All-Time NBA Draft Final Four: addictionary vs. White Chocolate

[Elizah Huge]

Team addictionary:

PG - Russell Westbrook / John Wall
SG - James Harden / David Thompson
SF - Jamal Mashburn / Marques Johnson
PF - Anthony Davis / Tom Chambers
C - Shaquille O'Neal / Robert Parish

Team White Chocolate:

PG - John Stockton / Baron Davis
SG - Paul Pierce / Andre Iguodala
SF - Scottie Pippen / Carmelo Anthony
PF - Charles Barkley / Derrick Coleman
C - Alonzo Mourning / Marcus Camby

addictionary's Case:

In this draft, I pretty much have met all my expectations mostly with picks and with a few trades.

This is the exact athletic, shooting, dominant and tough team I wanted to put together to matchup against teams that can give me disadvantage in certain spots. So I looked after being athletically dominant and flexible while being able to shoot.

Most of the guys are self proven, some might be a bit old to a few.

David Thompson is the guy why we have Michael Jordan today. He was the guy that influenced MJ's Air game and he was the poster on his wall while he was growing up.

Tom Chambers is the definition of White Men CAN Jump.

Marques Johnson was one of the tough opponents of Dr J who was an amazing athlete and scorer. This guy still dunks at the age of 60, remind you.

So what happens on court?

I expect to see AD23, Mashburn and Shaq absolutely destroy the opponent on the offensive end.

Russ-Harden duo showed an insane level of all around game than peaked in last season. So their gathering would be much more dangerous than the OKC years while we look at'em today. Russ is the most explosive PG of all time. Harden is like a piece of butter on the court in terms of scoring. I expect an easy one on offense.

Bench matchups are not too much of a concern to me, having a strong Parish under the rim accompanied by Tom Chambers who can dunk like crazy and also step away and shoot. Marques Johnson can be the perfect athletic SF for the 2nd unit to lead the scoring effort alongisde Wall's unquestionable defensive and offensive talents that orchestrates the 2nd unit. David Thompson can put on a show and make us fall in love with the game again. Considering putting him in with Russ-AD-Shaq-Wall/Chambers/Johnson for the eye candies for the fans during garbage time.

White Chocolate's Case:

The NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals, Stockton led the NBA in assists per game for nine consecutive seasons between 1987 and 1996. No other player in NBA history has led the NBA in assists per game for nine seasons total. Stockton would still be the NBA's all-time assist leader even if he had not played his final six seasons.

In the first season after Michael Jordan's retirement, Pippen finished third in MVP voting and led the Bulls to 55 wins, just two fewer victories than in the previous season with Jordan.

In the past 50 seasons, Barkley and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only players to average 25 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in a single season. Barkley did so on his way to winning the MVP in 1992-93 with the Suns.

SPACING

Stockton shot 40.7%, 41.6%, 42.2%, 42.2%, 42.9%, 44.9%, and 46.2% from 3 in seven different seasons.

Pierce shot 40.4% on 6.3 attempts, 41.2% on 4.3 attempts and 41.4% on 3.7 attempts in his three best years from 3.

Pippen shot 37.4% on 5.2 attempts a game in his best year from 3.

Carmelo shot 40.2% on 5.4 attempts a game in his best year from 3.

Iguodala shot 39.4% on 3.1 attempts a game in his all-star season.

DEFENSE

Stockton - Pippen - Iguodala

17 All-NBA Defensive Teams

All-Time Steals Leader

3 x Steals Leader

Mourning - Camby

6 All-NBA Defensive Teams

3 x DPOY

6 x Blocks Leader

These two will be the primary defenders against Shaq.

MATCHUPS

I don't see any way how you can say I don't beat his starters 4-1.

Stockton/Pierce/Pippen/Barkley are all better than their counterparts Westbrook/Harden/Mashburn/Davis.

His only advantage in the starting line-ups is Shaq over Mourning.

Carmelo is the best 6th man in this tournament and having him as a weapon off the bench is deadly.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Stockton >>> Westbrook
Pierce >> Harden
Pippen >>>>>>>>> Mashburn
Barkley >>> AD
Mourning <<<<< Shaq

WC for me and it's not even close. That Shaq/AD combo is potent. . . but WC built a better team. And on top of that, Mashburn is the worst starter in the whole competition. Has no business at all being in a starting lineup. I'd rather have Carmelo Anthony in my starting lineup. . . and he's on WC's bench.

