Melo Most Overrated SF?

via espn.com......

When it comes to discussing small forwards in the game today, the names LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony rise to the top of conversations. The star-studded trio finished 1-2-3 in player efficiency rating in 2010-11, and were the only three SFs who finished with a rating better than 20 in John Hollinger's metric.

But who's the best? Thankfully, you helped us sort it out.

After breaking down the top point guards and shooting guards earlier in the week, our panel -- including your responses, sent in via Facebook and Twitter -- takes aim at the the frontcourt, starting with the small forwards.

Isaac Ramirez, via Twitter: Carmelo Anthony. He terrible on defense and doesn't play hard all the time. He's not nearly as efficient as Durant, and is much worse on defense, but there are still people who rank him as No. 2 among SFs.

Tim Donahue, Eight Points, Nine Seconds: This is difficult, but it's probably Carmelo Anthony. He's a great scorer, and one of the best late-game options in the league, but too many people reflexively put him top 5-10 in the league, when top 20-25 is more accurate. And, yes, there is that big of a gap between top 5 and top 25.

Patrick Hayes, Piston Powered: I don't want to pile on Carmelo Anthony, a player I generally love to watch work on offense. But the problem is, to this point of his career, 'Melo impacts the game only at one end. That puts him a notch below superstars like James, Wade and Bryant, who all became great defensive players as well as offensive forces.

Brendan Jackson, Celtics Hub: Somewhere between Los Angeles and Houston, Trevor Ariza was made to be a "go-to" small forward. While his contributions on the defensive end are well documented, his offensive numbers are nowhere near good enough to be a third banana on a playoff team.

Kyle Weidie, Truth About It: When George Karl questions your defensive focus, I imagine, despite all the supreme clientele scoring ability (as perhaps the most complete bucket-dropper in the NBA), your DNA for winning basketball is not wired like the Kobes and Jordans of history. Being in N.Y. will only increase Carmelo Anthony's overrated hype.

Top 10 Shooting Guards From the Past 30 Years

Via thescore.com

Here are the factors, in varying degrees, taken into account in making this ranking – statistics, impact on the game, awards and honors, longevity, playoff performance and my own gut instincts. Feel free to disagree and make cases for others in the comments.
10. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs (2002-Present)
633 G; 15.3 PPG; 3.9 APG; 4.0 RPG; 1.5 3PTM; 44.9 FG%; 83.4 FT%; 1.5 SPG

I decided to put Manu here at No. 1o despite the fact that there were other options who scored more points, the main function of the position. However, all things relative, the lack of outstanding scoring was Manu’s only “deficiency.” The three NBA titles that he was a big part of dilutes the average point production, and while Manu’s placement here is debatable, he’s at least in the argument.

Ginobili played a career-high 80 games this past season and put up enough numbers to earn a place on the All-NBA third team, the second time he’s made an All-NBA team. He’s also been honored with the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, made the All-Star team twice and, of course, won those titles. Manu owns an impressive 21.7 PER and 115 ORtg, which stacks up fairly well against the players below.

The Argentinian Assassin has proven his place in the arena of basketball, both in the NBA and in international competition. Ginobili is fearless attacking the basket and usually finds himself in awkward positions while in the air. He has the ability to take over a game, both as a facilitator of the offense and as a defender jumping the passing lane. Manu’s career numbers may not be terribly impressive, but his career has been. There is still a few seasons left in him where if he stayed healthy, could jump him a place or two on this list.

9. Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons (1985-1999)
1018 G; 16.1 PPG; 4.5 APG, 2.2 RPG; 1.0 3PTM; 46.0 FG%; 84.3 FT%; 0.9 SPG

Dumars will not wow you with his statistics in the same vein as Ginobili, but if you watched him play, he’s deserving of being in the top 10 . He was the first player to be considered a Michael Jordan “stopper,” which is the stuff of legend. And by that I mean it’s a bit exaggerated as no one could actually stop MJ, but (pardon the cliche) only hope to contain him. This is not to disparage Joe Cool because he earned the hardware and respect as a player to be made a Hall of Famer.

Dumars played in six All-Star games, was named to three All-NBA teams, five All-Defensive teams (four first team selections) and chosen as the NBA Finals MVP in 1989. He’s one of those players that did anything it took to win a game. However, his average PER (15.3) probably doesn’t really show how important Dumars was to the Pistons. Dumars finished his career with a 113 ORtg.

