[ghettosermonParticipant]

Which team would win TODAY?
Vote on each matchup. After a week or so I will tally the votes and post 2nd round matchups.

2001 vs 2002

2001
PG: Tony Parker/Gilbert Arenas
SG: Joe Johnson/Jason Richardson
SF: Gerald Wallace/Richard Jefferson/Shane Battier
PF: Pau Gasol/Mehmet Okur
C: Tyson Chandler/Samuel Dalembert/Brendan Haywood

vs

2002
PG: Janerro Pargo/Smush Parker
SG: John Salmons/Roger Mason Jr
SF: Caron Butler/Tayshaun Prince
PF: Carlos Boozer/Luis Scola
C: Amare Stoudemire/Yao Ming

I’d have to go 2001 with this one. The most obvious descrepancy is the PG position. Tony Parker and Arenas would eat up the 2002 PG’s. 2002 is quite possibly the worst PG draft ever, although it lost Jay Williams to the motorcycle accident. As far as the bigs I think that 2001 has enough bodies to stop Yao/Stat/and Boozer. They also have the best big man in Gasol.

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2003 vs 2004

2003
PG: LeBron James/Mo Williams
SG: Dwayne Wade/Kirk Hinrich
SF: Carmelo Anthony/Josh Howard
PF: Chris Bosh/David West
C: Kendrick Perkins/Chris Kaman

vs

2004
PG: Devin Harris/Jameer Nelson
SG: Kevin Martin/Delonte West
SF: Andre Iguodala/Luol Deng/Trevor Ariza
PF: Josh Smith/Al Jefferson
C: Dwight Howard/Anderson Varejao

Now I’m sure 2003 is the absolute favorite of any draft class because their top 4 looks like an Olympic squad, but looking at it objecitvely if we are talking teams I actually think 2004 would pull it off. 2004 has extremely strong defenders in Deng, Iguodala, and Ariza who could at least contain Dwade, LeBron, and Melo. Also Josh Smith and Dwight Howard the #1 and 2 in DPOY voting last year also happen to be #1 and 2 in the NBA in shot blocking. LeBron and Wade driving would get contested every single time. Now Perkins does help limit Howard but I feel like Al Jefferson could potentially own Bosh in the low post. Josh Smith can handle David West on the perimeter and Varejao could annoy the crap out of Bosh. Don’t discredit Delonte talking mamma jokes to LeBron, lol. But in all seriousness the 2004 team has a bunch of versatile defenders and I honestly would choose them to pull it off although you always have to consider the whole star performances thing with the 2003 squad.

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2005 vs 2006

2005
PG: Chris Paul/Raymond Felton
SG: Deron Williams/Martell Webster
SF: Danny Granger/Marvin Williams
PF: Andrew Bogut/Andray Blatche
C: Andrew Bynum/David Lee/Marcin Gortat

vs

2006
PG: Rajon Rondo/Jordan Farmar
SG: Brandon Roy/JJ Redick
SF: Rudy Gay/Ronnie Brewer
PF: Paul Milsap/Renaldo Balkman
c: Lamarcus Aldridge/Leon Powe

I have to give it to 2005 here. The guards and wings are basically a wash but no way 2006 coud handle the size of 2005. Paul and Deron also showed in the Olympics that they complement each other so well.
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2007 vs 2008

2007
PG: Aaron Brooks/Ramon Sessions
SG: Rodney Stuckey/Nick Young
SF: Kevin Durant/Wilson Chandler
PF: Al Horford/Jeff Green/Glen Davis
C: Joakim Noah/Greg Oden/Carl Landry

2008
PG: Derrick Rose/Russell Westbrook/Goran Dragic
SG: O.J Mayo/Eric Gordon
SF: Danilo Gallinari/Nicholas Batum
PF: Kevin Love/Javale Mcgee/J.J Hickson
C: Brook Lopez/Roy Hibbert

Extremely tough one to call but I went 2008. I went 2008 because of balance. Better guards than 2007 and lots of length down low. I almost went 2007 though because of the different dynamics. They have the best star in Durant. They also have guys who have played together like Durant and Green but more importantly the starting front court with Noah and Horford. In the end though I had to go 2008 as I do think Batum can at least disrupt Durant.
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Wild Card matchup #1, 2009 vs 2000(Remember we are talking about a game right now, so potential is not factored in)

