The NBA's All 2000's Team vs. The All 90's Team.

Dream match up.

The is one everyone would pay to see. The 2000s had its fair share of great players, as well as the 90s. We have the two greatest shooting guards to ever lace them up, the two greatest power forwards to ever grace the hardwood, we even have a player that stars on both teams (more on that later).

The 90s team holds the leader of arguably the greatest dynasty seen in the basketball world; while the 2000s team holds the leader of possible another great dynasty in the making.

This would be a match-up for the ages, an instant classic.

Each player is in their best statistical year of that decade. The players who are selected have to have played the majority of the decade, in other words, 6+ years of their respective decade.

The categories are the following: Scoring(Short Range, Mid Range, Long Range), Defense(Man to Man, Help D), Fundamentals(Free throws, Rebounding), Clutch Factor (Game Winners, Rings) and Ball Handling (Initiating Offense). The points are ranked from 1-10, and the highest possible score is 100.

Categories are scored according to position, so while you wouldn't think that Jason Kidd is a better rebounder than Dwight Howard, Kidd would still get a high score because he's a point guard, getting 8 rebounds a game. While a big man who shoots well, but not as well as a small guy, gets a higher score since it's not in his required skill set.

NOTE: "Rings" also is leading their guys to the Finals, or how far they led them. A Finals appearance merits some points, as well as conference finals. Also, Big Men (unless they have this skill) don't have the Long Range aspect. Instead, it will be Dunking, Short Range, Mid Range with their scoring. Also, Initiate Offense can also be know their role in the offense, or knowing to whom to give it to.

Lets get started shall we?

All 2000s Team Point Guard: Jason Kidd

Best Season of the Decade: 06-07: 13 PPG, 9.2 APG, 8.2 RPG.

Jason Kidd was an all-around point guard, and I chose this year, over his most productive in terms of points, because of a simple reason: He nearly averaged a triple double this year.

Scoring: Short Range: 9
Mid Range: 7
Long Range: 8

Defense: Man to Man: 9
Help D: 9

Fundamentals: Free Throw shooting: 8
Rebounding: 9

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 8.5: It gets interesting here, because Kidd always facilitated the game winners, while he did hit some himself.
Rings: 7.5: While he didn't lead his team to a Ring, he led them to two Finals in a row, against the powerhouse Shaq-Kobe Lakers, and Duncan Finals, you can't blame him here.

Ball Handling: Initiate the Offense: 10.

Overall score: 85.

An all-around and very selfless point guard to lead the 2000 Team.

All 2000s Team Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant's Best Season of the Decade: 05-06: 35.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, 5.3 RPG

Kobe Bryant has largely been considered the greatest shooting guard since Jordan and a Top 10 player of all time. He knows how to win and currently is tied for the most championships won as a Laker. This season was chosen for one simple reason: over 35 points per game (highest since Jordan's 37).

Scoring: Short Range: 10
Mid Range: 9.5
Long Range: 8

Defense: Man to Man: 9.5
Help D: 9.5

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 9
Rebounding: 8.5

Clutch Factor: Game winners: 10
Rings: 10

Ball Handling: Initiating the Offense: 8

Overall: 93

What better scorer for the 2000s team than arguably the greatest player of the generation: Kobe Bryant? He's a proven winner and knows how to get into the other team's head.

All 2000s Team Small Forward: Lebron James

Lebron James' Best Season of the Decade: 07-08: 30.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.2 APG

What can I say about James? He is a walking mismatch with incredible strength and incredible speed. He's a one of a kind talent, but he seems a little suspect in the playoffs.

Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 8
Long Range: 7.5

Defense: Man to Man: 8.5
Help D: 10

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8
Rebounding: 9

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 8.5
Rings: 7.5

Initiate the offense: 10
Overall: 87

James is one of the premier talents and a mismatch anywhere on the court. He's too strong for small, quick forwards to handle, and he's too fast for bigger, stronger forwards to cover.

All 2000s Team Power Forward: Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan's Best Season in the Decade: 01-02: 25.5 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 4 APG

Duncan has been one of the two premier power forwards ever since he came into the league to team up with David Robinson. Duncan may very well have the most underrated game of all time. The way he scores, sets screens, fights for rebounds; All big men should be more like Duncan. The reason I chose that season was because he set a personal best for points scored while still hauling down almost 13 rebounds per game.

Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 9: Really underrated, especially since he's a big man.
Dunking: 7

Defense: Man to Man: 9
Help D: 10

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8
Rebounds: 10

Clutch Factor: Game winners: 9.5: Strangely Duncan has plenty of game winners from outside of the paint. (Just ask the Suns)
Rings: 10

Ball Handling: Initiating the Offense: 7

Overall: 90

Duncan has been the best power forward for a very long time now, the guy just flat out knows how to win, and knows how to lead his team. He's very good defensively, but still great offensively. A very all-round player.

All 2000s Team Center: Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal's Best Season of the Decade: 99-00: 29.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 3.7 APG

Shaquille O'Neal was one of the most dominant centers of all time, using his massive strength and surprising quickness around the basket to be able to slam the ball down on opponents. I chose this season because it was O'Neal's highest scoring output, meanwhile still bringing down a fantastic 14 rebounds per game. It was also his MVP season.

Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 6
Dunking: 10

Defense: Man to Man: 8
Help D: 9

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 6
Rebounding: 10

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 9: O'Neal had put backs, dunks, free throws for game winning shots.
Rings: 10

Ball Handling: Initiate Offense: 10: Shaq has a surprisingly good dribble and always knows where to toss the ball to help initiate the offense.

Overall: 88

While Shaq was dominant on one side of the ball, he was fairly one dimensional, and lazy; He never expanded his game, not that he needed to, but if he would at least work on free throws, he would have around 2000 more points, he recently missed his 5000th free throw.

All 2000s Team Bench

Point Guard: Steve Nash: Best Season: 18.8 PPG, 10.5 APG, 4.2 RPG.
Scoring: Close Range: 9
Mid Range: 9
Long Range: 9

Defense: Man to Man: 5
Help D: 6

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 10
Rebounds: 6

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 7: Facilitator
Rings: 6: Conference Finals, never led his team to the Finals.

Initiating an Offense: 10
Overall: 77

Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade: Best Season: 08-09: 30.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5 RPG
Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 8.5
Long Range: 7

Defense: Man to Man: 9
Help D: 9

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8
Rebounding 7

Clutch Factor: Game winners: 9
Rings: 9.5: Only one, but won Finals MVP.

Initiate an Offense: 9.5
Overall: 87

Small Forward: Paul Pierce: Best Season: 05-06: 26.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5 APG
Scoring: Close Range: 9
Mid Range: 9
Long Range: 7

Defense: Man to Man: 8.5
Help D: 8

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8.5
Rebounds: 8

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 9
Rings: 10: One Ring, one Finals MVP, twice been to the Finals.

Initiate the Offense: 8
Overall: 85

Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki: Best Season: 05-06: 26.6 PPG, 9 RPG, 3 APG
Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 10: For a Big Man
Long Range: 10: For a Big Man.

Defense: Man to Man: 7
Help D: 7.5

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8.5
Rebounds: 6

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 8
Rings: 6: Led his team to the NBA Finals.

Initiate an Offense: 8.5
Overall: 82

Center: Dwight Howard: Best Season: 07-08: 20.7 PPG, 14.7 RPG, 2 APG
Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 6
Dunking: 10

Defense: Man to Man: 9.5
Help D: 10

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 6.5
Rebounds: 10

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 6: He has game saving blocks.
Rings: 7: Led his team to the Finals over heavily favored Cleveland.

Initiate an Offense: 7
Overall: 82.

All 90s Team Point Guard: John Stockton

John Stockton's Best Season of the Decade: 90-91: 17.2 PPG, 14.2 APG, 3.0 RPG.

Stockton was the master of the pick and roll offense. He knows the ins and outs of the game. One of the most unselfish players of all time, as well as the all time assist leader. I picked this season because it proved to be his highest scoring output and his second highest assist output.

Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 7.5
Long Range: 9

Defense: Man to Man: 7
Help D: 7

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8
Rebounds: 6.5

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 8.5
Rings: 8: Two Finals appearances.

