Our next matchup features two programs whose past success centered around one of the greatest players in college basketball history. San Francisco won back-to-back championships with the legendary Bill Russell in 1955 and 1956, but they have not been back to the championship game since, and they have not even been to the NCAA tournament since the turn of the century. Patrick Ewing led Georgetown to three NCAA championship games in four seasons, but they have not been back to the big game since he graduated, and they’ve fallen on hard times in recent years, even with Ewing taking the reins as the head coach. The battle between the NBA San Francisco Dons vs. NBA Georgetown Hoyas features these two legends going head-to-head, but will likely be determined by the other pros from each school’s respective history.
Key Matchups
Battle of the Big Men – While Russell and Ewing are the headliners, each is starting next to another big man in a Twin Towers lineup, and they may not directly match up against each other as a result. Russell will be paired with Bill Cartwright, who has ample experience guarding Ewing from the Bulls-Knicks rivalry in the 1990s. Cartwright played Ewing tough in those contests, but Ewing still dominated, averaging 23.0 PPG and 11.3 RPG in 25 regular season head-to-head matchups, and 22.3 PPG and 11.0 RPG in 29 postseason matches. The best version of Cartwright, however, came before this rivalry, when he himself was a member of the Knicks. Cartwright could score effectively from the post, averaging 16.8 PPG on 55.2% shooting from the field over 8 seasons in New York. He’ll be heavily relied-upon by the scoring-deficient Dons, though he’s facing a fleet of elite defensive big men. Alonzo Mourning, one of those big men, will join Ewing in the starting lineup and will be Russell’s primary adversary. Both are among the greatest interior defenders to ever play; Mourning will try to use his bulk to establish post position, while Russell will try to use his speed and quickness to get out in transition and push the pace. Georgetown has the luxury of subbing in Dikembe Mutombo for either Ewing or Mourning and losing nothing on the defensive end of the court. San Francisco will have to rely on the likes of Erwin Mueller and Pete Cross if Russell or Cartwright gets tired or in foul trouble, which will be death against the Hoyas’ frontcourt.
K.C. Jones vs. Allen Iverson – Iverson presents a difficult challenge for the Dons’ perimeter defensive ace. Jones will use his high basketball IQ to bother Iverson, but nobody can keep AI out of the lane. How Iverson balances his role of creator and scorer, and how he deals with Jones’s defense, will ultimately help determine the effectiveness of Georgetown’s offensive attack.
Biggest Mismatches
Georgetown’s bench – San Francisco has one threat off the bench (Fred Scolari), while the rest of the reserves are replacement-level players (or worse). Georgetown’s bench complements their starting lineup and allows them to play more versatile, modern lineups. Reggie Williams and Jeff Green will get plenty of minutes at two guard and power forward, respectively, though Green’s minutes at the four will be limited in this series with the Dons playing two centers at a time. Jerome Williams will be a better fit next to one of Georgetown’s centers, to keep them competitive on the glass. Mutombo, Roy Hibbert, and Greg Monroe are all superior options to anything San Francisco can offer, and Mutombo specifically will help ensure that Ewing and Mourning get adequate rest. The Hoyas should wear the Dons out with their plethora of options.
Georgetown’s scoring options – San Francisco will have a lot of trouble scoring in the halfcourt. Expect Phil Smith to be their primary perimeter threat. Georgetown doesn’t have a great option to stop him in the starting lineup; Otto Porter will likely start off guarding him, and David Wingate may be their best defensive option off the bench. Outside of Smith though, San Francisco will rely on the inconsistent Quintin Dailey for shot creation, beyond their dual-center threat. Cartwright and Russell were good offensive players who were best suited to supporting roles, and they will have to generate offense against Georgetown’s fantastic defensive centers. The Hoyas have Iverson, Sleepy Floyd, Otto Porter, and Reggie Williams who can hurt San Francisco from the perimeter, and Ewing and Mourning will provide interior post scoring, in addition to second chance opportunities off the glass.
Bill Russell – Although the roster comparison doesn’t look good for San Francisco, Bill Russell is the greatest winner in basketball history. One could easily see him taking Mourning out of his normal game, and making Iverson and Floyd think twice about driving to the hole. One man cannot win a series, but it’s always helpful to have the best player on your side.
X-Factor
1982 – That’s the most recent year that an impact player was drafted on San Francisco’s roster (Quintin Dailey). Even though Georgetown’s had mixed success since the 1990s, San Francisco’s complete irrelevance in that time has severely hampered their NBA roster.
Results
This proves to be an ugly series, with a slew of low-scoring games. Ultimately, San Francisco simply cannot find enough ways to score against Georgetown’s defense. Although it seems blasphemous to say this, Bill Russell can’t make it out of the first round.
Ja Morant did his best to carry the shorthanded Grizzlies to the playoffs, but they fell short in the play-in game, despite his career-high 35 points. Morant capped a dominant rookie season with his clutch performance, but he unfortunately won’t be able to continue his journey into the playoffs. In honor of Morant, here are the 10 best rookie games in NBA history. Only playoff games were considered for this list, as many first-year players have stepped up when the stakes are highest.
(Note: This list focuses on the NBA, so noteworthy rookie performances by Julius Erving, George Mikan, and others in the ABA, BAA, and NBL are not included).
10 (tie) Alvan Adams, 1976 Western Conference Finals, Game 7 (18 points, 20 rebounds, 3 assists); Bill Russell, 1957 NBA Finals, Game 7 (19 points, 32 rebounds): The 1976 Western Conference Finals pitted the 59-win defending champion Warriors against the 42-40 Cinderella Phoenix Suns. In Game 7, Phoenix used a balanced attack to shock the Warriors at home and make their first Finals appearance. Adams, the Rookie of the Year, dominated the boards, and helped hold the opposing center, Clifford Ray, to two points on 0 for 6 from the field. Nineteen years earlier, Russell helped lead the Celtics to their first title in what may be the greatest game of all time. He played 54 minutes in the double-overtime thriller, and his two-way impact is perfectly encapsulated by this highlight.
9. Larry Bird, 1980 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 4 (34 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 13 for 20 from the field): Bird had a good debut playoff run, and in this game, he finished off the Houston Rockets with a virtuoso performance. He struggled in the previous games of this series, averaging 15.7 PPG in the first three contests on 45.8% from the field, but he found his rhythm here to lead Boston to the Eastern Conference Finals. Ironically, Boston would face Houston in the NBA Finals the following year, and would continue their domination of the Rockets with their first title of the Bird era.
