Pick Your Starting 5

It doesn't have to be the 5 best players in the league. Just pick the 5 guys who you think would play the best together as a group. Also pick a coach if you want to.

I'll start:

Pg- Chris Paul
Sg- Ray Allen
Sf- Andre Iguodala
Pf- LeBron James
C- Andrew Bynum

Coach- Gregg Popovich



Paul is the best chemistry guy in the league. He can fit into any system, makes his teammates better, and can take over a game when necessary.

Allen is the best shooter in the league. He spreads the floor out for everyone else. His impact can be felt whenever he is on the court, even when not taking any shots.

Iguodala is the best perimeter defender in the league. He's an absolute horse and doesn't get injured. He is also very unselfish on offense and always looks to set others up with drives. And he's perfectly willing to accept a minimal role on offense.

LeBron is the best scorer in the league. But he's at his best when he stays close to the hoop and takes high percentage shots. Playing him at power forward gives him more opportunities to draw double teams and pass it to the open man, or simply score on his own.

Bynum is the best all-around center in the league. He's as good a rebounder and defender that you will find, but his elite status is defined by his polished offensive game. He's also a guy who is willing to take a minimal role on offense and simply work his game by getting offensive rebounds and defending. Plus he can actually hit his free throws.

Pop is the best coach in the league. He gets the most out of his role players and can make his stars great team players. He's a players coach but also uses some of the best strategy.

Or we can change this up and pick the worst starting group:

Pg- Derek Fisher
Sg- Jared Dudley
Sf- Shawne Williams
Pf- Amir Johnson
C- Darko Milicic

Coach- Vinny Del Negro

I think you nailed a pretty good starting 5. That would be incredibly difficult to top. If I were going to make a change I might put Kobe at the 2 guard over Ray Allen. The only reason that I would do that is because he is more versatile than Ray Allen. However, Allen stretches the floor better because he is a better 3 point shooter.

My other concern with Kobe would be the caveat that you added about the 5 that would play best together. I'm not convinced that Kobe would be as inclined to "wait his turn" for scoring opportunities as Ray Allen would be. If I put Kobe in over Ray Allen, then I would be depending on CP3 to make sure that the ball was distributed in a way that kept everyone happy.

Or we can change this up and pick the worst starting group:

Pg- Derek Fisher
Sg- Jared Dudley
Sf- Shawne Williams
Pf- Amir Johnson
C- Darko Milicic

Coach- Vinny Del Negro

Now this could be more fun. Here, using the one's that would play together the worst.

PG - Jameer Nelson
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Carmelo Anthony
PF - LeBron James
C - Dwight Howard

One basketball and they ALL want it!!

Yeah exactly. I was just looking for players who are unselfish and are good at making their teammates better. Knowing that Wade and LeBron take away from each other's games is part of the reason why I chose Allen over him as well as Kobe.

Also that's part of the reason why I picked Bynum over Howard. Dwight simply asks for the ball too much on the low block, he likes to pad his rebounding stats by taking away boards from Anderson, and he swats balls out of bounds instead of to his teammates. Also his free throw shooting has proven to be a major concern, especially in the playoffs (game 4 2009 nba finals).

PG Derrick Rose
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Kevin Durant
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Tyson Chandler

The Backcourt of Rose and Kobe is ice old as either can play the distributer role and both are perhaps the best pure scorers at their position. Both can get anywhere they want on the floor and both are top shelf competitors. Kobe is still a good defender and Rose is coming into his own in that regard.

The Frontcourt of Durant, Aldridge, and Tyson is all about chemistry. Durant can hit a jumper from anywhere on the floor and can slash to the basket. Aldridge has a solid all around game but he is one of the best back to the basket players in the league and he can also hit the outside shot. Chandler is there to defend and nothing else. There are plenty of scoring options on this team to spread the floor and Tyson would simply be there to grab offensive rebounds, block shots, and defend. Adding a player like Dwight Howard would screw up the chemisty of this team.

Head Coach. Coach Thibs

PG - Chris Paul
SG - James Harden
SF - LeBron James
PF - Chris Bosh
C - Dwight Howard

It's obvious Chris Paul is the perfect PG to add to any "super team" as he's proven that he's incredibly efficient without taking tons of shots or scoring alot. James Harden is a rising SG that has athleticism, a jumper, some defense, and most important: unselfish. LBJ and Bosh have proven together they are a lethal forward duo, and LBJ can do multiple things for a team. Bosh and Howard fit together perfectly as Bosh can operate from the high post and hit jumpers, and then Howard can own the paint. 

