10.24.08 All-Time NBA Team: Coaches

Who said beating a dead horse wasn’t fun? I know I’ve already done three blogs on my all-time team selections, but how could I leave out the coaches? Some would say that without a good coach, you could have all the talent in the world and still win nothing. I wouldn’t probably say that, but some might. Still, this all about fun, right? Why not have a little more of it at the expense of that poor and ultimately dead, horse?

Red Auerbach, Head Coach

The role of head coach was simply a toss up. The two greatest coaches in the history of the NBA are obviously Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson. I decided to go with Red Auerbach for one simple reason, he’s old school. As much as people may revere Phil Jackson, there’s always that question of whether or not he’s just lucky. No one questions Red Auerbach. The guy is simply a legend. Could you imagine any player questioning Red?

Phil Jackson, 1st Assistant Coach

Just to make sure we’re all straight, I don’t believe Phil Jackson is lucky. Sure, he did have Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant to help him win his nine rings, but how many rings did the coaches of the Bulls and Lakers win with the same talent before Phil arrived? No one wins nine championship rings by mistake. Phil Jackson has one hell of a knack for bringing cohesion to a team. For a team with the greatest players of all time, Phil would be invaluable.

Pat Riley, 2nd Assistant Coach

This last season excluded, Pat Riley always seems to be able to at least get his teams to play good. Some of his teams have no doubt been better than others, but just about all of them have been good. It’s that consistency that’s led him to being one of the most successful coaches in NBA history. He was the Czar of one of the greatest teams in history in the 1980’s with the Showtime Lakers. No matter what else he does in Miami, that’ll always be what he’s most remembered for.

Greg Popovich, 3rd Assistant Coach

Very few coaches in the history of the sports have been able to get their teams to play with as much discipline as Greg Popovich. When you look at the great teams in NBA history, most of them led with the brilliance of their stars. The Spurs have brilliant talent, but their true strength comes from their commitment to always playing “the right way.” That has to come from the man in charge and for the Spurs that man in Greg Popovich. He may not be very personable or flashy, but he’s one of the best ever. There’s no disputing that about Popovich

So, who did I miss? Out of all of my all-time team selections, what was the biggest screw up? I know you guys have thoughts on it. Why don’t you fire up the comments section, and as always…

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10.18.08 All-Time NBA Team: Omissions

Well, I’m back to give you the five players that I shamefully left off the all-time roster. There have been so many great NBA players over the years; it’s hard to narrow the list down. I couldn’t just name the top 12 guys and move on. I had to give one more shout out to some of the other NBA greats. Oh well, here it goes…

Bob Cousy, Point Guard

Bob Cousy is the most successful point guard in NBA history, but I think we can all agree that he was more than a little lucky to be playing along side Bill Russell. Still, no one can deny that Bob Cousy was one of the greats. Like I always say, championships don’t lie. He made the point guard position, enough said.

Allen Iverson, Shooting Guard

He may never win an NBA championship, but Allen Iverson will always be one of the great scorers of all-time. I mean he already sits at the #3 spot behind Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan in career scoring. You would think that would earn Iverson a spot on the official Quick Report all-time team, but apparently, you would be wrong. I think Iverson will just have to settle for being the best “little man” in the history of the NBA.

LeBron James, Small Forward

It was tough to decide who to go with, Julius Erving or King James. Well, I split the hairs and went with LeBron. Dr. J may have led a more accomplished career so far, but I think we can all agree the sheer amazing force LeBron James is already. There’s just never been a player like him. Some may consider putting him in this conversation a little premature, but I don’t think it’s anymore premature than selecting Shaq for the 50 greatest players after he’d only been in the league four years. LeBron will be on the official roster someday. You can take that to the bank!

