The title pretty much sums this one up. I am a relative newbie (just over 10 full seasons) and I have tinkered with double-teaming stars or even high FG% guys throughout my seasons.

I haven't really ever seen any negative effects on the player I double team very often. I would even go so far as to say there are many occasions where the guy I double team has a signature game against my team.

So the question. Is there any real advantage to using double teams and if so, how does someone use them properly.

I believe that there is a slight mod to the fg% and tendency to TO of the doubled player

however

there is an offset cost which includes a small boost to the fg% of the other 4 guys on the floor (and maybe an increase to the chance your guys foul more?)

so it sort of balances out

I hardly ever do it - I suppose it might be useful if your opponent were fielding a squad with just one high usage player surrounded by 4 low usage guys but that hardly ever happens

and that plus simmy's pronity toward random (not to say perverse) outcomes makes it not too much worthwhile