Dumars was boring in comparison to the rest of the Bad Boys, such as the fiery Isiah Thomas, enigmatic Dennis Rodman, wise-cracking John Salley and the eternally grimacing Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn. Dumars just went about his job, which holds a special place to the blue-collar community of Detroit. Humble and hard-working describe Dumars best.

8. Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors (1988-1991), Sacramento Kings (1991-98), Washington Wizards (1998-2001), Los Angeles Lakers (2001-02)
976 G; 21.0 PPG; 3.5 APG; 3.9 RPG; 1.4 3PTM; 45.5 FG%; 85.0 FT%, 1.2 SPG

Richmond was a scoring machine straight from the get-go. He, along with Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin, was a part of the short-lived three-headed beast known as Run TMC. After moving up and more inland to join the Sacramento Kings, Richmond continued to snap nets on the regular while becoming a perennial threat to score from anywhere on the court.

He never led the league in scoring, but averaged 20+ points a season for 10 straight seasons, starting with his rookie year when he averaged 22.0 PPG and won Rookie of the Year. Richmond played in six straight All-Star games (1993-98), and won the MVP award at the 1995 contest. He was named to five All-NBA teams and posted a solid 17.6 PER and 110 ORtg for his career.

Richmond was a feared scorer, who could have easily been a superstar had he played in a bigger basketball market. When he was traded from the Warriors to the Kings for Billy Owens, I remember being angry that Run TMC was broken up. I was a Knicks fan at the time, but that team was so entertaining and it was fun to look at the boxscore every morning to see how they did. Richmond did his thing!

7. Tracy McGrady, Toronto Raptors (1997-2000), Orlando Magic (2000-04), Houston Rockets (2004-2009), New York Knicks (2010), Detroit Pistons (2010-Present)
886 G; 20.4 PPG, 4.6 APG; 5.8 RPG; 1.2 3PTM; 43.5 FG%; 74.7 FT%; 1.3 SPG

McGrady could have become one of the best ever if injury didn’t get in his way. Despite that, T-Mac, who also played small forward, devastated squads across the Association. He was a versatile and explosive threat that could score, pass and rebound. For a couple of seasons with the Orlando Magic, T-Mac seemed to be the only member of the team, which is a testament to his fortitude to do all he can to lift his squad.

T-Mac led the league in scoring in his last two seasons (2002-03 and 2003-04) with the Magic. His four seasons in Orlando saw him average an incredible 28.1 PPG. He played in seven straight All-Star games, was voted to seven All-NBA teams (two first team selections) and named the 2000-01 NBA Most Improved Player. His career 22.4 PER is the 25th best of all-time, despite finishing with a relatively lackluster 108 ORtg.

McGrady never played a full season in his career, but played 70+ games in seven of 13 full seasons and 49 games in the strike-shortened 1998-99 season. Nagging injuries hampered T-Mac for a good chunk of time, but isn’t enough to hamper his place on the list. Still, he could have been so much better

6. Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks (1996-2003), Seattle SuperSonics (2003-07), Boston Celtics (2007-Present)
1102 G; 20.2 PPG; 3.6 APG; 4.3 RPG; 2.4 3PTM; 45.2 FG%; 89.3 FT%; 1.2 SPG

Allen is the greatest three-point shooter of all-time and flat-out one of the best shooters ever. He possesses what is arguably the most beautiful quick release and stroke in the history of the game. Allen appeared in one of the essential hoops movies, “He Got Game,” playing Jesus Shuttlesworth, which is apropos as his and Kevin Garnett’s arrival helped save the Boston Celtics and brought them back to being champions.

He averaged 20+ points per contest in eight consecutive seasons before joining the Celtics. In 11 of the last 12 seasons, Allen has averaged at least 2.1 makes from beyond the arc and never averaged less than 1.4 in a season. He is the NBA’s career leader in triples drained (2,612) and also has the single season record of 269. Allen led the league in three-point makes in three seasons, played in nine All-Star games and was named to two All-NBA teams. He owns a 19.2 PER and 114 ORtg, both excellent numbers.

