How To Build a Championship Basketball Team

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Having a great shooting guard is a luxury.  These guys should take the most shots and should have a high shooting percentage.  They should also be able on the most explosive player on the opposing team. 

D-Small Forward

The Current Prototype: LeBron James

Necessary Skills:  Usually the most talented player on the team in terms of skill sets.  Should be a bigger body, able to shoot from all over, and have a great inside presence.  Honestly, LeBron James is the player everyone wishes their small forward is. 

Secondary Skills:  Could be large enough to play power forward or be quick enough to run as a guard (a la LeBron). 

This is the ultimate pacifier.  The position is not as important as some of the others, but have a great scorer here causes defenses to concentrate on this player also causing mismatches for your guards. 

F-Power Forward

The Current Prototype: Kevin Garnett

Necessary Skills:  Should be a great defender.  Does not need to be a tremendous scorer, but should have a good inside game.  Usually the second largest member of the starting squad, should be faster then most centers and capable of playing center in a smaller/quicker lineup.  Should be able to rebound well.

Secondary skills: Shooting range is nice to have for a forward, but not necessary.  Dirk Nowitzki is the best shooting PF.  Passing usually is not a strength as plays do not go through PF's as often. 

This is your blue collar player.  He makes the tough rebounds and plays inside.  Players like KG and Nowitzki play sort of in a free style way.  Everyone wants a tough player like KG as their power forward.

*A note on depth:  Depth means having QUALITY players for each position.  Generally, you need players that fit YOUR scheme.  This does not mean have a bunch of all stars all over the place.  This rarely works.  Reason?  See my number one.

2. Experience

A fairly important aspect of the NBA.  Experienced basketball players generally perform better in clutch situations. Shaq was a great clutch player.  Kobe is.  Ray Allen is probably the most clutch player I have ever seen.

This comes with experience.  Now, some of your depth can be young, but experience among starters is necessary.

1. Chemistry

To me, the most important aspect of the game.  Teams with great chemistry win championships.  Great teams with poor chemistry lose championships.  This is why the Cavaliers have the best chance to win this year.

The Lakers are everyone's favorite.  However, they have looked bad at times, due to their arrogance and lack of chemistry.  The Cavaliers can not run with the Lakers talent wise, but their chemistry will push them over the top.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?