Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Shaquille O'neal
Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Dirk Nowitzki
Ben Wallace
Chauncey Billups
Dwyane Wade
Paul Pierce
Chris Webber
Dwight Howard
Tough omissions: Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Rasheed Wallace.
Debated ever so slightly: Pau Gasol, Mike Bibby, Reggie Miller.
Easy omissions: Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker.
You've got it (IMO)! TP This is my EXACT first team that I was thinking of! It was tough for me to come up with a SF, then I debated Dirk because he used to be a 3 and then I thought, hell so did KG (although not this decade he wasn't, but he's the best available).
-I put a lot of thought into the backup 5. I strongly considered Ben (he was the glue during that Pistons run), but I think I'd take Yao.
-I also put a lot of thought into Wade/Ray. Allen has had the more solid decade, but Allen never was the talk of a season or postseason like Wade was. That counts.
-Howard has only had 4 very good years and really hasn't done anything really that has made a difference in the league (hasn't even made a conference final). I take Sheed at the 5 there for a solid 9 seasons and his guarensheeds.
-I also think I'd take Parker over Billups but thats nitpicking.
Notes on other posters comments:
-You can't demerit Nash's 2 MVPs and ridiculous win totals.
-Lebron has only had 5 spectacular (top 10 player) years this decade. KG and Dirk have him beat for now. Even worse, Howard has only had 4 very good seasons.
-Pierce/Lebron is tough. Pierce has had more better seasons and is a Finals MVP although hasn't had the impact on the league that Lebron has. I guess maybe I would take Pierce here though remembering his 2001 and 2002 heroics as well.
TP for the great thread!!