64-Player One-on-One NBA Legends vs. Current Stars Tourney, PF Edition

Here it is—the moment you've been waiting for. It's the final 64-player one-on-one tournament for the ages, and this time, it's the power forwards' turn to square off against each other.

What we have here is a tournament that matches 32 NBA power forward legends, in their prime, against 32 current NBA power forwards, in their prime, in brackets that mirror the exact setup of the NCAA March Madness tournament.

This classic tournament provides fans with matchups we have dreamed of seeing, like Kevin Garnett vs. Karl Malone, Shawn Kemp vs. Charles Barkley, Kevin Love vs. Elvin Hayes, Amar'e Stoudemire vs. Bob Pettit and many more.

The legends and current stars are split up into regional brackets based on the individual players' rankings that you will find on the next slide.

Can the Mailman run away with this crown, or is another player destined to steal it away from him?

How the Players Were Seeded

The NBA legends and current NBA stars were separated into 32-player pools, where they were ranked from No. 1 to 32.

Based on those rankings, I picked one legend, then one current star, then one legend, then one current star, and the rest of the selection process followed form until the entire bracket was filled.

Here are both the rankings of the NBA legends and the stars of today.

32-Player NBA Legend Rankings

No. 1 Karl Malone
No. 2 Charles Barkley
No. 3 Kevin McHale
No. 4 Bob Pettit
No. 5 Dennis Rodman
No. 6 Elvin Hayes
No. 7 Gus Johnson
No. 8 Dolph Schayes
No. 9 Jerry Lucas
No. 10 Shawn Kemp
No. 11 Connie Hawkins
No. 12 Clyde Lovellette
No. 13 David DeBusschere
No. 14 Rasheed Wallace
No. 15 Chris Webber
No. 16 Harry Gallatin
No. 17 Buck Williams
No. 18 Horace Grant
No. 19 Jermaine O'Neal
No. 20 Maurice Lucas
No. 21 Paul Silas
No. 22 Otis Thorpe
No. 23 Charles Oakley
No. 24 Anthony Mason
No. 25 Antoine Walker
No. 26 Derrick Coleman
No. 27 Cliff Robinson
No. 28 Larry Nance
No. 29 P.J. Brown
No. 30 Danny Manning
No. 31 Clifford Robinson
No. 32 Rick Mahorn

32-Player Current NBA Star Rankings

No. 1 Tim Duncan
No. 2 Kevin Garnett
No. 3 Dirk Nowitzki
No. 4 Kevin Love
No. 5 Pau Gasol
No. 6 Amar'e Stoudemire
No. 7 Blake Griffin
No. 8 Chris Bosh
No. 9 Josh Smith
No. 10 Zach Randolph
No. 11 Antawn Jamison
No. 12 Carlos Boozer
No. 13 David West
No. 14 Elton Brand
No. 15 David Lee
No. 16 DeMarcus Cousins
No. 17 Ryan Anderson
No. 18 Paul Millsap
No. 19 Luis Scola
No. 20 Al Harrington
No. 21 Kris Humphries
No. 22 Drew Gooden
No. 23 Brandon Bass
No. 24 Chandler Parsons
No. 25 DeJuan Blair
No. 26 Derrick Williams
No. 27 Serge Ibaka
No. 28 Taj Gibson
No. 29 Ersan Ilyasova
No. 30 Jonas Jerebko
No. 31 Amir Johnson
No. 32 Brian Scalabrine

Official Tournament Rules

It's all on you, "Big Fundamental." No refs here to bail you out.

Here are the official game rules for the NBA legends vs. current NBA stars one-on-one tournament:

1. Each game is to 25 points. A player must win by two points.
2. All shots are worth one point (like any true one-on-one game).
3. Fouls are called by the defender and result in a change of possession.
4. Shot clock is set at 24 seconds.
5. All defensive rebounds that aren't air balls must be taken back past the three-point line.
6. Game is "make-it-take-it" rules.

Now that the official rules have been set, let's move on to the player seedings.

Remember, this is about players in a one-on-one situation, not a ranking of greatest power forwards in NBA history.

North Division Seeding and Matchups

North Division Seeding

No. 1 Karl Malone
No. 2 Dirk Nowitzki
No. 3 Dennis Rodman
No. 4 Blake Griffin
No. 5 Jerry Lucas
No. 6 Antawn Jamison
No. 7 David DeBusschere
No. 8 David Lee
No. 9 Buck Williams
No. 10 Luis Scola
No. 11 Paul Silas
No. 12 Brandon Bass
No. 13 Antoine Walker
No. 14 Serge Ibaka
No. 15 P.J. Brown
No. 16 Amir Johnson

North Division First-Round Matchups

No. 1 Karl Malone vs. No. 16 Amir Johnson
No. 2 Dirk Nowitzki vs. No. 15 P.J. Brown
No. 3 Dennis Rodman vs. No. 14 Serge Ibaka
No. 4 Blake Griffin vs. No. 13 Antoine Walker
No. 5 Jerry Lucas vs. No. 12 Brandon Bass
No. 6 Antawn Jamison vs. No. 11 Paul Silas
No. 7 David DeBusschere vs. No. 10 Luis Scola
No. 8 David Lee vs. No. 11 Buck Williams 

South Division Seeding and Matchups

South Division Seeding

No. 1 Tim Duncan
No. 2 Kevin McHale
No. 3 Pau Gasol
No. 4 Gus Johnson
No. 5 Josh Smith
No. 6 Connie Hawkins
No. 7 David West
No. 8 Harry Gallatin
No. 9 Ryan Anderson
No. 10 Jermaine O'Neal
No. 11 Kris Humphries
No. 12 Charles Oakley
No. 13 DeJuan Blair
No. 14 Cliff Robinson
No. 15 Ersan Ilyasova
No. 16 Clifford Robinson

South Division First-Round Matchups

No. 1 Tim Duncan vs. No. 16 Clifford Robinson
No. 2 Kevin McHale vs. No. 15 Ersan Ilyasova
No. 3 Pau Gasol vs. No. 14 Cliff Robinson
No. 4 Gus Johnson vs. No. 13 DeJuan Blair
No. 5 Josh Smith vs. No. 12 Charles Oakley
No. 6 Connie Hawkins vs. No. 11 Kris Humphries
No. 7 David West vs. No. 10 Jermaine O'Neal
No. 8 Harry Gallatin vs. No. 9 Ryan Anderson 

East Division Seeding and Matchups

East Division Seeding

No. 1 Charles Barkley
No. 2 Kevin Love
No. 3 Elvin Hayes
No. 4 Chris Bosh
No. 5 Shawn Kemp
No. 6 Carlos Boozer
No. 7 Rasheed Wallace
No. 8 DeMarcus Cousins
No. 9 Horace Grant
No. 10 Al Harrington
No. 11 Otis Thorpe
No. 12 Chandler Parsons
No. 13 Derrick Coleman
No. 14 Taj Gibson
No. 15 Danny Manning
No. 16 Brian Scalabrine