 

[addictionary]

Stockton >>> Westbrook
Pierce >> Harden
Pippen >>>>>>>>> Mashburn
Barkley >>> AD
Mourning <<<<< Shaq

WC for me and it's not even close. That Shaq/AD combo is potent. . . but WC built a better team. And on top of that, Mashburn is the worst starter in the whole competition. Has no business at all being in a starting lineup. I'd rather have Carmelo Snyhony in my starting lineup. . . and he's on WC's bench.

Dayyum you think it's that bad huh?

 

[Coach Ellis]

Dayyum you think it's that bad huh?

I just think that it's three All time greats (Stockton, Pippen and Barkley) going up against a bunch of young pups and Shaq. Your team has potential. . . his team has pedigree. Shaq is a stud. . . but he can't do it alone. I'm not sold on Harden or Mashburn starting and think that the Stockton/Pierce/Pippen backcourt has been severely underrated in this thing.

 

[8]

I just think that it's three All time greats (Stockton, Pippen and Barkley) going up against a bunch of young pups and Shaq. Your team has potential. . . his team has pedigree. Shaq is a stud. . . but he can't do it alone. I'm not sold on Harden or Mashburn starting and think that the Stockton/Pierce/Pippen backcourt has been severely underrated in this thing.

Your take seems really biased. Major disrespect to Westbrook and Harden in here.

 

[addictionary]

I just think that it's three All time greats (Stockton, Pippen and Barkley) going up against a bunch of young pups and Shaq. Your team has potential. . . his team has pedigree. Shaq is a stud. . . but he can't do it alone. I'm not sold on Harden or Mashburn starting and think that the Stockton/Pierce/Pippen backcourt has been severely underrated in this thing.

I had a pretty nice write up that held my case specifically against WC's team. For some reason I thought I've sent it but it didn't get through.

Sucks to get stuck to the old write up. It included explanations on why I voted for WC instead of Hekate, which would change who I face right now.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Full transparency: I voted for WC because Addictionary beat me and I'm bitter.

 

[addictionary]

Full transparency: I voted for WC because Addictionary beat me and I'm bitter.

I love you hon.

 

[RandyForRubio]

Can we at least discuss how Barkley and Pippen once played together, and Pippen left after a year bc he hated Barkley, and called him a selfish player who didn't want to win?

I feel like that would be kind of a big issue.

 

[fishonjazz]

Stockton >>> Westbrook
Pierce >> Harden
Pippen >>>>>>>>> Mashburn
Barkley >>> AD
Mourning <<<<< Shaq

WC for me and it's not even close. That Shaq/AD combo is potent. . . but WC built a better team. And on top of that, Mashburn is the worst starter in the whole competition. Has no business at all being in a starting lineup. I'd rather have Carmelo Anthony in my starting lineup. . . and he's on WC's bench.

I actually think that westbrook > stockton if each player is their best. Westbrook averaged a triple double last year and won the mvp. I don't think stockton could handle his speed, power, and explosiveness I don't we have ever seen a pg with his speed, power, and explosiveness. (Maybe mvp D Rose)

Harden and pierce is about a tie to me though I'm pretty certain that if harden plays as long as pierce he will pass him in pretty much every statistic.

Pippen is much better than masburn.

I think the brow is better than barkley. Difference is that with barkley you have a whole career to look at how awesome he is. The brow is 23 years old. As a 23 year old he averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds along with 2.2 blocks per game. Shoots 80% from the line and gets there often and is a better three point shooter than barkley.

Barkley averaged 28 ppg once in his 16 year career. Both great rebounders, with the brow being the better defender (Especially with his length against short bigs that can't shoot the 3 like barkley), and barkley the better passer.

I get why you and others would knock the brow cause good career has been so short but again I would bet that if AD plays as long as barkley he will pass him statically in many categories.

I actually think the Shaq vs Alonzo matchup is closer than you do with Shaq of course coming out on top.

I think WC has the better bench.

 

[addictionary]

Can we at least discuss how Barkley and Pippen once played together, and Pippen left after a year bc he hated Barkley, and called him a selfish player who didn't want to win?

I feel like that would be kind of a big issue.

Those guys hated each other. I am thinking there might be a man crush conflict in here which centers around Jordan who was their mutual man crush.

