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.
In the end, the results were inevitable. The NBA has been dominated by two franchises since its inception. One rose to power with the greatest dynasty in professional sports history, capturing 11 championships in 13 seasons from 1957 to 1969. The other was established with a selection of the highest profile players in league history, leading to the NBA’s best franchise winning percentage, and the most Finals appearances. The greatest rivalry in NBA history is reborn in the finals of the NBA Franchise Tournament: the All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Los Angeles Lakers.
Matchup Breakdown
Ball handlers: Each team is guided by the greatest point guard of his generation. The Celtics have multiple points of attack on offense, but their starting lineup will primarily be led by Bob Cousy. The Houdini of the Hardwood brings elite court vision and ample big game experience, but his slight frame will create issues on defense. The Lakers high-scoring attack will be guided by Magic Johnson, a 6’9” anomaly who can physically dominate Boston’s backcourt. Neither player was known for his outside shot; expect each team to put the ball in their playmaker’s hands and surround him with scorers.
Johnson’s size will cause Boston to cross-match defensively. When the starters are in, expect Sam Jones and Larry Bird to take turns checking Johnson. Cousy will primarily defend Jerry West, and will struggle with West’s length and athleticism advantage. Johnson will primarily guard Cousy on defense, but will also spend time on his archrival Larry Bird, due to their size similarities.
Each team will go stretches without a traditional point guard on the floor. Jo Jo White is Boston’s theoretical backup point guard, but he’ll struggle to crack this talented squad’s rotation. Bill Sharman, John Havlicek and Larry Bird will split time initiating the offense when Cousy rests. They’ll also look to get on the break whenever possible, with Bill Russell and Dave Cowens expertly throwing outlet passes to initiate this action. Jerry West and Gail Goodrich will initiate L.A.’s attack when Johnson sits. While both are capable of filling this role, expect Johnson, the only true floor leader on a team with many mouths to feed, to play heavy minutes throughout the series.
Wings: Boston has a deep collection of wing players that will present matchup problems for Los Angeles. Sam Jones was one of the great clutch players in NBA history, and his constant movement with and without the ball may tire his defenders out over the course of the series. Sixth man extraordinaire John Havlicek, who may have been the most tireless player in the NBA, will split time off the bench at shooting guard and small forward. Havlicek was one of the great all-around players in league history, and he stands as Boston’s best wing defender against L.A.’s high-powered attack. Larry Bird, the centerpiece of Boston’s offensive attack, will start each game at small forward, but will frequently play as a stretch four, especially if Los Angeles goes large stretches without a traditional power forward, as expected. Paul Pierce was another deadly scorer whose firepower will be needed in this series.
Los Angeles counters with three legendary wing scorers in their starting lineup. Jerry West will stretch the floor and serve as L.A.’s secondary ball handler on offense, while doubling as their best wing defender. Kobe Bryant will also be tasked with focusing more on defense, which he exceled at during his prime. Elgin Baylor will also start, and though he lacks great size, he’ll help the Lakers stay competitive on the glass against Boston’s bigger frontcourt. Off the bench, Jim Pollard will contribute with his athleticism and long-distance shooting ability. He’ll stretch the floor and help to guard Boston’s plethora of wing options. Like Baylor, James Worthy will primarily play at power forward, and will boost L.A.’s athleticism advantage whenever he’s on the court. Both Pollard and Worthy will balance the Lakers lineup as lower usage players who will fit in alongside any combination they’re paired with.
Big Men: Boston will start three players who stand between 6’9” and 6’10”. The aforementioned Bird will split time between the forward positions, while Kevin McHale and Bill Russell will man the interior for the starting lineup. McHale will have a distinct advantage on offense against L.A.’s smaller forwards, and will be one of Boston’s primary options as a result. He’s also skilled and versatile enough on defense to guard Baylor and Worthy, and will be utilized in Boston’s most effective defensive lineups. Russell, the greatest defensive player in NBA history, will face the greatest challenge of his career in this series, matching up against three behemoths who are all among the greatest scorers of all time: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and his old adversary Wilt Chamberlain. He’ll use his uncanny motor to try to beat them down the court on offense, but his effectiveness on defense will be compromised by their sheer size and talent levels. Dave Cowens, another 6’9” undersized center, will use his bulk and will to attempt to slow this trio down. Robert Parish, Boston’s only true seven-footer, will also get plenty of minutes, but does not have the bulk to stop any of L.A.’s threats. Russell and Parish will need to use their quickness and speed advantage to score easy baskets on offense, and tire their counterparts out.
