The NBA's Magnificent 7: The Best Seven Guards to Make the Winning Shot

Oh, so you were looking for an article with substance and meaning.

Well, you found it. Welcome to where winning is the focus and anything else is shallow fodder.

The Magnificent 7 are those guards, those "game-over-gurus" of the NBA who, without question, are the ones who will make the winning shot when needed.

All seven have one thing in common: they all have "finger bling" in the form of a championship ring.

These winners are not on the court to clamor for the adoration of the fans. They could care less about All-Star nominations or MVP awards. They don't get all "bent outta shape" due to a lack of TV commercials either.

They're there to win.  When a winning shot is needed, they'll deliver—to the delight of their dedicated fans. Game ova! BAM!

Here's your list. Don't disagree. Just nod your head in agreement and enjoy the genius of it all.

Mr. Magnificent 1: Kobe

Heck, we don't even need to say his last name. When the ball gets into his hands at "crunch time," the opposition gets another loss. It may be a three-pointer or one of his quadruple pump, through the legs, reverse dunks. It doesn't matter, it's over.

Mr. Magnificent 2: D Fish

I mean, how many times has this fish saved L.A.? The dude is a winner, and winning shots is what he does best. I haven't seen the movie Battle L.A., but if the Fish is in it, the aliens are history.

Mr. Magnificent 3: D Wade

Listen, the Heat would have had two or three more wins this year if somebody would have just gotten the ball to him at the end. Come on, who else on the Heat has led a team to NBA Ring-ville? Uh, nobody. Get the brother the ball, dang it!

Mr. Magnificent 4: Manu Ginobili

Yeah, you know this is right. Anybody who knows b-ball has ultimate respect for this Bahia-Blancan-Born-Bad-Boy. He may not have some fancy shoe named after him, but he has more soul to win than those who do. (Soul, get it?)

Mr. Magnificent 5: Ray Allen

Picture this. It's near the end of the game, and the ball goes to a shiny-domed, gum-chompin', crooked-smiled Celtic.

In an instant, the arena announcer is heard saying, "Game winning basket by Raaaaaay Alllllennn!"

It's happened like a million times before and nothing's changed.

Mr. Magnificent 6: Tony Parker

T.P. also stands for Totally Prepared when it comes to winning. Just ask Parker's opponents if they freak-out when he has the ball at the end, and the game is there for the taking. Yup, they freak and he takes.

Mr. Magnificent 7: Chauncey Billups

Who did the Denver Nuggets' management express most regret about trading this year? You got it, Buster. When losing Chauncey, they lost a pure winner who wins games at the end with regularity.

Missing Magnificents:

Some names are missing from this list because, even though they do some impressive things during the game, it has no bearing on their ability to win games at the end or lead teams to championships. You know the names, so I won't list them.

Magnificents-in-the Making?

There are three. They are looking like they can have quite a winning impact in their futures while making game-winning shots. We'll see if Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and Eric Gordon have the goods.

Thanks for reading. Talk at 'ya later. BAM!