POLL: Which one of these teams needs their "elite player" the most? EXPLAIN

[KBLegolas]

Please explain why you chose what you did - it's a pretty tough poll, so you need to put your thinking caps on

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Which one of these teams needs their "elite player" the most to stay in playoff contention? Explain why...
<input type="radio" name="option" value="1" />Magic - Tracy McGrady
<input type="radio" name="option" value="2" />Sixers - Allen Iverson
<input type="radio" name="option" value="3" />Wolves - Kevin Garnett
<input type="radio" name="option" value="4" />Nets - Jason Kidd
<input type="radio" name="option" value="5" />Lakers - Shaquille O' Neal
<input type="radio" name="option" value="6" />Raptors - Vince Carter
<input type="radio" name="option" value="7" />Spurs - Tim Duncan
<input type="radio" name="option" value="8" />New Orleans - Baron Davis
<input type="radio" name="option" value="9" />Seattle - Gary Payton
<input type="radio" name="option" value="10" />Other - specify
<INPUT TYPE=Submit NAME=Submit VALUE="Submit vote" class="buttons"></form>

[DueceDiggla]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

I'd have to say it's between the Lakers and Sonics.

[LynchMob47]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

I went with Vince because there is no viable seond option behind him, geez look at the current ctarting lineup...

PG -- Alvin Williams
SG -- Morris Peterson
SF -- Jerome Williams
PF -- Antonio Davis
C -- Jelani McCoy

[wwharton]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

LynchMob, the Raptors went on a huge run that got them in the playoffs last year AFTER Vince went down.

I'd go with the Sonics or Nets. When the star player is the point guard it's very hard to adjust. The offense runs through him, that's asking a lot for a back up to make up.

[KBLegolas]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

Don't forget, the Nets have a mediocre point guard who's okay - Anthony Johnson, and an overweight fat-*** who's good at times, but needs to lose weight and get back into playing condition ASAP ...

On the other hand, how do you expect the Spurs to live without Tim Duncan? Or the Wolves without KG? Both of them are the heart of their teams, while KMart, Jefferson, Lucious and Kittles are each capable of scoring big.

[Graphik]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

I picked the Lakers, thier record right now proves it.

[wwharton]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

hmmm, KG was definitely an oversight. He has to be the winner. The spurs could survive with Rose and Robinson on the post for a while. Especially with WIllis coming off the bench. Not for a season but for a while.

[LynchMob47]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

wwharton...

The Raptors had much better depth last year (Tracy Murray, Keon Clark, Hakeem, Dell Curry) and were playing mostly under .500 teams last years when they went on their run.

[wwharton]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

Agreed, and I'm not saying the Raptors should get rid of VC or anything but I think they're in a much better place without him than probably all of the other teams mentioned (outside of the Lakers who I still say would just be fine if they HAD to game plan for not having Shaq...as in if he was gone for most of the season or in a crucial part of the season).

[ShaKobe]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

I say it's Shaq and the Lakers. They are like the Golden State Warriors (sorry Warriors fans) without the big man. Then again, if you say that they never had him, then the team would look totally different. It would be built around Kobe, or some other superstar.

The point is, every team out there is built around your superstars. If they go out, then the whole makeup of the team is drastically changed. Of course, some would be affected more than others, which why we are doing this I guess. They're all pretty close, but I think Shaq takes the cake, literally, hahaha.

[wwharton]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I say it's Shaq and the Lakers. They are like the Golden State Warriors (sorry Warriors fans) without the big man. Then again, if you say that they never had him, then the team would look totally different. It would be built around Kobe, or some other superstar.


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Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So I guess the way I look at it is if the teams HAD to redo their gameplan b/c the superstar wasn't there (not by getting free agents but with what's left) the lakers would be fine...not as good, obviously but fine. I think the TWolves would be the worse team in the league. The Nets would be bad but not horrible and the Sonics would still be on the edge of the playoffs but very inconsistent.

[Will]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

There is only one bad vote in this poll, and that's the Lakers. Seriously. They still have Kobe Bryant. They shouldn't be that bad off, right? I mean, Kobe is the best player in the league, right Mad?

I voted for the Wolves. With KG, they're an above average team struggling to get out of the first round. I could only imagine what they'd be like without one of the 10 best players in the league.

[3rdAnswer]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

My first choice was gonna be the Sixers, but when I thuoght about it, they arent that bad of a team, without AI. They could sure use him, but he is out, they play harder, something they dont do when AI is there....

So I chose the Nets. There is no way that they could make any noise w/o JKidd. IT's proved...think about when they had Steph, they couldn't do anything then. Jason Kidd, IMO could get any team in the playoffs...

[Graphik]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

Yea, I forgot a bout Kidd and the Nets, Kidd is the most versitile PG in the league. The Nets would'nt be squat without him.

[BigTigLSU]

Re: POLL: Which one of these teams needs their \"elite player\" the most? EXPLAIN

Number 1 Tmac then J kiddNumber 2: Ima pick him because without him there is no one. I mean with him Orlando is barely are competetive, in most games its Tmac versus the other team. J kidd is next because he holds the team together. The other players on the team are all dependent on him for their offense, no one on that team has a great ability to create their on shot. Now this is a hard descision but so I looked at as the quality of the team and then a process of elimination. Would u fear LA without Shaq well if u don't then Kobe will kill you, Kobe needs Shaq but La Lakers are still in games without him. Raptors made the playoffs without Vince. Seatle has enough key players Barry, Rashard Lewis, Mason, And the Russian. KG is hard but they can barely win with him so though they won't miss him as much as TMac. Baron DAvis and my hometwon hornets well they need mash just as much as they need Baron. AI is the sixers but without him maybe other players could find a new identity and pick up more scoring. Then there is Big Fundamental aka Tim Duncan... he is also somebody that can't be dismissed but maybe Robinson and Rose could take up the missing scoring, I know its a stretch. That leaves Kidd then Tmac.