Allen simply makes it rain from the perimeter and has enjoyed a fairly durable career, seeming to also age like fine wine. At 35 years old, he shows no sign of slowing down as a shooter and is the ubiquitous cagey veteran. It wouldn’t surprise me if he played at a fairly high level for the next few seasons.

5. Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers (1987-2005)
1389 G; 18.2 PPG; 3.0 APG; 3.0 RPG; 1.8 3PTM; 47.1 FG%; 88.8 FT%; 1.1 SPG

If you were ever a Knicks fan during the 1990s, you indubitably hated, even loathed, Reggie Miller. Eight points, nine seconds … enough said. Miller obviously came up big in high pressure situations. He was one of the first, and probably the best, at shooting the trey and kicking his feet out in hopes of drawing a foul. Miller is one of the best shooters the game has ever seen and loved being a villain.

Before Ray Allen came along, Miller was the career three-point field goals made leader (2560), and also led the league in makes in two seasons. As prolific as he was from beyond the three-point line, he was as proficient from the charity stripe, leading the league in free-throw percentage in five seasons. He’s the ninth best shooter from the free-throw line with his 88.8 percent. Miller played in five All-Star games, made an All-NBA three times and finished with a 19.5 PER and excellent 119 ORtg.

Miller was one of those players that you hated, but secretly wished he played on your team. If you weren’t an Indiana Pacers fan, it was easy to both hate and respect him. Miller talked a ton of trash and got into the mind of opponents. Just ask John Starks. He was competitive and hid behind boyish looks and reminded me of the the schoolyard instigator. Miller played all 18 seasons of his career with one team, which is a rarity nowadays.

4. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (2003-Present)
547 G; 25.4 PPG; 6.3 APG; 5.1 RPG; 0.6 3PTM; 48.5 FG%; 76.9 FT%; 1.8 SPG

Wade’s time in the league has been relatively short compared to those in the top five, but his impact on the floor can be felt like a haymaker to the face. In fact, it wouldn’t be crazy to rank him third. Wade makes his living by attacking the basket like the rim owed him money. However, he is more than just a slasher and penetrator looking to score, because he has great skill in setting his teammates up. The numbers speak for themselves, but they don’t show you the blood and guts of the player on the floor.

He led the league in scoring one season (2008-09 at 30.2 PPG) and after his rookie season that saw him average 16.2 PPG, Wade has never averaged less than 24.1 PPG in seven seasons. He’s made seven straight All-Star games, starting in 2005, and won the game’s MVP in 2010. He was named to six All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams. He owns one NBA championship (2006) in which he was also named the NBA Finals MVP. His 25.7 PER is sixth-best of all-time and he currently has a 111 ORtg.

Have no doubt that Wade wants the pill at the end of the game and is better suited than teammate LeBron James to make things happen in the clutch. Overlook Game 6’s turnovers this season because Wade has taken his team on his back and drove them to a title. And for all the praise heaped on LeBron, if the duo stays together, Wade will always be a plus-one when it comes to titles.

3. Clyde Drexler, Portland Trail Blazers (1983-1995), Houston Rockets (1995-98)
1086 G; 20.4 PPG; 5.6 APG; 6.1 RPG; 0.8 3PTM; 47.2 FG%; 78.8 FT%; 2.0 SPG

For a time, Drexler was considered to be the Western Conference version of Michael Jordan. He was a prolific scorer, but also dropped dimes, grabbed boards and ripped rocks in bunches. Drexler led the Portland Trail Blazers to two NBA Finals, eventually winning a title with Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets in 1995.

Drexler averaged 20+ points in seven seasons, but never averaged less than 18.4 PPG after starting fairly regularly during the 1985-86 season. He played in 10 All-Star games and was voted to five All-NBA teams. As proof of his versatility, Drexler is 25th overall in NBA career points (22,195), 27th in career assists (6,125), 36th in career offensive rebounds (2,615) and seventh in steals (2,207). He finished with a 21.1 PER and 114 ORtg.

Drexler was a hidden talent in Portland until they started making playoff appearances on the regular. I remember hearing from people that he had as good hops as Michael Jordan and I didn’t believe it. I knew about Phi Slamma Jamma, a nickname for the a group of players that played for the University of Houston when Drexler was there, but I was dubious to the claim. Until I read that he dunked on a 11-foot-7 rim at an event. The comparison to Jordan because they played during the same time will probably always be there, but while he didn’t achieve the things that Jordan did, Drexler has nothing to be ashamed of.

