Bleacher Report - Articles by Blake Gibbs

Jason Kidd Decision Heads the Top Five Offseason Questions for the Mavericks

Blake Gibbs — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:40:47 -0400

The Dallas Mavericks are at a huge crossroads at this point in their franchise. After another trip to the playoffs that ended in frustration, many questions surround this team. They have stars that are free agents, a core that has quickly gotten very old, and a couple of guys that just don't fit well with this current group of players.

Cutting out the fat, here are the five biggest questions that the Mavs are going to be facing over the next few months...

1) Do the Mavs Re-Sign Jason Kidd?

Yes, he is a future hall of famer. Yes, he still put up very balanced numbers. Yes, he shot a career high from behind the arc last season. However, while he'll still impress you occasionally with a sweet pass, or a fourth quarter steal, his effectiveness has diminished considerably.

His feet are no longer quick enough to stay in front of talented point guards, sometimes making him a liability on the defensive end. When you have a player who made his name by passing, rebounding, and playing great defense, it makes a big difference when the latter point of that triangle disappears.

Yet, the most troubling and frustrating thing about this version of Jason Kidd's game, is that he can't even make layups consistently anymore. It literally seems as though he is afraid to attempt a shot that isn't a wide open three.

Numerous times, Kidd would penetrate into the lane and pass up a wide open layup or shot. Instead, he would jump and get caught in the air looking to dump off the ball. More often than not, this resulted in turnovers.

Looking ahead, Kidd is not going to be the point guard that leads the Mavs to a title. There will be a handful of teams that would love to make Kidd their backup point guard, or to have him help tutor one of their own young ball handlers.

The only way the Mavericks sign Jason Kidd to another contract is if Kidd's options are considerably smaller than he would like, which would allow them to sign him for less money. The only other reason the Mavs could re-sign him would be if they do not pick up a talented point guard in the draft, or elsewhere in free agency.

MY TAKE: Do not re-sign Kidd, find a point guard in the draft or free agency. Having Kidd on the Mavs at this point is simply a waste of time.

2) Which way do the Mavericks go in the Draft?

The Mavericks drastically need talented youth at the center, point guard, and shooting guard positions. This year's draft class is one of the weakest in years. There are an abundance of hit or miss players who will be rookies this upcoming season.

The Mavs have five different roads they can go down with this one. They can trade up to get in the top four or five picks and try to get an immediate impact player. They can trade down to possibly get the same value later in the draft as they would at pick 22 since it is such a weak draft.

Either one would make sense, however it would be smarter to trade up.

If they stand pat at their current spot, they then have to decide on which position to draft. While they need a center and a shooting guard, point guard is the immediate issue here. Whichever way they decide to go, they desperately need to add talented youth to their basketball team.

MY TAKE: Look for them to take someone like North Carolina's Ty Lawson. With the Jason Kidd situation up in the air, and JJ Barea as their only only point guard on the roster, this shouldbe a no brainer.

3) Should they trade Josh Howard?

If there is a decision that could change the outlook for this franchise more than anything else, this is it. Josh Howard is a player that has all the talent in the world, but his low basketball and general I.Q. prevent him from being a legitimate piece of a championship team.

He is supposed to be the Mavericks' number two player, complimenting Dirk Nowitzki, but he has yet to figure out how to do that. If he played to his strengths, which are slashing to the basket, defense, and rebounding, he would fit perfectly. However, he has turned into a player in love with the jump shot, and a guy who doesn't know when to pass the ball.

He just no longer is a logical fit in Dallas, and the Mavs need to move him. The problem with this is that his inconsistency hurts his trade value. Talent wise, the Mavericks could trade him straight up for a guy like Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Michael Redd, and Jason Richardson among others.

Unfortunately, his mental incapacity and the baggage he brings make it almost impossible to do one of those deals without throwing in another significant piece or two.

MY TAKE: The Mavericks cannot turn their ship around and head back up the mountain with Josh Howard on their team, simple as that.

4) If Jason Kidd leaves, and the Mavs do not get a starting point guard in the draft or free agency, can JJ Barea run the team?

This is a scary possibilty. JJ Barea really had a coming out party last season, it seems as though his time playing under Jason Kidd for the last year and a half have really helped his development.

The problem is that he is 5'9''. I understand he is listed as 6 foot, but i've stood next to him and there's just no way.

He is extremely talented, and small point guards have been successful in the past, but this can really become a liability on the defensive end.

Also, what if his development hits a plateau? Is he really good enough at this point to be the full-time starting point guard for a championship caliber team?

MY TAKE: JJ Barea is possibly the best back up point guard in the league. He has way more value in that role than as a starter. If the Mavs are forced into making him their main guy they are going to have huge problems.

5) In a sellers market that will be the NBA this season, should the Mavs try to land a big name now, or wait until the big free agency period at the end of next season?

This one is tricky. The Mavericks window of opportunity of winning a championship is closing rapidly. Dirk Nowitzki just celebrated his 31st birthday, and probably only has 3 years left of playing at his current MVP level. After that, the Mavericks will need a new number one guy.

So, if the Dallas Mavericks could land a legitimate piece or two to put next to Dirk now, should they make the move? Yes, they would be forfeiting their chance to land a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, but it is highly unlikely they would land a guy like that anyway.

With many teams looking to save money and create cap room for the coveted free agency period that will possibly feature those affirmentioned players, there should be many moves on the table over the next 8 months.

MY TAKE: Pull the trigger! If the Mavericks can get another all-star, and a legitimate guy in the middle, they will be just as scary as anyone in the league. Why waste another year of your superstar's prime, when you could possibly do something with it right now?

How the Mavericks address these questions and issues will determine which direction their franchise will head over the next few years. Possibly quicker than any other team in the league, they can become contenders again, or they could be forgotten and irrelevant.

Dallas Cowboys Expectations for 2009? Finally Meet Them

Blake Gibbs — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:58:51 -0400

The last three years have been a roller coaster ride for America's Team. The problem is that the roller coaster makes a steep climb up an enormous hill, then right before it reaches the top...it falls quickly back down to the bottom.

Bill Parcells' last year in Dallas ended on a play that pretty much only happens once every four years in professional football. Tony Romo bobbled the ball on a field goal attempt that most certainly would have gone through the uprights. Then, he fell one yard short of the endzone after he picked up the ball and ran to save his team's season.

Many people forget that there actually was still some time left on the clock, and had the Cowboys been able to hold the Seahawks for nine yards or less, they would have had one more chance with the ball.

However, the defense gave up two big plays and just like that, their season was over.

The next year, in Wade Phillip's first year at the helm of the Dallas Cowboys, he coached them to a 13-3 record. That was good enough for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home field throughout the playoffs.

They lit up the league with their offense, and had it not been for the New England Patriots record breaking year, the Cowboys would have been everyone's favorite to win the Super Bowl.

Then, after earning a bye in the first-round, the Cowboys faced their division rival New York Giants at home in Texas Stadium. The Giants were a team that the Cowboys had already defeated twice in the regular season without too much of a problem.

However, the Giants pounded the Cowboys the entire second half, topped by a touchdown scored by running back Brandon Jacobs. After Jacobs scored, he threw the ball, knocking down one of the stars hanging around the wall of the stadium.

An ironic symbolization of the way the Cowboys' season was ending.

Returning 13 Pro Bowlers going into last season, the 'boys looked to make up for their playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants.

In the beginning, the Cowboys looked amazing on offense, and had some people calling them the most talented Dallas Cowboys team of all time.

Unfortunately, those comments could not have been any more wrong. Dallas struggled the entire season, losing the final game to Philadelphia in blow-out fashion with the playoffs and their pride on the line.

Not reaching the expectations brought on by their talent, and the logo on their helmets, has been the main story line in each of the last three seasons.