I don't know why everyone assumes Howard would ruin the chemisty of a super team as he's never teamed up with any other superstar yet and have more value than anyone without the ball for one simple fact: he can dominate on defense. I don't care if Howard was completely irrelevant on offense, as long as he dominated the boards and shut down the paint on defense. He can make an average defense one of the best in the league. No big man comes close to impacting the game like Howard. 

I don't know why everyone assumes Howard would ruin the chemisty of a super team as he's never teamed up with any other superstar yet and have more value than anyone without the ball for one simple fact: he can dominate on defense. I don't care if Howard was completely irrelevant on offense, as long as he dominated the boards and shut down the paint on defense. He can make an average defense one of the best in the league. No big man comes close to impacting the game like Howard. 

I do not think he would ruin the chemistry of every superteam. Just mine. Dwight is just too much of a goof and sometimes does not take the game seriously. I wanted a team with 5 players that were the best competitors at their given position or at very least one of the best competitors at their position. Rose and Kobe both have killer instincts. Durant and Aldridge are both bigtime competitors and Tyson Chandler is insane with passion and energy.

Dwight is too much of a "goof?" Please, Howard took a team to the Finals on his back and gave Kobe Bryant and the Lakers a run for their money. I'd have him on any "super team" first and foremost, no matter what, and without a second thought. No can impact a defense like he can and only LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have the ability to affect an entire team like Howard does. Chandler is defnitely a good defender, but even he doesn't come close to Howard's impact. 

CP3
Kobe
Deng
KG
Dwight Howard

I think all of them are very good defensively and I don't believe Howard, Deng, KG, or CP3 would mind having Kobe shoot the ball when it needed to happen. I know KG isn't as good as he once was, but I'm trying to think unselfish defensive type of players to build around Kobe. Certainly, I wouldn't start my franchise like this. I would choose young guns, but if I wanted to win a championship now with a starting 5....I'd probably choose these 5. I figure KD, Lebron, Melo all would want the ball or they arn't as effective which is why I chose Deng.

What I'm looking for in a Championship Starting 5 and team in general, players that I don't have to be concerned with their character, their effort, or their ego. I want players that want to win, so they need some motivation whether it's just a drive to be the best or another example would be willing to do what's best for the team to win a ring. I don't want players that have "been there done that" so to say. They might have the expierence but I feel if the core of my team hasn't won a ring they'll be that more focused and together in fighting for a championship.

Also I want my guys to be agressive, physical on both ends, I want to have good shooters so my offense can stretch defenses out.  I want them to be able to play at a fast pace but when slow the pace down and play a solid halfcourt game when necessary. I want unselfish players, it starts with a leader at PG.

That choice goes to the best floor general in the NBA in Chris Paul, the only other option here would be Rajon Rondo as he can fill the role of floor general and play both style on offense however his shooting his a concern, it's a great luxury to have a PG that can break a defender both from the inside and out.

At SG I want a guy that can play great defense because in todays NBA it's about the Guards breaking down the offense if I have a great defender here I can limit the opponent's top ball handlers whether it be from a scoring standpoint or a facilitating stand point. I could pick another great scorer to pair with Paul but if I do that I'm risking my defense and I don't want to put too much stress defensively on my PG I want him more concerned with the flow of the offense. so with that said I'm choosing Tony Allen for this spot, he's the game's top perimeter defender and he's unselfish. He plays with a great effort and prides himself defensively. He's capable of hitting open shots when necessary.

After my first two choices it's clear I need a go-to perimeter option that can break down a defense as well as score in clutch moments. This guy needs to be able to attack inside-outside, take a high number of shots but also make a good percentage of those shots. Most importantly I want my go-to guy to be unselfish and be a great team leader. He knows his place that he's the go-to guy but understands what the bigger picture. Also I would like my go-to guy to be able to do the little things when necessary so when he's not getting the ball he's still contributing at a high level. At this point there is only one guy that can fill those role at this position and that is Kevin Durant.

In the frontcourt I want a balance, I want to be able to run a PNR game as well as post my bigs up. These guys are the physical presence that the team will feed on emotionally. I want these guys to scrap, hustle, and empose their will on their opponents. However I want guys that can pass, I don't want black holes where the ball isn't coming out of there hands and turnovers become a problem. I want my forward to be a strong athlete that can run the floor and finish. My Center is my anchor, I want him to be a good outlet passer and a guy that aint going to back down from anyone. My PF will be Chris Bosh, now last year he wouldn't fill this role but this year he is a different player, playing with a different purpose. He's shown tremendous improvement on his inside game and his passion and effort surpasses the two other alpha males on his team. For my Center I want him to be able to score but not be a guy that we have to depend on offensively (ex. Howard, Bynum). Also neither of those two can pass. My guy is Marc Gasol. Unlike Pau he's a banger inside and he's more of a physical presense. He's showing that he is among the best in game at his position and he fits in just perfectly with my other guys.