8. Elgin Baylor, 1959 Western Division Finals, Game 6 (33 points, 8 rebounds, 13 for 23 from the field): Baylor carried a 33-39 Lakers team to the NBA Finals in his rookie season. In the Western Division Finals, they faced the defending champion St. Louis Hawks, who finished 16 games ahead of Minneapolis in the standings. While the Hawks blew the Lakers out in games 1 and 3 (by 34 and 30 points respectively), Minneapolis won the close games, including this series-clincher by two points. Although they would get swept by Boston in the NBA Finals, Baylor, the Rookie of the Year that season, was fearless throughout that run.
7. Hakeem Olajuwon, 1985 Western Conference First Round, Game 5 (32 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 12 for 19 from the field): Dream capped a brilliant rookie season with a clutch performance in the deciding game of the first round. Utah struggled with both of Houston’s Twin Towers, as Ralph Sampson went for 23 and 13. Despite their dominance, Utah prevailed, but Olajuwon foreshadowed his future playoff excellence with this masterpiece.
6. Tom Meschery, 1962 Eastern Division Finals, Game 7 (32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 for 19 from the field): As previously mentioned, Meschery almost led the Warriors to an upset over the three-time defending champions. This was an amazing game, which is described in detail in the top comment at this link. Meschery’s season-high point total wasn’t enough to topple the mighty Celtics, as Sam Jones’s game-winning jumper sent Boston to their sixth straight Finals appearance.
5. Jamaal Wilkes, 1975 Western Conference Finals, Game 7 (23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 10 for 19 from the field): Wilkes (who went by Keith at the time) may have been the best player on the floor of this slugfest, which ended with the Warriors winning 83-79 to advance to the Finals. Outside of Wilkes, Golden State shot 27 for 77 from the field, and Rick Barry was miserable at the outset, shooting 2 for 15 into the third quarter. Barry played better in the second half, and Chicago faded due to their lack of bench support, but Wilkes was the key factor that led Golden State to the Finals (and an eventual championship).
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1970 Eastern Division Semifinals, Game 5 (46 points, 25 rebounds): Kareem capped a masterful series (36.2 PPG, 15.8 RPG) with his most prolific performance, clinching the series 4-1 and advancing Milwaukee to the Eastern Division Finals. Philadelphia had nobody who could stop Jabbar, who put up 36 shots from the field while shooting 15 free throws. Although they’d lose to the Knicks in the next round, Kareem would continue to dominate, averaging 34.2 PPG and 17.8 RPG against league MVP Willis Reed in their five-game loss.
3. Tom Heinsohn, 1957 NBA Finals game 7 (37 points, 23 rebounds): Heinsohn’s masterpiece was previously highlighted in this space as the 10th best Game 7 performance of all time. Before he fouled out, he helped carry Boston’s offense, which was suffering due to the meltdown of their starting guards. The Rookie of the Year never had a finer moment, and his effort launched the greatest dynasty in history.
2. Wilt Chamberlain, 1960 Eastern Division Semifinals, Game 3 (53 points, 22 rebounds): Even though this was the third game of the series, think of it as a game 7, since the semifinals were best of three at the time. Chamberlain, who was Rookie of the Year and MVP, shredded the Nationals, shooting 24 for 42 from the field and helping to give Philadelphia a +20 advantage on the glass. As usual, the only thing that Wilt didn’t do was shoot free throws well, as he went 5 for 16 from the stripe. It didn’t make a difference, as Philadelphia built a 15 point halftime lead and never looked back, on the shoulders of their superstar rookie.
1. Magic Johnson, 1980 NBA Finals, game 6 (42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists): 40 years later, this remains the gold standard of rookie games, and it is in the running for best game ever played, regardless of tenure. Johnson showcased his one-of-a-kind versatility by playing every position and filling Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s shoes as the dominant force on the floor. Kareem was still the best player in the league at this point, so Magic was often overlooked that season, as seen in the Rookie of the Year voting (Magic lost 63-3 to Larry Bird). This quote, by Philadelphia’s Doug Collins, says it all: “Magic was outstanding. Unreal…I knew he was good but I never realized he was great…You don’t realize it because he gives up so much of himself for Kareem.” This performance singlehandedly propelled him to win the Finals MVP award, and everyone recognized his greatness from that point forward.
Honorable Mention:
Wilt Chamberlain’s playoff averages in 1960: 9 games, 33.2 PPG, 25.8 RPG, a league-leading 27.0 PER…Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (Lew Alcindor at the time) playoff averages in 1970: 10 games, a league-leading 35.2 PPG, 16.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, a league-leading 56.7% field goal percentage, plus league-leading PER, defensive rating, true shooting percentage, and WS/48. Clearly, they could (and should) have had more entries on this list (including Wilt’s 50 point, 35 rebound effort against Bill Russell in a Game 5 win in the Eastern Division Finals to stave off elimination), though we only highlighted their single best effort here…In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Magic Johnson put up 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to clinch the series over the defending champion Sonics. This sent the Lakers to the Finals, and set up Magic’s MVP performance against the Sixers…Andrew Toney became the “Boston Strangler” in his first season, overwhelming the Celtics with 61 combined points in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals off the bench. The Sixers would take a 3-1 lead in that series, before succumbing in seven games…In the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals, Charles Barkley helped Philadelphia avoid a sweep with 15 points, 20 boards, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Philadelphia would ultimately succumb in five games, and Barkley would never get this close to a title again until he was traded to Phoenix…In the first round of the same playoffs, Michael Jordan helped Chicago stave off elimination with 35 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals against a 59-win Bucks team…David Robinson dominated the Nuggets in the first round of the 1990 playoffs, leading San Antonio to a three-game sweep. In game 2, he put up 31 points on 11 for 16 from the field, with 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots…Sam Cassell was a key cog on the ’94 championship Rockets team. In Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Suns, he scored 22 points on 8 for 12 from the field and dished out 7 assists in 29 minutes off the bench…In his first playoff game ever, Tim Duncan scored 32 points and grabbed 10 boards to lead San Antonio to victory. Then, in the next round against the defending Western Conference champion Utah Jazz, he put up 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots in a narrow Game 1 defeat…Boobie Gibson had one of the great random games ever in Game 6 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals, scoring 31 points on 5 for 5 shooting from downtown to help send the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals. He led all scorers on that magical night in only 29 minutes off the bench…In his playoff debut, Derrick Rose scored 36 points, and had 11 assists to lead Chicago to an upset victory over Boston. Rose shot 12 for 19 from the field and 12 for 12 from the foul line in his breakout performance. This overtime game foreshadowed what was to come in this series, which might have been the best first round series ever…Ja Morant’s play-in game performance wasn’t perfect (8 turnovers, 15 missed shots), but he kept Memphis competitive against a superior opponent despite a fractured thumb.