Now looking to 2009, the Dallas Cowboys have made some much needed changes to their roster in an attempt to overcome the psychological problems that plagued them last year.

Terrell Owens, Tank Johnson, and Pacman Jones no longer roam the hallways at Valley Ranch.

The distractions caused by T.O. and Jones simply being on the roster proved to bring too much stress for this team to handle. It was really evident in Tony Romo, who lost his famous smile and his ability to be an efficient quarterback the final ten games of the season.

They signed a new special teams coach to hopefully fix a unit that struggled mightily in 2008. They also drafted 12 players in the draft, most of whom will be performing on those special teams units.

The most important questions will be how Jason Garrett play-calls the offense, and how Tony Romo takes on the leadership role of a team that should have been "his" two years ago.

Garrett looked untouchable his first year as the team's Offensive Coordinator, but then looked completely predictable last season. It could have been the pressure he was feeling to get Owens the ball constantly, or maybe it was simply his creativity.

This season will show which one is more fact than fiction.

The Dallas locker room was one without an unquestioned leader last season. Tony Romo is the only person, other than maybe DeMarcus Ware, who can truly take on this role. If one of them assumes this role, it will help the Cowboys tremendously.

The Cowboys have underachieved for the last three years. If they can get their offensive play-calling back on track, play solid on special teams, and have an unquestioned leader rise up in the locker room, this team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

If those three things don't happen, Dallas Cowboy fans could be in for another roller coaster season that frustratingly ends at the bottom of a steep hill.

The Mavs Have Come to The End Of an Era...So What's in Their Future?

Blake Gibbs — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:11:05 -0400

The Dallas Mavericks failed to accomplish the unthinkable against the Denver Nuggets. Coming back from an 0-3 deficit in the NBA playoffs has never been done, the teams in the NBA are simply just too good.

The Mavericks did however show that they have tremendous heart, refusing to die until the closing seconds of Game 5.

Dirk Nowitzki finally showed all of his uneducated doubters that he can carry a team as far as it can go, and Josh Howard showed he can gut out solid performances through two bad ankles. But let's talk a little bit more about Dirk...

With his superstar performance in a series against a team that could possibly be the most physical group of players in 10 years, he put to rest many of the accusations that have berated him over the past few years.

Soft, not clutch, no heart, unable to carry a team, all of those criticisms should finally be put to rest. If a person simply looks at the stats, it sounds pretty ridiculous not to put Dirk in the discussion as one of the greats.

He's one of only four other players to have career averages of 25+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in the playoffs. He's also second only to Shaq among active players with career 40+ point, 10+ rebound playoff performances.

If you are still questioning his greatness, look at how he performs in elimination games. Going into Game 5 against the Nuggets, Dirk had played in 15 elimination games. In those games he averages 30.8 PPG, and a little over 13 rebounds. There's really not much more that a guy can do.

As far as the Dallas Mavericks go as a team, this core group of players should have just played their last game together as Mavericks.

Jason Kidd most likely won't be back next year, as he will want to sign with a legitimate contender.

Josh Howard has shown that at times he can be a legit second fiddle, however, those performances come once about every five to 10 games. Even then, his basketball I.Q. is so low that sometimes he hurts his team as much as he helps them.

Jason Terry is a great option to come off the bench, but at this point in his career he cannot be relied on as the second scoring option on a contending team.

Eric Dampier is the most useless guy on the court the majority of the time. He may be a very nice guy, and this is not a shot at his character. The problem is that his personality may be what is wrong with his game, as well as his lack of offensive skills.

Jerry Stackhouse will probably retire, or play somewhere else. This core group of players that have been through so much, simply can't get anything else done at this point in their careers. They have brought the first ever NBA finals to the city of Dallas among many other amazing feats, but this era is over.

As for the future of the Dallas Mavericks, it completely hinges on who they can find to pair with Dirk Nowitzki. It is obvious Dirk is still a top 10 player in this league, and can be the No. 1 guy on a contender.

The problem is that he has never had a legitimate "Robin" since he became Batman about six years ago. The Mavs have a few options they can go with in this situation.

They can work a trade with Howard and just about anyone else on the team to bring in an All-Star caliber swing man or center to be the No. 2 scoring option, or they can sign a free agent.

One interesting possibility would be the idea of moving Dirk permanently to the center position, bringing in a legit banger power forward. Either way, the Mavs will need to rebuild this team around the big German. If they do this the right way, it is not inconceivable to see this team contending for the Larry O'Brien Trophy very soon. When you have a truly unique superstar, rebuilding is much easier.

Whether the Dallas Mavericks do the right thing and rebuild, or if they decide, for some strange reason, to stay put with this current roster, one thing is for certain; The Game 5 loss to the Denver Nuggets was the end of an era for this Dallas Mavericks team.

There are big regrets and "what ifs," a few wins that were left on the table as well. However, there were also many amazing feats accomplished, and a very passionate fan base that was developed. It's sad to see this all finally come to an end, but man, what a ride.

Mavs in Danger of Falling Into Sports Purgatory

Blake Gibbs — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:44:55 -0500

The Dallas Mavericks failed to make any type of relevant move before the NBA trade deadline. Of all years, this was probably the one when a move was most needed.

The Mavericks are a team that is right in the middle, they are not nearly good enough to compete for an NBA title, however they are good enough to make the playoffs and last a round, maybe two if they are lucky.

This is a very scary place to be in when your team's core players are all in the latter half of their prime. Thus the team is very close to falling into what i like to call "sports purgatory."

The sports purgatory is a place that no team wants to fall into. It is much more beneficial to land on either extreme of the sports spectrum, but not in the middle. For example, if a team is good enough to compete for a championship, well then that speaks for itself.

However, if a team is at the bottom, they usually have room under their salary cap to add pieces, they have young talent that is developing, and they have high draft picks. They also have the expectations from their fans lowered, so that any success they dohave is more celebratory.

If you are in a position as the Mavs are falling into, it is very possible it could be years before your team finally falls down to the bottom. They have older star players who will consistently get you into the bottom rung of the playoffs, but not enough help to advance any further.

They never have high enough draft picks to truly rebuild, and their payroll is right around the salary cap, so it is hard to add anyone of legitimacy.

The Mavericks have the core players to where they could have made a serious run at the Larry O'Brian trophy, if they only had made a move to raise their team to the next level. Unfortunately for Mavs fans across the globe, they dropped the ball.

Yes, some people will argue it is better to wait til the Summer of 2010, when the free agent pool will be filled with just about every all-star in the league. However, what is going to be guaranteed? Nothing.

The Mavericks have no idea if Dirk Nowitzki will still be playing at the superstar level he is at right now. Jason Kidd will most likely be gone, or a mere shadow of his former self. Josh Howard will probably have smoked away the remaining two brain cells he has left. Jason Terry will be in his mid 30s.

So, without any top draft picks before then, no starting point guard, and the core of their team suddenly very very old, what makes the Mavs think any of the big name free agents would even want to come to Dallas, none the less if it would put them on a level to compete for a championship?

The Mavs are walking on an extremely thin line right now. The rest of this season will determine whether that line snaps, or if it turns into a brick road.

The Clock Is Ticking, but the Dallas Mavericks Don't Hear It

Blake Gibbs — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:57:58 -0500

The season is going by quicker than ever, and the Mavericks are exactly where they were 12 months ago...simply an average team.

Dirk Nowitzki is having one of the greatest seasons of his career, but it is going to waste because the Mavs have yet to make a move to improve their roster.

While watching this team play, it is very obvious that something is missing. The hard part is figuring out exactly what that thing is.

Talent wise, the Mavs aren't that far behind the Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, and Magic. If you simply go down the roster and look at the stats the individual players on the Mavericks roster are putting up, it is very hard to find a weak link other than center.

