Kobe Bryant

NBA: 50 Bold Predictions

Hoopsworld — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:28:26 -0700

Last year I wrote this same column and it was far and away the most commented upon piece I've ever written for HOOPSWORLD. That, of course, means it was a rousing success (even though I got a whole bunch of my predictions wrong), so I'm doing it again hoping to improve upon last year's record.

The following are 50 predictions for the upcoming NBA season. The comments and opinions expressed in this article are mine and mine alone, but that means you get to tell me how wrong I am in the comments section below. Enjoy the read for what it is, and I look forward to hearing from everyone.

This could also be good fodder for my chat this Thursday at 5:00pm Eastern. Okay, enough self-promotion; onto the predictions…

Statistics and Individual Achievements

Kobe Bryant, after averaging fewer than 30 points per game last season for the first time since 2004-2005, will fail to meet the 30 ppg game mark again this season.
At the same time, he will average a career-high in assists (his previous high is 6.0 apg in that same '04-'05 campaign).
LeBron James will once again lead the league in scoring, but will see a rise in ppg by at least 1.0 points. Last year he averaged exactly 30.0 ppg.
James's rebounds and assists per game both will be in the 8's (they were 7.9 and 7.2 last year, respectively).
That also means that LeBron will be this year's MVP. The Cavs might not have as much team success as other candidates, but his stats will be just too good to ignore.
Deron Williams is an All-Star this year as long as he stays healthy.
When both Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Bosh are healthy the Raptors are going to be very good, but O'Neal will end up missing at least 20 games due to injury this season.
Bosh, on the other hand, will be much healthier, playing 75+ games.
So will the oft-injured Dwayne Wade. He'll go 75+ as well.
Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings will finish the season among the league's top five in points per game.
Just like last year, Chris Paul will lead the league in assists.
Deron Williams will jump Steve Nash for second place in that same category.
Also just like last year, Dwight Howard will lead the league in rebounds, but his average will jump up to at least 15.5 rebounds a game (compared to 14.2 per game last season).
Jerry Sloan will be Coach of the Year. The Jazz are always fantastic and he never wins. Maybe this year.

Team Play

The New Orleans Hornets will finish the season with the best record in the NBA.
That best record will be right around 60 wins (I'll give myself 2 games either way).
Sacramento, Oklahoma City, and Charlotte will battle all season for the league's worst record, but ultimately it will be the Bobcats that win the league's fewest games.
The Eastern Conference will win more games in inter-conference play against the Western Conference this season than they did last year.
The Denver Nuggets will lead the league in team scoring.
The Toronto Raptors, who last year were 28^th in the league in team rebounds, will be in the top ten of that same category this season.
The New York Knicks will win over 30 games this year (compared to 23 wins last season).

Trades

Shawn Marion will finish the season on the Miami HEAT. He's not going to be traded.
Lamar Odom isn't going anywhere, either.
The Chicago Bulls will make at least one trade to cash in some of their smaller pieces for something bigger. If they can't make a big one happen, they'll still make at least one smaller trade to appease the fans.
Jamaal Tinsley will get bought out before he gets traded. Indiana just won't be able to find a taker for him.
The Golden State Warriors will go through the entire season without trading for another reputable point guard. They'll choose instead to just wait on Monta Ellis to get healthy and punished and maybe let Stephen Jackson run the point in the meantime.
Sacramento's Brad Miller will be moved right around the trade deadline in exchange for expiring deals and/or draft picks.
As much as the Knicks would love to trade Zach Randolph, nobody's going to want to eat his contract. As a result, he'll still be on the roster by year's end.