Charles Barkley, Power Forward

There was a time when one could’ve argued that Charles Barkley was the greatest power forward of all time. Well, then came Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan. Either way, what Charles was able to accomplish at the four spot, with a body more suited for the three, was pretty astonishing. Just about every night, Charles was at a size disadvantage. He never let that stop him. In fact, most nights it seemed to be the other way around.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Center

I’m such a hypocrite. I go on and on over the last few weeks about how underrated Kareem is and then I snub him for the all-time team. Well, I’m sorry, but Wilt and Russell are just better. Kareem is probably the third best center of all-time, but I only put two centers on the roster. Kareem just can’t get any love! Actually, I’m sure he does better than most of us in that department, even in his 60’s. Why do you think he still hangs around Kobe?

I’ll see you tomorrow with a player profile for Dwyane Wade. Until then please visit www.sportsviews.com

10.11.08 All-Time NBA Team: Bench

Okay, the all-time starters are out of the way. Now comes the hard part. There have been so many great players in the history of the NBA. Narrowing them down to twelve isn’t really easy. Though, that’s what they pay me for, right? After Magic, Michael, Larry, Timmy, and Mr. Russell are out of the way, who follows? I have a two pronged test. First, the player must somehow fit within a team structure with the other players. Second, said player must have been one of the all-time greats. Here’s what I came up with for a bench.

Oscar Robertson, Point Guard

It came down to Oscar, Jason Kidd or Bob Cousy. I decided to go with the guy who actually averaged a triple double for an entire season. If that’s not enough of a reason, I don’t know what is. Oscar would be what LeBron James was for Team USA, the engine. Oscar could run an offense, score and rebound with the best of them. That’s not too bad for a guy coming off the bench. Though, a lot of people would be sitting behind Magic Johnson.

Jerry West, Shooting Guard

This was a toss up between Jerry and Kobe Bryant. I went with Jerry West because, at this date and time, I feel he’s probably the more accomplished player. Kobe has a career scoring average of 25 ppg, while Jerry has his at 27 ppg. Not too much difference, but I decided to go with the guy who revolutionized the position. One could argue that Jerry West was the first true great shooting guard. Besides, on this bench, the center would be the main option. It doesn’t hurt to have a guy who won a ring with that center.

Elgin Baylor, Small Forward

Elgin Baylor is one underrated player. He may have never won a ring, but Bill Russell did that to a lot of players. Elgin was just one of the great scorers of all-time. If one was to make a list of the top five greatest scorers in NBA history(coming soon) Elgin Baylor would certainly be on it. He may not have the name recognition of a Wilt Chamberlain or a Jerry West, but he’s one of the great players from that era. Dr. J. may be the second most famous small forward(Larry), but I think Elgin Baylor was better.

Kevin Garnett, Power Forward

Welcome to controversy town, right? I’m not just picking Kevin Garnett because he has a ring and Charles and Karl don’t. I just feel he would be the best compliment to this team. Nothing on Barkley or Malone, but KG just brings an intensity that they don’t. That passion and fire would be something a team of greats would need. Plus, as we’ve seen in Boston, Garnett’s fire mostly translates to the defensive end of the floor. With this kind of talent, a commitment to defense would make this team unstoppable.

Wilt Chamberlain, Center

What crazy person would ever have Wilt Chamberlain coming off the bench? Well, that would be me! The debate of Wilt vs. Russell always is a toss up. I tend to lean towards Russell because of he seemed to be the better defensive player and was the greatest champion in NBA history. Though can you imagine how dominant a team would be with both Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell? You could even put them on the floor together sometimes and let them run the double center set the way San Antonio used to do with David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

Others:

Kobe Bryant, Shooting Guard

Kobe may have a long way to go before he reaches the Mount Rushmore level he’s looking for, but no one can deny his talent. In my opinion, no one has ever been more talented than Kobe Bryant. The guy’s offensive game barely has any weaknesses. If the team needed some scoring off the bench, Kobe would be one hell of an option. In a few years I’d probably put him in Jerry West’s spot, but I’m writing this now. Kobe still has a long way to go, but I think he’ll get there.

