[MJBrownParticipant]

 As a high school basketball coach, I’m constantly preaching to my kids the importance of developing solid basketball skills. Nowadays, they’re watching so much youtube, that all they try to do is replicate what they’re seeing the best athletes do on the floor; they often lose track of the importance of skill development in the game. 

Give me your starting line up for your all-time all star skills team.

PG — John Stockton

SG — Michael Jordan

SF — Larry Bird

PF — Kevin McHale

C — Hakeem Olajuwon

 

How about your all-time all star dominance team

PG — Magic Johnson

SG — Michael Jordan

SF — Lebron James

PF — Karl Malone

C — Wilt Chamberlin 

 

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

Dirk Nowitski

Steve Nash – You dont become a skinny unathletic 2x MVP without being skilled

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

Dirk Nowitski

Steve Nash – You dont become a skinny unathletic 2x MVP without being skilled

[akhan786Participant]

Going a bit off track here but what kind of player would you draft first? A freak athlete or an uber skilled player?

My view is that I’d rather draft an athletic freak because skill can always be developed with enough time but athletic prowess cannot be taught.

If you successfully turn a freak into a skilled player you get someone like Michael Jordan who appears on my most dominant team and best skills team.

All-Skills team:

PG- John Stockton/Steve Nash

SG-Michael Jordan/Reggie Miller

SF-Larry Bird

PF-Dirk Nowitzki

C- Olajuwon

 

All-Dominant Team:

PG-Magic Johnson

SG-Michael Jordan/ Kobe Bryant

SF-Lebron James

PF-Karl Malone

C-Wilt Chamberlain/ Shaquille O’neal

[akhan786Participant]

Going a bit off track here but what kind of player would you draft first? A freak athlete or an uber skilled player?

My view is that I’d rather draft an athletic freak because skill can always be developed with enough time but athletic prowess cannot be taught.

If you successfully turn a freak into a skilled player you get someone like Michael Jordan who appears on my most dominant team and best skills team.

All-Skills team:

PG- John Stockton/Steve Nash

SG-Michael Jordan/Reggie Miller

SF-Larry Bird

PF-Dirk Nowitzki

C- Olajuwon

 

All-Dominant Team:

PG-Magic Johnson

SG-Michael Jordan/ Kobe Bryant

SF-Lebron James

PF-Karl Malone

C-Wilt Chamberlain/ Shaquille O’neal

[LBJKDParticipant]

All-Skill team:

John Stockton

Michael Jordan

Larry Bird

Tim Duncan

Hakeem

All-Dominance Team:

1.Magic Johnson

2.Michael Jordan

3.Lebron James

4.Karl Malone

5.Shaquille O’neil

 

[LBJKDParticipant]

All-Skill team:

John Stockton

Michael Jordan

Larry Bird

Tim Duncan

Hakeem

All-Dominance Team:

1.Magic Johnson

2.Michael Jordan

3.Lebron James

4.Karl Malone

5.Shaquille O’neil

 

[nba00Participant]

As you grow older you will lose your athleticism whether you like it or not so you really need to develop skills in order to become effective on your sport even if your getting old.

[nba00Participant]

As you grow older you will lose your athleticism whether you like it or not so you really need to develop skills in order to become effective on your sport even if your getting old.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Pretty similiar to everyone elses team I suppose:

All-Skill team:

PG: John Stockton

SG: Michael Jordan

SF: Larry Bird

PF: Charles Barkley

C: Hakeem Olajuwon

 

All-Dominance Team:

1.Magic Johnson

2.Michael Jordan

3.Lebron James

4.Karl Malone

5.Shaquille O’Neil

 

How about doing a couple of modern teams;

All-Skill team:

PG: Steve Nash

SG: Kobe Bryant

SF: Carmelo Anthony

PF: Dirk Nowitzki

C: Pau Gasol (Yes I know he plays PF most of the time but whenever Bynum is out, which is an awful lot, he plays center and plays it well)

 

All-Dominance Team:

1. Derrick Rose

2. Dwyane Wade

3. Lebron James

4. Blake Griffin

5. Dwight Howard

 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Pretty similiar to everyone elses team I suppose:

