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With the last member of the Mavericks’ 2011 squad gone, I decided to try a fun project:
Building the Mavericks’ 2011 Championship Team in 2020 - A Thread
Building the Mavericks’ 2011 Championship Team in 2020 - A Thread
Starting PG
2011: Jason Kidd
2020: Malcolm Brogdon
Both are big point guards with high basketball IQ. They can efficiently manage the offense and create shots for others or themselves, if needed. Their size and strength help both be great defenders and shut down their opponent.
2011: Jason Kidd
2020: Malcolm Brogdon
Both are big point guards with high basketball IQ. They can efficiently manage the offense and create shots for others or themselves, if needed. Their size and strength help both be great defenders and shut down their opponent.
Starting SG
2011: DeShawn Stevenson
2020: Marcus Smart
Smart is a little shorter than Stevenson, but both have the same bulldog mentality that makes them fearsome defenders and hustlers. Neither are prolific scorers, but they can hit an open shot in the flow of the offense.
2011: DeShawn Stevenson
2020: Marcus Smart
Smart is a little shorter than Stevenson, but both have the same bulldog mentality that makes them fearsome defenders and hustlers. Neither are prolific scorers, but they can hit an open shot in the flow of the offense.
Starting SF
2011: Shawn Marion
2020: Robert Covington
Covington brings the same defensive versatility and rebounding that Marion did. Their hustle and consistent effort help them stuff the stat sheet without a play being run for them.
2011: Shawn Marion
2020: Robert Covington
Covington brings the same defensive versatility and rebounding that Marion did. Their hustle and consistent effort help them stuff the stat sheet without a play being run for them.
Starting PF
2011: Dirk Nowitzki
2020: Kevin Durant
So far, Durant has played more like a young Dirk, but his shooting stroke and post play are just as smooth and effective. Durant also matches Dirk’s killer instinct and MVP-level skills. He even adopted Dirk's one-legged shot!
2011: Dirk Nowitzki
2020: Kevin Durant
So far, Durant has played more like a young Dirk, but his shooting stroke and post play are just as smooth and effective. Durant also matches Dirk’s killer instinct and MVP-level skills. He even adopted Dirk's one-legged shot!
Starting C
2011: Tyson Chandler
2020: Steven Adams
Both are big, strong, and mobile Centers that bring defensive intensity to every game. They can rise up over any defender for putback dunks and alley-oop finishes. If you get to the rim, they'll stop you from going any further.
2011: Tyson Chandler
2020: Steven Adams
Both are big, strong, and mobile Centers that bring defensive intensity to every game. They can rise up over any defender for putback dunks and alley-oop finishes. If you get to the rim, they'll stop you from going any further.
Sixth Man
2011: Jason Terry
2020: Goran Dragic
Going from a starting role to a bench role isn’t easy, but these guys embraced it. Both can get hot and light up the opponent. Big time players that bring a spark off the bench and can score from anywhere.
2011: Jason Terry
2020: Goran Dragic
Going from a starting role to a bench role isn’t easy, but these guys embraced it. Both can get hot and light up the opponent. Big time players that bring a spark off the bench and can score from anywhere.
Back-up Guard
2011: J.J. Barea
2020: T.J. McConnell
The box score might not show it, but these small guards are skilled and reliable scorers that can't be intimidated. They're crafty ball-handlers and tough-minded players that don’t back down from any moment.
2011: J.J. Barea
2020: T.J. McConnell
The box score might not show it, but these small guards are skilled and reliable scorers that can't be intimidated. They're crafty ball-handlers and tough-minded players that don’t back down from any moment.
Back-up Center
2011: Brendan Haywood
2020: Dwight Howard
Big, towering Centers whose starting days are behind them. As back-up Centers, they can help a Championship team keep benches at bay and even step in to manage bigger players if the match-up calls for it.
2011: Brendan Haywood
2020: Dwight Howard
Big, towering Centers whose starting days are behind them. As back-up Centers, they can help a Championship team keep benches at bay and even step in to manage bigger players if the match-up calls for it.
3-Point Specialist
2011: Peja Stojakovic
2020: Kyle Korver
Snipers from deep. What else is there to say? Peja in his prime was definitely better than Kyle Korver, but in 2011, his role was to come in and knock down threes. And beat the Lakers. He did both.
2011: Peja Stojakovic
2020: Kyle Korver
Snipers from deep. What else is there to say? Peja in his prime was definitely better than Kyle Korver, but in 2011, his role was to come in and knock down threes. And beat the Lakers. He did both.
Here's the full rotation:
Starters
PG: Malcolm Brogdon
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Robert Covington
PF: Kevin Durant
C: Steven Adams
Bench
Goran Dragic
T.J. McConnel
Dwight Howard
Kyle Korver
How many games would this team win? Would they win a Championship?
Starters
PG: Malcolm Brogdon
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Robert Covington
PF: Kevin Durant
C: Steven Adams
Bench
Goran Dragic
T.J. McConnel
Dwight Howard
Kyle Korver
How many games would this team win? Would they win a Championship?
Thank you for reading my thread! Let me know if you can think of a better comp for each player. I'm curious to see how everyone else would build this team.
