Which position would you build around?

[griznation1]

Let's say you got to start a new NBA expansion team, and you got the first round pick. Setting that aside, which position would you take and build a team around?

I'm going have to go with a center position. Teams have built around all-greats such as Chamberlain, Russell (Celtics dynasty) , Kareem, Olajuwon (back to back) and Shaq (got kobe his first 3 rings and wade his first). Though a close second would be the shooting guard. (Jordan, Kobe on his last two rings)

[The_Answer_I3]

Re: Which position would you build around?

shaq didnt give wade his 1st ring more like wade gave shaq that ring but i would probably build around a wing player because i feel like they can have the most impact all around .

[Macar91]

Re: Which position would you build around?

With the way the NBA is headed, I'll take a wing player like LeBron, Durant, or Kobe. They're impossible to guard with the way games are called and can get to the line 15-20 times and score 20+ points even if their shot isn't falling.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Which position would you build around?

You take the center. By definition, they are in the middle of every play. The opposing defense is most at risk when the ball is positioned near the basket. Consequently, they must make risky adjustments unless they want to give up something easy (like a layup). Then the offense can play inside out which is a huge advantage.

On defense, they are the last line of defense and are expected to meet incoming ball-penetraters with appropriate action. Finally, they are expected to get the rebound (one rebound for every three minutes is expected).

Other considerable duties for a center include setting sturdy screens (usually along the baseline) and making hustling defense to offense transitions.

[JODYE]

Re: Which position would you build around?

Definitely a back to the basket/rebounding center or PG.

Regardless of the uprising of wing players, rebounding and defense still wins championships. You still need a player to protect the paint, and a guy you can dump the ball inside to that is a threat to score that can create spacing on the perimeter.

Also a player to create for others and to run the offense is important.

Unless you can take MJ then I'd snag him first, but he's a once in a lifetime player.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: Which position would you build around?

Definitely a back to the basket/rebounding center or PG.

Regardless of the uprising of wing players, rebounding and defense still wins championships. You still need a player to protect the paint, and a guy you can dump the ball inside to that is a threat to score that can create spacing on the perimeter.

Also a player to create for others and to run the offense is important.

Unless you can take MJ then I'd snag him first, but he's a once in a lifetime player.

That's kind of still true, but at the same time, the Miami Heat just won a title with Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dexter Pittman as they're centers. The center position has (depending on your view) evolved/devolved to being guys that are jump shooting, perimeter players and not quite what it once was. If you can get your hands on a dominate wing player, I'd run with that first or a point guard.

[BearClaw]

Re: Which position would you build around?

Center or Power forward. Having strong inside presence makes every other aspect of the game easier. Easy inside scoring would command a double team allowing for a quick pass to a spot-up shooter, it forces the other team to score from from mid-range and beyond, dominance on the boards...ect. You can get away with less than stellar players at every position all the way down the bench if you have 2 all-around fantastic big men and defensively sound back ups.

[bghost]

Re: Which position would you build around?

It depends on who is coaching the team.

[ojandpizza]

The center position is so weak right now, there is no way I could build a team around the center position..

In all honestly Tyson Chandler, Joakim Noah, and Anderson Varejao are the ideal big men that I would want on my team. They do all the little important things that lead to wins. But no way in hell could I build a team around those guys.

There is no big man in the league now I could comfortably build around knowing he was my go-to guy, other than Kevin Love and he isn't a center.

[Dice]

Re: Which position would you build around?

My number one would be a dominate wing player. Take a look at the last 30 NBA Championships and you find that 12 of those championships best player was a wing guy. You also add that 21 of those 30 championships had a hall of fame wing man as well.

My second choice would be a dominate big man. 11 of the last 30 NBA champions had a big man as their best player. 20 of those 30 teams had a hall of fame big man.

Unfortunately, PG would be my last choice. I can only point out 7 teams out of the 30 that had their best player as their PG. And this is including Magic Johnson, who had the size of a wingman. You exclude Magic's titles from 82, 85, 87 and 88 and you basically have 3 teams out of 30 that won a championship with their best player as the PG with traditional size. All from the Pistons(89-90 and 2004).

