Mock 32 Player NBA 1-on-1 Invitational Tournament: Matchups and Predictions
With the 2011-2012 NBA season still on hold and the possibility of an actual compromise between the owners and the NBAPA looking grim, it's time to start giving the players some ideas of events that we as fans want to see.
Coming in at the top of my "NBA Lockout Most Wanted Events" is a one-on-one tournament involving the top 32 current NBA players.
The tournament would be single-elimination style with all 32 players being split into four eight-player divisions. The divisions would be titled: "North," "South," "East" and "West," and would simply be a way of organizing players.
The North champion would play the South champion in the North/South Regionals. The East champion would play the West champion in the East/West Regionals. The champions of those games would play in the National Tournament Final.
The rules of the tournament are as follows: games are played straight to 25, all baskets are worth one point, there is a 24-second shot clock, the defender calls fouls with fouls resulting in a change of possession and you must take everything off the rim back past three-point line. All games will be played in Madison Square Garden—is there really any other place to play?
The next four slides will show the eight-player North, South, East and West divisions and their respective first-round matchups. Rankings are based on 2011 end-of-the-year player power rankings and the ability of respective players to play in a one-on-one setting.
Let the greatest tournament of all time begin!
North Divison Player Rankings: Featuring No. 1 Seed Kevin Durant
1 of 42North Division Player Rankings
No. 1 Seed—SF Kevin Durant (6'9'', 230 lbs.) Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 2 Seed—PF Dirk Nowitzki (7'0'', 245 lbs.) Dallas Mavericks
No. 3 Seed—C Dwight Howard (6'11', 265 lbs.) Orlando Magic
No. 4 Seed—SG Joe Johnson (6'7'', 240 lbs.) Atlanta Hawks
No. 5 Seed—SG Tyreke Evans (6'6'', 220 lbs.) Sacramento Kings
No. 6 Seed—PF Chris Bosh (6'11'', 265 lbs.) Miami Heat
No. 7 Seed—PF Kevin Garnett (6'11', 253 lbs.) Boston Celtics
No. 8 Seed—SG Andre Iguodala (6'6'', 207 lbs.) Philadelphia 76ers
First-Round North Division Matchups
(1) Kevin Durant vs. (8) Andre Iguodala
(2) Dirk Nowitzki vs. (7) Kevin Garnett
(3) Dwight Howard vs. (6) Chris Bosh
(4) Joe Johnson vs. (5) Tyreke Evans
Now on to the South Division...
South Division Player Rankings: Featuring No. 1 SG LeBron James
2 of 42South Division Player Rankings
No. 1 Seed—SF LeBron James (6'8'', 250 lbs.) Miami Heat
No. 2 Seed—SF Carmelo Anthony (6'8'', 228 lbs.) New York Knicks
No. 3 Seed—PF Blake Griffin (6'10'', 251 lbs.) Los Angeles Clippers
No. 4 Seed—C Tim Duncan (6'11', 255 lbs.) San Antonio Spurs
No. 5 Seed—PF Amare Stoudemire (6'10'', 240 lbs.) New York Knicks
No. 6 Seed—PF Kevin Love (6'10'', 260 lbs.) Minnesota Timberwolves
No. 7 Seed—SG Eric Gordon (6'3'', 215 lbs.) Los Angeles Clippers
No. 8 Seed—SG Rudy Gay (6'8'', 230 lbs.) Memphis Grizzlies
First-Round South Division Matchups
(1) LeBron James vs. (8) Rudy Gay
(2) Carmelo Anthony vs. (7) Eric Gordon
(3) Blake Griffin vs. (6) Kevin Love
(4) Tim Duncan vs. (5) Amare Stoudemire
Now on to the East Division...
