Belittling the 2010 NBA All-Stars: The Western Division

The East has been eyed but we also need to check out the West.

This is the time where I get lazy.

Oh wait… it seems like I have a backbone now.

See. I lost it again.

Hey… I AM NOT BASHING KOBE!!!

The Starters!

KOBE BRYANT: The guy just earned a championship and he recently became the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer. I cringe at his existence when he wore #8 but since becoming Mr. #24, he has been more than tolerable (*cough* CELTICS FAN *cough*)
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

CARMELO ANTHONY: You can’t have LeBron and D-Wade in an all-star game without Melo. This is as simple as that. Although he missed a bunch of games, he is one of those characters who shouldn’t miss the festivities.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE: Well… here’s the thing: without Yao Ming, he and Duncan are the only bigs capable to headline the West. I also helped the fact that Phoenix had that superb winning rage at the start of the season.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

TIM DUNCAN: I like the guy. Really, I do. He might not be flashy but his accomplishments speak volumes of how powerful his game is. He is an all-star, that’s a gimme – but I’m not sure if he’s the right starter for the West.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

STEVE NASH: How come he’s in this year but he was out last year? Anyway, the powerful Phoenix start was enough to catapult his name in the list. For a guy who’s past his prime, he seems to be NOT past his prime. Anyway, without Jason Kidd, he’ll likely be the one dishing the jaw-dropping dimes. I hope he could “soccer” the ball with gusto.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

The reserves!

DIRK NOWITZKI: This guy should be the one getting the nod with the emphasis of the games to be held in his turf. Again, the surge of his stats if you compare this to Duncan is one of the reasons why he should be the guy up top. Fans will salivate over the Nash/Dirk reunion.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

CHRIS PAUL: CP3 continues to evolve into a superb type of player. New Orleans has yet to repeat the winning season they had a few seasons back but there is no question on who is the team’s undisputed leader. I take back what I said. He sucks. Rondo is better. TRADE PAUL FOR RONDO!!!
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

BRANDON ROY: I wanted a LaMarcus Aldridge sighting but that’s not meant to be. What’s meant to be is that Roy could follow Clyde Drexler’s footsteps. There are a lot of old teams in the Wild, Wild West and Roy and his Blazers are a couple of seasons away from headlining their conference.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

KEVIN DURANT: Being pick number 2 is not bad, especially for this debuting All-Star. OKC is surging up with his heroics and imagine if he was picked first instead of Greg Oden? This is the same feeling Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings will have when they let Blake Griffin and Hasheem Thabeet watch their all-star performances.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

DERON WILLIAMS: I am iffy about this. A couple of years ago I will say that Deron deserves an all-star berth. However, how come his first appearance came about from a weak season? Utah isn’t as impressive now and you have to wonder about that because he and Carlos Boozer are healthy now.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL BUT THERE’S A CATCH

PAU GASOL: Here’s another guy that I have a beef in. He isn’t getting the 20-point 10-rebound range and he started out injured. I would have wished Chris Kaman earned a slot after having an awesome season. However, Gasol isn’t a slouch either. If there should be two slots for the defending champs, one needs to be him.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL BUT THERE’S A CATCH

ZACH RANDOLPH: Here’s the thing. While I think Randolph is a fine player, enduring the talent-laden Portland roster to his stops in New York and the Clippers, Z-Bo is the first person I’d ship out if I wanted another star to be sent to the all-star games. Even if he is playing great as a Griz, it’s hard to approve when you are not that popular and your team has a losing record.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL BUT THERE’S A CATCH

The Next in Line!

CHRIS KAMAN: I can say Aaron Brooks, Aldridge, Boozer, Kidd, Chauncey Billups and even Al Jefferson but I have to go with Kaman. First of all, had Blake Griffin played, Kaman would have been part of the Clips’ bench. LA’s abundance of size led them to strike out Randolph so that they’ll have him, Griffin, and Marcus Camby. Then Griffin got injured for the whole season. That sucked. But then Kaman went berserk and took up the void left by Blake. He responded to the call and which is one of the reasons why he should be in the all-star.

Although, had he been the one shipped to Memphis…

Anyway, the best thing about the all-star games is that it’s a week before the TRADE DEADLINE!

This means more names to pop and switch!

Until then…

GAME OVER!

Belittling the 2010 NBA All-Stars: The Eastern Division

I will not even try to discredit LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard.

But I will try to demean the other guys.

First up… THE EAST!

Hey look at me, I’m just some poser that dares to tell everyone how unimportant their favorite player. Well, if you think I’m trying to belt out some enigmatic statement to back my ramblings… good luck! Nope, I have no such thing. However, I have some sort of absurd sentences to make you approve or disapprove my sentences.

Game starts now!

The Starters!

LEBRON JAMES: He is the reigning MVP. Not putting him in an All-Star lineup means there is something wrong in the NBA.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

DWIGHT HOWARD: Remember when we used to see Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon… hell, even a vintage Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming? Howard is such a dominating defensive force but he needs to have a breakout offensive season. But fortunately for the Daily Double, the current NBA landscape loathes frontliners that doesn’t own an outside shot.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

DWYANE WADE: Sure, he scores well and perhaps that Miami championship was enough to catapult him in superstar glory but one thing the Flash has that the other lack is their ability to sell merchandize.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

ALLEN IVERSON: If Wade sells shirts after that superb championship run with the Heat, Iverson has been selling shirts for over a decade because of his charisma. Imagine how fans reacted when he said he was about to retire. His charisma and drawing power is stellar, which is something Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis lacked. Either way, with Shaq out of the All-Star, there is a need to a put a random vintage token guy. Iverson, who is currently playing like a shell of his former self, is the correct answer for this.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL… BUT THERE’S A CATCH

KEVIN GARNETT: I love this guy. He is one of my All-time faves. And this fact makes it hard for me to batch him with Iverson. Yes, the fans had no one to pick in this current flock of uncharismatic upstarts that KG was voted in even if he played sparingly in the course of the season. Still, I won’t say that he’s washed up because guys like him go berserk during the games that matter.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL… BUT THERE’S A CATCH

The Reserves!

CHRIS BOSH: He should be guy playing in the starting squad (subbing for Garnett). You know what, the only saving grace for CB4 is to do away of Toronto. I hear New York is nice…
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

PAUL PIERCE: I like this pick. The Truth is the heart and soul of the current Boston franchise and he has been consistent in his numbers since his rookie year. He may not be a starter but he’ll relish that reserve spot.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

JOE JOHNSON: Atlanta is “hawking up” the East, and with how their nucleus looks right now, they’ll do that for a long time. He is the team’s leader and he wants the ball whenever crunch time creeps in. Remember when we said it was a terrible idea for him to leave Phoenix when he was dealt to this formerly down and out team?
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

DERRICK ROSE: Last year’s rookie of the year is this year’s youngest All-Star. I must say that while I like Luol Deng to finally get an All-Star berth, Rose finally accomplished something that Ben Gordon couldn’t – make the All-Star as a Bull.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL

GERALD WALLACE: Like Joe Johnson, he stuck in Charlotte and helped the team to its current surge. He matured and people are noticing it. I’m seeing a “Mitch Richmond” and “Michael Redd” type of All-Star appearances (meaning a good guy from a bad team) in the offing for this guy in the future.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL… BUT THERE’S A CATCH

AL HORFORD: Some are saying Horford doesn’t deserve the spot. I am pretty iffy myself but you have to see what others are seeing. He is the main big of Atlanta’s current East domination. While I wanted David Lee or Joakim Noah to grace this, you can’t also discount Horford.
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL… BUT THERE’S A CATCH

RAJON RONDO: I am a Boston fan but I’m not really a fan. I was one of those guys that when Rondo was racking up triple-doubles in the playoffs WISHED Stephon Marbury would blossom to displace out of that spot. Being an All-Star for Rondo could be good in some way… since he’ll be a great trade bait for other teams. I am so sorry, Boston fans. Really, really sorry! But if this could give Boston a CP3 or a Deron, then this is good, right?
Rate: ALL-STAR MATERIAL… BUT THERE’S A CATCH

Next in Line!

DAVID LEE: How can a New York All-Star be without a New York player??? This baffles me and even if NY’s really icky slate, they should have at least sent a person to backstop their franchise. David Lee is playing under a crazily unflattering contract but he still is getting the attention. If the Knicks can’t get LBJ, then the Knicks could sign him and trade for the Raptors for Bosh.

Anyway, the Western side will see daylight when I… get my laziness checked.

Until then,

GAME OVER!

The Allen Iverson Proper Retirement Movement

The guy was a former MVP and he stepped up as one of the league’s best players especially when the NBA is making a transition to do away with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, and the other late 80’s to early 90’s guys.

I hated the fact that he had to retire after 29 teams snub him and 1 team, mediocre at best, picking him up only to demote him as a sub (nothing wrong with this except that he can still play). The Philadelphia acquisition is vital for AI’s legacy. Philly gained a packed arena while Iverson could have a legacy in the City of Brotherly Love.

In his first game back, he played against Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. Anthony liked having Iverson as his teammate but his scoring increased when the Nuggets gave up Iverson for Chauncey Billups. At Detroit, Iverson suffered the biggest setback of his career – the savior destroyed the Pistons’ chemistry which led to this Eastern powerhouse’s downfall.

One horrific year was enough to make him an eyesore.

In his first game back wanted by the fans, he chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists but the Sixers squandered an 8-point second quarter lead to fall to Denver 93-83. Iverson played almost 38 minutes but could only sink four of his 11 shots. Actually, it was Denver’s bench that made the difference in the game outscoring the Sixers’ bench 29 to 2 (JR Smith had 11 while rookie Ty Lawson had 12).

The other AI, Andre Igoudala topscored for Philly with 31 points – the same points scored by Iverson’s Denver counterpart Billups who has become more of a playmaker than a scorer. This Billups’ game where he also led the Nuggets in rebounds (8) and assists (8).

Honestly, I wanted him for Boston. Inasmuch as I like the Big Three of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce and while I am a fan of Rasheed Wallace and Kendrick Perkins, I am not much of a fan of Rajon Rondo. Last season, part of me wanted Doc Rivers to trust on Stephon Marbury (Marbury didn’t re-sign because he thought there are teams out there that will still sign him). Add the fact that the Celtic development in the guard spot is the underachieving Marquis Daniels (although now he seems to be doing well), I just wanted some oomph off the bench.

Now Iverson will find it hard to win a championship with the players Philly has right now (reasons why they are down the standings), but Iverson’s ability to demand wins is what they lack right now. Iverson hates to not play and miss out so he endures health problems.

But while Iverson is humbled at this point, we can’t really know how the AI experiment would hold.

I just wish he lasts a season so that when his contract is up, he could easily retire without the words “unwanted” written near his image.

Game over.

Oden busts a cap

Critics are quickly calling the Ohio State standout as the next Sam Bowie. After two injury plagued seasons, Oden will again be out of a season because of a broken left knee. He left in a stretcher on December 5 against the Houston Rockets two weeks after scoring a career-high 24 points in one game and 20 rebounds in another game.

He had surgery Saturday and the Blazers don’t expect him to come back.

After revealing the results, Oden apologized to the team. With a healthy Oden, the Blazers are expected to break away from the West seeds “#5 to #10” club. They acquired a great vet in Andre Miller and with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge expected to improve, things are looking up for the Oregon-based franchise. When the Blazers drafted Oden, he stirred the buzz as the next Tim Duncan.

But now they are calling him the next Sam Bowie.

Bowie, as everyone knows is considered as one of the biggest busts in NBA history. Portland longed for size and in 1984, they found the need of acquiring Bowie as the draft’s second pick overall. Sure, he averaged a decent 10 points in his decade-long career, but he was also injury-plagued. It didn’t help that Bowie was the guy in the middle of Hall of Famers like Hakeem Olajuwon and MICHAEL JORDAN! This was also the draft that saw Charles Barkley saddled at the number 5 spot and John Stockton still in at the 17th position.

Darko Milicic should understand this predicament sandwich by not two but four of the league’s elite (LeBron James # 1, Carmelo Anthony # 3, Chris Bosh # 4, Dwyane Wade # 5).

Anyway, it doesn’t help Oden that Kevin Durant is leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a great start. Other 2007 Draft batchmates that are doing great for their respective teams are Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Rodney Stuckey, and fellow Blazer Rudy Fernandez. Marc Gasol, drafted in the second round of the 2007 Draft (48th overall), did not play in the 2007-08 season but he has been since a vital cog with the struggling Memphis Grizzlies. The guys mentioned have played exceptional ball that should make Oden livid.

Should this faze him?

Yes.

But he also needs to draw something from his predicament.