[JODYE]

Re: Which position would you build around?

That's kind of still true, but at the same time, the Miami Heat just won a title with Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dexter Pittman as they're centers. The center position has (depending on your view) evolved/devolved to being guys that are jump shooting, perimeter players and not quite what it once was. If you can get your hands on a dominate wing player, I'd run with that first or a point guard.

Well this goes into another discussion, but I think there is a formula to a championship basketball team that still rings true today, but it takes a player that is the exception to every rule to break this formula.

MJ winning 6 ships with no formidable post presence and now LeBron doing the same. Outside of the Heat, you look at the last 20 years, sans Jordan's Bulls and they all had a post presence. Whether it be Shaq, Duncan, Pau, Chandler, KG, Hakeem, Laimbeer etc. Obviously each of these centers roles were different but that presence still existed.

Post 1000 too. That was pretty anti-climactic lol

[Vni]

Re: Which position would you build around?

Should start considering building teams around great coaches. Some of theses guys are just terrible.

[iLLosophy]

Re: Which position would you build around?

Either
a) dominant 4/5 with decent height - must be a capable defender, rebounder, and able to score around the basket (Kareem, Duncan, Shaq, Hakeem, etc)

b), or a player that is great at being a scorer AND floor general (Magic, Zeke, Lebron, Grant Hill, CP3, etc). I realize this isn't really a position, but not all point guards have "point" responsibility, just as all "shooting" guards are not there to shoot. I'm more concerned about their responsibility over what position they are assigned to on the court.

Both of those positions in their own way make their teammates better, and provide a great foundation to build around.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: Which position would you build around?

Well this goes into another discussion, but I think there is a formula to a championship basketball team that still rings true today, but it takes a player that is the exception to every rule to break this formula.

MJ winning 6 ships with no formidable post presence and now LeBron doing the same. Outside of the Heat, you look at the last 20 years, sans Jordan's Bulls and they all had a post presence. Whether it be Shaq, Duncan, Pau, Chandler, KG, Hakeem, Laimbeer etc. Obviously each of these centers roles were different but that presence still existed.

Post 1000 too. That was pretty anti-climactic lol

I follow what you're saying and to a degree I agree with you, but I also realize that that formula applies to the last 20 years when the position still was what we all grew up with it being or on it's last legs of that. We're slowly moving away from the dominate center. There'll come one every now and then that's a can't miss prospect who can dominate in the way a Shaq or Dream did, but guys like Dirk, Bosh and so on are what we're going to see in the future going forward. It's the way these guys are learning to play the positions with these damn AAU clubs. The same way kids are growing up losing sight of the fundamentals of ball and being seduced by Sportscenter highlight dunks and Allen Iverson crossovers is the way they're falling as big men. Obviously it's just my opinion at this point, but I see truly dominate big men simply becoming those one shot special players that only come around once every few years or decades the way Bron and Jordan caliber players come.

[BearClaw]

Re: Which position would you build around?

I follow what you're saying and to a degree I agree with you, but I also realize that that formula applies to the last 20 years when the position still was what we all grew up with it being or on it's last legs of that. We're slowly moving away from the dominate center. There'll come one every now and then that's a can't miss prospect who can dominate in the way a Shaq or Dream did, but guys like Dirk, Bosh and so on are what we're going to see in the future going forward. It's the way these guys are learning to play the positions with these damn AAU clubs. The same way kids are growing up losing sight of the fundamentals of ball and being seduced by Sportscenter highlight dunks and Allen Iverson crossovers is the way they're falling as big men. Obviously it's just my opinion at this point, but I see truly dominate big men simply becoming those one shot special players that only come around once every few years or decades the way Bron and Jordan caliber players come.

I feel, actually I have hope that bright young big men like Marc Gasol, Howard, Hibbert, Griffin, Love, Davis, Ibaka, Jordan, and Faried and those coming will be able to flip the league on it's head and maybe under the new commish slowly bring the league back closer to it's glory days.