Jabbar will anchor L.A.’s big man rotation, and will serve as the centerpiece of their dynamic offense. O’Neal’s brute force will provide a devastating contrast for L.A.’s second unit, which Boston will have difficulty countering. Chamberlain’s Laker years were characterized by lower usage, high efficiency, and dominating defense, and coach Pat Riley will utilize him in their best defensive lineups. Expect the legendary George Mikan to play sparingly as the fourth center, but he will provide another dominating offensive presence when called upon.
Five-man Lineups
Coach Red Auerbach will likely use a combination of the following five five-man lineups most frequently throughout series:
John Havlicek and Paul Pierce will play two of the biggest roles on the team off the bench, as swingmen who can match up with Los Angeles defensively. Late in games, Auerbach may turn to his best defensive lineup of Jones-Pierce-Havlicek-McHale-Russell for key stops.
Coach Pat Riley will be tempted to try two-center lineups, but will ultimately stay away and utilize his wing depth. Each center will be surrounded by shooting, which will force Boston to make a difficult choice – leave Russell, Cowens, and Parish alone on an island defensively, or double-team and try to recover on the perimeter. Gail Goodrich and Pollard provide elite shooting off the bench, while West, Bryant, Worthy and Baylor will be used together in their defensive lineup, with Chamberlain in the middle, to form a dominant athletic quintet.
Biggest Mismatches
The size and bulk of L.A.’s centers – Boston’s centers are all physically overmatched, and will struggle to contain the Laker big men. They’re also in danger of falling into foul trouble, and must avoid taking the easy way out early in games, especially with O’Neal and Chamberlain. Boston’s big men will not require the same level of attention on the other end of the court, and each Lakers center should be able to hold their own in their defensive matchup.
Boston’s passing offense – Boston’s offense will flow through the unselfish hands of their playmakers, Cousy and Bird. These are two of the best passers in league history, and together with Russell, a great passing big man, their offense will hum. The Lakers have Magic Johnson, so they won’t be devoid of playmaking, but their offense has a greater chance of stalling with some of the high-volume scorers on their roster.
L.A.’s athleticism advantage – Both teams boast tremendous depth and versatility, but L.A. has a greater collection of athletes on their roster. West, Bryant, Pollard, Worthy, and Baylor can disrupt Boston on both sides of the ball, and will cover ample ground on defense. Boston has Havlicek, who will see starter’s minutes in this series, but the rest of their perimeter players fall short of L.A.’s in this department.
X-Factor
History – These teams have met 12 times in the Finals, with Boston winning nine of those matchups. West and Baylor were famously never able to defeat Russell, which haunts them to this day, as West eerily described in his autobiography. However, Johnson, Jabbar, and Worthy were able to win two of their three finals matchups against Bird, McHale, and Parish, and Bryant split his two finals series against Pierce. Does any of this matter? Is Boston’s “mystique” actually something that Los Angeles fears, or does their recent success render this meaningless?
Results
Los Angeles comes out in full attack mode, and wins the first two games of the series against a shell-shocked Celtics team. Boston, however, refuses to wilt, with Bird and Russell leading the way to two close wins to tie the series up. In the critical game five, Magic Johnson orchestrates a perfect game, and Shaquille O’Neal, a destroyer of worlds in his Lakers Finals appearances, overwhelms his smaller counterparts in a comfortable victory. Los Angeles leads throughout the sixth game, but down the stretch, key plays by Jones and Havlicek save Boston and set up a winner-takes-all game seven.
In the final game, both teams play inspired basketball. Russell and Jones lead Boston to the brink of a championship, using their collective will and clutch team play. Down the stretch, however, Magic finds Jerry West repeatedly behind the arc, where he hits multiple clutch three-pointers. The curse is lifted, as West and Baylor finally get to celebrate against their tormentors.