Rookies

Derrick Rose, despite being the most exciting player on Chicago's roster, will be among the league leaders in turnovers per game, somewhere between 3.5 and 4 a night.
The rookie that will score the most points in a single game this season is O.J. Mayo.
But Michael Beasley will lead all rookies in scoring.
Kevin Love, by most measurable benchmarks, will be considered a disappointment after his rookie season.
Brook Lopez, by most measurable benchmarks, will be much better than most people think.
Danilo Gallinari is going to look more and more like a bad pick as the season progresses. My best guess is he'll float somewhere in between injury and mediocrity.
Marreese Speights and J.J. Hickson will put up numbers similar to Luis Scola and Carl Landry did last year in Houston.
Chris Douglas-Roberts is the best the second round has to offer. He'll be as solid as a second rounder comes this year.
Greg Oden will be in the top five in the league for blocks per game.
Derrick Rose will be the Rookie of the Year (I'm only giving myself one homer prediction this year instead of the six or seven I threw up last preseason).
The rest of the All-Rookie Team will be Oden, Beasley, Mayo, and Hickson.

The Postseason

Top four teams in the East: Orlando, Philly, Boston, and Detroit.
They'll be up against the bottom four playoff seeds: Toronto, Cleveland, Chicago, and Indiana.
Top four teams in the West: New Orleans, L.A. Lakers, Utah, and Houston.
Up against the bottom four seeds: San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, and Portland
That means the Dallas Mavericks and Miami HEAT will miss the playoffs.
The NBA Finals will be between the Boston Celtics and the New Orleans Hornets.
Boston will win their second straight title.
On a whim here—the Sacramento Kings win the first overall pick in the NBA draft.
The San Antonio Spurs won't make it out of the first round in June of 2009.
But the Houston Rockets will for the first time in Tracy McGrady's career.
No teams with a sub-.500 record will make the playoffs (two did last year—Philadelphia and Atlanta).

Let the angry comments commence! Last year I scored just over a 50%, but was pretty close on a lot of the ones I missed. This time around I'm shooting for 75% correct. One year older, one year smarter. At least, that's the way it should work, even though Lindsey Lohan is living proof that this is not always the case.

I can't wait for another great year of NBA basketball, especially considering how wide open the league is this year. The tide is changing from some of the older elite Western Conference teams towards a whole bunch of burgeoning success stories. That means fantastic basketball for the next several months. Get comfy, folks. The season's almost upon us.

NBA: Top Six Shooting Guards

Hoopsworld — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:15:34 -0700

By: Librado Wright

On Monday we took a look at the top six point guards the NBA has to offer, and judging by the reaction every basketball fan out there has their own list that is worth talking about. Without any further ado, I bring to you HOOPSWORLD's Top Shooting Guards.

It is worth mentioning that the shooting guards in the NBA are the most dynamic players on the court and most times are looked upon to carry their teams in clutch moments.

Here are the rankings...

6. Kevin Martin - Sacramento Kings

After averaging 23.7 points per game a season ago, Kevin Martin has established himself as one of the best shooting guards in the NBA. It is no accident Martin has emerged as a superstar for the Kings due to his sharp shooting ability and elusiveness on the court last season. With Ron Artest shipped off to the Houston Rockets in a trade, this Kings team is now all Martin's to lead. That huge responsibility should bring about great results from the fifth-year pro.

5. Michael Redd - Milwaukee Bucks

Considered by many as one of the most underrated guards in the NBA, Michael Redd has been a solid sorer for the Milwaukee Bucks in his seven seasons in the NBA. Playing in 72 games last season, averaging 22.7 point a night, Redd shined once again as a bonafide threat every time he touched the basketball. His big play abilities earned him a spot on the gold medal U.S. National team where he contributed off the bench. Coming off a great summer, Redd will look for another stellar season and another shot at being an All-Star for the Eastern Conference.

4. Tracy McGrady - Houston Rockets

Healthy or not Tracy McGrady is still one of the best guards in the NBA. With Yao Ming going down in the second half of last season with an injury, he was able to show the world that he was still a big-game player. Leading the Houston Rockets to the playoffs in a tightly knotted Western Conference, McGrady averaged 27.0 points per game last season and was a legitimate contender for the NBA MVP award. McGrady has taken a lot of criticism for not winning in the playoffs, but the way he plays the game with great effort makes him an invaluable asset for his team.