If you ask any General Manager in the league if they will take four positions with above average to superstar players, they will accept in a heartbeat.

Jason Kidd is still playing at a level where he is a top three or four point guard in the league. Jason Terry is having a career year, Josh Howard is still putting up solid numbers when he's healthy, and as stated above, Dirk is dominating.

With all that being said, it is more than evident to just about every NBA fan that the Mavericks need to make a move. There are players out there that could pair up with Kidd and Dirk, and turn this team into a legit contender again.

Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, Nene, and Jermaine O'Neal are just a few guys that have been rumored in trade situations all year (not necessarily with the Mavericks), or are guys that the Mavs should at least explore.

It is very rare to have a player as talented as the big German is, and then to also pair him with a Hall of Fame point guard who is still playing at an extremely high level.

One piece is all that separates these Mavs from the top teams in the league. This has been the case for the past 12 months, but the Mavs are still standing pat.

That would be fine if Dirk was 27 or 28, and if Kidd was 30 or 31, but they aren't. Dirk has three or four years before he will start to seriously decline, and Jason Kidd probably only has one to two years where he can be effective.

The rest of the league is passing them by. The clock is ticking and time is running out...unfortunately the Mavs just don't hear it.

Dallas Mavericks May Make a Run at Chris Bosh

Blake Gibbs — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:43:01 -0500

At 14-10 the Mavs are flirting with mediocrity. They are good enough to beat the lowly teams, however they cannot defeat the top teams such as the Lakers and the Nuggets.

Dirk Nowitzki is playing as good as he ever has. Jason Terry is far and away the leading candidate for the sixth man of the year award. The problem is, the Mavs still are not legitimate contenders out west.

With the 2010 free agency competition coming faster and faster, teams are trying to position themselves for making a big splash. Teams are trying to find a way to either keep their superstars, or find a trade that would allow them to rebuild.

The Toronto Raptors are a perfect example of this situation. Chris Bosh will be a free agent after next season with the majority of the other superstars in the NBA. The Raptors have two options in this situation. They can either try to build a solid team around Bosh to convince him to stay, or they can trade him now while he still has value and start to rebuild, while also freeing up cap space.

The Mavericks have been looking to shop Josh Howard since this past off-season. The Raptors have failed to be competitive, even though they added Jermaine O’Neal during the off-season. It is very possible that before the trading deadline in February, you could see a huge blockbuster deal go down between these two teams.

The Mavs would trade Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Gerald Green, Jerry Stackhouse, and cash to the Raptors for forward Chris Bosh. This would free up some cap space for the Raptors, especially since Jerry Stackhouse will become a free agent after this season. The Mavericks would finally get a legitimate big man to put aside Dirk, and make a serious run at the title.

The biggest question is whether or not the Raptors feel like they have any shot at keeping Bosh once his contract is up. Only time will tell, but signs are starting to point to a blockbuster deal between the Mavericks and someone before the trading deadline gets here.

Dallas Mavericks Community Writers Contest

Blake Gibbs — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:39:31 -0500

This is the first monthly Dallas Mavericks Community writers contest! The way this will work will be as follows:

There are two categories: Best Overall Writer, Most Entertaining Writer.
Eight writers will be nominated for their contributions to the site thus far. Each writer is eligible for both categories, and CAN win both awards.
The readers and writers will vote through their comments on this article(Please be clear who you are voting for). While the nominees are encouraged strongly to vote, they cannot vote for themselves. Voters can vote for the same person for both awards.
The winners will be announced on Dec. 17 and will carry their respective new tag for the next month. The two winners will gain enormous amounts of respect from the Bleacher community as a whole, and hopefully a sense of pride.

This will be a monthly contest, and if you are not nominated, don't worry. If you make notable contributions, you could be nominated next month!

The nominees are:

Should Mavs Fans Really Be Alright With Medicority?

Blake Gibbs — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:44:49 -0500

I am personally a HUGE Dallas Mavericks fan. I have been one since I was around the old age of three-years old, when my dad plopped me down in front of the television. I have experienced the worst seasons, and the best ones. The lowest of the lows, and the highest of the highs.

I actually called my dad and let out some swear words out of complete excitement when we beat the Spurs in game seven of the semi-finals. I also drank away my sorrows when we got cheated in the finals to the Heat, in order to try to forget everything.

Unfortunately, I wasn't successful in that last attempt. Either way, there is no doubt in anyone's mind that I LOVE my Dallas Mavericks. The thrill ride the last eight years has been a highlight of my life, literally.

Every single season, the Mavs were improving, changing, and on the way up to what was hopefully going to be their first title. So this brings me to ask myself this very important question..."am I really going to be satisfied if the Mavs simply make the playoffs, especially as a seven or eight seed?"

Even the first couple years the Mavs made the playoffs in this eight year stretch, there was at least a feeling of hope for the future because of the young talent we had on our team. We knew that we weren't the most experienced team in the league, but we had the talent to compete with anyone, and it was possible we could overachieve and go all the way.

If we didn't win it all that year, we were going to be better the next season, so it was always ok.

Now, it is almost as if myself, and other Mavs fans are settling for a mediocre team. Yes, I think that they are still talented, and can at least be competitive against the best team in the NBA, but that's all. If I truly had to answer as to whether or not the Mavs had a chance to win the Finals this year, I would have to say not at all...at least not without a trade.

It is somewhat sad that my Mavericks are no longer going up the mountain of success, but they are falling back down it. This is a team that SHOULD have won the NBA title just three seasons ago, then won 67 games just two years ago. Now, we are all trying to grasp on to some small glimmer of hope each night the Mavs play to remind us of what they were just two seasons ago.

The Mavs are not totally done though, and this is the most important thing.

The Mavs still have a core group of players that can win a ring, maybe even more. However, some modifications need to be made. There is no point in waiting to see if this exact Mavs roster can win a championship, because we all know that they can't. Waiting until the end of the season will just waste games that Dirk still has left in his prime.

So, I am pleading with Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson...PLEASE get a legit big man in here to fix this team. The Mavs are only a piece away from being back in the elite, don't wait until it’s too late.

Are the Dallas Mavericks Turning Things Around?

Blake Gibbs — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:13:34 -0500

After starting the season 2-7, the Mavs have run off two impressive wins against the new-look New York Knicks and the Charlotte Bobcats. Yes, the two wins came against two teams that most likely won’t make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but wins are wins when it comes right down to it.

Plus, it is the way the Mavericks have won those two games which is most encouraging.

In their first 10 games, regardless of the opponent, the Mavs failed to get defensive stops in the fourth quarter, and their offense looked completely out of sync.

Josh Howard was still shooting more jump shots than anyone else on the team, and Dirk Nowitzki wasn’t the focal point of the offense. Also, the new Princeton-style offense that Rick Carlisle was supposedly bringing to the Mavs was nowhere to be seen.

For at least the last two games, those problems have been erased. Josh Howard has done a good job of playing second fiddle to Dirk, and he has been driving the ball to the hoop more.

Defensively, the Mavericks have picked up their play, and have put together eight quarters of consistent pressure, which in turn has led to more fast break opportunities.

In the half-court game, the Mavs looked great offensively against the Bobcats, running a legitimate motion offense. Players were moving without the ball, making the extra pass, and taking good shots.

The most important thing has been the involvement of Nowitzki, who has posted back-to-back games of 30+ points. When Dirk gets the ball, and is the focal point of the offense, the Mavs can hang with anyone. It remains to be seen if they can play this way consistently, but it is very encouraging to see they at least still have the potential to play at a high level.

The NBA All-Embarrassment Team

Blake Gibbs — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:55:50 -0500

Many players have donned the NBA logo on their chest over the years. There have been all sorts of players that fall into different categories: one-tool, complete, role, legend, star, and superstar.