2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (1996-Present)
1103 G; 25.3 PPG; 4.7 APG; 5.3 RPG; 1.3 3PTM; 45.4 FG%; 83.7 FT%; 1.5 SPG

Bryant is one of the most polarizing players the game has ever seen. You either love him or hate him, but there’s no denying his greatness. He’s as competitive as they come and has come off cocky to the extreme. Bryant’s game to some degree mimics Michael Jordan’s and Kobe has been almost as successful as His Airness, winning five titles compared to Jordan’s six.

Kobe has not averaged less than 22.5 PPG a season starting in the 1999-00 season, making it a dozen straight years of putting the ball in the basket a whole lot. He’s finished in the top 10 in scoring average in 10 of the last 11 seasons. He’s currently sixth all-time in points scored (27,868), and with Shaquille O’Neal retiring, is the active career points leader. Bryant has made 13 All-Star games, including 12 straight, won the All-Star game MVP four times (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011). He’s been named to 13 All-NBA teams, including nine first team selections. Kobe also made the 11 All-Defensive teams, including nine first-teams. He was the NBA Finals MVP twice and the regular season MVP once.

Bryant is the closest thing to Jordan and will probably be the closest thing ever. His fire, competitiveness and desire to kill opponents is comparable to Jordan, but Bryant will never be what Jordan is/was — The GOAT — since he needed Shaquille O’Neal to win his first three championships. And if you don’t think Bryant wants four more titles to equal Jordan’s six chips as the main man, you’re crazy.

1. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls (1984-1993; 1994-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03)
1072 G; 30.1 PPG; 5.3 APG; 6.2 RPG; 0.5 3PTM; 49.7 FG%; 83.5 FT%; 2.3 SPG

Air. This is where Jordan resides as a player relative to every other person that has stepped foot on the NBA hardwood. He is the GOAT, a killer on the court and the player every high-flying shooting guard gets compared to, before eventually crashing to Earth, unable to hold Jordan’s jockstrap. Simply the best ever.

Jordan led the league in scoring 10 times, in strings of seven and three straight seasons. He is the career leader in points per game average and is third overall in total points (32,292). For all his offensive acumen, he was just as good on defense, leading the league in steals three times. He’s the second-best ball thief of all time (2,514). Jordan played in 14 All-Star games, winning the game MVP three times (1988, 1996, 1998). He won the NBA Rookie of the Year, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year. Jordan was the regular season MVP five times, but where His Airness really stands out is winning the NBA Finals MVP six times!

Top 10 Small Forwards of the Past 30 Years

this is a list I found on a blog @ thescore.com it was done by Dennis Velasco check it out and say what you feel, right or wrong...

Here are the factors, in varying degrees, taken into account in making this ranking – statistics, impact on the game, awards and honors, longevity, playoff performance and my own gut instincts. Feel free to disagree and make cases for others in the comments.

10. Bernard King, New Jersey Nets (1977-79; 1993), Utah Jazz (1979-80), Golden State Warriors (1980-82), New York Knicks (1982-87), Washington Bullets (1987-1991)
874 G; 22.5 PPG; 5.8 RPG; 3.3 APG; 0.0 3PTM; 51.8 FG%; 73.0 FT%; 1.0 SPG

How could I not include Bernard King, the first player I ever rooted for as a kid? He’s probably one of the older and least known players on this list, but he was a thing to behold. Plus if Kurtis Blow can have the following lyrics in his classic “Basketball” how could you not say he belongs?

Basketball has always been my thing,
I like Magic, Bird, and Bernard King.

King averaged 20+ points for 11 out of his 14 seasons, although the 1986-87 season was basically lost as he only played six games. He was the league’s leading scorer in 1985-86, averaging an amazing 32.9 PPG. He played in four All-Star games, made four All-NBA teams (two first team selections) and finished with a career 19.2 PER and 108 ORtg.

It can be argued that King isn’t the tenth-best small forward in the past three decades because anything can be argued, but if you truly believe he didn’t earn this spot, you must agree he’s at least in the debate. King wasn’t explosive in the sense that he’d rise above rim much, but he definitely made it rain from all over the court, jumper after jumper after jumper.