First up, he needs to be compare to another injury-plagued Portland ace.

Bill Walton didn’t have Karl Malone’s ironman career. The guy was a quick bruiser. But whenever he plays, he gives his all to dominate and create impact. Sure, argue the fact that he had perhaps three or four good seasons in the league but in two of those four seasons, he won championships (one with Portland and the other as a sixth man for Boston). Oden could be a larger version of Kevin Willis. You can see this as positive or negative but Willis was indeed a great backup that fills a team’s need in the center/power forward spots. Willis could have been slowed down by injuries but he can still dish out great performances.

The same could be said to Antonio McDyess, Kurt Thomas, Kurt Rambis, Sam Perkins, and Danny Manning.

However, he could experience rebirth in some way.

The end is not here for Oden’s superstardom. Unlike in the 80’s, sports medicine is not an out-of-the-blue career choice. This is actually thought and there are a lot of players that should have had bad careers but they are still playing in the league. Alonzo Mourning, Grant Hill, and Shaquille O’Neal are examples of this “phenomenon”.

As of this moment, the oddsmakers have pretty much given up on the seven-foot defensive wall. But let’s say this: if he comes back he’ll be twice as dangerous for those that have already struck him out.

They’ll never know what will hit them when 52 get the games deserving of his worthiness.

Game over.

Wrong Answer

Allen Iverson has stated that he would quit the game if no one gets hold of his services.

Don’t go.

In 889 regular season games, the man dubbed as “The Answer” has grabbed a MVP plum, Rookie of the Year award, two All-Star MVP’s, seven All-NBA citations, and ten All-Star appearances. The man played ball in Philadelphia, Denver, and Detroit and most recently in Memphis. While the past few years have been bad for many top PG’s like Penny Hardaway (retired via waive), Steve Francis (retired via waive), and Stephon Marbury (currently finding a team), Iverson is not like these guys.

Iverson has been a constant merchandising draw since he started strutting his stuffs alongside Jerry Stackhouse and Derrick Coleman in his rookie year with the Sixers. Let’s face it, for a Hall of Famer like him, this is not the way to end his career.

Sure, people are saying he was too selfish to take a back seat for a guy like Mike Conley. I agree. Iverson needs to complete his playing career by giving way to the next generation. You saw how John Stockton tried to build up Howard Eisley in the mid-90’s and how David Robinson took a backseat for Tim Duncan. Shaquille O’Neal first started playing as a second fiddle for Dwyane Wade. Larry Bird was trying to build Reggie Lewis who unfortunately suffered a fatal heart attack. Clyde Drexler relinquished top dog honors just to play second option for Hakeem Olajuwon. And Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Mullin, Grant Hill, and Dikembe Mutombo took a step back to help build some of the stars of today. Just when we thought his trip to Denver was important to make Carmelo Anthony a top-tier superstar, it seems he was merely holding him off (especially when Chauncey Billups got Melo a breakout year last season). Iverson’s stock greatly reduced when his entry to Detroit made the team from a contender to an eighth seed playoff seat hunter. The Pistons should have never severed their ties with Billups. Billups was the glue of the squad. Not even LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or Anthony could prevent this from happening.

But maybe, a little break from the game could do well for a storied comeback.

The problem with Memphis is he is being used as a sub for a lackluster team. Even if people try hard to make it happen, there is no chance that the Grizzlies would take a playoff spot with this kind of Western Conference environment. Rudy Gay is the team’s scoring leader while Zach Randolph, O.J. Mayo, and Marc Gasol average in double figures. Hasheem Thabeet, the 2009 NBA Draft second pick overall, average less than three points and three rebounds per game. It seems like they wasted a pick on Thabeet, where they could have done better if they gave up this right and trade him for better frontliners that could help them. While Hasheem is a project, Iverson certainly isn’t.

The Answer nails 12.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 3.7apg, 0.3spg, 50% FT, 58 % FG, and 100% 3PG in 22.3 minutes of action. If you pass him Mayo’s minutes, AI will give you a daily 20ppg. Let’s face facts here: IVERSON IS NOT WASHED UP. He just had a bad season in Detroit and he can still hurl troikas in any given night. Hell, the guy is so passionate that even arch-enemy/buddy Charlotte coach Larry Brown is giving him options to stay (although Brown is also hesitant to sign him since he is developing his guards at the moment… DJ Augustin, Raymond Felton, Acie Law, and Flip Murray should be pleased by this).

Five days before the trade deadline, expect clamor for Iverson. Hell, I can hear Marbury getting buzz as well (although that may be a whisper of a buzz given the availability of AI). I don’t think New York would love Iverson when he enters the scene because just like Memphis, Nate Robinson is not a reason for him to get benched. However, a Sixers comeback could be good for both parties. In terms of the NBA superpowers, Boston is one team that could use a guy like Iverson. Let us not forget that Iverson is a heavy assist man and a defensive specialist. Rajon Rondo has developed into a quality player but that doesn’t mean that he is untouchable in the Celts’ PG spot. The Lakers too could use Iverson. Kobe could hate this but given the right attitude, they’ll have a very dangerous backcourt. But I guess, it’s hard to disrupt a winning formula right? Even if the Lakers coach had a distinction of taming the wildest of beasts (*cough* Dennis Rodman *cough*). Dallas, Utah, and New Orleans won’t even flirt in this idea because they will disrupt the games of Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, and Chris Paul but once these guys get injured, he’ll be a catch. Chicago? Well, in some ways they can benefit with an Iverson around especially since they lost a clutch player in the level of Ben Gordon. Orlando, Atlanta and Cleveland doesn’t need another scoring option although the Cavs have a problem during the dying seconds when LeBron James is clamped by defenders and Shaquille O Neal can’t be inserted for fear of the Hack-A-Shaq.

My best picks? Let’s shake things up a bit.

EASTERN CONFERENCE – MIAMI HEAT

The Heat will benefit from Iverson. Wade is not the type of player that would love individual citations over championship glory. Iverson, looking at his Pistons experience, would try to make AI useful in other facets because this “humbling experience” almost made him retired. The Heat is a team that lacks a great second option on a daily basis (although Michael Beasley and Jermaine O’Neal could be saying otherwise). Hell, his entry could even draw Pat Riley back to the sidelines.

WESTERN CONFERENCE – SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Surprised? You sure are. The Spurs are an aging and often injured bunch. It’s rare to see Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker playing in an extended period of time. Even the entry of Richard Jefferson has yet to register a solid claim to the throne for the perennial contenders. Like I said, Iverson is an offensive player with a gift to play seriously suffocating defense. Gregg Popovich will use AI to the way that both parties could agree on something. Sure, his entry would create small ball in San Antonio but for a team lacking in scoring options, he is the most natural and most available in the free agent pool as of this moment.

I know Iverson doesn’t know this guy but if you have talent, they’ll come and look for you. Honestly, I don’t know why Johnny Abarrientos is languishing in the Brgy. Ginebra Kings’ bench. You saw him play, right? He played four regular season games in two seasons (last season he played one game in the Philippine Cup) and all of those games triggered a good reaction from the fans and the players. Abbarientos might have slowed down, but you can see the court generalship, court sense, defense, vision, smarts, and passion still flowing in his body. Hopefully, if Jong Uichico decides to bench him anew, I hope this is the last year in his contract so he could return to Alaska and retire the way a legend of his caliber should be retired.

Same goes for Iverson.

The right answer for Iverson is to wait for the right team that would give him his first NBA championship. The other answer? Truly be humbled by this humbling experience. I future Hall of Famer like him being treated like this? NOBODY’S SAFE.

Will lightning strike thrice?

So far the Shaq experiment has yet to bloom.

I can understand Cleveland’s home loss against the Boston Celtics. While they raced to a 13-2 start, Boston’s bench was great in the middle rounds (especially in the third salvo). The addition of Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, and Sheldon Williams really brought something new to the Celtic bench.

When Cleveland was hinting to turn the tables at crunch, you saw how their suffocating defense made Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen struggle. This leaves no choice for the C’s to score jump shots from Kendrick Perkins.

This happened thrice I think… and all attempts failed.

Doc Rivers charged a timeout and out came Wallace to sub Perkins. This is the versatility of the C’s frontcourt. With Perkins, they have a player to join KG in clogging the lanes. With Wallace, a scorer with a deadly outside touch, he opens up the defense. While the problem of having fewer players in the shaded area is a concern for Doc Rivers, the fact that he has more options now is a great sign (especially when the Big 3 succumbs to injuries midway in the season).

Anyway, Shaquille O’ Neal is a player that needs to become monstrous in the first 36 minutes of the game. Sure, he is one of the best centers in NBA history, but he is a liability come crunch time. Hell, there is a term named for his free throw inadequacies. He has slowed also, making him a liability in transition offense and defense. On paper, the tandem of Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a twin tower combo with variation. Shaq dominates the paint… Z can sink mid-range jumpers. However, these two are slow players which mean Anderson Varejao is the only big man flexible enough to man the paint.

In the end, Boston gets their first win against a team that was almost invincible at home last season. The score was 95-89 where Paul Pierce barely reached 20 markers to lead Boston.

I won’t blame LeBron James because he was his awesome self in their first game netting 38 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks in 45 minutes of action. Shaq had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes while new find Anthony Parker jacked up 10 points, 3 boards, 4 assists, and 2 swats in 40 minutes of action.

Parker played extended minutes with Delonte West still out due to personal problems. But in that first game, chemistry was lacking and in the end, it reverted back to the usual LEBRON JAMES SHOW.

Then came Toronto.

After a head-to-head battle with the Celts, the Cavs had no business losing to the Raptors. Again, problems haunted Cleveland. Shaq continues to become a liability at the stretch (-25 when he’s in) while Mo Williams went 2-for-10 in the two point zone. Sure, let’s say Toronto played brilliant ball. Chris Bosh was awesome piling in 21 points and 16 rebounds and Hedo Turkoglu gave the Raptors a reason for his importance. But it was Team Italia that gave Toronto the X-Factors. Prized former top pick Andrea Bargnani scorched the rim for 28 points while reserve Marco Belinelli added 10 points (+19 when he’s in the court).

Toronto won 101 to 91. James was struggling in his game but still managed to do a triple-double (23 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists). Again, most of his teammates merely watched him work. I don’t who to blame here but I like Shaq and I like Anthony Parker (who played a lot of games as a Raptor). Mike Brown needs to device plays that would maximize their strengths.

Maybe Minnesota could break them to the winning column. While the Wolves won their first assignment, outscoring New Jersey 31 to 15 in the fourth quarter to crave a come-from-behind 95-93 win, The Timberwolves is in for a tough season. Al Jefferson is a very undersized power forward that plays center for the team that also has Damien Wilkins and Ryan Gomes mismatched in their positions. Jonny Flynn led the Wolves with 18 markers against NJ but can he lead his team against a playoff-bound squad.

If he does… something needs to be done for the Cavs because they aren’t doing anything to get it right on the hardcourt.

Is this too early? I think this is WAAAAY too early. Dallas lost their first five games last season and went on to win 50+ regular season games. But certainly Cleveland needs to wake up soon.

Minnesota is a “dream” team that if you belittle, could turn into a nightmare.

Game over.

100 Best Careers in the NBA (4 of 5)

Nearing the end of the countdown, here is the second to the last batch of the 5-part series.

I won’t say much but the entries in the list is always arguable. A couple of rankings back, Shawn Marion was part of the list ahead of many other players but a caliber like Reggie Miller or a Chris Mullin were snubbed. Here I factored the fact that Marion was a better all-around player. Sure Miller and Mullin are shooters, but their stats are too low. Pistol Pete Maravich, George Gervin, Ray Allen, and Sam Jones are players of the same gameplay (the scoring SG/SF) but because they had other intangibles, their legacies were padded better. From the earlier entries, you’ll spot that the players entered were specialty players. These are the guys that did well on offense, defense, rebounding, passing… but somewhere down the line, these guys are barely all-around players.

Some of the players you’ll see in this installment are complementary players that could fare well if they were to lead a team.

The previous installment? Click here!

http://sydrified.blogspot.com/2009/09/100-best-careers-in-nba-part-3-of-5.html

Game starts now!

40 GEORGE GERVIN (San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls)

STATS: 791g – 26.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, 0.8bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (9), All-Star MVP (1), Hall of Famer

HITS: Called “The Iceman” for his cool demeanor on the court, his shooting is basically his specialty of the house. He is a four-time NBA scoring champion and he was the master of the “finger roll”. He started his career playing for the Virginia Squires in the ABA. He once played with Julius Erving in that squad to create a powerful scoring combo (he closed his career playing with Michael Jordan in Chicago). He moved to the then-ABA San Antonio Spurs where he was absorbed by the team when it jumped to the other side of the fence. He had a Mark McGuire/ Sammy Sosa moment in 1978. David Thompson and Gervin were battling for the scoring crown that Gervin leads 27.22 to 27.15. In Thompson’s last game, he scored 73 points which was enough to grab the scoring title… had not Gervin scored 63. This 63-point explosion was scored in just 36 minutes (Gervin did not play in the fourth quarter that game) and 33 of which were scored in one quarter (this record has since been tied by Carmelo Anthony).

