GOAT starting 5 of all-times.

[305Baller]

C- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Pf- Tim Duncan
Sf- LeBron James
Sg- Michael Jordan
Pg- Magic Johnson

2 of the 5 are from this era.

That is all.

[Andrei89]

Goat

[Fudge]

Kareem
Duncan
Bird
Jordan
Magic

How do you even stop that? Perfect 5.

[305Baller]

Kareem
Duncan
Bird
Jordan
Magic

How do you even stop that? Perfect 5.

Bird over James? Thats a matchup Id like to see.

[K Xerxes]

Are we just throwing the best players in each position on one team or actually trying to create a functional team? Remember, there's only one ball.

[Mass Debator]

Olajuwon
Dirk
Bird
Jordan
Bron

[305Baller]

Are we just throwing the best players in each position on one team or actually trying to create a functional team? Remember, there's only one ball.

Best players. The defacto standard. The best players will make it work as a team anyways.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Shaq
Bird
LeBron
MJ
Magic

[305Baller]

Shaq
Bird
LeBron
MJ
Magic

Kareem will skyhook over Shaq all day. And hit freethrows. Great matchup.

[sportjames23]

C- Hakeem Olajuwon
Pf- Charles Barkley
Sf- Larry Bird
Sg- Michael Jordan
Pg- Magic Johnson

5 of the 5 are from the 80s/90s.

That is all.

[VengefulAngel]

PG: Magic
SG: MJ
SF: Bird
PF: Lebron
C: Shaq

GOAT offense ^^

This lineup causes some great mismatches, although no interior defense. So would need to replace shaq with a shotblocker

[305Baller]

C- Hakeem Olajuwon
Pf- Charles Barkley
Sf- Larry Bird
Sg- Michael Jordan
Pg- Magic Johnson

5 of the 5 are from the 80s/90s.

That is all.

Get your own prose.

[Demitri98]

Magic
MJ
Bird
Duncan
Kareem

[VengefulAngel]

Magic
MJ
Bird
Duncan
Kareem


Who would guard Lebron on your team?

[BoNafidde]

Magic
Jordan
Lebron
Duncan
Shaq

[kennethgriffin]

why not combine the most successful duo's or trio's with other ones. getting rid of the scrubs. that way you have a bit of chemistry


Shaquille O'neal
Dennis Rodman
Scottie Pippen ( point forward )
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant

[VengefulAngel]

why not combine the most successful duo's or trio's with other ones. getting rid of the scrubs. that way you have a bit of chemistry


Shaquille O'neal
Dennis Rodman
Scottie Pippen ( point forward )
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant

Wow that would actually match up well against most of the teams posted lol.

[305Baller]

why not combine the most successful duo's or trio's with other ones. getting rid of the scrubs. that way you have a bit of chemistry


Shaquille O'neal
Dennis Rodman
Scottie Pippen ( point forward )
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant

Interesting concept but in the end my starting 5 beats your starting 5

[r15mohd]

why not combine the most successful duo's or trio's with other ones. getting rid of the scrubs. that way you have a bit of chemistry


Shaquille O'neal
Dennis Rodman
Scottie Pippen ( point forward )
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant


i'd still replace Kobe with a true PG that is a 3pt threat...Stockton :confusedshrug:

[VengefulAngel]

Interesting concept but in the end my starting 5 beats your starting 5

What's your bench?

[kennethgriffin]

Interesting concept but in the end my starting 5 beats your starting 5


my team knows how to play with each other for the most part. and have 4 of the most dominant defensive players ever to go with 3 of the most dominant offensive players ever. no team could go small against them.


you dont need a true point guard on a team with guys like kobe/jordan anyway. and with rodman/shaq. nobody would get a rebound on the other team

[kennethgriffin]

i'd still replace Kobe with a true PG that is a 3pt threat...Stockton :confusedshrug:


you dont need a true PG unless its a team of guys who rely on one. and kobe/jordan/pippen/shaq never relied on a true PG to do their job

and kobe can hit threes. especially if it was a legends team where he'd have mostly wide open threes instead of having to shoot over 2-3 guys


specialists are just guys who hit practice shots in games. any big time scorer can do that if they were given those same looks

[ImKobe]

Shaq
Durant
Bran
Kobe
Nash

[VengefulAngel]

Im gonna try a hybrid line up:

PG: Lebron
SG: MJ
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Kareem

Not much space on the floor in this lineup.

Could make an argument for Hakeem

Bird at SF might solve that.

