Best ACC starting five in the NBA

[SupaDave]

Here's something fun. While doing a little research I ran across this article on ACC players in the NBA.

It's from 2008 and I like to think that it's changed a bit since then. With all the ACC players in the playoffs - this article is further highlighted.

http://www.nba.com/features/conferencechallenge0708_acc.html

I would put a starting 5 but in the three years since this article many things have changed like the fact that Brand is back, Thad Young has matured into a starter, and I don't even know where Vince and Jamison are anymore.

Take a stab - it'll be harder than you think and you very well could go with an all Duke line-up...

[darjum]

If following the link you gave and choosing the best ACC players in the NBA I would suggest:

PG: Chirs Paul
SG: John Salmons
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Tim Duncan

[SupaDave]

If following the link you gave and choosing the best ACC players in the NBA I would suggest:

PG: Chirs Paul
SG: John Salmons
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Tim Duncan

As good as Tim is - he's getting old. I was seriously thinking about putting a young Favors in as my starter at center. I definitely start Boozer over Bosh. Deng has turned into a no brainer - as well as Chris Paul. I could even go big with Young as my SG - or keep a sharp shooter posted on the wing like JJ or Morrow. Lots of options but I'm not sure who is the best defending SG out of the ACC could be - which is why I would probably go Young.

[darjum]

As good as Tim is - he's getting old. I was seriously thinking about putting a young Favors in as my starter at center. I definitely start Boozer over Bosh. Deng has turned into a no brainer - as well as Chris Paul. I could even go big with Young as my SG - or keep a sharp shooter posted on the wing like JJ or Morrow. Lots of options but I'm not sure who is the best defending SG out of the ACC could be - which is why I would probably go Young.

If we go strictly by position I start Tim, but in reality Brand could play C. To me Favours has got a bit of proving to do. I thought about Young too but in the end if he's a PF/SF I can't start him over Bosh, Boozer, Brand or Deng; but maybe as a SG? I actually wanted to put G.Hill in for defensive purposes, but I felt Salmons is just a better shooter and scorer. But a specialist shooter like JJ wouldn't go astray.

Why Bosh over Boozer? I like Booz (obviously, or I wouldn't be a member of this board) but Bosh is a perennial All-Star and brings a skill set that Booz just can't match. If it were a bench press challenge and I'm taking Booz for sure!

Just out of interest, if you had to pick a back up PG, would you go with:

Felton
Lawson
None of the above

[Duke: A Dynasty]

Just out of interest, if you had to pick a back up PG, would you go with:

Felton
Lawson
None of the above


D) Chris Duhon
E) Kyrie Irving

[darjum]

D) Chris Duhon
E) Kyrie Irving

But the question is how many season until answer E) becomes the starting PG for the All-ACC?!!?

[Duke: A Dynasty]

You know this could potentially make a good thread if we listed the major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 10, and SEC) and had to pick a starting 5 and 5 bench guys for each conference from players that are pros.

[Duke: A Dynasty]

But the question is how many season until answer E) becomes the starting PG for the All-ACC?!!?

Now? Lol jk I dont wanna answer cause Chris Paul is my fav pg to come from the ACC. Maybe we could run 2 PGs...

Paul
Irving
Deng
Bosh
Duncan

[darjum]

You know this could potentially make a good thread if we listed the major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 10, and SEC) and had to pick a starting 5 and 5 bench guys for each conference from players that are pros.

Who does your gut tell you would be the most talented, my bets probably on the Big East by sheer weight of numbers, but the B12 does have some real stars, yes I'm talking to you Mr Durrant!

Would be a fun activity, might put some effort into it.

[UrinalCake]

Just out of interest, if you had to pick a back up PG, would you go with:

Felton
Lawson
None of the above


Toney Douglas has been playing pretty well, at least comparable to those two guys.

[Duke: A Dynasty]

Does anyone realize how good the Big East team could be?

From 2007:
http://www.nba.com//features/conferencechallenge0708_bigeast.html

Iverson is obviously no longer an option but still you got Kemba this year going pro and Ray Allen who can play point if he needs to.

Mello
Wade
Artest
Emeka
Thabeet

That alone is an NBA team that could go to a championship

[darjum]

Now? Lol jk I dont wanna answer cause Chris Paul is my fav pg to come from the ACC. Maybe we could run 2 PGs...

Paul
Irving
Deng
Bosh
Duncan

With the knee brace he wore this year I hope C.Paul's career is still on the rise rather than the other way, when on his game he is just amazing to watch, similar to Rondo's passing but he can actually shoot.

