The Matrix and AK47

Ahhh… trade request, there’s nothing better to break a dull September than a millionaire professional crying for a trade. Andrei Kirilenko and Shawn Marion have gone public with their desires to change teams before the start of this upcoming season

You all know my stand of this type of request, but I can understand until certain point that a player wants out of a loosing team or a poor management situation. I can understand Jermaine O’neal, I can understand Kobe Bryant. But guys like Kirilenko and Marion whose teams have become contenders and the last three Western Conference finals have featured either of those teams. These are great teams, great organizations filled with a lot of leadership, players would kill small children and kittens to have a chance to play for teams like these.

Why are the looking to get out you may ask? Let's start with Kirilenko

Big money is obviously good, but I am prepared to make less. The size of my salary doesn't mean that much for me. The main thing is to play with a spark.

This ESPN article also reads:

He said he doesn't want to be a "robot" in Sloan's system. He longs to play in Europe, where he can be the man. Except he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Unfortunately for him, neither is Sloan.

Look, Andrei, I know that the basketball level at Europe it’s great and everything. But if you want to be a MVP or a cornerstone from some franchise in the NBA, you better start working on you offensive game and develop some leadership qualities. And you need to play at that level for some 100 games, not just an short tournament but an entire NBA season with a deep playoff run included. Now go, become that player and then you can enjoy that spark with some other team.

What about Shawn “The Matrix” Marion? Dude you are playing with the best point guard in the business and a top three center. You are in the verge of a championship. You are earning like $16 million this year. You are a four time All Star. And yet, stuff like this crosses you mind:

His delicate psyche is never far from the coaching staff's collective mind. On the one hand, Marion is outwardly confident, cocky even, buying into that wonderful nickname, Matrix, given to him by TNT commentator Kenny Smith early in Marion's rookie year. The special-effects-driven movie was hot then, and "Matrix" was perfect for a player with an uncanny ability to suddenly materialize in the middle of a play (Marion seems to come from nowhere when he makes a steal, grabs a rebound or makes a quick cut to the basket) and leap from a standing start as if he's on a trampoline.

Sometimes Marion refers to himself as the Matrix, as if he has bought into the idea that he is a superhero who defies normal physical laws. His teammates call him "Trix."

On the other hand, Marion lives in a perpetual state of fear that he is being overlooked, underrespected, ignored, dissed, persecuted, singled out, patronized, whatever."

Number one, go see a shrink. Pronto. Number two, learn to dribble the ball. Number three, think Shawn, just think. The Suns championship is bound to happen, maybe this year maybe next but it will happen, unless Nash gets kidnapped or Gregg Popovich steals Mike Miller, Gerald Wallace and Dwight Howard. Just take the money for this two years, let Steve do his thing and give all of you that ring and then, ride to the sunset and go play for some other team. Trust me.

Greg Oden is not a rookie this year

There’s absolutely nothing I can say about Oden’s injury that it hasn’t been told already by a better blogger. It is shame I feel sorry for Portland’s fans, I’m not going to say they deserved a huge star, because they haven’t suffer enough. All the Jail Blazers stage wasn’t the like the Basketball Gods are plotting against them, when you sign guys like Isaiah Rider and Rasheed Wallace, well you kinda are asking for it.

Sam Bowie and Bill Walton, yes, they were unlucky with those two, but there are a lot of things that drafted or sign players only to see them head the injury list year after year.Grant Hill in Orlando, Jason Williams in Chicago, Bryant Reeves in Vancouver, there are plenty of cases.

2000 Western Conference Finals, we all know what happened there, but again tons of teams have been there, that’s the NBA. Sacramento collapsed against the same Lakers two years after that, Dallas had collapsed twice in the last two post-seasons, the Lakers finally did it against the Pistons at the Finals in 2004, and the list goes on and on.

My point is, Portland is not jinxed, Boston was. Portland knew who were they picking. The Basketball’s Gods do not hate Portland, they just have the same bad luck almost everybody have had

Darko is Free. English Translation

Darko is not a nice person; I can say that right now without any fear of being wrong. A person that talks like that has to have some serious issues, especially after a basketball game. I didn’t find any English translation of Darko’s “speech”, so I translate one spanish translation I found. As I don’t want blogger to close this thing I’m replacing some “adult” words with some more family like words I think SNL did this in a sketch, I’m not really sure

The “F” word will be replaced by pony. Princess will replace prostitute – he actually didn’t said prostitute he said a more rude word- and Twinkle will replace penis - same thing here -I can write “shit”, right?.