All-Skill team:

PG: John Stockton

SG: Michael Jordan

SF: Larry Bird

PF: Charles Barkley

C: Hakeem Olajuwon

 

All-Dominance Team:

1.Magic Johnson

2.Michael Jordan

3.Lebron James

4.Karl Malone

5.Shaquille O’Neil

 

How about doing a couple of modern teams;

All-Skill team:

PG: Steve Nash

SG: Kobe Bryant

SF: Carmelo Anthony

PF: Dirk Nowitzki

C: Pau Gasol (Yes I know he plays PF most of the time but whenever Bynum is out, which is an awful lot, he plays center and plays it well)

 

All-Dominance Team:

1. Derrick Rose

2. Dwyane Wade

3. Lebron James

4. Blake Griffin

5. Dwight Howard

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 If you really want to separate skill from athletic dominance, then I don’t think you can have two athletically dominate guys on your skills team. I think Jordan and Hakeem have to come off. Both were incredibly skilled, but they also put up their HOF numbers while being one of the most athletic players at their position to ever play the game. Look at Jordan’s Washington years career and you will see how he operated when he really just had average athleticism left. Both are good choices, but I would suggest some blasts from the past. Just looking at basketball skills, I think you have to go with Pistol Pete. Sure he had some speed, but a lot of it was just because he had a crazy handle and could shoot from anywhere that it made him look so fast with the ball. For Center, I’m a little more torn. I’d consider moving Duncan into that spot, but he is really a power forward. I like Walton in that spot because he wasn’t a supper good athlete, but when healthy he could dominate both sides of the ball, was a great passing big man, and had no weakness (range on jumper, consistent at the free throw line). But a lot of Bill’s ability was based on just being a lot taller than the competition as well. (I’m sure he was at least 3 inches taller than his listed 6′ 11"). So maybe you can’t count him because height isn’t "skill". 

And guys, drop "Ringless" Malone from any list that talks about dominance. Tim Duncan was much better than him.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 If you really want to separate skill from athletic dominance, then I don’t think you can have two athletically dominate guys on your skills team. I think Jordan and Hakeem have to come off. Both were incredibly skilled, but they also put up their HOF numbers while being one of the most athletic players at their position to ever play the game. Look at Jordan’s Washington years career and you will see how he operated when he really just had average athleticism left. Both are good choices, but I would suggest some blasts from the past. Just looking at basketball skills, I think you have to go with Pistol Pete. Sure he had some speed, but a lot of it was just because he had a crazy handle and could shoot from anywhere that it made him look so fast with the ball. For Center, I’m a little more torn. I’d consider moving Duncan into that spot, but he is really a power forward. I like Walton in that spot because he wasn’t a supper good athlete, but when healthy he could dominate both sides of the ball, was a great passing big man, and had no weakness (range on jumper, consistent at the free throw line). But a lot of Bill’s ability was based on just being a lot taller than the competition as well. (I’m sure he was at least 3 inches taller than his listed 6′ 11"). So maybe you can’t count him because height isn’t "skill". 

And guys, drop "Ringless" Malone from any list that talks about dominance. Tim Duncan was much better than him.

[uknationParticipant]

I think i’d draft a skill player over a athletic freak. You look at a player like Tyrus thomas who people are still waiting on to become something he may never become and then you look at a guy like Zach Randolph who isn’t half as athletic but very skilled. sometimes you get a athletic player to become skilled but more times than not they don’t pan out to what is expected of them.

I would go with the coach’s line up

[uknationParticipant]

I think i’d draft a skill player over a athletic freak. You look at a player like Tyrus thomas who people are still waiting on to become something he may never become and then you look at a guy like Zach Randolph who isn’t half as athletic but very skilled. sometimes you get a athletic player to become skilled but more times than not they don’t pan out to what is expected of them.

I would go with the coach’s line up

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

My skills is the exact same, except possibly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Center over Olajuwon. Hakeem’s footwork was incredible, but Kareem’s was as well, not too mention having the most unstoppable shot in NBA history.