[Duke: A Dynasty]

Who does your gut tell you would be the most talented, my bets probably on the Big East by sheer weight of numbers, but the B12 does have some real stars, yes I'm talking to you Mr Durrant!

Would be a fun activity, might put some effort into it.

Well right now I would deff say Big East (Mello, Wade, Ray Allen, Thabeet, Emeka, etc..) but depending on how long Coach Cal stays at Kentucky you could say the SEC cause all he is doing is recruting NBA playes to come play for a year. At least D Rose wont count towards SEC players

[Duke: A Dynasty]

With the knee brace he wore this year I hope C.Paul's career is still on the rise rather than the other way, when on his game he is just amazing to watch, similar to Rondo's passing but he can actually shoot.

People always talk about the assist numbers that Rondo puts up but man look at his options to pass to: Garnett in the mid range to the paint , Pierce anywhere on the floor and Allen from three. No wonder he gets so many. Not to take to much away from Rondo cause he is very good but imagine if Paul or Deron were on that team. They would average like 20 and 15 or so.

[darjum]

People always talk about the assist numbers that Rondo puts up but man look at his options to pass to: Garnett in the mid range to the paint , Pierce anywhere on the floor and Allen from three. No wonder he gets so many. Not to take to much away from Rondo cause he is very good but imagine if Paul or Deron were on that team. They would average like 20 and 15 or so.

I completely agree, just watch the Heat game today and if Paul was in that position there is not hesitation to score, Rondo hurts his team by not being aggressive offensively when they allow him to shoot or go to the line.

Paul and Howard together in New Jersey or Orlando, lets make it happen!

[Duke: A Dynasty]

I completely agree, just watch the Heat game today and if Paul was in that position there is not hesitation to score, Rondo hurts his team by not being aggressive offensively when they allow him to shoot or go to the line.

Paul and Howard together in New Jersey or Orlando, lets make it happen!

How about in Charlotte!!!! Yeah! What? You say that will never happen.... well be that as it may I shall still hope for it. Lol but NJ has Deron already they wouldnt get Paul too. NJ could get Howard to go with Deron and Paul could join the Knicks to play with Amare and Melo

[UrinalCake]

Mello
Wade
Artest
Emeka
Thabeet

That alone is an NBA team that could go to a championship

Seriously? Wade and Carmelo are top-5 players but Artest is a role player who's past his prime, Emeka is solid but unspectacular, and is Thabeet even on a roster or is he still lingering in the D-league? I'd take a team of five Dukies over this in a heartbeat.

Maybe put Kenyon Martin at center and Troy Murphy or Dejuan Blair at PF. Artest could be replaced by Rudy Gay.

[Jeff Frosh]

Although taking this thread further off-course, how about the following "No Conference" Starting Five:

Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Amar'e Stoudemire
Dirk Nowitzki
Dwight Howard

This team could score some points!

Anyone think Kevin Garnett or Pau Gasol or anyone else should make this squad instead of Stoudemire? I think the other 4 are locks.

[MIKESJ73]

Wade played in Conference USA. Marquette joined the Big East, but Wade never played in the conference.

[Duke: A Dynasty]

Seriously? Wade and Carmelo are top-5 players but Artest is a role player who's past his prime, Emeka is solid but unspectacular, and is Thabeet even on a roster or is he still lingering in the D-league? I'd take a team of five Dukies over this in a heartbeat.


Well I must say I think you do not watch much of the NBA. 2 superstars along with solid role players is how the NBA usually works. Emeka is one of the best defensive bigs, Thabeet is actually tuurning out to be preety good and an excellent shot blocker. Artest would just be there for solid defense and rebounding. Martin and gay could very well be on the team and it be better. I was just aming a couple right off the top of my head.

[loldevilz]

Does anyone realize how good the Big East team could be?

From 2007:
http://www.nba.com//features/conferencechallenge0708_bigeast.html

Iverson is obviously no longer an option but still you got Kemba this year going pro and Ray Allen who can play point if he needs to.

Mello
Wade
Artest
Emeka
Thabeet

That alone is an NBA team that could go to a championship

Wade didn't play in the Big East, he played in C-USA.
BTW the C-USA team would have D-Rose and D-Wade- that's pretty darn good.

[darjum]

Wade didn't play in the Big East, he played in C-USA.
BTW the C-USA team would have D-Rose and D-Wade- that's pretty darn good.

Semantics, I would also label players with which conference their team plays in now. Otherwise their is too much research to be done for a nonsensical, but highly fun, topic.