MISSES: Gervin knows that his main job was to score. And most of the time his onslaughts would translate into wins. But title-hunting Spurs of now were not like the Gervin-led Spurs of yesterday. This team barely fights for a division title. In his 13 pro years, Gervin never reached a championship series. This is one of the Iceman’s low points. The other one? It seems that Gervin is the guy that usually stands in the outside just waiting for the ball to reach his hands so he can create scoring opportunities. Despite the fact that Gervin is second all-time in blocks made by any guard, the Iceman is not known for his defense.

39 GARY PAYTON (Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat)

STATS: 1335g – 16.3ppg, 3.9rpg, 6.7apg, 1.8spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (9), NBA All-Star (9), Defensive Player of the Year (1), NBA Champion (1)
HITS: This two-time Olympic gold medal winner was once dubbed by Gail Goodrich as “probably as complete a guard as there ever was”. Dubbed “The Glove” for his ability to shut out an opposing player, he limited Michael Jordan to 27.3ppg which is the lowest Finals average His Airness has ever had. Aside from being the only point guard to Defensive Player of the Year honors, he is great scorer. Actually he is one of the best offense-defense combos to man that spot. He was part of the “Sonic Boom” combo where he tagged with Shawn Kemp. He has an outstanding ability to dish out the assists and people needs to check him when he plays defense. But perhaps the most distinguishing feature of his career is that he is one of the best trash-talkers of all time! His trademark open-mouth, head-bobbing style is one of the most irritating things you can see if Payton is in your face. Jason Kidd admits that Payton is his mentor growing up but Payton doesn’t give a shit and still gets a dose of his wicked mind games.

MISSES: Throughout his career, Payton has been in search to find a city that would give him a ring. He spent his greatest years in Seattle but after the trade of Shawn Kemp, the city has no chance of winning a plum. He had a chance with the Lakers, but the four egos failed to score a ring. In Miami, he had a crack at the championship and while he finally scored that ring, he was playing behind Jason Williams. In the end of his career, his scoring was nonexistent and while his defense was still there, the Glove was never the same again.

38 CHRIS WEBBER (Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers)

STATS: 831g – 20.7ppg, 9.8rpg, 4.2apg, 1.4spg, 1.4bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (5), NBA All-Star (5), Rookie of the Year (1994)

HITS: Before switching teams with Mitch Richmond in 1998, this former All-American was a great player playing for a poor squad. Webber is a post player in a wingman’s body, as he is equipped with an awesome array of ball handling and passing skills. Webber did not like Sacramento because of its longstanding crappy record. However he was just a part of its rebuilding process that also featured free agents Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic and drafted the energetic Jason Williams. All of a sudden, this cellar-dwelling team became a playoff contender. Webber was the anchor of the Sac-Town “Serbs” and this ignited a couple of years of excitement at the Arco Arena. Webber’s soft hands and natural court sense, plus his outstanding numbers are reasons for him to get a push at a Hall of Fame induction. He also dated Tyra Banks for three years which means yeah… she got “Webbered”.

MISSES: Webber could have been a NBA champ had not for their arch-rivals, the Lakers. He also had health issues in the course of his career. But one thing that somewhat destroyed his career’s sheen was his legal trouble. He had numerous counts of Marijuana possession and resisting arrest. But the biggest damper in his legacy is the forfeiture of anything Webber as far as the University of Michigan is concerned. NCAA also took back his All-American status and all of their accomplishments were taken down from the Michigan rafters. Webber was said to be taking money from an agent which was wrong since amateur players need not have agents.

EXTRA POINTS: Webber was picked first in the 1993 NBA Draft by Orlando. He was traded to the Warriors for Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway who was the third pick in that draft. Issues surrounding him and coach Don Nelson (Nelson wanted C-Webb to be a permanent post up player which means he cannot do outside shots) sent him to Washington for Tom Gugliotta.

37 JERRY LUCAS (Cincinnati Royals, San Francisco Warriors, New York Knicks)

STATS: 829g – 17.0ppg, 15.6rpg, 3.3apg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (5), NBA All-Star (7), All-Star MVP (1), Rookie of the Year (1964), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer
HITS: Have you seen David Copperfield play ball? Lucas is said to be a very intelligent man that does mind and card tricks when he just wants to chill. He has great leaping ability and could calculate shooting and rebounding accuracy. One of the most decorated college players of his team (leading Ohio State 78-6 in three seasons) and in the NCAA (he is the only player to score 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game). At New York, he played backup for Willis Reed but he was instrumental in their title runs. He became the first NBA player to win high school, college, NBA, and Olympic championships. He also retired fourth all-time in rebounds per game.

MISSES: On court he was hot, but he was more interested in the off-court lifestyle. It seems that he never wanted to play pro ball. He chose to play for the ABL’s Cleveland Pipers in 1962 because it had fewer games and it gave him a chance to have team stocks and a chance to complete his doctorate in Business Marketing. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals and was pissed at his actions. When the Pipers bankrupted, he moved to the Royals where he also became part-owner. With his array of wheeling and dealing he became one of just three millionaire players in the NBA. Off court he was getting money but the Royals are struggling. New coach Bob Cousy traded Lucas to San Francisco for two reserves because he is often distracted and doesn’t hustle enough. SF was a nightmare for “Luke” as most of his businesses lined up for bankruptcy. Luckily New York saved him.

36 CLYDE DREXLER (Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets)

STATS: 1086g – 20.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.6apg, 2.0spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (5), NBA All-Star (10), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer

HITS: Phi Slama Jama boasts Houston Cougars standouts known for their explosive and fast-breaking style. This college featured Hakeem Olajuwon, former PBA import Michael Young, and this guy, otherwise known to many as “The Glide”. In the NBA, he led a menacing force bent to take out “Showtime” in the Western Finals. Wearing the intimidating black, white, and red Blazer colors, Portland fought with the Lakers in terms of Western supremacy, with Portland getting two trips in the finals. He has posted at least 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, and 6,000 assists (only Oscar Robertson and John Havlicek have equaled it). Until now, the above the rim playing Drexler leads all guards with his career average of 2.4 offensive rebounds per game. He wore number 10 in Barcelona where the Original Dream Team claimed gold in the 1992 Olympics.

MISSES: The Glide reunited with collegiate buddy Olajuwon where he clinched his first NBA crown. He played a second star role when he was reaching this feat. The Blazers had two chances to win gold but Detroit and Chicago shut these chances. Also, Drexler had a dismal rookie season where he only normed eight points that year.

EXTRA POINTS: He had two chances to gain a rare quadruple-double. On January 10, 1986 he scored 26 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, and 10 steals in Milwaukee as a Blazer. On November 1, 1996 he racked 25 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 10 steals against Sacramento as a Rocket.

35 JASON KIDD (Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, New Jersey Nets)

STATS: 1107g – 13.8ppg, 6.7rpg, 9.2apg, 2.0spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (6), NBA All-Star (9), Rookie of the Year (1995)

HITS: Kidd is the first player to make people realize that you don’t need to score just to become explosive. Whenever he gets the ball, you HAVE to expect some random player zooming to the basket for a fiery finish. He has passed Magic Johnson at number three in the all-time assists list and is the only player in history to score 15,000 points, 10,000 assists and 7,000 rebounds. Kidd is also number three in the all-time triple-double leader list. He ranks second in career playoff triple-doubles and he has started all 115 of his playoff games. He has an awesome career. Now wonder he always blow kisses in the air when at the free throw line!

MISSES: Kidd’s career is somewhat the same with Oscar Robertson. Both are great passers as well as excellent rebounding guards. What Kidd lacks though is a steady offensive game. Also he had two trips to the NBA Finals but blew both because his teammates have become too dependent on him that once the Spurs and the Lakers neutralized Kidd, then the rest of the Nets are easy pickings. He was also in marital squabbles. It was reported that he was cruelly abused by his wife, which prompted Kidd’s wife to counterattack.

EXTRA POINTS: In his professional career, he has never lost an international game. He is 56-0 all-time with gold medals from the 2000 Sydney and 2008 Beijing Olympics, and from the 1999, 2003 and 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.

34 SCOTTIE PIPPEN (Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers)

STATS: 1178g – 16.1ppg, 6.4rpg, 5.2apg, 2.0spg, 0.8bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (7), All-Star MVP (1), NBA Champion (6)

HITS: Nobody knows playing behind a legend like Pips. He is perhaps the best sidekick in NBA History. During Michael Jordan’s Washington return, he tried out Rip Hamilton and Jerry Stackhouse to be his “partner” but no one has the playmaking skills and the smarts that Pippen possesses. This makes it hard not to write a Jordan memoir that is poised to delete Pippen’s (and Phil Jackson’s) contributions. He is a playmaker, a defensive specialist (owning a lot of defensive first team honors during his tenure with eight), a scorer, a rebounder, a low post threat, and more! He is one of four players to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in one season which as it stands, only four players has done so and this doesn’t involve Jordan. Despite the accolades, Pips knows his role as MJ’s chief backup. He could have wanted the spotlight but he played his best to become the best sidekick in history. In this fashion led to his owning of six rings. He is one of the creators of that point-forward spot and he holds career assists and steals made by a forward in history. He was also part of the 1992 and 1996 Gold Medal Olympic squads.

MISSES: He started his rookie campaign playing backup for Brad Sellers. Who is Brad Sellers? He was the starting forward for the then-hapless Bulls. Anyway, while he is a great complement for His Airness, it seems like he made it a career to make other players look good… even if they weren’t like that. While I understand that he has to play that role when he played alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley in Houston (where he and Sir Charles clashed) for one season, he could have asked to be traded when the powerhouse Portland experiment failed to trounce the Lakers (and the Kings for that matter also). His career began to stagnate as for four season with the Blazers his scoring average never got higher than 12.5. This was the same fate also suffered by Damon Stoudamire, Detlef Schrempf, Jermaine O’Neal among others to Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells and Steve Smith. As backup to Jordan, the lowest he scored was 14.4 (he scored 7.9ppg in his rookie year). And it is not like he can’t lead a team. He led the Bulls in major departments and into twin Eastern semis appearances during Jordan’s hiatus from the game. Another problem with Pips is his temper. He once sat out in crunch time, not wanting to return when Phil Jackson designed a play that made Pips inbounds the ball to a potential Toni Kukoc game winner. This was for the eastern finals seat and the Bulls eventually lost the game and the series to the Knicks (this was the first year of Jordan’s baseball career). This was one of the few low points of Pips’ career.

EXTRA POINTS: Jerry Krause never liked Pippen’s antics (although the rest of the Bulls hated Krause as much) and offered Seattle to acquire him for Shawn Kemp. Seattle was the team that drafted Pippen but they traded him to Chicago for the rights of journeyman Olden Polynice. This trade bogged down when Jordan returned from his baseball odyssey.

33 DIRK NOWITZKI (Dallas Mavericks)

STATS: 1107g – 22.7ppg, 8.6rpg, 2.7apg, 0.9spg, 1.0bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: NBA MVP (1), All-NBA Team (9), NBA All-Star (8)

HITS: If Larry Bird went to Europe and part of his genes was stolen from him, then Larry Legend should sue this Dunking German! It’s like Dirk is Larry’s heir apparent which was erroneously seen when Keith Van Horn debuted. He plays like a shooting guard in a center’s body. He can dunk and at the same time, he can score from long distances. He could hustle, he can play with mismatches with regards to what position he would play and he is versatile. He is also the first European to win the MVP plum.

MISSES: One thing that separates Bird from Dirk is that Bird is consummate defender. Bird could also read moves and attack them with such while Dirk has some kinks. For one, Dirk will eat a low-post defender that would block his shot but wilts to pressure if that player uses his speed rather than power. Dirk has learned to defend better but he’ll rather waste his energy to score. He was a key figure in the infamous four straight losses that made the Miami Heat NBA Champions.