This is Darko’s finest hour:

Innocent Reporter: Darko, some impressions…

Insane Darko: Nothing. Those three pieces of shit, all of them, three sons of ponies, they stole us. They think they are great deal. I’ll go up and pony their mothers. Pony their princess Italian mother

Scared Reporter: Darko, calm down. I understand you are disgusted

Mad Darko: Pony! Those three can suck my twinkle, write that down

"Dear God, what I have done" Reporter: Calm down!

Pervert Darko: Pony! They officiated like scare princess. I’ll pony their mother … and if they have daughters, I’ll pony them too

Reporter (something something)

Weak Darko: We were out there working and fighting. I almost needed some IV serum

Los Dioses en España

This is my first September as an NBA blogger, I’ve to say it sucks! Since the All - Time teams posts I have had nothing big or important to write about, event the All – Time teams posts weren’t any news. But we have international basketball to save the day. Chris Sheridan was shipped to Spain to cover the Eurobasket tournament and he brought plenty of notes. All of the NBA-ers out there, Marco Belinelli's being the surprise, if Nellie stops fighting with yet another employer, he might get the chance of coach his finding.

By far, the coolest thing that have happened on the other side of the Atlantic (or Pacific… I don’t know) is Darko´s rant against the referee, but I will address this little topic with a post of its own.

What the hell is this? Oden is having an exploratory arthroscopic procedure ¡! A ‘right, it’s out, this guy is really 40, , two intervened joints and his nowhere near 20 years old. Amazing. If you are like me and don’t know what in the name of Britney's belly is this, here's a gross video that explains it. You can go puke now

My condolescence to Britney’s fans' families, I’m sure they all die this Sunday. Go ahead, go puke again.

Linkin Friday 6

Damn, even linkin friday it's going to be slow this week...


Use Hot Girls as your wallpaper


A very uplifting video. Wear Sunscreen


At Cavalier attitude, they are not happy with their team


Jeff, at CelticsBlog, it's a little bitter these day



NBA TV is airing today a special feature about Phil Jackson, to "celebrate this Hall of Famer’s playing and coaching career", I'm not sure if Andrew Bynum will be watching



5min is a great site, it's full with how to videos



Nice prank with a thong

Khalid Reeves is in Costa Rica

I have some "news" for you all. Remember Khalid Reeves? He played for Miami and Dallas, among other teams, in the second part of the 90's. He was traded like 17 times. Anyhow, the 35 year old point guard is now going to play for Saprissa basketball, one of the main teams of the very bad Costa Rican professional basketball league. As soon as I get my hands on a link I'll post it here.


Remember my ramblings about the comparisons between the current USA basketball team and the Dream Team? This is a real inside approach, love this note by Chris Sheridan. They hit a very good the point saying that this team is far more athletic than the 92 team, but still doesn't have quite the same aura. Although aura doesn't make a great team, it was part of that 1992 Olympic team, no matter if you were sitting behind the bench or watching the games miles and miles away, you must had feel it!



What is missing from this team? Duncan? KG ? Shaq? Lebron, Carmelo and Wade becoming bigger names? Whatever it is, we could definitely witness something special in Beijing next year, as a basketball fan I love to see a team that we could really compared with the Dream Team maintaining a straight face in the process.

I'm bored

My god, there's absolutely nothing to post about. Among USA Basketball and the soldier Yi improbable signing with the Bucks there's nothing to write about.

Why not give USA basketball a post? Well, they were supposed to win it all, I know that with the USA basketball recent history that wasn't a given, but they brought their A team, Argentina didn't and for me in this continent only Argentina could harm a good USA basketball TEAM (not a bunch of guys playing with the same jersey, a TEAM).

I'm happy they won and everything, but let's no call them a Dream Team just yet, although I'm impress with Lebron's shooting touch

NBA has opened Fantasy comissioner. A little earlier than usual, just to prove you that there's nothing happening



CNNsi writers did an evaluation of each team preseason. It's a good reading.
Pacific | Central | Atlantic | Northwest | Southeast




This was for linkin friday, but it's just too good (and there's nothing else). 11 guys you meet in pickup basketball at basketbawful.