[Duke: A Dynasty]

Semantics, I would also label players with which conference their team plays in now. Otherwise their is too much research to be done for a nonsensical, but highly fun, topic.

Yea I was going by team and Marquette plays in the Big East so if you had to pick players for a conference team then he would belong to the BE

[darjum]

Yea I was going by team and Marquette plays in the Big East so if you had to pick players for a conference team then he would belong to the BE

The best I could do under the rule above, plus players must play that position and based on 2010-11 season.

BEast
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Greg Monroe
C: Emeka Okafor

B10
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Jason Richardson
PF: Carl Landry
C: Zach Randolph

B12
PG: Chauncey Billups
SG: Paul Pierce
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Blake Griffin
C: LaMarcus Aldridge

ACC
PG: Chris Paul
SG: John Salmons
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Tim Duncan

Pac10
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Russell Westbrook
SF: Andre Iguodala
PF: Kevin Love
C: Brook Lopez

SEC
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Joe Johnson
SF: Gerald Wallace
PF: Al Horford
C: Joakim Noah

Non-Big 6
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Stephen Curry
SF: Danny Granger
PF: David West
C: JaVale McGee

High-School
PG: Monta Ellis
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: LeBron James
PF: Amar'e Stoudemire
C: Serge Ibaka

Player Euro ball rather college:
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: Andrei Kirilenko
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Pau Gasol

Of the Big Six conferences I would take the B12, loaded!

[theAlaskanBear]

What a great topic.

Off the top of my head I say the PAC-10 probably wins.

PG Russell Westbrook/Jrue Holliday
SG James Harden/Jason Terry
SF Danny Granger
PF Kevin Love
C B. Lopez/R. Lopez

However the Big-12 would give them a run for their money.

PG DJ Augustine?
SG Kevin Durant
SF Michael Beasley
PF Blake Griffin
C Lamarcus Aldridge

The Big-10 is gaurd heavy.
The Big East & SEC produce most of the college centers who make it to the NBA
Noah, Horford, Cousins, Monroe, Blair, Hibbert, Okafor.
The ACC has balance and depth but not the most talented 1st 5.

[Skitzle]

The best I could do under the rule above, plus players must play that position and based on 2010-11 season.

High-School
PG: Monta Ellis
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: LeBron James
PF: Amar'e Stoudemire
C: Serge Ibaka



Good list

Ibaka over Dwight Howard is the only glaring mistake.

Interesting that Ellis is the best PG straight out of high school. I think that says something about going to college as a pg... no?

[loldevilz]

ACC

Chris Paul
Vince Carter
Luol Deng
Chris Bosh
Tim Duncan

I say thats about as good as anybody else's top 5 except of course the highschool guys. That list is ridiculous.

[Skitzle]

ACC

Chris Paul
Vince Carter
Luol Deng
Chris Bosh
Tim Duncan

I say thats about as good as anybody else's top 5 except of course the highschool guys. That list is ridiculous.

What about Brand at the 5? He had (arguably) a better season than Duncan

[darjum]

Good list

Ibaka over Dwight Howard is the only glaring mistake.

Interesting that Ellis is the best PG straight out of high school. I think that says something about going to college as a pg... no?

Yeah, a typo, thanks for that. He was supposed to just be in the Euro connection. And yes, Howard is the obvious, I'm not sure why I removed him? I did think about Garnet over Stoudemire though.

[darjum]

Interesting that Ellis is the best PG straight out of high school. I think that says something about going to college as a pg... no?

It is interesting isn't it. With all of the success recently of the one and done PG, Rose comes to mind, you would have assumed one of the high school kids would have had success, but I couldn't find any.

[Skitzle]

Yeah, a typo, thanks for that. He was supposed to just be in the Euro connection. And yes, Howard is the obvious, I'm not sure why I removed him? I did think about Garnet over Stoudemire though.

I thought about it too, it's a really close call.

[theAlaskanBear]

It is interesting isn't it. With all of the success recently of the one and done PG, Rose comes to mind, you would have assumed one of the high school kids would have had success, but I couldn't find any.

James came out as a PG. He ran the team in Cleveland initially as a PG. Now I guess say he is a SF/point-forward in Miami...

The famous high school PGs -- Telfair (bust), Livingston (career derailing injury -- nastiest thing I have ever seen)...I mean Jennings could fit here but he was forced to Europe because of the new NBA ruling.

Two theories: one is that the rare high school player that is physically ready for the NBA are the athletic freaks, and usually so big in high school that they play positions other than PG...so the very nature of developing early means they will be forced into other positions than PG in youth basketball.

