Sunday,Aug 13 2006, 08:58:23 AMALL TIME NBA TEAM

I PROBably didnt tell you im a basketball fanatic, well I am.My favourite team Are the sixers. THis is my dream team

In picking an all-time team, my emphasis is on "team." I'm not interested in selecting the best five players, but rather in choosing those players who would blend together to form the most cohesive unit. Complementary skills, then, are more important than sheer talent.

The other factor is putting together a team that could compete in today's version of the NBA.


Starting five

Point guard — Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson's size and ability to see the floor gives him the edge at the point guard position.

This is not as obvious a selection as it might appear. For sure, Magic was the supreme trigger man on a fast-break, in early offense, and in any open court situation. In half-court sets, however, he mostly just dumped the ball into Jabbar. Nor was Magic ever accused of playing defense. Still, his size (which would shred any attempts to trap and press him), his versatility, unselfishness, court-vision, ability to deliver the ball to anyone anywhere, and the ease with which he could penetrate make him a huge match-up problem for any opponent.


Shooting guard — Jerry West
Yes, at 6-2 he's somewhat undersized, but he was both long and quick enough to guard points (thereby enabling Magic to defend 2-guards), and fast enough to run the floor with today's jet-setters. West was also a dead-eye shooter with one of the quickest shot-releases ever; a precise, unselfish passer; an extremely intelligent player; an excellent rebounder; and had a ferocious competitive spirit.

West is my pick over Oscar Robertson for his speed and the greater range of his jumper.


Small forward — Michael Jordan
MJ would be the featured scorer on the first unit because of his unparalleled ability to create off the bounce. There has never been a player at any position who could play offense as well as defense on the same level as Jordan. Because he was the greatest clutch performer of them all, he'd also be the go-to guy whenever a game was up for grabs — making West a pretty good second option.


Power forward — Dave DeBusschere
There are plenty of point-makers on the starting five, so DeBusschere's adhesive defense would be necessary. Aside from being able to totally shut down any opponent's offense, DeBusschere was an accomplished long-range bomber, who could have been an explosive scorer had he played when the 3-point line was in effect. He could also run and handle well enough to have played some point-guard early in his career with Detroit. DeBusschere is the perfect tough-as-rawhide role player for this team.


Center — Wilt Chamberlain
There's a qualification here: Wilt would have to combine the Russellian-defense he played with the 1971-72 Lakers with the passing prowess he exhibited with the 1967-68 Warriors, along with the massive scoring capabilities he exhibited from 1959-1966 in Philadelphia and Golden State. And, of course, Chamberlain was the second-best rebounder in NBA history.

Why Chamberlain over Russell? Because of size and strength, and because a high-scoring pivot-man puts the most pressure on a defense.


Second unit
These guys would drastically up-tempo the pace on both ends of the court, trapping, pressing, denying passes so that backdoor cutters would wind up in Russell's not-so-friendly neighborhood — and running.

Lenny Wilkens is the classic facilitating point guard, who could score when he had to.

Oscar Robertson would be the designated scorer off the bench.

John Havlicek would run, run, and keep on running.

Larry Bird would do whatever he had to do.

Bill Russell would rebound, defend, and enable the second unit to run a devastating five-man fast break.
The coach would be Phil Jackson for several reasons: His proven ability to successfully juggle huge egos and meld them into a team. His strategic and intellectual flexibility, and the strength of his ego that permits him to give his players considerable input — and then to make them responsible for themselves and for each other. The way his quirky personality manages to maintain his players' attention and interest. His willingness to let his players dwell in the spotlight. And his charisma that makes respecting him an easy task.



On offense, the triangle would be impossible to defend: Anchored by Wilt in the low-post, featuring five exceptional passers, four swift and powerful cutters, three aggressive screeners (Magic, Wilt, and DeBusschere), and, except for Magic, a trio of outstanding perimeter shooters. Then, should the offense fail to generate an acceptable shot, there's MJ and West to create their scoring opportunities.

On defense, Magic, West, and Jordan could easily play a switching game. DeBusschere had a Velcro chest that rarely allowed his man room enough to breathe deeply, and as such was never fond of switching.

Everybody else would be funneled into Chamberlain, who (like Russell) averaged close to 10 blocked shots per game in the days before this feat was deemed worthy of being recorded.

So, there it is. A fantasy team well worth dreaming about.

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