The NBA has evolved over the years to become one of the most competitive leagues in entertainment. The 2017-2018 season is no different, with superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry leading their teams to glory while defending champs like Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard working hard for theirs.
The “where is kevin durant from” is a question that has been asked for many years. The answer to the question, is that Kevin Durant was born in Texas and went to college at Texas Christian University.
The NBA is a star-driven league, and we’ve seen some amazing talent on both sides of the court for a long time. While the offense gets all the attention in terms of highlights, the defensive end is frequently the deciding factor in who wins and who loses. Both are present on a strong NBA team, and the elite tier of superstar players excels on both sides of the court. While the NBA is now focused on offense and flexibility of movement, it’s advisable to go back to a time when many elite NBA players were known for their defense.
In a 5-on-5 contest, who would win if we could collect the finest offensive players of all time and throw them against the best defensive players of all time?
Is there too much firepower on the attacking side? Or will the defensive squad be able to tire the celebrity scorers in order to earn a score-line advantage? It’s time to examine which side wins a 7-game series by assembling the top five offensive talents and top-five defensive superstars in a 5-on-5 game using the standard structure of three backcourt players and two frontcourt players. Of course, in a seven-game series, sheer scoring power vs the finest defenders’ stopping skills will be taken into consideration.
Disclaimer: Michael Jordan can play both offense and defense, but he is largely recognized as the best defensive shooting guard of all time. That means Kobe Bryant (the second-greatest scorer in NBA history) will play shooting guard in Team Offense, while Jordan will play defense across from him.
Stephen Curry vs. Gary Payton at point guard
This will be a fascinating battle since both guys are Hall of Fame-caliber players who made their reputations in the NBA on opposite sides of the floor. While Payton improved as a scorer after some time in the league, he never came close to Curry’s scoring prowess. Curry, meanwhile, lacked Gary Payton’s stopping ability in any shape or form.
Curry will make it tough for Payton in a best-of-seven series, but his regular plays won’t work against probably the finest defender at the point guard position ever. Payton will encroach on his territory and try to pry the ball from his grasp anytime he can.
This will be an intriguing game, as Curry will have to deal with Payton’s aggressive (and sometimes filthy) efforts to get inside his head. Curry, on the other hand, will be able to run his offense against any defender, so this will undoubtedly be a contested game.
Allen Iverson vs. Michael Jordan at shooting guard
Iverson and Jordan will probably be the most entertaining clash. Both players earned a career in the league by scoring a lot of points, and both are considered two of the top-five perimeter players of all time. Iverson has four scoring championships, while Jordan has ten, indicating that we are seeing two of the best scorers in the world competing against one other.
Jordan, on the other hand, is the cornerstone of Team Defense since he is one of the best perimeter defenders in history. Michael was a powerful, speedy player who could stick with opponents and even block shots. Jordan has a size advantage over Iverson and will punish him offensively while also having a defensive advantage. Iverson, on the other hand, will not back down, and both players will go to fight for their respective clubs.
Kobe Bryant vs. Kawhi Leonard at small forward
With so much star power on the floor at once, Bryant will want to prove to the rest of the world that he is the greatest player on the court. Particularly on offense. While facing two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard will be a challenging challenge, he will make an early impression by shooting shots and applying pressure on the small forward whenever he has the opportunity.
Kobe will depend on his quickness and ability to play angles to get to his sweet spots, despite the fact that Kawhi Leonard has a larger frame and tremendously massive hands. By the conclusion of the series, Leonard will have held Bryant to under 45 percent shooting, but Bryant’s effect will be felt. Bryant is known for putting on outstanding offensive performances in crucial games, and he will continue to do so throughout the series to help his team win individual games.
Kevin Durant vs. Tim Duncan, Power Forward
Durant will face Tim Duncan, a five-time NBA champion, in a highly fascinating game. Both guys play in entirely different ways, with Durant doing his job on the perimeter with the ball in his hands. Duncan will have a hard time stopping Durant when the three-time scoring champion tries to get to the hoop or pull up for shots if he is on an island. Duncan, meanwhile, will have his way on offense as well.
Durant, despite his height and lanky physique, lacks The Big Fundamental’s lower-body power. Alongside Durant on him, Duncan will have his way down low, forming a formidable inside presence with 11-time NBA champion Bull Russell. Duncan will also be aware of Durant’s scoring prowess and will try with his teammates to shut down the former Oklahoma City star.
Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell in the middle.
Finally, it’s time for the big showdown. Wilt and Russell, perhaps two of the top ten best players of all time, will face off once again, as they have in the past. Because he is the most outstanding physical specimen ever, Chamberlain will always have a statistical edge over any player, even Russell. Chamberlain is a remarkable athlete who will average 27 points and 25 rebounds each game over the course of the seven-game series.
