
If only...
So, what if current NBA players decided to ditch the hard court and kit up on the pitch to play the beautiful game. I know this has been done
before, back during the last world cup, but I’m going do it my way and only with NBA. Why? Because after Futbol, Basketball is my second favorite sport. All other sports are a distant 3rd. Also, I was inspired by my ESPN Magazine that showed up the other day with the above cover on it.
So, if I were a manager and I had the pick of the NBA this would be my team starting from the back going up to the front and the formation will be a 3-4-3. (Similar to the formation of the team I play on in reality).
Goalkeeper: (GK)
Dwight Howard (6′11, 265 lbs, C, Orlando Magic)
This was a toss up with Kevin Garnett, but I mean Howard right now is grabbing the most rebounds and blocking the most shots. He would be a beast between the posts. I just don’t think any shot would get by him into the net. He’s tall, explosive and has incredible reach. Also, he’s a bit crazy which is what you need in a good goal keeper. Another thing going for Dwight, is that there is another American named Howard who’s doing quite well in the Premier League, Tim Howard (former United keeper, current Everton and US National keep). This team would have no problem keeping clean sheets, especially with the 3 guys in front of Howard. In fact, if Howard got bored he could just stay at the top of the box and be the 4th defender…
Defense: (RCB, CB, LCB)
Al Jefferson (6′10, 265 lbs, C-F, Minnesota Timberwolves)
Now my thought here with 3 backs is that they’ll do a good job of switching around with the holding midfielder, who I’ll reveal in a bit, but to start on the right hand side would be Al Jefferson who is just a freak as the Center for the Timberwolves, but who does a great job of running up and down the court. He would be the work horse of the defense, coming in to cut off opposing wingers and put in the hard tackles. He’d also be the guy that would defend in the air and clear out any chances by opposing corners. Basically I see Jefferson as the player similar to Nemanja Vidic on Manchester United. Does that mean his partner in the back will be like Rio? No not really, but he’ll be equally impressive:
Tim Duncan (6′11, 260, F-C, San Antonio Spurs)
Duncan will be the rock on my team’s back line. Though he’s getting up in age, he’ll have that level head to be able to clear out balls calmly and easily. He wouldn’t get excited or anxious and he’ll be able to get the line organize. He’ll also be able to clear out balls in the air, but he’ll be most deadliest when the team has corners and he comes up for the odd goal here and there. Duncan, with his age and experience will be similar to that of Steve Bruce. Just a quality defender and player and he would be the Vice-Captain of the team. On Duncan’s left finishing off the back line would be…
Dirk Nowitzki (7′0″, 245, F, Dallas Mavericks).
Nowitzki would be someone with a little more creative flair and some speed than the other defenders, also he’ll be the only European I have on the starting XI. With Dirk’s range and height, I mean the dude is just long and he’ll be the tallest out of all the defenders and the goalkeeper, he would be a great back that could track back and be an outlet for Howard and Duncan. His length would stop any ride side winger from getting behind him or getting a cross over him. Offensively, Dirk’s range is the biggest key, because he could clear balls out deep and under pressure. This ability is something that the team would use to spark counter attacks and to get the play up in the attacking half of the field quickly. Of course with his vision he could also just be the safety value for the defense and easily pass it out to the man sitting in front of the back line. That man being…
Midfielders (DM, CM, RM, LM)
Lebron James (6′8″, 250 lbs, F, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Yes I know that LeBron is known as an offensive player, probably one of the best offensive players in the league and one of the best finishers, but he’s also one of the best defenders in the league, as well as one of the best at getting rebounds, blocking shots, getting steals and putting up assists. He’s pretty much the best all around player which makes him so good in the NBA. It is these attributes is what would make him a brilliant anchor man for the team. I liken him to that of Patrick Vieira in that his vision, speed and strength will allow him to boss the midfield. He would be able to sit in the center circle and see the whole field. His ability to go forward and to drop back would make him such a stalwart on the pitch. The Cavs depend on LeBron doing so much on the court from scoring the points himself, dishing the passes, getting the rebounds and locking down the opposing team. On the pitch he’d be doing pretty much the same thing except that he wouldn’t have to do it all on his own and most of the time he wouldn’t even be the best player out there. Instead, James could focus on being the player that will get in and do whatever needs to be done to get a W, and most of the time that means playing defense and bossing the midfield. LeBron could leave the play making to his partner in crime in the middle…
Chris Paul (6′0″, 175 lbs, G, New Orleans Hornets)
Yes Paul is small, but that won’t matter if he knows the man behind him is LeBron James. Chris Paul is a baller though, and he’ll easily get the offense going with his superb passing, whether that it is to the outside midfielders or up to the central forward/attacking midfielder. In either cases, his vision on the pitch and his skill to get people the ball no matter what, is what a good central midfielder is all about. If his ability in the NBA to get steals and get break-a-ways started is any consideration he’d also be the great point man to start any counter attack or break aways on the pitch, only he’ll be given more room to do his tricks and he’ll have more than just 4 options to pass up the ball. Paul’s soccer tactics would include driving up the middle giving time to the other midfielders and forwards to set up, then it would be chances upon chances with his, lobs, flick on’s, and ole’s. Size would not matter in this cause, he’d be a Deco or a Diego (but not a Paul Scholes who I’m reserving for later). He would be the creative spark plug on an already very creative team. And on games where he doesn’t want to be all flashy or use a lot of energy, well he could just then do quick passes out to the wingers/outside midfielders such as…