Linkin Friday V

A weird online game, never got it but it's huge at the office



For those of you who likes cool pictures,you must take a look to these sites: DamnCoolPics, CoolBuddy and Bernd Nies' site

For every Simpsons fan this is coolest thing ever. You'll need a good and big picture of your face

We are not alone, well maybe we are, but we are creative as hell. Maybe after we died we can come back and scare the living shit out of everybody, so they don't have to make cool videos of UFOs to add some mistery to our lives.

Chuck Norris Rules, not always, like when he has a kid telling everybody stuff like this.

Skip to My Next Charge

The Basketball Gods have command me to write something even though they are not making anything happen. But I have something, Rafer Alston is insane, this guy belongs to the’96 Draft Class, in a couple weeks he was arrested twice. First he was charged with “misdemeanor assault and public intoxication in Houston” and now he decided to stab a man in New York. I wonder how this works in the whole-exultation-of-capturing-glory scheme.

Boston signed somebody without a thirst for a ring in James Posey, he just has a good old thirst for money. He wore his ring in the press conference; I guess it's intended to inspire his new teammates, that or to scare small children and to depress KG

Kevin Martin got big money, wonder when we will demand a trade

USA Basketball is blowing away everybody, I was thinking of making some type of relation with the ’92 Dream Team, but at Need4Sheed.com already did that. That's way they are who they are.

Dog Fighting is a sport

Oh dear God! Is this guy ever going to stop doing this? It never stops. Unbelievable

Let’s play a game, let’s be Stephon for a second or two: We think we are the best point guard in the game; Jason Kidd is not from New York so he doesn’t count and Nash is not even American, we are sure the second best point guard in the game is Sebastian Telfair; he’s just waiting for this break. Although we are the Basketball God’s gift to humankind we don’t know the difference between a dime and an assist, what normal people don’t know is that's the thing the makes us Starbury, nobody can average dimes and assists in a single season. Suckers!

We have a great talk show, but just in case the competition gets to hard, we go to other talk shows and give crappy interviews with monologues that have absolutely no sense, that way we have the only quality show.

Our family rocks, we love to call our wife our “better ho”. Sometimes when we are not giving away snickers, and criticizing those who don’t, we love to spend some quality time with our family, doing some nice and fulfilling activities, like setting up a dog fight in our backyard, because it is a sport. Those are some strong values, god bless Stephon Marbury!

Down the road, in a couple of years, when we finish screwing the Knicks, we are moving to Italy and teach everybody how real basketball is played. Of course is going to be a media frenzy, they are going to ask us and our better ho to start a reality show, and write some books about fashion. We will have to attend to a bunch of parties in our honor, thrown by people like Isabella Rosellini, Monica Belluci, Roberto Benigni and Tony Danza. Our first basket is going to crash the Internet and they are going to ask us to fix it, of course we will, don’t worry.

When we retire, basketball as a sport is going to be cancelled around the globe, but we and Michael Vick, as a entrepreneurs we are, we are going to create and World DogFighting League , is going to be great. At the end of time, I’m going to have more money than Kevin Garnett, it's what's fair.



Back to being you and me, FUCK YOU, Marbury. If you think electrocuting and drowning dogs it’s a sport, you are even more fucked up and stupid that I ever thought.


Man, that was therapeutic.


US Basketball team played pretty good yesterday, so far so good!

On a sad note, Eddie Griffin died last week when his USV crashed against a train. Here's a point I’ve always defended, there are kids out there that only play basketball because they know they could be rich before 22, and they sit behind their potential and never learn the love of the game, the value of money or the basics values that build a society. There are nice kids with lots of talents, thank God for them. But for cases like Griffin, who clearly wasn’t ready for the NBA, he wasn’t even ready for real life. Force this kids to go to college for a couple of years, let them grow there, not only as a bastketball player but also as a person. I'm not blaming the NBA or Setton Hall perhaps Eddie Griffin's problems couldn't be fixed with more college time, but we might save the next Griffin.



My condolences to the family.

