, 3x the secondary assists.

http://stats.nba.com/playerTrackingTouches.html?pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=100&sortField=TOP&sortOrder=DES


russwest0 owned again:oldlol:

[Deuce Bigalow]

Stephan Curry
Paul George
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Dwight Howard

If forced to go by listed position i'd swap Durant for Love
:biggums:

[RoundMoundOfReb]

:biggums:
He's still the best center in the game. I would consider Duncan but since i'm gonna have Durant/LeBron as my forward duo I need someone to dominate the glass.

[bdreason]

Chris Paul
Klay Thompson
LeBron James
Kevin Love
Dwight Howard

[russwest0]

russwest0 owned again:oldlol:

April 2013 :facepalm

[ihoopallday]

1. Jordan
2. Jordan
3. Jordan
4. Jordan
5. Jordan
:bowdown:

[no pun intended]

PG- Brandon Jennings
SG- Demar Derozan
SF- Rudy Gay
PF- Kevin Love
C- Pau Gasol

Kevin Love 50 RPG.

OldSkoolball#52 logic.

Because rebounds wins championships.

[aj1987]

Current:
Dwight
Durant
Lebron
Wade
PG

All Time:
Shaq
Bird
Lebron
MJ
Payton

[SamuraiSWISH]

Harper
Jordan
Pippen
Rodman
Garnett

[aj1987]

Harper
Jordan
Pippen
Rodman
Garnett
Seriously?

[OmniStrife]

PG: Parker
SG: George
SF: LeBron
PF: KD
C: Hibbert

Only TP is a poor defender and the others more than make up for him.
Obviously unstoppable on offense as well.

[Magic 32]

Is Ray Allen there to bail out LeBron* ?

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2808005/leconfused.gif

[SamuraiSWISH]

Seriously?
I know it's current but I'm listing all time haha

[jdm_dc_fan]

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Paul George
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Roy Hibbert

Rondo's playoff performance is as sure as taxes. Rondo will do most of the distributing a lot of dirty work and intangibles. Paul George and Rondo as a back court defensively would be the best in the league along with best rebounding back court. Durant over LBJ because of Rondo being ball dominant while Durant can dedicate his time scoring as much as he wants. Anthony Davis is still being overlooked and would surprise everyone in the playoffs. AD will crash the boards and clean up the mess around the rim. With Roy Hibbert at center and AD at the PF spot would put them as the best Defensive and offensive front court duo in the league.

:bowdown:

[TaLvsCuaL]

Westbrook
Tony Allen
Lebron
Love
Duncan

[CeltsGarlic]

Rondo
Ray Allen
Pierce
KG
Marc Gasol

[Bandito]

Of course. It's all about chemistry.


For instance if I'd have picked Kobe Bryant at SG, I'd have had to include Fisher at PG.
:lol

[Budadiiii]

CP3
Westbrook
LeBron
Durant
Adams