NBA Playoffs 2011: The Most Psychotic Player from Each Playoff Team

Every championship team needs a little crazy. 

It doesn't matter if the player is a huge minutes guy or a bench player... big personalities are a big part of the game.  Some personalities are larger than life due to their stardom (Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James), some due to their relentless work ethic and fan fervor (Chauncey Billups, Carlos Boozer, Blake Griffin), and some...

Well, some are just wacky.  

This is a celebration of the wacky.  For your consideration, the biggest crazies (in a good way... mostly) left on each playoff squad.   

Tyler "Psyco T" Hansborough, Indiana Pacers

We will open the show with the player aptly nicknamed "Psycho T".  This kid is crazy.  Seriously... do a quick google search of him and check out his images.  If he isn't bleeding, he is making these faces that are akin to a wall eyed fish getting eaten by a shark.

His personality off the court doesn't reflect his insane on court behavior though.  He seems normal, even though Joakim Noah questioned his... ummm... personal hygiene. 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/4473/noah-hansbrough-not-a-dirty-player

Zydrunas "Big Z" Ilgauskas, Miami Heat

This soft spoken man who sounds like a James Bond villian ("I has ze bomb"), has a short, short fuse.  If he isn't thowing balls at the back of peoples heads, he is trying to choke a player who is 3 feet shorter than him. 

While not the most physically imposing player (he looks like Mr. Clean's elongated and less buff cousin) or athletic (Chris Bosh said he uses the most of his two inch vertical leap), he isn't afraid to scrap with anyone. 

Take that, NBA. 

(Close Second:  Eddie House)

Gilbert "Gun Show" Arenas, Orlando Magic

This one is an interesting character.  Everyone knows the story of the Gilbert Arenas gun fiasco.  However, thats just the tip of the iceburg for a player who things its funny to poop in someones shoes. 

Gilbert Arenas is ape-crap crazy... hopefully, he will heat up in the playoffs so people can remember how good he once was. 

(Close Second:  Hedo Turkoglu)

Delonte "Desperado" West, Boston Celtics

If you see a small man covered in tattoos riding a motorcycle with a guitar case strapped to his back, duck and cover.  One of the most crazy characters in the entire NBA just happens to be on a arguably the most insane team in the NBA.

From his continued personal problem (no jokes there, we all have our demons), to his alleged fling with LeBron's mom, you never know what you will get out of Mr. West.

(Close Second(s):  Kevin Garnett, Glenn Davis, Shaquille O'Neal)

Ronny "Homeless Man" Turiaf, New York Knicks

Turiaf is crazy for one reason and one reason only... he looks like a homeless man, and makes the worst faces I have ever seen a player make.  The Knicks, while full of stars, are a fairly normal team. 

Ronny Turiaf has really played well lately... but come on man... lets ditch the hobo look. 

Joakim "Just Me" Noah, Chicago Bulls

Joakim Noah is always good for a sound bite.  He is hilarious, and absolutely engaging. 

He is also a bit on the crazy side.  Some of the things he says (calling KG scary) are a little strange... and in one interview he is talking about how people take trash talking too far, and then he turns around and talks more trash than almost anyone in the league (including making fun of an entire city... hello, Cleveland).

It doesn't help that it looks like he has a rabbid raccoon attached to his head.  Oh well... it is his style.. and he is a great player in the NBA. 

...and I really want to know what the story is about the man-dress shown. 

Jason "JET" Terry, Dallas Mavericks

Jason Terry, you wacky, lovable man.  Only you could think you won a game when you didn't... only you would punch a former team mate in his baby-maker... only you would get into a confrontation with your team leader, Dirk Nowitzki. 

This is another player who will fight at the drop of a hat... but he is also a fan favorite.  You never know what you will see from Jason Terry. 

Ron "Crazy Pills" Artest, L.A. Lakers

You can't have a list like this without mentioning the current Dennis Rodman of the NBA.  While Ron Artest does a great job (seriously) helping with people who suffer from mental illness (selling his championship ring to donate the funds to a mental illness charity is one of the good stories of the year), he also brings attention to himself in a wide variety of strange ways. 

Obviously, he gets into fights... he dressed like a fool, and does his hair in bizarre ways (kudos on not doing that lately, by the way), and just does the strangest thing.

The Lakers have some crazy players anyway... but Ron Artest sets the bar very high. 