Our next profile features a program who, for a brief period of time, may have been the most influential team in the country. “Hoya Paranoia” ran rampant in the 1980s under Coach John Thompson, who intimidated foes with his towering presence and by overseeing a physical, defensive-oriented brand of basketball. Thompson landed a string of elite recruits, including the crown jewel of the program, Patrick Ewing, who led them to three NCAA championship games in four seasons. And though the big names kept enrolling, the Hoyas haven’t been back to the championship game since Ewing graduated in 1985, and have only made one more Final Four appearance, in 2007 under John Thompson III. Even though the program is struggling to remain relevant, and they’ve had less overall success than their reputation would indicate, many of their players have reached great heights on the pro level. The NBA Georgetown Hoyas feature four Naismith Hall-of-Famers, and complementary players who thrived under both Thompson regimes.
Allen Iverson is one of the most polarizing superstars in NBA history. On one hand, he was a league MVP, four-time scoring champion, and lead player on an NBA finalist. On the other hand, his high-usage, low-efficiency style made him one of the toughest stars to build around, he had mediocre advanced and impact statistics, and he wasn’t always the most reliable teammate and leader. One underrated part of Iverson’s game that will serve this team well was his stamina, as he led the league in minutes per game seven times in his career, and averaged 41.1 minutes per game in his career, which ranks fourth all-time. This is positive for a team that’s short on guards, but the question remains – can Iverson play well with other stars, or will he dominate the ball to the detriment of the rest of the offense? His backcourt mate, Sleepy Floyd, had a good pro career, earning one all-star birth and lighting up one of the greatest teams ever with a legendary playoff scoring binge. There is a bit of redundancy in Iverson and Floyd’s games, as both were skilled with the ball in their hands, could penetrate to break down defenses, and were inconsistent shooters from long range. Ideally, these two would lead a fast-paced attack, and have ample spacing around them to clear the driving lanes. The only other true guard on this roster, David Wingate, was a complete non-threat on offense whose solid (though unspectacular) defense helped him stay in the league for 15 seasons. Though Wingate gives them valuable size at the two guard position, his inability to space the floor or contribute anything positively on the offensive end will force Georgetown to rely heavily on their starting guards.
Otto Porter, the starting small forward, is (by far) the best three-point shooter on the roster, eclipsing 40% from long-range for his career. While his giant contract overstates his ability, he has developed into a good player when healthy, which is highlighted by his impact stats (despite a disastrous rookie season, he has a career 116 offensive rating, and 107 defensive rating). In addition to being a lethal spot-up shooter, he can catch-and-shoot on the move, play smart off of the ball, and post-up smaller defenders when necessary, and he will be included in all of this team’s best lineups. Off the bench, Reggie Williams never lived up to his lofty draft status, but was productive in Denver, which was his fourth stop in the NBA. In fact, Williams enjoyed a five-year stretch where he averaged 15.1 PPG with solid percentages, and it’s not hard to envision him increasing his 31.7% mark from three-point range during this stretch to a league average or better mark in the modern game. He will back up Porter but also serve as a reserve two-guard, who gives them even more length than Wingate with a lot more firepower and ability to stretch the floor. Jeff Green, who can toggle between both forward positions but is more of a natural power forward in today’s game, will also see plenty of minutes off the bench. Green’s talent has always been tantalizing, but his production has always been spotty. His athleticism, ability to stretch the floor when he’s on, and ability to guard multiple positions can bring this team to another level, though realistically, he can’t be counted on for consistent production. Lineups with Williams, Porter, and Green at the 2, 3, and 4 positions will give this team a modern feel and switchability on defense, and will be used in stretches during any series they participate in. The other bench forward, Jerome Williams, was a valuable role-player who had tremendous impact stats over the course of his career. In fact, he led the league in offensive rating in 1998-99, when he also had a superstar-level .201 WS/48, and he led the league in offensive rebounding percentage that season and the following year. One could easily envision Williams playing as a small-ball five in the modern game, but he’ll slide in at power forward due to this team’s depth at center, and will help the NBA Hoyas dominate the boards when he’s on the court.
The center position is the strength of this team, and their depth at the five may be unmatched in this tournament. Ewing was one of the great jump-shooting centers during his time, and may have been even more of a threat in the modern-day game, where his range would be stretched out to the three-point line. His shooting and post-game made him a stud offensively, but he also anchored a defensive juggernaut in New York, and led the league in defensive win shares three times over the course of his career. While he may not have been as dominant as some of his Hall-of-Fame peers, he was an all-time great, who is the best all-around player on this roster. Alonzo Mourning will join Ewing in the starting lineup as this team’s nominal power forward. Injuries and illnesses were persistent factors in his career, but in his prime (defined here as 1992-93 to 1999-00) he averaged 21.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, shot 52.6% from the field, and blocked 3.1 shots per game. He’s fourth all-time in block percentage, and earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards for his tenacity on that end of the court. Like Ewing, he also had an effective mid-range jumper, though he was best suited for a secondary role on offense. They’re backed up by a third Hall-of-Fame big man, Dikembe Mutombo, who earned a record-tying four Defensive Player of the Year awards in his career. Of the three, Mutombo was the least skilled offensively, but he was a huge positive on the court (111 career offensive rating vs. 99 career defensive rating), was a tremendous rebounder, and finished with the second most blocked shots in history (since they started recording the statistic). Two other big men, Greg Monroe and Roy Hibbert, round out the bench. Each thrived on one end of the floor (offense for Monroe, defense for Hibbert), but neither was able to adapt to the modern-day league due to their inability to move well on defense, and their lack of ability to space the floor on offense. They do provide nice depth when needed, but each will play sparingly behind the Hall-of-Famers.