All-Time Teams: Coaches

Every great team needs a great coach, so when can leave our teams without a coach. You know it was coming! First of all, all the coache's stats, I took them from here

First Team Coach: Phil Jackson

Regular Season Record: 919 – 939 (.700)
Playoff Record: 179 – 77 (.699)
9 Titles: 1991 – 1993, 1996- 1998, 2000 -2002

Every shot against Phil Jackson is based on the argument that he can’t win unless he's coaching the best players have the best players, well if we give him the 1^st All Time team, what do you think it would happen?

Second Team Coach: Pat Riley

Regular Season Record: 1182 – 618 (.657)
Playoff Record: 171 – 111 (.606)
5 Titles: 1982, 1985,1987,1988,2006

I’m not a fan of Pat Riley, but you have to give credit where credit’s due. This guy can turn a good team into an inmediate contender, he got a way to squeeze the best of a team, not only of every individual, of the entire team as a unit. There’s lot of squeezing to do in the 2^nd team

Third Team Coach: Red Auerbach

Regular Season Record: 938 – 479 (.662)
Playoff Record: 99 – 69 (.589)
9 Titles: (1957, 1959 – 1966)

Red Auerbach coaching a team where no Celtic plays? I didn’t think so either, that’s way I didn’t put him in front of the second team. This guy knew so much about basketball, about his players and the other team players that he resembled more a betting Donaghy type of guy instead of a coach. He won eight straight titles, against teams like the Lakers, Sixers and Knicks of the 60’s, different eras my ass, I want to see somebody achieving that in any era.

And no, I’m not doing assistant coaches, trainers, mop boys and/or video coordinators. It’s over, let it go, It's over.

All-Time Teams: Bench Warmers

“There’s nothing cooler than having legends as bench warmers”

I think that quote from Morgan resumes the direction of this post. I’ve told to complete the All Time teams with the 11^th and 12^th man in the rotation. This post follows the logic of the discussion post, as is not about the better player left but the best player for the given team.

Let’s get straight to business. I’m violating the main rule of this set of post, because I feel one of the greatest power forwards was cut from the “PFs” list by Morgan; and now I’ve the chance of making things right. That’s why I’m selecting Elvin Hayes as the 11^th player of the roster.

Hayes was a great rebounder and shot blocker, with a leaping ability that would made a young Shawn Kemp jealous. The downside, his ego would fight with Malone’s ego on daily basis, but we have enough leadership in the first team to cool things down. The last place belongs to one of the greatest and more clutch players of all time: Reggie Miller. Just imagine Duncan passing from a double team to either an open Reggie Miller in one corner or an open Larry Bird in the other. That’s magical.

I couldn’t explain you why I feel the second team needs a defensive boost, maybe it’s because I want to put the finishing touches in one the greatest defensive teams ever assembled. Dave DeBusschere and Dennis Rodman are my choices for the Second Team. They both are blue collar guys, premier defenders, and very smart guys, yes, Rodman too. The fact that he was crazy doesn't take anything away from him basketball-wise

The third team is going to be the only All Team to have the feared three headed monster in the middle, as I’m picking Moses Malone as one of the “bench warmers”. If your are in your twenty’s you remember him as the fat, slow center in a Spurs uniform, but he was in fact , at his heydays, a very agile player with a urge for rebounds, think in a far more offensive Dwight Howard. The final legend to be selected is Pete Maravich, he’s a prefect fit for this team; a fast, high scoring and flashy player, it’s like I planned all along!

Discussion 2: Three All Time Teams.

The topic of next discussion post is something I’ve think about for awhile and actually had the idea from the Baseball’s Dream Team piece that CNSS did. I noticed last week that they did one for the NBA. Those bastards, they stole my idea that I copied it from them in the first place. We are going to try to put together 3 All – Time Teams, not only taking in consideration their stats or good each player was, but also thinking in what their bring to the team, what’s their strong facet, chemistry issues, if the legend wants to come from the bench, etc, etc. We are going to try to build a team ala “Colangelo – Coach K”, but with stars, no role players.

For this discussion post, we are going to make a little tweak to the rules; I’m trying to make the “discussion” a little less chaotic than the last one. There’s going to be subjects to discuss, instead of letting this subjects come to us, for example we are going to work with a list of 6 players per position, instead of thinking about this players on the spot. This gives us time for prepare our statements, and hopefully creating an more “readable” post.