Our first semifinal matchup is a battle between the most balanced team in our tournament against arguably the most offensively explosive one. Boston has had a relatively easy path to this point, with a first-round bye and two five-game series, while Golden State shocked many with their narrow escape in the Elite Eight against the vaunted Spurs. Can the Warriors continue their magical run by outscoring the number one seed? The All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Golden State Warriors is an intriguing matchup, featuring some of the game’s greatest stars.
Key Matchups
Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell – Perhaps the greatest rivalry in NBA history resurfaces in the Franchise Tournament. The greatest offensive force in league history faces the greatest defensive stopper. These two battled 57 times when Wilt was a Warrior, with Russell’s Celtics winning 41 of those encounters. Chamberlain averaged 35.4 PPG in those encounters, which, while obviously dominant, was less than the 41.5 PPG he averaged in his Warriors career. Russell’s ability to defend Chamberlain one-on-one with no help will be an essential part of Boston’s defense; they can’t afford to sag off of Golden State’s shooters if they have any chance of slowing the Warriors down.
Larry Bird vs. Rick Barry – An absolutely joyous matchup between an original (Barry) and his doppelganger (Bird). Both players were known for their transcendent shooting and passing skills, and each was the best player on a championship team (in Bird’s case, teams). Bird was a bigger player (6’9” and 220 lbs, compared to Barry’s 6’7” 205 pound frame), and can easily switch to power forward when needed. Neither player should be expected to stop the other, though Boston can switch the multitalented Kevin McHale onto Barry while Bird guards Neil Johnston. Expect John Havlicek to play heavy minutes on Barry as well, while Golden State’s best perimeter defender, Tom Gola, will often be tasked with guarding Bird and Boston’s other wings.
Bob Cousy vs. Stephen Curry – One of the first showmen in league history takes on the most recent. Cousy, one of the greatest passers in league history, led the league in assists for eight straight seasons, and was the second player in league history to win the MVP award. Curry, one of the greatest shooters ever, has led the league in made three point field goals for four years running, and has captured the last two MVP awards. Both are probably better defenders than they’re given credit for; Cousy accumulated more defensive than offensive win shares in his career, while Curry has become a solid defender over time, as detailed here. However, neither is a good bet to stop the other, but Cousy, in particular, must avoid defensive lapses against the explosive Curry, whose three-point shooting provides a unique challenge for opponents.
Biggest Mismatches
Boston’s versatility vs. Golden State’s – The Celtics have the ability to win any type of matchup with their depth and versatility. They can play big with any combination of Russell, Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, McHale, and Tom Heinsohn, or play small with Havlicek and Paul Pierce occupying the forward positions. They can also trot out a defensive lineup featuring Russell, McHale, Havlicek, and Sam Jones, and can space the floor on offense with Bird, Bill Sharman, and Pierce. They also have Red Auerbach on the sidelines, who got the most out of his players and popularized several strategic concepts, such as the sixth man. He’ll meld the extraordinary talent on the Boston roster and put them in position to succeed. Golden State has several solid wing defenders in Gola and Guy Rodgers, and two players who can protect the paint in Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond. However, their best lineup probably consists of one of Gola or Thurmond alongside Chamberlain, Barry, Paul Arizin, and Curry, which leaves them vulnerable to opposing perimeter threats. Expect Boston to hide their defensive liabilities better, and to benefit from the two-way ability of many of their stars.
Wilt the Stilt – One could argue that despite his gaudy numbers as a Warrior, Wilt’s best years were with the Sixers, where he served as the centerpiece of one of the great teams in NBA history. The Warriors’ version of Wilt was accused of being a stat-monger who cared more about individual glory than team success. Is that a fair assessment? Probably not, since his teams made one NBA Finals appearance and two Eastern Division Finals appearances in his five and a half years there. However, there are concerns about how he will mesh with Barry, a notoriously difficult personality who has lambasted Chamberlain in the past, and how he will react to playing alongside so much firepower. If coach Al Attles can channel him to play like he did with the Sixers, then Golden State has a chance to win this series. If he’s not interested in letting his teammates shine, they’re in trouble.