However, none of them are safe from the NBA All-Embarrassment team. In order to make the cut, you have to meet just one of the qualifications:

-Undeserving of an NBA uniform

-Plain stupidity off the court

-You are the victim of one of the most famous highlight reels of all time

-Your face is on wayyyy too many posters to count, and not in a good way

-You honestly look like the most un-athletic person on earth, and you run with your thumbs pointed up in the air

-You made one of the worst plays of all time

So, there are the categories that players will be judged on. Some of the guys who make the team will surprise you, some of them you should be expecting (like the guy in the picture...wait, but which one?).

Beginning with the starting five.

Shawn Bradley (Center)

Considering he played for my team for the majority of his career, I still have nightmares of Tracy McGrady dunking on him during Game Two of the 2004 playoffs. There has never been a player that has been the victim of monstrous dunks more than Bradley. On top of that, he was 7'6" and virtually sucked as a player.

Something that might anger you if he ever played for your team, Kareem Abdul-Jabarr offered to teach him to sky-hook after he was drafted. Shawn Bradley told him no thanks—he didn't need it.

Even more embarrassing, especially for white guys everywhere, he ran with both of his thumbs up in the air, and passed this trait on to other tall, goofy white guys on his team. Not cool Shawn, not cool.

Chris Webber (Power Forward)

This one may be a shock to some people who don't know the history of Chris Webber, so pay attention. He was the key member of Michigan's infamous Fab-Five in college. Michigan had finally made it to the National Title game.

With Less than a minute remaining, and Michigan slightly behind, the play happened. Webber grabs a defensive board, then turns around to make an outlet pass. Then, as he takes a step to make the pass—he decides not to, in which he blatantly traveled, but it wasn't called. So, Michigan fans think to themselves, “Sheeeewww, we got away with that one.”

Not so fast Wolverines.

Webber then dribbles the ball all the way down to the other baseline, gets trapped, and calls timeout. Big problem, THEY HAD NO MORE TIMEOUTS! This resulted in a technical foul, meaning free throws and the ball for the other team.

Webber single-handedly made the most idiotic play in the history of college basketball. This is why he's this team’s starting power forward.

Side note: Jimmy King, a member of the Fab-Five, was my next-door neighbor at the time, so I was heavily rooting for Michigan...I hate Chris Webber.

Bryon Russell (Small Forward)

Yeah, he played more shooting guard than small forward, but when you see who is the starting shooting guard for this team, you'll know why Russell is the SF. In what is one of the most famous plays, images, pictures, and shots in NBA and sports history—Bryan Russell is the goat.

Game Six of the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan dribbles down the court with time running out. Bryan Russell, who has drawn the defensive assignment on Jordan, gets in position. Jordan, dribbles out some of the clock, then performs one of the sickest cross-over step-backs you will ever see, before swishing the title-winning shot with perfect form.

At the time, this was the last shot that the great Michael Jordan was ever going to take in the NBA. It is still his last play in some people's minds. Russell was also the victim of a Jordan buzzer beater in Game One of the Finals the year before.

Craig Ehlo (Shooting Guard)

There was never a guy who got beaten down by Michael Jordan more than Craig Ehlo. This goofy white guy, who was actually a pretty decent player, was Jordan's first real playoff victim.

The most famous of his beatings of Ehlo was Game Five of the first round of the playoffs between the Bulls and the Cavs in 1989. This was back when Jordan and the Bulls had never won a playoff series in their history. Even the year before, the Cavs had dominated Chicago in the first round.

However, in one of his most famous plays, M.J. dribbles to his left, with Ehlo guarding him, jumps, double pumps in the air a few feet in front of the free-throw line, and makes the shot, giving the Bulls their first series win. Jordan then gives about 30 fist pumps while the Bulls' announcer screams, "Bulls Win, Bulls Win!!!”

Side note: Craig Ehlo never bought a pair of Air Jordans, drank Gatorade, wore Hanes, or watched Space Jam.

Nate Robinson (Point Guard)

Yes, the guy can actually play for being so small—and he can dunk. However, this is where he got himself into trouble and what landed him on this team. One of the most difficult things I have ever watched was seeing him attempt his last dunk about 74 times in the Slam Dunk Contest.

He was a wonderful story up until that point, and everyone wanted him to win. Those last 74 dunk attempts were just terrible though. You get that embarrassed for him, feeling kind of like the feeling you get when you are watching the American Idol tryouts.

I give him credit, the guy stuck to his guns, and he was going to finish that dunk. I just wish they could have edited out the first 73 attempts.

BENCH PLAYERS

Evan Eschmeyer (Center)

Basically, he is the downgraded version of Shawn Bradley—but about seven inches shorter. He is possibly the most un-athletic, goofy, white guy I have ever seen in the NBA. He also ran with his thumbs up like Shawn Bradley.

Side note: I thank the Lord every day that Shawn didn't pass that trait on to Dirk.

Chris Andersen "Birdman" (Power Forward)

This dude is 6'11" and also missed about 30 dunk attempts in one round at the dunk contest. Plus, he calls himself the "Birdman", looks retarded, and wasted part of his career by getting caught with an illegal substance.

Roy Tarpley (Small Forward)

He could have been one of the cemented All-Stars of the NBA, but then he had a terrible drug problem—which eventually led to his banishment from the league in 1995.

Tim Thomas (Small Forward)

During the Western Conference Finals in 2005, Tim Thomas was playing some of the best basketball of his subpar career. He was helping the Suns stay afloat against the Dallas Mavericks.

However, that is until he made a three-pointer in the first quarter of Game Five, then blew a kiss at Dirk Nowitzki as a timeout was called. Dirk decided to put a 50-spot down on Thomas and the Suns that night and eventually won the series in six games.

Steve Kerr (Point Guard)

This is mainly because of his nerdy and dorky announcing that he has brought to television during NBA games. It can also be found on the video game NBA Live. There is no escaping it!

Side note: He once got in a fight with Michael Jordan in practice.

So, if you don't agree with his announcing, his trying to fight M.J. during practice should be enough. I'm tempted to even make him a starter. Oh yeah, and he made about nine threes in the fourth quarter to rally the Spurs put on my Mavs in the Western Conference Finals about five years ago, in what was a series-clinching game. He is never coming off this team.

So there you have it, the NBA All-Embarrassment team. Hopefully, none of them played for one of your teams. But if they did, then this article could sort of serve as therapy.

Top 10 Greatest Sports Figures of All Time

Blake Gibbs — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:38:14 -0500

The ten greatest sports figures of all time...it's a fraternity that is perhaps the most difficult to get into.

There have been tens of thousands of professional athletes who have entertained us with their talents, but only ten are worthy of being on this respected list. The qualifications to make it on this list were as follows: dominance, effect on sport, effect on community, "it" factor, championships, and clutch performance.

So, without further adieu, let's get started.

10) BO JACKSON

If it wasn't for his devastating hip injury, he probably would be higher on this list. He had a combination of size (6'1", 228 lbs.), speed (4.1 40 time), and strength (just look at the guy) that had never been seen before. If you simply go to youtube.com and type in his name, you will see some of the most dominating highlights in the history of sports.

His aura was so big that he had a string of commercials where the catch phrase was "Bo knows". He also gets credit for being great in both the MLB and the NFL. He was a star for the Royals, White Sox, and Angles in the MLB—and even won the MVP award in the 1989 All-Star game.

In the NFL, he was a devastating runningback for the Oakland Raiders; where he still holds the record for most rushing yards in a single game on Monday Night Football with 221. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1985, and is the only player ever to be named an All-Star in two professional sports.

9) WILT CHAMBERLIN

Perhaps he is most famous for scoring 100 points in a single NBA game on March 2, 1962, between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks.

