[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Everyone is now talking about the possibility of the Warriors breaking the ’96 Bulls all-time win record of 72-10.  The only thing standing in their way is a mismatched bunch of misfits from Memphis.

People are discussing the absurd: is Steph Curry as good or BETTER than Michael Jordan?

Who would you rather have: MJ/Pippen or Steph/Klay?

Rodman or Draymond?  

It got me to thinking the other night…

Hmm, now, if you put those teams together you would form…

THE PERFECT TEAM.

Starting backcourt: possibly the GREATEST combination EVER.  Best volume shooter in NBA history and the best volume SCORER in NBA history.  Steph Curry and Michael Jordan.  They can both handle the ball and pass, too.  Great basketball IQ.  LOVE the game. Students and MASTERS of the greatest game.

Forward spots: Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.  DEFENSE DEFENSE and more DEFENSE along with Pippen’s slash and burn game on offense and Rodman’s head games.

Center: Draymond Green.  A PERECT Magic-esque small ball center aka Stretch 5.  Rodman isn’t much of a shooter, Draymond would make up for that some with his 3 point shot (average but not ELITE).  Draymond can pass, defend, and rebound.  An IDEAL fourth option on offense behind MJ, Steph, and Pippen.  IDEAL 2nd defensive big next to Dennis Rodman.

If you want to talk Basketball IQ it would be hard to top a Fab Five of Jordan, Curry, Pippen, Rodman, and Draymond.

Second unit:

Ok, Steve Kerr was the sniper on the ’96 Bulls and the current head coach of the ’16 Warriors, but I have to go BIG for my second unit backcourt…

Bench mob backcourt: Ron Harper and Klay Thompson.

Harper could run some offense (triangle) and play some defense.  Added some shooting, scoring, and rebounding for good measure.  Klay Thompson can shoot the lights out.  Plus, he is a high volume scorer with great length and size for the 2.  He can also defend a bit.

Ok, I am going to go SMALL off the bench.  

My THIRD perimeter guy and a bigger point guard will be Shaun Livingston.  A passer and ball handler giving me 3 perimeter guys over 6’6.

My stretch four off the bench is the 6’11 Euro Wonder Toni Kukoc.  He can pass, run the offense, score, and hit the 3.  Decent rebounder too, but not much of a defender.  You can also put him at the 3 or at the 5, with either the bench OR the starters.  You can also use him as a classic 6th man.

Backup center: Andrew Bogut.  A bit bouncier and a bit better passer and rim protector (when healthy) than Luc Longley, although I really like Luc Longley too.

11th man: Steve Kerr.  Can hit the 3 and space the floor in stretches.  An undersized 2 but he could handle the ball fairly well.  He could really give this team 5 to 10 minutes a night.  Also an option as a 6th man.  

12th man: Luc Longley.  Perhaps better than Bogut in some ways, especially if this team decides to run the Triangle Offense.  At 7’2 the biggest guy on the team.  Gives the team a legit center who can play heavy minutes, although with this bunch they could play a lot of small ball with Draymond, Rodman, and Kukoc filling in at center.

13th man: Bill Wennington.  Yet another 7 footer off the bench.  Master of the mid-range jumper.  Can also give you a few rebounds, fouls, and a hammer dunk here and there.

14th man: Might not dress out every night on this team, but James McAdoo gets this final spot.  Good, bouncy athlete at the 4 or 5 or yet another stretch 5 here.  I can see him getting some highlight dunks or blocked shots with this team.  Not a ton of athleticism off the bench for these guys, so McAdoo gives them some of that.  Also gives you a third legit power forward behind Rodman and Draymond — and by going with a small ball lineup/approach, both those two guys are starting.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dmo21Participant]

I’d take Iggy over Livingston. Can handle the ball and do everything else better than Livingston.

[dmo21Participant]

I’d take Iggy over Livingston. Can handle the ball and do everything else better than Livingston.

