Basketball: Pick your all-time NBA team

Hey everyone, here is something that's tough--and fosters a lot of discussion, as well. Pick your all-time All-NBA team: 12 players, a coach, and designate who your starters are. But when you pick your players, don't base the choices simply on individual talent. Try to choose players that would work together as a team. Give it a shot!

Can we move centers to forwards?

Sure, but only if that center could truly play forward. I think many of the centers of yesteryear would make good power forwards in todays game (Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, Dave Cowens, Bill Russell, to name a few).

Ok, my last question is redundant. I just came up with a line up that's unbeatable.

Forwards
Dr J, Bill Russell, Bird

Barkley, Wilt the Stilt, K Malone

On the Bench

Kareem.

G's

Jordon, Magic

Drexler, Robertson

On the bench:

Nash. Sue me, I'm Canadian.

Coach- Red Auerbach

Can you beat that line up?

Edit: Fixed BB code.

[Edited on 4/13/06 by truenorth]

Who are your starting forwards and starting guards? From the way you listed them, I think Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan are your guards. Who are your forwards and who is the center? Are Erving and Bird your forwards and Russell the center?

Originally posted by BirdstheBest
Are Erving and Bird your forwards and Russell the center?

Yes, all in starting order.

That certainly looks like a good team. Here are my choices, and let me say first that I am picking these players based on how I think they will play as a unit. Oh, and I'll qualify my choices as well.

Starters:

F Larry Bird (amazing passer, incredible shooter, and totally clutch)
F Charles Barkley (pure energy while a great rebounder and an excellent playmaker)
C Hakeem Olajuwon (Dream Shake and the best all-around big man on defense ever)
G John Stockton (best pure point guard, good shooter, phenomenal passer, great defender)
G Michael Jordan (best scorer and stifling defender

Reserves

F-C Kevin McHale (probably the best low post moves of all time, also great defender)
F-C Bill Russell (defensive stopper, good passer, could run the floor)
C Wilt Chamberlain (scoring and rebounding)
F-G Scottie Pippen (perhaps the best all-around defensive player ever)
F-G Oscar Robertson (averaged a triple double for a few years--enough said)
G Magic Johnson (brings instant excitement, also a great clutch player)
G Reggie Miller (3-pt specialist and another amazing player in the clutch)

I wish I had a spot for Moses Malone, the best offensive rebounder ever, and for two of the best (and most versatile) defenders ever, Bobby Jones and Michael Cooper. Alas, I do not.

Many people will be surprised at my choice of Barkley over Karl Malone. As great as Malone was, I see Charles as a superior rebounder and a better passer. In his prime, Barkley had much better overall numbers than Malone. Plus, I think Chuck will fit in better in this lineup.

Oh, yeah, I forgot my coach. It's Phil Jackson, not because I think he is the best coach ever (Pat Riley is my pick for that), but because he is the best at coaching talent-laden teams with lots of egos and personalities.