This team has talent across the board but may be more of a collection of individual talent than a team that can come together and play cohesively. They will try to play twin towers lineups with two of their Hall-of-Fame big men on the court at the same time. Can that work against modern lineups? They have options with their forwards off the bench, but that will likely lead to inconsistency. Also, Iverson and Floyd must co-exist and avoid dominating the ball at the expense of their teammates. As the 20th seeded team in the tournament, they have a first-round matchup against the 13th seeded NBA San Francisco Dons.
Our next profile features a program that has not made the NCAA tournament since 1997-98. In fact, they’ve never really recovered since they chose to shut their basketball program down for three seasons (1983-85) due to multiple NCAA violations. While their recent history is putrid, they once were a significant program, earning 15 tournament appearances in a 28-year span. Ultimately, the main reason they’re in this tournament, and have two NCAA championships, is due to the presence of one of the GOATs of the sport. The NBA San Francisco Dons are led by the incomparable Bill Russell, who will try to work his magic with modest NBA talent around him.
K.C. Jones, the starting lead guard, was one of the great defensive players of his era. His offensive limitations were pronounced, which did not make a difference during his playing career (he won a title in his first eight seasons as a Celtic), but will be limiting for this team. Jones was below average from the field, even accounting for his era (for his career, he was 9% worse than league average), was a horrendous foul shooter for a guard (64.7%), and he averaged just 7.4 PPG for his career. He was, however, a key piece of the greatest dynasty we’ve ever seen, and as a playmaker, he ranked in the top 12 in assists six years in his career. The starting wings will take on an outsized scoring role for their rotation. Quintin Dailey was a good mid-range shooter who put up 15.3 PPG over the first seven seasons of his career. His impact statistics, however, were horrendous (career 101 offensive rating, 111 defensive rating, 0.050 win shares per 48 minutes), and his teams averaged just 25 wins per game over that period. Dailey had his troubles on both the college and pro levels, and his admission that he accepted money for a bogus job was the last straw that led to the university suspending its program. He was, however, immensely talented, and he’ll be surrounded by winning players in the starting lineup. Phil Smith, the other starting wing, had the talent to be a 3-and-D wing in the modern game. He was a tremendous athlete who in his prime years (his 2nd to 5th seasons before an Achilles injury slowed him down) averaged 19.6 PPG on 48.0% from the field, and 4.4 APG while making an all-NBA defensive team and an all-NBA second team appearance. He’ll be one of the key players on this roster, and will have to guard larger wings due to their lack of small forwards.
The starting frontcourt consists of two big men who combined to win 14 championships in their pro careers. Bill Russell is the greatest winner of all time, and the greatest defensive player ever. He has the most career defensive win shares in NBA history, and has the second most rebounds and rebounds per game ever. One researcher estimated that he averaged more than 8 blocks per game in his career based on more than 100 games for which reports are available. When accounting for pace, these numbers are less impressive, but Russell’s impact went far beyond the box score. Although impossible to quantify, he seemed to have a mental edge over his opponents, frequently intimidating them on defense, and knowing their tendencies and weaknesses as well as anyone who has ever played. He was 10-0 in game sevens in his career. And, of course, he won the championship in 11 of his 13 seasons, which will never be duplicated. His skillset would translate to any era of NBA basketball, which includes the intangibles that helped lead to all of his success. His frontcourt mate, Bill Cartwright, was best known for his supporting role on the Bulls championship teams, but he started his career off as a true offensive threat, averaging 20.9 PPG on 55% shooting over his first two years in the league. Throughout his Knicks career (from 1979-80 to 1987-88), Cartwright had a major impact on both ends of the court, as seen in his offensive (116) and defensive (106) rating over that period. He’ll be one of the prime offensive weapons for this team, and his weaknesses as a big man (rebounding, defending the rim) should be more than compensated for by Russell.
Off the bench, Fred Scolari was a pioneering point guard whose impact on both sides of the ball led to two all-star game selections and two all-BAA honors. He was more of an offensive threat than K.C. Jones as a lead guard, and can give this team a different look when he comes into the game. After Scolari, I don’t have anything informative to say about anyone else on the rest of the bench. Depth is a major problem for this team, as none of the remaining six players even approached mediocrity at the pro level. While Russell averaged 42+ minutes per game in his career, the other players will need rest, so these journeymen will be forced into action to the detriment of the team’s chances at winning.
Overall, the NBA San Francisco Dons will be offensively challenged, but should be among the best defensive teams in the tournament due to their famed Celtics duo, along with Smith and Cartwright. As the 13th seed, they have a tough first round matchup against the NBA Georgetown Hoyas.
The 2020 season is about to kick off again, and the stakes are high for some of the best players in the game. Last year, Kawhi Leonard showed how high a playoff run can elevate a player’s all-time status, as he led Toronto to an unlikely championship. How high has he climbed on the rankings of the greatest small forwards of all time? And if he wins a third ring with a third franchise this season, where will that place him among the greats? Here is an in-depth listing of the top 10 small forwards ever, with a (ranked) 22-person honorable mention list.
Those familiar with Arizin’s career will not find it surprising that he cracked our top 10. He was a two-time scoring champion and pioneering jump shooter who was efficient on the offensive end of the court, with a career true shooting percentage that was 11% better than the league average. After his first scoring crown (in his second season), he went to serve in the Korean War, and missed two seasons of his prime. He didn’t miss a beat upon his return, and in 1955-56, he was the best player in the league in the playoffs, leading the Warriors to the championship. While Paul Pierce was productive for a longer period of time, Arizin’s dominance despite missing a chunk of his prime earns him equal status on this list.
Pierce was a professional bucket-getter, who had 17 productive seasons in the league before his final two seasons as a Clipper. He put up some eye-popping scoring numbers during a time when offense was down in the NBA (24.8 PPG from 2000-01 to 2006-07). He was the top regular season scorer on an NBA champion, and won Finals MVP that season. While he was never an MVP-caliber player, and only earned four all-NBA honors in his 19 seasons, his crafty game and clutch scoring ability helped him carry on the rich Celtic tradition.