3. Allen Iverson - Denver Nuggets

Who said Allen Iverson has lost a step or is slowing down as a player? Well if "The Answer" has slowed down it did not show last season. In his eleven seasons in the NBA, Allen Iverson has consistently been one of league's best guards every season since entering the league. Last season, Iverson took a back seat to teammate Carmelo Anthony as the go-to guy on offense, but in crunch time head coach George Karl did not hesitate to put the ball in Iverson's hands. This season should be no different for Iverson as he will once again be one of the league's top guards.

2. Dwyane Wade - Miami HEAT

Not one of his better seasons since entering the NBA, Dwyane Wade only played in 51 games for the Miami Heat last season due to nagging injuries. After playing this summer for the gold medal U.S. National Team and showing his dominance, it is safe to say Wade is due for a big year for the HEAT. With playing alongside Shawn Marion this season and rookie Michael Beasley, Wade is set for another All-Star campaign.

1. Kobe Bryant- Los Angeles Lakers

Hands down the best shooting guard in the NBA, Kobe Bryant proved that in his MVP campaign a season ago and this past summer playing for the U.S. National team. Bryant was dominant for the Los Angeles Lakers, leading his team to the top spot in a very competitive Western Conference. Bryant's ability to take on double-teams, to find the open teammate or make big shots in the final seconds of close games is what makes this eleven-year pro the best overall player in the NBA.

Honorable Mention

Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers) & Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks): Easily could eventually be in the top six and in a year or two they both may be near the top of the list, but for now this duo should be considered as on the rise. Having the consistency is key when being considered one of the best at your position and both Roy and Johnson are starting to show that genuine attribute.

Manu Ginoboli - San Antonio Spurs: Considered the best sixth man in the NBA, Manu Ginoboli's speed and electrifying skills have earned him respect by the opposition and is considered one of the NBA's best shooting guards.

Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons: Always a consistent and reliable player, Richard Hamilton has turned himself into one of the NBA's best players especially in clutch moments. His tough nose defense and mid-range game makes Hamilton a handful on a nightly basis.

Ray Allen - Boston Celtics: Even though Ray Allen averaged 15.6 points per game last season, he is still looked upon as one of the best shooters in the NBA.

Vince Carter - New Jersey Nets: Vince Carter is not the same player that made a living doing 360 dunks while playing for the Toronto Raptors at the beginning of his career. But overall he is still a big time scorer who can erupt on any giving night.

NBA: Western Conference Franchise Players

Hoopsworld — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:07:04 -0700

By: Jason Fleming

Every team has one player who is the face of the franchise. Often this player also happens to be the best on his team, but not always. He is the player the coach talks to first about any issue, the player management may consult on possible roster moves, the one in the locker room after a game the local media congregates around because you have to get his sound bite, the player the fans think of first when talking about their team.

A couple weeks back we looked at the Eastern Conference, now HOOPSWORLD takes a look at the Western Conference and picks the franchise player for each team.

Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki

Nowitzki didn't fit this role at first, but as his game has expanded so has his impact on all parts of the franchise. On the court he is an All-Star and MVP, but off the court he is also the one player everyone wants to talk about every possible issue. On any other team Jason Kidd would fill this role, but Nowitzki is so established as a Maverick he's only second. We do know, though, it's not Josh Howard.

Denver Nuggets – Carmelo Anthony

Whether he embraces it or not Anthony is the face of the Denver Nuggets. At times it hasn't been positive, but for the most part Anthony has grown and learned from all of his adverse situations. It's surprising for a team that also boasts Allen Iverson to not have Ivy as the franchise guy, but by the time Ivy came in Anthony was already the man. Still, it's probably a case of 1 and 1A in this case for Anthony and Iverson.

Golden State Warriors – Monta Ellis

Seeing your player you just gave $60 million to go down with a devastating ankle injury of questionable origin, and then seeing his name on this list, probably isn't a good thing. With Baron Davis gone Ellis was supposed to take the franchise player mantle, but the injury could change things. Question: if not Ellis, then who?

Houston Rockets – Yao Ming

Tracy McGrady is a fantastic player, but the Rockets go as Yao goes. They can win games if McGrady misses his customary 20, but without Yao they will struggle mightily as evidenced last year after the legendary winning streak came to an end. McGrady isn't indispensable, but they can cover for him. With Yao there is no cover.

