Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Boston is the East's Best Team
The Celtics have too much size for Miami, and play exceptional defense vs. the Heat. Ray Allen has been Boston's most consistent player this season, taking his shooting to new heights.
Allen at age 35, has not seen a decline in his game, and that is attributed to his amazing work ethic. The Celtics are the hardest working team in the NBA, and this is unusual for a veteran laden team.
Boston is by far the best defensive team in the NBA, and have great length and quickness. The Heat and Magic are quality teams, but they cannot compete with the depth of the Celtics.
Celtics' bench players like backup point guard Nate Robinson and forward Glen Davis would start on most teams, but for Celtics coach Doc Rivers, they are a spark of the bench.
Boston will coast to the playoffs like they did last season, making sure they manage the minutes of their older players to avoid fatigue. But there is no better team in the eastern conference than Boston, and an NBA Finals rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers becomes more realistic everyday.
TOP TEN INJURY - STRUCK NBA
10. Shaun Livingston
By 24, Livingston had suffered more knee injuries than entire teams put together. He has torn all possible ligaments on his knees and dislocated every possible joint there. He played basketball, in his first three pro-seasons, but also missed slightly less than half his games.Having signed up with four NBA Teams and even a D-League setup, Livingston has been constantly on the lookout to get back into the fray. The overall 4th pick at the 2004 NBA Draft, Livingston is surely to suffer more considering his knee injuries never seem to go away.
09. Jonathan Bender
In 2005, it seemed to be all over for Bender! Out injured more than he played, Bender was a 7’ tall player who was as comfortable from behind the arc, as he was at the post. An extremely popular player at the time of the draft, Bender’s true potential remained untapped for the duration of his playing career.08. Jay Williams
A star for Duke University, Williams had just gotten through his first NBA season with the Chicago Bulls, when he suffered a near-fatal motorcycle accident. He tore three ligaments and was waived off by the Bulls. He tried to come back into the NBA, with the New Jersey Nets, but failed. Williams officially retired and has become an analyst for ESPN. Another fantastic player never to meet his full potential07. Michael Redd
He was sensational for the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming one of the most talented outside scorers in the game today. With two 50-point games in 2006-07 and a fantastic performance for Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Redd was truly on fire. However, he tore, and then re-tore, his left knee’s ACL & MCL. That meant Redd would be out of action for a really long time and will have to work really hard to get back to his best.06. Baron Davis
A two-time NBA All-Star player, Davis has had a terrible time with injuries, especially during his time with the Charlotte Hornets and the Golden State Warriors. Despite being a part of the Los Angeles Clippers, Davis remains in a precarious situation. He has always had the talent to become one of the biggest stars in the NBA, however his injury situation has always been a major hindrance. Baron will always be a popular choice for highlight reels even though his career may never recover.05. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
The early part of Big Z’s career was riddled with injuries to his foot. However, he did manage quite a few good seasons before getting back into the injury rut. With a fantastic ability to shoot from mid-range and a strong rebounding & blocking ability, Ilgauskas has been one of the better big-men of his generation of players. However, his injuries have since recurred and Ilgauskas has gone back into the injury rut.04. Penny Hardaway
He was said to be one of the biggest upcoming stars in the NBA. With Shaquille O’Neal, Hardaway created a partnership that rivalled the Kobe Bryant – O’Neal combo as well. However, persistent injuries meant that Hardaway would never complete his career like it could have turned out. A number of years before his actual retirement could have come, Hardaway was sidelined by injury and never managed to make a comeback, despite persistent attempts. Today, the four-time NBA All-Star remains one of the biggest stars to never play out his career.03. Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady is a fantastic player who doesn’t need any introduction. One of the biggest names in the NBA, T-Mac is an extraordinary scorer and wing player. A 7-time NBA All-Star as well as a 2-time NBA Scoring Champion, McGrady has an award list against his name that stretches ‘round the block. However, injuries have been so common in his playing career that McGrady has never really been on the court consistently. His recent bout with injuries has made it worse for him, and signing with the Detroit Pistons has been a step towards a long rehabilitation process.02. Grant Hill