East Division First-Round Matchups

No. 1 Charles Barkley vs. No. 16 Brian Scalabrine
No. 2 Kevin Love vs. No. 15 Danny Manning
No. 3 Elvin Hayes vs. No. 14 Taj Gibson
No. 4 Chris Bosh vs. No. 13 Derrick Coleman
No. 5 Shawn Kemp vs. No. 12 Chandler Parsons
No. 6 Carlos Boozer vs. No. 11 Otis Thorpe
No. 7 Rasheed Wallace vs. No. 10 Al Harrington
No. 8 DeMarcus Cousins vs. No. 9 Horace Grant 

West Division Seeding and Matchups

West Division Seeding

No. 1 Kevin Garnett
No. 2 Bob Pettit
No. 3 Amar'e Stoudemire
No. 4 Dolph Schayes
No. 5 Zach Randolph
No. 6 Clyde Lovellette
No. 7 Elton Brand
No. 8 Chris Webber
No. 9 Paul Millsap
No. 10 Maurice Lucas
No. 11 Drew Gooden
No. 12 Anthony Mason
No. 13 Derrick Williams
No. 14 Larry Nance
No. 15 Jonas Jerebko
No. 16 Rick Mahorn

West Division First-Round Matchups

No. 1 Kevin Garnett vs. No. 16 Rick Mahorn
No. 2 Bob Pettit vs. No. 15 Jonas Jerebko
No. 3 Amar'e Stoudemire vs. No. 14 Larry Nance
No. 4 Dolph Schayes vs. No. 13 Derrick Williams
No. 5 Zach Randolph vs. No. 12 Anthony Mason
No. 6 Clyde Lovellette vs. No. 11 Drew Gooden
No. 7 Elton Brand vs. No. 10 Maurice Lucas
No. 8 Chris Webber vs. No. 9 Paul Millsap 

North Division 1st Round: No. 1 Karl Malone vs. No. 16 Amir Johnson

The Mailman is here, everyone.

Karl Malone enters the tournament as the second all-time leading scorer in NBA history with a career total of 36,928 points.

Amir Johnson is a physical player, but there's absolutely no way that he will even stay competitive with Malone in this matchup that will ultimately end in a massive beatdown. Malone puts a stamp on Johnson and sends him home.

Karl Malone 25  Amir Johnson 4

North Division 1st Round: No. 2 Dirk Nowitzki vs. No. 15 P.J. Brown

Dirk Nowitzki enters the tournament as a No. 2 seed, and while he certainly has the advantage, he finds himself in a somewhat difficult first-round matchup with P.J. Brown.

Brown will give Nowitzki difficulty, only because of his defensive prowess and his size. Brown is almost seven feet tall, and with his massive wingspan, he will be able to contest Nowitzki's shots.

Unfortunately for Brown, he will find out just how unstoppable Nowitzki's shot is, as every NBA player today knows. Nowitzki wins here, as Brown won't be able to hang with him offensively.

Dirk Nowitzki 25  P.J. Brown 14

North Division 1st Round: No. 3 Dennis Rodman vs. No. 14 Serge Ibaka

Let the hating begin. Yes, I think Serge Ibaka would win in a one-on-one game against Dennis Rodman, so just hear me out.

Rodman doesn't have nearly the offensive touch and polish he needs to get the job done offensively against Ibaka. The one aspect of Ibaka's game that he's improved on is his mid-range jump shot, which is something that Rodman never truly had. Rodman's ineptitude on offense will ultimately be his downfall in this matchup.

Rodman's defense will make it extremely difficult for Ibaka to score, as Rodman is one of the best, if not the best, post defenders to ever play the game. Ibaka's athletic advantage will carry him to an upset here in an absolute bloodbath between two ridiculously physical players.

While this matchup will be the most physical matchup of the tournament, Ibaka has more versatility in his game, and ultimately that's why he gets the nod here.

Serge Ibaka 25  Dennis Rodman 19

North Division 1st Round: No. 4 Blake Griffin vs. No. 13 Antoine Walker

The Blake Show enters the tournament in a matchup against Antoine Walker—the one that played for the Celtics, not the one that plays in the D-League now.

Ultimately, Griffin's athleticism is going to be too much for Walker to handle. Walker is a prolific scorer, but his defensive pressure is subpar, to say the least.

Griffin will use his size advantage and his athletic advantage to overwhelm Walker on the offensive side of the ball. We will certainly see a number of rim-rattling jams and solid posterizations in this first-round beatdown.

Blake Griffin 25  Antoine Walker 14

North Division 1st Round: No. 5 Jerry Lucas vs. No. 12 Brandon Bass

Jerry Lucas was an absolute monster back in the day, averaging 17 points and 15.6 rebounds per game on his career.

While Brandon Bass is certainly a talented player, there's no doubt here that he won't be able to hang with Lucas, as the polish that Lucas has on his offensive skill set will be too much for Bass to handle.

Bass's physicality on defense will be a tough challenge for Lucas, but ultimately he will come out on top.

Jerry Lucas 25  Brandon Bass 15

North Division 1st Round: No. 6 Antawn Jamison vs. No. 11 Paul Silas

Unfortunately for Paul Silas, his play on the court during his NBA career is about as good as his coaching is with the Charlotte Bobcats, which isn't something to be proud of.

Silas was a solid role player, but the man he's going up against in Antawn Jamison is much more than that, and Jamison will prove why he's one of the best power forwards to ever play the game.

Jamison's post-up abilities and explosive agility to the rim off the dribble will be too much for Silas to handle. Silas might have the better basketball brain, as he's a head coach in the NBA, but there's no doubting the fact that Jamison is the better one-on-one player.

Antawn Jamison 25  Paul Silas 13

North Division 1st Round: No. 7 David DeBusschere vs. No. 10 Luis Scola

Luis Scola is the kind of disciplined, tough-nosed, all-hustle player that everyone in the NBA hates to play against. Scola's tenacity on the defensive side of the ball will be the difference-maker in this matchup against NBA great David DeBusschere.

DeBusschere and Scola have similar styles as players, as they both lead with tenacity and let their hustle take over the game.

Scola's three-inch height advantage will be too much for DeBusschere to overcome, as Scola has the slight advantage on the defensive side of the ball. Scola scores the first-round upset here over the only player on this list to play in both the NBA and MLB (DeBusschere pitched for the White Sox).

Luis Scola 25  David DeBusschere 22

North Division 1st Round: No. 8 David Lee vs. No. 9 Buck Williams

David Lee and Buck Williams are two very similar players. While Lee has the slight size advantage, Williams has the slight overall advantage, as he is the more complete defensive player of the two.

Lee is known for his athleticism and versatility at the power forward position, which is exactly what Williams is known for as well. While Williams' career tapered off at the end due to injuries, during his best days he was consistently producing at an 18 points and 12 rebounds per game level.

Lee's ability to stretch the court will be hard to stop, but Williams, with his four NBA All-Defensive first/second-team honors, will be up to the task. Williams scores the minor upset here in a highly contested matchup.

Buck Williams 25  David Lee 20

South Division 1st Round: No. 1 Tim Duncan vs. No. 16 Clifford Robinson

The Big Fundamental enters the tournament as a No. 1 seed, but that doesn't mean he has an easy first-round matchup.

Tim Duncan against Clifford Robinson is something that we've seen before, as they have played against each other. The only difference is that during those matchups Robinson wasn't in his prime. At his prime, Robinson was averaging around 20 points per game, which is a far cry from his 14 points per game career average.