Los Angeles Clippers – Baron Davis

This should be Elton Brand, but he's now in Philly. With Corey Maggette in Golden State it's a changing of the guard with the Clips and the veterans on this team – like Cuttino Mobley and Chris Kaman – just aren't franchise-worthy. That's why Davis is the pick, because after he turned around the Golden State Warriors there is evidence he can have that same kind of impact – on and off the floor – for Coach Mike Dunleavy and the Clips.

Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant

It would be easy to wax poetic on why Kobe Bryant is a franchise player, but if this really needs any explanation…I can't help you.

Memphis Grizzlies – Rudy Gay

It's hard to say who is the best young talent the average NBA fan doesn't get to see – is it Gay or Sacramento's Kevin Martin? On a team where he was overshadowed a bit last year with the continual talk of Mike Miller's status, Gay quietly put together the second-best sophomore season in the league. Now, with Miller in Minnesota, Gay will be this team's leader as O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley acclimate themselves to NBA life as starters.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Al Jefferson

It's a tough call with the Wolves. The aforementioned Miller is the veteran, but he's new to the team. Randy Foye is a solid floor leader. But, Jefferson is the big money player, the leading scorer, and the one player who could possibly replace the gigantic legacy left behind by Kevin Garnett. The Wolves, like a few teams on this list, have had a lot of turnover recently and their franchise player is still getting used to the role.

New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul

What, you were expecting Tyson Chandler or David West? No disrespect to those two outstanding talents, but Paul is this team's leader on and off the court. He pushes the offense, keeps everyone in line, takes full responsibility when the team loses, and shares appropriately when the team has success. In three short seasons Paul has become one of the best players in the NBA, and he's already one of the league's great people.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant

This is a big role for a sophomore to fill, but it should be old hat by now to Durant. Why? Because he filled the same role as a rookie. By filling in for the traded Ray Allen (sent to Boston for Jeff Green and Wally Szczerbiak) Durant has learned what it's like to be focal point of the media, of defensive schemes, and of national attention as the NBA's Rookie of the Year. As he continues to grow the future looks bright for young KD.

Phoenix Suns – Steve Nash

The Suns boast two future Hall of Famers in Nash and center Shaquille O'Neal, plus they also have devastating scorer and rebounder Amare Stoudemire. Still, it is Nash who runs the show, who keeps people in line, and who helped – with ex-coach Mike D'Antoni – architect the fabled "seven seconds or less" brand of offense. Because of the size of Stoudemire's ego this will be Nash's team as long as he wears purple and orange.

Portland Trail Blazers – Brandon Roy

Perhaps, in the long run, center Greg Oden may have a lot to do with whether or not this team wins a title, but Brandon Roy is the man in charge. His teammates respect him, the coaching staff and the front office listens to him, fans love him, and he has embraced every single aspect of being a true team leader.

Sacramento Kings – Kevin Martin

With Ron Artest now in Houston Martin will be able to show everyone what a truly efficient first-option player can do on the floor. However, he's not a rah-rah guy and he's not the outgoing type to be a vocal leader. Trouble is, neither is anyone else on the Kings, unless you count Brad Miller. Will Martin grow into the role?

San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan

Attempts to make cases for Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are certainly possible, but they wouldn't hold much water. Outside of Kobe Bryant in L.A. Duncan is the closest to a sure thing franchise player out there. He may not be as young as he used to be and he may have a lot of miles, but Duncan is indisputably a team leader and respected by opponents, coaches, teammates and media all across the league. Oh yeah, and he's also a two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, has four NBA championship rings and is a 10-time NBA All-Star. Those are the kinds of things that make a franchise player.

Utah Jazz – Deron Williams

No doubt Carlos Boozer is a fantastic player and the Jazz would sorely miss his service should he opt out of his deal after this season and then leave the team as a free agent, but no player is more important to Utah's success than Williams. Coach Jerry Sloan's favorite target early in his rookie season (that's not a good thing), Williams is eminently coachable, an excellent leader, and not as far behind Chris Paul for the title of best young point guard as some may believe.