Karl Malone, Power Forward

It never hurts to have another big man. I almost went with Kareem, but I figure Karl opens up more options. You could play him at the four to have a change of pace from Duncan and KG, or even put him at the five if you wanted to play small. Karl Malone may never fully be seen as one of the transcendent players of all time, but if Elgin Baylor has Bill Russell, Karl can thank Michael Jordan for that. Oh well, he still ends up on my all-time team.

I’ll see you guys next week with my sad list of omissions from the all-time team.

Until then go visit www.sportsviews.com

10.05.08 All-Time NBA Team: Starters

I think we all can agree this is a fun thing to think about. I love this idea. You would think it was easy, but it’s actually rather hard. There have been so many great NBA players. Knocking them down to twelve names is kind of challenging. Well, it was a challenge that I met, sort of. I have three new blogs for you. They’ll be spread out over the month as we wait for the new NBA season. The first of these “all-time team” blogs will be about my selected starters. Oh, and feel free to post your lists in the comments section below.

Magic Johnson, Point Guard

Magic was the greatest point guard of all time, and it’s not even close. Though, I almost left him off. The one flaw I have in my starting lineup is that Larry Bird is the only player with a truly good shooting touch from the perimeter. The problem was that the only point guard that was a big three point threat, who could also pass, that I could think of was Steve Nash. I like Steve Nash, but he’s not all-time team material. Magic Johnson was never much of a scorer, but no player could run the break like him. No one else could really hold this spot.

Michael Jordan, Shooting Guard

Okay, I know it’s the obvious choice! Seriously, would you put anyone else here? The best player ever can’t come off the bench. In the backcourt you’d have the best passer in NBA history in Magic and with Michael an excellent one on one defender. Plus, he could score a bit too. It never hurts to have the two players who would handle the ball the most be ferocious competitors. This is kind of a no-brainer combination. Hey, no points for originality, right? I’m sure the next pick will shock you.

Larry Bird, Small Forward

Well, maybe shock was an overstatement. At the moment, Larry Bird is the greatest small forward ever to play the game. No other player to occupy the position has yet to lead his team to as much success as Bird did with the Celtics. I think there’s this guy who lives in Ohio and calls himself the “king” that might have something to say about that eventually, but as of right now, Larry Bird is the greatest small forward ever. Nothing else needs to be said.

Tim Duncan, Power Forward

I know a lot of people don’t like it when people say this, but there’s just not a better power forward in NBA history than Tim Duncan. The guy is the only power forward in history that can claim that a dynasty was built on his shoulders. Though, he would never do so. Tim Duncan is not only an excellent character guy, but he also is a damn good defender. You pair him with my next selection and you’ve got the best defensive tandem in the history of the sport. As if Timmy wasn’t enough…

Bill Russell, Center

Picking the two centers for this team(next column will be on the bench players) was the hardest part of picking the team. The position of center is the most storied of all the five positions in basketball. I could’ve gone with Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem, Moses, Shaq or even Walton. I tend to prefer a good defense to a good offense, so I had to go with Bill Russell. I was never lucky enough to see Mr. Russell play, but his reputation is as the greatest defensive player of all time.

See you guys later!

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8.25.08 Best NBA Nicknames, Part III

Welcome back for the third edition of The Quick Report. This is your place for good old NBA discussion. In the first two blogs I threw out the nicknames of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson and other player as the best of the bunch. Well, I have six more entries in this trilogy. I said on Thursday evening that I would be posting three blogs on the best NBA nicknames, and now that’s come full circle. So, let’s take a look at the final six names I’ve chosen.

“Air Jordan” – Michael Jordan

Where better to start than with the true king of the NBA? The nickname of “Air Jordan” for Michael Jordan became the greatest marketing slogan that any athlete has or maybe ever will have. The moniker of “Air Jordan” became the chosen words for the greatest single shoe line in history. One could argue that “Air Jordan” is the single most famous nickname in the history of sports. Why not have it belong to the greatest athlete ever in sports?

“The Glove” – Gary Payton

In his prime, Gary Payton was one of the best defensive guards of all time. His considerable skill on the defensive end was what gave him the nickname “The Glove.” Gary Payton would steal the ball just like a pickpocket would steal your wallet. Payton’s defense lent itself to giving Michael Jordan his toughest outing in the NBA Finals in 1996 when the Bulls went up against the former Seattle Supersonics.