9. Chris Mullin, Golden State Warriors (1985-1997; 2000-01), Indiana Pacers (1997-2000)
986 G; 18.2 PPG; 4.1 RPG; 3.5 APG; 0.8 3PTM; 50.9 FG%; 86.5 FT%; 1.6 SPG

Speaking of jumpers, Mullin had one of the sweetest Js to watch. Pull-ups, off-the-dribble, spotting up, Mullin could do it all from the perimeter. Along with his crew cut, that jumper is what made him famous. Well, that and being a part of the short-lived Run TMC with Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond.

Mullin played in five consecutive All-Star games (1989-93) and finished in the top 10 in scoring average in four straight seasons (1989-92). He led the league in free-throw percentage in 1997-98 (93.9 percent) and is the 24th-best shooter from the charity stripe in NBA history. Mullin was selected to four All-NBA teams, including one first team, and was a part of the original 1992 Dream Team. He finished with an 18.8 PER an excellent 115 ORtg.

He didn’t look like much — lanky and kind of goofy-looking — but Mullin was a dead-eye shot from the perimeter and could get to the basket with either hand. At one point, he was even considered a poor man’s Larry Bird. Sure, that might be because both players would fry in the sun, but make no mistake, Mullin could hold his own.

8. James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers (1982-1994)
926 G; 17.6 PPG; 5.1 RPG; 3.0 APG; 0.1 3PTM; 52.1 FG%; 76.9 FT%; 1.1 SPG

Worthy didn’t post the greatest regular season statistics, but when the postseason hit, so did he. And, as we all us die-hard hoops fans know, the playoffs create legends. He doesn’t hold the same place in NBA history the way the other bespectacled Laker, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, does, but Worthy was all-out effort, made things happen and was a finisher.

He never led the league in any statistic other then games played during a season, but did come up big during the postseason. He upped his scoring average to 21.1 PPG while shooting 54.4 percent and also won the 1988 NBA Finals MVP. Worthy, along with Magic Johnson and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers Showtime crew won three NBA championships during the 1980s. Worthy made seven consecutive All-Star teams (1986-1992) and two All-NBA teams (both times on the third team). He finished with a career 17.7 PER and 112 ORtg.

Worthy could justifiably be moved up the list because of his titles with the great Showtime teams of the Lakers, but that’s only one of the criteria for me and I had to concede to gut instinct. However, I’ll never forget hearing people from my homebase park court decades ago that Worthy was just as important as Magic in winning those titles. To a certain degree, I’d agree.

7. Alex English, Milwaukee Bucks (1976-78), Indiana Pacers (1978-80), Denver Nuggets (1980-90), Dallas Mavericks (1990-91)
1193 G; 21.5 PPG; 5.5 RPG; 3.6 APG; 0.0 3PTM; 50.7 FG%; 83.2 FT%; 0.9 SPG

The next time you get to the court, try this: Hold the ball, raise your arms straight up at full extension and then shoot the ball. Imagine doing that for every single jumper and hitting it consistently from anywhere inside the three-point arc. That’s the unorthodox Alex English shot he hit whenever he took the hardwood. Nick Van Exel will explain.

English led the NBA in scoring one season (1982-83) with at 28.4 PPG. For nine consecutive seasons with the Denver Nuggets, he averaged at least 23.8 PPG, and for his career with Denver, he averaged 25.9 PPG in 837 games. English ranks 13th in NBA history in total points (25,613), eighth overall in field-goals made (10,659) and ninth in overall field-goal attempts (21,036). He made eight straight All-Star teams (1982-89) and was named to the All-NBA second team thrice. English finished with a 19.9 PER and 111 ORtg.

English was obviously one of the best scorers of all-time, but unlike some others, such as the aforementioned Worthy, he didn’t have much of a power game. The character he played in “Amazing Grace and Chuck” was aptly named Amazing Grace since English was one of the more graceful players the NBA has ever seen. In the movie, English plays an NBA pro that refuses to play any further until nuclear weapons are totally disarmed. Fat chance. It seems the same could be said in regards to the current lockout where its end seems highly unlikely as well. However, we’ll be positive like the movie’s message, albeit corny, and look for the rainbow lining in the sky.

6. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics (1998-Present)
964 G; 22.2 PPG; 6.1 RPG; 3.8 APG; 1.6 3PTM; 44.8 FG%; 80.5 FT%; 1.5 SPG

Pierce will go down as one of the best Celtics ever and that’s pretty good considering the franchise we’re talking about. Part of that is the reason why I have Pierce here and really have him thisclose to taking over no. 5. It was hard to deny the numbers of the fifth-best three on this list, and maybe Pierce’s championship ring should have put him over the top, but when all is said and done, the good old switcheroo will go down eventually. There’s still some spring left to The Truth.

Pierce has averaged 20+ points per contest in eight of his 13 seasons. He’s currently ranked 25th overall for career points per game average and is 30th overall in total points for a career (21,410). Pierce has made nine All-Star games and has been named to an All-NBA team four times. He won the NBA Finals MVP when he led the Boston Celtics, along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, to a title in 2008. He has a 20.7 PER and 110 ORtg.

Histrionics aside, Pierce can really get down with the get down. He’s the paragon of jocular and is a straight-up gangsta (allegedly) on the court (definitely). For years he basically carried the Celtics on his back and he proved worthy of being one of the most loved Celtics. I’m not a Celtics fan at all, but even I have to show respect to what Pierce’s legacy.

5. Adrian Dantley, Buffalo Braves (1976-77), Indiana Pacers (1977-78), Los Angeles Lakers (1978-79), Utah Jazz (1979-1986), Detroit Pistons (1986-89), Dallas Mavericks (1989-1990), Milwaukee Bucks (1990-1991)
955 G; 24.3 PPG; 5.7 RPG; 3.0 APG; 0.0 3PTM; 54.0 FG%; 81.8 FT%; 1.0 SPG

When I think of an old school scoring basketball player, I somehow always think of Dantley. I’ll admit that he was to some degree a ballhog, but when you shot as well as he did, could you blame him? A.D. could work the post, dribble down from the top of the key, give a spin move, sell a shot fake and had a myriad other ways to score. I personally thought he got the shaft when the Detroit Pistons traded him to the Dallas Mavericks for Isaiah Thomas’ best bud, Mark Aguirre, but such is life. Dantley was in the twilight of his career, but still scoring 20 on the regular, and the Pistons went on to win a couple of titles because no one was there to challenge Zeke’s control of the team.

Dantley led the league in scoring for two seasons (1980-81 at 30.7 PPG; 1983-84 at 30.6 PPG). He finished in the top seven in scoring average in six seasons and has the 17th best all-time PPG average. Dantley is 21st overall in total points (23,177), has the 22nd best field-goal percentage of all-time, the seventh most free-throw makes (6,832) and 11th most free-throw attempts (8,351). He was the 1976-77 NBA Rookie of the Year and made six All-Star games, as well as two All-NBA squads. Dantley finished with a 21.5 PER and 119 ORtg.

Maybe Pierce should be in front of Dantley, but check the numbers and watch that video link. They don’t make scorers like that anymore, and because I’m old, I have to give a shout-out to the geriatrics.

4. Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks (1982-1994), Los Angeles Clippers (1994), Boston Celtics (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1996-97), Orlando Magic (1999)
1074 G; 24.8 PPG; 6.7 RPG; 2.5 APG; 0.7 3PTM; 46.1 FG%; 81.1 FT%; 1.3 SPG

First off, let’s get it straight — ‘Nique was robbed! That said, there’s no question that Wilkins has to be considered, pound-for-pound, the best power dunker of all-time. A two-step jumper with devastating power, there’s really no question. The Human Highlight Film was an appropriate nickname for Wilkins, but he was more than just dunking. He could go toe-to-toe with the best during a game, such as this classic back-and-forth between he and Larry Bird. ‘Nique undoubtedly left an impression like one of his tomahawk dunks.

Wilkins led the league in scoring once in 1985-86 with a 30.3 PPG average. He finished in the top seven in points per game in nine seasons and scored 21+ points in 11 straight seasons. Wilkins is the 11th highest scorer of all-time with 26,668 total points. Wilkins has the tenth most field-goal makes in NBA history with 9,963 and the seventh most field-goal attempts with 21,589. He made the All-Star game nine consecutive years beginning in 1986 and was a two-time slam dunk champion. Wilkins was a seven-time All-NBA selection and finished with a 21.6 PER and 112 ORtg.