An interesting side note: that infamous game was not televised, only a radio broadcast remains of the historic achievement.

Wilt Chamberlin was 7'1" and between 275-300 lbs, depending on which point in his career you point to. He holds many different scoring and rebounding records, and is the only player to ever average more than 40 points, and then 50 points, in an NBA season.

He won seven scoring titles, nine field-goal percentage titles, and eleven rebounding titles. As a center, he even led the league in assists one year.

He won two NBA championships, four MVP's, and one Finals MVP. He was also selected for 13 All-Star games, is a member of the Hall-of-Fame, and was named to the list of 50 greatest NBA players.

8) MICHAEL PHELPS

Yes, he is a swimmer, but he is a swimmer who has become mainstream after his dominating performances in the last two Olympic Games. Before Phelps, when was the last time you saw a swimmer have several nationally promoted commercials? Exactly.

Phelps qualifies in every single category for this list; if he wasn't a swimmer, his accomplishments would probably place him higher than number eight. He has won the second most medals in Olympic history (16), more gold medals than any Olympian in history (14), holds seven world records, and holds the record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics (8).

He is still young enough to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games, so his story is likely not yet finished.

7) JIM BROWN

Although he only played for nine years, it was the most dominating nine years by any runningback in NFL history. Never before, nor since, has a runningback finished with a career average of 5.2 yards per carry, or a career average of more than 100 rushing yards per game.

In college, he was a multi-sport athlete—lettering in football, track, basketball, and lacrosse. In football, he doubled as the team's runningback and kicker. He holds the single game scoring record for Syracuse with 43 points (six touchdowns, seven extra points).

In the NFL, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, and became even more dominant than he was in college. He set numerous records in his short nine year career; some of which still stand today.

At the time he retired, he was the record holder in single season rushing yards (1,863), career rushing yards (12,312), rushing touchdowns (106), total touchdowns (126), and total yards (15,549). Keep in mind that the majority of his career was played in a 14 game regular season, compared to the 16 game regular season of today's NFL.

6) EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON

Any athlete with the nickname "magic" must be special, and this guy was.

In college, playing for Michigan State, he was a star among stars. In a span of just two years, he averaged 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Then, he faced off against fellow All-American, Larry Bird, in the 1979 NCAA championship game. Almost 30 years later, it is still the highest rated college basketball game of all time.

Magic led his team to a 75-64 victory, while earning the Most Outstanding Player award for the Final Four that year.

His rookie season in the NBA itself was an impressive story. As the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, he went on to average 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, while leading the Lakers to a 60-win season and an NBA title.

In the clinching game of the Finals series, Johnson would move from his point guard position to the completely different center position in order to fill in for the injured Kareen Abdul-Jabbar. He would finish that game with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

He became the first rookie ever to win the NBA Finals MVP award, and became the fourth person ever to win NCAA and NBA titles in consecutive years.

Magic Johnson truly changed the way the game was played. As a 6'9" point guard, he holds the single game playoff record for assists (24), the Finals single game record for assists (21), the record for career playoff assists (2,346), the All-Star single game record for assists (22), and the All-Star game record for career assists (127). He is second on the all-time list of triple-doubles with 138; close behind Oscar Robinson, who has 181.

He is a member of the Hall of Fame, and was also named to the NBA's 50 greatest players list.

5) SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

There has arguably never been a more physically dominating force in the game of basketball. In his prime, at 7'1" and 335 lbs., there was simply no one who could stop the diesel.

In college at LSU, he was a two time All-American and still holds the NCAA record for blocks in a single game with 17.

In the NBA, he was the first overall pick in the 1992 draft, taken by the Orlando Magic. As a rookie, he boosted the Magic's win total by 20 from the previous year, and averaged 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. He was named Rookie of the Year, and pulled down two different backboards during the course of two regular season games.

In his second season, he recorded the first triple-double of his career with 24 points, 28 rebounds, and 15 blocks. In his third season, he led the Orlando Magic to their first ever NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Houston Rockets. A couple of years later, O'Neal would move to L.A. to join the Lakers.

After a few years of playoff turmoil, he teamed with Kobe Bryant to make history. The Lakers eventually won three NBA championships in a row—where O'Neal was named the Finals MVP in all three. He also notched the highest scoring average for a center in NBA Finals history.

In the 1999-2000 season, Shaq was named the MVP of the regular season, and fell just one vote short of the first unanimous decision in NBA history.

Teams had to completely change the way they played the game when Shaq Daddy rolled into town. He couldn't be guarded by just one player, let alone two. He's been to the Finals with three different teams, and won four NBA championships.

4) BABE RUTH

One of the greatest sports heroes in American History, the "Sultan of Swat" is a legend in all aspects of the word. He was the most dominating, charismatic, interesting man ever to play the game of baseball.

He was the first person ever to hit 30, 40, 50 and 60 home runs in a single season. In 1927, when he hit 60 home runs in a single season, it was a record that stood for 34 years before Roger Maris broke it in 1961. His career total of 714 home runs was a record for 39 years until Hank Aaron broke it in 1974.

Ruth wasn't just a guy who swung for the fences he also had a very impressive batting average. In 1923, he hit .393—which to this day is still a Yankees record. He also still holds the MLB records for career slugging percentage (.690), and career on-base slugging percentage (1.164). He is in the top 10 in six other all-time statistical categories:

—10th in batting average .342

—Second in RBI with 2,217

—Second on-base percentage .474

—Fourth in runs scored with 2,174

—Sixth in total bases with 5,793

—Third in walks drawn with 2,062

Ruth was also an outstanding pitcher early in his career with the Boston Red Sox. He had a career ERA of 2.28, and had a scoreless inning streak in the World Series that reached 29 2/3 innings.

3) MUHAMMAD ALI

There has never been a more charismatic sports figure who could back up exactly what he said. He proclaimed that he was the greatest, and indeed he was. He was a three time Heavyweight Champion of the world, and the only man ever to win it three times by defeating the reigning champion.

Ali blended blazing hand-speed, a steel chin, ingenious psychology, and swift feet to be one of the most dominant fighters of all time. Three of his fights are considered to be among the best of all time.

The first of which is referred to as "The Fight of the Century". Ali met the current undefeated champion, Joe Frazier, on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden. It was without a doubt the most anticipated match-up in the history of boxing. It featured two fighters of championship caliber, both of whom were undefeated.

Frazier had only received the championship belt after Ali was stripped of it for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. However, he had valiantly defended it since then. Both fighters had legitimate claims to the title and both had been perfect up to that point in their careers; ultimately, one had to fall.

The match lived up to the hype with Frazier coming away with the victory. However, the two would fight twice more, and Ali would win both times. Ali would eventually go on to defeat almost every top heavyweight fighter in his era—leaving no doubt who the greatest of all time really was.

2) TIGER WOODS

His story is only half written, yet its contents still warrant him being number two on this list. Tiger Woods has saved golf from the depths of sports despair, and has very lucrative endorsement contracts with Nike and EA Sports.

His Nike products have been some of the company's highest selling merchandise over the past decade. His self-titled video game with EA Sports is a best seller every single year that it comes out. He is, without a shadow of a doubt, a sports icon.

He is also a very rich man. In 2007, it is estimated that he pulled in $122 million from winnings and endorsements; making him the highest paid athlete of the year. From 1996-2007, it is said that he raked in an estimated $769,440,709. By the year 2010, it is predicted that he will be the first athlete ever to surpass the $1 billion mark.

Woods is second on the all-time major golf championship titles with 14, and third on the all-time PGA Tour events win list with 65. Some other notable career achievements:

—Has made 18 career hole-in-ones.

—Has a 14-0 record when going into the final round of a major with at least a share of the lead.