While Robinson can score, the one thing that will hold him back here is his lack of focus on the defensive side of the ball. Duncan will teach Robinson why it's important to be more than a scorer in the NBA, as his "completeness" carries him to a close win over the upset-minded Robinson.

Tim Duncan 25  Clifford Robinson 19

South Division 1st Round: No. 2 Kevin McHale vs. No. 15 Ersan Ilyasova

Ersan Ilyasova is a solid prospect in the NBA, but he's not even close to being on the same level as Kevin McHale, who will show him what it looks like to be a well-rounded player.

McHale will dominate Ilyasova in nearly every aspect of the game, as he's just too complete of a player for the young Ilyasova to hang with.

The biggest difference-maker here will be McHale's tenacity on the defensive side of the ball, which will carry him to an easy first-round win over Ilyasova.

Kevin McHale 25  Ersan Ilyasova 12

South Division 1st Round: No. 3 Pau Gasol vs. No. 14 Cliff Robinson

No, it's not a typo. Cliff Robinson is a different player than Clifford Robinson, believe it or not.

Either way, Pau Gasol will make sure that no Cliff/Clifford Robinson makes it out of the first round, as he will absolutely dominate Robinson in this matchup.

Robinson is a solid scorer, with a career average of 17.2 points per game, but he lacks the intensity on the defensive side of the ball that it will take to knock out a complete player like Gasol. Gasol's seven-foot frame will be too much for Robinson to handle, as he's sent home early in this tournament.

Pau Gasol 25  Cliff Robinson 14

South Division 1st Round: No. 4 Gus Johnson vs. No. 13 DeJuan Blair

The infamous Gus "Honeycomb" Johnson enters the tournament in a winnable, albeit challenging, first-round matchup against DeJuan Blair.

Johnson is certainly one of the more undervalued players in NBA history, as the way he plays the game is similar to the way players play the game today. Johnson was ahead of his time, as he led with athleticism and versatility in a time dominated by fundamental and basic skill.

DeJuan Blair's tenacity on the defensive side of the ball will be a difficult challenge for Johnson, but it won't be one that he can't overcome, as he will use his agility to outlast Blair in this first-round matchup.

Gus Johnson 25  DeJuan Blair 16

South Division 1st Round: No. 5 Josh Smith vs. No. 12 Charles Oakley

Josh Smith is a player to keep your eyes on in this tournament, as he is a rare mix of size, speed and strength, which is a deadly combination in a one-on-one tournament.

Charles Oakley will certainly be a difficult challenge for Smith, as Oakley is one of the most physical defenders to ever play the game.

What will hold Oakley back in this matchup is the difficulty he will have trying to score consistently over Smith.

Smith is one of the best shot-blockers in the game, and he's one of the most versatile defenders in the game too. Smith will overwhelm Oakley on the offensive side of the ball, ultimately earning an impressive first-round win.

Josh Smith 25  Charles Oakley 11

South Division 1st Round: No. 6 Connie Hawkins vs. No. 11 Kris Humphries

Connie Hawkins enters the tournament against Mr. Kardashian.

In his prime, Hawkins was the kind of talent that averaged 30-plus points per game, and while his career tapered off rather quickly, it doesn't change the fact that at one time he was an elite scorer, especially during his years in the ABA.

While Humphries will keep this matchup close with his impressive offensive skill, Hawkins' Fu Manchu will ultimately be too much for him to handle, as Hawkins' offensive prowess will be too much for Humphries to handle on the defensive side of the ball.

Sorry, Kris, you've got to go home, but at least you don't have to go home to Kim Kardashian. Actually, that's sad too.

Connie Hawkins 25  Kris Humphries 20

South Division 1st Round: No. 7 David West vs. No. 10 Jermaine O'Neal

I listed Jermaine O'Neal in the legends portion of this tournament because there's a very high likelihood that he won't play another game in the NBA.

With that being said, Jermaine O'Neal in his prime was the kind of player that would put up averages of 22 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game every season. That's the Jermaine O'Neal that I'm referring too—just as a heads-up.

David West is a solid player and a physical defender, but he won't be able to handle O'Neal's lengthy seven-foot frame. With a first-round upset of West, O'Neal makes some waves in the tournament and lets everyone know that he's a legitimate contender in this tournament. Watch out, McHale; O'Neal is coming for you.

Jermaine O'Neal 25  David West 20

South Division 1st Round: No. 8 Harry Gallatin vs. No. 9 Ryan Anderson

While Harry Gallatin is a Hall of Famer, that doesn't mean that he will be able to hang with Ryan Anderson.

Anderson has the advantage in this matchup, as he has more versatility in his game based on the fact that he's one of the best three-point shooters in the league.

Anderson's four-inch and 30-pound advantage will also be tough for Gallatin to overcome, as Gallatin just doesn't have the physicality in his game that it will take to knock off Anderson in this first-round matchup. Anderson heads into a second-round matchup with Tim "The Big Fundamental" Duncan, which is going to be a much more difficult challenge than this one.

Ryan Anderson 25  Harry Gallatin 17

East Division 1st Round: No. 1 Charles Barkley vs. No. 16 Brian Scalabrine

The Round Mount of Rebound enters the tournament in an absolutely epic matchup against none other than Brian Scalabrine.

Scalabrine vs. Barkley is a matchup that fans would love to see, not because it would be competitive, but because it would be fun to watch Barkley beat up on the White Mamba.

Barkley is not only one of the best rebounders in the game, he's also one of the most productive scorers, and Scalabrine won't be nearly effective enough at stopping him, especially in the paint.

Scalabrine will be lucky if he even gets two points in this first-round beatdown.

Sir Charles 25  Brian Scalabrine 2

East Division 1st Round: No. 2 Kevin Love vs. No. 15 Danny Manning

Kevin Love against Danny Manning will be a much closer matchup than you might think.

While Love clearly has the advantage when it comes to long-range ability, Manning has the advantage on the defensive side of the ball.

Manning is also a prolific scorer at the power forward position with a few seasons in the 20-plus points per game realm.

The main reason why Love wins this matchup is because he has the ability to spread the court more than Manning does, and that will ultimately be Manning's downfall. Love escapes a close, first-round upset, relying on his long-range shooting to get him into the second round.

Kevin Love 25  Danny Manning 20

East Division 1st Round: No. 3 Elvin Hayes vs. No. 14 Taj Gibson

Elvin Hayes finds himself in an interesting first-round matchup with Taj Gibson.

Hayes' biggest strength is his physicality on the offensive side of the ball, as he overwhelms defenders with his size and strength. Gibson, however, won't be overwhelmed by his size, as he goes up against players like Hayes every night of the week.

The one advantage that Hayes has over Gibson, though, is the polish on his mid-range jumper, which will be the reason why he escapes out of the first round. Gibson's athleticism will help him remain competitive in this matchup, but it won't be enough to score him the first-round upset. Hayes, ultimately, is just too much for Gibson to handle. Nice try, though.

Elvin Hayes 25  Taj Gibson 19

East Division 1st Round: No. 4 Chris Bosh vs. No. 13 Derrick Coleman

In all honesty, Derrick Coleman was Chris Bosh before there was a Chris Bosh.