With 7 NBA All-Star game appearances, Grant Hill is one of the greatest players to play the game. However, amongst those who have career-ruining injuries, Hill will line up right near the front, as he has on this list. At one time, compared with the likes of Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen, Hill was constantly plagued by injuries and it is a tribute to his fantastic ability that he did manage what he did. A probable candidature for the NBA Hall of Fame, Hill’s injuries may have hurt his chances in that aspect as well.01. Yao Ming
The gentle giant from China was a sensational entrant into the NBA. The tallest player in the NBA today, Ming has dominated statistics under the rim, at both ends of the court. However, after a fantastic start to his NBA career at the Houston Rockets, Ming has been struggling with injuries. Already a 7-time NBA All-Star, Ming is just entering his thirties. When fully fit, Ming is better than almost all the elite big men in the league! However, his current state of health has been extremely pendulum-like, oscillating between injured and barely fit. Whether he will get back to his fantastic form of old, we’ll have no choice but to wait and see.10. The Rifleman
Chuck Person was amongst the top three, in terms of 3-point attempts, 6 times while making the top three list 4 times. He ended up with 1,220 three pointers and while that is just 26th on the all-time list, it was more about his ability to hit clutch shots that counted. A fiery personality, Person never gave in to any player and always came out on top.09. One Spicy Curry
Dell Curry was one of the quickest shooters in the NBA. He shot at 80%, from behind the arc, for 8 straight seasons. Curry’s three point percentage was in the top three on 7 occasions, leading the charts in 1998-99. Despite being a career-long bench starter, Curry became one of the topmost 3-point specialists in the NBA.08. The God of Thunder
Dan “Thunder” Majerle was one of the most prolific 3-point shooters of all time. He had the ability to shoot threes from anywhere on the court. Teams were forced to adjust their playing style with Majerle on court. Ranked 16th in the all-time list with 1,360 three pointers to his name, Dan was certainly the most well known player from behind the arc.While his scoring percentage may have only been 35.8%, everyone knew that if the Phoenix Suns were down by three, and Dan had the ball in his hands, it wouldn’t matter where he was on the court – he would still be a threat.
07. Peja Stojakovic
With 1,571 three pointers to his name, Peja is 5th in the all-time list of three point shooters. He is second in the list when it comes to active players in the NBA. However, it isn’t just the number of three-pointers, it is also the 40.2% shooting success that places him 9th on the active list. However, unlike most high percentage shooters who take fewer shots, Peja has always been at the front, taking over 500 shots per season. He won the NBA All-Star 3-point shootout twice, in 2001-02 and 2002-03.06. Steve Nash
Two time MVP and one of the best players playing in the NBA, Steve Nash has a 43.2% success rate with three-pointers. While his percentage stands at 5th in the all-time list, he is just second in the current crop. Over the last three seasons, Nash has hit over 40% consistently, a feat yet unmatched in the NBA. His 1,360 three-pointers have him placed at 16th overall, but he is likely to finish in the top ten.05. Glen Rice
A 40% career shooter from behind the arc, Rice was in the top ten list of “three pointers made”, 6 times; while he was in the list of three point attempts for only four seasons. Rice retired with 1,559 shots made, placing him at 5th in the history of the NBA. He won the NBA All-Star Three Point Contest in 1994-95 and also created an All-Star game record with 24 points in a single quarter.04. Dale Ellis
He was the first NBA player to reach 1,000 three pointers in a career, and made the top three in “three-pointers made”, a spectacular 11 times. Besides Larry Bird, Ellis became the first player to win the 3-point championship at the NBA All-Star weekend. His tally of 1,719 three pointers stands at 3rd overall, in the NBA all-time list! His 4,266 attempts are 6th in the all-time list.03. Larry Bird
When talking of three point shooters, not including this man in the list would be blasphemy. In the second edition of the 3-point championships, at the 1986 NBA All Star game, Bird went on to ask as to who would be competing for second place? His confidence in his abilities showed as he won the first three editions of the event, since its inception.While Bird only hit 649 threes in his career and had a mere 37.6% shooting success rate, it wasn’t his shooting that was phenomenal, it was his ability to make them at the right time. In his first four seasons, Bird shot at a mere 25.7%, hitting just 71 three-pointers. However, the Boston Celtics would win 2 NBA championships in those four years, signifying the importance of his shots. That is probably what makes Larry Bird number three on our list.
