How to win an NBA title

Scott Ottersen by Correspondent Written on March 04, 2008
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There are many different styles of teams that can win an NBA title, but I am here to hash out the one, "perfect" type of team that would beat them all, if it was ever created.

I will go position by position, and even try and cover the bench players, and coaching staff.

 

Point guard
The ideal PG would be a player who knows how to handle the ball.  The worst quality a PG could have would be shaky ball-handling skills.  They have to have confidence in their handles.  They have to know that they can break down the man guarding them at any point in the game.  They don't have to be the best ball handler, or have handles like some of the guys on the AND1 tour do, but a PG who keeps his defender honest is going to have the ability to help his team much better than one whose defender knows he can guard face-up without worrying about getting crossed over or beat on the dribble.

Another quality the PG needs is the “pass first” mentality.  The point guard is the main facilitator of the offense, and if they don't have the ability to facilitate the ball into the hands of their lead scorers, the team will not be able to prosper.  However, just because they think this way does not mean they always have to follow it.  It is perfectly fine for a PG to take his man to the basket and put up a lay-up.  He just can't do it more often than he passes the ball off to his wing and post players. 

Along with those offensive traits, a prime PG would have defensive ability, as well.  We do not want a point guard who can be taken off the dribble just as easily as he can take his defender off the dribble.  He has to be able to guard the ball.  The NBA has a lot of defensive players who can guard the man, but not the ball.  What I mean by that is that they can stay with the man they are guarding, but as soon as that man has the ball in his hands, he loses him.  I think a lot of it has to do with the rules, and that the players are too scared of committing a foul, but the great defensive players know how to guard the ball within the rules. 

Other preferred intangibles: good size and shooting ability.

Today's player that best meets this criteria: Chris Paul (with Chauncey Billups close behind)

Shooting guard
At shooting guard, the most important criteria is scoring ability.  It would be ideal to have your SG be your team’s best scorer.  They should be able to score any way they pleased.  He should be a great slashing guard.  He should be able to create his own shot, so that he did not always have to rely on the point guard getting the ball to him when he was open.  He shoul have a great shot, to go with his great shot selection. 

Along with being able to score however he wanted, he should also know his limits.  He shouldn’t put up shots just because he had the ball in his hands.  The shots would come within the offense.

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written on March 04, 2008 Sports

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