The main difference between Coleman and Bosh is the fact that Coleman plays the game with an increased level of physicality and toughness, which will ultimately be the reason why he scores the biggest upset of the tournament so far.

Coleman, with his ability to hit mid-range jumpers off the dribble, will be too much for Bosh to handle on the defensive side of the ball. There's no doubt that this matchup will be close, but in his prime Coleman was quite a tough player to handle, and Bosh will quickly learn that.

Coleman's toughness on the defensive side off the ball will be tough for Bosh to overcome as well. In a close matchup, the advantage always goes to the more physical player, and this time that player is Coleman.

Derrick Coleman 25  Chris Bosh 22

East Division 1st Round: No. 5 Shawn Kemp vs. No. 12 Chandler Parsons

Shawn "The Reign Man" Kemp enters the tournament facing off against Chandler Parsons, who he will have absolutely no trouble dominating.

Kemp is known for his freakish athleticism, his insane number of children to different women and his ability to dominate in the paint. While that second one doesn't matter in this matchup, Parsons certainly won't be able to hang with the power and strength of Kemp.

Early on, Parsons will be able to get a few buckets, as his perimeter game will be difficult for Kemp at first. Once Kemp decides to take the game over, however, there's no doubting that he will absolutely dominate every aspect of the game. With a huge win, Kemp shows that he's ready to take on the best of the best in this tournament.

Keep your eyes on the Reign Man in the next few matchups.

Shawn Kemp 25  Chandler Parsons 8

East Division 1st Round: No. 6 Carlos Boozer vs. No. 11 Otis Thorpe

Otis Thorpe and Carlos Boozer are somewhat similar players, as they both are around 6'9'' and both know how to score as they post up aptly-sized defenders.

The one advantage that Carlos Boozer has over Thorpe is his nearly 40-lb size advantage, and that's the major reason why he will overcome Thorpe in this first-round matchup.

Thorpe just isn't strong enough to hang with Boozer, and while he has legitimate offensive talent, it's not on the same level as Boozer, who's the more complete player of the two. Boozer will come out on top here in a close one.

Carlos Boozer 25  Otis Thorpe 21

East Division 1st Round: No. 7 Rasheed Wallace vs. No. 10 Al Harrington

The king of technical fouls enters the tournament in a first-round matchup with Al Harrington.

When you think of Rasheed Wallace, I want you to think of the beastly Trail Blazers version of him, not the soft Celtics version that just stayed at the three-point line and jacked up low-percentage shots.

With that being said, Wallace certainly has the advantage in this matchup with his 6'10" and 225-lb frame and his ability to frustrate players on the defensive side of the ball. Wallace will absolutely frustrate Harrington throughout the game, and without refs to "T" him up, Wallace's intensity will be his greatest asset.

Wallace scores this first-round win over Harrington with tenacity and a few timely three-balls as well.

Rasheed Wallace 25  Al Harrington 15

East Division 1st Round: No. 8 DeMarcus Cousins vs. No. 9 Horace Grant

Who's that sexy guy with the glasses in the picture that helped Michael Jordan win quite a few of his NBA championships?

That's right; it's time for some Ho-Grant, and he's ready to make a splash in the tournament. Grant finds himself in a tough first-round matchup with DeMarcus Cousins, a player who is more versatile than him.

What Grant has in his game that will help him score this impressive first-round upset is the fact that he's a tenacious defender. While Cousins is the better offensive player of the two, Grant's focus on defense will frustrate him and take him out of his game.

Ho-Grant ultimately scores a decent upset over Cousins, as he shows Cousins why being a complete player is such an important thing in the NBA.

Horace Grant 25  DeMarcus Cousins 21

West Division 1st Round: No. 1 Kevin Garnett vs. No. 16 Rick Mahorn

The final No. 1 seed in this tournament is none other than the "Big Ticket" himself, Kevin Garnett.

I'm not talking about the Celtics' KG—I'm talking about the KG from Minnesota that put up 22-plus point per game averages in quite a few seasons.

While Rick Mahorn was a solid player in his own right, there's absolutely no way that he can even dream of hanging with Garnett, as Garnett is just too explosive of a player for him to deal with. Mahorn will be lucky if he even manages to score above five points in this matchup.

Ultimately, Garnett's versatility and explosive athleticism will be too much for the outmatched Mahorn to handle. The Big Ticket moves on to the second round of this tournament with an easy win.

Kevin Garnett 25  Rick Mahorn 4

West Division 1st Round: No. 2 Bob Pettit vs. No. 15 Jonas Jerebko

Bob Pettit finds himself in an easily winnable matchup with Jonas Jerebko in the first round of this tournament.

Pettit, with a career average of 26.4 points per game, is one of the most offensively consistent and explosive power forwards to ever play the game, and that's why Jerebko won't be able to hang with him.

The two-time NBA MVP will dominate nearly every aspect of this game, as Jerebko doesn't have nearly enough polish on his offensive game. Jerebko might be able to get a nice dunk or two in there on Pettit, but that's about it. Pettit scores the easy win over Jerebko to move on to the second round of this tournament.

Bob Pettit 25  Jonas Jerebko 7

West Division 1st Round: No. 3 Amar'e Stoudemire vs. No. 14 Larry Nance

The Amar'e Stoudemire that enters this tournament isn't the one on the Knicks that thinks defense is optional. It's the Amar'e that played for the Suns and dominated the league for a few years with his ability to overpower players in the paint.

With that being said, Amar'e has a tough matchup with Larry Nance that will undoubtedly be a close and highly contested matchup the whole way throughout.

Nance, with career averages of 17.1 points and 2.2 blocks per game, will put up a fight against Stoudemire with his ability to hit mini-hooks in the paint. To win this game, Amar'e will need to step up his game on the defensive end, and he will do just that. Amar'e makes it out of the first round with a big win over the upset-minded Nance by doing what he used to as a member of the Suns—play defense.

Amare Stoudemire 25  Larry Nance 21

West Division 1st Round: No. 4 Dolph Schayes vs. No. 13 Derrick Williams

Dolph Schayes, at 6'7" and only 195 lbs, is a somewhat undersized power forward, and he will certainly have his hands full against the bigger and more athletic Derrick Williams.

Schayes, however, has time on his side, as Williams hasn't had enough time in the league to develop polish and efficiency in his offensive game, and that will be his biggest downfall when he matches up against Schayes.

Schayes' ability to play the game in a fundamental way will outclass Williams' athletic abilities, and while Williams will be able to hurt Schayes on the perimeter, ultimately Schayes' solidified defensive skill will prove too much for Williams to handle.

Schayes' lack of size doesn't hurt him in this first-round matchup, but it very well could in his next matchup.

Dolph Schayes 25  Derrick Williams 18

West Division 1st Round: No. 5 Zach Randolph vs. No. 12 Anthony Mason

Here's a matchup that could certainly end in an all-out brawl between Zach Randolph and Anthony Mason.

I really wanted to pick Mason in the upset win here, but I just couldn't rationalize how he would be able to score 25 points against Randolph. Mason is a solid defender and rebounder, but he lacks the offensive polish that he needs to excel in his style of a game.