All-Star Domincnance:

PG Magic Johnson

SG Michael Jordan

SF LeBron James

PF Tim Duncan

C Shaquille O’Neal

Mine are pretty similar to all the others. It is pretty easy to single out the most skilled versus the most dominant, though most of the dominant players use very worth while skills as well, such as use of their body to create space, draw contact. But, if you want to build skill set, than here are the players you probably watch:

PG Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Steve Nash, Chris Paul

SG Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade

SF Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant (Though I still think one can learn a lot from LeBron)

PF Kevin McHale, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Kevin Love

C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard (Definitely from a perspective of rebounding)

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

My skills is the exact same, except possibly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Center over Olajuwon. Hakeem’s footwork was incredible, but Kareem’s was as well, not too mention having the most unstoppable shot in NBA history.

All-Star Domincnance:

PG Magic Johnson

SG Michael Jordan

SF LeBron James

PF Tim Duncan

C Shaquille O’Neal

Mine are pretty similar to all the others. It is pretty easy to single out the most skilled versus the most dominant, though most of the dominant players use very worth while skills as well, such as use of their body to create space, draw contact. But, if you want to build skill set, than here are the players you probably watch:

PG Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Steve Nash, Chris Paul

SG Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade

SF Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant (Though I still think one can learn a lot from LeBron)

PF Kevin McHale, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Kevin Love

C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard (Definitely from a perspective of rebounding)

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Dirk was not more skilled than McHale, and I would argue Kareem or Walton over Hakeem. Small forward is obviously Bird, but I’m going to go in a different direct for shooting guard. Petrovic, Miller, West, Gervin, Kobe all get honorable mentions, and Jordan of course, but I’m going Ray Allen. Hor a guy with solid athleticism below average height for two guard with the most effienct off the ball game I’ve ever seen. He’s proven to shoot the lights out as a first option as well, so Im showing Ray Ray some love, from a Syracuse and Knicks fan.

My athletes team would be,

PG- Derrick Rose or Kidd

SG- Jordan or prime Vince

SF- Lebron or Dominique

PF- Blake Griffin or Shawn Kemp

C- Wilt or Shaq

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Dirk was not more skilled than McHale, and I would argue Kareem or Walton over Hakeem. Small forward is obviously Bird, but I’m going to go in a different direct for shooting guard. Petrovic, Miller, West, Gervin, Kobe all get honorable mentions, and Jordan of course, but I’m going Ray Allen. Hor a guy with solid athleticism below average height for two guard with the most effienct off the ball game I’ve ever seen. He’s proven to shoot the lights out as a first option as well, so Im showing Ray Ray some love, from a Syracuse and Knicks fan.

My athletes team would be,

PG- Derrick Rose or Kidd

SG- Jordan or prime Vince

SF- Lebron or Dominique

PF- Blake Griffin or Shawn Kemp

C- Wilt or Shaq

[iguapops420Participant]

 Jordan may have been the better player than Kobe, but Kobe is the more skilled. Even Phil Jackson has gone on record as saying this.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Jordan may have been the better player than Kobe, but Kobe is the more skilled. Even Phil Jackson has gone on record as saying this.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 All Talent Everything Dominance Team

Magic

Jordan

LBJ

Either Malone or Barkley(One of the most underrated atheltic freaks of all time)

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h_yfqippMpA&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(Just an aside, Lebron should study Barkley’s post game.)

Wilt-Kareem-Shaq I believe Wilt measured 7’1 without shoes, a half inch shorter than Kareem.

 

 

[MkadozaParticipant]

 All Talent Everything Dominance Team

Magic

Jordan

LBJ

Either Malone or Barkley(One of the most underrated atheltic freaks of all time)

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h_yfqippMpA&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(Just an aside, Lebron should study Barkley’s post game.)

Wilt-Kareem-Shaq I believe Wilt measured 7’1 without shoes, a half inch shorter than Kareem.

