The Superteam That Would Beat Anthony Edwards’s All-Time Team In A 7-Game Series

There is no denying that Anthony Edwards is one of the brightest young stars in the NBA today. His talent and potential have been on full display ever since he was drafted #1 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020. His on-court IQ will never come into question, but how well-versed is Edwards in the game’s history? Never one for a dull moment, he recently named his all-time starting lineup in an interview with House Of Highlights. Today, Team Fadeaway World attempts to take down Team Edwards in a 7-game series.

Edwards’s lineup begins with a man who inspired a generation on and off the court in Allen Iverson. Edwards chose himself to be the starting shooting guard, which could be considered controversial, but what else would you expect from a young and confident player? His selection at the forward positions should come to no one’s surprise as well. He chose one of the greatest to ever do it and the best player of his generation LeBron James as his small forward. At power forward, Edwards selected his favorite player and the man he has said is the G.O.A.T, Kevin Durant. Wrapping things up in a big way, Edwards chose Shaq as his starting center.

Edwards has built an incredibly talented and especially offensively gifted lineup. Team Fadeaway World will have to be at their very best to defeat this team in a 7-game series, and they will be!

Fadeaway World’s All-Time Team: Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon

Anthony Edwards’ All-Time Team: Allen Iverson, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O’Neal

Steph Curry vs. Allen Iverson

This matchup is a fun one. In a 1v1 situation, Curry will struggle to create his shot against the pesky and quick hands of Allen Iverson. Although, I do not doubt that Steph will be able to get his shot off over the shorter Iverson. Where Curry will thrive is his bread and butter, off-the-ball movement, and playmaking. There is no doubt Team FW will use this to their advantage, setting screens and working to get the greatest shooter of all-time his looks from the outside.

Allen Iverson is one of the best ball handlers in NBA history which should cause heaps of trouble for Curry defensively. Team FW will have to be ready to play help defense when Iverson inevitably gets by Curry on the perimeter. Curry can keep Iverson in front by hanging back below the 3-point arc given Iverson’s inefficiency at times from there. If A. I. starts to hit his shots and get hot, that is when Team FW will have to have their guard up and look for Iverson to try and get to the rack.

Michael Jordan vs. Anthony Edwards

Michael Jordan has the clear advantage in this matchup. As much as Edwards has improved on the defensive end, this is Michael Jordan we are talking about here. With the best first step in the business, Jordan should be able to get past Edwards with no real issues. MJ will also need to utilize his masterful mid-range game to compensate for the help defense of Durant and Shaq. Jordan isn’t much of an outside threat but hanging back off MJ to let him shoot is simply not an option considering how hot he can get from anywhere on the floor. MJ should be able to have his way with Edwards.

The clear advantage and only one Edwards holds over Jordan is size. Edwards may be 2 inches shorter than Jordan but he weighs 27 pounds heavier. Edwards is a talented scorer himself with the ability to score from all three levels on the floor. The problem is he is going up against an elite defensive guard who has a knack for getting his with steals and blocks. The one thing that holds Edwards back is that if he begins a game too inconsistent, he may rely on the three-point shot too much. The only shot at success that Edwards has is to use his weight and try to wear down Mike.

Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James

Kobe Bryant finds himself in a slight mismatch in this series. Don’t get me wrong, Kobe is going to get his. No one can truly stop Kobe from getting his buckets besides well, Kobe. Where Kobe will see his success is the inside-outside game he can work with Duncan and Hakeem, just as he did with Shaq in LA. With Team Edwards most likely having to double down on Team FW’s bigs, this will open up Kobe’s game from the mid-range where he thrived. Kobe probably won’t put up the usual scoring numbers we are used to but his playmaking and defense will be crucial to the victory.

With both a height and weight advantage, LeBron James is going to do his best to wear down Kobe from various spots on the floor. LeBron is amazing due to his ability to score at will and when he is struggling shooting the ball, can take over a game simply with his playmaking and defense. The latter is what will be on full display in this series. LeBron has scorers like KD and A.I. to work with and a dominant center in Shaq. We all know how great LeBron is when the pressure is on him. When some of that pressure is alleviated like it is here, watch out.

Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Durant

The Big Fundamental should dominate this matchup. No disrespect to KD here, but he cannot do anything to slow down Duncan in the paint. Most likely the defense of Team Edwards will send help defenders to double down on him or send Shaq over opening up opportunities for Hakeem to go to work. The problem with that is you’re dealing with one of the smartest, fundamentally sound players ever. Tim Duncan will always make the right play at the right time regardless of what is in front of him.

The only chance Kevin Durant has at succeeding in this matchup is to bring the game to the perimeter. As much as I think Duncan will be able to contain KD regardless, there is no completely shutting him down. In these situations, Duncan will likely fall back and either Kobe or MJ will pick KD up defensively. KD can take advantage by using his size to rise above the smaller guards for his middy or 3- point shot. KD will have a tough time getting to the hoop with such elite defensive play in front of him but will still eat in transition and on the outside.

Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Shaquille O’Neal

Hakeem Olajuwon will have his work cut out for him in this matchup and as we have seen before, he will be ready for it. Arguably the greatest defensive center of all time, The Dream will have his work cut out for him on both ends. On offense, there shouldn’t be many issues for him to get his buckets. His footwork was second to none in the game’s history and it will confuse the slightly slower O’Neal. Hakeem also possessed a smooth jumper, able to hit turnarounds, fadeaways, and spot-up opportunities, within reason of course.