EXTRA POINTS: During the 1998 Draft, then Boston Coach Rick Pitino wanted Dirk to play for Boston. Unfortunately then-Dallas coach Don Nelson was also interested in the German. Boston owns the tenth pick while the Mavs own the sixth. Dallas was also interested in Phoenix’ reserve point Steve Nash. Phoenix wanted Pat Garrity but they have no first round picks. The Bucks had two picks but all they wanted was to acquire top prospect Robert “Tractor” Traylor. So during draft day, Dallas hatched a plan. Milwaukee would use its eighth and nineteenth picks for Nowitzki and Garrity. The Bucks will trade these picks for Traylor. The Mavs would then deal Garrity to Phoenix for Nash. The often overweight Traylor and Garrity were pretty much role players (Traylor is now in Turkey while Garrity retired in Orlando). And if you ask what Boston got as their tenth pick? Don’t worry about them. They got Paul Pierce.

32 DOLPH SCHAYES (Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers)

STATS: 996g – 18.5ppg, 11.3rpg, 3.1apg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (12), NBA All-Star (12), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer

HITS: Considered a big player then, Dolph Schayes was one of the most important ballers in the 50’s. While he manned the inside, he is a great set shooter, which was one of the norms then. Before shooting required jumping, his deadly high-arcing set shots wow crowds. It was said that during his early career, Schayes broke his right arm and played the season with a cast. This made him learn to shoot with his left, making an unstoppable set shot. He was the last great superstar to shoot baskets with his feet planted on the floor. He was also the first player to achieve 30,000 PRA’s (points, rebounds, and assists). He played from 1948 to 1964.

MISSES: No question, he is a legend. The only problem in his 16-year career was he didn’t get a lot of championships. The George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers owned the early 50’s and it was Bill Russell’s Boston that eliminated all chances for Schayes to acquire a ring when he was nearing retirement. He was the first of many NBA legends to produce subpar spawns. His son Danny was more of a backup center more than anything.

31 PATRICK EWING (New York Knicks, Seattle Supersonics, Orlando Magic)

STATS: 1183g – 21.0ppg, 9.8rpg, 1.9apg, 1.0spg, 2.4bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (11), Rookie of the Year (1986), Hall of Famer

HITS: The NBA was forced to institute the draft lottery to discourage teams from losing their matches. Controversy struck when the NBA office granted New York the top choice. All these problems because the most sought college athlete has just declared his eligibility. Once he entered he transformed New York from a struggling franchise to a playoff contender. He became a leader and became the owner of several Knick records. He was part of the crew that powered New York to many playoff appearances… where each of their chances was thwarted by Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia or Boston. Nonetheless, he is a great scorer, awesome defender, and one of the cornerstones of the league in the 80’s and late 90’s.

MISSES: No, I won’t even say his reading problem. Nearing the end of his career, two trading paths tarnished his career of dominance. It all started with the trading of his two most equipped allies in Charles Oakley and John Starks. This started New York current roster of ragtag all-stars that can’t play well together. Then an injury which made him miss the Finals against the Spurs gave the Knicks the reason to hunt for younger blood. He was sent to Seattle where his role deteriorated. He was then traded to the Orlando Magic where he was supposed to play the center role to complement Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady but at this point, old age sunk. The highest point of his NBA career was when Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon battled in the NBA Finals. Ewing defeated Olajuwon in the NCAA (Georgetown versus Univ. of Houston) while Olajuwon one-upped Ewing in the pros.

30 JOHN STOCKTON (Utah Jazz)

STATS: 1504g – 13.1ppg, 2.7rpg, 10.5apg, 2.2spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (11), NBA All-Star (10), All-Star MVP (1), Hall of Famer

HITS: The guy looks like a kid. In Filipino terms he looks like a “salingkit” whenever he steps on the hardcourt. But beware of this guy. As far as basketball insiders are concerned, Stockton ranks as one of the best point guards in NBA history. First of all, he tops all all-time assists and steals categories. And for a guy that looks so scrawny, he only missed 22 games in his ENTIRE CAREER! His ability to read his opponents makes him a dangerous foe. And while he is no high-flyer, he knows how to use his skills to make his game productive. He also made a couple of guys known as Jerry Sloan and Karl Malone extremely happy. Stockton was Sloan’s extension in the court and Malone was pretty much the receiver of most of Stockton’s passes. Did I mention that he played for two gold-winning teams in the Olympics? Because of his talent despite limited abilities, he could likely be the Ric Flair of basketball. Actually, if you look at it, Stockton is seen as one of the “Dirtiest Players of the Game”. This is not bad by all means because basketball is a physical game. However, coming from a guy that is 6’1 and 170lbs? That’s kind of… annoying.

MISSES: The Stockton to Malone pick and roll combo is one of the most popular tag team moves in the game. However, this brings up the fact that there could be no Stockton had not for Malone. Certainly with Malone’s caliber, any player could get an assist by merely giving him the ball. Perhaps, had these two not met, their accomplishments in the league wouldn’t be this high. Also, Stockton started his career as a second string player with limited minutes. He is also the type of player that would pass than score although, Stockton had an underrated outside game.

29 DAVE COWENS (Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks)

STATS: 766g – 17.6ppg, 13.6rpg, 3.8apg, 0.8spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: NBA MVP (1), All-NBA Team (3), NBA All-Star (7), All-Star MVP (1), Rookie of the Year (1971), NBA Champion (2), Hall of Famer

HITS: Cowens had the hard task of becoming the team’s “Next Bill Russell”. Unlike in the 50’s and the 60’s, 6’9 players will have a hard time manning the center post. However he did and he did it with gusto. Celtic faithful lauded the fact that they could still win the crown without Russ and Company. In fact his intensity on both sides makes him a vital cog in their two championships. Cowens is the first of only four players to lead his team in the five main stats categories for a season (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks). Only Scottie Pippen, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James have duplicated this feat.

MISSES: While Cowens was a mere tool to complement John Havlicek, who was Boston’s heart and soul of the 70’s and the only remaining link from the 60’s, Cowens was a super special player for Boston. Problem is… his actions are often uncharacteristic for a NBA player. While he slept at a park bench when Boston celebrated their championship in 1974, he wasted the first part of the 1977 NBA season as a cab driver to “cure his burnout issues”. That was kind of… freaky… even if the 1970’s paraded the hippest of hippies. While you might think these actions shouldn’t be problems on-court… it actually was back then.

28 ELVIN HAYES (San Diego/Houston Rockets, Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets)

STATS: 1303g – 21.0ppg, 12.5rpg, 1.8apg, 1.4bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (6), NBA All-Star (12), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer

HITS: “Big E” was the top pick in the 1968 Draft. In his rookie year, he scored 28.4ppg making him the last rookie to lead the league in scoring. However, he lost the top rookie plum to Wes Unseld, who became the last player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in one season. A couple of years later, he will join Unseld in Washington where they made the squad a perennial contender. Hayes is a dominating scorer with Unseld concentrating more on grabbing the rebounds. Although, this doesn’t mean that Hayes is not a ferocious rebounder. In his second season, he led the league in rebounds which is the first time since 1957 a player led in rebounds that is not named Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain. Hayes played in 12 straight All-Star games from 1969 to 1980.

MISSES: It is hard to say awful things about Big E since in the course of his career, he was nothing but solid. However, when he returned to Houston (where he also played college ball), his career numbers were rapidly decreasing. Injuries also kicked in and by the time he was in Houston, Ralph Sampson and Moses Malone were manning the frontline. He retired in 1984 before Hakeem Olajuwon could ever test his first NBA uniform.

27 WILLIS REED (New York Knicks)

STATS: 650g – 18.7ppg, 12.9rpg, 1.8apg

ACHIEVEMENTS: NBA MVP (1), Finals MVP (2), All-NBA Team (5), NBA All-Star (7), All-Star MVP (1), Rookie of the Year (1965), NBA Champion (2), Hall of Famer

HITS: The guy is a leader and a winner. During his tenure as a Knick, New York had their taste of championships. Who could forget Game 7 of the 1970 Finals where the injured captain started the game against the Wilt-led Lakers and despite limping and bandaged up, gave the team a huge shot in the arm to win the crown? He shot a mere two attempts (both connected), but that is enough to revitalize Frazier, Earl Monroe, DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Dick Barnett, Jerry Lucas, and the rest of the New York Knicks! Compared to Kareem and Wilt, Reed was puny at 6’10. However what he lacked in size, he doubled in muscle. He relishes the pivot part of the offense and this is where he works his wondrous ways. He is also an adequate defender as if blocks were part of the statistical categories then; he’ll be amassing a superb collection of it.

MISSES: While inspirational, the victory he got from the 1970 Finals would mark the downfall of his career. After that he had a couple of injuries that forced him out of action for months. This could probably be due to the wear and tear he suffered as a banger and a bruiser. When he retired, the Knicks were dismantled. His career and the Knicks organization could have been better if he didn’t end his tenure after ten short seasons.

26 RICK BARRY (San Francisco/Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets)

STATS: 794g – 23.2ppg, 6.5rpg, 5.1apg, 1.4spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: Finals MVP (1), All-NBA Team (6), NBA All-Star (8), All-Star MVP (1), Rookie of the Year (1966), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer

HITS: What is the “granny shot”? For younger generations, this is how Slam Dunk’s Hanamichi Sakuragi shoots the free throw. The softball pitch best describes his style which is leaps and bounds less pretty than the more popular baseball throw. While it looks odd, it is freaking devastatingly accurate! In fact, he ranks amongst the best all-time! He is arguably the best pure small forward in the history of the league due to his tenaciousness, uncanny court vision, defense, demanding will to win, and superb outside scoring! He is also one of those players that can successfully alter their game styles to fit the needs of his team. He’ll do the things asked to get a win, even if he is paired with low-quality and problematic teammates.

MISSES: His talents could do so much. Most of his years, he was Mister-Do-It-All because seasons of lackluster rosters are destroying his Hall of Fame reputation. This is also the reason why he left the San Francisco Warriors for the ABA where he played for three fruitful seasons that earned him two finals appearances and a championship crown. His exodus to the ABA made people think that he left the league because of higher financial gain. The Warriors made the fans believe that he was only after the money. When the judicial court ruled that he needs to honor the Warriors contract, he returned to the NBA. It also didn’t help that he had a reputation of talking without thinking which made him an unlikable person.

EXTRA POINTS: From his “Barry” spawned former NBA players like Jon, Brent, and Drew. Coincidentally Rick and Brent became the second father and son combo to have NBA rings. Rick in 1975 with the Golden State Warriors and Brent with the 2005 and 2007 San Antonio Spurs.

25 LEBRON JAMES (Cleveland Cavaliers)

STATS: 472g – 27.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 6.7apg, 1.8spg, 0.9bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: NBA MVP (1), All-NBA Team (5), NBA All-Star (5), All-Star MVP (2), Rookie of the Year (2004)

HITS: He is the second coming of Magic Johnson in terms of pre-NBA attention. During his time high school games are getting nationwide attention (although they didn’t care about the games per se and were merely looking out for James). Picked first in the 2003 Draft, James found out that it was hard to survive the NBA… if he had weak-ass backup. Slowly, his team was formed to his liking and it was safe to say that LBJ has the goods to blaze the league. James combines power with quickness and athleticism. He has the power of Oscar Robertson with the scoring abilities of Julius Erving and the unselfishness of Grant Hill. He is a regular 25-5-5 player and he is ready to man clutch moments.

MISSES: There is a double-edged sword that surrounds a high-ranking placing in their early career and this is where Kobe could outshine LeBron in the years to come. First of all, Kobe’s seeding went up with his constant accolades such as individual honors and championships. While LBJ is young and dangerous, so was Ralph Sampson, Vin Baker, and Anfernee Hardaway in their early years before injuries took its toll (this is somewhat overacting because King James had done more than what these three had accomplished, respect-wise). James needs to stay away from danger as possible to further cement his self as the league’s future. He also needs to rise during clutch times. While he could perform well in dire situations… in the regular season, he needs to advance his crunch time antics to the playoffs. He is too unselfish at times that it hurts his team rather than helping it.

24 JULIUS ERVING (Philadelphia 76ers)

STATS: 836g – 22.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 3.9apg, 1.8spg, 1.5bpg

ACHIEVEMENTS: Finals MVP (1), All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (11), All-Star MVP (2), NBA Champion (1)

HITS: The old school basketball game was flushed out with his entry. All of a sudden, basketball became exciting. When he entered the NBA in 1976, he was the most popular player of the ABA. He continued to be the game’s ambassador in the NBA and his style (alongside David Thompson) paved the way for Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and other NBA high-flyers. Remember that jaw-dropping behind-the-board reverse layup that’s virtually visible in every NBA history show? He can stay in the air for so long that he could drink coffee, read the paper, nail cut his toe nails, and scratch his ass before scoring a fadeaway shot! Because of his style of play “dunks”, “crossover dribbles”, and “no-look passes” were incorporated in the basketball vernacular! Erving introduced jumping off the foul line which has become a key trick for succeeding slam dunk events and regular season game bonuses. He became a multi-million endorser and he was so charismatic that everywhere he went, fans clamored for the “Doctor”. But Dr. J wasn’t just a showman; he also knows how to lead a team to victory.