“Pistol Pete” – Pete Maravich

I have a friend who claims this player as his favorite of all time. Some call Pete Maravich the greatest player to never really be a winner at the highest level. There have been NBA historians that have speculated that if Pete had played with a three point line he would’ve averaged over fifty points a game. Pete Maravich was one of the most creative scorers and passers in the history of the NBA. I don’t know about you, but “Pistol” seems a good fit.

“Larry Legend” – Larry Bird

This may be my favorite NBA nickname of all time. Larry Bird has long been a favorite of NBA fans for his old school image. His career-long rival, Magic Johnson, was about flash with the Showtime Lakers. Larry Bird was the hard working blue collar athlete from Indiana. His playing with the NBA’s greatest franchise in the Boston Celtics just adds to his stature. Many people throw around the “legend” label easily, but Larry Bird no doubt earned it.

“The Human Highlight Reel” – Dominique Wilkins

I see so many people talking about Michael Jordan or Julius Erving when the conversation of the great early dunkers is mentioned, but I sometimes wonder if Dominique Wilkins was truly the best of the bunch early on. Wilkins had a power in his dunks that neither Michael Jordan nor Dr. J. could match, but he could also match style with anyone. His ability to finish plays with thunder and flare is what gave Dominique Wilkins his nickname of “The Human Highlight Reel.”

“Mr. Clutch” – Jerry West

What better way to end a trilogy of the best NBA nicknames than with the logo himself? Generally the argument as to which player has been the best at closing out games in NBA history comes down to Michael Jordan vs. Jerry West. Michael Jordan probably sneaks through as the winner in the debate, but Jerry West can still make the argument that he was the first great shooting guard in basketball.

There you have it! That’s all three parts of my blogs on the best NBA nicknames of all time. I’ll throw something out at you Wednesday. I’m not sure what, but I’ll think of something!

Please visit my main site http://www.sportsviews.com

8.24.08 Best NBA Nicknames, Part II

 

 

 

 

Welcome back for the second edition of The Quick Report. You can view the first part of my Best NBA Nicknames blog in my archive. For this round I’ve selected six more cool NBA nicknames to throw at you. As I stated before, this blog happens to be apart of a three blog series. You should expect part III on Monday evening. Though, for now, let’s see what part two has to offer. 

 

“Flash” – Dwyane Wade
 
In the last two NBA seasons I don’t think anyone could really still call Dwyane Wade “Flash” but as many of us have noticed, the nickname has come back to it’s full worth in Beijing. Dwyane Wade’s ability to find seams in the defense and snake his way to the rim at lightning quick speeds is really awe inspiring. One moment Wade is in front of you and in a flash he’s just hit a reverse lay-up on your basket.
 
“Earl the Pearl” – Earl Monroe
 
Many basketball historians credit Earl Monroe with being the player that inspired the over the top nicknames we see today. Oscar Robertson may have been “The Big O” and Jerry West was certainly “Mr. Clutch” but none of those have the flare of  “Earl the Pearl.” “The Pearl” is a nickname that is a remnant of a time when basketball became not just a game, but a marvelous show as well.
 
“Magic” – Earvin Johnson
 
I’ve decided not to rank these nicknames because I feel that just isn’t need, but if one were to rank the greatest nicknames in NBA history, what would be #1? I don’t think I want to venture an answer, but Earvin Johnson’s hold on the word “Magic” would have to be very high. No one knows the greatest point guard in NBA history by any other name than “Magic.” Magic Johnson isn’t really even nickname. It’s who the player/legend is. 

 

 

 

“The Diesel” – Shaquille O’Neal
 
Out of the many, many nicknames Shaq has given himself I like “The Diesel” the best. When he was at his best, Shaq was arguably the most dominant player in history. The only way you could combat his size and strength was to foul him and hope he missed his free throws. “The Diesel” brings to mind thoughts of something massive and overwhelming. When he was in his prime, that’s exactly what Shaquille O’Neal was.
 