Results
Despite the questions surrounding fit and personality, Chamberlain and Barry play brilliantly, and lead Golden State to several wins over the favored Celtics. Boston, however, has the deeper, more versatile roster, and their championship mettle comes through over the course of the series. Every single player on the Boston roster won at least one championship with the club, and the 17-time champions advance, as expected, to the Franchise Tournament finals.
Our first Sweet Sixteen match features perhaps the greatest franchise in NBA history facing off against a former powerhouse who has struggled to stay relevant in recent seasons. Is this a mismatch? Or can Kareem Abdul-Jabbar carry his team to another upset victory? Here is the battle between the All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Milwaukee Bucks.
Key Matchups
Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, and Robert Parish vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Vin Baker: Milwaukee’s biggest strength, the play of their legendary big man, will be tested by Boston’s trio of Hall-of-Famers. Russell never had a chance to play against Jabbar, but Cowens and Parish had extensive experience going against him. Cowens played against the Milwaukee version of Jabbar in the 1974 NBA Finals, and unsurprisingly struggled to slow him down (Jabbar averaged 32.6 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.4 APG, and shot .524 from the field, while Cowens averaged 22.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, and shot .439). Jabbar doesn’t have a true backup center, however, so he’ll have to play big minutes in this series. The fastbreak ability of Russell and Parish, along with the bruising relentlessness of Cowens, may wind up wearing him down.
Boston’s bench vs. Milwaukee’s bench: The Celtics feature a bench without any weaknesses. Milwaukee has a solid bench, led by their dynamic point guard duo (Oscar Robertson and the underrated Sam Cassell), but they’ll be hard pressed to stay with the Celtics’ Hall-of-Famers.
Biggest Mismatch
Boston’s big man depth vs. Milwaukee’s big man depth: In addition to their three centers, the Celtics have Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, and Tommy Heinsohn, all of whom can play power forward. Milwaukee only has Vin Baker and Terry Cummings besides Jabbar, so they’ll have to play some small-ball lineups featuring Marques Johnson or Bob Dandridge at the four.
The first season for Milwaukee was 1968-69, which was the final year of Bill Russell’s Celtics dynasty. Six players on the All-Time Celtics team had already established themselves in Boston before the Bucks even existed. Boston had a 22 year head start on Milwaukee, and won 10 titles in that time (and an 11th in the Bucks’ first year of existence).
Results
The Celtics use their great depth to outlast a game Bucks team. The old guard celebrates another playoff victory.
Our last profile details the top seed in our tournament, the All-Time Boston Celtics Team. Not surprisingly, every single player on this roster is either already in the Hall of Fame, or will be inducted as soon as they are eligible. They have the most combined all-star game and all-NBA appearances of any franchise team, and have some of the most recognizable names in basketball history. They also have perhaps the tournament’s most balanced roster, with a mix of offensive and defensive play makers that will confound their opposition.
Bob Cousy is the easy choice for starting lead guard. Cousy was the premier play maker of his era, capturing eight straight assist titles from 1953 to 1960. After his rookie year, he made the All-NBA first team for 10 straight years, and helped Boston capture six titles in his final seven seasons. Speaking of championships, the starting two guard, Sam Jones, helped Boston win 10 titles in his 12 seasons with the team. While he wasn’t as decorated as some of his contemporaries, he was well known for his clutch play, as his legendary teammate once described (quoted from Elliot Kalb’s entertaining book, Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball?): “Whenever the pressure was greatest, Sam was eager for the ball. Sam Jones had a champion’s heart. Under pressure, we had hidden on our team a class superstar of the highest caliber…in the seventh game of a championship series, I’ll take Sam over any player who’s ever walked on a court.” Jo Jo White, the backup point guard, was a key member of the Celtics’ two championship teams in the 1970s. His long Boston career allowed him to edge out Dennis Johnson, another worthy candidate, who is among several legends to miss the cut for this stacked roster. Bill Sharman is the backup two guard, and is among several bench players who have a convincing case for inclusion in the starting lineup. He was among the greatest free throw shooters in NBA history, and may have been the best shooter of his era.