Russell is one of the best leaders of all time, and he will recognize Wilt’s scoring talent and find other ways to be successful. First and foremost, he will equal Wilt in rebounding, averaging 23 RPG over the course of the series. Russell will average 5 APG and 4 BPG over the course of the series, while averaging 10 PPG, to offset Wilt’s incredible ability to put up statistics. Russell will be a force on defense and a winner of the highest order when he teams up with Tim Duncan.
Advantages of a Team Offense
The benefit of Team Offense is…offense. Curry and Iverson are an unbeatable backcourt since both players are capable of scoring 30 points in a game. Curry will be able to do it from the three-point line with ease, but Iverson will have to manufacture his own shot against Jordan. They will not be as efficient as usual, and there will be games when they do not score. There will, however, be points on the board.
Kobe Bryant is the ideal player for this game since he will closely resemble Michael Jordan’s contributions on both sides of the court. Except for Durant, who offers the ideal complement to Wilt, the frontcourt will be more about offense. When Chamberlain is not on the free-throw line, he will score all of his points in the paint, giving Durant free rein from the perimeter.
Team Offense also has guys like Kobe and Durant who excel in big games, so when the pace slows down and plays don’t work against superior defenders, there will be huge performances. Overall, these five players mesh well together on attack and will put a lot of pressure on Team Defense.
Advantages of a Team Defense
Team Defense is flawless on both ends of the court, with the exception that they hold a defensive advantage against Team Offense. Payton, Jordan, Kawhi, and Duncan’s shooting do not line up with Team Offense’s, which will be an issue in several games during the series. They may, however, score in their own unique fashion, making them dangerous at any time throughout a game.
Even a defensive-minded team will have offense when Michael Jordan is on the court. Duncan can score on the block as well, and Kawhi is a fantastic offensive player when he’s in sync. They won’t be able to match the five elite offensive players’ all-out onslaught, but they’ll get close.
Duncan and Russell, on the other hand, will easily reinforce the paint. Because Durant lacks Duncan’s paint dominance, Team Defense will outrebound Team Offense over the course of the series, despite Wilt averaging 25 RPG. Jordan is the greatest scorer in NBA history, and Team Defense has a slew of defensive irritants that will make this seven-game series an instant classic.
In a best-of-seven match, who emerges victorious?
From the opening whistle, Game 1 will be a dogfight, as both sides will be gritty and motivated to win. This will be a fantastic game to watch for defensive fans, as these five players don’t care about their opponent’s offensive ability and just want to be a nuisance every time they go down the floor. The offensive side, on the other hand, feels that they can score on anybody at any moment. Thanks to four players scoring over 22 points, Team Offense overcomes a bad shooting effort to win the game 110-105.
Game 2 follows a similar pattern, with the exception that Team Offense’s backcourt struggles to shoot over 45 percent. Jordan and Payton pave the way to a spectacular 103-90 win in Game 2 despite Curry shooting 1-12 from three and Iverson shooting 39 percent. The duel of the bigs will take place in Game 3, with Wilt and Russell putting up video game statistics. Wilt has 40 points and 22 rebounds, while Kobe has 29 points, including a three-pointer over Kawhi to give his side a four-point advantage that they would hold until the conclusion of the game. Game 4 is Michael Jordan’s game, as he scores 42 points (including 6 steals) to give his team the chance to tie the series and avoid going down 3-1. Jordan’s dominance on both ends of the floor provides his team the confidence they need to finally acclimate to Wilt’s presence and perimeter scoring.
Team Defense wins Game 5 with a resounding victory because no player shoots below 46% and they are efficient from all parts of the floor, including the three-point line. The ability of Team Defense to play slow, controlled basketball and get in the faces of Curry and Iverson is the focus of Game 5. Durant leads his squad in scoring with 32 points, but he can’t overcome the five defensive stoppers’ dominance. Bill Russell would have his greatest game of the series, scoring a triple-double with assists and blocking six shots early in the game.
Contest 6 is a thrilling game that goes to two overtimes. Jordan and Kobe are both leading their sides in scoring, but neither player scores in the first overtime period. In the first overtime, Iverson and Durant score all of the points, but they are matched by Duncan’s strong play in the paint. With 5 seconds remaining, Duncan finds Payton for a three-point play in the corner, putting Team Offense in trouble. Kobe passes to Curry, who makes a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
Team Offense runs out of time in the second overtime period. Kobe hits his first two shots but misses the others, while Iverson and Durant each take one shot. Team Offense shoots 4-8 from the field, while Team Defense shoots 7-9. All five players participate in the game, but lockdown defense proves to be the most important factor. Team Defense has a little more in the tank, and their sheer bulk proves to be the deciding factor in the series. In terms of size, Jordan, Kawhi, Duncan, and Russell prove to be too tiring to play against, and this wears Team Offense down. As the series progressed, Tim Duncan was fantastic, but Jordan was the most consistent performer on the floor, earning him Finals MVP.
Final Score: 4-2 for Team Defense vs. Team Offense.
Michael Jordan was named MVP of the Finals.
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