 

 

[2quick4uParticipant]

. all skills team:

PG- pete maravich

SG- kobe bryant

SF- larry bird

PF- dirk nowitzki

C-   k.a.jabbar/H.olajuwon

 

. all dominance team:

PG- magic johnson/oscar robertson

SG- m.jordan

SF- larry bird/elgin baylor

PF- tim duncan

C-   k.a.jabbar/s.o’neal/w.chamberlain

[2quick4uParticipant]

. all skills team:

PG- pete maravich

SG- kobe bryant

SF- larry bird

PF- dirk nowitzki

C-   k.a.jabbar/H.olajuwon

 

. all dominance team:

PG- magic johnson/oscar robertson

SG- m.jordan

SF- larry bird/elgin baylor

PF- tim duncan

C-   k.a.jabbar/s.o’neal/w.chamberlain

[MJBrownParticipant]

 i love this starting line up Mr. Brown. You are so talented 

[MJBrownParticipant]

 i love this starting line up Mr. Brown. You are so talented 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

If skills and dominance are two separate things then I am going to make two teams that will face off against each other. 

Skills Team

Starters:

PG:  Magic Johnson

SG:   Pistol Pete Maravich

SF:    Larry Bird

PF:   Tim Ducan

C:     Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Bench:

PG:  John Stockton

SG:  Earl Monroe

SF:   John Havlicek

PF:   Dirk Nowitzki

C:     Moses Malone

Reserves:  Jason Kidd, Kevin McHale

Injured Reserve: Bill Walton

These guys are all freakishly talented with some of the best moves in basketball history.  I have Kareem here, and although he was a great athlete he relied more on his awesome scoring skills, rebounding, shot-blocking, passing, and incredible hook shot.  I thought about going with Hakeem Olajuwon here but Kareem was a better player overall with Hakeem relying more on athleticism and incredible speed for a big man.  I have Magic starting because he was a solid athlete but not world class.  However, his skills were off the charts.  John Stockton wasn’t much of an athlete either but I give the nod to Magic due to his better overall talent and his superior showmanship.  Moses Malone is here since he didn’t rely on athleticism and he wasn’t that tall for a center (6’10) but he put up great scoring numbers and awesome rebounding stats.  Jason Kidd is here because he is one of the best rebounding guards ever and one of the top assist men and steals guys ever.  He can also hit 3’s and has an NBA title now.  Kidd is a solid athlete but no athletic superstar.

 

Athletic Dominance Team

Starters:

PG: Derrick Rose

SG:  Michael Jordan

SF:  Dr. J

PF:   Hakeem Olajuwon

C:    Wilt Chamberlain

Bench:

PG:  Spud Webb

SG:  Kobe Bryant

SF:   Dominique Wilkins

PF:   Shawn Kemp

C:     Shaq

Reserves:  Dwight Howard, LeBron James

Injured Reserve: Vince Carter

Drug Suspension: David Thompson

 

Derrick Rose may be young but he is the reigning MVP and the most athletic point guard I have ever seen.  Backing him up I have Spud Webb who isn’t the best player ever but he did win a dunk title at 5’7.  There won’t be many shots left to go around anyway and he gets to come off the bench with his former teammate Dominique Wilkins.  I have Dominique starting over LeBron because Dominique won two dunk titles to LeBron’s zero.  LeBron also used more power to bowl people over while Nique used creativity and athleticism along with power.  I started Olajuwon at power forward because he was only 6’10 and he played a few years in a Twin Towers lineup with Ralph Sampson.  Hakeem would also be a couple of inches shorter than Tim Duncan who starts for the Skills team as well as Dirk who comes off the bench as a 7 foot power forward. 

If these two teams faced off it would probably be the best game ever.  If I had to pick a winner I would have to go with the Athletic Dominance Team since they have Michael Jordan who is the best player ever, Scottie Pippen off the bench who can lock down anyone, and 3 of the best low post guys ever in Wilt, Hakeem, and Shaq (plus the freakishly athletic Dwight Howard). 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 I think you get confused, dominant doesn’t mean athletic..

[2quick4uParticipant]

 I think you get confused, dominant doesn’t mean athletic..

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

If skills and dominance are two separate things then I am going to make two teams that will face off against each other. 