Those are our picks - do you agree? Would you have picked someone else? Leave a comment with your choice for a given team and tell us why you would have picked Greg Oden over Roy, Amare Stoudemire over Nash or Tracy McGrady over Yao.

NBA: Likely Hall of Famers

Hoopsworld — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:10:34 -0700

By: Tommy Beer

Driving back home from Springfield, Massachusetts this weekend, after taking in the 2008 Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on Friday night (as an aside, every basketball fan in America owes it to themselves to visit the HOF at least once – it is heaven for a hoops junkie), I got to thinking: which active players are locks to one day be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

When I sat down and started starting digging through career statistics, playoff scoring averages, and other pertinent information, it turns out there are seven players that I feel are lead-pipe locks to make the HOF. They are listed below.

While I don't think too many people could disagree that these first seven will wind up in Springfield, what I found interesting was where to draw the line between the "locks" and the borderline/probable selections, and then the also-rans/unlikely... Thus, I submitted a few quick thoughts on the remaining choices.

Without further adieu, let's run down the seven no-doubt, first-ballot selections:

1. Tim Duncan – Duncan's Hall of Fame credentials are second to none: Back-to-back NBA MVP's, 4 rings, three-time Finals MVP. He is also the only player in NBA history to receive All-NBA and All-Defensive honors in his first 11 seasons. He is an absolutely dominant force on both ends of the court, and steps up his game when it matters most, as evidenced by his increased averages in the postseason and his Finals MVP trophies. For my money, he is the greatest power forward that ever lived. While I suppose that opinion could be contested, nobody would ever argue that Duncan won't be enshrined in Springfield five years after he hangs up his Nike's.

2. Shaquille O'Neal – The last of a dying breed. O'Neal was his generation's greatest pure center and, during his prime, one of the most intimidating players to ever set foot on a basketball court. Here is a brief résumé, courtesy of NBA.com: One of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players and one of the most prolific scorers in league history. He owns a career scoring average of 25.6 points, the ninth-highest in league history, and ranks 11th all-time in scoring (25,908) in 1,013 career games. The 16-year veteran is a career 58-percent shooter, third-highest in NBA history, and has led the league in field goal accuracy nine times, matching Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record. O'Neal has averaged 11.5 rebounds (21st-NBA history) and grabbed 11,630 boards… There is no doubting that the Hall of Fame is in his future. But one question that could certainly be debated: If you had to pick one player, in their prime, to build a franchise around, would you take Duncan or Shaq? (I'd go with Timmy D., if only because he is a more reliable end-game option on the offensive end.)

3. Kobe Bryant – The most popular player on planet Earth, Kobe is a lock as well. The lack of a NBA Finals MVP trophy, signifying that he hasn't won a ring "on his own," is of relevance only in debates regarding Kobe's place among the game's all-time greats. Although he lost an opportunity to cement his legacy a few months ago, Kobe still has definitely earned a spot among the NBA's greatest payers. And while the comparisons to Michael Jordan are utter nonsense (MJ has 6 NBA Finals MVP's compared to Kobe's zero), Bryant has already done more than enough to secure his spot as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. His career averages of 25 PPG, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, speak volumes. In addition to his offensive prowess, KB24 has also been named to the All-NBA Defensive first or second teams eight out of the last nine seasons.

4. Allen Iverson – When he first entered the league, generously listed at six-feet tall, the critics claimed AI would never be able to handle the physical beating the NBA would deliver. Well, 12 years later, he is still proving doubters wrong. And, as result, you can punch his ticket to the Hall. Iverson's has a league MVP and four scoring titles under his belt, and his career scoring average (27.7 PPG) currently ranks him third all-time, behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Anytime your career accomplishments are mentioned in the same sentence as MJ and the Big Dipper... that's good.