I’m putting each list, discuss the list, assign a team and move to the next position. I’m including stats and rings, I’m not putting awards ‘cause we all know that’s very open to interpretation (Malone in 99?)

Rusty is going to select the Centers, the PFs. Yours truly is going to select the PGs, the SFs and the SGs

Centers:

Bill Russell (1957 – 1969)

15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 42.3 MPG

11 Titles: 1957, 1959 – 1966, 1968, 1969

Wilt Chamberlain (1960-1973):

30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 45.8 MPG, .540 FG%

2 Titles: 1967, 1972

Kareem Abdul Jabbar (1970 – 1989)

24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 3.6 APG, .559 FG%

6 Titles: 1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988

Hakeem Olajuwon (1985-2002):

21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG, .512 FG%

2 Titles: 1994, 1995

David Robinson (1990 – 2003):

21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.0 BPG, .518 FG%

2 Titles: 1999, 2003

Shaquille O’Neal (1993 – Present)

25.9 PPG, 11.6 RPG. 2.5 BPG, .580 FG%

4 Titles: 2000- 02, 2006

Morgan: Rusty, it’s all yours.

Rusty: Thanks. We promised to look beyond the stats, and that is way I’m cutting Wilt from the first team, his career was filled with retiring treats and egomaniac stuff. Said that, I’m selecting Bill Russell as my starting center for the first Team.

Morgan: You can’t cut Wilt the Stilt. He’s the greatest scorer the game has seen. You supposed to look beyond the stats, but no ignored them

Rusty: He focused too much on stats, only 2 titles with the kind of stats!. Something was wrong

Morgan: Nothing was wrong. Russell and the Celtics were just too good. I do agree in your selecting of Russell as the starting center. For the backup I’ll say either Kareem or Hakeem.

Rusty: I agree half way, Russell doesn’t bring too much to the table offensively so we need somebody who can score and can dominate inside. Every player on that list can do that, but I feel Kareem is the more versatile.

Morgan: Hakeem would need fewer touches

Rusty: So? Are touches an issue?

Morgan: I’m just saying, we need to think about it

Rusty: Ok, you are right. We should stay away of players like McHale or Kobe, who need lots of touches to be effective. But let the coach figure out the offensive scheme

Morgan: Fine, fine. Second team?

Rusty: Hakeem First. Wilt Second

Morgan: Do you think Chamberlain is going to agree to come from the bench?

Rusty: If he doesn’t like it, he can walk. We have Hakeem waiting on the sidelines.

Morgan: It would kill you give him the starting notch?

Rusty: Fine. I’m starting Wilt. But I’m changing Hakeem for Shaq. I like the idea of those two together

Morgan: Me too. I think is easier talking Shaq into accept a backup role than Wilt. Dream starting for the 3^rd team?

Rusty: Yes, sir.

Point Guards

Bob Cousy (1951 – 1963, 1970)

18.4 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.7 RPG

6 Titles: 1957, 1959 – 1963

Oscar Robertson (1961- 1974)

25.7 PPG, 9.5 APG, 7.5 APG, 42.2 MPG, .485 FG%, .838 FT%

1 Title: 1971

Walt Frazier (1968 – 1980)

18.9 PPG, 6.1 APG, 5.9 RPG, 37.5 MPG

2 Titles: 1970, 1973

Magic Johnson (1980 – 1991, 1996)

19.5 PPG, 11.2 APG, 7.2 RPG, .520 FG%, .848 FT%

5 Titles: 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988

John Stockton (1985 -2003)

13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 spg, .515 FG%, .826 FT%

0 Titles

Jason Kidd (1995 – Present)

14.5 PPG, 9.2 APG, 6.7 RPG, 2.0 spg, 37.4 MPG,

0 titles

Note: I’m leaving Isaiah out of this list, ‘cause there’s a little too much controversy with this guy, he couldn’t play with MJ, Stockton, Malone, Duncan (Popovich/Bowen stuff). Besides, we have to blame him for the current state of the Knicks

Morgan: Magic Johnson, there’s nothing to say here against this guy. He’s one of the best all time, no matter position, time or dimension. For the backup of the first team I’m selecting John Stockton: He’s a quiet guy and highly effective player. Perfect for a backup rule

Rusty: Congrats for an easy selection, Morgan. But you dropped the ball with the backup; Oscar Robertson is perhaps the most complete point guard of all time. I love John Stockton, he was a great shooter and a brilliant player, but Robertson is in a higher level.