Larry Bird, the starting small forward, is among the greatest players in NBA history. He captured three straight MVP awards from 1984 through 1986, and was one of the greatest shooters and passers who ever played at his position. Kevin McHale, who earned this author’s vote as the ninth greatest power forward in history, will start at the four. McHale was a master in the low post, and doubled as a defensive stopper who could guard a range of positions effectively. Off the bench, John Havlicek was one of the greatest forwards in NBA history, and was also an overqualified sixth man at the beginning of his career, who will fill that role for this team as well. Known for his clutch play and his tireless energy on the basketball court, “Hondo” was one of the game’s greatest all-around players, and he’ll play at both shooting guard and small forward for this team. Paul Pierce was one of the best pure scorers in team history, averaging over 25.0 PPG five times in his career, during a low-scoring era. He’ll also play both two guard and small forward, and he adds another three-point shooting threat to the roster. Tommy Heinsohn is now best known for his role as a beloved homer announcer, but he was first a Hall-of-Fame player (and coach) who could play both forward positions.
Bill Russell, perhaps the greatest defensive player in NBA history, is the starting center. Russell famously won 11 championships in his 13 seasons, an unfathomable record that is likely never to be broken in any of the four major sports. His unique impact was recognized by his peers, as he was voted MVP five times in an era when players voted on this award. He was also a phenomenal passer who will combine with Cousy and Bird to give Boston arguably the best passing starting lineup in the tournament. He’s backed up by Dave Cowens, who made up for his (relatively) small stature with an unrelenting work ethic. Cowens led the team to two titles in the 1970s, and he was another excellent passer for his position. The third center, Robert Parish, was a stoic pillar of the 1980s championship teams who was remarkably consistent in his 14 years with the franchise. Ed Macauley and Kevin Garnett are notable omissions from this deep frontcourt, both of whom would warrant inclusion on almost any other franchise team.
This team should be able to wear opponents out with their great depth. With 17 championships, they are our top-seeded team, and face the All-Time Milwaukee Bucks team in the second round of our tournament.
The only interesting battle between the All-Time Philadelphia 76ers vs. All-Time Minnesota Timberwolves is at the power forward position, where three legends will face off (Charles Barkley, Dolph Schayes, and Kevin Garnett). Garnett was part of a recent renaissance at the position that re-set the all-time rankings. Here are the statistics for the greatest power forwards ever, and then my rankings, from 10 to one (note: Elgin Baylor, Billy Cunningham, Chris Bosh, and Pau Gasol had more years at other positions than at power forward in the basketball-reference.com database, so they’re not included in this analysis).
Honorable Mention
Bailey Howell, Tommy Heinsohn, and Vern Mikkelsen were multiple time all-stars who contributed to championship teams over the course of their underrated careers…Through nine seasons, Shawn Kemp made six all-star game appearances, and was an integral cog in several championship-level teams in Seattle. However, his career soon fell off of a cliff, and he has the least compelling case of the 19 players listed here…Spencer Haywood won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season in the American Basketball Association, but had his greatest NBA success on a string of losing teams in Seattle…Dave DeBusschere and Dennis Rodman are two of the greatest defensive players of all time, who were key contributors to championship teams. It’s difficult to leave them out of the top 10, but their combined three all-NBA team appearances and limited offensive arsenals prevent them from being placed above the other legends on the list…Chris Webber and George McGinnis have similar statistical profiles, and each has an intriguing Hall-of-Fame case. However, Webber’s prime was cut short by injuries, and McGinnis was not nearly as dominant in the NBA as he was in the ABA.
10. Jerry Lucas
Lucas was a rebounding machine who made three all-NBA first-team appearances in the 1960s ahead of the likes of John Havlicek and Willis Reed (who was considered a power forward for a few years in his career). He was a contributor to the second Knicks championship team (off the bench), had a very high field goal percentage for his era, and currently ranks as the fourth leading rebounder in NBA history on a per game basis.
9. Kevin McHale
McHale never had to carry a team on his own, and came off the bench for the majority of his career. When he was on the court, however, he was an offensive force, and currently has the highest field goal percentage in NBA history for a non-center (outside of Bo Outlaw, who rarely shot the basketball). He was also a brilliant defender, making six all-NBA defensive teams. Similar to Rodman and DeBusschere, he lacks the all-NBA team appearances that others on the list accumulated. However, he was a far superior offensive player to either of those two, and while his excellent defense may not have been as renowned as either of theirs, it was still elite, and thus, his all-around play lands him in the top 10.
