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  • Quarterbacks

    Kevin Durant’s flag football performance earlier this week in an Oklahoma State frat league game caught everyone's attention, including that of LeBron James, who challenged KD on Twitter to get together for a flag football game in Akron, Ohio. Barry Sanders even got in on the act yesterday, offering his services, though only as a one-down back. Since we're having a tough time seeing the light at the NBA lockout tunnel, we thought we'd imagine what a game like this might look like. Here, then are our proposed lineups for the 2011 NBA Lockout Flag Football Game.

    The teams are standard 7 on 7 with 8 bench players each. Kevin Durant and LeBron James are our captains and we tried to imagine the teams they would pick.

  • Running Backs
    Running Backs

    Team Durant
    Derrick Rose: The reigning NBA MVP has to make an appearance somewhere. When you combine his speed, size, hops, and athleticism, Rose could play any position on the field, though we like him best as a RB. From the backfield, Rose can take the little 5-yard dump offs and turn them into 20-yard explosions against the bigger lineman and linebackers.  
    Team LeBron
    Rajon Rondo: Similar to Rose in that Rondo could play most positions, we feel his speed in the backfield combined with Iverson’s mean you have to keep more guys in the box to contain them, leaving your WRs and TEs with more room to operate. And now that Rondo doesn’t have to worry about missing FGs he can actually be a presence in the final minutes of quarters.

  • Tight Ends
    Tight Ends

    Team Durant
    Blake Griffin: Per Mr. T's recommendation, we decided that the TE position should have some freakish athletes with great hands. So we put our two biggest athletic freaks at TE. That's Blake in a nutshell and with his insane ups, we doubt there is any linebacker on the field who can out-jump Griffin, providing Nash with a perfect check-down safety blanket.

    Team LeBron
    LeBron James: Not only is this the position he would most likely play in the NFL, but it's also the position he could do the most damage at in our game. When you combine his freakish athletic abilities and sheer size, he can match up with any of our linebackers while also having the speed to be a deep threat down the middle, a la Jimmy Graham. Plus, at TE LeBron doesn’t have to even touch the ball in the 4th quarter, so his team might actually win.

  • Wide Receivers
    Wide Receivers

    Team Durant
    Kevin Durant: His appearance at OK State inspired this list, and while he played QB during that game, we feel he is better suited as a WR. With his ups, size, and speed, he is almost uncoverable. 

    Monta Ellis: The Golden State guard is Durant’s other WR because with his blazing speed and a 39" vertical, Nash can just sit back and drop bombs to his side of the field all day long.

    Team LeBron
    Dwyane Wade: Of course LeBron can’t go anywhere without including his decision-maker, DWade. While #8 isn’t the fastest NBA player, he is certainly up there, and with a 36-inch vertical he can definitely stretch the field.   
    Shannon Brown: While Brown isn’t one of the most well-known NBA players he definitely can jump with the best of them. Known as one of the best dunkers in the NBA, even at 6'4" Brown is a must-start WR. He’s got good size and speed, but his real talents lie in his vertical jump, which is an insane 45" — that'll make his QB’s job that much easier when he out-jumps everyone on the field.

  • Offensive Lines
    Offensive Lines

    Team Durant
    Kevin Love: For his two linemen Durant decides to go with two of the more athletic physical players in the league. Besides being 6'10", 260, Love also is one of the best rebounders in the NBA. Not only does he have hands in case Nash needs to get rid of the ball quickly, but you know he can box out without getting flagged. 

    Glen Davis: Big Baby stands a massive 6'9", 290 and has quick feet so he can set up and provide a much farther path to the QB for LeBron’s D-Linemen. That'll give Nash the time he needs to make the right decisions. Plus, he went to LSU, so he has to be good at football, right?  
    Team LeBron
    Zach Randolph: He's a huge man with surprising quickness and good hands, which is all you really need in a flag football lineman. When you add those attributes to the toughness he showed in the postseason, Z-Bo is an obvious choice as one of LeBron’s front men.  
    DeMarcus Cousins: Quick for his size and sporting good hands, Cousins is willing to fight anyone, even his own teammates. It’s a wonder he and LeBron haven’t played together before.