MISSES: No question, he is a legendary fixture in the history of basketball. However, Erving’s best years were played outside Philadelphia. In the ABA, the lowest scoring average he had was 27.3, and this was in his rookie year (he averaged 31.9 in his second season). In the NBA, the highest scoring average he obtained is 26.9. He scored 23 points and up only four times. His five seasons in ABA summed up 28.7ppg, 12.1rpg, 4.8apg, 2.4spg, 2.0bpg, a 2-time ABA champion, a 2-time ABA Finals MVP, a 5-time All-ABA member, a 5-time ABA All-Star and a 3-time ABA MVP. You can see his NBA stats underneath his name.

23 ISIAH THOMAS (Detroit Pistons)

STATS: 979g – 19.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 9.3apg, 1.9spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: Finals MVP (1), All-NBA Team (5), NBA All-Star (12), All-Star MVP (2), NBA Champion (2)

HITS: When late Detroit mentor Chuck Daly asked Isiah to lead a group of bruisers with zero athleticism, he responded well. The Bad Boys of the 80’s were a ferocious bunch of “goons”. Thomas is the best person to lead these Pistons. His toughness and competitive fire are his strengths that made this team harbor a couple of rings at the expense of the Lakers and Blazers. He hates losing and will do everything to one-up his foe. He will drill a merciless tres or rattle the defense with a gutsy penetration. He can pack the points in batches (an example of which is scoring 16 points in 94 seconds in a playoff game) rendering the opponents helpless. His abilities give him acclaim as well as adversaries.

MISSES: Critics peg him as a gracious winner and a lousy loser. His eagerness to win is both his strength and weakness. Remember how he “froze” Michael Jordan because his hometown idolizing a newbie that was taken the spotlight out of the vets in the 1985 All-Star Game? What about his “feud” with Larry Bird? Professionally, injuries in the 90 are factors that led to his retirement. Looking back, his ego bolstered failed bids to further cement his legacy: 1) Many team owners blamed his mismanagement for the eventual downfall of the CBA (the NBDL came and destroyed the semi-pro league), 2) Coaching and management woes in Toronto, Indiana, and New York, and 3) A sexual harassment case that cost Madison Square Garden 11.6 US Dollars! This perhaps also led to the alleged drug overdose he had in mid-2008. Detroit was the only franchise that treated him graciously in his NBA career.

EXTRA POINTS: Thomas missed out three potential US Olympic gold medals. He was going to represent the US but US boycotts the 1980 Moscow Games. In 1992, he could have been part of the Dream Team had not for Michael Jordan’s ability to hate him. And when Dream Team 2 was about to don the US colors, he injured himself that promptly caused his retirement. He was replaced in the lineup by Kevin Johnson.

22 JOHN HAVLICEK (Boston Celtics)

STATS: 1270g – 20.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 4.8apg

ACHIEVEMENTS: Finals MVP (1), All-NBA Team (11), NBA All-Star (13), NBA Champion (8), Hall of Famer

HITS: Named from a John Wayne flick, Hondo is considered as one of the best players of the league. Currently it is him and not Russell, Bird, Cowens, and Pierce as the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer! While he was merely a backup for Jerry Lucas in his college years, Havlicek was a key contributor for Red Auerbach in the 60’s. He started as Boston’s sixth man but when most of the guys retired, he was placed in the starting lineup. He was pretty much the connection from the 60’s for the players of the 70’s. He could scorch his opponents with his jumpers and could perform well when the shots matter. He is also a tough customer in the defensive end as his famous steal that made legendary Boston broadcaster Johnny Most exclaim “Havlicek steals it! Havlicek stole the ball” is one of the most recognizable natsots of the league’s history.

MISSES: In his 16 year career, Havlicek never scored lower than 14.3 points (this was during his rookie year). There is hardly any downside in his career but if I would count on something, it could be the fact that people thought of him as a mere role player in his early career. Even when he was scoring in consistent double digits people try to factor in that had not for Russell and company, he’d be scoring less. Hell, even Bob Cousy thought of him as a mere defensive specialist when he first saw Hondo.

21 ALLEN IVERSON (Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies)

STATS: 886g – 27.1ppg, 3.7rpg, 6.2apg, 2.2spg

ACHIEVEMENTS: NBA MVP (1), All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (10), All-Star MVP (2), Rookie of the Year (1997)

HITS: When we say Georgetown, the people we know from that school usually stands above 6’9. Now Allen Iverson isn’t like Mutombo, Mourning, or Ewing, because he brings something new to the court. Standing barely six feet, the man dubbed as “The Answer”, is one of the league’s most popular players. He is flamboyant, he is skillful, he is controversial, and he is a media magnet! AI plays larger than his size. He is a four-time scoring champion and a three-time steals leader. He loves to get his hands on the ball during moments that matter, which is why he is one of the best clutch players in the league’s history.

MISSES: Larry Brown was the only coach that actually got Iverson’s respect… and yeah, that was rocky at best. Iverson is a coach’s nightmare. He is said to be a ball hog and this is one of the reasons why he can’t win a plum. He was sent away from Philly after Iverson’s over-outbursts. He was brought to Denver to second Carmelo Anthony but AI can’t take a step back for Melo. Worse, he was brought to Detroit to add star power but his stint gave the team an eighth seed in the East. And now… most teams won’t sign him because he’s a headcase and a lowly team like Memphis was the only team to take a chance on Iverson. His chances of winning a championship are slim.

The cream of the crop will take centerstage in the final installment!

Yes, Michael Jordan would be there! Yes Shaquille O’Neal would be there! Yes Kobe Bryant… ugh… well… he could be there!

Until the next installment…

GAME OVER!

09-10 NBA Pre-Season Rankings 1: The Cellar Dwellers

And the countdown starts.. now!

With only one month away from the start of a new season, I guess it’s time to do those pre-season rankings. Now, what I plan to do here is to divide my rankings into three posts. First, the one I’m writing now, the cellar dweller division. A post dedicated to the teams who I think will most likely fail to make it to the playoffs. The second is the Playoff-ables. I’ll rank the teams who’ll most likely head into the Playoffs and of course the third part will be dedicated to the Contenders.. a ranking of teams which I think would be shoo-ins in the Playoffs and are serious contenders for the title.

Right now, let’s talk about the the Cellar Dwellers. As I’ve said, these are the teams that will most likely fail to make the Playoffs. These are the teams who sucked big time last season and didn’t nail the right moves in the summer to turn their team into contenders. And this is probably the place where you can find the team who signed Zach Randolph. Enough of the talk, let’s start ranking ‘em

30) Sacramento Kings

Predicted win range: Somewhere around 16 to low 20s

Why they’re here: Well, all I have to say is that team is a mess. They have a franchise player caliber in Kevin Martin and that’s it. If your starting Point Guard is Beno Udrih and your next best scorer is Andrei Nocioni and then you’re in a world of hurt

Why I might be wrong: The chances of me going wrong in this one is pretty low but here’s the only way they make the playoffs.. Noc plays consistently and stays healthy all season long, Kevin Martin goes supernova and averages 35 PPG and Tyreke Evans turns out to be a PG and gives out ROY numbers. Get my point? They won’t make it.

29) New Jersey Nets

Predicted win range: low 20s

Why they’re here: With the departure of Vince Carter, Devin Harris will have to carry the load offensively for the Nets. While Devin Harris is a great offensive player, I don’t think he can do it alone. Adding Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston doesn’t help that much too.

Why I might be wrong: Devin posts MVP numbers and Yi Jianlian turns into Dirk Nowitzki-lite. Yes, Aliens could be existing at that time too. :D

28) Memphis Grizzlies

Predicted win range: Low 20s

Why they’re here: Allen Iverson, Zach Randolph. Wow. That’s the veteran players you’d want around your young core? Give me an effing break!

Why I might be wrong: Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo are two guys with great futures ahead of them but are they ready to carry the Grizzlies to the Playoffs? If they are, would the ego of their new veterans let them? If your answer is yes and yes then I am most likely wrong and you are freaking delusional.

27) Milwaukee Bucks

Predicted win range: low 20s

Why they’re here: They lost Ramon Sessions, Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva to free-agency, players who can actually contribute and help them push for a playoff bid. Andrew Bogut being in and out of the line up due to injuries won’t help them either.

Why I might be wrong: First step into Playoff contention is Andrew Bogut’s health. Second is if he actually plays into his potential and third is a breakout season for Michael Redd.

26) New York Knicks

Predicted win range: 20s

Why they’re here: Well, they’re the Knicks.. ’nuff said. lol

Why I might be wrong: They have a workhorse in David Lee and Nate Robinson who could put up atleast 20 points a night if given the chance. Plus, they have Joe Crawford on their line-up.. the great equalizer. Lol

25) Minnesota Timberwolves

Predicted win range: High 20s

Why they’re here: Of all the teams I’ve included here, this is a roster that I actually like. The problem is, who’s gonna step up and take the role of a leader?

Why I might be wrong: As I’ve said, this team has a bright future ahead of them. They have a nice frontline of the future consisting of Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, they got Jonny Flynn from the draft and Ramon Sessions from free agency. Now if all those guys can bloom early, and that’s a big IF, they’re a team to watch.

24) Oklahoma City Thunder

Predicted win range: high 20s to low 30s

Why they’re here: With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook continuing to improve, there’s nowhere to go but up for OKC. However, with minimal addition in their frontline last summer, I still think they’ll end up with another losing season

Why I might be wrong: Kevin Durant is for real and should have MVP-like numbers next year. As I’ve said, Russell Westbrook will continue to improve and if James Harden lives up to the hype as the Black Manu well, things might happen for them.

23) Indiana Pacers

Predicted win range: 30s

Why they’re here: Mike Dunleavy Jr has been slowed down by injuries and the lack of offensive firepower from their backcourt will hurt them in the long run.

Why I might be wrong: Despite MDJ’s injuries, they still have a pretty decent frontline that consists of Jeff Foster, Troy Murphy, Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and of course Danny Granger. Will that be enough? We’ll see. Will see.

22) Houston Rockets

Predicted win range: 30s

Why they’re here: Yao Ming could be out for the rest of the season, they lost Ron Artest and up to now, they still don’t have a natural center

Why I might be wrong: Well, they showed great resistance against the eventual champs last season so it’s pretty tough to count them out.

21) Los Angeles Clippers

Predicted win range: 30s

Why they’re here: We’re unsure of whether Baron Davis can stay healthy all season long. The most likely answer would be no. The second problem would be finding a guy who could support Baron on the backcourt in terms of offensive firepower. I’m looking at you Eric Gordon, you need to be consistent.

Why I might be wrong: Blake Freaking Griffin.

Alright, I’ll try to post my second installment right after the weekend. Stay safe everyone.

100 Best Careers in the NBA (3 of 5)

First seen at www.hoops.blink.ph.

Damn it, I must say, compiling this is hard work! You have weigh what’s good for the haters, what will make people happy, will there be any backlash, etcetera… etcetera.

Anyway, before anyone forgets, this is a BEST CAREERS IN THE NBA ranking!

Get the rules and the first installment of the rank here:
http://sydrified.blogspot.com/2009/08/100-best-careers-in-nba-part-1-of-5.html

And if you want the previous installment, check it out here:
http://sydrified.blogspot.com/2009/09/100-best-careers-in-nba-2-of-5.html

So before you ask why Grant Hill is higher than Steve Nash… or Dwyane Wade is ranked high despite still having an active career… or who the hell are Hal Greer, Neil Johnston, Bill Sharman, Tommy Heinsohn and Sam Jones… you need to check these installments out!

Who had the best careers from start to finish? Check this out!

Now in terms of why defensive players rank high in the list? I am always bent to say that these guys are a notable few. Everyone when tasked can score 20 points a night but if they only get 2 rebounds and 2 assists, I’ll pass them up as one-dimensional players. The players likely in the top ten like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, and Shaquille O Neal are excellent scoring threats but even more powerful defenders (I gave you a bunch of names that may or may not land in the top ten… ha!).

In order to see the positive and negative aspects of the name’s entry, the HITS and MISSES enumeration was in placed to hopefully quench those who ask for reasons.

Anyway, GAME STARTS NOW!