8. Elvin Hayes
I’ve already chronicled the many criticisms of Hayes, who was as difficult a personality as there was in the NBA. However, it’s hard to look past his 12 all-star game appearances, six all-NBA appearances, and the fact that he was the leading scorer and rebounder on a team that won the NBA championship. You could win with Elvin Hayes, despite his personality issues, and his resume secures his place on this list.
7. Dolph Schayes
Schayes was one of the NBA’s best players in its infancy, making six All-NBA first team and six All-NBA second team appearances from 1950 to 1961. He was the best player on a championship team (the 1955 Syracuse Nationals), and was one of only 10 players to make the league’s Silver Anniversary team.
5. (Tie) Charles Barkley and Dirk Nowitzki
These are two of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. Dirk is one of the greatest jump-shooting big men ever, while Barkley did his best work near the basket. Barkley was also a relentless rebounder, while Nowitzki is one of only two players to register below eight rebounds per game on this list. Both thrived in the playoffs; in 123 playoff games, Barkley averaged 23.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, and had a 24.2 PER, while Nowitzki averaged 25.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 24.0 PER in 140 playoff games. Barkley infamously never won a championship, while Nowitzki was the best player on the Mavericks only championship team in 2011. Each won one MVP award, and each led the league in PER one season. Nowitzki gets extra credit for leading a constantly rotating supporting cast to 11 straight 50 win seasons during the prime of his career.
4. Karl Malone
As Jack McCallum described in Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever, I believe that Barkley was a better player than Malone during their respective primes. However, Malone’s work ethic allowed him to get the very best out of his body, and his 14 all-star game and all-NBA appearances reflect this. Malone was fortunate to play his entire career with one of the greatest orchestrators in NBA history, while Barkley didn’t play with an elite playmaker until he was traded to Phoenix, and Nowitzki lost Steve Nash just as both were entering their respective primes. Malone’s PER dropped from 23.9 in the regular season to 21.1 in the playoffs, and he wasn’t at his best in his two NBA Finals appearances. Malone gets credit for being a solid defender, which isn’t something that can be said about Barkley or Nowitzki. Numbers three through six are very close, and could change once Nowitzki’s career is finished.
3. Kevin Garnett
During his prime, Garnett may have been the best all-around player in the NBA. While he wasn’t the scorer that Barkley, Nowitzki, or Malone was, he was still a multitalented offensive threat, who once averaged a mind-blowing six assists per game from the power forward position. He’s also one of the handful of greatest defensive players in NBA history, operating almost as a giant Scottie Pippen, who could singlehandedly disrupt opposing offenses. In Minnesota, his postseason play was sometimes criticized, but he never had adequate talent around him to win a championship. He led the Celtics to a title in his first year with the club, and could have repeated if he hadn’t suffered a season-ending injury the next year (he was never the same player after that). His all-around play places him in the top three.
2. Bob Pettit
Pettit has an unassailable resume. He made the all-star game every year of his career. He made the All-NBA first team in each of his first 10 seasons, and made the second team in his 11th and final year. He was the best player on a championship team, and led the Hawks to three other NBA Finals appearances. Advanced statistics support the fact that he was one of the handful of greatest players ever, and he is one of only three players on this list to win multiple regular season MVP awards.
1. Tim Duncan
The only ‘criticism’ of Duncan is that he’s played half of his career at center, but for our purposes, he’s eligible for this list (basketball-reference.com has him listed as playing primarily power forward in 10 seasons, and primarily playing center in eight). Like Malone and Nowitzki, Duncan has aged like fine wine, and has accumulated the most all-star game, all-NBA, and all-NBA defensive appearances on this list. His advanced statistics are spectacular. He’s a two-way player, who can operate as the offensive and defensive anchor on championship-level teams. He’s won five championships, and has been the clear-cut best player on four of those teams. His playoff PER is virtually identical to his regular season PER. And he’s still going! Duncan is the greatest ever.