Manu Ginobili (6′6″, 205 lbs, G, San Antonia Spurs)
Manu is easily my Ryan Giggs on the left hand side. Come on Manu (Man.U=Man United)! I am sure that if Ginobili played in Europe he’d be a United player (except of course he’s Argentinian…) Speaking of Argentinian, you all knew I had to get at least one person from Argentina or Brazil on the team (and it wasn’t going to be Boris Diaw, though it could have been Leandro Barbosa). Ginobili would cause such chaos out on the outside and the wing for the opposing team. He’d drive the ball towards the goal with ease and could cut in to create chances for the strikers. Also he would be a great outlet for strikers if they gather the ball inside and create the space for him to get into the box. Also he would be the team’s best diver, and could get a lot of penalties (hah!). He would be an amazing offensive creator on the outside and he’d have the legs to track back and help play some defense… I mean if the team ever needed that. Worse case, he could hoof the ball over the whole field and send it to the right hand side where the ball would be picked up by…
Dwayne Wade (6′4″, 216 lbs, G, Miami Heat)
Wade would be the best counter part to Ginobili on the right hand side and would provide the exact same threat as Manu. Teams would have to worry about the same sort of attacks coming from either side of the pitch and that would make the pitch very wide and stretch the defending team very thin. Also after that remarkable pass on Wednesday while falling out of bounds, I’m pretty sure that Wade would get in some very neat crosses and set up some very interesting goals especially if he’s getting fed the ball by Chris Paul or by the following, my center forward/attacking midfielder:
Forwards (CF/AM, LS, RS)
Steve Nash (6′3″, 178 lbs, G, Phoenix Suns)
Steve Nash is a no brainer as an NBA player who could play in European soccer. I mean besides the fact that his brother was a professional soccer player in Canada and that Nash once said he wanted to buy Tottenham Hotspurs is besides the point. Nor is the point that he loves to play keepy-uppy during practice, but rather it is just his style of play that is pretty much just like that of all the great soccer players. His creativity, skill, and ability on the ball is very similar to many of the creative central midfielders of the leagues. Most of all though, Steve Nash is my Paul Scholes, who could be argued as one of the most creative and skillful English midfielders of all time and was really a central forward in the fact that he was always pushing the ball in on offense and played shite defense. (I bet there are others more similar to Nash, but since I am a United fan, I’m going to go to Manchester United as my team to compare, plus they are the best in the world as I type.) Just like how I believe Steve Nash could be a good soccer player, I think Paul Scholes could have been a great guard in the NBA. Steve on the pitch would be a player that ravaged defensive midfielders and the opposing defensive line. Nash would just get by them with give in go’s with the Chris Paul and the two strikers. He would pull the strings and cut the defense with perfectly weighted passing and when it came to it, he’d rip a rocket from the top of the box into the top corner before the defense had a chance to even settle. His vision and creation and his ability to stay on the ball would be a perfect fit to the two strike partners. Also Steve Nash would easily be my Captain of the team. So who would Steve be neatly threading the ball too up top, well one would easily be…
Paul Pierce (6′7″, 235 lbs, F, Boston Celtics)
Paul Pierce would the point of attack for the offense. Creating the strike partnership that should score easily 100 goals would be the best shooting finisher in the league. I’m stressing shooting here, because I feel his strike partner IS the best finisher in the league in all categories, but Pierce hits shots at big times from all over and his style of getting off the tough spots at appropriate times reminds me of Ruud van Nistelrooy or Thierry Henry. Basically Pierce wouldn’t have to worry about creating anything, and just focus on getting the ball into the back of the net. He’d have Chris Paul and Steve Nash feed him all the passes he needs, and his striking partner would command all the focus and would therefor create the space for Pierce to bag the goals. So who is Paul Pierce’s partner in crime? None other than…
Kobe Bryant (6′6″, 205 lbs, G, Los Angeles Lakers)
The guy who started this epic post (well over 2000 words), and the reason why I am so giddy on this Friday. Kobe Bryant could be an amazing soccer star, and many would think he’d be a great midfielder. I feel the same way, but his killer instinct and his size and skill is so much like Lionel Messi or better yet Cristiano Ronaldo. Kobe could drive right into the defense after he picks up the ball from Nash at the top of the box a la Messi, or he could muscle his way into the air to get the easier header a la Ronaldo. He would be prolific, though he might not get the goals, he’ll be the key player in whatever goal is scored. Whether he used his skill to hold up the ball, flicked on a pass, or banged the cross bar and allowed the others to pick up the rebound and score themselves. His creativeness and vision (a common theme, yes I know), would mean constant man marking by the other team and if there are any set plays to be done, a quick lob from Wade into Bryant in the box would seem like an automatic goal. Bryant has that killer instinct that would result in him scoring goals deep into injury time of need be on either sides of the half. He’d will the offense to score goals very much like Eric Cantona. Though he wouldn’t be the captain, he’d be close to the top, but he’d definitely be the face of the team and the talsimanic figure on the pitch.
Forget USA Gold in Basketball, with a team like this, I’m thinking Champions League Finalist/Winners every year and for Kobe Bryant, that could be the best trophy ever!
Below is the formation and positions for my NBA Fantasy Starting XI:

Subs:
Goal Keepers - Kevin Garnett / Reserve - Elton Brand
Defense - Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire / Reserve - David West
Midfielders - Tony Parker, Brandon Roy, Carmelo Anthony / Reserve - Joe Johnson
Forwards - Vince Carter / Reserve - Ray Allen