60 BILL WALTON (Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics)
STATS: 468g – 13.3ppg, 10.5rpg, 3.4apg, 2.2bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: MVP (1), Finals MVP (1), All-NBA Team (2), NBA All-Star (2), NBA Champion (2), Hall of Famer
HITS: He is one of the league’s most charismatic players in the 70’s. He looks like a hippie, he dresses as if he’ll be going to a disco, and his white afro is one of the most recognizable do’s in that era if you’re a NBA fan. He came from a very powerful college where under John Wooden, Walton piloted UCLA to back-to-back-to-back championships which led to him being called as the greatest college player ever (he won NCAA College Player of the Year thrice in his four years, with Christian Laettner rivaling the feat in the 90’s). In the NBA, he was out to win, claiming two wins in the course of his career with Portland and Boston. He was a gifted rebounder, an able defender, and a powerful blocker.
MISSES: Hmmm… Walton while great had one of the most unfortunate careers in the NBA. He was often injured and he barely played a season where performed in at least 75 games (although he did play in 80 of Boston’s 82 games in 1985). After winning the championship, Walton battled with the Blazers office for having crappy amenities for their injured stars when he got injured and did not play in the 1978-79 NBA Season. San Diego was a poor pit stop for the curly one and while getting temporary career resurrection in Boston, he was not the focal point of the offense. This is one of the factors why his stats are this low. Think of him as Alonzo Mourning-like… minus the offensive production.
EXTRA POINTS: You’ll often hear his voice as the hyperbole-heavy broadcaster during NBA games. Did you know he was once known for his stuttering?

59 BILLY CUNNINGHAM (Philadelphia 76ers)
STATS: 654g – 20.8ppg, 10.1rpg, 4.0apg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (4), NBA All-Star (4), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer
HITS: Dubbed as the Kangaroo Kid for his unbelievable leaping ability, he could scour rebounds despite playing the shooting guard/ small forward role. He is tied with Michael Jordan for having the most points scored in a losing playoff game with 50 (Jordan holds the record when the Bulls played Boston and he erupted for 63). He assumed top dog rule when Chamberlain left, leading the Sixers in points and in rebounds in a very consistent basis.
MISSES: Like John Havlicek, he started his NBA career off the bench. Then Sixers coach Dolph Schayes thought of the idea of Cunningham playing point. The Kangaroo Kid was uncomfortable with the spot as this restricted his athleticism and gave him the starting SG/SF spot. This would translate to him helping the Sixers win the 1967 championship. Also Cunningham had a somewhat brief career in the NBA. This all started when contract disputes forced team leader Wilt Chamberlain to head to the Lakers. While playing his whole NBA career with Philly, Cunningham bolted to the Carolina Cougars of the ABA in 1972 where he won a MVP. Two years later he returned to the Sixers to resume his career but injuries sidelined him. He missed 52 games in with a clogged liver in Carolina and when he returned he was forced to retire for having a torn ACL (back then it was not treatable). Also when he did return to the Sixers, Philly went from contenders to rebuilders (This was a couple of years before Julius Erving signed with the Sixers).
EXTRA POINTS: After leading the Sixers to the crown as a player in 1967, he led the Sixers anew in 1983 – guiding the team to a 65-17 finish and a championship.

58 DIKEMBE MUTOMBO (Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets)
STATS: 1198g – 9.8ppg, 10.3rpg, 1.0apg, 2.7bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (3), NBA All-Star (8), Defensive Player of the Year (4)
HITS: He has one of the world’s most recognizable smiles and has one of basketball’s most popular trademarks. Why is he high on this list? He owns four Defensive Player of the Year titles! No shot is safe if he’s lurking below the basket. Expect him to wag the finger if you didn’t see his seven foot exterior manning the lanes! Whether its help defense or face-to-face coverage, Mount Mutombo Is poised to put a lid on the rim! This is why guys like Jordan, Malone, Kobe, Barkley, and Shaq all love to give this guy a facial. First of all, this is for their poster… another thing? Most of the time, this is merely for revenge.
MISSES: The Terror from Zaire is an overlord in defense. However, he lacks the moves to conquer defense. This is the reason why team owners can’t put faith on Mutombo to build people around him. Mostly in his later years, he was acquired for the main purpose of trying to limit Shaq. This also cemented his journeyman status. While he was one of the rare players that played in the league despite being over 40, his numbers dwindled dramatically during these stints.

57 ALONZO MOURNING (Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets)
STATS: 838g – 17.1ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.1apg, 2.8bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (2), NBA All-Star (7), All-Star MVP (1), Defensive Player of the Year (2), NBA Champion (1)
HITS: He was the second overall pick in the 1993 Draft after Shaquille O’Neal. While he averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds as a rookie, he always gets overshadowed by Shaq. In Charlotte while there was in fighting between Zo and Larry Johnson, they managed to make the Hornets a East darkhorse. He then traded to Miami for sharpshooter Glen Rice where he joined another superstar, Tim Hardaway. In the late 90’s he’ll renew his rivalry with Larry Johnson but this time through the super rivalry called Miami versus New York. He is an awesome defender that also has offensive arsenal. At one point he was called the best center in the East.
MISSES: Zo’s kidney burst all chances for him to have a superstar end in his career. At one point, he almost finished his career early. When he returned from the injury, he was reduced to a second stringer, often spelling rest for Shaq. Except for his blocks, this stint decreased his career scoring and rebounding averages.

56 HAL GREER (Syracuse Nationals/ Philadelphia 76ers)
STATS: 1122g – 19.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 4.0apg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (10), All-Star MVP (1), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer
HITS: Before the Sixers played in Philly, Philly’s team was called Warriors. When the Syracuse Nationals left for Philly, the Warriors moved in the Bay Area. Hal Greer was one of the Nats that went to the Sixers during the relocation. He was once called as the third best guard in the 60’s behind Oscar Robertson and Jerry West. When Warrior Wilt Chamberlain returned to Philly as a Sixer, Wilt became the focal point of Greer’s passes. Greer is a scorer and passer and with Wilt coming in, he had found the missing ingredients for a championship. In 1967, the Sixers ousted Boston and went on to win the finals.
MISSES: It’s a given that Greer wouldn’t have won that title if Chamberlain wasn’t his teammate. When “The Stilt” left, the Sixers dropped downwards. His last season in the league was a disaster. He retired in 1973 and in that season the Sixers just won nine games. Media called the team “Philadelphia nine and 73ers”.
EXTRA POINTS: Greer had one of the most effective but most awkward free throw shots in NBA history. He sinks a free throw via a jump shot.

55 TOMMY HEINSOHN (Boston Celtics)
STATS: 654g – 18.6ppg, 8.8rpg, 2.0apg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (4), NBA All-Star (6), Rookie of the Year (1957), NBA Champion (8), Hall of Famer
HITS: Aside from Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and John Havlicek, Heinsohn ranks as one of the most beloved Boston players of all-time. He is the only player who has the distinction of being involved one way or the other in each of the Celtics’ championships (as player, coach and commentator). As a player, he won eight NBA titles in nine years. He played forward-center for Boston. He is a burly rough-houser on defensive but prefers finesse during offense. He also loves to instill work ethic and hustle to players. This motivation laid the foundation of his two NBA crowns during his coaching tenure in the 70’s.
MISSES: At 6’7 he gets rebounds because opponents set their sights on Bill Russell. Often he merely blends in the spotlight whenever Cousy, Russell, Bill Sherman, or Sam Jones gets hot. Other than that, I see Tommy Gun as a great cog for Boston’s winning run. If I could think of another flaw in his game, I’ll probably say that given that the games then were black and white… his legs were TOO white.
EXTRA POINTS: Heinsohn played college ball at Holy Cross University. This was the same school where Bob Cousy played. The day Bob Cousy retired, Tommy Heinsohn scored his 10,000th point.

54 STEVE NASH (Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns)
STATS: 934g – 14.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 8.0apg, 0.8spg
ACHIEVEMENTS: MVP (2), All-NBA Team (6), NBA All-Star (6)
HITS: He is not a scoring monster but he is great playmaker, ball-handler, and three-point shooter. His passes are spell-binding. His free-wheeling game is pretty much similar to how a football game is being played. He is only one of eight players to win back-to-back MVP’s. He is a highly-intelligent player that loves to make his teammates look good. A perfect example of this is how Shawn Marion’s numbers dipped when he was traded away from Phoenix. His mastery of knowing his teammates’ strengths is awesome.
MISSES: His first stint with Phoenix was a dud, as he played barely 11 minutes and could only produce 3.3ppg. His first four years in the league he averaged under ten points. This is basically one of the reasons why this two-time MVP is ranked too low. But perspective-wise, it’s hard to imagine a two-time MVP that hasn’t had any Finals appearance. While he deserved his first MVP, critics pan at his second. In what could have been his third MVP, Nash played awesome. Unfortunately, the fact that he is not a champion doomed his chances. Despite a stellar 2006-07 NBA season, Dirk Nowitzki won the honor.

53 GRANT HILL (Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns)
STATS: 787g – 18.5ppg, 6.6rpg, 4.7apg, 1.4spg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (5), NBA All-Star (7), Rookie of the Year (1995)
HITS: Grant Hill drinks Sprite? Grant Hill… drinks… Sprite. He was the first of many “Jordanesque” players that the league has ever seen. He starred in Duke where he helped the team play in 3 of the 4 NCAA Finals he was affiliated with the team. He was picked third in the 1994 Draft by the Pistons to re-start Detroit’s championship run. While people thought of him as the next Mike, Hill played a lot like Scottie Pippen – he takes his normal share of points but he also gets boards and passes. In fact, he was a triple-double magnet early in his career. Detroit became a great team when he was there but he had to opt out when the supporting players in the roster got weaker. He signed with Orlando who just acquired Tracy McGrady. He will leave the Magic before the 2007 season for Phoenix.
MISSES: Injuries. Lots and lots of injuries caused Hill to miss most of his career, particularly his Orlando stint. He shouldn’t have left for Orlando. Not only did his career stagnate, Detroit would acquire Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins. Ben Wallace was an important player in their championship while they used Atkins as a tool to acquire another vital cog in Rasheed Wallace. Hill was a very sick man and him playing for the Magic seemed like a poor fit. Even if he played without any DNP’s in Phoenix last year, re-signing for the Suns will threaten his career to not have any championships (given the state of the Lakers, Celtics, and the rest of the league.

52 WES UNSELD (Washington Bullets)
STATS: 984g – 10.8ppg, 14.0rpg, 3.9apg
ACHIEVEMENTS: MVP (1), Finals MVP (1), All-NBA Team (1), NBA All-Star (5), Rookie of the Year (1969), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer
HITS: He was the second player in the NBA to win Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the same year. Known for his amazing knack to conquer rebounds, Unseld made up for his lack of size by conquering the court with his brute strength and strong determination. The guy is 6’7 and he plays center/forward! For a player who’s willing to claw his way against Dave Cowens, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and Bob Lanier, Unseld barely felt the height difference. His bone-jarring picks and crisp, accurate outlet passes pretty much ignites a victory for the Bullets. Actually he was the key man in Washington’s championship in 1978.
MISSES: If you want a brawl, he’ll give you a brawl. However, the only thing missing in his repertoire is inside scoring. He is a feared defensive player like Dikembe Mutombo, Dennis Rodman, and Ben Wallace. If the Bullets instead relied on him and not Elvin Hayes in the offensive end, his stature could have been a bit better.
EXTRA POINTS: The Bullets went to the Philippines in 1978 where they faced the likes of Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, and Atoy Co. The Bullets won against the PBA All-Stars 133 to 123.

51 VINCE CARTER (Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic)
STATS: 777g – 23.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 4.3apg, 1.2spg, 0.8bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (2), NBA All-Star (8), Rookie of the Year (1999)
HITS: Remember the 2000 Sydney Olympics when he “poster”-ized 7-foot-2 French tower Frederic Weis? This is basically his bread and butter. Vince Carter, bar none is one of the most electrifying and explosive scorers of the league’s history. For players with 400 games and more, he ranks 19th in scoring average and 54th in most points scored. He is also a very decent defender and just like former North Carolina shooting guards Michael Jordan and Jerry Stackhouse, he can pile up rebounds and assists in an instant. Unlike Stackhouse though, coaches had credibility in him to be their team’s main man.
MISSES: It hurts his rep that he has yet or may not lead a team to the NBA championship. The teams he joined had the tools to claim a NBA crown but as it progress, the teams are always dismantled. Imagine if McGrady, Damon Stoudamire, and Marcus Camby played at least their first seven seasons with the Raptors or if Dikembe Mutombo, Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles and company still were in the squad when he, Richard Jefferson, and Jason Kidd were manning the Nets. I am not saying that he’ll be their savior. Actually thinking back, what most of those teams lack is a strong inside presence. Will Vinsanity and Dwight Howard play beautiful music together?