  • Defensive Lines
    Defensive Lines

    Team Durant
    Al Horford: Durant goes with a combination of size, speed, and power with his two defensive linemen. Horford, who sits at 6'10", 245, has all of that. He averages almost 10 rebounds per game so you know he’s tough as nails. He also has a wingspan over 7' and can try and knock down some passes if he can’t make it to the QB.   
    Amare Stoudemire: Big, quick, and athletic, Amare is also great at moving off a pick, which is perfect for flag football. Standing over 6'10", with a 7'2" wingspan, Stoudemire will be able to wreak havoc in the backfield for Durant’s boys.  
    Team LeBron
    Josh Smith: Though he is only 6'8", Smith's wingspan is 7', and he's quick, making him one of the best blockers in NBA history: As of 2010 he is the youngest player to have reached 1,000 blocks in his career. His presence alone is enough to make Durant’s QBs take off quick.  
    Dwight Howard: The Association’s best defensive player had to make an appearance somewhere and while he doesn’t have the speed of some of his teammates, Dwight makes up for it with his freakish size and toughness. He might not be able to reach the QB every play, but he really only needs to get within a couple of yards to make an impact.

  • Linebackers
    Linebackers

    Team Durant
    Carmelo Anthony: He's big, quick, and strong, which are pretty much the standard requirements for any linebacker. Bonus: Amare and 'Melo get to play together without having to pass the ball to each other, so no one can get mad.

    Danny Granger: Makes the squad for his toughness alone, but he also provides the physical presence needed at LB to provide a good bump to guys like LeBron trying to break free.  
    Team LeBron
    LeBron James: Our first two-way starter. Just like at Tight End, LeBron was built to play flag football linebacker. With his size, toughness, and speed any ball thrown near LeBron has the chance of getting returned for a pick-six.  
    Joe Johnson: When you pair up two 6'7" monsters at linebacker, you force Nash to look short or deep in order to avoid throwing an interception.

  • Safetys
    Safetys

    Team Durant
    Kobe Bryant: While he is getting up their in age, Kobe still has ups. Not to mention given the chance to one-up LeBron, there is no one we’d rather have sitting back waiting to interrupt the deep-threat chance.

    Team LeBron
    Russell Westbrook: Quick and with crazy ups, Westbrook is a perfect complement for LeBron’s corners, and can provide over-the-top help to either side of the field in a split second. He’s also one of the few guys who might be able to help out on the jump balls to Ellis.

  • Cornerbacks
    Cornerbacks

    Team Durant
    Blake Griffin: An obvious two-way starter, Griffin will be able to cover any of LeBron’s receiving options, whether that is the Chosen One himself or DWade. He also might be the only person who can leap with Shannon Brown.  
    John Wall: A freak athlete and the kind of guy who can play a Revis-esque lockdown corner for Durant.   
    Team LeBron
    Shannon Brown: Another two-way starter. He's able to run with the TEs and jump with the WRs, providing the same coverage for LeBron’s team that Griffin provides for Durant's.  
    Rajon Rondo: Getting Rondo on field as much as possible is a great option for LeBron. Other alternatives that bring speed, athleticism, and good hands to the position include Derron Williams or Tyreke Evans.

  • Bench Players
    Bench Players

    Team Durant
    David West, Chris Paul, Andre Iguodola, Brandon Roy: We see Paul as a backup to Nash and as a fill-in at CB. West would provide the athleticism, speed, and hands that Durant is building his team around. Iguodola and Roy are strong bodies off the bench.

    Team LeBron
    Chauncey Billups, Derron Williams, Tyreke Evans and Paul Milsap: Billups or Williams can provide time off for AI at QB and the added leadership Billups provides is something LeBron has needed for years. Evans and Milsap are there in case someone goes down with a sprained ankle.

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