Tersk

What do you think would form the Mavericks best roster, including a coach. Doesn't necessarily have to be the best 11/12 guys, but try to get the best players who you think would work together.

C: James Donaldson
James Donaldson provides good interior defense which sets the tone for the rest of the Mavericks, he will get close to 2 blocks and get 10-11 rebounds. His 7-2 frame is part of the reason he is the Dallas Mavericks best center ever. He played his peak in Dallas, his best year was 10.8 PPG (58%), 11.9 RPG, 1.7 BPG in 36.9 minutes per game in which he made the all-star team

PF: Dirk Nowitzki
Was there any doubt? Dirk will light oppositions up with his versatility but also be able to roam the perimeter with Donaldson and Tarpley backing him up.

SF: Mark Aguirre
I was really contemplating putting Mashburn here, his duo with Dirk would have been deadly. But Aguirre's peak season but him over the top; 29.5 PPG (52%), 5.9 RPG, 4.5 APG. His driving/pulling up skills were god-like and provides Dallas with a great slasher.

SG: Rolando Blackman
Blackman was only the 2nd player in Mavericks history to have his jersey retired, he was a nice mix of offense and defense. He has the most amount of points of any Maverick in history. He now serves as an assistant coach, he knew the game well and what was always a step ahead of the play.

PG: Jason Kidd
Even though he only played two and a half seasons with Dallas, his sophomore season was one of the best in Dallas Mavericks history. He provides good defense and great playmaking, getting our predominately scoring outfit some good open looks. His second year in Dallas he averaged; 16.6 PPG, 9.7 APG, 6.8 RPG and 2.2 SPG - he was the first (and only?) Maverick to start in an All-Star Game.

6th Man: Roy Tarpley
Despite his career being ruined by drug use, Tarpley is possibly the best rebounder in Dallas Mavericks history. His career average is 10, in only 26 minutes - whilst in 1990 he averaged 13.1 rebounds in 36 minutes. If you equate his statistics to 40 minutes a game, he would of averaged above 12.8 every year, with 16.6 in his second year.

Coach: Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson gives this team the mindset of defense and thanks to the parts assembled, this team could be competing year in / year out.

The Bench:
Well, firstly, what is this team missing? 3 point shooting, so I will add onto the bench..
- Michael Finley
- Steve Nash

Now, for a little more toughness
- Sam Perkins
- Derek Harper
- Brad Davis

C: Donaldson / Perkins
PF: Nowitzki / Tarpley
SF: Aguirre / Finley
SG: Blackman / Harper
PG: Kidd / Nash / Davis

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xray

Very nice synopsis!

The only differences in our opinions would be in the backcourt, where I would have Derek Harper backing up at the point instead of at SG, leaving Brad Davis off the team; and Jim Jackson must have a place on my team behind Blackman - or in front of, if you consider Blackman's dead-on shooting in a Venny Johnson type role off the bench, JJ would make a great starter.

The other replacement would be Finley, where his high-flying scoring act wouldn't be enough to displace Mashburn at SF behind Aguirre. Just the thought of Jamal on the same team as Aguirre would revolutionize his once promising career. Can you imagine what Mash would pick up from a guy like Aguirre? BTW, Aguirre wasn't a slasher, but a post up nightmare (both he and Adrian Dantley had the big "backside" to push defenders).

Perkins and Tarpley both could rotate between the 4 and 5, so no gripe there.

And at coach, Avery's the best pick there. But I would love to combine the knowledge of Nellie and Motta, and add Avery's drive. That man would crush PJ's triangle.

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Dre™

Are we just basing this off of a name value sort of thing? That's what it appears with Nash on the bench to Kidd. Nash did far more for us than Kidd, and Finley did far more than Tarpley.

And AJ's been good, but he's been with us too short a time, I think Nelson deserves the credit for now for bringing us back from the dead. I like the idea, but I think it's a bit too focused on the name value/talent at peak of certain players, when their best days were not with us.

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xray

I base my opinions on:

1) Capability.
2) Face value at the moment they were a Maverick
3) Excitement they generated for me at the time

For instance, Tarpley came on the scene in '86 when I was 18-19 years old. I was spazzed at this dude's ability, with Perkins and Donaldson on the front line - not to mention Aguirre - we should dominate!!

So even though he flamed by the end of the decade, I consider him (and the rest) a must for consideration.

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