50 BOB LANIER (Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks)
STATS: 959g – 20.1ppg, 10.1rpg, 3.1apg, 0.8spg, 1.1bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: NBA All-Star (8), All-Star MVP (1), Hall of Famer
HITS: The Dobber is a headache for opposing forces. He is unstoppable in the shaded area. He works best in offense and defense. At 6’10, he can make Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s job a nightmare. He could extend his range to those mid-range side jumpers a la Hakeem Olajuwon, he could elude defenders with his pivot skills and he could electrify the crowd with his rim-rattling dunks! He came from a successful NCAA stint at St. Bonaventure which led to him being the top pick in the 1970 Draft.
MISSES: Lanier was a great player but he came to the league battling the likes of Kareem, Dave Cowens, Jack Sikma, Wes Unseld, and Elvin Hayes, among others. Then, the NBA has yet to institutionalize the All-NBA Second Team and Third Team honors. In his NBA career, he never had an All-NBA citation.

49 MAURICE STOKES (Rochester/Cincinnati Royals)
STATS: 202g – 16.4ppg, 17.3rpg, 5.3apg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (3), NBA All-Star (3), Rookie of the Year (1956), Hall of Famer
HITS: Despite playing for a mere 202 games, Stokes gained prominence because he was a seriously outstanding offense-defense player. While he lacked height, he was poised to give Neil Johnston, Dolph Schayes, and a young Bill Russell a slew of problems with his superb rebounding ability. Before Wilt Chamberlain entered, Stokes was the kid fans adored. After winning top rookie, he made the All-NBA and All-Star teams in all of his three seasons. He once grabbed 38 rebounds to average a high 16.3rpg in his rookie year. If he could move to the Sixers, Celtics, Knicks, or the Lakers, he will become a superstar.
MISSES: On March 12, 1958, Stokes drove to the basket and was knocked unconscious after receiving contact to his head. He was revived and he shrugged of the instance. Three days later, he fell ill, suffered a seizure, fell into a coma, and was left permanently paralyzed. He was diagnosed with “post-traumatic encephalopathy” which is a brain injury that damaged his motor-control center. He was 23 when it happened and he died in 1970 at age 36 despite his efforts to recover supported by former Hall of Famer, Jack Twyman. Had that head bump fail to happen, he could have been one of the best players seen by the league.

48 PAUL ARIZIN (Philadelphia Warriors)
STATS: 713g – 22.8ppg, 8.6rpg, 2.3apg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (4), NBA All-Star (10), All-Star MVP (1), NBA Champion (1), Hall of Famer
HITS: Before the Warriors headed out to California, the team first settled in Philadelphia. The team starred a one-two punch combo of Neil Johnston and this guy… Pitchin’ Paul! Undauntedly one of the biggest names in the 50’s, the Pennsylvania native played his entire NBA career with the Warriors. In his early years he played alongside Jumping Joe Fulks and before his retirement, he played with Hall of Famer Tom Gola and Wilt Chamberlain. He was extremely gifted offensively, as he would twice lead the league in scoring. In his NBA career that spanned almost 12 years (although he was absent for two years due to military service in Korea), he only scored under 20 points per game once and that was in his rookie year.
MISSES: Even if he was that generation’s LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, games back then lack the things current players enjoy. There was no 3-point area, no shot clock, and players then weren’t trained like players now. Also, Arizin could have been a force if he didn’t retire in 1962. Surely, with him and Chamberlain on board, the Warriors would have been insanely awesome. They could have at least prevented a championship or two from the Celtics’ grasp. The reason why Arizin retired? He loved Philly so much that when the Warriors left for San Francisco (later Oakland, then Golden State), Arizin didn’t join and simply retired. Come to think of it, Arizin lived and died in Pennsylvania.

47 WALT FRAZIER (New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers)
STATS: 825g – 18.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 6.1apg, 0.8spg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (6), NBA All-Star (7), All-Star MVP (1), NBA Champion (2), Hall of Famer
HITS: He is flamboyant, charismatic, and a loudmouth. Basically he’s a typical 70’s star. He would often arrive at the Madison Square Garden riding a Rolls Royce… wearing a mink coat… a broad-brimmed hat… basically he’ll wear what a modern day pimp would wear. On the court, he is a defensive mon-star. Sure, he could also score but his worth is seriously seen from his court smarts and wiliness. He would often “stage” a lazy act to all of a sudden swipe the ball as if like a blur. He is often associated as one of the all-best pointguards the NBA has ever produced.
MISSES: While he hardly did anything bad, Deron Williams and Chris Paul could stage a better career if they sustain their current state. Frazier’s number dropped when age sunk in. Injuries also caused his stint to somewhat get less than stellar. His Cleveland stint was played way past his prime.
EXTRA POINTS: He is nicknamed “Clyde”. It originated from the 1967 cops and robbers film Bonnie and Clyde. Warren Beatty’s character, Clyde Barrow, was a no-nonsense criminal who gained acclaim from his “Robin Hood-like” persona.

46 BOB MCADOO (Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers)
STATS: 852g – 22.1ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.3apg, 0.9spg, 1.3bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: MVP (1), All-NBA Team (2), NBA All-Star (5), Rookie of the Year (1973), NBA Champion (2), Hall of Famer
HITS: He was seen as a precursor to shooting big men like Dirk, Chris Webber, and Rasheed Wallace. While he played center-forward, he had no problems in scoring long range. His perimeter scoring made him an offensive menace to his adversaries. He was the league’s scoring champion in three consecutive seasons (1973-74 to 1975-76). He is the last NBA player to average 30 points and 15 rebounds in a season.
MISSES: McAdoo was a journeyman. He played for too many struggling teams that don’t have the confidence to stick with him. A reason for this is his injuries. While he did enjoyed success with the Lakers, he was the sixth man in the team. He did find a home in Europe, where he became an MVP and was named as one of the 50 important players of the Euroleague’s history.

45 TRACY MCGRADY (Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets)
STATS: 784g – 22.1ppg, 6.1rpg, 4.7apg, 1.3spg, 0.9bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (7)
HITS: He was once called the best High School Player in the US, he plays like a shooting guard but his size says otherwise. He owns long arms and insane athleticism that made him an instant hit among the fans. He is a major merchandizing magnet across the globe. As his career lengthens, so has his shooting touch. His style of play is often compared to George Gervin. He is a two-time scoring champion and he once scored 62 points against Washington in 2004.
MISSES: Okay, why is his rank this low? Well this could be easily answered by his two-year residence in Toronto as a second stringer. Now why is this rank any higher? Well T-Mac in his almost 13 years of NBA experience has yet to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Also he is often injured. He has yet to win any career-altering citations. And yeah, there’s a possibility that this rank will decrease if he plays injured anew.
EXTRA POINTS: Did you know that in 1997 Draft, former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause thought of trading Scottie Pippen to the Vancouver Grizzles for their draft pick which was the fourth pick overall? The deal didn’t push because Michael Jordan threatened to retire. Krause would opt to choose T-Mac pick had the trade happened. McGrady was picked ninth by Toronto while the fourth pick of Vancouver turned out to be Antonio Daniels.

44 DOMINIQUE WILKINS (Atlanta Hawks, LA Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic)
STATS: 1074g – 24.8ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (7), NBA All-Star (9)
HITS: A very, VERY explosive scorer, he could mash his way to the shaded area to a rim-rattling jam! This is the reason why Nique was dubbed as the Human Highlight Film. In his days with Atlanta, he never averaged less than 20 points with a high of 30.3ppg he obtained during the 1985-86 NBA Season. He is ninth in the list of all-time scorers as he basically gave the Atlanta fans something to cheer about in the 80’s. Actually, the world also cheered for him because the slam-dunk wars he had against Michael Jordan and Spud Webb which he won twice. While he was left off in the 50 Greatest Players List, he’ll likely headline the next ten for their 60th anniversary.
MISSES: The trade that sent him to the Clippers for Danny Manning was a bitter pill to swallow. Wilkins loved Hot-lanta. The Clippers had the distinction of taking early exits and winless campaigns. After that, he drifted from one league to another. He won championships in Europe but couldn’t get in to a title squad even if he will play backup to a player he’ll own in practice. Luckily Atlanta gave Wilkins an office job and retired his number… because that is his only consolation for them messing up his career.

43 PAUL PIERCE (Boston Celtics)
STATS: 813g – 22.9ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.9apg, 1.6spg
ACHIEVEMENTS: Finals MVP (1), All-NBA Team (4), NBA All-Star (7), NBA Champion (1)
HITS: Alongside Antoine Walker, the duo tried hard to relive the team’s glory days. But since Danny Ainge surfaced, Walker was traded, reacquired, and then traded again. In his career, The Truth suffered bouts of winless spells and various trade offers. Luckily with Ainge taking away Walker, Ainge gave him Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to power the Celtics to a championship. He is currently the Celtics’ third leading scorer behind Larry Bird and John Havlicek.
MISSES: Luckily for Ainge’s entry but it was impossible for Pierce to win a championship with the pieces he was previously given. Instead of making the superstars become his deputies, Pierce also succumb to the awesome glare that is The Big Ticket.

42 DWYANE WADE (Miami Heat)
STATS: 394g – 25.2ppg, 4.9rpg, 6.7apg, 1.8spg, 1.0bpg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (4), NBA All-Star (5), NBA Champion (1)
HITS: D-Wade came to a team where their leader was Lamar Odom (haha). Owning the starting spot, he quickly found stride… especially when he led the Heat to the second round of the 2004 Playoffs. When a blockbuster trade sent Shaquille O’Neal to the Heat, he basically gave Shaq a Kobe-less title (Shaq would name Wade “Flash”). He is a heavy-scoring threat with a knack for defense. He was a constant part of the US Team that had its downs before the “Redeem Team” re-captured the gold medal in Beijing.
MISSES: He has yet to capture glory without Shaq. While it is too early for people to say about Wade’s fate, he’ll likely end up as an NBA great… if he continues to play like how he’s been playing for at least seven years tops.

41 GEORGE MIKAN (Minneapolis Lakers)
STATS: 439g – 23.1ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.8apg
ACHIEVEMENTS: All-NBA Team (6), NBA All-Star (4), All-Star MVP (1), NBA Champion (5), Hall of Famer
HITS: He is the first main event of the league. Call him the Shaquille O’Neal of the 50’s. Because of his lengthy frame, he could score at will, especially in the inside. In terms of defense, he was unstoppable as well. Back then when goaltending was legal, Mikan would often swat the shots before it could pass the ball. Actually, he would often give the hardest of fouls and play against the stingiest of defenses.
MISSES: His career was too short. Had his career made the 1960’s, his fate would have been different. Fact is though, he is always injured. His height, while important in his dominance, never suited the 6’10, 245lb beanpole. As a boy he shattered his knee so badly that he had to rest if for approximately 18 months. This injury would still haunt him in his playing career.
EXTRA POINTS: Mikan participated in one of the league’s most notorious ball games. Mikan’s Lakers lost to the Fort Wayne Pistons after the Pistons led 19-18. During those times, the shot clock has yet to be invented so until the final buzzer the score was untouched. This was the lowest-scoring game in NBA history and it forced the league to institute the shot clock. As consolation, Mikan scored 83.3% of his team’s points (15 of the Lakers’ 18 points), setting a record that could never be broken.

So we are nearing the A-listers!

Who’ll make the list? You might see the Iceman, the Web guy, a King, a Doctor, a kid, a guy that loves to freeze… maybe you have the answers… you just don’t know it yet.

Until next time.

GAME OVER!

100 Best Careers in the NBA (2 of 5)

Last time, you saw the rules and how I calculated these players. Yes, I always take in consideration the intangibles like the rebounds and the assists more than the points. Scoring is easy if you are an NBA player. However, NBA players have the ability to disrupt other NBA players in making their baskets! Most of the players here are the types that can defend and disrupt the flow of the game to make it theirs.

Game starts now!

Missed the first part? Get it here at http://sydrified.blogspot.com/2009/08/100-best-careers-in-nba-part-1-of-5.html

The rules, guidelines, and other things you need to know why I made this article and why you could dispute this can be seen in this thread.

So I’ll stop talking now so you can see the things that I wrote.

80 Ray Allen: The guy’s game is easy to watch. While he doesn’t showboat as often, his shots are extremely accurate. The 2-time All-NBA member knows when to get his teammates involved and could read his opponents thoughts to change his tactic. The 9-time All-Star is a good person… to good that the only bad thing I can say about him is that he seems to be overshadowed by the rest of the league. Sure, playing in Milwaukee and Seattle… he was the star. But the evidence was seriously seen in Boston when even Rajon Rondo is stealing away his spotlight and Allen… just… lets him. And yeah, in He Got Game, he starred in the Spike Lee flick alongside Denzel Washington as Jesus Shuttlesworth. He is that good, nice, polite, and yes… good.

