The All-NBA Starting XI

Manchester footballers were out in force to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder manage a narrow victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on their European preseason tour last week.  United players Ferdinand, Darren Fletcher, David DeGea, and Adnan Januzaj could be spotted courtside along with their City counterparts Jack Rodwell and Patrick Viera.  Yet another pertinent example of the globalization of sport, it appears that American leagues are looking to bolster their presence in England at the same time that the Barclays Premier League is taking the United States by storm.  In case you missed it, the NFL already held one game at Wembley Stadium this year, with another to follow.

All of this got me thinking: Rio Ferdinand doesn't look all that out of place standing next to the likes of Dikembe Mutombo and Serge Ibaka.  Many of the same skills and fundamentals, namely the footwork, translate seamlessly between the two games.  With that in mind, it is time to designate the Don Pivote All-NBA starting XI:

Goalkeeper - Dirk Nowitzki: Originally slated to feature as one of the center backs, Nowitzki instead gets the start in net.  As he ages, Dirk has proven that he can still knock down that turnaround J, but it is clear that his mobility is dwindling.  I am hoping that with his knowledge and love of the game (recently professed on the Men in Blazers podcast) that Dirk will channel his inner Manuel Neuer.  His height and wingspan make him naturally inclined to the position as he should be proficient in stopping shots and snatching crosses out of the air.

Center Backs - Marc and Pau Gasol: At center back every team needs a pair of stalwart defenders capable of winning the ball back for the squad - both in the air and on the ground - and organizing those around them.  Equally important is the partnership forged between the two, and what better partnership than one built from brotherly love?  Pau and Marc were raised in Barcelona, Spain, and both ended up playing for their hometown club FC Barcelona.  There is no better pedigree in all of professional soccer so I have the utmost faith that these two will serve to mirror that of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol.

Left Back - Manu Ginobili: In picking a player to keep the opposing team's right winger in check, I needed a lefty capable of outwitting the opponent.  Sure Manu has lost more than just a step over the past few years, but he is still the league's most savvy left-handed player.  I see Manu modeled after his compatriot Pablo Zabaleta - capable of tracking deep lying runs, and countering with sound offensive play and distribution.

Right Back - Chris Paul:  At first glance Chris Paul looks like a prototypical central midfielder based on the role he occupies with the Clippers.  When assessing the rest of the pool of players in consideration, however, it was obvious that I needed his pace to help provide cover for the Gasol brothers.  I also expect Chris Paul to overlap the right winger as much as possible to provide service into the box from dangerous areas.  I anticipate most counter attacks to originate on the right side with Chris Paul as a major catalyst.

Defensive Midfielder (Pivote) - Shane Battier: Playing the true pivote role on the All-NBA squad will be the league's best role player.  Though soccer is a game of infinite complexity, the job of a defensive midfielder is actually quite simple - destroy and distribute.  Battier will need to be smart with his positioning to counter attacks, and simple with his passing.  In his role with the Miami Heat Battier does just that.  He is often called upon to guard the opposition's best shooter, and he occupies a relatively one dimensional role on the offensive end by spreading the floor and knocking down 3-pointers.  At the end of the day, Battier is the player I trust most to do the dirty work. 

Attacking Midfielder - Steve Nash: On paper, Nash will be one of two attacking midfielders in the side, but in reality he will be called upon to be a true box-to-box midfielder (see also: Michael Essien).  Nash is no stranger to the game of soccer, his father was a professional, and Nash didn't even begin playing basketball until he was a teenager.  In fact, Nash still regularly holds a soccer fundraiser in New York City with guest appearances from some of the world's best basketball and soccer players.  Nash has the technique and creativity to own the midfield and produce quality chances for the squad.

Attacking Midfielder - Kobe Bryant: The Black Mamba has been a big soccer fan since his childhood in Italy.  Still a fan of Barcelona, Kobe is the ideal NBA attacking midfielder, combing what should be solid foot skills, a superior competitive drive, and a knack for scoring.  Already with a developed IQ for the game, Bryant should be able to receive passes from the target forward, and spray balls into the wingers or take the chance for himself.

Left Winger - Ricky Rubio: Yet another product of FC Barcelona (get the pattern yet?), this youngster could very well be the Messi of this squad.  Rubio still has not reached his full potential in a basketball context, and I believe he has the highest ceiling in a soccer context as well.  Pacey enough to get isolated 1 v 1 on the left wing, Rubio will have the option of cutting in to his right and testing the keeper, or pushing to his left and providing service (lob city?) in front of goal.  With Ginobili playing behind Rubio, I anticipate that the majority of the chances within the run of play will originate from the left flank.

Right Winger - Tony Parker: Though he is no Franck Ribery, Parker is a formidable opponent to any left back.  The Frenchman has been aging a bit, and nursing his share of injuries over the past few seasons, but his tactical savvy will serve the squad well on the counter attack.  I would expect Parker to play more of a defensive role than Rubio who will almost be playing as a wide forward.  That said, the Parker-Paul combination is one that could explode at any time, resulting in quicker, more direct attacking movement when the opponent commits too many numbers forward.  

Striker - LeBron James: Could it be anyone else?  Sure, King James is a minority owner of Liverpool FC, but that has no bearing on his selection for this team.  Simply put, James is one of, if not the greatest athlete of our time.  His composure on the ball may need a bit of work still, but look at how Daniel Sturridge has come along (previously, Sturridge could not be trusted to connect on a 15 yard pass).  A huge physical presence, James is no stranger to posting up and holding the ball up for the likes of Kobe and Nash.  He is also mobile enough to stretch the defense, creating pockets of space for our wingers to exploit.  Lastly, there is no one else that I would want in front of net.  If there is a record for most goals scored with one's head in a given season, LBJ will most certainly break it.

On the Bench:

Thabo Sefolosha: Another true pivote, the Swiss Small Forward would be the best alternative to Shane Battier at the holding midfield role.

Goran Dragic: Slovenia is not in the best standing in the latest FIFA World Rankings, but Goran still provides plenty of spark off the bench.  He would most likely fill the box-to-box midfielder role that Steve Nash currently holds (not unlike the way he took over the Phoenix Suns' starting PG position).

Derrick Rose: No matter how I sliced it, I could not bring myself to exclude Rose from the team.  He very clearly does not have the fluidity that Rubio or Parker would have on the wing, but his injection of pace would be invaluable as a second half substitute (think Theo Walcott)

Andre Drummond: The young Pistons center will have a tough time breaking into the starting lineup at center back given the rapport that already exists between the Gasol brothers.  Given a shot, however, I believe Drummond brings more size and pace to the table.

Kevin Durant: KDTrey would be our best bet at backup keeper because he can do this.