Wilkins was compared to Michael Jordan because of the dunking, which isn’t a bad thing, but they were definitely different types of players. ‘Nique had tunnel vision when the lane was clear for take-off and he didn’t make his teammates better the way Jordan did. However, he didn’t quite have the cast and specialists either. The lack of a title is the only stain on an exciting and fruitful career.

3. Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls (1987-1998; 2003-04), Houston Rockets (1998-99), Portland Trail Blazers (1999-2003)
1178 G; 16.1 PPG; 6.4 RPG; 5.2 APG; 0.8 3PTM; 47.3 FG%; 70.4 FT%; 2.0 SPG

Pippen has basically been known as a sidekick his whole career and that notion will live forever. It’s tough getting accolades when you’re playing next to Michael Jordan. However, knowledgeable NBA fans know that without Pippen, Jordan doesn’t win six titles. Pippen’s career numbers don’t pop out, but it would be foolish to think he didn’t affect the game almost as much as Jordan did, especially on the defensive end where he used his length, quickness and motor to stop opposing offenses. Pip was a gamer.

Pippen averaged 20+ points per game four times and led the league once in steals per game (1994-95 at 2.9 SPG), and also averaged at least a pair of steals per contest in six of his 17 seasons. He’s a seven-time All-Star, and won the All-Star Game MVP Award in 1994. Pippen made seven All-NBA teams, including three first-team selections. He also was named to 10 All-Defensive squads, which include eight first teams while finishing sixth-best in total steals (2,307). Pippen ended up with a 18.6 PER and 108 ORtg.

I’ll admit the six titles play a big role in Pippen’s place here, but six is a big deal. And even though he wasn’t the top player for those title teams, he played a very significant role. All seeming jealousy aside, Pippen’s contributions were important for Jordan’s legacy and it’s too bad Pippen feels he isn’t getting his just due. Hope being third on the list helps with that emotional boo b0o.

2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10), Miami Heat (2010-Present)
627 G; 27.7 PPG; 7.1 RPG; 7.0 APG; 1.4 3PTM; 47.9 FG%; 74.4 FT%; 1.7 SPG

Too high? Maybe. But even the abovementioned Pippen would agree that James is pretty damn good and worthy to be placed ahead of him. We’ve all witnessed (boo to the ubiquitous use of the term) LeBron’s ability to do just about anything from the floor, except win titles. It’s that lack of a title that will render LeBron’s legacy impotent. However, once he wins one championship, he’ll be able to breath easy. Until then, he’ll continue to be the “loser” that everyone but the die-hard LBJ fans will root against.

After averaging 20.4 PPG during his rookie season and winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, James has never averaged less than 26.7 PPG in the following seven seasons. In 2007-08, he led the league at scoring with a 30.0 points average. He’s finished in the top four in scoring for seven straight seasons and has the third all-time highest scoring average behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. LeBron has played in seven consecutive All-Star games starting in 2005, and won the game MVP twice (2006 and 2008). He’s been an All-NBA selection seven times, with five of those being on the first team. Since his dedication to improving defensively, LeBron has been named to three consecutive All-Defensive first teams. He won back-to-back MVP awards in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. James currently has the second-highest PER in the history of the game with a 26.9 mark that follows Jordan’s 27.9, and he currently has a 115 ORtg.

No matter how many titles LeBron wins, if he should, he will always be minus-one to Dwyane Wade assuming both win titles with the Miami Heat. Regardless of that fact, if James and the Heat win two titles, maybe even just one chip, LeBron could find himself at the top of this list. But not for now.

1. Larry Bird, Boston Celtics (1979-1992)
897 G; 24.3 PPG; 10.0 RPG; 6.3 APG; 0.7 3PTM; 49.6 FG%; 88.6 FT%; 1.7 SPG

Bird has accomplished so much in the league, I’m just going to start with the statistics and awards. I won’t state how much he and Magic Johnson raised the NBA because that’s obvious (I guess I just did), but Bird’s nickname of Larry Legend is wholly valid. And I’ll end with an anecdote that shows how good Bird really was.

