8. Yao Ming. A very skilled big man. Has trouble staying healthy. One negative: not very fast. Strange thing to list for the number 8 man in the NBA, but his most important improvement this year - Playing a career high 37 mpg, yet dropping his fouls per game from 3.4 to 3.1.  For Yao's presence to be felt, he must be on the floor. Not nursing foul trouble which seemed to plague him his first several seasons in the league. His rebounds and assists are up also this year, so he is slowly but surely getting better.  (Yao Ming is out for the season, as of February 26th with a broken left foot). 

7. Chris Bosh. An extremely athletic and long player. Can play inside and outside. Can run in transition. Can finish around the basket. It's too bad his team can't seem to solidly around him. It's also too bad he's stuck in the exposure-less Toronto limelight. It's no wonder Vince Carter left. Chris Bosh is so extremely talented, proving it every night with points, rebounds, blocks, and a contagious intensity for the game; yet no one gets to see him play. Chris - How about a Knick uniform? 

6. Tim Duncan. A bunch of post-moves. Can score in a multiple of ways. An excellent defender. There's not much you can say about Tim Duncan. He's a quiet, yet deadly assassin. In a Tim Duncan sort of way! Before you know it, it's the third quarter, the Spurs are leading by 10 and Timmy has 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. How did he do that!? He did it the same way he does it every night. With consistent, fundamental basketball. Can you say, "off the glass"? This season, he is averaging 19.9ppg. That's the second lowest output of his career. Lower even than his rookie season. But the Spurs are one game out in the West. Timmy doesn't care. We'll see them in the Western Conference Finals. 

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?