Just For Fun: Best Starting 5 Picking 1 Player per Year 2012-Now

[What Would Jesus Do?]

You pick 1 starter from each of the last 5 years (including this year) to make the best 5-man squad.

The problem - obviously - is that you'll want to pick several from 2012. But you only get one. So which one?

I approached it by picking from the other years first and then seeing who I needed from 2012.

The player you get is the player we saw in the year you pick him from. So, for example, if you pick Marcus, you'll want to pick All American Marcus from the 2014 team.

Here's my first cut. It doesn't have all the best players from that 5-year stretch, but that's because of the 1-player-per-year rule.

2014 - Marcus
2015 - JP
2013 - Reggie
2016 - Brice
2012 - Zeller

It isn't as easy as it looks. JP is ther obvious weak pick - but only down the stretch. Who knows if he has those problems playing on this team. You can replace JP by moving Marcus to the 2 and putting in Kendall, or by removing JP and replacing him with Harrison - but then you lose Zeller. So while you fix one weakness, you now have to find a suitable center - something we haven't had since Zeller left.

 

[slothrop8]

Five completely different players than your list just to make it tougher on me:

PG - Marshall 2012
SG - Hairston 2013
SF - Jackson 2016
PF - McAdoo 2014
C - Meeks 2015

I like your frontline better - but I think Marshall can get me easy looks in transition and create me offense from all spots on the floor.

 

[superstar57]

Harder than I thought.

2012 Harrison Barnes (SF)
2013 PJ Hairston (SG)
2014 Marcus Paige (PG)
2015 Brice Johnson (PF)
2016 Kennedy Meeks (c) I wanted Zeller

I would roll the dice with this team.

 

[imajericho]

2013 Brice F
2012 Barnes SG
2014 Mcadoo F
2015 Jackson SF
2016 Berry PG

Or

2012 Barnes F
2013 Hairston F
2014 Brice F
2015 Jackson G
2016 Berry G

Small ball woohoo.

 

[IndyHeel15]

16 Berry PG
15 Paige SG
14 McAdoo PF
13 PJ SG
12 Zeller C

Not the best defensively sound team, but you have 3 legitimate outside shooters with Berry at 37% this year, Paige and PJ at 39%, Zeller is a stable down low guy, and McAdoo being solid. Game on the line, you have shooters to hit a 3, as well as 4 out of the 5 are great free throw shooters for their position.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Are you taking the ability of that year, or as long as the player played that year, you can choose them for that year, but you get the best version of them? Assuming you get the version of them of that year:

PG - Paige 14
SG - Hairston 13
SF - Barnes 12
PF - Johnson 16
C - Meeks 15

I'd be fine playing small ball as well and taking 2015 Jackson instead of Meeks and playing with two SFs

 

[coachdubausee]

PG - Marshall
SG - Hairston
SF - Barnes
PF - Brice J.
C - Zeller

Sweet.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Are you taking the ability of that year, or as long as the player played that year, you can choose them for that year, but you get the best version of them? Assuming you get the version of them of that year:

PG - Paige 14
SG - Hairston 13
SF - Barnes 12
PF - Johnson 16
C - Meeks 15

I'd be fine playing small ball as well and taking 2015 Jackson instead of Meeks and playing with two SFs

I was talking ability that year. But, hey, it's the internet.

 

[imajericho]

PG - Marshall
SG - Hairston
SF - Barnes
PF - Brice J.
C - Zeller

Sweet.

You didn't follow the rules lol

 

[heelz2345]

PG: Marcus Paige (2014)
SG: PJ Hairston (2013)
SF: Justin Jackson (2015)
PF: Brice Johnson (2016)
C: Tyler Zeller (2012)

This was definitely harder than you would think, toughest one for me to hit was 2015, and was working around that for sure. I feel good with this team though, you have an ACC player of the year in Zeller along with Paige and Brice's best seasons, PJ as an outside threat and Justin Jackson adding some versatility. This lineup could score in bunches.