Randolph's offensive talents, which include an impressive ability to step out and hit long-range shots, will be too much for Mason to handle. While Mason's defense will be staunch throughout, there's no doubt that his defense alone can't carry him to the winner's circle. Randolph comes out bruised and beaten, but he's ultimately the winner in this first-round matchup.

Zach Randolph 25  Anthony Mason 16

West Division 1st Round: No. 6 Clyde Lovellette vs. No. 11 Drew Gooden

Clyde Lovellette against Drew Gooden is an interesting matchup, as both players are about the same size and both have an impressive ability to bang in the paint.

The only difference between these players is that Lovellette is a more prolific scorer between the two, as he has a career average of 17 points per game as compared to Gooden's average of just 12 points.

Gooden is a good defender, and he will able to hang with Lovellette; there's no doubt about that. The only problem he will have is trying to score the number of points he needs against such a solid defender.

Lovellette's defensive presence alone will overwhelm Gooden, which will keep him from scoring the first-round upset here.

Clyde Lovellette 25  Drew Gooden 14

West Division 1st Round: No. 7 Elton Brand vs. No. 10 Maurice Lucas

Elton Brand enters the tournament in a first-round matchup against Maurice Lucas, and when I'm talking about Brand, I'm referring to the pre-injury-ridden version of him that played with the Los Angeles Clippers.

When Brand was healthy, back in the day, he was a prolific scorer with averages of 20-plus points per game on the season. Lucas, on the other hand, was a solid scorer, but he was never quite on the same level of Brand.

Both players will give each other fits on the defensive side of the ball, with Lucas arguably having the advantage in that aspect of the game.

The real difference-maker in this matchup is going to be Brand's ability to overpower players in the paint, which is how he will score the first-round win over Lucas.

Elton Brand 25  Maurice Lucas 21

West Division 1st Round: No. 8 Chris Webber vs. No. 9 Paul Millsap

Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III, better known as Chris Webber, enters the tournament in a first-round matchup against Paul Millsap.

Mr. "I forgot how many timeouts we had" fortunately won't have to worry about timeouts in this one-on-one game, as all he has to focus on is outplaying the smaller and less physical Millsap.

In his glory days with the Sacramento Kings, Webber put together five back-to-back 22-plus points per game seasons, which is quite an impressive feat. Millsap won't be able to handle Webber's versatility and his ability to absolutely dominate on the defensive side of the ball.

Webber will be too much for Millsap to handle throughout the majority of this matchup, as Webber scores the first-round win and moves on to get the final spot in the second round of this epic tournament.

Chris Webber 25  Paul Millsap 11

North Division 2nd Round: No. 1 Karl Malone vs. No. 8 Buck Williams

Karl Malone averaged less than 20 points per game only two times in his 19-year NBA career, which is a ridiculously impressive feat. That also just so happens to be the reason why he's the second-highest scorer in league history.

With that being said, Buck Williams certainly has his hands full in this matchup. There's no realistic way that Williams, who is also the smaller player of the two, will be able to hang with the Mailman throughout this matchup.

Malone's physicality and his dominance in the paint will be too much for Williams to handle. Malone's post-up game is one of the best in the game, and it's the main reason why he will run all over Williams in the first matchup of the second round.

Karl Malone 25  Buck Williams 13

North Division 2nd Round: No. 2 Dirk Nowitzki vs. No. 10 Luis Scola

Dirk Nowitzki and Luis Scola have faced off numerous times in the NBA. It's safe to say that nine times out of 10, Nowitzki gets the better of Scola, and that's exactly what will happen in this one-on-one matchup.

Scola will certainly play Nowitzki physically throughout the matchup, but there's no way that Scola will overpower him defensively speaking. Nowitzki's silky-smooth jumper will be too much for Scola, as he will use and abuse him out on the perimeter for the majority of the matchup.

With a second-round win over Scola, Nowitzki moves one step closer to an inevitable faceoff with Karl Malone for the North Division's spot in the Final Four.

Dirk Nowitzki 25  Luis Scola 17

North Division 2nd Round: No. 5 Jerry Lucas vs. No. 4 Blake Griffin

Jerry Lucas and Blake Griffin aren't necessarily similar players, as Griffin leads with athleticism and Lucas leads with a certain level of polish in his offensive game that Griffin doesn't have.

While that offensive polish may have been to Lucas' advantage in the first round, it certainly won't be enough, in and of itself, to carry Lucas past Griffin in this matchup.

Griffin's physicality and athletic advantage will be too much for Lucas to overcome, as he won't be able to guard Griffin as he's driving into the paint. Griffin's freakish athletic ability will be at the foundation of him moving into the Sweet 16, as his skill relies purely on being able to overpower and out-jump Lucas in the paint.

Griffin fights off a second-round upset by scraping out a hard-fought win against Lucas.

Blake Griffin 25  Jerry Lucas 22

North Division 2nd Round: No. 6 Antawn Jamison vs. No. 14 Serge Ibaka

The offensive polish that Dennis Rodman lacked in his first-round loss to Serge Ibaka exists in Antawn Jamison's game, and it will be at the foundation of why he's able to knock off the upset-minded Serge Ibaka.

While Ibaka has the clear defensive edge here, Jamison has a complete offensive skill set that includes an ability to stretch the court with his long-range jumper.

The amount that Jamison makes Ibaka work on the defensive end will take away from Ibaka's ability to be explosive in his offensive game, and that will ultimately be the difference-maker here. Jamison will wear Ibaka out in what will be a tough-nosed battle for a spot in the Sweet 16.

Antawn Jamison 25  Serge Ibaka 19

South Division 2nd Round: No. 1 Tim Duncan vs. No. 9 Ryan Anderson

Tim Duncan couldn't beat Ryan Anderson with his jersey over his head, but he certainly could come close.

While Anderson has the advantage when it comes to longer-range shooting, there's no doubt that Duncan is the more complete player of the two, especially when it comes to pure post moves.

Duncan, the eight-time NBA All-Defensive First Team player, will certainly be able to handle Anderson when he's within the perimeter, which will be to Duncan's advantage. Out on the perimeter is where Anderson will keep this game somewhat close early on. Ultimately, Duncan will force Anderson to beat him in the paint, and he won't be able to do that.

Duncan punches his ticket to the Sweet 16 with a solid win over Anderson.

Tim Duncan 25  Ryan Anderson 12 

South Division 2nd Round: No. 2 Kevin McHale vs. No. 10 Jermaine O'Neal

Just a reminder: The Jermaine O'Neal in this tournament, as every other player is, is in his prime, which is the version of O'Neal that played for the Indiana Pacers.

While a lot of fans will be upset that Kevin McHale is knocked out so early on by Jermaine O'Neal, when you break down the one-on-one matchup, it makes sense. O'Neal is not only the more productive offensive player, he's also the more offensively explosive player.

With a solid turnaround jumper that comes out of his post moves, O'Neal will be able to abuse McHale in the paint. O'Neal also has the athletic advantage, as he's a bigger player than McHale, and he's also a more agile player. The big difference-maker in this matchup will be O'Neal's ability to defend McHale on the perimeter.

O'Neal will score another huge upset, as he knocks off Kevin McHale in impressive fashion, proving that, in his prime, he is one of the better power forwards to have played the game.