And more than any other position in BB the PG needs to understand the game -- controlling tempo, creating offense, running plays -- that lends itself to experience over talent. So even just a year in college involves a lot of learning about playing at a different level than at the high school game.

[NovaScotian]

James came out as a PG. He ran the team in Cleveland initially as a PG. Now I guess say he is a SF/point-forward in Miami...

The famous high school PGs -- Telfair (bust), Livingston (career derailing injury -- nastiest thing I have ever seen)...I mean Jennings could fit here but he was forced to Europe because of the new NBA ruling.

Two theories: one is that the rare high school player that is physically ready for the NBA are the athletic freaks, and usually so big in high school that they play positions other than PG...so the very nature of developing early means they will be forced into other positions than PG in youth basketball.

And more than any other position in BB the PG needs to understand the game -- controlling tempo, creating offense, running plays -- that lends itself to experience over talent. So even just a year in college involves a lot of learning about playing at a different level than at the high school game.

not that i disagree with this, but i also think that for other positions, its often more clear that they will succeed based on the body that they already have in high school.

i'm interested in actually trying to come up with an all 4-year college player nba team, but no really elite players stayed in school for that long, and i'm having trouble thinking of all stars or similar caliber players who played four years too. obviously we will want to include battier, and redick and hansbrough are doing their thing in the but are far from real stars. thoughts?

[Jderf]

not that i disagree with this, but i also think that for other positions, its often more clear that they will succeed based on the body that they already have in high school.

i'm interested in actually trying to come up with an all 4-year college player nba team, but no really elite players stayed in school for that long, and i'm having trouble thinking of all stars or similar caliber players who played four years too. obviously we will want to include battier, and redick and hansbrough are doing their thing in the but are far from real stars. thoughts?

I think the All-College team is a cool idea, and it should spark some interesting debate. One thing I'd add is that it should be the list of top college graduates, both three and four years. That way you keep everyone who finished their degree before entering the NBA and don't automatically cut out players like Mr. Battier.

[NovaScotian]

I think the All-College team is a cool idea, and it should spark some interesting debate. One thing I'd add is that it should be the list of top college graduates, both three and four years. That way you keep everyone who finished their degree before entering the NBA and don't automatically cut out players like Mr. Battier.

i think you mean jason williams, but ok. juwon howard was actually the first to do that.

how's this:
PG - steve nash
SG - grant hill
SF - danny granger
PF - david west
C - timmy duncan

also, jason terry, jameer nelson, channing frye, david lee, jj redick, tyler hansbrough and (gulp) grevies vasquez are also good at basketball.

[UrinalCake]

How about an all-time Knocked Duke Out of the Tournament In Spectacular Fashion team? Prepare for a dose of pain...

PG Eric Maynor
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Dante Cunningham
PF Tyrus Thomas
C Derrick Williams

[Duke: A Dynasty]

How about an all-time Knocked Duke Out of the Tournament In Spectacular Fashion team? Prepare for a dose of pain...

PG Eric Maynor
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Dante Cunningham
PF Tyrus Thomas
C Derrick Williams

No Emeka?

[uh_no]

No Emeka?

no, but the refs from that game would be the officials :P

[UrinalCake]

no, but the refs from that game would be the officials :P

And of course, Billy Packer and Len Elmore would do the commentating.

[nocilla]

How about an all-time Knocked Duke Out of the Tournament In Spectacular Fashion team? Prepare for a dose of pain...

PG Eric Maynor
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Dante Cunningham
PF Tyrus Thomas
C Derrick Williams

I think I would take Jason Kidd over Maynor. Or was that not spectacular enough since Duke was not great that year?

**After researching, that was 1993 with Hurley and Grant Hill, so Duke was still pretty good.

[darjum]

When I looked at my original list the High School Team appeared so dominate in relation to the current players in the NBA with the high school early entries. I went back using the Slam 500 greatest pros of all time and systematically added the top ranked player in each major conference at their position. The Big 12 was actually very hard to do, they only had Wilt for much of the early count. As this is a pro list and not based on college achievement there were no Duke players, Grant was the closest. Too many Tar Heels for my liking though. Imagine if this was a tournament with all these players in their prime.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212548

BEast
PG: Oscar Robertson or Allen Iverson
SG: Jerry West or Dave Bing
SF: Dwyane Wade or Paul Arizin
PF: Jack Twyman or Alonzo Mourning
C: George Mikan or Patrick Ewing

