Michael Jordan (1992)
Scottie Pippen (1995)
Tim Duncan (2002)
Hakeem Olajuwon (1990)
While all of these players are undisputed greats, though Paul hasn't quite had the same distinguished career that the other four have to this point, this starting five might draw some raised eyebrows. Paul over Magic? Olajuwon over Wilt? Pippen? Most all-time line-ups contain at least one of the following; Bird, Magic, or Wilt/Russell/Kareem, but when I was trying to come up with the perfect line-up for playing in today's NBA I kept finding myself trying to justify putting any of them into my line-up because the single most important thing in my mind for a line-up is athleticism, versatility, defense, and most importantly match ups. Each of my picks is a match up nightmare for the opponent. It's hard to imagine more than one of those match ups going in the favor of the other team. So before I explain the merits of this line-up, I'd like to defend why I passed over the conventional picks that come up most all time starting 5's.
Magic Johnson- In my mind he's the best point guard in history of the league. A triple double threat unlike anyone since Oscar Robertson ran amok in the 60's. That being said, his defensive ability is a weakness and for my dream line-up I'd like the ability for each of my starters to be able to lockdown their man at once if it was necessary. So if it makes sense, being the best at your position doesn't automatically qualify you for my all time line-up.
Larry Bird- Magic's top rival and misses the cut for similar reasons as his foil. Bird is as versatile as any forward other than LeBron. He could shoot the three, pass like no other forward, post up, and rebound. His lack of absolute elite athleticism and world class one on one defense is what makes him lose the spot. His intensity and once in a generation competitiveness nearly got him the position but he'll have to settle for falling just short.
Bill Russell- The greatest winner in history of professional sports. His credentials are unparalleled but not to offend every basketball purist out there, there's no way he is as effective today as he was in the 60's. His defense and rebounding would keep him relevant in todays game but his body has a hard time translating to the modern game. Also, though I'm sure he could have stepped up and taken the scoring load if it was necessary back in the day, I'm not sure I'm putting the chips on that if he's being guarded by Dwight Howard or Dikembe Mutombo.
Kareem Abdul-Jabar- The toughest cut from my starting five. Widely considered the most effective post-merger center. He was an unstoppable scorer (including in his repertoire the surest thing in history of basketball, the Sky Hook) who's size and instincts made him a great rebounder and defender. The only thing that gets him from being in my ideal starting five is that I don't trust his ability to run the court, bang bodies and play defense at the same level as my pick.
Wilt Chamberlin- Wilt Chamberlin has scored 100 points in a single game. He has pulled down over 50 rebounds in a single game. He averaged 50 points per game for a season and even led the league in assists one year. As far as tangible skills come and individual accolades, he was the most dominant basketball player of all time. That being said, I don't trust him shooting free throws and I'm not sure of how well he would mesh on a team of competitive players who are all willing to sublimate their games for the greater good. On top of that, I think Michael Jordan would go out of his way to show him up and everyone would be pissed off at his lack of killer instinct.
Now with that taken care of, time to explain the beauty of my lineup.
Chris Paul: PG (6'0" 22 years old)
49% FG 37% 3pt 85% FT
21.1 PPG 4.0 RPG 11.6 APG 2.7 SPG 2.5 TOV
In 2008 Chris Paul turned in arguably the greatest statistical season by a point guard. He led the league in assists (11.6) and steals (2.8). This has only been done by four other players and Paul did it at the age of 23. He also averaged 23 points, shot over 50% FG while shooting a high percentage of outside shots too, and 5 rebounds while taking the title of best point guard in the league from Steve Nash and he made first team all NBA/Defense. The only possible hole in Paul's game is his short stature but with this line-up around him I doubt it becomes a problem. Paul was able to become the heart and soul of his Hornets team at a precocious age and showed amazing leadership over the lineup. Much like Isiah Thomas he demonstrated the nasty streak that one wants in his point guard. Also, for some reason the stories of how well Paul meshed with the Redeem Team in the 2008 and how he was able to handle the point duties and know when to defer to the teams alpha dog (Kobe Bryant). This encourages me that he will be just as ready when he's defering to the greatest player of all time, at starting shooting guard, from the University of North Carolina, number 23...
Michael Jordan: SG (6'6" 28 years old)
52% FG 27% 3pt 83% FT
30.1 PPG 6.4 RPG 6.1 APG 2.3 SPG 0.9 BPG
There's not too much I need to say to justify this pick. In 1992, Michael Jordan was firing on all cylinders. He had just won his first championship the year before. He had his world class athleticism and his great instinct, all of his physical abilities were at their peaks. This was the Michael Jordan who made it clear that the 90's would be his. This was the Michael Jordan who led the Dream Team to the most dominant stretch of basketball ever in the 1992 Olympics. This Michael dominated Clyde Drexler to the extent that his career was never the same. This Jordan dropped six three pointers on the Blazers and just shrugged. Esentially, this is the Jordan I want taking my last shot, the one I trust the most as my leader, and the greatest alpha dog of all time. Now time to set the greatest super hero up with his Robin...
