Syracuse Basketball: Fantasy NBA Draft featuring SU legends
By Ryan Lee
![ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 05: Assistant coach Gerry McNamara of the Syracuse Orange moves the ball during practice prior to the NCAA Men's Final Four at the Georgia Dome on April 5, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 05: Assistant coach Gerry McNamara of the Syracuse Orange moves the ball during practice prior to the NCAA Men's Final Four at the Georgia Dome on April 5, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/bcb8742ccbfb03e1acf29a74ca3aae648068e03540572133217cc17cd5aef3cc.jpg)
Final analysis/argument
“Team Ryan” Full Roster:
- Sherman Douglas, guard
- Lawerence Moten, guard
- Carmelo Anthony, forward
- Hakim Warrick, forward
- Derrick Coleman, center
- Billy Owens, utility (SUPERGLUE GUY)
Ok in review, I have selected five guys who went in the first round in the NBA draft with three going in the top three. I have the all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and assist man in school history.
My team can score in transition, can smother you defensively in that classic Syracuse zone. If that doesn’t work this squad will slow it down when their oppositions legs are tired and beat them down in the half-court with Anthony and Coleman with Douglas at the helm.
With all due respect to Paul’s squad who is made up of legends themselves, my squad can go with any college five-man team you could possibly assemble. The biggest concern for my squad is the perimeter shooting as Anthony and Douglas are the most dependable shooters but only hitting them at a 33 percent clip in college. This will require this squad to maximize every opportunity possible offensively and slow down GMac on defense against the zone.
Who would win in a "fantasy" Syracuse basketball pick up game? (full rosters of each team inside the article + rules) #NBADraft #Orange #Cuse
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) June 24, 2019
“Team Paul” Full Roster:
- Dave Bing, guard
- Pearl Washington, guard
- Billy Gabor, small forward
- Louis Orr, power forward
- Roosevelt Bouie, center
- Gerry McNamara, utility
Initially, I’ll be honest, I didn’t plan on going mainly old school with my roster, but that’s how the board fell to me. My intent was to maximize value at every selection and I accomplished that. I valued my backcourt if I had two strong leaders where they could save me in any situation.
The NBA currently is a guard driven league and while this is a pickup game, I believe the modern day principles ring true here.
Although beyond the modern, I couldn’t help but take advantage of the second coming of the “Louie and Bouie Show.” Louis Orr and Roosevelt Bouie were part of Jim Boeheim’s very first recruiting class.
In their SU career together, they went 100-18, they’re winners. They also each scored over 1,000 career points, they can make things happen.
The rebounding will provide extra opportunities for the rest of my offense and they can hold up defensively as well.
While the final piece to the puzzle is G-Mac. He was simply too good to pass up and has such a rich history of making deep shots. The clutch factor is also key late in this pickup game, I’m going to need someone I can trust and rely on.
Next. Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History. dark
Of course, I’m biased, but I think my team is clearly better in every possible area. It’s a versatile team that can beat you in every way possible: from beyond the arc, down low, low scoring game, high scoring game, it won’t matter Paul’s team is coming out on top.