02. Ray Allen
When it comes to fluidity of motion and shooting action, there is no better than Ray Allen. He is currently the second highest 3-point scorer in the NBA with 2,299 shots at an incredible 39.8% success rate. Allen holds the record for most 3-pointers made in a single season, with 269. He has held the record of most three pointers in a single season three times, coming in the top 3 on a massive ten occasions. As certain as Allen’s shooting has been, he will take over the number one spot if he continues at his current pace.01. Reggie Miller
To hear the fans screaming “Reggie, Reggie” is an incredible sight. To see Reggie Miller raise his game every time he heard it was even more incredible. With 2,560 three pointers made at a rate of 39.5%, there is no doubt that Reggie Miller is one of the greatest three-point shooters ever. He hit over 100 three pointers in 15 seasons in a row, an incredible NBA record.
Marcus Camby smashed a massive right into Danny Ferry after the two got into a bit of a pushing match. Unfortunately, Spurs’ coach Jeff Van Gundy tried to intervene and got smacked in the face. The peacemaker got broken into pieces.
09. Knicks and Bulls, 1994
NBA Commissioner David Stern watched in horror as the Knicks & Bulls went at each other right in front of his eyes. The players fought like children and smashed into the front row, taking a few in the crowd with them.08. Suns and Lakers, 1999
Charles Barkley threw the ball at the head of, none-other than, Shaquille O’Neal. An on-rushing O’Neal is not a pleasant sight and Barkley & the big man tried to slug it out amidst the crowd. Players and officials stopped them before anything serious could go down.07. Mavs and Cavs
The fight broke out on court and suddenly, crowds were greeted to the site of Mark Cuban, owner of the Mavericks, rushing out into the fight. It was almost as if enlightenment hit Cuban just before he got into the melee. Cuban stopped short after suddenly realizing his lack of height and fighting ability amidst a court of well trained athletes who stood a few feet above him. Realizing that he was without his private jet, decided that punching these giants in their faces would be too much to ask of him. The fight probably stopped because everyone turned to Cuban and laughed.06. Knicks and Celtics, 1989
Charles Oakley probably had more fights than points in his rookie season. He got into a fight with Xavier McDaniels and while both players traded enough blows, the air around them was more seriously injured than either player. Clearly, boxing was never their strong point, hence the foray into basketball.05. Lakers and Bulls, 2002
Oakley makes a second appearance as he fouled on Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal got mad, didn’t know who the perpetrator was and swung wildly at just about anyone in a Bulls jersey standing near him. Luckily, no one got hurt!04. Lakers and Rockets, 1977
There was an argument between Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich. Just when it seemed that everything would be fine and people would go home happy, something happened that made people happier. Kermit punched Rudy in the face!03. Knicks and Heat, 1998
Van Gundy makes the list a second time although this time, he didn’t get punched. Alonzo Mourning got into a punch up and Van Gundy made it his life’s duty to stop his centre from getting into a punch-up. Five seconds later, a huge crowd of players had gathered around Mourning and Van Gundy, somewhere in the middle, hung on to Mourning’s leg for dear life. As Mourning walked around on court with an unwanted accessory, Van Gundy’s mom even couldn’t help but laugh at her son’s exploits.02. Celtics and Pistons, 1987
The fight began when Laimbeer took Larry Bird down on the court. Bird threw some punches but nothing seemed to happen, until the two got separated. Bird had the ball in hand and threw it straight at Laimbeer’s head, restarting the entire brawl. What had seemingly stopped, ended up becoming one of the greatest fights in the NBA.01. Pacers and Pistons, 2004
A drink was thrown at Ron Artest, so he decided to throw a punch – not the drinking kinds though! Players went into the stands and exchanged blows with the fans. Seats got torn out, faces got smashed in and at the front of it all was Ron Artest. The fight was unprecedented in the NBA and frankly, so was the punishment awarded to the players.
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