Who would be the top team if every player was in their prime???
Trying to think of all the top guys in their prime is making my head explode. MVP caliber grant hill, Jason Kidd, Mcdyess beasting with 20 and 10's every night, heat with juwon Howard as an all star possibly knocking bosh to the bench. But in reality it's got to be the celtics with a prime shaq down low and all this hof'r guys including jermaine who was a top big man in his prime as well backing up kg. That team would be ridiciulous.
No question that its Boston. Shaq is one of the best centers ever, KG one of the best PF's, Ray Allen best shooter ever, with Pierce and Rondo to round out that starting 5. Then, off the bench you have Jermaine O'neal who really was an MVP candidate, D. West who was one of the best players on Cleveland, and the versatile Jeff Green
Yeah Boston has to be number 1, but how about the spurs in their prime. Duncan and mcdyess down low would make it tough. A consistent Richard Jefferson. Parker and Manu in the backcourt might be better then a prime ray Allen and rondo.
And the heat would be right there as well. Z, juwon and bosh would all get slapped around but if you have prime Bibby mike miller and James jones spacing the floor formlebron and wade they could put upmenough points to outscore anyone.
Surprised nobody's mentioned the Mavs. They might not be the very best but they'd be pretty close esp if they had Caron Butler healthy. The guys and their best years;
PG Jason Kidd - 1999: 16.9 PPG, 10.8 APG, 6.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG
SG Jason Terry - 2002: 19.3 PPG, 5.7 APG, 1.8 SPG
SF Peja Stojakovic - 2004: 24.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 48 FG%., 43 3PT%, 93 FT%
PF Dirk Nowitzki - 2007, 24.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 50 FG%, 42 3PT%, 90 FT%
C Tyson Chandler - 2007: 12.4 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 62 FG%
6th man Shawn Marion - 2006: 21.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 53 FG%, 81 FT%
Boston would go 75-7 with those stars! That team is Loaded! You have rondo dishing out assists, allen making 3 threes a game and with an inside driving attack. You have a quicker and more explosive zpierce, a bruising Shaq getting every alley oop, a young and athletic garnett, and an all star in Jermaine Oneal. Forget thier primes, just look at the 2003 or 2004 seson for each of these guys. This team is a lock to win the championship in any year.
garnett
'02-'03
82
82
40.5
9.1-18.1
.502
0.2-0.9
.282
4.6-6.1
.751
3.0
10.5
13.5
6.0
1.6
1.4
2.4
2.8
23.0
'03-'04
82
82
39.4
9.8-19.6
.499
0.1-0.5
.256
4.5-5.7
.791
3.0
10.9
13.9
5.0
2.2
1.5
2.5
2.6
24.2
allen
'02-'03
47
46
35.8
7.5-17.1
.437
2.6-6.6
.395
3.8-4.1
.913
1.0
3.7
4.7
3.5
0.2
1.2
3.2
2.5
21.3
'02-'03
- SEA
29
29
41.3
8.5-19.3
.441
2.7-7.7
.351
4.8-5.2
.920
1.7
3.9
5.6
5.9
0.1
1.6
2.4
2.8
24.5
'03-'04
- SEA
56
56
38.4
8.0-18.2
.440
2.6-6.8
.392
4.4-4.8
.904
1.2
3.9
5.1
4.8
0.2
1.3
2.4
2.8
23.0
pierce
'02-'03
79
79
39.2
8.4-20.2
.416
1.5-4.9
.302
7.6-9.5
.802
1.3
6.0
7.3
4.4
0.8
1.8
2.9
3.6
25.9
'03-'04
80
80
38.7
7.5-18.7
.402
1.4-4.8
.299
6.5-7.9
.819
0.9
5.7
6.6
5.1
0.7
1.6
2.9
3.8
22.9
Shaq
'02-'03
67
66
37.8
10.4-18.1
.574
0.0-0.0
.000
6.7-10.8
.622
3.9
7.2
11.1
3.1
2.4
0.6
3.4
2.9
27.5
'03-'04
67
67
36.8
8.3-14.1
.584
0.0-0.0
.000
4.9-10.1
.490
3.7
7.8
11.5
2.9
2.5
0.5
3.4
2.9
21.5
Jermaine Oneal
'02-'03
77
76
37.2
7.9-16.4
.484
0.1-0.3
.333
4.8-6.6
.731
2.6
7.7
10.3
2.0
2.3
0.9
3.6
2.3
20.8
'03-'04
78
78
35.7
7.8-17.9
.434
0.0-0.2
.111
4.5-5.9
.757
2.5
7.5
10.0
2.1
2.6
0.8
3.2
2.3
20.1
Now I know that their numbers would be deflated because there is only one ball, but these guys plus rondo, this team would kill.
The Celtics definately would be ahead of the pack but on a lighter note if all players lived up to their draft positions then the T-Wolves would be very strong!
Seriously the Lakers would be very close behind the Celtics if they had Ratliff and Joe Smith in their prime to back up their current starters who are still fairly well in their prime.
Another wildcard could be a full strength Detroit with T-Mac putting up 25ppg plus, Big Ben playing at DPOY level and Prince and Hamilton at their championship best.
But Celtics, Lakers and Heat would be my top 3.
Boston, but I'd believe in my Lakers to get it done.
Bynum/Theo(DPOY)
Pau/LO(6MOY)/Joe Smith
Ron(DPOY)/Walton(was a decent player in his contract year)
Kobe(Unstoppable)/Barnes(Optional at 2 or3).Shanwow
Fisher(MUCH quicker)/Blake
That could potentially come down to who is going to dominate more between Kobe and Shaq. Shaqq has two elite defensive stoppers at the 5 and KG/JO are actually a decent match up with Pau and LO for the simple fact they go one deeper at the position with Joe Smith in his prime would be his second year avg near 19 and 9 himself. It'd prolly be a little closer than you'd think. Though I do get a boner at the idea of that Boston team.
that was an awful way of displaying statistics...take about 4 minutes longer and write them out properly...
BOSTON
PG- Rajon Rondo- 13.7 ppg, 9.8 apg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 spg, 51% FG (09-10)
SG- Ray Allen - 26.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 90% FT, 37% 3PT (06-07)
SF- Paul Pierce- 26.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 47% FG (05-06)
PF- Kevin Garnett- 24.2 ppg, 13.9 rpg, 5 apg, 2.2 bpg, 50% FG (03-04)
C- Shaquille O'Neal- 29.7 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3 bpg, 57% FG (99-00)
BENCH
C- Jermaine O'Neal- 24.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2 bpg, 45% FG (04-05)
F- Troy Murphy- 15.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 40% 3PT, 0.5 bpg (04-05)
Can't forget TMac is also with the Pistons.. but yeah, Boston, easily. Having a frontcourt of Shaq, KG, and Jermaine just oozes unstoppable offense and tough physical defense. Not to mention scorers on the outside in Allen and Pierce, then Rondo setting it all up.
Boston with K.G,Shaq,Ray,Paul,Jermaine?
Spurs with Duncan Mcdyess?
Lakers with Kobe,Artest,Fisher,Joe,Theo?
Suns Nash,Hill
Piston's Ben,Rip,Prince
Personally I say Boston and L.A
Boston because Shaq dominated and was a MVP. K.G MVP Ray more athletic Paul pretty much the same as now little quicker,Jermaine MVP candidate at one point
Lakers because Kobe MVP more athletic,Artest was a MVP candidate and top defender,Joe 14ppg type player, Theo top defender,Fisher quicker
any other team?..i Didn't include some young teams because we don't know how good or bad the young players will be in their prime