Ball Handling: Initiate the Offense: 10
Overall: 82

A selfless point guard to lead the 90's team, as well as the pick and roll master.

All 90s Team Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan's Best Season of the Decade: 92-93: 32.6 PPG, 5.5 APG, 6.7 RPG.

The Greatest. No one has quite dominated the NBA landscape like Michael did. Winning 6 championships, as well as 6 Finals MVP's, no one can quite stack up to him.

Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 10
Long Range: 7.5

Defense: Man to Man: 10
Help D: 10

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 9
Rebounding: 9

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 10
Rings: 10

Initiate the Offense: 10
Overall: 96

We'll never have another Michael Jordan. He was the greatest the game has ever seen. With that said, he wasn't perfect; hence the 96 overall, not 100.

All 90s Team Small Forward: Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen's Best Season of the Decade: 93-94: 22.0 PPG, 5.5 APG, 8.7 RPG.

Scottie Pippen was the greatest perimeter defender the game has ever seen. One of the best two way players, he was unselfish and had a knack for getting rebounds. I chose this season because it marked his highest scoring output to go along with nearly his highest rebounding output.

Scoring: Close Range: 9
Mid Range: 8
Long Range: 8

Defense: Man to Man: 10
Help D: 10

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8
Rebounding: 10

Clutch Factor: 9
Rings: 10

Initiate the Offense: 8
Overall: 90

One of the best players to ever play, He would give fits to anybody on the defensive end.

All 90s Team Power Forward: Karl Malone

Karl Malone's Best Season of the Decade: 89-90: 30 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.8 APG.

The Mailman was one of the most dominant power forwards of all time. Unfortunately, he just couldn't deliver. I picked this season because of the highest scoring with still 11 rebounds per game.

Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 7
Dunking: 10

Defense: Man to Man: 9
Help D: 9

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 10: Career 75% shooter from line, very good for a big man.
Rebounding: 10

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 6
Rings: 8: Unfortunately, the Mail Man doesn't deliver on Sundays. But 3 Finals Appearances.

Ball Handling: Initiating Offense: 9
Overall: 88

Malone would rate so much better if he had dominated the Finals against the Bulls. They never doubled him in the Finals, and he rarely dominated. He also choked in those Finals, missing two free throws in the 97 Finals, and they couldn't quite put the game away, as well as that horrid Final Minute for the Jazz in Game 6 during the 98 Finals.

All 90s Team Center: David Robinson

David Robinson's Best Season of the Decade: 93-94: 30 PPG, 11 RPG, 5 APG.

The Admiral was one of the most underrated players in the decade. He was a better scorer than Patrick Ewing and a better rebounder. Plus he has one thing Ewing doesn't: Rings. This season was picked because of the remarkable 30 points per game, yet the still incredible 5 assists per game for a big man.

Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 7
Dunking: 10

Defense: Man to Man: 8.5
Help D: 9.5

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 9
Rebounding: 10

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 7
Rings: 9.5: He didn't win either Finals' MVP's.

Initiating the Offense: 7
Overall: 88

Robinson was quietly a 25-10 guy throughout his career, up until the final years,where he accepted a Role Player spot to win another Ring.

All 90s Team: Bench

Point Guard: Gary Payton's Best Season: 98-99: 21.7 PPG, 8.7 APG, 5.0 RPG
Scoring: Close Range: 9
Mid Range: 8
Long Range: 7

Defense: Man to Man: 8
Help D: 7

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 7
Rebounds: 8

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 8
Rings: 8: Has one ring with Miami, role player.

Initiate Offense: 9
Overall: 79

Shooting Guard: Clyde Drexler: Best Season: 91-92: 25.0 PPG, 6.7 APG, 6.6 RPG.
Scoring: Close Range: 9
Mid Range: 8
Long Range: 8

Defense: Man to Man: 7
Help D: 7

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8
Rebounds: 9

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 8
Rings: 9: Number two man to Olajuwan for one ring.

Initiate the Offense: 8
Overall: 81

Small Forward: Reggie Miller: Best Season: 89-90: 24.1 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.6 RPG
Scoring: Close Range: 9
Mid Range: 9
Long Range: 10

Defense: Man to Man: 8
Help D: 7

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 10
Rebounding: 5

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 10
Rings: 8: Led his team to Finals against Shaq-Kobe Lakers

Initiate an Offense: 7
Overall: 83

Power Forward: Charles Barkley: Best Season: 90-91: 27.6 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.2 APG
Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 8
Long Range: 7

Defense: Man to Man: 8
Help D: 7

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 8
Rebounding: 10

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 7
Rings: 7: Lost to the Bulls in the 93 Finals.

Initiate an Offense: 8
Overall: 80

Center: Shaquille O'Neal: Best Season: 93-94: 29 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 2.4 APG.
Scoring: Close Range: 10
Mid Range: 6
Dunking: 10

Defense: Man to Man: 8
Help D: 9

Fundamentals: Free Throws: 6
Rebounding: 10

Clutch Factor: Game Winners: 9
Rings: 8: Lost in NBA Finals to Olajuwon led Rockets.

Initiate Offense: 9
Overall: 85

Head to Head: Point Guard

Jason Kidd vs. John Stockton: Kidd would beat Stockton on the boards, hands down, and Kidd is just as unselfish as Stockton. But while Kidd may be good at nearly everything, he really didn't master anything.

Enter Stockton, the master of the pick and roll offense. As good a defender as Kidd can be sometimes, he'd have trouble with that. While Stockton would equally have trouble when he leaves Kidd to play free safety. And Kidd's drives of course.

Ultimately, unless Stockton is doing the pick and roll, Kidd wins this bout because he's the most all-round point guard the game has seen since Magic Johnson.

Steve Nash vs. Gary Payton: Here's where the 90's has the upper hand. While Nash may be the master of any offense, he's horrid on defense, and would get thoroughly abused by The Glove. And vice versa, since Nash is so offensively gifted. I would call it a wash, but the Glove won't be denied. Ultimately, the 2000's takes this matchup.

Winner: Team 2000

Head to Head: Shooting Guard

Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan. This is the one everyone wants to see. The Greatest vs. The Mamba, the second man.

While they may be nearly equal, Jordan would beat Kobe, not by much, but he would beat him. Kobe's competitive drive, however would make things very very interesting, since, I could easily see both of them dropping 40 on each other. They're both the clutchest players every seen, and they have a competitive fire that is second to none. But remember, this is Kobe from 05-06, the one that dropped 35.4 points, while this Jordan had more all-round game, but "only" got 30 or so points a game. Jordan wins this matchup, but only by a small margin.

Dwyane Wade vs. Clyde Drexler: Now this is where the 2000's team beats the 90s team. Drexler was great, but he wouldn't be able to handle Wade, and Wade would be able to do an admirable job against him on defense. Wade wins this matchup, by a considerable margin.

Winner: Wash

Head to Head: Small Forward

Lebron James vs. Scottie Pippen. This matchup would be just money. Both are physical players, with one being better offensively, and the other defensively.

Scottie Pippen may not be as strong as James, but that's not a problem since James has nearly no post game. But he's certainly as fast as James. Pippen would win this matchup, because as they say, Defense wins championships. Not that Lebron wouldn't score, but since his jumpers are streaky, if he's not hitting them, then he's forced to purely drive, and that plays right into Pippen's hands. On the defensive end, if James doesn't play free safety, then Pippen will have to create his own scoring opportunities. Something he's decent at, but no master at it. James would hold his own, considering his size and speed. Pippen wins this one, but by very little.

Paul Pierce vs. Reggie Miller: This one is interesting. The greatest three point shooter vs. The Truth. This matchup would go back and forth if Pierce wasn't an Elite defender during stretches.

But that's the problem: He is a good to great defender during stretches. Miller is too one dimensional on offense to consistently burn Pierce, while Pierce has all sorts of moves to put on the average, defensively speaking, Miller. As long as Pierce sticks with Miller, Reggie won't rain down threes like there's no tomorrow. He'll get his, but Pierce will put pressure on him. Ultimately, it's Miller's one dimensional offense, and average defense that gives Pierce the advantage.