—Was PGA Player of the Year a record nine times

—Was PGA Tour Money Leader, tied for record eight times

—Is one of only five players, and the youngest, to win the Career Grand Slam

—Is the only player ever to win all four major championships in a row

—Is the second golfer ever to win each major championship three times

—Holds at least a share of the scoring record in all four majors

—Holds the margin of victory record for two of the four majors

—Has held the world's number one golfer ranking a total of nine years during his 12 year career

—The only person ever to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than once

He is still young, and there is still many titles for him to win again and again. When it is all said and done, he could possibly be the greatest sports figure of all time. For now, he is only number two.

1) MICHAEL JORDAN

Was there really any doubt about who number one would be on this list? Michael Jordan transcended his sports on and off the court. While on the court, Michael was the most competitive, driven, sensational, clutch, skilled, confident, mesmerizing, and amazing, athlete the world has ever seen.

He was so good, that he led his franchise to a three-peat, retired for a couple of years, then came back in his 30's and won another three-peat. Some accomplishments during his playing career include:

—Won five MVP awards

—14 All-Star game appearances

—Three All-Star game MVP's

—10 All-NBA First Team nominations

—Nine All-Defensive First Team nominations

—10 scoring titles

—Three steals titles

—Six NBA championships

—Six NBA Finals MVP awards

—1988 Defensive Player of the Year award

—Holds record for all-time career scoring average (30.12)

—Holds record for all-time career playoff scoring average (33.4)

—Rookie of the Year

—Two time Slam Dunk Contest champion

—1991 Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year

He was the greatest player to ever lace up. However, it was also his marketability that made him truly the greatest. He has appeared in commercials for Nike, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, McDonald's, Ball Park Franks, Hanes, Rayovac, Wheaties, and MCI. His "Air Jordan" shoes by Nike caused such a craze that people were being robbed at gunpoint when a new edition would come out.

He also starred opposite Bugs Bunny in the Box office smash Space Jam. This movie caused a craze of Space Jam basketball uniforms that took over the pre-teen culture.

Overall, Michael Jordan was the greatest player on the court, and he has been the most successful player off the court. There is no argument—Jordan is the greatest sports figure of all time.

There you have it; the 10 greatest sports figures of all time. Let the debating begin!

If the Mavs Are Serious, Moves Must Be Made Now!

Blake Gibbs — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:51:05 -0500

The Mavericks are six games into their 2008-09 season, and it is already becoming ever so obvious that this team is done.

I was one of the believers, thinking to myself that with Rick Carlisle taking over as head coach, the Mavs could turn things around with this group of guys and give it one more shot. After watching the first six games, that is not possible.

While I still think that Rick Carlisle is a very good coach to have for this team, it's impossible to bake a cake that tastes good with stale ingredients.

There are four players that the Mavs should keep, the rest should be completely on the market. Dirk Nowitzki, Brandon Bass, Gerald Green, and Jason Kidd should not be moved unless something special comes along. They are a good balance of talented veterans, with talented youngsters awaiting their prime.

Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Antoine Wright, Desagana Diop, and Eric Dampier should be shopped around to every single team right now to see what the Mavs could get for them. There are simply too many scars, and not enough chemistry with this group of guys to assemble a champion.

There are three potential roster moves out there that the Mavs should, at the very least, try to get done.

SIGN ANTONIO MCDYESS

He is now a free agent, and the position the Mavs are lacking in the most is inside. Especially when it comes to having two centers in Diop and Dampier who can't even catch the ball, or look like they are going to fall over while they have the ball in their hands. There are about 6-10 blown baskets a game for the Mavericks because of that.

Antonio Mcdyess would solve this problem. No, he's not going to come in and put up huge numbers. However, while playing off of Nowitzki, and having Kidd toss him the ball, he could easily put up 12 points and eight rebounds a game.

He could also bring a little bit of defensive savvy down low, to a team that has lacked that consistently for decades. There is no reason in the world that the Mavs should not make a run at Mcdyess.

ATTEMPT ONE OF TWO TRADES:

Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh will become a free agent after the 2010 season. It will be the same time as other superstars such as Lebron and Dirk.

Toronto is not going to be able to keep him there unless a miracle happens. They know this, and this could be a chance for them to help buffer that inevitable pain.

The Mavs could trade Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Brandon Bass, draft picks and cash for Chris Bosh, Jason Kapono, and Roko Ukic.

Howard would finally get the chance to be the No. 1 guy on a team in Toronto, Terry could continue to play his scoring role as a Raptor, and Bass is great young talent who is starting to blossom into a very good player. The future draft picks would also allow the Raptors to continue to build. The money in the contracts work for this trade to go through.

If the Raptors would baulk at this, the Mavs have plenty of other options to throw in, either way they should try. Having a front court of Chris Bosh and Dirk would be just plain devastating. Multiply that by about 5 when you have Jason Kidd running the point, and Gerald Green at the wing.

On a sidenote, Chris Bosh is from the North Texas area, so he would have no problem playing in Dallas.

Gerald Wallace

If the Chris Bosh trade wouldn't go through, a more likely one would be to trade for Gerald Wallace. You could literally do the Josh Howard for Gerald Wallace trade straight up and the money would work.

The Bobcats are shopping Wallace, and the Mavs have to be shopping Howard. They are very similar players, with just a few differences.

Wallace is a couple years younger, and possesses a little more athleticism. Wallace is a player who does most of his damage from the mid-post on the left block, or in transition. He is also a very good defender who averages 2.2 steals a game. He would thrive in Carlisle's offense in Dallas.

The Bobcats would be interested because Howard has a lot of playoff experience, and can shoot the ball slightly better than Wallace can at this point.

Those are just a few options that the Dallas Mavericks should seriously explore. The team they have right now has showed that it simply cannot get it done together.

There are still players on this team, such as Dirk and Kidd, who can lead a team to a championship. They just need a different surrounding cast of players around them.

It is sickening to watch a great player like Dirk, waste away his career because he can't get the right group of guys around him.

The Outside Jump Shot: Kryptonite to Your Favorite Player or Team

Blake Gibbs — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:24:24 -0500

If there is one thing that can kill a player or a team, it is shooting too many jump shots.

I cannot tell you how many times i have watched a Mavericks game and complained about them taking too many jumpers.

It happens just about every game, especially in the fourth quarter. Yes, it is good and necessary for a team to take a certain amount of jumpers in a game. They are all professionals, and they should be able to make a decent percentage.

However, the most reliable and clutch play is one where a player drives to the hole. The potential positives far outweigh the negatives:

One, a player gets a more high percentage shot.

Two, the player can draw a foul on the opposing team.

Three, by driving to the basket, it creates more open outside shots.

Four, they position their team in a better spot to grab an offensive rebound.

For some reason, it seems as though more and more NBA stars are becoming lazy. Instead of exerting more effort to drive the ball to the rim, they settle for outside jump shots. There are two cases in which this becomes a huge problem.

The first is when a player has an incredible talent for driving to the basket. Then, for some reason he decides to consistently take more outside jumpers instead of going to the hole. Two players that immediately come to mind are Vince Carter and Josh Howard.

Vince Carter was perhaps the most gifted jumper this league has ever seen. MJ floated through the air, but Carter simply stayed in the air. Carter developed a name for himself with his uncanny ability to drive the ball and finish above the rim no matter who was in his path.

However, over the last two-thirds of his career, he has settled for five times as many outside jump shots as he has drives to the bucket.

Carter has a pretty good jumper, so i am not saying he should never shoot the ball—but when the strength of your game is driving, why not do it at least half the time? This has hurt Carter's legacy. He will be known as a guy who was an NBA All-Star, but he could have become a superstar.

Josh Howard is currently suffering from the jump-shot disease. Howard is one of the best players in the league when he attempts to drive to the bucket. I would even go as far as saying he is in the top 10. However, he chooses to shoot more outside jumpers than even Dirk Nowitzki. This has become a problem, not only for Howard, but also for his team.