“The Black Mamba” – Kobe Bryant
 
I struggled with whether to include this one or not. “The Black Mamba” is named after a really deadly snake, but it’s also taken from a movie, Kill Bill, where the character of the same name is a female assassin. That’s kind of an odd choice for a male basketball player looking for a badass nickname, but it works. I don’t think anyone who watched Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals last season could argue that Kobe Bryant is extremely fatal to the opposition.
 

“Penny” – Anfernee Hardaway

 

“Penny” was to Anfernee Hardaway what “Magic” was Earvin Johnson. No one after 1993 called this guy Anfernee. He was Penny Hardaway. His career may have been derailed due to injury, but this guy is still Penny Hardaway. The best nicknames aren’t the ones the commentators use when a player puts on a game highlight. The best nicknames are the ones that stick.

 

Check back Monday for Part III. Until then check out the site I linked to below. It’s pretty cool.

  

For more blogs like this please visit www.sportsviews.com

See you all Monday!

 

8.22.08 Best NBA Nicknames, Part I

 

Welcome, to the first blog here at The Quick Report. What you’re looking at is an NBA focused set of ramblings by your’s truly. A few times a week you’ll see me throw out some comments on the world of the NBA. Well, expect maybe for this week. For the first installment of The Quick Report I decided I would start what will become a three part series. As you can read in the title, I’m checking out the best NBA nicknames of all time.

“The Big O” – Oscar Robertson

One could argue that Oscar Robertson is the best stat man in the history of the NBA. We all know that he averaged a triple double for an entire season. No one has even remotely come close to that in today’s NBA. What makes me select “The Big O” is just the cool, old school nature of the name. It’s so understated. Now days everyone tries to get creative with their nicknames. The Big O is simple and it’s legendary.

“The Answer” – Allen Iverson

I’ve always been saddened that “The Practice” never became Allen Iverson’s nickname, but “The Answer” works too. For a player that is arguably the best scorer since the days of pre-goatee MJ, “The Answer is the perfect nickname. You score, AI’s got the answer. Your team makes a rally in the fourth quarter, Iverson’s got the answer. It’s plain and to the point. Kind of like Iverson…

“Sir Charles” – Charles Barkley

Generally, when a person has the title of “Sir” in front of their name, it means elegance and integrity. Now, I’m not a Charles Barkley hater by any means. I actually think when he’s talking about basketball he’s often spot on the money. The thing is that Charles Barkley isn’t at all elegant nor does he have a lot of integrity. If he did, he would’ve knocked Kenny Smith out a long time ago. Well, I’m one to appreciate irony, so “Sir Charles” can’t be left off.

“King James” – LeBron James

I know a lot of people have a problem with this and I can understand that. LeBron James isn’t really the king of anything outside of Cleveland, but I like to think about the future. Despite it sounding good, “King James” will be such a great title for people like me when it comes time for LeBron James to win his championship. His championship that might be closer than some think.

“Starbury” – Stephon Marbury

Every other player on this list is a hall of fame talent. There’s no denying that. Stephon Marbury could’ve been one of those guys. Today, I doubt even he would contend he deserves to go into the hall. Still, this is about selecting cool nicknames, right? Starbury is just too marketable not to make the list. This guy could’ve had rappers singing about him and his nickname for years. Well, they still might, but just not in a positive way.

“Dr. J” – Julius Erving

I’ve kind of been feeling bad for Dr. J lately. Sure, he got his Dr. Pepper commercial, but did they have to use the Bulls theme as the music? I mean, Michael is the NBA guy for all time, but can’t the guy at least get some rip off music? The reason I pick the name is simple. It goes along with “Magic” Johnson in that the nickname became the guy’s name. You know the average person is more likely to know that Dr. J was a basketball player than Julius Erving.

Expect Part II of the series very soon!

Until then you can read my other writings at: http://www.sportsviews.com/profile/Kurosawa