2000
PG: Keyon Dooling/Marco Jaric
SG: Jamal Crawford/Michael Redd
SF: Mike Miller/Quintin Richardson
PF: Hedo Turkoglu/Eduardo Najera
C: Kenyon Martin/Jamaal Magloire

2009
PG: Stephen Curry/Brandon Jennings/Darren Collison
SG: Tyreke Evans/James Harden
SF: Terrence Williams/DeMar Derozan
PF: Blake Griffin/Dejaun Blair
C: Hasheem Thabeet/B.J. Mullens

Have to go 2009 here. Too strong of guards and 2000 is extremely weak in the front line
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2010 vs 1999(Remember we are talking about a game right now, so potential is not factored in)

1999
PG: Baron Davis/Andre Miller
SG: Richard Hamilton/Manu Ginobili
SF: Ron Artest/Corey Maggette
PF: Lamar Odom/Shawn Marion
C: Chris Anderson/Elton Brand

2010
PG: John Wall/Eric Bledsoe
SG: Evan Turner/Gordon Hayward
SF: Wesley Johnson/Paul George
PF: Derrick Favors/Greg Monroe
C: Demarcus Cousins/Cole Aldrich

Have to go with 1999 here. John Wall is really the only player they’d have trouble with. Ron Artest and Maggette would absolutely bull through Turner/Hayward/Johnson/etc. Chris Anderson and Odom could definitely handle Cousins and Favors or Monroe. Then also 1999 has the best 6th man in the NBA in Ginobili.

[omar dayzeParticipant]

thought provoking and enjoyable stuff my man…
not got time to give u my views but i would’ve given my left nut to see prime boom dizzle and manu together in the backcourt!

[idunnonymoreParticipant]

00 is the worst draft class ever

[RICO 1981Participant]

2001 vs. 2002: I will give it to 2001, 2002 has a loaded front court but 2001 has the bench to win out.

2003 vs. 2004: I will give it to 2003, they just have too much talent all the way around, but 2004 bigs and athletic wings will make it tough.

2005 vs. 2006: right now 2005 but in a couple years it could go the other way if some of the players for 2006 develop their game more.

2007 vs. 2008: this was the toughest one I saw, I’m going with 2007 because they have KD. That startling lineups are about equal, the bench of 2007 is better, but KD is the x factor, 2008 has no one on that roster that can even slow him down. (Sad note: you don’t even have B-Easy on the 2008 squad, is he a bust now?)

2000 vs. 2009: you said game right now, so I will go with the young guns of 2009, if everybody was in their prime I might take 2000. Naw I would still take 2009.

1999 vs. 2010: 1999 is the winner but the rookies will press them hard.

Good post man.

[Scottoant93Participant]

Where’s Andrea Bargnani in 2006 draft(have to give him some credit), I think he is far better player then Balkman and Powe(he deserves to be there but hasn’t done anything since he left Boston)

Besides that my predictions:
1 2001-more depth and 2002 pgs suck as you said. 2001 win

2. 2003- starting lineup would dominant 2004 is good team though. 2003 wins but nice match-up

3.2005 has great point and good center plus additional talent they win

4.2008 beats durant’s 2007 slightly because of overall depth

5.WC1 2009 wins hands down 2000 class considered one of worst and 2009 don’t need to depend on potential to beat them.

6. 2010 has a lot of upcoming stars in the making but right now 1999 has to win because of experience(rookies only face summer league players)

[ghettosermonParticipant]

No you are totally right man, I completely forgot about Bargnani.

[dipt1982Participant]

1996 Draft calss would smash all of them…

PG Nash—Iverson
SG Kobe—R. Allen
SF A. Walker—Stojakovic
PF Abdur-Rahim—J. O’Neal
C Camby—Illguaskas

Not the best front court ever, but with a back court like that, they would be very solid…

[dipt1982Participant]

Marbury got left out also, but he would be the third PG…that would be a great game if they matched up with 2003…but the depth is ridiculously better than 03, Ray Allen, Iverson and Marbury off the bench!!!

[ghettosermonParticipant]

The thread is about a game right now. Kobe, Ray, and Camby are the only relevant players.

[dipt1982Participant]

Well then the 2000 team shouldn’t be listed either, since half of that draft lottery is not relevant either, Francis, Brand’s not the same player…

Either way, 96 was the best draft class if everyone played in their primes against each other, that would be a better argument…

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