5. Jason Kidd – I feel one of the key criteria for Hall of Fame worthiness is whether a player was the absolute best at his position for a sustained period of time. For Jason Kidd, that answer is an emphatic 'yes.' During the early part of this decade, when he led the Nets to two straight Finals appearances, J Kidd was unquestionably the best PG in the NBA. In his prime, there were very few players that could control and impact the game like he did. He has dished out more assists (9,497) and than any other active player in the league. Kidd also is the active steals leader (2,038). The true testament to Kidd's all-around greatness is the 100 career triple-doubles he has racked up, which places him second all-time behind only Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson.

6. Kevin Garnett – Coming into the 2007-2008 NBA season, the only knock against KG was that he couldn't be depended upon in crunch time, and thus had never won a championship. Well, if there was any doubt, the ring currently residing on his finger should settle that debate. Much like Jason Kidd, Garnett's best attribute was his ability to contribute in so many different ways. Looking for proof? KG is the only player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for six consecutive seasons. He also stands alone as the only NBA'er to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists per game for nine consecutive seasons. Lastly, Garnett is only player ever to accumulate 20,000 points, 11,000 rebounds, 4,000 assists, 1,200 steals, and 1,500 blocks in his career.

7. Steve Nash – Make no mistake; Nash was/is a great player, but being in the right place at the right time and having his best years when he did, is the main reason he is headed to the Hall. If you look at his career numbers (14.3 points, 7.9 assists, 3 rebounds), they are solid but not jaw-dropping. In fact, as a 30-year old, following the 2004 season in Dallas, the odds were heavily stacked against him ever entering the HOF. However, Nash then landed in Phoenix and teamed up with Mike D'Antoni and the rest, as they say, is history. After a few outstanding seasons in the Valley of the Sun, Nash had added something to his résumé that assures he'll get a plaque in Springfield: back-to-back MVP awards. Nash is one of only nine players in the history of the sport to be able to claim that distinction; the other eight are Duncan, Moses Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite limited postseason success, and never reaching an NBA Finals – Nash is destined due to those two terrific seasons.

* The Next Rung – The 'Very Probable' Category:

Dirk Nowitzki – Dirk has a NBA MVP on his résumé and has carried his team to NBA Finals. It is important to note that every player that has ever won an NBA MVP award has either already been inducted into the Hall of Fame, or will be elected once they are eligible. Thus, we can safely bet Dirk will get his plaque.

Paul Pierce – The recently awarded NBA Finals MVP Award provides an enormous boost to his candidacy. A few more decent years by both Dirk and Pierce should bump them up into the "lock" category.

* Next Tier – Borderline:

Tracy McGrady: T-Mac's overall numbers are excellent, but never advancing past the first round of the playoffs is tough to overlook.

Vince Carter: I may be in the minority, but I could never vote VC into the Hall of Fame. Personally, I think the HOF should be reserved for the players that gave 110% every time they stepped on the floor, as opposed to those who tended to coast and skate by solely on their ability. Specifically, check out VC's career numbers and check his production from the first 20-games of the 2004-2005 season. Over that 20-game stretch, Carter averaged just 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while shooting 69.4% from the free-throw line. VC flat-out quit on the Raptors and the city of Toronto. Want proof? Once he got traded to the Nets, over the final 57 games that same season, he averaged 27.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, while shooting 81.7% from the stripe. I have a real hard time looking past that. (Similarly, I could never look at Scottie Pippen the quite the same way after he took himself out of Game 3 of the 1994 Eastern Conference with 1.4 seconds left on the clock, after Phil Jackson decided Toni Kukoc would take the game's final shot. But that is a story for another day…)

Manu Ginobili – One of the most accomplished European players of all-time, Manu is a "winner" in the truest sense of the word. The selection committee usually looks favorably upon international achievements, so Ginobili, who always stepped his game up when it matter most, will have his supporters.