Jermaine O'Neal 25  Kevin McHale 21

South Division 2nd Round: No. 3 Pau Gasol vs. No. 6 Connie Hawkins

Connie Hawkins' run in this tournament sadly is going to come to an end at the hands of Pau Gasol.

Not only is Gasol the bigger player, with a four-inch and 40-lb size advantage, he's also the more complete player on both ends of the ball, as he has a smooth jump shot that will be hard for Hawkins to guard, and he will give Hawkins a lot of trouble when he has the ball in his hands.

Hawkins is a solid talent, but he's not on the same level as Gasol, as Gasol will push Hawkins around for the majority of this matchup.

While Hawkins is a Hall of Fame player, it doesn't mean that he can hang with the players that play today. Gasol will show that he's ready to be taken seriously in this tournament with a dominant win over Hawkins.

Pau Gasol 25  Connie Hawkins 16

South Division 2nd Round: No. 4 Gus Johnson vs. No. 5 Josh Smith

Gus Johnson and Josh Smith are nearly identical players, as they both bring a ridiculous level of athleticism to the game on both sides of the ball.

Johnson, who's a member of the Hall of Fame, got to the rim as good as, if not better than, every player in his day, and that's the kind of player Smith is as well.

The difference-maker here will be which player will come out as the more efficient shooter, and that player is Smith, with a career shooting percentage of 46.4 percent, as compared to Johnson's average of 44 percent.

In a game that will certainly come down to the wire, with both players beaten and bruised, Smith's ability to block and contest shots will also help him come out victorious. With an impressive upset win over Johnson, Smith becomes a truly legitimate contender in this tournament.

Josh Smith 29  Gus Johnson 27 

East Division 2nd Round: No. 1 Charles Barkley vs. No. 9 Horace Grant

Sir Charles kicks off the second round with an easily winnable game against Horace Grant.

The defensive advantage in this matchup goes to Ho-Grant, who earned his paychecks in the NBA by frustrating defenders every night of the week.

On the other side, though, Barkley is the much more competent and much more complete offensive talent, and his offensive prowess will ultimately be way too much for Grant to handle.

While Ho-Grant has a sizable height advantage, Barkley has the weight advantage, and he will use that to bang Grant around in the paint for the majority of this matchup. Ultimately, Barkley's bruising style of play will be too much for Grant to overcome. Sir Charles punches his ticket to the Sweet 16 courtesy of a Ho-Grant beatdown.

Charles Barkley 25  Horace Grant 14

East Division 2nd Round: No. 2 Kevin Love vs. No. 7 Rasheed Wallace

Kevin Love against Rasheed Wallace will be an absolutely physical battle between two players that hate to lose, although one of them, Love, is at least more used to it.

Wallace will frustrate Love all night long with his bruising style of defense. With no one to call technical fouls on 'Sheed, Love might very well just have to stomp on his face Luis Scola style.

Seriously, though, the difference-maker in this game is the fundamental offensive skill set that exists in Love's game. While he might be boring to watch at times, Love understand the game on a deep level, and he knows how to beat players with a focus on his fundamental post moves.

While Wallace will make this as close as you can get, Love's ability to stretch the court with his long-range shooting will be the deciding factor in this exciting and physical second-round matchup.

Kevin Love 25  Rasheed Wallace 23

East Division 2nd Round: No. 3 Elvin Hayes vs. No. 6 Carlos Boozer

Elvin Hayes and Carlos Boozer are the same height, at 6'9", but Boozer has the decided size advantage here, as he weighs in at 265 lbs as compared to Hayes, who weighs in at just 225 lbs.

Unfortunately in this matchup Boozer's size will be to his disadvantage, as Hayes is hands down the faster and more athletic player of the two.

Hayes will use his athletic ability to frustrate Boozer on the defensive side of the ball, while also using his athleticism to get past Boozer on the offensive side of the ball as well.

Boozer will keep this matchup close, as he'll back down Hayes in the paint quite a few times. Ultimately, though, Hayes will come out on top, as his strength and versatility will help him rise to the top.

Elvin Hayes 25  Carlos Boozer 19

East Division 2nd Round: No. 5 Shawn Kemp vs. No. 13 Derrick Coleman

Shawn Kemp and Derrick Coleman are nearly identically-sized players, both measuring 6'10" and 230 lbs.

The biggest difference in the way that Kemp and Coleman play the game, though, is found in the efficiency that exists within Kemp's game that doesn't exist in Coleman's game.

Coleman was a 44.7 percent shooter for his career, whereas Kemp was a 48.8 percent shooter. That difference between both players is fueled by Kemp's ability to get to the rim and create high-percentage shots for himself.

Coleman won't be able to handle the Reign Man's explosive athletic ability, especially when Kemp is driving from the perimeter. Ultimately, Kemp will be too much for Coleman, earning a spot in the Sweet 16 to face off against the Round Mound of Rebound himself—Sir Charles Barkley.

Shawn Kemp 25  Derrick Coleman 18

West Division 2nd Round: No. 1 Kevin Garnett vs. No. 8 Chris Webber

Well, this picture perfectly depicts what is going to happen in this second-round matchup between Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber.

Garnett will outplay Webber, just like he did for the majority of the time both superstars faced off against each other.

While Garnett has the height advantage and Webber has the size advantage, the difference-maker in this matchup will be which player brings more physicality and tenacity to the defensive side of the ball. If you've ever watched Garnett play, you'll know that he's exactly that player.

Not only will Garnett win this matchup with his defensive prowess, he will also win because of the range of his game. This second-round matchup will be highly contested and extremely close, but ultimately, Garnett moves on to the Sweet 16.

Kevin Garnett 31  Chris Webber 29 

West Division 2nd Round: No. 2 Bob Pettit vs. No. 7 Elton Brand

Much like in his first-round matchup against Jonas Jerebko, Pettit's pure offensive ability carry him against Elton Brand, who's not quite as efficient a player as Pettit.

Pettit's impressive 26.4 career points-per-game average dwarfs most other players on this list. He'll win in this tournament until he goes up against a player who can outplay him with physical size and strength on the defensive side of the ball.

While Brand is a solid power forward, there's no doubt that Pettit's pure ability to score will be too much for him to handle on the defensive side of the ball, which is certainly Brand's glaring weakness here.

Stopping Pettit will be too difficult of a task for Brand, who will be sent home after a second-round beatdown.

Bob Pettit 25  Elton Brand 15

West Division 2nd Round: No. 3 Amar'e Stoudemire vs. No. 6 Clyde Lovellette

Amar'e Stoudemire against Clyde Lovellette is a matchup that will come down to the wire, as both players have a similar level of athleticism and versatility in their game.

While Lovellette is arguably the better defender here, he won't be able to dominate Stoudemire on the defensive side of the ball because Stoudemire has a 50-lb size advantage over him

Stoudemire will use this advantage to back Lovellette down in the paint, trying to create high-percentage shots for himself close to or inside the paint.

Lovellette's athleticism will keep him in this game, but ultimately, Stoudemire's turnaround jumper will be too much for him to handle. Stoudemire puts an end to Lovellette's solid run in this tournament.