The second reason this is a huge problem is the team aspect. For one, no team has ever won a title relying completely on outside shooting. The obvious reason is that the field-goal percentage goes down the farther away you are from the basket.

When your team relies mainly on the outside jumper, your putting yourself at the mercy of the defense. The opposing team can simply sit back in a zone, and watch you jack up shots all night long.

With long jump shots come long rebounds, which lead to fast breaks.

With long jump shots also come more defensive rebounds for the opposing team.

With long jump shots also come fewer free-throw attempts.

There will be nights that the shots fall, and you win. However, there will also be nights that your shots aren't falling, and you will lose big. This trait is even more crucial in the fourth quarter of games. The defenses get tighter, and open shots become harder to find.

It is much easier to find open shots by driving to the basket and kicking it out than it is hoping that the outside jumper will open up the middle.

We will use the Dallas Mavericks as the example. The Dallas Mavericks have lived by the jump shot the past 10 years. How many titles have they won? Even more recently, how many times has the Dallas offense looked awkward and out of sync? This is all because their main scoring threats all choose to shoot jump shots, instead of driving to the hole.

In their last game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Mavs found one of those nights where the shots just happened to be falling at a very high percentage, which resulted in a win. However, it also allowed a terrible and injured Spurs team to make a run at the end of the game.

The Mavs attempted 60 jumpers, while they only had 15 drives to the basket. This will not get it done consistently in the NBA. Opposing defenses are too good amongst the elite teams. That's why the Mavs are currently sitting at 2-2, with two big wins and two big losses.

Think to yourself—when are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, D-Wade, Chris Paul, and Tony Parker most effective? When they drive to the basket. They are also among the best and most consistent players in the league. That is not a coincidence.

Think to yourself again—what kind of teams have won the championship the last few years? All teams that generated their offense through an inside post presence, or by driving to the rim. That is als not a coincidence.

So when you're looking at teams to be potential contenders this year, make sure they don't rely on the outside jumper—because they will shoot themselves right out of a shot at a title.

Top 10 Things We Love About The NBA

Blake Gibbs — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:08:53 -0500

With the NBA season two weeks in, it is appropriate to go down the top 10 things that we love about the NBA. Some of them might surprise you, some of them may be obvious. Getting right to it, here they are:

10) The Referees Provide a Great Outlet for our Anger

In no other sport are the referees hated more than in the NBA. In any given game involving your favorite team, there will be at least four or five calls or no-calls that will cost your team a victory.

If the referees hadn't screwed your team, they obviously would have won. There is obviously some scandal involving the refs against your team, and in the stressful world that we live in, the refs provide a great outlet for that anger.

So go ahead, scream, yell, boo, and hate the refs—remember, they are against your team.

9) New Faces, New Places

In no other sport are there more superstars that trade places from year to year. Considering there are only five starters for a team on the court at a time, one person can make a HUGE difference.

Just some of the names to change uniforms in the past few years—Shaq (twice), Steve Nash, Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson (twice), Chauncy Billups, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and Jason Kidd.

8) NBA All-Star Weekend

It is the best All-Star game professional sports has to offer. It occurs in the middle of the season, when all of the players are playing at their peak level, and all of the stars play.

No matter what year you turn on the All-Star game, you will be guaranteed to see some type of spectacular play that will become water cooler talk the next morning. Then, there are all the festivities leading up to the game—the Rookie Challenge, the Skills Competition, the Three-Point Shootout, and the always-highly-anticipated Slam Dunk Contest.

7) Player Introductions

This is mostly for the people actually attending the game, but there is nothing better. This is especially true before a big rivalry or playoff game.

The music, the fireworks, the lights going out, and the naming of the stars on your team that will shove it in the face of the team invading your city. By the time they are over, you are more than ready for the game.

6) Playoff System That Leaves No Doubt About the Champion

Unlike the NFL, where a team can get hot at the right time and run the table like the New York Giants, the true champion is always crowned in the NBA (with the exception of the Miami Heat in 2005).

There are four rounds of seven-game series. An inferior team might be able to win one, two, or maybe three games, but they won't win four. By the end of the playoffs, the best team is always left standing—again, with the exception of Miami.

5) The "NOOOOO...YESSSSS" Play

We've all experienced this phenomenon. A player from your team is dribbling ever so confidently down the court. He has the team's best player wide open in the corner, and another guy on the wing. However, he keeps the ball and throws up a terrible-looking shot.

You scream out "NOOOOOOOOOO!" Then, somehow the ball falls through the net, and that feeling of anger turns into jubilation as you yell "YESSSSSSS!" It happens to us all.

4) There Are 82 Games

Because there are 82 games in a season, your team will play at least two to three games a week. So, there is no waiting for a full week after your team has just suffered a crushing loss, or even a huge win.

You have a chance to watch them as you go through your week, they can even be your crutch. This is golden for serious sports fans.

3) The Crowd

Again, in no other sport can the crowd change the outcome of a game. The fans sit just a couple feet from the action, and you can hear all of them.

In football, there are breaks after each play, in baseball there are breaks after each pitch, and there are interchanges between the offense and the defense. In basketball, it's all continuous action.

This allows the fans to will a team back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter. This allows a team to go on a 15-0 run in just two minutes. The crowd is part of the game you are watching—players hear them, see them, and definitely feel them.

2) The Comebacks

Because the NBA is continuous action, and the momentum can swing on one play, no lead is safe. This makes the possibility of comebacks more likely than in any other sport.

There is simply nothing better than your team mounting a comeback after trailing by double digits the whole game, then capping it off with a thunderous dunk or a sweet three-pointer that causes the crowd to rattle the walls.

You can literally go from the agony of almost-certain defeat to the sweet taste of victory in just a couple of minutes.

1) The Superstars

The NFL has 11 players on the field for each team, and they are covered up with helmets and pads. The MLB has nine players on the field, all wearing hats or helmets. The NBA only has five players on the court for each team. This makes the impact of each individual player extremely important.

On top of that, they are the most personable athletes because they have nothing covering up their faces. They play indoors under bright lights. They all have their own shoes, and are seen in countless commercials.

Unlike other sports, a superstar literally can take over a game regardless of whether his team has the ball or not. He can have an affect on every asset of the game.

Then, there is the fact that they are all freakishly tall, yet are quicker, faster, and can jump higher than any other group of athletes in the world. NBA superstars enter our homes countless times a week, and we are fascinated.

There you have it, the top 10 reasons we love the NBA. You may agree completely, or you may have some issues with the ranking of a specific point, but you can't argue that they are all truly reasons why we love the NBA. Let the debating begin...

Superstars Will Carry Your Team...If They Can Get The Ball

Blake Gibbs — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:08:55 -0500

In any sport, a team can be as good as its best player. However, they must get the chance to be that team's focal point in order to carry that team to its mountain top.

In the case of the Dallas Mavericks, their biggest downfall over the past two and a half years has been their inability to get Dirk Nowitzki the ball, and let him carry them on a consistent basis.

Nowitzki has been an NBA MVP in a season in which his stats were slightly down because this process had already begun. People are quick to point to Nowitzki when the Mavs have underachieved in the playoffs the last 3 years, despite the fact is that he was the sole reason they were there in the first place.

People forget that Dirk was the one who led the Mavs in a 4 game sweep over Memphis, a 7 game series classic against the Spurs in which he single handily saved their season, and a 6 game series victory over the Suns in which he scored 50 points in one game, in rout to the NBA Finals.

Once in the Finals, the Heat implemented a zone defense to make it more difficult for Dirk to get open shots. So, instead of finding ways to get him good shots, the Mavs let them take Dirk out of the game.