Scottie Pippen: SF (6'7" 29 years old)
48% FG 34.5% 3pt 71.6% FT
21.4 PPG 8.1 RPG 5.2 APG 2.9 SPG 1.1 BPG
Flanking Jordan I want his side kick, the most devastating perimeter defender in history of the sport. Just look at what he did two years later when Jordan went to play baseball and Pippen had to carry the Bulls. He lead the team from the fall of 1993 to the spring of 1995, over that course of time he led the Bulls in points, total rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and three point field goals made. And those are just the stats. Ask him to do anything and Scottie would do it. The only time he ever showed ego was when he was the best player on his team and wasn't given the task of the final shot in a tight playoff game. Every season he played with Jordan, a teammate who he knew was a superior player, he showed absolutely no hint of jealously towards Jordan. Put him on this super team he would and it would be the same situation. Want him to work the boards? Done. Take over scoring for a while? No problem? Play Point Forward? Sure. Defend the other teams best player, be it a point guard, wing, or power forward? No complaints. Not only could Scottie do it all but he was also willing to play any role his team needed from him. The way the team won didn't matter, only the outcome. That's the kind of guy you want on a team full of egos to be juggled, a guy willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Tim Duncan: PF (6'11" 25 years old)
50.8% FG 79.9% FT
25.5 PPG 12.7 RPG 3.7 APG 0.7 SPG 2.5 BPG
Ok, calling him a straight up power forward is a little bit of a stretch. But with that being said, Duncan has been able to mesh with any teammates he's played with and fit in incredibly well next to Olajuwon's rival David Robinson. On top of this, in 2010-2011 Duncan showed he was totally willing to change offensive style so that the Spurs could run more through Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker since Duncan could no longer carry the team on his shoulders. So that answers any questions I had on his versatility and ability to sublimate his game for the greater good of the team. Duncan is quite simply the most fundamentally sound big man of all time. He can score in the paint with an incredible array of post moves but can also step out up to 15-18 feet and swish a jumper so defenders have to give him respect. Even at 7 foot, he was incredibly agile and could run the court gracefully. He's one of the best all time at passing out of the post and is one of the best teammates in history of the game. All this sounds pretty good, but we haven't even touched on his defense yet. Duncan is one of the best team defenders of all time. His Spurs teams always seemed to keep a running dialogue while on D, keeping each other in check, letting each other know when opponents were cutting or setting picks, essentially turning 5 defenders into one unit designed to stop any offense. And at the middle of all of this was Duncan, the overseer, the shot blocker, the defensive coordinator who also happened to be guarding the best big man on the floor. Duncan is a consummate team player and the best "power forward" of all time.
Hakeem Olajuwon: C (7'0" 27 years old)
50.1% FG 71.3% FT
24.3 PPG 14.0 RPG 2.9 APG 2.1 SPG 4.6 BPG
Since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, there has not been a more complete or versatile center in professional Basketball than Hakeem Olajuwon. He had more post moves than any other center in the history of the NBA, including his signature move, the Dream Shake. He is the all time leader in blocked shots. He was incredibly athletic and because he grew up playing soccer in his home country of Nigeria, his footwork was superior to any other big man. Defensively, the only center who was as dangerous working the passing lanes and pick-pocketing opponents was David Robinson, who Olajuwon thoroughly defeated in the '95 Playoffs, after Robinson was presented his MVP trophy. During the middle of his career, coinciding with his prime unfortunately, he developed a reputation for being a ball hog, though this could be explained by his awful supporting cast. When surrounded by above average teammates in the mid-80's and in the late 90's, Olajuwon showed that due to his soccer background, he displayed his superb court vision with his ability to make difficult passes out of the low post. He was an incredible rebounder due to his anticipation, footwork, and sheer athleticism. Since the NBA began tracking blocks and steals in 1973, Olajuwon is the only player to have finished a game with a quadruple double twice. He played his best years in the 1990's, the last era of dominant centers. He was never athletic as David Robinson, never had Patrick Ewing's shooting range, and was no where near as strong as Shaquille O'Neal, but in the two years when Jordan was playing baseball, Olajuwon won two championships, during which he decidedly outplayed all three of them. Olajuwon could do it all and on either end of the floor would control the post.
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So there you have it. My perfect starting five. Ideally, you surround these guys with bench players who are willing defenders, a couple guys who can space the floor with their shooting, a big who can rebound and we're beating any other line-up that can be conceived. At least in my opinion. This team would be destructive on defense, superb at passing the ball, and have the perfect mix of inside force and outside speed and shooting. Are you going to drive into the lane with Olajuwon and Duncan waiting for you? How do you get free on the perimeter with Pippen, Jordan, and Paul hounding you? And offensively with Pippen and Paul moving the ball around between the outside and along the perimeter, you never know who's going to be controlling the tempo. And we have Jordan. That's the crux. Because in a pinch, he's going to get sh*t done.
