One raised by Miami basically throwing the entire cap at 3 superstars this week, like they will be the only players on the court (of course Riley may manage to field a
If you had to pick any 3 NBA players for an NBA 3 on 3 tournament who would you choose?
This raises a number of questions most importantly-
What is different about the 3 on 3 game then a 5 on 5 game? This is important because if there is no difference you just pick the three best guys - top 3 in MVP voting maybe: Lebron, Kevin Durant & Kobe. Or regular season MVP, all star game MVP and finals MVP - uh Lebron, DWade and Kobe.
And those teams wouldn't be bad 3 on 3 teams - because hey they have 3 of the best players in the world but would they truely be the best team?
This points to an obvious truth - the best players don't always make the best teams - five MJs is asking for trouble - sometimes you need a Scottie Pippen and sometimes even a Luc Longley. You certainly don't want five Chris Pauls or five Dwight Howards - you need different types of players as well.
But picking the best five on five team is easy - its called the all NBA team - (or the new Miami heat plus maybe Chris Paul and Dwight Howard).
But I have a different idea about who I would pick for a 3 on 3 game.
In a 3 on 3 situation the floor is going to be more spread (obviously) and there will be less rotations and few if any chances to double team or play a set offense beyond a basic pick and roll.
So the question here is who are three versatile, unselfish guys who can play together and create offense for themselves and each other and defend on ball at least passibly any other combination of three guys in the world.
I am going to make two rules right off the bat - I don't want anyone who can't shoot and I don't want anyone small. Would Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard make the great core of a five man team - of course, thats just about perfect...but as a three on three team I have a team I'd pick against them every team.
Obviously I am going to start with Lebron. Strong enough to give just about anyone pause in the post, a great permiter defender with his size, strength and athleticism. A great passer, can shoot, a great finisher. Lets not waste anymore time simply the most versatile player in the game. If your team includes DWade or Kobe, Lebron is guarding him, if your team includes Paul Pierce or Deron Williams - Lebron is still guarding them. For me Lebron is handling the ball finding his teammates and creating mismatches.
My other two players I need shooters with length - my picks - Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzski.
These guys can shoot, can handle the ball, can pass and are long enough to rebound and at least not be a joke defending in the post.
You pick Dwight Howard? Fine - he is going to abuse Dirk in the post but just wait till he has to guard Dirk on the perimeter (or leave him open). I am tempted to pick Chris Bosh or Pau Gasol, but in a three on three game with the floor spaced as much as it is - with no telling who they could be forced to guard - they aren't fast enough, don't have the range on their shot and the ballhandling skills to hang. Which brings me to a truth - I am choosing three guys who basically have elite small forward or even shoot guarding skills in power forward bodies - these are the guys who create ultimate mismatches in today's nba with their length and their perimeter skills. For this type of game historically you want a guy like this - the point forward like a Scottie Pippen (or point who is the size of a forward) like Magic Johnson are perfect.
Will this three on three game ever happen? Maybe not but its fun to think about nonetheless. And hey wouldn't it be fun to watch? Better then a horse competition and skills challenge how about 3 on 3 and 1 on 1 games at the all star game?
Speaking of just for fun - who are your three? Can they beat mine (I bet not!) and why?
