Tag: Otis Birdsong

All-Time Brooklyn Nets Team

All-Time Brooklyn Nets Team Infographic

The All-Time Brooklyn Nets team is…lacking. It’s lacking the clear-cut greatest player in franchise history, Julius Erving, because he only played three seasons with the franchise (sorry Nets fans, but these are the rules of our tournament). It’s also lacking other greats such as Rick Barry and Drazen Petrovic, due to the same longevity issue. What we’re left with is an underwhelming group that reflects the team’s standing as an NBA also-ran and fails to adequately commemorate their two ABA championships. Even though those championships make them our 11th seeded team, their lack of high-end talent makes them susceptible to an early-round exit.

Since Erving is ineligible, the great Jason Kidd is the team’s best player, and is one of only three players to be a member of three of our all-time franchise teams (along with Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal). Kidd led the Nets through an historically weak Eastern Conference and to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. He’s joined in the starting backcourt by Vince Carter, an elite scorer in his time with the franchise, who represented them on three all-star teams. While the Carter-Kidd backcourt failed to put the team over the top from 2005 to 2008, they had complementary skill sets, and were lethal in the open court. They’re backed up by another three-time all-star, Bill Melchionni, who twice led the ABA in assists and was a contributor to the two championship teams in 1974 and 1976. Kenny Anderson, the talented New York product who never lived up to the enormous expectations placed on him, will serve as the third point guard. Otis Birdsong, a one-time all-star with the Nets, will back up Carter along with Kerry Kittles, a solid all-around player who ranks in the top ten in team history in field goals, three pointers, total points, and steals.

While Richard Jefferson, the starting small forward, was not Erving or Barry, he was a dynamic wing who played well off of Kidd. He became a competent three point shooter in his latter years with the franchise, and provided elite athleticism for his size. Buck Williams is the greatest big man in franchise history, and is the all-time Nets leader in games, minutes, field goals, free throws, rebounds (total, offensive, and defensive), rebounds per game, total points, and win shares. They’re backed up Kenyon Martin, a plus two-way player, who provided toughness and athleticism from the power forward position. Although he’s infamous for his 3-for-23 shooting performance in game six of the 2003 NBA Finals, Martin’s offensive game was well-suited for a complementary role, which he should be able to assume as an off-the-bench contributor for this team.

Although he was a natural power forward, Derrick Coleman will serve as the team’s starting center. Coleman was one of the most talented big men of the 1990s, who, unfortunately, developed a horrible reputation during his time with the franchise. Like Anderson, he didn’t live up to the enormous expectations placed upon him, but he was a two-time all-NBA selection who averaged a double-double in his Nets career. Off the bench, Billy Paultz was an elite ABA big man who was an excellent shooter for his size. Brook Lopez, the team’s current center, will also get minutes as a dangerous scoring threat who can use his elite size (7’0” 275 lb) to protect the rim.

This team consists of many solid pieces, but does not have the mix of hall-of-fame legends that many of their competitors in our tournament boast. They have an intriguing first-round match up with the Los Angeles Clippers, another also-ran who has only recently developed into a competitive franchise.

Coach: Kevin Loughery

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .440

All-Time Sacramento Kings Team

All-Time Sacramento Kings Team Infographic 2

Our next franchise has been in existence for 67 seasons. They experienced their greatest success early on, winning the NBA Finals in their third year. They’re very well-traveled, going from Rochester, to Cincinnati, to Kansas City, to Sacramento, then almost to Seattle, but ultimately staying in Sacramento for the foreseeable future. In recent seasons, they’ve been defined by bad ownership; first, by a family who desperately tried to move them yet again, and currently, by a man who seems to have been planted by their competitors in an effort to ruin the franchise. When you’ve been in existence for so long, however, you’re likely to have employed several memorable players, which is certainly the case here. The 13th seed in our tournament, the All-Time Sacramento Kings team has a nice mix of stars from throughout their long history.

The starting backcourt consists of Hall-of-Famers Tiny Archibald and Oscar Robertson. Tiny famously led the league in both scoring and assists in 1973, averaging a mind-blowing 34.0 PPG and 11.4 APG. A master at driving and drawing fouls, he was one of the great playmakers of his era. Oscar was one of the great playmakers of any era; in addition to averaging a triple-double in his second season in the league, he cumulatively averaged a triple-double over his first five seasons (30.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 10.6 APG). He made the All-NBA first team in his first nine seasons, and won the only MVP award in franchise history. While both were primary ball handlers, they have a nice mix of quickness (Tiny) and strength (Oscar), and should fit together to form one of the most talented backcourts in this tournament. Off the bench, Bob Davies was one of the first playmakers in league history, and was one of 10 players selected to the league’s 25th anniversary team. His former backcourt mate, Bobby Wanzer, was a nominee for that team, and, like Davies, was elected to the Hall of Fame. They’re joined by fellow Hall-of-Famer Mitch Richmond, who was one of the best shooters of his era, and the high-scoring Otis Birdsong, who ranks in the top-10 in NBA history in field goal percentage for a guard.

The starting small forward, Hall-of-Famer Jack Twyman, was a dynamic scorer who, along with Wilt Chamberlain in 1960, became the first player in league history to average over 30 points per game in a season. Twyman’s career is often defined by his beautiful alliance with Maurice Stokes, but he was also a great player, who adds more firepower for this explosive unit. He’s joined by fellow Hall-of-Famer Jerry Lucas, who’s fourth in league history in rebounds per game. Lucas’s famous jumper will help space the floor for this starting unit. They’re joined in the starting lineup by Chris Webber, one of the most talented big men of his era who was a uniquely gifted passer, in addition to his scoring and rebounding prowess. Off the bench, Peja Stojakovic is the one of the greatest shooters ever, currently ranking 10th on the all-time list for made three point field goals. He’s joined by Hall-of-Famer Arnie Risen, one of the first great big men in league history, who helped lead the team to their only title, and all-star Wayne Embry, who will spend minutes at both center and power forward.

One of the tricky parts of a tournament like this is determining how to compare players from different eras. Risen, Davies, and Wanzer played a completely different game from Webber and Stojakovic. The 6’9” Risen earned the nickname ‘Stilts’ due to his tremendous height, but he was built like a modern-day small forward. He and Embry had more than enough size for their eras, but are physically outmatched by the modern-day athletes they will surely encounter in this tournament. I’ll do my best to contextualize these match ups, and not discount the league’s pioneers. This team has great potential, considering the relative dominance of many of its stars.

Coach: Les Harrison

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .460