FanNation

G.O.A.T. said 11/23, 02:32 PM
The rules for this throwdown are posted here: http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/77103

The main idea, though, is to create a team using players from 1982 on. I chose the Hawks and Cassidy chose the Kings.

C- Dikembe Mutombo- In his 5 years with Atlanta he averaged 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. He is considered by some to be the greatest shotblocker in recent memory.

PF- Kevin Willis- In 10 years with the Hawks he averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds. He and Dominique Wilkins (see below) combined to actually WIN in Atlanta, something that has been absent as of late.

SF- Dominique Wilkins- "Nique", as he is called, averaged 27 points and 7 rebounds per contest and is widely known as a top 3 dunker to ever live.

SG- Jason Terry- In 5 seasons with Atlanta he averaged 16 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 36% from deep and 84% from the charity stripe.

PG- Mookie Blaylock- This is the guy who shut down everyone else's best guard. He was a great defensive stopper in the 80s for seven seasons with the Hawks. He averaged a solid 15 points, 7 assists, and 2 and a half steals in those years.

G.O.A.T. said 11/24, 09:30 AM
Obviously, your entire team is based around Stockton and Malone. But Griffith doesn't match up with Jason Terry. They both averaged 16 a game but Griffith only averaged 2 assists per game while Terry was putting up 6 a game. Both averaged 3 rebounds per contest BUT Terry averaged one more steal per game. Griffith shot 33% from deep compared to Terry's 36%. Also, Griffith shot a paltry 70% from the line.

Most people would probably agree that the weak part of your team is Mark Eaton. But, first, he only played 11 seasons. Now, compare Eaton's 6, 8, and 3 numbers to Mutombo's 12, 13, and 3. It's pretty obvious who has the advantage. Dikembe was the Defensive Player of the Year FOUR times and Eaton got the DPOY twice. But Mutombo was also an 8-time all-star. Eaton was selected once for the all-star game.

Here's the comparison between Dantley and Wilkins. There stats are quite similar (except for the rebounding edge to Nique) so I went to other things:
Scoring Titles- 2 to 1 Dantley
All-NBA- 7 to 2 Wilkins
All-Star- 9 to 6 Wilkins

The only big difference between them is All-NBA selections in which Nique is easily the greater. It's a tough call between them though. More later

G.O.A.T. said 11/24, 12:18 PM
Yes, I was using stats from their years with the Hawks. I just switched because almost all of your guys spent their entire careers with the Jazz (3 or 4 of them I think) and it would be easier to just go by careers.

When Jason Terry was in Atlanta he was a PG/SG. He kind of played both depending on who was out there for the Hawks. If Mutombo and Eaton matched up I think both would have trouble scoring on the other but, to me, Dikembe is a more well-rounded player. Eaton is all-defense, all-the-time. Mutombo did average 12 points a game in his years with the Hawks. It's not a lot, but compared to Eaton's 6 it kind of matters.

Here's something else: Kevin Willis pulled down more rebounds per game than Karl Malone and had a 3-inch height advantage over the Mailman.

Next on the agenda...you can't just say he "would have won another scoring title". You never know what could have happened. Here, I'll go position-by-position:

PG- Stockton over Blaylock but not by as much as people think.
SG- Terry over Griffith
SF- Tough to say either way; MAYBE a slight edge to Nique
PF- Malone by a little bit.
C- Mutombo over Eaton

It's a tough call but I'd go with the Hawks anyday.