 

[imajericho]

Oh if it is the year you had them then paige 2014 easy in mine instead.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Oh if it is the year you had them then paige 2014 easy in mine instead.

OK, phew. That's actually exactly why I asked the question. I know you've been drinking the Marcus Haterade recently (somewhat justifiably so), but if anyone would take anybody but Marcus from the 2014 squad I think it'd be pretty tough to justify that.

 

[heelz2345]

OK, phew. That's actually exactly why I asked the question. I know you've been drinking the Marcus Haterade recently (somewhat justifiably so), but if anyone would take anybody but Marcus from the 2014 squad I think it'd be pretty tough to justify that.

Well, if someone went with Marshall from 2012, you could pick McAdoo from 14 since Zeller/Henson would no longer be available, but even then, you're giving up a lot in the post for a pretty negligible "upgrade" at PG

 

[imajericho]

Barnes 12
McAdoo 13
Paige 14
Jackson 15
Brice 16

Only weakness is McAdoo really but hopefully with johnson spacing is much better for him.

 

[slothrop8]

Well, if someone went with Marshall from 2012, you could pick McAdoo from 14 since Zeller/Henson would no longer be available, but even then, you're giving up a lot in the post for a pretty negligible "upgrade" at PG

I did that very thing - and I did it because I think with Kendall Marshall at Point Guard - every other player on my team gets 25% better on offense because of the looks Marshall gets them. Kendall was on pace to smash the all time career assists record had he stayed in school. He'd still have been top 5 all-time if he had only stayed for his Jr year. He was a passing savant at the college level - maybe the best pure passer in college I've ever seen. I'm still upset the '12 team didn't get to play for the title.

 

[superstar57]

Marshall did the right thing IMHO in leaving, his position was slim that year in the draft, but he would gone down as top 5 college PG had he played his entire 4 years.

Not his fault, but he screwed up or recruiting. He was a four year player all day, and all the top HS PG knew they would have to take a back seat to him if they came.

Agree Marshall makes everyone else 25% better.

 

[imajericho]

I did that very thing - and I did it because I think with Kendall Marshall at Point Guard - every other player on my team gets 25% better on offense because of the looks Marshall gets them. Kendall was on pace to smash the all time career assists record had he stayed in school. He'd still have been top 5 all-time if he had only stayed for his Jr year. He was a passing savant at the college level - maybe the best pure passer in college I've ever seen. I'm still upset the '12 team didn't get to play for the title.

Look who he had shooting the ball. 3 nbaers. His passing was good but he had people who finished. We blow a lot of assists nowadays that they didn't for marshall.

 

[slothrop8]

Look who he had shooting the ball. 3 nbaers. His passing was good but he had people who finished. We blow a lot of assists nowadays that they didn't for marshall.

No doubt we had great players on that '12 team. But we shot .478 this season and .476 last season - compared to .459 Marshall's last year. I think Marshall would have collected tons of assists passing to any group with some skills.

 

[imajericho]

Marshall was absolutely an amazing passer who had no fear to make a pass.

He ran the fast break through his passing.

I think he went pro because he knew witha lesser group he wouldn't have those crazy numbers. No joke, Marshall could have averaged 15apg in the nba if the lakers could finish.

That said, real big defensive liability and was decent from 3 but not a reliable shooter.

I would take Paige in 14 over him easily for an all around standpoint.


And as far as Marshall making players 25% better I am kind of torn if he made them better or if they made him better.

 

[TARRRRRHEEEEEELS]

Do you guys remember the game against FSU in which Kendall had like 20+ assists? LMAO! What a freaking beast! Spin move layup against Duke at home? So many memorable moments from Kendall who wasn't known as a shooter but is probably the best collegiate pass-first PG I've ever seen. Cota was amazing (I was really young) and then this kid starts dropping dimes like it's no ones business to make me forget about him.

I think Kendall over MP is more than a small upgrade and that is absolutely no knock on MP at all!