Close Second(s): Matt Barnes, Kobe Bryant (yes, Kobe Bryant...)

Chris "Birdman" Anderson, Denver Nuggets

Oh, this one was tough for me, because I personally think Kenyon Martin is an absolute fool... but you got to give it to the loveable and fan-friendly Birdman. 

This many is crazy in a cool rock and roll, "I am going to live the way I want" kind of way.  His hair and tattoos are beyond ridiculous, and he hasn't quite been involved as much in the Nuggets rotation thanks to an injury (but he looked good  back in action against the Thunder), but this is a player who prides himself in being a little... off.

Close Second:  Kenyon "K-Mart" Martin

DeJuan "No Knees" Blair, San Antonio Spurs

Ok, ok... he has knees.  However, he is missing his ACL's.  His personality isn't crazy, but there is something "crazy/ awesome" about a guy who plays at such a high level with an important piece of his "leg works" missing.  

Most people would have given up.

O.J. "Money Bags" Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies

O.J. Mayo is one of those players that infuriates many people.  He is one of the more arrogant players (seemingly) in the NBA, and one who doesn't seem that sorry about the fact that he was involved in many scandles during his one collegiate season for the USC Trojans. 

The fact that he screwed over the college system so badly (lets face it though, many do), and seems to have little to no remorse, makes him a bit of a crazy in my book.

Philadelphia 76ers

I can't do it.  I have perused and researched the players and coaches... there is not an ounce of true crazy on the Philadelphia 76ers team.  None.  The whole team is made up of smaller personalities with little to no personal issues. 

That should be the 76ers draft goal... draft a psychopath. 

I mean, even when I searched for crazy pictures, all I could find was Thaddeus Young surrounded by kittens. 

Yes, kittens. 

Josh "J-Smooth" Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Oh man, that commercial... that commercial!  You know which one I am talking about... grown NBA man in a hot tub, shaving his legs.  To make a forward... ummm... faster?  A forward?  It isn't like his play style is dribble/crossover moves that require speed...

This horrifing commercial, and the fact that he is ultra aggressive, raises the crazy alarm for me. 

Plus, his "pimp look" (pictured above) makes him look like Sloth from the Goonies. 

D.J. "Baby Ron" Mbenga, New Orleans Hornets

Any player that uses Ron "Crazy Pills" Artest as an idol, and even does his hair like him in L.A., is a bit on the crazy side. 

Enough Said. 

Nate "Chihuahua" Robinson, Oklahoma City Thunder

Thank God Boston had an over-abundance of crazy and could afford to send two of it's psychos over to the Thunder...

Now, the Thunder can challenge for a championship!

Nate Robinson is a trip, and I love watching him play.  He is one of the shortest players in the NBA, and yet  he has the ferociousness of a wild animal.  He is like that hyper ADD kindergarten kid that runs around a classroom looking for candy while trying to smack people in the back of the head.

Annoying?  Maybe.  Full of personality?  Absolutely. 

Greg "Peep Show" Oden, Portland Trailblazers

Yes, he is still a member of the Trailblazers. 

The dude has his "dingus" (YouTube John C. Riley's Dr. Steven Brule from "The Tim and Eric, Awesome Show, Great Job, if you don't know what a dingus is) all over the internet, and if you google search him, you will find images that will make you throw up a bit in your mouth. 

He is also shown partying with a great deal of... ummm... promiscuous looking ladies.  Sort of strange for a player who is made of crepe paper and looks kind of like a cave man. 

He is definitely crazy.  However, I would love to see how he plays as a healthy player.  My guess?  He could be pretty solid. 

Predicting the NBA Finals Based on the Rate of Crazy

Here is how I see the top six NBA teams stacking up to one another in terms of crazy....

1.  Boston

2.  L.A.

3.  Denver

4.  Miami

5.  Orlando

6.  Bulls

So, if I were to predict the NBA champions based on degree of crazy, I would take the Boston Celtics over the L.A. Lakers in the finals. 

Do I see some irony here?  The most insane teams actually did meet each other in the finals last year...

Who I Actually See in the Finals Using My Basketball Sense

Using my logic and how they are playing lately, I would have to say the East Championship would come down to the Heat and Bulls, and in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the L.A. Lakers. 

The finals...

Heat over the Thunder.