[305Baller]

my team knows how to play with each other for the most part. and have 4 of the most dominant defensive players ever to go with 3 of the most dominant offensive players ever. no team could go small against them.


you dont need a true point guard on a team with guys like kobe/jordan anyway. and with rodman/shaq. nobody would get a rebound on the other team

Well Jordan cancels out Jordan. Kaj will outplay Shaq and LeBron would dominate Pippen. Magic would outrebound Kobe and set up his boys for points. Duncan would quietly provide interior dominance. LeBron would be masterful as Jordans beta. Kobe would try to outdo Jordan on his own team lol.

[VengefulAngel]

Well Jordan cancels out Jordan. Kaj will outplay Shaq and LeBron would dominate Pippen. Magic would outrebound Kobe and set up his boys for points. Duncan would quietly provide interior dominance. LeBron would be masterful as Jordans beta. Kobe would try to outdo Jordan.

Watching Jordan and Lebron play would be immense. He's an improved version of Scottie on offense and still provides tenacious defense. Plus he would totally dominate those teams with Bird on.

[BigTicket]

Stockton
Jordan
Pippen
Duncan
Russell

Perfect combination of offense, defense and team play.

[kennethgriffin]

Well Jordan cancels out Jordan. Kaj will outplay Shaq and LeBron would dominate Pippen. Magic would outrebound Kobe and set up his boys for points. Duncan would quietly provide interior dominance. LeBron would be masterful as Jordans beta. Kobe would try to outdo Jordan on his own team lol.

lol ok i can do this too

jordan cancels out jordan

shaq will outplay kareem ( better prime. kareem had the better career. so its prime vs prime )

pippen is as tall, as quick and longer than lebron. pippen was the best wing defender in the nba for a while. even better than jordan during the 90's. so if a guy like diaw can slow down lebron. i think pippen could

duncan would quietly provide interior "dominance" over shaq/rodman? what?

and lol@ thinking kobes a problem playing with other great players. kobe did that successfully for 3 straight titles. if anyone knows how to get his on a team with another guy getting near 30 a game. its kobe. he and shaq are the only ones other than west/baylor to do it

so stfu lol

[T_L_P]

Payton
Jordan
Dirk
Duncan
Walton

[ArbitraryWater]

Give me peak Chuck at the PF...

[ArbitraryWater]

Who would guard Lebron on your team?

:lol loop hole found

[305Baller]

lol ok i can do this too

jordan cancels out jordan

shaq will outplay kareem ( better prime. kareem had the better career. so its prime vs prime )

pippen is as tall, as quick and longer than lebron. pippen was the best wing defender in the nba for a while. even better than jordan during the 90's. so if a guy like diaw can slow down lebron. i think pippen could

duncan would quietly provide interior "dominance" over shaq/rodman? what?

and lol@ thinking kobes a problem playing with other great players. kobe did that successfully for 3 straight titles. if anyone knows how to get his on a team with another guy getting near 30 a game. its kobe. he and shaq are the only ones other than west/baylor to do it

so stfu lol



Oh so Shaq is now going to neutralize KAJ and Duncan? Wow you have him at superhuman levels. And now Pip will shut down LeBron when he struggled against John Starks? And yeah Duncan will school Rodman. And Kobe will shoot his usual 40% and still work with Jordan? LOL

[jongib369]

C-Wilt
PF-Russell
SF-LeBron
SG-Jordan
PG-Magic

Imagine the fast breaks :biggums:



C-Wilt
PF-Malone
SF-Bird
SG-Jordan
PG-Robertson

[kennethgriffin]

Give me peak Chuck at the PF...

i dont really understand why some guys are picking all offense. i think with a team that has 4 dominant legendary all time prolific scorers. you might aswell throw in a defensive specialist/rebounder like rodman

and i also dont understand why people are picking ball dominant traditional point guards who are made to set up guys who cant create for themselves. then you guys all pick isolation legends to go with them lol

[ArbitraryWater]

i dont really understand why some guys are picking all offense. i think with a team that has 4 dominant legendary all time prolific scorers. you might aswell throw in a defensive specialist/rebounder like rodman

and i also dont understand why people are picking ball dominant traditional point guards who are made to set up guys who cant create for themselves. then you guys all pick isolation legends to go with them lol



yea i do like your idea with rodman... I mean these teams have enough offense/scoring in there anyway.. why not throw someone in there who shuts it down, ends & extends possessions..