Ray Allen – Ray-Ray has always been an accomplished scorer, and now has a ring, in addition to always having one of the most aesthetically pleasing jumpers in NBA history. But I am just not sure he deserves a place among the greatest to ever play the game. Was he ever the best two-guard in the NBA? No. He never made an ALL-NBA first-team, and made the second-team just once…

* Next Tier - Borderline/Less-likely:

Chris Webber – Webber's last few injury plagued seasons took a lot of luster of what was, statistically speaking, a phenomenal career. It is easy to forget just how good he was in his prime. C-Webb is one of only six players in NBA history to post career averages of at least 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. The five other players are Elgin Baylor, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham, and Kevin Garnett. Still, Webber all too often disappeared in big spots and never advanced to an NBA Finals.

Chauncey Billups – Billups was maddeningly inconsistent over his first five years in the league, before arriving in Detroit and really finding his comfort zone. In his six seasons in Motown, the Pistons have advanced to at least the Eastern Conference finals each year. In 2004, the Pistons won the title and Billups was awarded the NBA Finals MVP trophy. From 1991 thru 2005, there were only five different players named NBA Finals MVP: Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Chauncey Billups.

Dikembe Mutombo – While never much of a scorer, Mutombo was a dominant defender and rebounder. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award four times and led the league in total rebounds four times as well. He is an eight-time all-star. In addition, his humanitarian work is legendary, and is a true ambassador of the game.

* Next Tier – Interesting/Unlikely:

Robert Horry – Based strictly on numbers, Horry shouldn't even sniff the Hall. But if you include his jewelry collection (seven rings) and postseason heroics, Horry will get a few votes. Some pertinent facts to support his case: Big Shot Bob is one of only nine players to have won seven or more championships, and the only one who did not play on the 1960s Celtics. He is one of only three players to win multiple NBA Championships with two different teams in consecutive seasons and one of only two players to win titles with three different teams. He is the all-time leader in playoff games played, having surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the 2008 playoffs. Horry is second on the all-time list of three-pointers made in the playoffs, behind only Reggie Miller. He also holds the record for three-pointers all-time in the NBA Finals with 53, having eclipsed Michael Jordan's previous record of 42…. I don't think he'll ever get in, but he makes an interesting candidate considering how often some fans and media members claim that winning defines greatness.

Ben Wallace – He and Dikembe are the only two players in league history to each capture four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards. (Of course, the award only came into existence relatively recently (1983). I assume Bill Russell would have been named the league's best defensive player once or twice.) Big Ben is also the one of only four players to lead the league in boarding and blocks the same season - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, and Hakeem Olajuwon are the other three. He is also the only undrafted player to ever be voted as a All-Star Game starter. In some respects, he is the anti-Vince Carter. However, as good as he was defensively, Wallace was that inept offensively. He is a career 41% shooter from the free-throw line.

Alonzo Mourning - One of the NBA's most intense competitors, Zo has an All-NBA first-team selection and an NBA title on his résumé.

Rasheed Wallace - One of the more underrated players of his generation, 'Sheed did more than collect technicals. He possessed other-worldly talent.

Grant Hill - If I had written this column in summer of 2000, Hill would have been considered all but a lock. After his first six seasons in Detroit, he looked like the second-coming. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit and Hill was never the same.

* The Young Guns:

Lastly, in an attempt to answer a few questions/complaints before they arise – players such as LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul are too young to be considered. Basically, I tried to look at guys aged 30 and over. I also didn't list guys in their late 20's, such as Elton Brand, Yao Ming, Carlos Boozer, etc. These guys still have too much career ahead of them. The next few years will determine upon which list they land.

Regarding the super-talented neophytes, suppose King James and/or D. Wade retired tomorrow in order to play baseball or become movie stars, it is difficult to argue these young guys have done enough to earn Hall of Fame distinction. For instance, players like Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill looked to well on their way, before there careers took a precipitous decline due to injuries. After his first few seasons, some analysts believed Penny would be better than Magic by the time he retired. Penny was named First Team All-NBA back-to-back in his second and third seasons. As a point of reference, even LeBron didn't match that feat. And Wade has still never been named to an All-NBA First Team. Make no mistake; I believe that by the time he retires, LeBron will likely be considered the best non-center in NBA history not named Michael Jordan. But the lesson we have learned is that we have to let these guys career's play out…