Bird never led the league in scoring, but in 11 of his 13 seasons, he averaged at least 20+ points each season, peaking at 29.9 PPG in 1987-88. In the two seasons that he did not score 20 or more, Bird averaged 19.3 PPG (1988-89) and 19.4 PPG (1990-91). He owns the 16th-best points average in NBA history and finished 27th in total points (21,791). He led the league in free-throw percentage four times and is tenth-best percentage-wise ever. Bird played in a dozen All-Star games, and was the 1982 All-Star Game MVP. He beat out Magic Johnson for the 1979-80 NBA Rookie of the Year award, laying the foundation for their battle for accolades. Bird made 10 All-NBA teams, including nine first teams, as well as three All-Defensive second teams. He won the MVP award three consecutive times (1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86) and led the Boston Celtics to three NBA titles (1981, 1984, 1986), winning the NBA Finals MVP twice (1984 and 1986). Bird finished with a 23.5 PER and 115 ORtg.

And now the anecdote:

Bird then walked onto the court and told Xavier McDaniel, who was guarding him, “I’m going to get [the ball] right here and I am going to shoot it in your face.” As McDaniel remembers it, he responded by saying, “I know, I’ll be waiting.”

Then in about that exact same spot, Bird gets the ball and buries a shot right in McDaniel’s face, turns to Xavier and says, “I didn’t mean to leave two seconds on the clock.” McDaniel said of that play, “He wanted to shoot it with zero seconds on the clock. I just walked back to the sidelines, like damn.”

Billion Dollar Season Lost?

via Alex Raskin; Hoopsworld...

There seems to be a growing perception that the Owners are willing to throw away the entire season in an effort to break the union. Players can only afford to go so long without game checks and, theoretically, would be agreeable to almost any offer the Owners throw their way by next summer.

But that belief, right or not, omits one very critical component: The league suffers financially if there is no basketball in 2011-2012.

Ad Week's Anthony Crupi estimates that ESPN/ABC Sports and TNT will lose as much as $1.25 billion in ad sales revenue if next season is canceled. The NBA won't feel the hit all at once, but Crupi notes that the playoffs account for a fifth of all ad sales, so the Owners might be singing a different tune themselves next April. In fact, the 2010 playoffs netted $417.7 million in ad sales for ESPN/ABC and TNT, according to Kantar Media, and a 30-second advertisement during the Celtics-Lakers Finals cost over $400K.

Lost ad revenue would seem to be a bigger problem for the league's two national television media partners, but that would only be the beginning of the losses.

Writes Crupi:

If the networks stand to lose a fortune in ad dollars, the league itself risks billions in media rights, ticket sales and merchandising. ESPN/ABC pays $485 million per year for the rights to air NBA games while TNT forks over $445.

The league itself pulls in around $50 million from sponsors on its own network, according to Crupi, and then comes all of the regional cable money from the individual markets.

Then there are the league sponsors—such as State Farm and American Express—which Crupi writes will be forced to "scramble to make up for the diminished brand exposure.

These companies are currently locked into deals with the NBA, but businesses have the memory of an elephant and the long-term effect of the lockout is still anyone's guess. It makes sense that future sponsors, so as not to expose themselves to losses during another lockout, would seek contracts that end at the same time as the next collective bargaining agreement. At the very least, sponsors will invest more responsibly now that the NBA has locked out its players twice in 13 years.

Worst of all, when the league does return, it will have a few years before it regains its popularity—and it's not a certainty that will happen. Crupi notes that the league took three years to regain its ratings. Of course, the NBA was competing with a weaker NHL back then.

Now hockey's popularity is increasing and a number of Americans are starting to follow European soccer. Ironically it's globalization—a concept commissioner David Stern has utilized to build the NBA's fan base in Asia, Europe, South America and Africa—that could ultimately hurt the league as it tries to recover from a disastrous work stoppage. Americans can watch a Manchester United-Chelsea match on nearly every basic cable service and other networks, such as Fox Soccer, give fans 24-hour-a-day access.

The NBA has benefitted greatly from increased television exposure, social media and globalization. Now, however, those tools will work against the league because competitors can spend every day of the lockout winning the hearts and minds of the American public.

Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=20321#ixzz1SaAcY4wY