Obviously things could be different if I was picking an entire roster but my starters are the identity of my team, if I wasn't clear before I tried to avoid picking two "big egos" or multiple alpha-male types that need the ball or are custom being the "#1 guy". Guys like Kobe, LeBron can be great but I don't want them unless I'm building around them. When you put two top guys like them together you are hampering your team, their value is greatly diminished unless they can find a way to co-exist but they just aren't wired that way. I want a team and a system that is going to maximize my talent and chemistry both offensively and defensively.

PG- Chris Paul
SG- Tony Allen
SF- Kevin Durant
PF- Chris Bosh
 C-  Marc Gasol

PG- Steve Nash: The guy loves to set people up.
SG- Manu Ginobili: He can score if you need him to, or he can stay quiet and be the role player.
SF- Paul Pierce: He steps up late in games and he can nail th stepback J.
PF- Kevin Love: He is an absolute glass-eater. On the T-Wolves he needs to score, but he could adjust to a defensive stopper.
C- Tyson Chandler: NY loves him right now because he is a guy who owns the paint. The 2nd best center in the league.

I have to say I like Michigan Sports' team the best right now. I forgot about Tony Allen.

Dwight is too much of a "goof?" Please,Dwight is too much of a "goof?" Please,

I seem to remember Dwight Howard this season pretending to perform artificial resuscitation on another Magic player in the 4th quarter in a game they were losing in. Sometimes he looks like the best bigman and then other nights I really miss David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, and The Dream. Howard is the best bigman for sure but he does have issues.

Here is another team:

PG Ricky Rubio
SG Ray Allen
SF Kevin Durant
PF Kevin Love
C Greg Monroe

This team is for an old school vibe.

Rubio is a quick paced PG that can distribute with the best of them. He would not be relied on to score much.

Ray Ray would sread the floor with with deadly range and hang out in the corners waiting for a pass when his defender is drawn into the paint by a slashing Durant or Rubio.

Durant would be the #1 option on offense.

Kevin Love would clean up the boards and step on people's faces.

Monroe would bring an all around game to the paint were he can scrap for rebounds and score a bit.

Not saying this team is a Superteam, infact this team is a team that could happen in that it is not a crazy team with LeBron, Howard, CP3, Griffin and Kobe on it. I could see my team being really fun to watch.

Chris Paul (The premiere P&R PG, which is essentially what this league revolves around offensively)
Paul George (Primary wing defender + elite floor-spacer.  Doesn't need the ball to be effective.  Crazy length when paired with KD on the wing)
Kevin Durant (Go-to scorer)
Kevin Love (Ultimate stretch 4 next to D12 + elite rebounding.  Can run pick and pop with CP3 or just space the floor)
Dwight Howard (Defensive anchor)

The CP3 pick and roll with Howard/Love + KD as the iso guy (who is still awewsome off the ball) + shooting everywhere + Dwight as the defensive anchor = DYNASTY  

Guess I'll give this a whirl ...

PG - Derrick Rose
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF- Kevin Durant
PF - Blake Griffin
C - Andrew Bynum

When healthy, Bynum is unstoppable and he MAKES HIS FREE THROWS!!!  Howard, unfortunately, sucks at free throws.  Is there another answer at PF, other than Griffin?  Sure, LaMarcus Aldridge is a great example, but he's not the banger in the paint, that Griffin is (or will become).

Kevin Durant at SF is fixed.  You could argue that LeBron belongs there, but you couldn't go wrong with either guy.  For now, I'll stick with KD.

SG - I was a bit torn with not selecting Ray Allen, but Kobe is the better selection, since he's all "everything", even when hurt.  The man is unreal at times.  Allen is a pure shooter, but Kobe can make his own shot out of almost anything.

PG wise ... I don't see Rose as a true "assists" type of PG, but man, this guy is phenomenal.  If I was only looking for an assists guy, CP3 would take the spot.

Overall; this squad would do some major damage in the league.

PG- Rajon Rondo
SG- Kevin Durant
SF- Andre Igoudala
PF- LeBron James
C- Marc Gasol

When healthy, Bynum is unstoppable and he MAKES HIS FREE THROWS!!!  Howard, unfortunately, sucks at free throws.  Is there another answer at PF, other than Griffin?

yea Bynum is shooting an incredible 59% on Ft's and Blake is shooting an impressive 50%. If you don't want to take Howard becuase Ft's why take two of the worst in the league?

PG LeBron James

SG Kobe Bryant

SF Kevin Durant

PF Kevin Love

C Dwight Howard