We have seen this movie before in the 1995 NBA Finals. That was Orlando Shaq, not Lakers Shaq. Lakers Shaq may have been a little heavier but he was also stronger, just as fast, and way more dominant. Shaq is going to have to hope he tires out Hakeem in the post, throwing his weight around at the agile big man. Considering most of his work was done within 5 feet of the basket, Shaq has to be able to find his position on the block. Fighting for boards and working extremely hard non both ends could be Shaq’s Achilles heel too, sending him to the bench for rest more often than Team Edwards would like.

Team Fadeaway World Advantages

The first glaring advantage for Team FW is defense. On the perimeter, you have two of the best guards to ever do it defensively. With 21 All-Defensive Team selections between them, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan will have their hands full but are more than up to the task at hand. On the interior, you have another all-time duo in Tim Duncan and Hakeem. This interior duo poses so many challenges to Team Edwards, it will be tough to grab any boards or get many buckets in the paint.

The other glaring advantage here is scoring. The game of basketball will always be first and foremost about putting the ball in the hoop. Team FW has 5 guys that can hit you with a bucket anywhere on the floor. With 4 players in the top 50 of all time in PPG and 2 of the greatest scorers ever, Team FW should run up the scoreboard with ease.

Team Edwards Advantages

Just as much as scoring is an advantage for Team FW, it is for Team Edwards as well. Iverson, LeBron, and Durant all rank in the top 20 in PPG so this will be an absolute dogfight. Let us not forget the scoring of Shaquille O’Neal either, who can take over a game on that end as well. It says something about the strength of your team when your 5th and worst option is one of the brightest stars under 23 years old in the world.

Scoring is a big bonus for Team Edwards but so is the way they can run the offense to set up those buckets. Having LeBron James, one of the best playmakers ever, running your squad is automatically a recipe for success. Adding in underrated playmakers like Durant and Shaq is a huge bonus. Considering points may be hard to come by with Durant’s matchup with Duncan, his playmaking will be critical for Team Edwards. Iverson is also one hell of a playmaker, able to find his teammates while he drives to the basket either on the perimeter or on a cut. Team FW is a little ball-dominant, so the unselfishness of Team Edwards is a huge plus.

Who Wins In A 7-Game Series?

Game 1 is all about Tim Duncan and Team FW. Duncan takes complete advantage of his mismatch with KD, completely dominating on both ends of the floor. Team Edwards struggles to find their flow from the outside and finds a brick wall wherever they turn in the paint. Duncan finishes with a monster 44 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 block performance. Team FW leads 1-0.

Team Edwards comes out on fire in Game 2. Just like it seems to always go, a LeBron James-led team makes all the right adjustments following a Game 1 loss. Iverson takes full control of the offense scoring 33 points to lead his team. Michael Jordan does everything he can to try and get a 2-0 lead for Team FW with 38 points, but this was LeBron and A.I’s night. LeBron finishes with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists to help tie up the series at 1 game apiece.

Game 3 is where MJ sets the arena on fire. He comes out scorching hot with 22 first-half points and finishes the game with an incredible 48 on the night. Curry also finds his stroke from deep going 11-19 from 3, tallying 35 points. Team Edwards again fails to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 39% as a team for the game. Team FW wins in a blowout 130-101 and leads the series 2-1.

Game 4 is an absolute battle. Shaquille O’Neal finally gets some offense going as Hakeem is nursing a sprained ankle he suffered in Game 3. Shaq takes advantage of the hobbled Hakeem, able to back him down in the paint and score at will. Durant also starts to hit his outside shots, going 9-20 from 3-point land with 30 points. Shaq’s 33 points and 20 rebounds propel Team Edwards to a 121-112 victory and a 2-2 series tie.

Kobe finally breaks through in Game 5. Having been smothered by LeBron for most of the series so far, Kobe finds his rhythm and knocks down his mid-range jumper consistently to finish the game with 28 points. Iverson has another big game for Team Edwards, going for 32 points and 6 assists. It would be LeBron James in the final seconds who would deliver a patented three-point dagger to turn the series in Team Edwards’s favor, 132-127. Team Edwards leads the series 3-2.

Michael Jordan says enough is enough in Game 6 working a beautiful 2 man game with Hakeem Olajuwon. Hakeem is finally back to full strength and it shows with a masterful 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks. MJ would completely take over the 2nd half and take Team FW on a 22-5 run to end the 3rd quarter. More of the same in the fourth as MJ would finish with a game-high 39 points. Game 7 here we come!

Game 7 can only be described as an all-out war. The refs let these guys play which sees things get real chippy early on. Curry and Iverson have to be separated at one point and double techs are assessed after an aggressive chest bump and nose-to-nose confrontation. Temperatures are high from the get-go. The game would come down to the battle between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Bron and MJ would go back and forth for the entire second half with neither player willing to waiver. LeBron would finish the game with 47 points and 9 assists but it would be Michael Jordan with the last laugh. Jordan erupts for 18 fourth-quarter points, delivering 52 total and a 4-3 series win for Team FW.

Final Result: Team FW vs. Team Edwards 4-3

Finals MVP – Michael Jordan

Next

The Superteam That Would Beat Stephen Curry’s All-Time Team In A 7-Game Series

1992 MVP Race: Michael Jordan Won Easily With 900 Points, Dennis Rodman Was Surprisingly In The Top 10

Shaquille O’Neal’s Salary For Each NBA Season: Shaq Earned Almost $300 Million Over His Career

Ranking The Best NBA Small Forwards By Category In The 2021-22 Season

NBA All-Time Starting 5 From Every State: New York, Ohio And California Have Legendary Teams