Hondo was an 8-time champion who, by career accolades, should be even higher on this list. His first season was 1962-63 with the four-time defending champion Celtics. They won it again in each of his first four seasons, and in six of his first seven years. Along the way he became a key cog, leading the team in scoring on two of those runs. The team struggled for two seasons after Bill Russell retired, despite Havlicek putting up eye-popping numbers (26.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 7.1 APG over those two seasons). They vaulted back into contention afterwards, led by Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and Jo Jo White. They earned the best record in the league in ’72-’73 (when a shoulder injury to Havlicek may have cost them another championship), and won it all the next season with Havlicek as their best player. Two years later, they won it all again, though by this time, Cowens had taken over as their best player, and Hondo was actually their fourth leading scorer in the regular season (they had four players averaging between 17.0 and 19.0 PPG). In the playoffs that year, Havlicek dealt with a foot injury and only averaged 13.2 PPG in their run to the championship. So Hondo was the best player for one of his eight championships, and was a vital cog on the seven other ones. It should be noted that his advanced stats are surprisingly pedestrian for a player of his caliber. While these facts give more context to his career, let’s be clear – Havlicek was a great player who was clutch, could do everything on the basketball court, and could play in any era.
Pippen’s brilliance is highlighted by his standing as one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. He was a point forward who would be even more valuable in today’s game, in which versatile wings are the gold standard. There are two events that would have further enhanced his legacy and moved him into the highest tier. In 1993-94, when Pippen was arguably the best perimeter player in basketball, he led the Jordan-less Bulls to 55 wins and an Eastern Conference Semifinals appearance. Had Hue Hollins not called a questionable foul on Scottie in the closing seconds of the pivotal Game 5 in New York (the subsequent foul shots erased Chicago’s one-point lead and gave the Knicks the victory), then the Bulls would have had a chance to close out the series in Chicago. There are no guarantees, but the Bulls would have been favored to make the NBA Finals, as an inferior Indiana Pacers team awaited them in the Conference Finals. The second event was the 2000 Western Conference Finals, in Pippen’s first year in Portland. In Game 7, the Blazers blew a 15-point lead with 10:28 remaining in the game, an almost impossible task in an era when three-point shooting was a much smaller part of the game. Pippen’s Blazers (who were more an ensemble rather than a Pippen-led outfit) would have been favored to win the title against the Indiana Pacers in the Finals. Had Pippen succeeded in either of these instances, he would have escaped the long shadow cast by Michael Jordan. As it turns out, there’s nothing wrong with being the greatest sidekick ever, even if he couldn’t win one on his own.
Similar to last season, Kawhi has a chance to enhance his legacy more than any other player over the next few months. He has already shown he can be the lead player on a championship team, and he also gets credit for being an essential part of the 2013-14 NBA champion Spurs, one of the great teams of the current generation. His peak is up there with the greats on this list, but he has a long way to go to earn the career accolades of everyone else in the top 10. With his leg issues and load management, he may never get there, but his brilliant all-around game and championship pedigree still earn him this lofty status. If he’s able to lead the Clippers to the championship, I will bump him up to fifth all-time.
6 – Rick Barry – 128.9 WS, 21.0 PER, .162 WS/48, 10X All-NBA/ABA, 1X Finals MVP, 1 championship (NBA)
Like our fourth-rated small forward, a chunk of Barry’s prime was played in the ABA, and he missed his third professional season due to an unfortunate contract matter. He transferred right after leading the NBA in scoring and taking a mediocre San Francisco Warriors team to the NBA Finals in his second season. His greatest accomplishment was leading the ’74-75 Warriors to the NBA championship; after Barry (who averaged 30.6 PPG and a league leading 2.9 SPG that season), their second leading scorer was rookie Jamaal Wilkes, at 14.2 PPG. Arguably the third best player of the 1970s, Barry’s all-around offensive game would have been effective in any era.
As great as he was, there are two unfortunate circumstances that stand out from Baylor’s career. First is the injury bug; his knee problems began in the 1963-64 season, and he was never the same player once those occurred. That can best be seen in his efficiency stats: in his first five years, he had a cumulative 26.1 PER and .195 WS/48; for the rest of his career, those sunk to 20.2 PER and .112 WS/48. The second issue was his failure to win a championship: he was 0-8 in the NBA Finals, and in ’71-72, he retired after nine games then watched the Lakers win 33 in a row on their way to an elusive ring. However, it’s hard to fault someone who fought so valiantly for so many years. His rookie year, Baylor led a 33-39 Lakers team to the Finals, where they got swept by the Celtics. Over the next four years, he was an absolute tour de force, leading the league in playoff PPG each year and cumulatively averaging 35.8 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 4.1 APG on 45.3% shooting with a 26.7 PER and .205 WS/48 in 47 playoff games. He was a trailblazer who could have reached even greater heights if he had access to modern medicine and/or did not play in the era of Russell’s Celtics.
Dr. J was the best player in the 1A league of the 70s, the ABA. For historical purposes, it’s a shame we don’t have an apples-to-apples comparison of his prime years to other NBA legends. His NBA body of work was certainly impressive, including the fact that his teams were usually in title contention; in his first seven years after the merger, Philadelphia went to the conference finals every year, made four finals appearances, and won one championship, after acquiring Moses Malone in year seven. His legacy would be bolstered if he had been able to win it all as the lead player in the NBA, but two championships as the lead guy in the ABA is certainly noteworthy, especially his run in ’76, when he averaged 34.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 2.0 BPG on 53.3% shooting from the field, with a 32.0 PER and .321 WS/48 in 13 playoff games. His longevity, three championships, and playoff dominance put him in the upper tier of basketball legends.
3 – Kevin Durant – 141.7 WS, 25.2 PER, .217 WS/48, 9X All-NBA, 1X MVP, 2X Finals MVP, 2 championships
Durant has more scoring titles (four) than anyone on this list, and he has become one of the most unstoppable forces in league history with his flawless repertoire. What’s striking about Durant is his consistency: he averaged 25.8 PPG in his lone year at Texas, has averaged 27.0 PPG in his 12 pro seasons, 25.0 PPG in his 10 all-star games, and 29.1 PPG in nine playoff appearances. Just 32 years old by the time the ‘20-21 season starts, he has a good chance at earning the number two slot on this list and knocking on the top 10 all-time player list if he can overcome the devastating Achilles injury he suffered in the 2019 Finals. Even if Durant never played another game, his career accomplishments are already staggering.