79 Bill Sharman: While he was the only major league player to get ejected despite not playing a single baseball game (as part of the Brooklyn Dodgers), alongside Bob Cousy, they were considered as one of the greatest backcourt duos of all time. As the team’s resident shooter, Boston won four championships during his stint. He was also a 7-time All-NBA member and an 8-time All-Star… where he was once cited as an All-Star MVP.

78 Adrian Dantley: A.D. is player that could surely pile up the points. Blessed with a trigger to torment, he entered the NBA with a gold medal around his neck (this came from the 1976 Montreal Olympics). He was then drafted by the Buffalo Braves where he became the batch’s top rookie. While he played most of his years with Utah, he was basically a superstar journeyman. The 2-time All-NBA player was also a 6-time All-Star and a 2-time scoring champion. He almost won a title but he was traded by Detroit to Dallas for Mark Aguirre… a season before the Pistons won a championship.

77 Shawn Marion: Before the Matrix bounced off from team to team, he alongside Stoudemire and Steve Nash comprise the Big Three of Phoenix. Despite his lack of size, he is blessed with the ability to become productive in both forward spots. At small forward, the 2-time All-NBA player can hit the three and overpower the competition. At power forward, brings quickness, range, and unmatched rebounding ability in this spot. Like I said, his first years were great. However, his current years say otherwise. He is in his fourth team in four years. I am not sure how he’ll shrug this slump but the Matrix needs to return to his superstar status if he doesn’t want to go to the route of Penny Hardaway.

76 Walt Bellamy: In 1962 he was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award. Why? How many players could average 31.6ppg in their rookie season (Wilt Chamberlain had more with 37.6ppg). Called Big Bell, this 4-time All-Star would register career averages of 20.1ppg and 13.7rpg, listing the Chicago Packers, Chicago Zephyrs, Baltimore Bullets, Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, and New Orleans Jazz as his teams. The problem with him was he unfortunately played in the league when the only big men capable to dominate were named Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. As consolation, he did win a gold medal in 1960 Rome Olympiad.

75 James Worthy: Big Game James is an awesome compliment for Magic Johnson. The “other” goggled guy (besides Kareem) frustrated a lot of foes with his finesse and wiliness. Who could ever forget his one hand fast break dunks which more or less came from his awesome defensive play! He was a key ingredient to Magic Johnson’s Showtime but he alone couldn’t bring the Lakers up top, which was evident during the early 90’s. When he retired, the former North Carolina Tar Heel owned 3 championships, won a Finals MVP Award, gaining two All-NBA citations, and starred in seven All-Star games.

74 Marques Johnson: This 5-time All-Star was the third pick overall in the 1977 Draft. He earlier led UCLA in winning the tenth and final championship of legendary coach John Wooden. Playing in the majors, he was a prolific small forward. Actually he was one of the first players to be hailed as a point-forward. He led Milwaukee to numerous division titles (when the team was still playing in the Western Conference) but he can’t seem to lead them to the NBA Finals. While you might not know him, you could have probably seen him act in such films like Wesley Snipes’ White Men Can’t Jump, Shaq and Nick Nolte’s Blue Chips, and Billy Crystal’s Forget Paris.

73 Gus Johnson: In an era where hoop stars have yet to evolve as above-the-rim players, Honeycomb was the exception to the rule. In the 60’s, this 6’6, 235-lb. power forward was a lethal scorer and a furious open court operator. He was also flamboyant, with a gold star drilled into his teeth as proof! Despite his incredible leaping ability (see Gus Johnson’s nail) the only achievements he could bring are his four All-NBA citations, five All-Star appearances, and the 1964 Rookie of the Year Award. Honeycomb was injury-prone especially in his career’s latter parts. This prompted Washington to release him before the 1972-73 NBA season after sticking with the team since 1964. He did win a championship – as an Indiana Pacer in the ABA.

72 Robert Parish: Despite NCAA’s refusal to recognize his existence (see Parish’s stint at Centenary), The Chief was hailed as one of the elite centers of all time. As part of the most dominating frontline of the 80’s, his offense and defense proved vital in making Boston 3-time champs. How did he get to Boston? The 2-time All-NBA player was given up by Golden State alongside its third pick of the 1980 Draft for the Celtics’ number one overall draft pick. The first pick turned out to be Joe Barry Carroll, one of the biggest busts in NBA history. The third pick? Well… it was Kevin McHale. While he did win another title with his stint with the Bulls, the 21-year vet’s average diminished when the 9-time All-Star stuck in the league (he also had a tenure with the Charlotte Hornets).

71 Tim Hardaway: Do you know what a UTEP-Two Step is? This is what broadcasters call Timmy H’s devastating crossover dribble! You can count a lot of flaws in his career (like failing to win a championship) but he made a lot of great things as well. At one point, he was considered the best point guard in the league. He was thrice included in a USA team but twice missed it. Dream 2 he missed due to injury and the 98’s world championships he missed because of the NBA lockout (but he was part of the 2000 Sydney Olympics). He played in five all-star games and was cited in the All-NBA Team five times (while playing for Golden State and Miami), and he is the second fastest player behind Oscar Robertson to get 5,000 points and 2,500 assists! At the end of his career, he was criticized for his discriminatory remarks against homosexuals (the John Amaechi story). He has since been a friend of the gay society.

70 Nate Thurmond: Why is he here? Well, he is the first player to record a quadruple double! While sure, unlike the 3 other players that accomplished the feat, Nate the Great acquired this with an extra five minutes… but back then, it was the first official recorded quadruple-double! Anyway, the 1964 Rookie of the Year played most of his career with the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors. His record 18 rebounds in one quarter remain unbreakable. He is known as an excellent dish man and was once hailed as one of the best screen setter in the league. While he twice had 20 points and 20 rebounds seasons, the 7-time All-Star never got a ring. He also failed to win an All-NBA citation despite his skills because he played in a position where Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominated.

69 Yao Ming: In the 70’s, a pure Asian NBA player is like a South American jiu-jitsu master – it can happen… but no. Then Wang Zhizhi graced the spotlight… followed by Bateer Mengke… but these guys are barely token players. Chairman Yao is basically the most important basketball player in Asia. His entry got Asia to love hoops. Since his entry, Asian countries evolved. Anyway, he entered the league as a top pick, but the 3-time FIBA-Asia MVP isn’t really heralded as a top find. With Steve Francis leading Houston, Yao barely gets touches. But in the course of his career, he gradually improved to the point of being a massive superstar. He is an All-NBA member five times and is a 7-time All-Star. He is an active player which means his stats could evolve but sadly, he is currently sidelined with the fear of early retirement.

68 Alex English: After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left Milwaukee, the Bucks pinned their hopes on this young talented player from USC. Milwaukee found no use for this small forward and was sent to the Pacers where he saw his potential. However it was in Denver where he became an offensive powerhouse. His game is described as smooth and elegant. He is not a banger, he had his moments through his finesse. Before Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets to their first Western Finals in a very, very long while, English was getting the team division titles and scoring accomplishments. In fact, he is the first player to string eight 2,000-point seasons. Yes, if you see the Denver colors in the 80’s his Number 2 is bar none one of the more popular jerseys of that era. However, like Dominique Wilkins, this 3-time All-NBA team member and 9-time All-Star drifted out of the spotlight when he was cast away from the Nuggets.

67 Dwight Howard: Stand back! Here comes the Daily Double! He is a 3-time NBA All-Star and a 3-time All-NBA member. Despite his still short stint in the majors, the Atlanta native is prepping up to one of the league’s most important players. When he was picked first, critics feared the worse on whether he’ll be a high schooler top pick a la LeBron James or a high schooler top pick a la Kwame Brown. Luckily, he was neither (but more of the LBJ success story). He is the youngest player to average a double-double in a season (he did this during his rookie year). Actually, he averaged in double-doubles every season since his NBA debut. He is the youngest player to lead the league in rebounds and blocks. He also led the Magic to their first NBA Finals… win (as the Shaq-led Magic was swept by the Houston Rockets during their first final stint). Barely 25, he’ll likely be the NBA’s future as well as the US Team’s future where he recently got a gold medal in the Beijing Games.

66 Mitch Richmond: During his prime, this 5-time All-NBA selection and 6-time All-Star is said to be one of the league’s all-time best pure shooters. After his stint with Golden State where he was one of three players scoring in 20 points and more (and was awarded Top Rookie in 1989), he was traded to Sacramento in a move that left the Warriors with… Billy Owens (Ugh). Everywhere Richmond went, his arsenal from the arc is often booming. Every team he went that is not Golden State or the LA Lakers (where he was merely a benchwarmer), were perennial doormats. When he went to a great team, he was just a seldom used guy (Richmond was the last player to hold the ball in the 2002 championship where he logged only 4 minutes in that series), and immediately retired after claiming a ring.

65 Dave Bing: He was the first well-known point guard in the NBA to have a scoring mentality. While he was effective in orchestrating, he will shoot at will when he reads the situation well, which was unusual for point guards at that time. He was well-loved by the Pistons and decades after his retirement the 7-time All-Star became the mayor of Detroit. But it seems life without Detroit was his kryptonite. When he left the Pistons his numbers sagged. While he finished his career averaging always in double digits, it was nowhere near what he had while playing for the Pistons. Also, he was one of those players that never had a taste of victory. Actually, I think he has yet to play in the NBA Finals. When he left the Bullets for the Celtics in his last season, Washington won the title despite owning a dismal 38-44 record. He was also a 3-time All-NBA player, the 1967 Rookie of the Year and the 1976 All-Star MVP.

64 Pete Maravich: In the NCAA, Pistol Pete saw action at LSU, the same college that Shaq played in. Despite not playing in his freshman year and without the benefit of the 3-point area (it has yet to be invented), Maravich averaged 44.2 in his collegiate career. He was a premiere scoring powerhouse that also translated in the NBA. He played ten years in the NBA with pit stops in Atlanta, New Orleans/Utah, and Boston. He is a 4-time All-NBA player and a 5-time All-Star. While fans love his dazzling plays, critics smear some of his antics. He is called a ball hog and his game cannot translate to a finals berth. He is often injury-prone and it is his alcohol addiction that forced his game to stagger which ultimately led to his early retirement at age 33.

63 Kevin Johnson: Are you aware that Kevin Johnson is the first Afro-American and current mayor of Sacramento, California? Anyway he started his NBA career with Cleveland in 1987 where he was seen as the person to take the starting spot away from Mark Price. Well, Price became the team’s heart and soul and KJ was sent to Phoenix. As a Sun, he saw his career skyrocket! He is a 3-time All-Star and a 5-time All-NBA Player. He is the first player to average 20 points, 10 assists, .500 FG percentage, and 2 steals in a season (Chris Paul would follow suit). He is also one of three players to average 20 points and 10 assists in three consecutive seasons (Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas are the other two). In short, he can score and dish out a high number of assists every game! He almost won a ring if not for the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 Finals.

62 Nate Archibald: A playground legend that could kill an opponent’s defense by passing the ball, shooting the treys, and penetrating to the basket, Tiny’s bread and butter is his blinding speed and quickness. Archibald was the only player to win the scoring and assists title in the same season. Injuries and age however resulted for his average to dwindle. Even while being part of the 1981 Boston championship team, his numbers have been dwindling. This was the key for the Celtics to look for a replacement during the Boston-LA era. The 6-time All-Star finished his career though with the Bucks, that back then was a force in the Eastern Division. But still, he is a force despite his size. He became the All-Star MVP while playing for the Celtics and he is a five-time All-NBA member.

61 Neil Johnston: He had a brief career. But in the 50’s he was the one of the dominating names in the hardwood. For eight seasons from 1951 to 1959, the 6-foot-8 Johnston was a “towering” force in the center spot. Well, Bill Russell appeared midway in the 50’s and George Mikan retired in the mid 50’s but Johnston basically played the rest of the era. He led the league in scoring thrice, was an All-NBA selection five times and was an All-Star six times. He also grabbed a rebounding title and alongside Paul Arizin and Tom Gola, they gave the city of Philadelphia a championship in 1956 (this is the Philadelphia Warriors, which were the predecessors of the Golden State Warriors). While could have played more, a serious knee injury forced Johnston to retire before the turn of the era. While people in this generation don’t know him, don’t underestimate his power… especially his ability to sink an always sure-ball right handed hook shot.

In the third installment you’ll finally get a glimpse of the MVP’s. At this point, the HIT or MISS factors will take place. “Hit” means why he is in the rankings and “Miss” meaning why they are ranked lower than what you think they should be in.

Until next time…

Game over.

Next Page »