[ChewyParticipant]

 The Bulls players, specifically MJ, Pip and Rodman, all bring elite defense, but none of them are 3 pt shooters, even Harper. They were all fine, but you wouldn’t call any of them 3 pt shooters. Bring in Steph and Klay and that problem is solved. Green and Rodman in the same frontcourt would be fun to watch.

But does this team beat the 92 Dream Team? I still feel like that is the gold standard for a "perfect" bball team.

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 The Bulls players, specifically MJ, Pip and Rodman, all bring elite defense, but none of them are 3 pt shooters, even Harper. They were all fine, but you wouldn’t call any of them 3 pt shooters. Bring in Steph and Klay and that problem is solved. Green and Rodman in the same frontcourt would be fun to watch.

But does this team beat the 92 Dream Team? I still feel like that is the gold standard for a "perfect" bball team.

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 You are right.  I forgot about Iggy.

Drop McAdoo from the 14 man roster.  Iggy moves up to either the second or the 11th man role.

Steph and Klay are better shooters than anyone on the Dream Team.  Draymond could play on ANY team.

Iggy has played very well on international teams and he is AT BEST a second unit guy.

A rotation of Jordan, Curry, Pippen, Rodman, Draymond Green, Toni Kukoc, Iggy, and Bogut/Longley can play with ANY team EVER.

Kukoc was a top notch guy in the 1992 Olympics.  Rodman wasn’t even on the Dream Team but he could have averaged 20 boards a night for those guys — plus played the best defense on the court.

Bogut and Longley aren’t the best scoring centers ever but they can both defend and pass.  

Not as good as the Dream Team 10 through 12, although Laettner wasn’t a superstar, but for a top 8 or 9, I would go with a BULLSWARRIORS super team against ANYBODY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 You are right.  I forgot about Iggy.

Drop McAdoo from the 14 man roster.  Iggy moves up to either the second or the 11th man role.

Steph and Klay are better shooters than anyone on the Dream Team.  Draymond could play on ANY team.

Iggy has played very well on international teams and he is AT BEST a second unit guy.

A rotation of Jordan, Curry, Pippen, Rodman, Draymond Green, Toni Kukoc, Iggy, and Bogut/Longley can play with ANY team EVER.

Kukoc was a top notch guy in the 1992 Olympics.  Rodman wasn’t even on the Dream Team but he could have averaged 20 boards a night for those guys — plus played the best defense on the court.

Bogut and Longley aren’t the best scoring centers ever but they can both defend and pass.  

Not as good as the Dream Team 10 through 12, although Laettner wasn’t a superstar, but for a top 8 or 9, I would go with a BULLSWARRIORS super team against ANYBODY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[UnibrowUKParticipant]

The perfect basketball team was assembled when I was in 3rd grade at the local youth league. We had an incredible roster:

C- The local school ‘fat kid’ who stood 5’2 and would stand under the basket either hacking anyone who got close or eating his own boogers when bored.

PF- The ridiculously gangly tall kid who stood 5’4 and grew way to fast for his own good. Had trouble catching the ball and running. The rest of team would try to get him to ‘dunk’ the basketball because we were all slightly ‘slow’ and didn’t understand physics.

SF- The Average-sized kid who thought he was awesome and spent the entire time travelling with the ball when he got it. Luckily, the 18 year old refs were too nice to call him on it. Or they were paid off. Investigation was inconclusive.

SG- Designated 3-point chucker- Thought he was the best player on the team because he hit a pro three pointer on a 10 foot basket once.

PG- The coaches kid who would spend the entire time dribbling the ball. Would only give up the ball if all 5 opposing players rushed at him. Epic temper-tantrum ‘thrower’. Pure intimidation.

6th Man- The oriental kid who was being forced into playing because his parents wanted him to try and make friends. If we lost and he played even one minute then it was his fault we didn’t win.

We had incredible strategists……..on offense we would run the unbeatable ‘X’ play where the big man would get it at the top of the key and hand it to one of two guys running an ‘X’. We were usually always open because the fat kid would push our defender to the ground.

On defense we would just let our guy go around us when we got tired and would yell at the tall kid to block the shot or the fat kid to get the rebound.