[kennethgriffin]

Oh so Shaq is now going to neutralize KAJ and Duncan? Wow you have him at superhuman levels. And now Pip will shut down LeBron when he struggled against John Starks? And yeah Duncan will school Rodman. And Kobe will shoot his usual 40% and still work with Jordan? LOL


i'm just saying prime shaq is better than prime kareem

and dennis rodman would pretty much take away duncans rebounding and shave a ton of points off him

i didnt say pippen would shut down lebron. i'm just saying if a guy with diaws body can give lebron troubles. then pippen will cause evn more problems for lebron. lebrons never faced a defender like pippen. hes the only guy long enough and quick enough that i know of


and you just ruined yourself by saying kobe would shoot 40%

why even take anything you say seriously now. you just went from "fun hypothetical team conversation" to "HEY EVERYONE I'M A BORING TROLL THAT JUST LIKES TO TALK SH*T DERRRRRP! LOL"

if a guy shoots 46% on a team with nobodies having to shoot over doubles all day... i think that guy would shoot around 50% or higher if he had single coverage all day. no one can double on a team with kobe/mj/scottie/shaq

anyway.. it was nice knowin ya. maybe i'l read one of your posts another day

[Odinn]

Actually, the thread title is a little bit misleading and I suppose that kinda debate would be much more fun and interesting.

I mean it is obvious that 1986 Celtics are superior to 1987 Celtics. But as for starting 5s, they are pretty equal IMO.

Leaving out 6th mans and benches when comparing teams would be something different and it's hard to find a new thing to discuss about nowadays.

[r15mohd]

you dont need a true PG unless its a team of guys who rely on one. and kobe/jordan/pippen/shaq never relied on a true PG to do their job

and kobe can hit threes. especially if it was a legends team where he'd have mostly wide open threes instead of having to shoot over 2-3 guys


specialists are just guys who hit practice shots in games. any big time scorer can do that if they were given those same looks

i'd take a true PG over Kobe is all i'm saying, one that is also a 3pt threat...the "specialist" part is just apart of his arsenal but he is the PG 1st and foremost.

as for Kobe being your 3pt go-to? :facepalm I'd rather Stockton who is a more viable threat from deep and also can pick apart the defense with his passing abilities and overall higher bball IQ. Kobe would also clash with MJ on the offensive end, and having him remain on the arch is useless to me.


Hakeem/KAJ
TD
Lebron
MJ
Stockton/Nash/Magic (in this order)

[305Baller]

i'm just saying prime shaq is better than prime kareem

and dennis rodman would pretty much take away duncans rebounding and shave a ton of points off him

i didnt say pippen would shut down lebron. i'm just saying if a guy with diaws body can give lebron troubles. then pippen will cause evn more problems for lebron. lebrons never faced a defender like pippen. hes the only guy long enough and quick enough that i know of


and you just ruined yourself by saying kobe would shoot 40%

why even take anything you say seriously now. you just went from "fun hypothetical team conversation" to "HEY EVERYONE I'M A BORING TROLL THAT JUST LIKES TO TALK SH*T DERRRRRP! LOL"

if a guy shoots 46% on a team with nobodies having to shoot over doubles all day... i think that guy would shoot around 50% or higher if he had single coverage all day. no one can double on a team with kobe/mj/scottie/shaq

anyway.. it was nice knowin ya. maybe i'l read one of your posts another day

Stop crying. Boohoo.

[jongib369]

Imagine the floor spacing.
What team would be able to handle their size and athleticism?It'd be hard to effectively guard the constant post threat and also stop LeBron, Jordan or Magic from driving without doubling, leaving one of them open for longer range shots which they can make.

[kennethgriffin]

i'd take a true PG over Kobe is all i'm saying, one that is also a 3pt threat...the "specialist" part is just apart of his arsenal but he is the PG 1st and foremost.

as for Kobe being your 3pt go-to? :facepalm I'd rather Stockton who is a more viable threat from deep and also can pick apart the defense with his passing abilities and overall higher bball IQ. Kobe would also clash with MJ on the offensive end, and having him remain on the arch is useless to me.


