All Generation Team

I thought of this idea the other night and I cannot stop thinking about it. What if I could come up with 12 names from the 2000-2010 and call it the All Generation Team (I call it that compared to All-Decade Team because I'm going to base it off of players I enjoyed watching while growing up and players that have had success as well)? I know hold your applause it's genius (Even thought I'm sure it's been done before) but regardless should be interesting am I right? Now the down-side to this is only picking 12 or 13 names for this list some I'm going to try and pick names that I are deserving hopefully I don't ruffle any feathers with this one but I'm sure I will.

Let's start with the starting 5 shall we....

Point Guard- Allen Iverson: Yes I know AI normally would play shooting guard but hey it's my team, plus he is only 6 ft. tall which is good point guard height. Iverson averaged roughly 27ppg and 6apg for his career. That stat jumped out at me 6 assists per game for his career? I will always remember Allen Iverson as a pure scorer and more of a "pass-second" type of player. I don't blame him for this however when you look at the starting five for the  2001 Philadelphia 76ers (That made the finals) there is no one to write home about in terms of talent besides Iverson such names as: Eric Snow, George Lynch, Tyrone Hill, and "Finger Wag" Mutombo all of those players failed to average double figures in points for their careers. The bench for the Sixers that year wasn't much better either with players like Aaron Mckie and Todd MacCulloch (He plays professional PINBALL now [S/O to Jax]). So do I blame Iverson for being a shoot first players not at all. Awards include an 11x All-Star, Rookie of the Year, 4x Scoring Champion and the 2001 MVP. LeBron James even went on to say Iverson was "Pound for pound the greatest of all-time". The crossover was kind of nasty too I guess.

Shooting Guard- Kobe Bryant: Kobe has got rings and that's while I'll give him the starting nod. As of now he has averaged 25 ppg for his career and averaged 35ppg in 05-06. Awards include 5x NBA champ, 2008 MVP, 16x All-Star, and 2x scoring champ. I like to think of #8 "mini-fro" Kobe that's my favorite Kobe when him and Shaq were dominating the NBA in the 00s and that's the main reason why he's in the starting spot.

Small Forward- LeBron James: Do I really need to explain myself on this one??? I didn't think so either.

 

Power Forward- Tim Duncan: I'll say it once and I'll say it again TIM DUNCAN IS THE BEST PF OF OUR GENERATION AND WILL BE THE GREATEST PF OF ALL-TIME ONCE HE RETIRES. Nothing get's me more riled up then when people say that they hate to watch Tim Duncan play because he is "boring" YOU ARE IGNORANT. He doesn't play boring he plays the game the way it should be played: fundamentally and smart. That's my rant I'll be willing to defend Tim Duncan on any level of basketball argument. Ok back to the facts awards include 4x NBA Champ, 2x MVP, Rookie of the Year, 14x All-Star. He's the Spurs all-time leading scorer which is wildly impressive when you look at the players that once played for the Spurs (David Robinson and George Gervin for example). For his career he averages a double-double 21ppg and 12rpg he can still do that on a nightly basis now at the age of 37. Let me say this one last thing since being drafted by the Spurs in 1997 they have won over 50 games every season except one (That one was in 98-99 when there was a lock-out) and they have never had a win percentage under .600 during Duncan's tenure. Apparently winning is boring.

Center- Shaquille O' Neal: The most dominant player I have ever seen play the game of basketball, give that man the ball on the block and he will score with no question asked a true pioneer at the center position. Averaged 24ppg and 11rpg for his career. He is a 4x NBA Champ, 2000 MVP, 15x All-Star, 2x Scoring Champion, and Rookie of the Year. The one and only man that made Kobe Bryant a secondary scoring option which is the hardest thing to do. An unreal talent and an unbelievable personality pick one NBA player that you would want to spend the day with and I would pick Shaq. CAN YOU DIG IT?!


Now time for the bench....

Sixth Man- Tracy McGrady: I've went over my love for T-Mac and his game in a previous blog so I'll keep this one short. Kobe Bryant who is my starting shooing guard once said "The player that gave me the most trouble was Tracy McGrady". Out of all the great players Kobe has played against he picks T-Mac as the one that gave him the most headaches. I think I've made my point.

Back-up PF- Kevin Garnett: Is this a biased pick? Maybe Is it a good pick? Yes. Averages 19ppg and 10rpg for his career. Has one NBA title, one MVP, 15x All-Star Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, and a 4x rebounding champion. Growing up watching KG I know dominant he was in Minnesota and I'm sure most of you know too. He carried those Wolves teams to the playoffs every year they went, even the years they had Cassell and Sprewell he still put the team on his back and got the job done. When The Big Ticket retires I may cry because I feel as though I know him on a personal level after watching him for so long. Wow I just got really emotional with you guys.........

Back-Up C- Dwight Howard: Again another familiar name, so is in depth analysis really necessary? There is just such a small market for good centers in our generation. Who do you want me to put on here? Vlade Divac, Yao Ming there's really only two deserving names here Diesel and DH.

Back-Up PG- Steve Nash: Pretty difficult pick here I mean I could've picked Chris Paul, Tony Parker (Trust me it was hard to leave him off), or even Jason Kidd. I picked Nash because of his passing ability and underrated scoring ability. Has averaged 14ppg and about 9apg for his career. Back to back MVP in 2005 and 2006, 8x All-star, and 5x NBA assist champion. I've never seen a more unstoppable offensive play than Nash and Amare Stoudemire's pick and roll it seemed so easy to stop in theory but yet NOBODY COULD STOP IT.


Back-Up SG- Vince Carter: I'll admit this is a personal pick. He has had a very respectable career however with 20ppg and 8 All-Star appearances. If I can get the Vince Carter that played for the Raptors and the Nets I will be happy. Best Dunker of All-Time

Reserve- Dirk Nowitzki: It's hard putting Dirk as a reserve but there are just better Power Forwards then him. I do love him however: 2011 NBA Champ,2007 MVP, 12x All-Star, 26ppg and 10rpg for his career, and will be the greatest player in Dallas Mavericks history probably for the rest of my lifetime.

Reserve- Paul Pierce: 2008 NBA Champ, 10x All-Star a 21ppg scorer for his career. I think I'd be crazy to leave him off.



Reserve- Mark Madsen: Every team needs a motivator and a guy that will be the first one off the bench to give high fives during a time-out and Mad Dog is the Greatest of All-Time in that respect.

 













Well that's all I got for today. If I forgot someone you think is deserving honestly let me know I'm sure I did. Thanks for reading

-NS (@NolanPSchmidt)