Morgan: We need shooters

Rusty: Magic was a decent shooter. We know Michael Jordan and Larry Bird are going to be in the first team, there are enough shooters.

Morgan: Big O was as complete as a player can get, but also Magic. Besides, Stockton was a better defender, at least a smarter one

Rusty: He had better number defensively, remember you rule Morgan: look beyond the numbers. Stockton was only 6”1’. Robertson was 6”5’. You can have a team with 6”5’ and 6”9’ point guards. That’s very versatile.

Morgan: Point Taken. I’m switching to Big O as the 1^st team backup. For the second team, now I’m giving John Stockton the start and give me Walt Frazier to be the backup

Rusty: If I were you, I would switch that. Frazier was an unbelievable defender, Stockton was a good one. Both were good passers and winners, but I give Frazier a notch over Stockton

Morgan: In the second team we have Shaq and Wilt to open the court We need shooters more the scorers

Rusty: You and your shooters. I’ll let you have this one, besides we are arguing about playing time. Let the coach worry about that.

Morgan: Another victory for me! For the 3^rd team, I’m starting Kidd, using Cousy as a backup. I know very little about Cousy, but for what I can see Kidd is more complete

Rusty: You are right, no matter how much we get to know about Bob Cousy, Jason Kidd ranks as one of the most complete point guards up there with Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson.

Power Forwards

Bob Petit (1955 – 1965)

26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 38.8 MPG

1 Title: 1958

Kevin McHale (1981 -1993)

17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, .554 FG%

3 Titles: 1981, 1984, 1986

Charles Barkley (1985 – 2000)

22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, .541 FG%

0 Titles

Karl Malone (1986 -2004)

25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 37.2 MPG, .516 FG%

0 Titles

Kevin Garnett (1996 – Present)

20.5 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.5 APG, 38.3 MPG

0 Titles

Tim Duncan (1998 - Present)

21.8 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 37.5 MPG

4 Titles: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007

Rusty: Tim Duncan, right now he’s at his prime, he still have 2 to 3 years left playing at this level. His accolades will only increase with time. He’s the Bill Russell of this generation with a bigger offensive repertoire. He will be perfect playing alongside Russell. For the backup, I’m a little torn between Malone’s offensive prowess and Garnett versatility.

Morgan: Lot’s of big words! Nice choice with Duncan, I would go with Pettit for the backup, he was as good as a scorer as Malone and he was a better rebounder. KG might be a nice pick; he can work in any scheme and with Duncan and Russell we would have the foundations for an amazing defensive team.

Rusty: Garnett sounds like the logical choice, but I don’t feel he deserved it, not yet.

Morgan: What’s that have to do with anything?

Rusty: This are the all time teams, right?

Morgan: Yeah, so?

Rusty: We are talking about legends here. I still feel that KG needs to prove he can win, at least one Finals appearance

Morgan: Whatever, man. It’s your choice…

Rusty: We need a “bodyguard”, we need a tough guy. Malone it is

Morgan: Are you calling KG weak?

Rusty: Don’t drag this, Morgan. To answer your question: Yes, I am. Starting for the second team I’m picking Charles Barkley and Garnett as his backup. With Chamberlain and Shaquille already selected I think Barkley’s size wouldn’t be a problem. Besides, outside Wilt and Russell he’s the better rebounder on the list.

Morgan: I like those picks. I’m guessing Pettit to start for the 3^rd team and McHale as a backup

Rusty: Again, you are right, sir.

