Starting team: Kidd, Kobe, World-Peace, Gasol, Mutombo
Bench: Bibby, Crawford, George, Stoudemire, Ming
Attack:
No question here, my attack is completely based around Ser Kobe of House Bryant. He is - in my opinion - the best player on the NBA since Jordan. At his peak, he was unstoppable, and could harm the other teams more than any player in this draft. His average score (peak, be it top season or top 3 season, you choose) is significantly higher than that of any other player in the draft. And of course, he won 5 rings playing, so he was very good when it mattered most. Sure, he has a reputation for being selfish and not passing the ball, but the truth is a bit more complex than that. He is one of the best No.2 in NBA when LA won the first two titles with him and Shaq, so he was definitely able to pass. He just chose to shoot, cause there wasn't a better player to do so.
Leaving Kobe aside, I think that my team has more firepower than it looks first. On Jason Kidd, I have simply the best playmaker on this draft (Stockton at his peak was better, but Stockton was a bit past his peak since '95, Curry will be considered better in a few years if he continues like this, which IMO, he will) and an assist machine. He could find players better than anyone in the history of the game bar Magic, and the peak Stockton. And he wasn't that bad at shooting. At his best season he averaged 15-18 points per match. He wasn't very efficient at it for the first half of his career, but improved later. On this team though, he is charged to pass the ball more than to shoot it.
Ron Artest was a brilliant player, and while he is known more for his defense (see later), he was also a good scorer. He was able to score 20 points when the team was built around him, and be a solid performer when he was a supporting player. Him winning a title with Kobe helps, cause it shows that he knows how to play with my main man.
Pau Gasol is my favorite player of all time. But I didn't choose him just for that. I chose him instead cause he was (and still is) a fecking good player. He is selfless, he can score from every position, he can pass the ball better than most players, he is extremely athletic for a man his size, and as important, he has telepathic relationship with Kobe. In my opinion he is one of the best No.2 in recent history (together with Pippen, Kobe during the first few Shaq years and Wayde). He knows what Kobe wants, and he knows how to make Kobe play better. The final player on my team (Dikembe Mutombo) is there for defensive reasons, but still he can score 10 points without a problem.
Defense:
Attacks win matches, defenses win rings. And I have the best defense someone can imagine. Kidd is the best defensive point guard of all time (only point guard who is on top 50 for rebounds). He made rebounds like a center, but he also stole balls as good as anyone. An ancient Kidd gave defensive lectures to Dwayne Wayde and Lebron James at their peaks, when it matters most. Can he stop a kid like Westbrook? With his eyes closed and hands ties. And of course, he is a 9 times all NBA defensive team.
Kobe Bryant is obviously a fantastic defender. He didn't got 12 all defensive teams for free (more than any player on the history bar Duncan and joint with Garnett). So, I don't only have the best shooting guard in attack, but also in defense. And do I need to start talking about the defense of Ron Artest?! He's a fecking beast at it, which is why I am putting him on the first lineup. I want him to make the life miserable for MJJ's best player. And if anyone can do it, that is Ron Artest. If he gets tired, no problem. Paul George is a very good defender too, and he can do more damage in attack, which will continue tiring Durant.
Gasol is a good, though not spectacular defender. He's a double double machine though, so he can give a lot of rebounds and all round contribution. But then, near to him I have arguably the best defensive player in the history of the game. One of the two guys who got 4 times the NBA best defensive player award. A beast who can block everything near him (as long as it isn't a pissed off Jordan). Enjoy:
All in all (just in my first team), I have 31 all defensive teams awards, in addition to 5 best defensive player of the year awards. Not that bad! This team is the equivalent of Capello's Milano when it comes to defense.