For now, Bird holds a slight lead over Durant due to his dominant run as the best player in basketball in the mid-80’s, and his three NBA titles as the lead player. Bird was a timeless offensive player; the thought of him shooting 10+ threes a game in the modern era is tantalizing, even if he would have had struggles on the other end of the court. His passing was as special as his shooting, and he was a tough rebounder who could challenge anyone on this list in that category. My favorite Bird stat? Outside of the year he played 6 games due to injuries, the Celtics averaged 59.1 wins per game in his career, and 61.1 wins in his prime (prior to the ‘88-89 season).
LeBron’s career is now leaps and bounds ahead of the pack due to his combination of peak value and sustained excellence. Consider that as of this writing, his 236.1 career win shares equal the career totals of Elgin Baylor, Kawhi Leonard (to date), and George Yardley combined. Arguably the most versatile player in league history, he has a good chance of having the greatest statistical career ever if he continues his unprecedented run over the next few seasons. A fourth championship as the lead player on his third different team will bolster his GOAT credentials, and may ultimately be his most impressive feat, considering where the Cleveland and Los Angeles franchises were prior to his arrival.
Honorable Mention
33 – Jim Pollard won 5 championships in his seven professional seasons, and as a great athlete and good shooter, his game had a good chance to translate well to other eras…32 – Jamaal Wilkes enjoyed great success in his career, playing a key role on Warriors and Lakers championship teams. He was always overshadowed by bigger stars; in the closeout game of the 1980 NBA Finals, Wilkes scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to support Magic Johnson’s legendary effort…31 – Jack Twyman was the first player (along with Wilt Chamberlain) to crack the 30 PPG mark but played on a series of miserable Cincinnati Royals teams before Oscar Robertson saved the franchise…30 – If you squint, Andre Iguodala‘s game may remind you of Scottie Pippen’s: unselfish, great passing, all-world defense. He was a key component of the great Warriors teams of the past few years, and cemented his name in history with a Finals MVP award in 2015…29 – Bernard King was the best scorer in the world for a one-year stretch, when he led the league in playoff scoring in 1984 then won a scoring championship the following year, before injuries curtailed his prime…28 – George Yardley was the first player in league history to crack 2000 points in a season, and was the leading scorer on the 1954-55 and 1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons teams that lost in the Finals…27 – Chris Mullin was a brilliant offensive player who averaged 25+PPG five years in a row with the run-and-gun Warriors teams of the 1980s/90s…26 – Paul George is an all-around force who should shoot up this list with more healthy, productive seasons…25 – Roger Brown was a three-time ABA champion who led Indiana in playoff scoring in two of those three seasons…24.- Bob Dandridge was a key cog on two NBA champions (the ’71 Bucks and ’78 Bullets), and was a force on both sides of the court. He’s still, unfortunately, waiting for his Hall-of-Fame call…23 – James Worthy was the perfect complement to Magic and Kareem’s Lakers upon his arrival in 1982-83. The three-time champion also had the fourth-greatest game 7 performance ever on his way to the 1988 Finals MVP…22 – Marques Johnson was a force with the great Bucks teams of the late 70s to early 80s, and had better career efficiency stats than most players on this honorable mention list…20 (tied) Carmelo Anthony and Alex English were both one-time scoring champions who are in the 25,000+ point club. Both have virtually equal career offensive and defensive ratings however, indicating their impact on the court was less than their scoring suggested. It also remains unclear how they would best serve a championship-level team, though with the right mix of talent around them, I believe they could have achieved greater team success…19 – Chet Walker never made an all-NBA team, which seems shocking considering his career accomplishments. He was the best player on the early to mid-70s Bulls teams, and was a key cog on the ’67 Sixers, one of the greatest teams ever…18 – Connie Hawkins was unfairly blackballed from the NBA for five seasons. In the last two of those years, he played in the ABA, where he won a scoring title, MVP, and playoffs MVP award in his first season. When he finally made the NBA, he made all-NBA first-team in his debut season and had a productive run thereafter, although his prime was robbed from him…17 – Cliff Hagan was the league’s best player in the 1958 playoffs, when he and Bob Pettit led St. Louis to the championship. He led the league in playoff scoring, field goal percentage, PER, true shooting percentage, win shares, and WS/48 that season, then led again in playoff scoring, PER, and true shooting percentage the following year…16 – Shawn Marion was one of the most underappreciated players of his era; consider that he never made an all-NBA defensive team, and only made two all-NBA teams in his career. However, he was a spectacular player on both ends of the court, and was a key piece on the 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. He also has the second most career win shares of anyone on this honorable mention list…15 – In his prime, Grant Hill was one of the league’s top players, and before his injury woes crept up, he dialed up his scoring to average a career-high 25.8 PPG is his last year in Detroit. Injuries robbed him of many prime seasons, but he wound up playing 18 seasons in the league, including a five-year stretch in Phoenix when he became a valuable role player…14 – Billy Cunningham dominated in the NBA in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with three straight all-NBA first team appearances followed by a second team birth, before jumping to the ABA and winning the MVP award in his first season there. He also was a sixth man extraordinaire on the aforementioned ’67 Sixers title team…13 – Dominique Wilkins never found the team success that would have vaulted him into a higher stratosphere, and he missed out on some key accolades as a result (namely, the Dream Team and NBA’s 50 Greatest Players List). He was, however, an unstoppable force offensively who won a scoring title and finished as the runner-up in the 85-86 MVP race…12 – Adrian Dantley is one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA history, ranking ninth all-time in career true shooting percentage. He also was the leading scorer in the regular season for a team that came within seconds of winning the NBA Finals (the 1988 Pistons). His game may not have translated as easily as others to the modern era, and he only earned two all-NBA honors, but his career is still vastly underrated.
There is more than meets the eye to our next matchup. In theory, Duke should have no trouble at all against Minnesota, considering their histories and their respective standing in the college basketball landscape. However, this tournament is all about NBA performance, and both schools have produced a rich mix of NBA talent. How will the matchup between the NBA Duke Blue Devils vs. NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers play out? Several key factors will determine who advances to the Sweet 16.