Small Forwards

Elgin Baylor (1959 – 1972)

27.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 40,0 MPG

0 Titles

John Havlicek (1963 - 1978)

20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, .815 FT%

8 Titles: 1962 – 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976

Rick Barry NBA: (1966, 1967, 1973 – 1980) ABA: (1969 – 1972)

24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.0 spg, 37.4 MPG, .893 FT%

1 ABA Title: 1969

1 NBA Title: 1975

Larry Bird (1980 – 1992)

24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 38.4 MPG, .376 3P%, .886 FT%, .496 FG%

3 Titles: 1981, 1984, 1986

James Worthy (1983 – 1994)

17.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, .521 FG%

3 Titles: 1985, 1987, 1988

Scottie Pippen (1988 – 2004)

16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 spg

6 Titles: 1991-1993, 1996-1998

Morgan: The only easy part of this position is selecting Larry Bird as the starting small forward for the 1^st team, after that it’s all fucked up! This has to be one the hardest positions to choose. Every player is so versatile, so we have to choose between a defensive specialist and an offensive machine. I’m leaning towards Rick Barry but I feel I’m missing something in letting go a defensive player like Havlicek or Pippen.

Rusty: Nice list indeed. If you look the players selected so far for the first team we still don’t have a perimeter defender and neither of those big guys can go outside and defend a wing player. I would select either Scottie Pippen or John Havlicek.

Morgan: Rick Barry is perhaps the second best small forward after Larry Bird. He was an impressive scorer and pretty good ball handler; he was the first “point – forward”.

Rusty: Ball Movement is a good issue to address here. The shooting guard is going to be a scorer and this team needs another player, besides the point guards, that moves the ball around and outside – inside. Duncan and Malone are great passers out of double team; it will be nice to having somebody to make that extra pass, besides the selected Bird.

Morgan: We know MJ is going to be in this team. We also have Malone, Kareem and Bird; I think we have the offense well covered. So, as hard as this is because I think Barry is the best small forward remaining, I’m selecting my personal favorite Scottie Pippen as Bird’s backup.

The second team is getting almost the same quality at small forward as the first team: Barry as the starter and Havlicek coming from the bench

Rusty: So, you selected Pippen instead of John Havlicek because of personal favoritisms?

Morgan: Yeap

Rusty: How unprofessional!

Morgan: I’m a blogger, pay me. Although I’ll still select Scottie, I’ll give you some “professional” reasons. Do you like the selections for the second team?

Rusty: No, I don’t like them. I think this team isn’t as strong offensively as the first one so, I would select Baylor as the backup. As I told you “off-camera”, Baylor for me was a power forward, I know you did your homework and found reasons to put him in the small forward list. But seeing the “roster” for the 2^nd team Baylor matches here like a charm. The backup power forward is Kevin Garnett and he can easily move to the 3 and Baylor to the 4 is the situation requires the transition.

Morgan: Damn you, Rusty. Ok, the second team’s small forwards are Rick Barry and Elgin Baylor

Rusy: Thata boy!

Morgan: So, I finally get to select Havlicek. I’m not sure where to put him, because I get the feeling the third team is going to be running up and down, so I might get tempted to start James Worthy, but Havlicek’s talent tell me to start him

Rusty: You are right in one thing, that team is going to run. You know the style of play of a team is set to the quality of the point guards. Cousy and Kidd would not work in a half court scheme. Robinson and Olajuwon could run the floor with these guys and Pettit was a skinny guy who would be happy running the floor, I don’t see any problem with this team running. But, you still need some serious offense and Havlicek was a better offensive player than Worthy, and a better defensive player. Don’t get confuse here, Morgan. You are not going to select Shawn Marion over Larry Bird just because of a fast paced scheme

Morgan: You are right, I’m very sorry; I’ll go back to my hole now. Damn it, whose selection was it? I feel robbed

Rusty: Make smarter selections and I won’t correct them

Shooting Guards

Jerry West (1961 – 1974)

27.0 PPG, 6.7 APG, 2.7 spg, 39.2 MPG

1 Title: 1972

Julius Erving ABA: (1972 – 1976) NBA: (1977 - 1987)

24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG, .506 FG%

2 ABA Titles: 1974, 1975

1 NBA Title: 1983

George Gervin ABA: (1973 – 1976) NBA: (1977 – 1986)

25.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, .504 FG%, .841FT%

0 Titles

Clyde Drexler (1984 – 1998)

20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 2.0 spg

1 Title: 1995

Michael Jordan (1985 – 1993, 1995 – 1998, 2002, 2003)

30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2,3 spg, .497 FG%, .835 FT%

6 Titles: 1991-1993, 1996-1998

Kobe Bryant (1997 – Present)

24.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 36.2 MPG, .838 FT%

3 Titles: 2000 - 2002

Morgan: Reinvidication time. Easiest selection of the entire post; starting for the 1^st All Time Team, His Airness, Michael Jordan. I really don’t have to say nothing about this guy, we all know he belongs here. I would love to have a 3 point shooter as his backup, but the only one is Kobe and I can’t have Kobe and Malone in the same team, besides I have the opportunity of pairing Dr J and MJ, you can’t beat that.