Hakeem/KAJ
TD
Lebron
MJ
Stockton/Nash/Magic (in this order)


i'l ask the question again.... why

you have lebron/mj

when the f*ck is stockton, nash or magic gonna have the ball to run an offense when itel be in jordan and lebrons hands 95% of the game looking for either their own shot or to set someone up

a true PG is utilized on teams with specialists and prolific scoring bigs

all you need is a kick out shooter at PG like fisher was for kobe or like kerr was for MJ or like chalmers is for lebron... and then you choose the most limited defensive PG's possible with stockton ( whod only be good at defending guys his size ) and 2 other guys who didnt play a lick of defense ( magic/nash )

like i said.. on any team with a guy like pippen or lebron or any wing that can playmake/set up people.. there is no need for a true PG. you might aswell throw in a do it all guy who can defend all 3 perimeter positions for matchup purposes.. then it doesnt hurt to also have one of the top 3 scorers of all time who make a living off of jumpshots his entire career.. and also someone who hits his wide open threes as often as anyone... people are blind or just plain stupid when thinking a guy like kobes three point percentage should be looked at the same as someone like kyle korver or steve kerrs.. when all those guys do is shoot wide open at 40% while kobe shoots 35% while being contested and just elevating right over 2 guys... it is a fact that contested shot percentages drop drastically ... so if kobes hitting a good percentage on contested shots. i sure as f*ck think he'l do more than fine on a team with 4 other legends taking pressure off him. i mean.. he does own the all time record for threes in a game for god sake. he does know a thing or 2 about shooting threes.


seriously

try learning the game of basketball dude. itel help in these discussions about "basketball"

lol

[r15mohd]

i'l ask the question again.... why

you have lebron/mj

when the f*ck is stockton, nash or magic gonna have the ball to run an offense when itel be in jordan and lebrons hands 95% of the game looking for either their own shot or to set someone up

a true PG is utilized on teams with specialists and prolific scoring bigs

all you need is a kick out shooter at PG like fisher was for kobe or like kerr was for MJ or like chalmers is for lebron... and then you choose the most limited defensive PG's possible with stockton ( whod only be good at defending guys his size ) and 2 other guys who didnt play a lick of defense ( magic/nash )

like i said.. on any team with a guy like pippen or lebron or any wing that can playmake/set up people.. there is no need for a true PG. you might aswell throw in a do it all guy who can defend all 3 perimeter positions for matchup purposes.. then it doesnt hurt to also have one of the top 3 scorers of all time who make a living off of jumpshots his entire career.. and also someone who hits his wide open threes as often as anyone... people are blind or just plain stupid when thinking a guy like kobes three point percentage should be looked at the same as someone like kyle korver or steve kerrs.. when all those guys do is shoot wide open at 40% while kobe shoots 35% while being contested and just elevating right over 2 guys... it is a fact that contested shot percentages drop drastically ... so if kobes hitting a good percentage on contested shots. i sure as f*ck think he'l do more than fine on a team with 4 other legends taking pressure off him. i mean.. he does own the all time record for threes in a game for god sake. he does know a thing or 2 about shooting threes.


seriously

try learning the game of basketball dude. itel help in these discussions about "basketball"

lol


MJ had Harper and Armstrong to bring up the ball, Lebron has Chalmers/Cole doing that now to get into the offensive set and run the play. I'm not saying Lebron or MJ couldn't do it, but where would I rather MJ receive the ball...his normal wing post up, and same goes for Lebron nowadays. You also forget to mention that none of your 5 are descent 3pt shooters for double-downs and kick outs, at all.

so to answer the bold...this is where Stockton or Nash comes into play. Lebron is renowned for driving and kicking out, MJ too...it's why Shaq cannot thrive with Lebron or MJ on my team, you need an outside shot like what Hakeem/TD has to free the lane for penetrating players in Lebron and MJ, and allow options of kick-outs.

as far as not understanding bball...definitely look at your proposal of a GOAT team. you're reliant on stars to fill gaps that they aren't used to doing, asking Kobe to play PG and hang around the arch for 3pt shots mostly? :facepalm this type of mindset doesnt work...i.e: last years Lakers in Kobe being PG and Nash being a spot up shooter, was not effective.

lastly...you argue Kobe's 3pt % over specialists like Korver/Kerr, then bring up Kobe's defense. Have you ever looked into one of the better PG defenders in Stockton, as well as him have the better bball IQ and 3pt shot. there's already a "Kobe" type player on the team...his name is MJ, you don't need another

[ILLsmak]

cmonson, gotta go big.

Shaq
Hakeem
Bird
MJ
GP

-Smak

[Sharmer]

I would pick Bird over James for better shooting. MJ is the alpha dog, no need for another one.

[Micku]

C- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Pf- Tim Duncan
Sf- LeBron James
Sg- Michael Jordan
Pg- Magic Johnson

2 of the 5 are from this era.

That is all.

