A Dash of Duncan, a Pinch of Garnett...

Picking the NBA’s best team really isn’t that complicated, like making a cake, you just follow a simple recipe. You start out with the “best” center (I think we are still in agreement that Big Diesel Shaq holds that distinction), add two parts forward, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett anyone? Then you need to sweeten the pot with a scorer, Kobe Bryant, and finally you need to find a place for King James. Toss in seven great players on the bench and you have yourself this awesome looking team:

C – Shaquille O’Neal, Miami Heat
PF – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
SF – Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
SG – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
PG – LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

G – Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
G – Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
G – Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets
F – Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
F – Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
F/C – Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
C – Amare Stoudemire, Pheonix Suns

Coach – Phil Jackson

See, now this is an awesome team which could steamroll anyone who came into their path. They wouldn’t have any problems beating any weak U.S. colony (and don’t point out to me that it cannot be a national team because Dirk’s on it, I’m just making a point here…). It’s relatively simple why they’d is it not? Simply put, because they are (arguably of course) the 12 best basketball players in the world by position. What’s that sweetie? You say that’s ‘the same arrogant boastful thinking that got the American Olympic team into trouble, it ISN”T just about talent?’ Are you sure? Because my old hoops nemesis, BigCuz used to tell me that it was utter lack of talent that made me a terrible player. Ok, let me think what could possibly de-rail a roster as great as this one? Hhmmm… well, firstly can Shaq and Kobe co-exist in the same state, let alone in the same arena, on the same court, teamed together? For that matter, would Kobe let anyone else touch the ball? Would AI dribble the ball around for 23 seconds before hoisting an ill-advised trey? Or Would T-Mac even let him get the rock? Would T-Mac’s back let him come out to play? Would Carter be the focused, driven player he was with the Nets, or would he bet the sullen, no dunking, illicitly listening to his iPod character they love in Toronto? Could Shaq and Duncan space themselves properly in the paint and how would Garnett and Wade feel about playing the entire game out of position? Would the Zen Master make it to the bench or would he be too busy selling the rights for his tell-all book about the team, “Zen and the Art of Flapping Your Arms While Making Giant, Petulant Men Do What You Want,” but most importantly, if Shaq ended up choking Kobe to death, would I be held responsible?


Ok, instead lets create a team which would make John Wooden and Dean Smith happy, a team which emphasized the team part of Best Team.

C – T. Duncan, SA --- 3 NBA Championships, 3 NBA Finals MVPs. The consummate teammate, a consummate professional, and a darn good player to boot.

PF – K. Garnett, Minn --- He is, simply put, the best player in the world right now. Minnesota would be idiotic to trade him, but for our sake I hope he’s moved to a more relevant team, before his skills are in retreat.

SF – L. James, Cle --- Even at the end of last season, I would have had Shaq starting at center (Duncan and Garnett at the forward spots) and James coming off the bench, but the kid has taken his game to the proverbial “next level.”

SG – D. Wade, Mia --- A natural scorer, Wade can handle the ball, find the open man, and corral others missed shots. His defense is not as good as it will be and he needs range on his jump shot, but he gets the nod over Kobe’s superior skills because he’s a better teammate.

PG – S. Nash, Phe --- The perfect point to lead this team, the foppish wonder can run in the open court, can initiate the half court offence. He will look to get everybody involved, but exploit and match up advantages, and hit the open J when the ball comes back to him.


G – C. Billups, Det --- He won the finals MVP and he’s still somehow the most underrated player in basketball.

G – M. Ginobili, SA --- A swirling, whirling Tasmanian Devil of a player, Ginobili does everything with a unique blend of sound fundamentals and barely contained circus credo.

G – R. Allen, Seat --- Every great team needs some pure shooters off the bench and Allen just happens to be the best, it doesn’t hurt that unlike most real team’s pure shooter he also brings a bunch of other tools to the table.

F – R. Artest, Ind --- This one was a very difficult choice, if I didn’t go with Artest, I wanted to select Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko. While both men bring incredible upside to the team, they both have difficulties staying on the court (for very different reasons of course). I like Artest’s game just a little better, and I’m betting that the Big ogs on this team keep Artest in line.

F – D. Nowitzki, Dal --- The Maverick’s hot start (including blowout wins over Detroit and San Antonio) is a direct result of the big German’s intense play. He’s on another level right now, but for my team there’d need to be a gag order in effect, because he occasionally makes questionable quotes.

F/C – A. Stoudemire, Phe --- This is assuming that he comes back as the same explosive, powerful player we saw overpowering the Spurs last June, otherwise, Jermaine O’Neal.

C – B. Wallace, Det --- Ideally, I’d want Shaq to come off the bench and provide 20 destructive minutes, but since I don’t see the diesel accepting his demotion well, I’m forced to drop him for the gritty, workmanlike play of Wallace.

Coach – G. Poppovich, SA --- This is a talented, selfless team. It needs a strong, selfless man to lead it from the bench. Someone with the stature and success to command respect, but who will not muddy the waters with his ego driven agenda. I’d also pencil in underrated coaches, Flip Saunders, Rick Carlisle, and Nate McMillan as assistants.