Rusty: I agree with Kobe Bryant, besides the 1^st team may have enough problems sharing the ball with Kareem and Karl Malone in the second unit. I would love to see either Jerry West or Clyde Drexler lacing them up for this team.

Morgan: The Glyde is very similar to Scottie and Big O who are already in the second unit, I know he can play in the first unit following the coach’s wishes and the balance would be uncompromised. But, Dr J won at every level, he could score over 5 defenders making it look easy, he’s a “less dramatic, more focused” version of Kobe.

Rusty: Not a shooter, Bryant can be a shooter, so Jerry West and Clyde Drexler

Morgan: Hmm…you are right about Jerry West, he was a great passer and even a greater scorer and I think he was a better shooter than Dr J (couldn’t find anything that proves me wrong).

Rusty: I don’t know neither is Jerry West was a good shooter; I do know that Erving didn’t have much of a “shooters touch”

Morgan: Mr. Clutch, welcome to the 1^st All Time team.
For the second team I’m picking Dr J as the starter, so far the real only scorer on the wing is Barry, both KG and Baylor are not typical wing players. Besides, along with Frazier and Stockton it creates and amazing defensive backcourt

Rusty: Garnett and Baylor are not wing players at all. I like the selection. Bench?

Morgan: The Glyde; versatile, good defender, good shooter, great scorer. You can’t loose bringing a guy like that from the bench. In the 3rd team I’m putting Kobe and Gerving backing him up.

Rusty: I suspected that. I was reading about Gerving in anticipation of that post of your. You said that Julius Erving was a better version that Bryant, I think George Gerving was the better version of Kobe, I know you didn’t use those exact words but that point remains. I don’t like the player Kobe Bryant has become, although I know the reason why you put him in the list, he is a great scorer, can be a great defender and once he matures he will become a greater player and a true leader, just watch the evolution of Tracy McGrady, that’s something I hope it happens to Mr. Bryant.
My point is Gerving is far better that Bryant, if we are putting them in the same team, let’s do the right thing and give credit where credit is due.

Morgan: Wow. A Kobe Hater in da house. Seriously, I understand what are you saying about Kobe but I don’t see that in his plans. But well, let’s continue with THIS discussion. You have investigated about the Ice Man, was he a better defender than Kobe?

Rusty: No, but this team is not filled with defensive stalwarts, you can only count Olajuwon and David Robinson as great defenders, it’s too late to worried about perimeter defense now.

Morgan: “too late to worried about perimeter defense now “. Who are you? Don Nelson?.
Kobe in the starting lineup will help a big deal defensively. Besides at the end of the day, I feel Kobe will be perceive as a better player than Gerving

Rusty: The day hasn’t finished.

Morgan: I know we are arguing for who takes the starting spot, they both will play for the 3^rd team, but for Kobe, believe me it cares a lot

Rusty: That’s precisely why he should be benched

Morgan: You have something against Kobe, that’s very unprofessional.

Rusty: I made my point about Bryant; I feel George Gervin should start for this team. It is your selection, Morgan, make the call

Morgan: Kobe is starting.

There your have it, 3 teams, 30 players. Once again, let me remind your guys we weren’t trying the team with the biggest names, although everybody is a big name, we considered things like chemistry, team balance between offense and defense, versatility, etc.

About the list, in case you were wondering, I just pick 6 of the best players in each position; I had some tough omissions like Moses Malone, Tiny Archibald and Elvin Hayes. The division between power forward and small forward was kinda hard, ‘cause in the old days it was no distinction between this positions. I hoped you guys and girls liked, it was way more fun than the Spurs discussion, drop a comment, criticize us, admire us, if you are hot girl, send me a picture.