Key Matchups
Kevin McHale vs. Duke’s frontline – McHale, one of the greatest power forwards of all time, will face several different looks from the Blue Devils. Luol Deng will start off on him, but Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer, and Christian Laettner should all have a chance to guard him. Duke may have to utilize a double-team and play zone defense at times to disrupt his rhythm, since he should not have trouble with any of these defenders. On defense, McHale is versatile enough to guard Deng and Dunleavy on the perimeter, and he won’t embarrass himself if he’s forced to guard Grant Hill. Overall, McHale is a nice trump card who allows Minnesota to play big without sacrificing anything defensively against Duke’s modern offense.
Grant Hill vs. Sweet Lou and friends – Hill will split time with Kyrie Irving running Duke’s offense. He’ll primarily be matched up against Minnesota’s best perimeter scorer, Sweet Lou Hudson. Hill is bigger and more athletic than Hudson and should have a good series on both ends of the court. Hudson was a game defender, but he’ll likely need help from his teammates against the versatile Hill. Expect McHale to spend some time on Hill, with Hudson switching off to the bigger but less impactful Luol Deng. Off the bench, Minnesota does not have many ideal options to play against Hill or scoring wing Corey Maggette. Jim Brewer was a defensive stud, but he was more of a traditional power forward who was not used to defending quick, athletically dominant opponents. Mark Olberding would likely get the assignment, but Hill or Maggette should have their way if this matchup materializes. On the other end, Duke’s Shane Battier can harass Hudson all over the court and prevent any easy buckets for the should-be-Hall-of-Famer.
Biggest Mismatches
Duke’s bench vs. Minnesota’s bench – Duke’s bench provides them with a range of options in playing their opponents. Battier can give them an airtight perimeter defense when paired with Deng and Hill. J.J. Redick and Mike Dunleavy open up the floor for their teammates. Bob Verga, Maggette, and Carlos Boozer can provide instant offense, while Christian Laettner gives them a versatile big man who can do a little of everything on the offensive end. Minnesota’s bench is led by Bobby Jackson, who can provide instant offense, Trent Tucker and Voshon Lenard, who can shoot the lights out, and Brewer, who can provide a strong interior defensive presence, but it has neither the high-end talent nor depth of its counterpart.
Minnesota’s size advantage up front – Duke will typically forgo traditional two-big lineups, instead using Deng and Dunleavy as stretch-fours who can compete on both ends of the court. That should be good news for McHale as mentioned above, and he and Brewer should be able to take advantage of this on the glass as well. Mychal Thompson will have his hands full with Elton Brand, but he can use his height advantage to bother Brand on defense. If Thompson can keep up with Brand on the boards, Minnesota should be in good shape, but Duke’s size on the wing will help to mitigate this.
X-Factor
What will Duke’s late-game offense look like? Kyrie Irving is the best guard in this series, and the best bucket-getter for the Blue Devils. He can create any shot he wants, and he’s had success as a closer late in games. He’ll have to find the right balance between hero-ball and putting his teammates in position to succeed. Duke has an array of shooters they can pair Irving with, along with Hill and Brand, who should be involved in the closing minutes. Minnesota will primarily rely on Hudson and McHale down the stretch, though Archie Clark will be involved as well, preferably in more of a facilitator role.
Results
Minnesota comes to play, and utilizes their strong frontcourt and brilliant performances by McHale and Clark to take several games. However, Duke utilizes their depth and versatility to wear down the Golden Gophers over the course of the series. Their strong perimeter defense on Hudson limits his effectiveness, and Irving helps them close it out in six hard fought games.
Duke wins, four games to two.
Next Round
Duke faces the winner of San Francisco vs. Georgetown.
Our next team will try to play the role of spoiler in the NBA March Madness Tournament. They’ve had modest success throughout their history, making the NCAA Tournament 14 times, and the Final Four once, an appearance which was later vacated by the NCAA. Now led by the son of a coaching legend, they’re hoping to become relevant again in the college basketball landscape. Despite their struggles, they’ve produced impressive NBA talent throughout their history, including four top-five draft picks, all of whom are represented on this roster. The NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers are a talented underdog who boasts a formidable starting unit.
Archie Clark was one of the most exciting players of his era, using crossovers and hesitation dribbles like a modern-day guard. Today, the two-time all-star would likely be able to stretch his jump shot out to the three-point line and have his scoring ability translate to the modern era. Clark could play at either guard position, as could his starting backcourt mate, Ray Williams. Williams was dynamic in the early years of his career, cumulatively averaging 19.6 PPG and 6.0 APG from 1978-79 to 1981-82. He had a sweet jump shot that also would have likely translated to the three-point line in today’s NBA, and on the other end of the court, he aggressively hunted for steals (averaging 2+ SPG four times in his career), and had solid defensive metrics during his prime (top 5 in defensive rating and defensive box plus/minus in 1983-84). The depth of this backcourt is impressive, with Bobby Jackson, Trent Tucker, and Voshon Lenard coming off the bench. Jackson found his calling in Sacramento, as a dynamic sixth man who could change the pace of a game and score in bunches. Tucker is the tallest member of the group (6’5”), who was one of the league’s greatest shooters. He can play next to any of the aforementioned guards and serve as a valuable floor spacer. Lenard can do the same, though he wasn’t as accurate as Tucker from long-range, especially when the three-point line was moved back to its original distance after the ’97 season. However, he could still shoot it effectively (37.9% career from three at the normal distance), and he should be able to earn minutes for this team, even as a fifth guard.
The starting forwards were Hall-of-Fame-level competitors whose games would translate to any era. Lou Hudson was a brilliant scorer who arguably had the prettiest jump shot of his generation. In his six-year prime, he cumulatively averaged 25.2 PPG on an efficient 49.7% from the field, and it’s scary to think about what he could do with the three-point line (think Klay Thompson with more playmaking and off-the-dribble capacity). He also was a disruptive defender, averaging 2.5 steals per game in the first year they recorded the statistic and posting solid defensive ratings throughout the latter half of his career (when this statistic was able to be computed). Kevin McHale was one of the most efficient scorers ever, earning a 60.5% career true shooting percentage and mastering the art of low-post basketball. He was also a dogged defender, earning six all-defensive team nods and guarding a range of players on the perimeter and low post. They’re backed up by Mark Olberding, who was part of the San Antonio Spurs’ ‘Bruise Brothers’ frontcourt that rebounded at a high level and roughed up their opponents. He could play either forward position, though he would be a better fit as a modern day four (or five) who could pass well for his position. Jim Brewer was the second overall pick in the 1973 NBA draft; while he did not live up to that lofty status, he was an all-league defender who has a top-20 all-time defensive rating for his career.