B10
PG: Magic Johnson or Isaiah Thomas
SG: John Havlicek or Deron Williams
SF: Lou Hudson or Rudy Tomjanovich
PF: Kevin McHale or Connie Hawkins
C: Jerry Lucas or Walt Bellamy

B12
PG: Slater Martin or Chauncey Billups
SG: Jo Jo White or Mookie Blaylock
SF: Paul Pierce or Mitch Richmond
PF: Clyde Lovellette or Danny Manning
C: Wilt Chamberlain or Alvan Adams

ACC
PG: Chris Paul or Gene Shue
SG: Michael Jordan or David Thompson
SF: Rick Barry or James Worthy
PF: Billy Cunningham or Bob McAdoo
C: Tim Duncan or Dave Cowens

Pac10
PG: Jason Kidd or Gary Payton
SG: Reggie Miller or Bill Sharman
SF: Jamaal Wilkes or George Yardley
PF: Jim Pollard or Willie Naulls
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Bill Walton

SEC
PG: Pete Maravich or Joe Johnson
SG: Alex English or Cliff Hagan
SF: Dominique Wilkins or Bernard King
PF: Bob Petit or Charles Barkley
C: Shaquille O'Neal or Dan Issel

High-School
PG: Monta Ellis or Stephen Jackson (only guard left on the list)
SG: Kobe Bryant or Tracy Mac
SF: LeBron James or Rashard Lewis
PF: Kevin Garnett or Amar'e Stoudemire
C: Moses Malone or Dwight Howard

[dball]

i think you mean jason williams, but ok. juwon howard was actually the first to do that.


Juwon graduated during his first NBA season not prior to joining the league (3 years like Jason). Great accomplishment as he graduated on time with his class but not the same as Jason in 3. Heck, he may still be the only early entrant to do it in that fashion. Can't think of any others.

[Indoor66]

When I looked at my original list the High School Team appeared so dominate in relation to the current players in the NBA with the high school early entries. I went back using the Slam 500 greatest pros of all time and systematically added the top ranked player in each major conference at their position. The Big 12 was actually very hard to do, they only had Wilt for much of the early count. As this is a pro list and not based on college achievement there were no Duke players, Grant was the closest. Too many Tar Heels for my liking though. Imagine if this was a tournament with all these players in their prime.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212548

BEast
PG: Oscar Robertson or Allen Iverson
SG: Jerry West or Dave Bing
SF: Dwyane Wade or Paul Arizin
PF: Jack Twyman or Alonzo Mourning
C: George Mikan or Patrick Ewing

B10
PG: Magic Johnson or Isaiah Thomas
SG: John Havlicek or Deron Williams
SF: Lou Hudson or Rudy Tomjanovich
PF: Kevin McHale or Connie Hawkins
C: Jerry Lucas or Walt Bellamy

B12
PG: Slater Martin or Chauncey Billups
SG: Jo Jo White or Mookie Blaylock
SF: Paul Pierce or Mitch Richmond
PF: Clyde Lovellette or Danny Manning
C: Wilt Chamberlain or Alvan Adams

ACC
PG: Chris Paul or Gene Shue
SG: Michael Jordan or David Thompson
SF: Rick Barry or James Worthy
PF: Billy Cunningham or Bob McAdoo
C: Tim Duncan or Dave Cowens

Pac10
PG: Jason Kidd or Gary Payton
SG: Reggie Miller or Bill Sharman
SF: Jamaal Wilkes or George Yardley
PF: Jim Pollard or Willie Naulls
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Bill Walton

SEC
PG: Pete Maravich or Joe Johnson
SG: Alex English or Cliff Hagan
SF: Dominique Wilkins or Bernard King
PF: Bob Petit or Charles Barkley
C: Shaquille O'Neal or Dan Issel

High-School
PG: Monta Ellis or Stephen Jackson (only guard left on the list)
SG: Kobe Bryant or Tracy Mac
SF: LeBron James or Rashard Lewis
PF: Kevin Garnett or Amar'e Stoudemire
C: Moses Malone or Dwight Howard

You are joking about the Big 12 Center, are you not? Wilt or Who?

Also, with the high schoolers, what about Chocolate Thunder - Darrel Dawkins?

[basket1544]

And of course, Billy Packer and Len Elmore would do the commentating.

What are you doing, trying to give me a nightmare?

[darjum]

You are joking about the Big 12 Center, are you not? Wilt or Who?

Also, with the high schoolers, what about Chocolate Thunder - Darrel Dawkins?

Well it sure wasn't Wilt or Cole Aldrich!

Darrel Dawkins wasn't even in the top 300. Nice dunker by all accounts, but not in KG or STATS class.