Amare Stoudemire 25  Clyde Lovellette 19

West Division 2nd Round: No. 4 Dolph Schayes vs. No. 5 Zach Randolph

Zach Randolph will absolutely dominate Dolph Schayes in this matchup, as he has a two-inch height advantage as well as a 65-lb size advantage.

Schayes is certainly a competent player, but going up against a player the size of Randolph will throw off his fundamental style.

Schayes is a 38 percent career shooter, which is shocking to say the least. That alone will be reason enough that Randolph will run all over him, as it means that Randolph doesn't have to play nearly the defense he would against a player who's a better shooter.

Z-Bo scores a big second-round upset as he moves past Schayes and into the Sweet 16, thanks to his smooth jumper and Schayes' inability to play against much larger players.

Zach Randolph 25  Dolph Schayes 12

Sweet 16: No. 1 Karl Malone vs. No. 4 Blake Griffin

In this Sweet 16 matchup between The Mailman and the Blake Show, Karl Malone will give Blake Griffin a big lesson in why it's important to be a complete player in the NBA.

Malone will absolutely abuse Griffin in the paint and in his post-up game, as that's where Malone's strength lies.

While Griffin will be able to score some buckets against Malone, using his athletic advantage to get to the rim, there's no doubt that Malone will dominate this matchup from the start. 

Malone is too complete of a player, as he won't let the younger and less-polished Griffin outshine him in this one-on-one tournament. The Mailman punches the first Elite Eight ticket with an impressive win against Griffin.

Karl Malone 25  Blake Griffin 14

Sweet 16: No. 2 Dirk Nowitzki vs. No. 6 Antawn Jamison

Dirk Nowitzki against Antawn Jamison is a matchup that will be closer than you might think, as Jamison's offensive abilities will keep him in the game.

The difference-maker in this one will be Jamison's inability to defend Nowitzki's fadeaway jumper, as it's nearly impossible to stop—especially for a shorter player.

Nowitzki will be able to hit his patented mid- to long-range shot more often than Jamison is able to hit his, and he will also be able to get to the rim with more ease than Jamison.

Nowitzki has the defensive advantage, as he has a four-inch advantage over the smaller Jamison. With an impressive win over a solid power forward, Nowitzki further solidifies himself as one of the top contenders in this tournament.

Dirk Nowitzki 25  Antawn Jamison 18  

Sweet 16: No. 1 Tim Duncan vs. No. 5 Josh Smith

While Tim Duncan has the clear size advantage over Josh Smith, to the tune of two inches and 25 lbs, there's no doubt that Smith has the athletic advantage. That's what will carry him in this matchup.

Smith will overwhelm Duncan in a one-on-one situation, as Smith has too much versatility and range in his game for Duncan to handle.

Duncan is the more efficient offensive player, with a career shooting percentage of 50.7 percent, as compared to Smith's 46.7 percent average. However, Smith's athletic defensive abilities will help minimize that advantage.

Smith, who is one of the most athletic defenders in the game and one of the best shot-blockers too, will be able to create low-percentage shots for Duncan as he will contest a majority of his shots. Offensively, Smith's athleticism will be too much for Duncan to handle, especially on the perimeter. Smith sends the first No. 1 seed packing with the biggest upset of the tournament so far.

Josh Smith 25  Tim Duncan 21

Sweet 16: No. 3 Pau Gasol vs. No. 10 Jermaine O'Neal

Jermaine O'Neal and Pau Gasol are two similarly sized players, both weighing in at around 7'0" tall and 250 lbs.

We've all seen how Gasol struggles against players that are his size or bigger who have legitimate athletic talent, and that's the kind of player that O'Neal is.

In his days with the Pacers, O'Neal was an absolute beast in the 15- to 20-foot range, as he would hit his turnaround jumper with a scary level of ease. While Gasol might be able to defend his post-up game, he won't be able to guard O'Neal when he's slashing to the rim from the perimeter.

The athletic advantage that O'Neal has will overwhelm Gasol early and often, which will lead to the second major upset of the Sweet 16. O'Neal punches his ticket to the Elite Eight and continues his Cinderella story with a huge win over Gasol.

Jermaine O'Neal 25  Pau Gasol 19 

Sweet 16: No. 1 Charles Barkley vs. No. 5 Shawn Kemp

This matchup is a real toss-up. Barkley is the more efficient player, with a ridiculous career shooting percentage of 54.1 percent, as compared to Kemp's percentage of just 48.8 percent.

On one hand, Kemp has the athletic advantage as well as a four-inch height advantage, whereas Barkley has a 25-lb weight advantage and a more polished post-up/backdown game.

While Barkley might very well be the better team player, Kemp is the more versatile player. He's better at getting to the rim than Barkley, and that's why he gets the nod in this enormous Sweet 16 upset.

This game will be brutal on both ends, as both players will try to strong-arm the other. Kemp gets the advantage on the defense end, as his athleticism will help him contest more shots than Barkley.

The Reign Man solidifies himself in this tournament as one of the top players to beat as he scores a ridiculously close and highly contested upset of Sir Charles Barkley. 

Shawn Kemp 30  Charles Barkley 28 

Sweet 16: No. 2 Kevin Love vs. No. 3 Elvin Hayes

Here's another matchup that will certainly come down to the wire, as both players have unique abilities that set them apart from the rest of the pack.

Kevin Love has an impressive ability to spread the floor with his long-range shooting stroke that's earned him a career 37.2 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

Elvin Hayes, on the other hand, is one of the more athletically gifted power forwards to play the game, as he has an impressive ability to get to the rim.

Both players have what it takes to come out on top in this matchup, but the nod goes to Love, who has a 35-lb size advantage and is able to shoot the ball from nearly anywhere on the court. Love's range is the main reason why he will make it out of the Sweet 16 and into the Elite Eight.

Kevin Love 25  Elvin Hayes 22

Sweet 16: No. 1 Kevin Garnett vs. No. 5 Zach Randolph

It may be another story today, but the Timberwolves version of Kevin Garnett would overwhelm Zach Randolph.

Both players have an impressive ability to step out of the paint and hit mid- to long-range jumpers, and that's why this matchup will be close throughout. 

The main difference here isn't Garnett's athletic advantage or his efficiency when it comes to shooting the ball. KG's advantage here is the tenacity that he brings to the defensive side of the ball.

Garnett's athletic defensive abilities will allow him to beat Randolph to the spot on nearly every play late in the game. As always, Garnett's emotional intensity will be the fuel to his fire, as he overcomes Z-Bo and moves onto the Elite Eight in impressive fashion.

Kevin Garnett 25  Zach Randolph 17

Sweet 16: No. 2 Bob Pettit vs. No. 3 Amar'e Stoudemire

In a shocking turn of events, Bob Pettit has finally met his match, as he faces off against Amar'e Stoudemire.

Before you throw something at your computer, hear me out. The reason why Stoudemire gets the nod here is because he has a two-inch and 55-lb size advantage over Pettit, and that's just too much size for Pettit to overcome.

While Pettit was a pure scorer, his efficiency wasn't that high, with a career percentage of just 43.4 percent from the field. Stoudemire's size in the paint will make hitting any kind of close- to mid-range shot that much hard for the smaller Pettit.