The starting center, Mychal Thompson, was the number one overall pick in 1978. He averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds in his third (active) year in the league, and in a five-year stretch in Portland, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 1.5 BPG on 50.9% shooting from the field. After a brief detour in San Antonio, he served as a high-end backup for two championship teams in Los Angeles before starting on a 63-win team that disappointed in the playoffs. A talented rebounder and passer, he should be able to play well with McHale. He’s backed up by two behemoths: Joel Przybilla and Randy Breuer. The 7’1” Przybilla was a force on the boards and protecting the rim; in 2008-09, he had his best year and led the league in rebounding percentage. The 7’3” Breuer had a few solid seasons early in his career, but would have a very hard time adjusting to today’s game and is likely to be called upon only if his teammates get in foul trouble.
The NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers should be a high-scoring team, with Hudson and McHale leading a balanced attack. Their best defensive lineup will likely feature McHale, Brewer, and Hudson, with a rotating cast at the other two positions depending on the matchup. Seeded 29th in our tournament, they have a first-round matchup against the NBA Duke Blue Devils.
Our next profile features alums from the gold standard of college hoops. How amazing has their run been since Mike Krzyzewski took over in the 1980-81 season? They’ve earned the number one ranking in the AP poll in 20 of 40 seasons. They’ve made the Final Four 12 times, including a stretch from 1985-86 through 1993-94 where they made 7 in 9 seasons. They’ve won five national championships, and were runner-up four other times. While they’ve consistently remained relevant in the national title picture, the quality of their NBA players has changed over time. At the beginning of Coach K’s tenure, a high percentage of their players failed to make a meaningful impact in the pros. Over time, as they’ve adapted to the “one-and-done” era, they’ve produced a steady stream of early entry stars, including three members of their starting lineup, who combined to play four collegiate seasons. The NBA Duke Blue Devils are led by 10 players from Coach K’s legendary tenure, which looks poised to continue into the foreseeable future.
Kyrie Irving didn’t exactly have a lasting impact at Duke, missing 26 games in his lone season on campus before becoming the number one pick in the NBA Draft. Despite this, he has become the greatest pro guard the school has ever produced. Irving is an unparalleled shot maker, who has thrived in clutch situations, including in the 2016 Finals, when he made one of the most important shots in NBA history. His efficiency stands out; over the past four years (from 2016-17 through 2019-20), he has shot a combined 48.2% from the field, 40.2% from three, and 89.4% the line, while scoring 24.8 points per game with a 24.0 PER and .194 WS/48. He will serve as this team’s best late game option on offense. He’s joined in the starting lineup by Jeff Mullins, a three-time all-star who scored more than 20 points per game four consecutive years in his prime with the Warriors. Mullins had good size for his position at the time (6’4”), and was able to beat opponents with his effective pull-up jumper and by driving to the hole. He and Irving will be difficult for opponents to stop, as both have well-rounded offensive games. Bob Verga is another explosive offensive option who can play either guard position off the bench. Verga was a scoring machine in his brief ABA career, which peaked in 1969-70, when he averaged 27.5 PPG and made the all-ABA first team while finishing fifth in the MVP race. He’ll be used when this team needs instant offense off the bench, and he can play alongside both starting guards. J.J. Redick is one of the modern game’s great shooters, who seems to get better with age. He will add another dimension to this team’s offensive game, as his floor spacing will create room for all of their primary options.
To date, Grant Hill is the only Naismith Hall-of-Famer to attend Duke. Hill was one of the league’s great playmakers from the small forward position, and may be the best passer on this team. One of the most impressive parts of Hill’s career is the way he battled through years of injuries and remade his game into an effective supporting role with Phoenix. He can wear multiple hats on this team; lead play maker and primary ball-handler as he played in his Detroit days, or 3-and-D complementary piece as he played in Phoenix. Luol Deng was a rock-solid pro who gave his all for the Tom Thibodeau Chicago Bulls teams of the 2010s. A two-time all-star, he was a standout defensive player who proved to be a very effective stretch-four in Miami (after playing small forward most of his career), before his career cratered in Los Angeles. Deng adds a much-needed defensive presence for the starting lineup, and Shane Battier, the famed “no-stats all-star” will do the same off the bench. Battier is another valuable 3-and-D piece who can easily slot into the starting lineup when needed and guard the opposing team’s best player. Corey Maggette is another swingman who may be this team’s best athlete. Maggette was an underrated scorer who had a tremendous ability to draw fouls, where he sank over 82% of his shots for his career. A three-time 20+ PPG scorer, he did most of his damage from the mid-range and in, and he’ll add another dimension for this team on offense. Mike Dunleavy Jr. was an excellent role player who could play multiple positions while also spacing the floor. In the modern game, he’d be a prototypical four, who can switch on to smaller players when needed.
Elton Brand will start as this team’s center. Brand was an excellent pro who helped the Clippers briefly escape the doldrums in the early 2000s. In Brand’s first eight seasons as a pro, before he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in his ninth season and moved to a different phase of his career, he averaged 20.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 2.1 blocks per game, on 50.5% shooting from the field with 22.7 PER and .168 WS/48. His long arms, stout frame, and ability to protect the rim will help him man the middle despite his relatively short stature (6’8”). Off the bench, Carlos Boozer was another 20/10 guy in his prime, who mastered the pick-and-pop game in his seasons with the Jazz. The league has evolved and power forwards like Boozer who don’t switch or protect the rim on defense or space the floor on offense are not as prevalent in today’s game, but this team can experiment with Boozer at center backing up Brand or playing alongside Elton in more traditional lineups. Christian Laettner is this team’s tallest player at 6’11, and he’ll serve as Brand’s primary backup off the bench. Laettner had a somewhat underrated pro career, averaging 17.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.0 BPG over his first five seasons, and he likely could have extended the range on his jump shot out to the three-point line in the modern-day game.
This team’s positional versatility will be tremendous, as they sport a high volume of long, athletic wings that are the biggest asset in the modern-day game. They will feature Battier, Deng, and Hill in their best defensive lineups, and their offense will run primarily through Hill, Irving, and Brand. The fourth-rated team in our tournament, they have an intriguing first-round matchup against the NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers.