Advantage: 2000's Team

Head to Head: Power Forward

This is where I know the 2000's would make a defensive switch, Shaq on Malone. So lets do that shall we?
Shaquille O'Neal vs. Karl Malone: This one would be the most physical matchup of them all. Shaq possesses monster strength, but so does Malone. Shaq is surprisingly quick for a guy his size...but so is Malone. Shaq is incredibly large, and clogs up the whole paint...Malone doesn't quite do that. While Malone would do alright on offense, he wouldn't be able to back down the Larger O'Neal with enough frequency to dominate.

The Pick and Roll with Malone would be great for them, but you just know that Duncan would rotate to Malone, to prevent that offense from working so frequently. And Shaq would be getting a ton of dunks. And, the Mail Man doesn't deliver in the clutch, I don't think he'll be able to dominate Shaq. O'Neal has more potential to dominate Malone in this matchup. Again, Winner goes to 2000's, but by the smallest margin.

Dirk Nowitzki vs. Charles Barkley. This one is tough to match up with. On one hand, we have the much larger Nowitzki, who would shoot the lights out with Barkley on him, because Chuck can't get his hand into Nowitzki's face. But we have Barkley who would use his much better speed to burn Nowitzki on defense. I'm stumped as to who would win. Both would burn each other on the offensive end. I think The Round Mound of Rebound would ultimately win, because of just that: Rebounding.

Winner: Wash.

Head to Head: Center

As I mentioned in the last slide, since Duncan cannot handle Malone's muscle, Duncan would switch to the much easier for him to handle, Robinson.

Tim Duncan vs. David Robinson: The Twin Towers 2.0 going at it. Dream match up.

Duncan is much more fundamentally sound than Robinson, while Robinson is a more effective scorer. Duncan has more ways of beating Robinson than Robinson does to Duncan, but Robinson is more dominant than Duncan. Duncan is slightly better defensively, and Robinson Offensively. Both crash the boards excellently. Ultimately, Robinson in his prime would be Duncan in his prime, but by the smallest of margins.

Dwight Howard vs. Shaquille O'Neal: Superman 1.0 vs. Superman 2.0. This one is interesting. It's safe to say that Dwight Howard is a physical freak, being able to jump out of the building, yet being strong enough to hold off a young Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq is limited offensively, and since Howard has the muscle, he can hold him off. Plus, the hops allow him to block some of O'Neal's shots.

The Problem is that Howard's game relies on him muscling guys down, and the righty hook. I'm sure Shaq would smarten up, and body up the right side, forcing him left. Ultimately, Howard wouldn't be able to compete with Shaq, because Howard is too one dimensional, and doesn't quite contain the bulk to completely stop shaq. He has the muscle, but Shaq is just too large for him.

Winner: The 90's Team.

Winner: The All 2000s Team.

While I know many people will disagree with this, ultimately, the 2000's would beat the 90's. Why? Inside game, and outside game is just brilliant. The 90's was a great era, but really, it only had one truly Elite guard: Jordan. Everyone else was a bunch of second tier stars: Like Drexler.

Point Guard Play was also rather shoddy, with only two really good point guards in Stockton and The Glove, but again, Kidd is a much more all-round player than Stockton, and The Glove for that matter. Steve Nash is just too talented offensively to ignore.

Athleticism wise, only Jordan can hang with Team 2000. Guys like D-Wade, Lebron, Kobe in his best season of the decade would be out running, out gunning, and out jumping everyone else.

Smarts wise, it's not even close. Jordan was very smart, as was Stockton and Robinson, but the others don't boast a huge Basketball IQ. Bryant, Wade, Duncan, Kidd, Nash all boast incredible basketball IQ's.

Fundamental wise, when your team has a guy they nicknamed "The Big Fundamental" then you know you have the edge in this category.

Ultimately, it would be an amazing contest, very contested, probably tied for the last possession with Team 2000 having the ball. With guys like Wade, Kobe, Pierce, Duncan, you just know they would make the shot, with excellent ball movement, since anyone of those guys can hit the game winner, and have hit the game winners. Jordan and Miller are really the only proven quantity in the clutch for the 90's.

That's pretty much it, the 90's was weaker than people remember. with only 1 great team. Magic and Bird were no more, Olajuwan was getting old. Robinson had to wait until getting Duncan to win, and Ewing choked away all his opportunities.

Feel free to leave your opinion on the bottom.