Barkley owned Pippen though.

 

[RandyForRubio]

Those guys hated each other. I am thinking there might be a man crush conflict in here which centers around Jordan who was their mutual man crush.

Barkley owned Pippen though.

Sure, but putting two guys who don't like each other on the same team is...interesting.

 

[Elizah Huge]

I actually think that westbrook > stockton if each player is their best. Westbrook averaged a triple double last year and won the mvp. I don't think stockton could handle his speed, power, and explosiveness I don't we have ever seen a pg with his speed, power, and explosiveness. (Maybe mvp D Rose)

Harden and pierce is about a tie to me though I'm pretty certain that if harden plays as long as pierce he will pass him in pretty much every statistic.

Pippen is much better than masburn.

I think the brow is better than barkley. Difference is that with barkley you have a whole career to look at how awesome he is. The brow is 23 years old. As a 23 year old he averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds along with 2.2 blocks per game. Shoots 80% from the line and gets there often and is a better three point shooter than barkley.

Barkley averaged 28 ppg once in his 16 year career. Both great rebounders, with the brow being the better defender (Especially with his length against short bigs that can't shoot the 3 like barkley), and barkley the better passer.

I get why you and others would knock the brow cause good career has been so short but again I would bet that if AD plays as long as barkley he will pass him statically in many categories.

I actually think the Shaq vs Alonzo matchup is closer than you do with Shaq of course coming out on top.

I think WC has the better bench.

The same argument you used for Westbrook against Stockton can be used for Barkley against Davis. Barkley is the only PF to ever average 25, 12, and 5 and he won the MVP that year.

 

[fishonjazz]

The same argument you used for Westbrook against Stockton can be used for Barkley against Davis. Barkley is the only PF to ever average 25, 12, and 5 and he won the MVP that year.

Not really though. Barkley averaged 25, 12, and 5 for a year. AD averaged 28, 12, and 2.1 plus 2.2 blocks (better defense) on less minutes per game as a 23 year old last year. (Barkley was 29 years old that season)

So the brow had similar stats to barkley in the season you reference (more points and blocks, less aasists) in less minutes at a much younger age.

 

[addictionary]

Sure, but putting two guys who don't like each other on the same team is...interesting.

Yeah someone -might be tfivas- put Jordan And Isiah on the same team in previous years. heh.

 

[Elizah Huge]

Not really though. Barkley averaged 25, 12, and 5 for a year. AD averaged 28, 12, and 2.1 plus 2.2 blocks (better defense) on less minutes per game as a 23 year old last year. (Barkley was 29 years old that season)

So the brow had similar stats to barkley in the season you reference (more points and blocks, less aasists) in less minutes at a much younger age.

Barkley had a much lower usage rate (26.9% vs. 32.6% for AD) and was more efficient. He shot 52% on 18 shots a game vs. 50% on 20 shots a game for AD.

Age has nothing to do with this. We aren't projecting whether someone is going to have a better career.

 

[franklin]

Addictionary easily. Has anyone mentioned how much of an underrated defender Shaq was? He has a better career DRTG than any single season of AD, who's considered pretty damn good as well. That big man combo would crush White's team on both ends of the floor. Westbrook, Harden, and Wall would tear Stockton and Pierce apart.

 

[fishonjazz]

Barkley had a much lower usage rate (26.9% vs. 32.6% for AD) and was more efficient. He shot 52% on 18 shots a game vs. 50% on 20 shots a game for AD.

Age has nothing to do with this. We aren't projecting whether someone is going to have a better career.

Yep those stats you posted are also pretty close. So they are pretty even statically overall I guess.
I like the guy with better size, length, and defense. But to each their own.

 

[Elizah Huge]

Yep those stats you posted are also pretty close. So they are pretty even statically overall I guess.
I like the guy with better size, length, and defense. But to each their own.

Barkley led a team to the NBA Finals.

Davis has been to the playoffs once in his career.

Barkley had a higher DBPM (2.4 vs. 2.3) than Davis as well. He wasn't as bad as a defender as you think.

 

[fishonjazz]

Barkley led a team to the NBA Finals.

Davis has been to the playoffs once in his career.

Barkley had a higher DBPM (2.4 vs. 2.3) than Davis as well. He wasn't as bad as a defender as you think.

Ok