We went 11-0 that year. When you mention the name ‘green team’ there are still gasps and cries of adulation (in my head).

*Disclaimer: I will not admit which kid I was due to the fact it is embarrassing …regardless of position.*
Perhaps the term ‘The PERFECT Basketball Team can be relative.

[ChewyParticipant]

 as one of the best things I have ever read on this site.

If any of you TLDR on this one, you missed out.

 

[PowerAllyParticipant]

agree with chewy. That was funny as hell. Aran should get that guy to write a column.

[PowerAllyParticipant]

agree with chewy. That was funny as hell. Aran should get that guy to write a column.

[ChewyParticipant]

 as one of the best things I have ever read on this site.

If any of you TLDR on this one, you missed out.

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 If I were to guess, I’d say the Designated 3 point chucker is who you were… just my guess tho…

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 If I were to guess, I’d say the Designated 3 point chucker is who you were… just my guess tho…

[UnibrowUKParticipant]

The perfect basketball team was assembled when I was in 3rd grade at the local youth league. We had an incredible roster:

C- The local school ‘fat kid’ who stood 5’2 and would stand under the basket either hacking anyone who got close or eating his own boogers when bored.

PF- The ridiculously gangly tall kid who stood 5’4 and grew way to fast for his own good. Had trouble catching the ball and running. The rest of team would try to get him to ‘dunk’ the basketball because we were all slightly ‘slow’ and didn’t understand physics.

SF- The Average-sized kid who thought he was awesome and spent the entire time travelling with the ball when he got it. Luckily, the 18 year old refs were too nice to call him on it. Or they were paid off. Investigation was inconclusive.

SG- Designated 3-point chucker- Thought he was the best player on the team because he hit a pro three pointer on a 10 foot basket once.

PG- The coaches kid who would spend the entire time dribbling the ball. Would only give up the ball if all 5 opposing players rushed at him. Epic temper-tantrum ‘thrower’. Pure intimidation.

6th Man- The oriental kid who was being forced into playing because his parents wanted him to try and make friends. If we lost and he played even one minute then it was his fault we didn’t win.

We had incredible strategists……..on offense we would run the unbeatable ‘X’ play where the big man would get it at the top of the key and hand it to one of two guys running an ‘X’. We were usually always open because the fat kid would push our defender to the ground.

On defense we would just let our guy go around us when we got tired and would yell at the tall kid to block the shot or the fat kid to get the rebound.

We went 11-0 that year. When you mention the name ‘green team’ there are still gasps and cries of adulation (in my head).

*Disclaimer: I will not admit which kid I was due to the fact it is embarrassing …regardless of position.*
Perhaps the term ‘The PERFECT Basketball Team can be relative.

[circumlocution75Participant]

 Pippen can Not shoot the 3…….. And Rodman only averaged about 5 pts a game…… I like your team…… & your attention to Defense…..

But those guys also played at a time when there was a lot of standing around watching a star player go one on one after a clear out…….. 

Guarding Shooters running off multiple ball screens sometimes all the way out to 28 feet would be a challenge…….. I’m not saying they could Not do it……. 

I’m just saying when you combine that with their scoring deficiencies……. It might Negate the advantage you thought you were getting w/ their Defense……. I’d go w/ scoring ….. I’d go w/ Kevin Durant / Anthony Davis at Forward …….. over Pippen / Rodman……..

 

 

 

[circumlocution75Participant]

 Pippen can Not shoot the 3…….. And Rodman only averaged about 5 pts a game…… I like your team…… & your attention to Defense…..

But those guys also played at a time when there was a lot of standing around watching a star player go one on one after a clear out…….. 

Guarding Shooters running off multiple ball screens sometimes all the way out to 28 feet would be a challenge…….. I’m not saying they could Not do it……. 

I’m just saying when you combine that with their scoring deficiencies……. It might Negate the advantage you thought you were getting w/ their Defense……. I’d go w/ scoring ….. I’d go w/ Kevin Durant / Anthony Davis at Forward …….. over Pippen / Rodman……..

 

 

 

[Author]

Posts