This trend continued over the next two seasons that saw the Mavericks turn into an equal opportunity isolation offense, instead of the motion-fast paced offense that had made them one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

Fast forward to the last two regular season games for the Mavs, a blowout loss to Cleveland and a road victory at San Antonio.

In the Cleveland game, Dirk only took 11 shots and had less than 30 touches. There were many times he would go 4 or 5 consecutive trips down the court without even receiving a single pass. The result of that statistic was a blowout on the Mavs home floor.

The next night against San Antonio, Dirk was 13 of 24 from the field and had 61 touches. That statistic resulted in the Mavs blowing out the Spurs in a very impressive offensive showing. Coincidence? Not possible.

The truth is that your best player must be the focal point of your offense, he needs to at least touch the ball almost every time you take a trip down the court. Think about it, how many times do you think Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, or Tim Duncan come down the court without at least receiving a pass? It doesn't happen very often.

BAD COMPLIMENTARY PLAYERS

One of the reasons this has been a trend for the Mavericks is the fact that their number 2 and 3 players are not very good complementary players. Josh Howard and Jason Terry, and even Jerry Stackhouse before he became too old to be relevant, are not players that can create scoring opportunities for other people on the court.

They are shoot-first guys who do not like to share the ball. They are always looking for an excuse to jack up a shot. So, when teams actually make an effort to try to take Dirk out of the game, their shoot first mentality allows it to happen.

This wouldn't be quite as bad if they were guys who liked to drive the ball to the hoop, which by default would create openings for everybody else. Unfortunately, these guys are in love with the jump shot. That is especially sad considering Josh Howard is one of the best in the league when he drives the rock to the rim.

So, then you say to yourself, "Well, why doesn't the coach do something about it"? Which leads me to my next point...

BAD COACHING

A lot of people think that Avery Johnson was a great coach with the Dallas Mavericks. Unfortunately, he was more a result of perfect timing, rather than a great coach. When Avery took over, the Mavs were a run 'n gun team who played little, to no defense whatsoever.

Johnson was entrenched in coaching defense and toughness. For 2 years, the result was a happy medium in which the Mavs improved drastically on defense, while keeping their run 'n gun offense alive. However, the last two and a half years he was coach, Johnson got the Mavs away from the offensive philosophy that made them successful.

Instead, he implemented what he called "an equal opportunity offense". This was basically walk the ball up the court, make one or two passes then see if whoever has the ball can score on their own.

There was no focal point in getting Nowitzki the ball above Howard, Terry, or even Brandon Bass. Nowitzki could go through 3 quarters of a game and only have 7 or 8 shots, but Howard and 2 or 3 other players could have twice as many.

Then, when they needed a basket at the end of a game, they would turn to Dirk and ask him to pull off a miracle. This especially hurt the Mavs when teams would go zone, or really buckle down in the 4th quarter of games.

The result was a bunch of bad jump shots that simply looked out of rhythm. Even when Johnson received Jason Kidd in a trade, one of the best passers ever to play the game, he refused to change his offensive philosophy. An equal opportunity isolation offense does not take advantage of Kidd's special talents at all.

This made the Jason Kidd trade look terrible. It also made Dirk look like a player who couldn't get it done when it counted.

The truth is, Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best players in the NBA. He is a former MVP, and a guy who carried his team to the Finals. Dirk can lead these Dallas Mavericks to special places...if he gets the ball.

Can Rick Carlisle Lead the Dallas Mavericks to a Title?

Blake Gibbs — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:03:45 -0400

Will Rick Carlisle lead the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA championship? That question cannot be answered until June.

However, the question of whether he can lead them to a title can be answered now, and the answer is yes. There are a few reasons why you shouldn't rule out the Mavs as title contenders for the 2008-09 NBA season, and they all have something to do with Carlisle as the new head coach.

Gerald Green

Green gives the Mavericks something they have lacked from Jerry Stackhouse for the last two seasons—an athletic swing man who isn't afraid to go to the rim. Josh Howard could fill this role, however it has become evident he rather jack up contested jump shots instead.

Green is a very long, very athletic, and very energetic young talent that could thrive with this group of players. He can shoot the three, and he can also fly with the best of them when going up for a dunk. If possible, he would probably try to drive and dunk the ball every trip downcourt.

The only downfall in his game right now is his mid-range jumper—but considering the Mavs already have plenty of guys who choose to do that with consistency, that can almost be a plus.

Under Avery Johnson, Green may have not gotten the chance to play and develop as much as he will under Carlisle. Green is only 23 years old. As we saw over the past few years, Avery really didn't like to play young inexperienced players more than he had to during games. That will not be the same with Big Rick here.

Green's game could also benefit immensely from having Jason Kidd running the offense, which leads me to my next point...

Jason Kidd Unleashed

Jason Kidd is one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game. Yes, he is older now and has lost a step, maybe even two. However, he is arguably still a top-five point guard in this league.

His strengths are leadership and running an offense in which he creates many scoring options for his teammates. In addition, he is incredibly unselfish. In a team that is filled with scorers, it can be a perfect match.

Last year, under Avery Johnson, Kidd was not allowed to let his talents flourish. He was forced to slow down the ball, and run the isolation offense that Johnson seemed to have fallen in love with. Then, he was asked to play one-on-one defense against a guy who hasn't been stopped by anybody all year in Chris Paul.

Under Carlisle, things will be different. Carlisle has already said he is going to let this team run, and let Jason Kidd do his thing. With, Dirk, Howard, Bass, Terry, and Green running around and slashing to the basket, Kidd could have a great year. Not to mention, he's had a full off-season with a training camp/preseason to adapt to what his teammates do best.

Dirk Nowitzki

Regardless of what any causal fan thinks, Dirk is a top-five player in this league. Has he come up short in some clutch situations? Yes, but he has also come up extremely big (such as in the seven-game series against the Spurs in the 2004-2005 semifinals, and in the Conference Finals the same year against the Suns).

The popular knock on Dirk is that he's not a leader, and can't win a title. Pretty sure he got darn close a few years ago before the refs, and Avery Johnson's ignorance, let it slip away.

Under Johnson, Dirk had somehow fallen into a very rare situation. He was on a team in which the offense was not ran through its best player. Johnson decided it would be best to run an isolation and equal opportunity offense with all the talent surrounding Dirk. That obviously didn't work out in the Mavs' favor.

Under Carlisle, Dirk will again become the focal point in an offense that will run and use motion to get its players shots. Don't forget about how much of an impact Jason Kidd can potentially have on Dirk's numbers too.

Rick Carlisle Replacing Avery Johnson

Mark Cuban came out on media day and admitted there were at least seven players who had personally come to him saying that they wanted to be traded if Avery Johnson returned as Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks this season. That is half the roster.

It is very clear that Johnson had lost the trust of his team.

Avery Johnson came in at the right time when he became head coach of the Mavs. He inherited an extremely-talented team that liked to run 'n gun, and score points with the best of 'em, but played little defense. His defensive-minded approach provided a sense of balance to the Mavericks for about two-and-a-half years.

However, he then began to change the offense from what was once a thing of beauty, to one that was stagnant and inconsistent. Avery Johnson was more about running his system, than he was playing to the strengths of his players.

Rick Carlisle is not that way. He has come out and said that the Mavs will run this year, and will work on transition defense more than anything else leading up to the regular season. He said that he will implement a motion offense that can take advantage of the special skill sets that Kidd, Nowitzki, Terry, Howard, and Green have.

The Dallas Mavericks are a team that can still contend for an NBA championship this year, and a big reason for that is new head coach Rick Carlisle. There is now a group of players who, if coached the right way, can compliment each other's strengths and weakeness perfectly and surprise a lot of people this season.

Will it happen? Who knows. But is it possible? Extremely.