What makes a winning team? (And Poll!)

by Zaig on Mar 12, 2009 4:05 PM PDT

I know we're supposed to make 1 of these a week max. I'll take the next few weeks off!

In another thread I said that PGs and SFs don't win titles, but I guess I was wrong. Looking at the top 3 players on teams since 1980, it turns out that Power Forwards do not win titles (followed by PGs and SFs.) Here was my list of top 3 since 1980. Obviously there can be debate about some of these, especially the 3 spots, but I figure I'm close to general consensus.

1980	Lakers	Kareem- C	Magic- PG	Wilkes- SF
1981	Celtics	Bird- SF	Parish- C	Maxwell- PF
1982	Lakers	Kareem- C	Magic- PG	Wilkes- SF
1983	76ers	Malone- C	Erving- SG	Toney- SG
1984	Celtics	Bird- SF	Parish- C	McHale- PF
1985	Lakers	Magic- PG	Kareem- C	Worthy- SF
1986	Celtics	Bird- SF	McHale- PF	Parish- C
1987	Lakers	Magic- PG	Worthy- SF	Kareem- C
1988	Lakers	Magic- PG	Scott- SG	Worthy- SF
1989	Pistons	Thomas- PG	Dumars- SG	Lambier- C
1990	Pistons	Thomas- PG	Dumars- SG	Lambier- C
1991	Bulls	Jordan- SG	Pippen- SF	Grant- PF
1992	Bulls	Jordan- SG	Pippen- SF	Grant- PF
1993	Bulls	Jordan- SG	Pippen- SF	Grant- PF
1994	Rockets	Hakeem- C	Thorpe- PF	Maxwell- SG
1995	Rockets	Hakeem- C	Drexler- SG	Thorpe- PF
1996	Bulls	Jordan- SG	Pippen- SF	Kukoc- PF
1997	Bulls	Jordan- SG	Pippen- SF	Kukoc- PF
1998	Bulls	Jordan- SG	Pippen- SF	Kukoc- PF
1999	Spurs	Duncan- PF	Robinson- C	Elliot- SF
2000	Lakers	Shaq- C	Kobe- SG	Rice- SF
2001	Lakers	Shaq- C	Kobe- SG	Fisher- PG
2002	Lakers	Shaq- C	Kobe- SG	Fisher- PG
2003	Spurs	Duncan- PF	Parker- PG	Manu- SG
2004	Pistons	Billups- PG	Hamilton- SG	Wallace- PF
2005	Spurs	Duncan- PF	Parker- PG	Manu- SG
2006	Heat	Wade- SG	Shaq- C	Williams- PG
2007	Spurs	Duncan- PF	Parker- PG	Manu- SG
2008	Celtics	Garnett- PF	Pierce- SF	Allen- SG

Keep in mind I have Duncan as a PF, which is up for debate, but it makes the results a bit closer. Also keep in mind that this is the season leader, not who did good in just the finals.

So here are the results. These are the raw number of players from each position, and then a score for each position. The score is just 3 points for 1st, 2 for 2nd, and 1 for third. The () is how many differeny players it is. Despite there being 7 Shooting Guards who were their team leader, it is only 2 different players. (MJ/Wade)

Best	2nd Best	3rd Best	Total	Score
C- 8 (4)	C- 5 (4)	C- 4 (3)	17	43
PF- 5 (2)	PF- 2 (2)	PF- 10 (6)	17	29
SF- 3 (1)	SF- 8 (3)	SF- 6 (4)	17	31
SG- 7 (2)	SG- 9 (5)	SG- 6 (4)	22	45
PG- 6 (3)	PG- 5 (2)	PG- 3 (2)	14	31

So SG > C > SF = PG > PF. However, if you look by position you'll seer that Centers lead best, Shooting Guards are best backup men, and Power Forwards are the best 3rd stringers.

This leads to the question. Can we win a title with Oden/Roy/LMA as our big 3, even if we never improve at PG and SF?

Final note: The only 4 guys to "lead" their team to a title only once are Moses Malone, Billups, Wade, and Garnett. The last 3 all have chances to do it again. (Garnett being the most likely.)

Poll

If you could emobody the perfect body/skill/talent/etc. of Lebron James into any position, which would it be? (To word another way if you could make a Lebron James caliber player of any position, which would you choose?)

Center- Can you say Sabonis in his prime?

36 votes

PF- Picture Duncan on crack

1 votes

SF- Picture Lebron James on... yeah

10 votes

SG- Would this be MJ? Dunno!

9 votes

PG- Picture CP3 being 6'4, 220 with his identical quickness/ball handling.

14 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

During the Bulls second run, Rodman at PF was way more valuable than Kukoc as the bulls trifecta

That would help the PF rankings a little. I would also add Dr. J as a small forward. Good list thanks for doing the research.

by FlyinSouth on Mar 12, 2009 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

I picked PG but I honetly don't think it matters that much

Transcendent talents win titles from all positions.

by jksnake99 on Mar 12, 2009 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

Yep

To win a title you need to be able to play good team defense, rebound and have consistent low post scoring. It doesn’t matter which position provides these things, just as long as you have them.

by tingeyga on Mar 12, 2009 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions

LeBron is a point-forward in my book

The closest thing in history might be Scottie Pippen and Magic, but Lebron is even more massive and athletic. He plays small forward, but handles the ball almost as much as a traditional point guard and often distributes it like one. I remember some video games initially also declaring him a point guard. As he ages and loses a step (in many many years), I could imagine him moving to the power forward spot full time.

As for our chances: I think we do have to improve on point guard and small forward. Right now our best chances are to win a title in the fashion of the Detroit Pistons as a very deep team, with Roy as the top player but not more dominant than other players in the league.

by Norsktroll on Mar 12, 2009 4:26 PM PDT reply actions

I voted for james being james, becuase I thought he already was the ....future.

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

by faith on Mar 12, 2009 8:07 PM PDT reply actions

Michael Jordan = Best Ever

At 6’6", playing the 2-guard but also being able to handle the rock as much as he wanted to… either bringing it up or immediately getting the ball once it is over the half court line. The versatility of a player like this who is your primary ball-handler and primary scorer and clutch player… of wait… that is what we have in Brandon Roy.

Gotta love it. B-Roy is the prototypical size for a SG, is an excellent ball-handler and an excellent clutch scorer. While i think LeBron is clearly a legend in the making, and CP3 is an ultimate NBA weapon… I think Brandon Roy is gonna keep getting better like he has done so far and when looked back upon, he will be in the conversation fo “ideal” type of players for their respective positions.

All in all, Michael Jordan’s sheer dominance of his piers is unparrelled and still burned in my brain as the most impressive combination of athleticism and heart and prototypical match-up nightmare. Unguardable, Unstoppable, Unbelievable… Michael Jordan.

by Portland Dynasty on Mar 15, 2009 11:52 AM PDT reply actions