I would personally put Bird at the PF spot over Duncan. More spacing and he could go in. Plus Bird could bang with PF down low for rebounds as well Duncan. Maybe not as well, but good enough.

[305Baller]

I would personally put Bird at the PF spot over Duncan. More spacing and he could go in. Plus Bird could bang with PF down low for rebounds as well Duncan. Maybe not as well, but good enough.

In today's league it could make sense to go small. But I just listed the best players by position of all-time.

[Round Mound]

C: Wilt
PF: Barkley
SF: Bird
SG: Jordan
PG: Magic

[IllegalD]

G - Michael Jordan
G - Kobe Bryant
F - LeBron James
F - Tim Duncan
C - Shaquille O'Neal

[LAZERUSS]

At Center, I would take the player who could score 100 points if needed; or shoot 18-18 from the field (or 29-35 from the field); or grab 55 rebounds (and never be outrebounded by anyone); hand out 21 assists if needed; and block a known 23 shots in game (and had estimated games of 30+.) Oh, and this same guy would turn a PEAK Kareem into a .450 shooter, as well.

Hell, he could get you 50+ points in a MUST WIN Playoff game (and against the greatest defensive center in NBA history), or grab 40+ rebounds in a playoff game (and against the second greatest rebounder of all-time), or hand out 19 assists in a playoff game, AND hold a PEAK Kareem to a .414 FG% over the course of the last four pivotal games of a playoff series.

If you needed a 39 ppg playoff series, or a 32 rpg playoff series, or a 30-31 .555 playoff series (against Russell no less), or a 28-27-11 .617 playoff series...well, he was your man.

He could also lead teams to records of 68-13 and 69-13, and dominating world titles, in post-seasons in which he was, by-far-and-away, the best player in the them. And if you needed a 33 game winning streak, well, he was your man for that, too.

[1987_Lakers]

Bill Walton (1977 version)
Larry Bird
LeBron James
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson

Nobody is stopping this team. Dat passing.

[WillC]

C - Shaquille O'Neal
PF - LeBron James
SF - Larry Bird
SG - Michael Jordan
PG - Magic Johnson

[WillC]

Bill Walton (1977 version)
Larry Bird
LeBron James
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson

Nobody is stopping this team. Dat passing.

I posted my team without looking at anyone else's, but I prefer the chemistry of your team compared to mine.

I wanted great passers at each position. Walton fits in beautifully.

[StephHamann]

C: Bill Walton
PF: Kevin Mchale
SF: Larry Bird
SG: Jerry West
PG: John Stockton

that is all

[GimmeThat]

Hakeem
Kareem
Lebron
Kobe
Nash

[Deuce Bigalow]

C - George Mikan
PF - Vern Mikkelsen
SF - Jim Pollard
SG - Pep Saul
PG - Slater Martin

[RoundMoundOfReb]

C - George Mikan
PF - Vern Mikkelsen
SF - Jim Pollard
SG - Pep Saul
PG - Slater Martin
:applause:

[Deuce Bigalow]

:applause:
With Clyde Lovellette off the bench and John Kundla as coach, a fan's dream except in this case it was reality.

[Iceman#44]

Chamberlain, Kareem, Bird, Jordan, Magic.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Magic
MJ
Bird
Duncan
Kareem

I can also go with Bird at the 4 and Lebron at the 3 with Shaq as my C.

[T_L_P]

If it's just the best players in each position, the only ones that are really up for debate are the SF (LeBron or Bird) and C (Kareem, Shaq, Wilt, Russell, Hakeem) positions.

[BruceLeeBowen]

Kareem
Malone/kg/barkley are all better than duncan
Lbj
Mj
Magic

[Carter_17]

Kareem
Bird
LeCrap
Kobe
Magic

/thread

[TheMan]

C: Bill Walton
PF: Kevin Mchale
SF: Larry Bird
SG: Jerry West
PG: John Stockton

that is all
The White Team :lol

Gonna pick a team of players nobody listed in this thread before...

PG Isiah Thomas
SG Dwyane Wade
SF Clyde Drexler
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C David Robinson

[Jlamb47]

PG - Lebron
Sg - Kobe
Sf - Jordan
Pf - Bird
C - Duncan

[Derka]

Kareem
Duncan
Bird
Jordan
Magic

How do you even stop that? Perfect 5.

That's what I'd go with. Great defense, unbelievable passing, every one of them could score 30 without breaking a sweat.

[kells333]

Goatbrook
Kobe
Jordan
Lebron
Shaq


You cant beat that team