Once Stoudemire starts hitting his patented turnaround jumper, the game will be over, as he will back down Pettit with an impressive level of ease. Stoudemire moves on to the Elite Eight, where he will face off against a familiar foe in Kevin Garnett.

Amar'e Stoudemire 25  Bob Pettit 19

Elite Eight: No. 1 Karl Malone vs. No. 2 Dirk Nowitzki

Karl Malone against Dirk Nowitzki is without a doubt the most difficult matchup to pick in this tournament.

Both players faced off against each other a handful of times, but neither player was in his prime, so those games aren't a good way to compare how this matchup would turn out.

While Nowitzki might have the edge when it comes to versatility in his game, with an impressive ability to hit outside shots, the overall advantage has to go to The Mailman. He's the more disciplined and physical defender.

Malone earned three NBA All-Defensive First Team honors in his career. Malone's physicality on Nowitzki will be the true difference-maker, as Nowitzki won't get many high-percentage or open shots against Malone.

Malone's patented backdown post move will be the offensive difference-maker here, as he will rely on his athletic advantage to overpower and strong-arm Nowitzki.

The outcome of this matchup could change every time the players square off, but this time the game goes to The Mailman.

Karl Malone 33  Dirk Nowitzki 31

Elite Eight: No. 5 Josh Smith vs. No. 10 Jermaine O'Neal

Josh Smith continues his Cinderella story as he finally stops Jermaine O'Neal's epic run in this tournament.

The reason why Smith will be able to knock off O'Neal is because of his pure athleticism and strength on both ends of the ball. Smith will be able to get to the rim and finish with authority, which will be the difference-maker here. 

O'Neal certainly has the advantage in the post, as he has more established and more efficient post moves, but he won't be able to hang with Smith's athleticism when the ball is in his hands.

As one of the more athletic defenders in the NBA, averaging 2.2 blocks per game, Smith will be able to contest O'Neal's turnaround jumpers, making it difficult for O'Neal to score. Ultimately, Smith's athleticism will prove too much for O'Neal to handle, as Smith continues his magical run in this tournament with a trip to the Final Four.

Josh Smith 25  Jermaine O'Neal 21

Elite Eight: No. 2 Kevin Love vs. No. 5 Shawn Kemp

The Reign Man will continue his dominant reign in this tournament with an impressive win over Kevin Love. Kemp has the balance of freakish athletic ability and offensive prowess that it will take to overcome Love.

Kemp will be able to defend Love both on the perimeter and in the paint, forcing Love to take low-percentage shots.

On the offensive side of the ball, Kemp will use his size to bang with Love in the paint, hitting mini-hooks to jump out to an early lead. Once Love defends his post game, Kemp will step out to the perimeter and force Love to guard him there. Kemp can use his driving ability to beat him to the basket, finishing with ridiculous strength.

After knocking off Sir Charles, Kemp continues his epic run with an impressively strong win over the No. 2-seeded Love, who won't be able to handle the pure athleticism.

Shawn Kemp 25  Kevin Love 18

Elite Eight: No. 1 Kevin Garnett vs. No. 3 Amar'e Stoudemire

Kevin Love and Amar'e Stoudemire have faced off against each other numerous times during their NBA careers, and KG consistently dominates that matchup.

The main reason why is because of his intensity on the defensive side of the ball. Whereas during a game KG's intensity might get him in foul trouble, in this one-on-one tournament, it will put him over the edge.

Stoudemire's lack of defensive intensity will be the reason why he doesn't advance to the Final Four. Not only is KG a taller player, he is also a more cerebral player. That gives him an important advantage in this matchup.

Garnett's turnaround jumper and slashing ability into the paint will be too much for Stoudemire to stop on a consistent basis. Garnett punches his ticket to the Final Four with an impressive win over Stoudemire with his impressive focus on the defensive side of the ball.

Kevin Garnett 25  Amar'e Stoudemire 17

Final Four: No. 1 Karl Malone vs. No. 5 Josh Smith

Josh Smith's magical run in this tournament is going to come to an end when he faces off against Karl Malone in the Final Four.

While Smith might still be the more versatile player, Malone has the physicality and athleticism he needs to hang with Smith throughout the matchup.

Malone will be able to use his backdown attack in the paint to overwhelm Smith early on, as his fadeaway jumper is second to none. Smith won't be able to stop Malone often enough to get the offensive opportunities he needs to showcase his athletic advantage.

With discipline on defense and a commitment to fundamentals on offense, Malone will prove that he's one of the top power forwards to ever step foot on a basketball court. The next stop for the Mailman is the tournament finals after he pulls away from Smith with an impressive victory.

Karl Malone 25  Josh Smith 18

Final Four: No. 1 Kevin Garnett vs. No. 5 Shawn Kemp

That's the face that says, "I'm coming for you, Mailman."

That's right, Shawn Kemp's Cinderella run in this tournament is coming to an end at the hands of The Big Ticket.

Kevin Garnett possesses the rare mix of athleticism, defensive prowess and fundamental offensive talent it will take to knock of The Reign Man in this epic Final Four matchup.

While Kemp might have the slight athletic advantage, there's no doubt that Garnett has the size advantage, and that will benefit him greatly on both sides of the ball. Kemp will lead early on, overwhelming KG with his slashing abilities off the perimeter. 

Ultimately though, Garnett's mid- to long-range jumper will be the equalizer, as it will force Kemp to defend him on the perimeter. When he does that, Garnett will turn to beating him at the rim and in the paint.

KG moves on to the tournament finals by pulling out a win first with defense and finishing with fundamental offensive talent.

Kevin Garnett 25  Shawn Kemp 21

Tournament Finals: No. 1 Kevin Garnett vs. No. 1 Karl Malone

Fans would love to see an epic finals matchup between Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone.

Also, the outcome to this matchup could change every time.

Both Malone and Garnett are talented and fundamental offensive players, with a specific defensive focus to their game as well.

While Malone is the slightly more efficient offensive player, with a career shooting percentage of 51.9 percent as compared to Garnett's average of 49.9 percent, there's no doubt that KG's two-inch height advantage will be hard to play against.

This game will come down to which player has more intensity on both ends of the ball, and this time, that player is Kevin Garnett. Garnett has earned nine NBA All-Defensive First Team honors, in addition to the 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. That defensive intensity and focus will also be what earns him the championship in this tournament.

Malone won't be able to overcome Garnett's defensive abilities late in the game, and that's why KG will mark The Mailman as "return to sender," sending Malone home without this tournament title.

Kevin Garnett 27  Karl Malone 25

("Anything is possible!")

Tournament Champion: No. 1 Kevin Garnett

Soak it in, Big Ticket; you've earned it.

Garnett takes home the tournament trophy, as he wins by overwhelming his opponents with an impressive focus on the defensive side of the ball and a dangerous efficiency on the offensive side of the ball.

Tournament Champion: Kevin Garnett

With that, the 64-player tournaments are all complete.

If you've missed out on the other 64-player tournaments I've done, check out these links to see if you agree with my picks.

Overall 64-Player Tournament (No specific positions—just top 64 players.) 

64-Player Tournament: Center Edition

64-Player Tournament: Small Forward Edition

64-Player Tournament: Point Guard Edition