[2quick4uParticipant]

 the game of basketball evolves just as life does to survive to the external conditions, and right now we are in the verge of the next mutation that will bring the future of a game, that has been able to survive to these external conditions or nba rules that changed from 1999 to 2005 right after MJ retired, to create a new form of life, what we call modern basketball..

with the change of rules, the game started to change slowly but firm; the floor began to open and the pace started to rise slowly..and 3 point shot started the flourish.

the old "species" that where in the extremes of the chain, that is PG’s and C’s, started to mutate; and entropy started to take place.

7ft players that in other eras would be traditional center, became more mobile and started to move to the PF position..players like kevin garnett, tim duncan, dirk nowitzski or pau gasol were the first hybrids and the solid proof that things were changing, and the ones who gave way to aldridge or chris bosh and finally to players like porzingis today..

in the other extreme of the chain, traditional PG’s also started to mutate and now they looked more like SG’s, strong and athletic SG’s with scoring ability..now PG’s would not look to pass first but to score.. there we had those 1st hybrids like steve francis, baron davis or deron williams who gave the way to today’s wall, harden, westbrook and company..

but the evolution is not stopping there, and we are witnessing in front of our eyes the next mutation.

changes are going fast and if up until today SG’s had evolved to the PG position, today we can see how SF’s are the ones mutating, and are now evolving to be the PG’s in tomorrow NBA.. and the missing link of that evolution is lebron james..

lebron james is the living testimony of the evolution of the SF to the PG position..and we can already see that mutation in new "species" like giannis antetokoumpo, whom is the real unicorn, or ben simmons..

that is why i believe that traditional PG’s and C’s are going to tend to disappear, specially as the pace is increasing fast as this season we had the highest pace in the last 23 years..and it will continue to increase in the next years..russell westbrook’s triple double average or the cavs 86 points in a half  in the finals is just a proof of that and of how numbers are inflating..

that’s why the nba is heading to five 6’7-6’11 athletic and versatile positionless players..it’s a big advantage in today’s NBA "nature", to have a 6’8-6’10 player who can lead like a PG, shoot like a guard and defend 5 positions..

and that is why i think josh jackson will probably be the nº1 player in the draft, as he represents the prototype player of tomorrow’s game..

i think lebron will be remembered for that "mutation", for that evolution in the game; maybe he has not impacted the game as much as others like chamberlain, magic, MJ or o’neal but he sure will leave his trace in the game as the mutation of the SF to the PG position..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 Whle I agree with you, I don’t think this means Josh Jackson is the #1 pick. The hitch in his shot is what concerns me. Even Jackson, himself, knows its a hole in his game. He will need the help of a shooting coach. History shows that with #1 pick the best way to go is the sure thing. That’s Fultz, all the way. 

Besides Boston wants Jackson because they have too many guards, so now they are very seriously thinking about trading the pick to Philly so they can still land Jackson at 3 and get another pick from Philly in a later draft.

So Fultz will still be the #1 pick not Jackson.

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Could be going BACK TO THE FUTURE, where guys played positions in name only.  Was Oscar Robertson a point guard?  A shooting guard? Well, he was a GUARD.

Elgin Baylor was a 6’5 scoring and rebounding machine… Probably stronger than most teams "4" or "5".  Gus Johnson was a terror as a big man.  Jerry Lucas could score and rebound with anyone and had a good long range shot.  Played "forward" for some teams, on the great Knicks squads he was a backup center… Those Knicks teams led by Willis Reed had Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe, probably interchangeable at guard… Bill Bradley at the other perimeter spot, who was a shooting guard’s shooting guard — so, a 3 guard lineup.  Phil Jackson was a utility defensive-minded enforcer off the bench… what spot did he play? Probably the same that a Shane Battier or a Robert Horry played… which was, whatever the coach wanted him to play.  Dave DeBuschere was a smallish power forward who could also shoot some… Willis Reed the only "BIG" on the team, so basically a small ball team… with Willis Reed being the 6’10 centerpiece who could also shoot the mid-range shot…

Those Knicks squads are probably like the Warriors today.  Basically four All Stars bordering on four SUPERSTARS who can shoot, score, pass, handle the ball, and defend.  Then you have some IDEAL role players like Andre Iguodala, David West, and Shaun Livingston.  The year Willis got hurt, I think they actually won the game (before Reed came back) putting DeBuschere and Lucas on Wilt Chamberlain.  I think they actually won the game…

If you are GOOD, or GREAT, and have guys that can shoot, defend, and pass, then it doesn’t really matter what position you play.  

"POSITIONLESS BASKETBALL" means that you can do some of everything on the court, and, that you can actually GUARD people, too.  

If you are 6’7 and can shoot AND defend then you can probably play the 2 or the 3.  Even better if you are 6’8 or 6’9 and also have ball handling/play making/passing skills.  BUT, if you are 6’5, can’t shoot, defend, rebound, or pass, then you aren’t "versatile" you are a TWEENER with no real position.  You are probably best used as a utility man off the bench playing in garbage time.  

If you have a guy like Kevin Durant who is 6’11 and can score, shoot, and defend, then he is definitely a small forward if he is a SOLID ball handler/passer but not great… He can play the 4 against smaller guys if he can toughen up and get in there for rebounds… A center if he can protect the rim, block shots from the weakside, post up on either block and hit fadeaway, turnaround jumpers like Hakeem Olajuwon.  

So, what is he BEST AT?  What does he DO?

Well, if they go even more contrarian next year, and if they can’t resign Iggy, and lose either Pachualia or McGee (or even the PERFECT backup power forward for them in David West), then they put him at CENTER with Draymond Green at power forward.  Dray can be a classic old school power forward for them who can rebound, set screens, defend, hustle, keep the ball moving, and hit open mid-range jumpers.

Then you go with Klay Thompson as a "third guard" with an amoeba backcourt of Steph Curry and Patrick McCaw.  Sometimes McCaw runs the offense, sometimes Curry does.  Those two guys split time bringing the ball up the court.  Or, you let Klay do it.  Or, Dray.  Or, Air Dream aka Kevin Durant.  Klay guards point guards anyway, so you basically have an ABSURDIST basketball team that probably wins 77 games next year.  Start those five, trade ZaZa Pachulia for Andrew Bogut, wait until he heals, resign Javale McGee to go FULL JAVALE for 10-15 minutes a night.  David West is your Moneyball 4 off the bench.  Matt Barnes is your Moneyball wing… 

I think the Warriors speed it up even more making positions irrelevant, but they can do it because they are THAT GOOD.

Teams probably can’t run a bunch of 6’5 guys out there… so you need somebody 6’9 or 6’10 or something… 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Reptilian MonkParticipant]

 Evolving into a 4 point shot. Would be terrible though

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