Skills Team

Starters:

PG:  Magic Johnson

SG:   Pistol Pete Maravich

SF:    Larry Bird

PF:   Tim Ducan

C:     Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Bench:

PG:  John Stockton

SG:  Earl Monroe

SF:   John Havlicek

PF:   Dirk Nowitzki

C:     Moses Malone

Reserves:  Jason Kidd, Kevin McHale

Injured Reserve: Bill Walton

These guys are all freakishly talented with some of the best moves in basketball history.  I have Kareem here, and although he was a great athlete he relied more on his awesome scoring skills, rebounding, shot-blocking, passing, and incredible hook shot.  I thought about going with Hakeem Olajuwon here but Kareem was a better player overall with Hakeem relying more on athleticism and incredible speed for a big man.  I have Magic starting because he was a solid athlete but not world class.  However, his skills were off the charts.  John Stockton wasn’t much of an athlete either but I give the nod to Magic due to his better overall talent and his superior showmanship.  Moses Malone is here since he didn’t rely on athleticism and he wasn’t that tall for a center (6’10) but he put up great scoring numbers and awesome rebounding stats.  Jason Kidd is here because he is one of the best rebounding guards ever and one of the top assist men and steals guys ever.  He can also hit 3’s and has an NBA title now.  Kidd is a solid athlete but no athletic superstar.

 

Athletic Dominance Team

Starters:

PG: Derrick Rose

SG:  Michael Jordan

SF:  Dr. J

PF:   Hakeem Olajuwon

C:    Wilt Chamberlain

Bench:

PG:  Spud Webb

SG:  Kobe Bryant

SF:   Dominique Wilkins

PF:   Shawn Kemp

C:     Shaq

Reserves:  Dwight Howard, LeBron James

Injured Reserve: Vince Carter

Drug Suspension: David Thompson

 

Derrick Rose may be young but he is the reigning MVP and the most athletic point guard I have ever seen.  Backing him up I have Spud Webb who isn’t the best player ever but he did win a dunk title at 5’7.  There won’t be many shots left to go around anyway and he gets to come off the bench with his former teammate Dominique Wilkins.  I have Dominique starting over LeBron because Dominique won two dunk titles to LeBron’s zero.  LeBron also used more power to bowl people over while Nique used creativity and athleticism along with power.  I started Olajuwon at power forward because he was only 6’10 and he played a few years in a Twin Towers lineup with Ralph Sampson.  Hakeem would also be a couple of inches shorter than Tim Duncan who starts for the Skills team as well as Dirk who comes off the bench as a 7 foot power forward. 

If these two teams faced off it would probably be the best game ever.  If I had to pick a winner I would have to go with the Athletic Dominance Team since they have Michael Jordan who is the best player ever, Scottie Pippen off the bench who can lock down anyone, and 3 of the best low post guys ever in Wilt, Hakeem, and Shaq (plus the freakishly athletic Dwight Howard). 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

^^ 

Edit.  I will put Pippen as a reserve on the Athletes team and then add Superman (aka Dwight Howard) as the team’s mascot.  To even things up I am adding The Logo (aka Jerry West) as the macot of the Skills Team.

Note: Jason Kidd’s superior rebounding and defense along with his 3 point shooting put him on the Skills Team just ahead of Bob Cousy.

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

^^ 

Edit.  I will put Pippen as a reserve on the Athletes team and then add Superman (aka Dwight Howard) as the team’s mascot.  To even things up I am adding The Logo (aka Jerry West) as the macot of the Skills Team.

Note: Jason Kidd’s superior rebounding and defense along with his 3 point shooting put him on the Skills Team just ahead of Bob Cousy.

 

[2quick4uParticipant]

i think allen iverson deserves to make the skills team or at least the 6th man, he’s been a game changer and he’s been 4 seasons the best scorer in the league at 6 ft tall…

[2quick4uParticipant]

i think allen iverson deserves to make the skills team or at least the 6th man, he’s been a game changer and he’s been 4 seasons the best scorer in the league at 6 ft tall…

[Author]

Posts