East Division Player Rankings: Featuring No. 1 Seed PG Derrick Rose
3 of 42East Division Player Rankings
No. 1 Seed—PG Derrick Rose (6'3'', 190 lbs.) Chicago Bulls
No. 2 Seed—PG Chris Paul (6'0'', 175 lbs.) New Orleans Hornets
No. 3 Seed—PF Paul Gasol (7'0'', 250 lbs.) Los Angeles Lakers
No. 4 Seed—PG Russel Westbrook (6'3'', 187 lbs.) Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 5 Seed—SG Manu Ginobli (6'6'', 205 lbs.) San Antonio Spurs
No. 6 Seed—PF Zach Randolph (6'9'', 260 lbs.) Memphis Grizzlies
No. 7 Seed—PG Rajon Rondo (6'1'', 171 lbs.) Boston Celtics
No. 8 Seed—PG Tony Parker (6'2'', 180 lbs.) San Antonio Spurs
First-Round East Division Matchups
(1) Derrick Rose vs. (8) Tony Parker
(2) Chris Paul vs. (7) Rajon Rondo
(3) Pau Gasol vs. (6) Zach Randolph
(4) Russel Westbrook vs. (5) Manu Ginobli
Now on to the West Division...
West Division Player Rankings: Featuring No. 1 Seed SG Kobe Bryant
4 of 42West Division Player Rankings
No. 1 Seed—SG Kobe Bryant (6'6'', 205 lbs.) Los Angeles Lakers
No. 2 Seed—SG Dwyane Wade (6'4'', 220 lbs.) Miami Heat
No. 3 Seed—PG Deron Williams (6'3'', 209 lbs.) Utah Jazz
No. 4 Seed—PG Monta Ellis (6'3'', 185 lbs.) Golden State Warriors
No. 5 Seed—SG Stephen Curry (6'3'', 185 lbs.) Golden State Warriors
No. 6 Seed—PG John Wall (6'4'', 195 lbs.) Washington Wizards
No. 7 Seed—SG Ray Allen (6'5'', 205 lbs.) Boston Celtics
No. 8 Seed—SF Paul Pierce (6'7'', 235 lbs.) Boston Celtics
First-Round West Division Matchups
(1) Kobe Bryant vs. (8) Paul Pierce
(2) Dwyane Wade vs. (7) Ray Allen
(3) Derron Williams vs. (6) John Wall
(4) Monta Ellis vs. (8) Stephen Curry
Now that the matchups are set in stone, let's start analyzing and picking the winners of these first-round matchups. On to the "East" Division.
North Division 1st Round: No. 1 SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 8 SG Andre Iguodala
5 of 42Kicking off the tournament is a first-round matchup between two-time NBA scoring champion SF Kevin Durant and one-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team SG Andre Iguodala.
Kevin Durant is known for his insane ability to score obscene amounts of points against single, double or even triple teams, but he is equally know for his inability to play defense on any level.
Andre Iguodala is the complete opposite of Durant. As much as he is known throughout the league for his defensive prowess and lockdown potential, he is also known for his freakish hops and pure athleticism.
Iguodala's athleticism will keep him in this game with Kevin Durant for the first 10 minutes, but that is all it will get him. This matchup will be close until Durant kicks it into high or even just medium gear offensively.
Prediction: Durantula 25 Iguodala 16
Kevin Durant wins the kickoff matchup of the tournament, sending the only Philadelphia 76er in the tournament packing.
North Division 1st Round: No. 2 PF Dirk Nowitzki vs. No. 7 PF Kevin Garnett
6 of 42Here is a matchup between two cagey and weathered champions. 10-time NBA All-Star and recent NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki is pitted against 14-time NBA All-Star, nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team and one-time NBA champion Kevin Garnett.
This is one of the most difficult matchups to pick—a pure scorer against a gritty all-time great defender. In any one-on-one game—even in this NBA fantasy tournament—my money goes with the guy who plays tougher defense and, in this situation, that man is Kevin Garnett.
Anyone who has ever watched Garnett play knows that he is one of the most defensively intelligent players of all time. Nowitzki, on the other hand, is one of the most offensively intelligent players in recent memory. The main thing Nowitzki is missing—and what makes the difference here—is the emotion that Garnett brings to the table.
Nowitzki will start off hot and get out to an early 11-5 lead, but that is where Garnett steps up the defense and locks down Nowitzki's perimeter game. Without a perimeter game Nowitzki's offense falters and Garnett hits a few clutch fade-aways to win the game.
Prediction: Garnett 25 Nowitzki 22
No. 7 Kevin Garnett scores the first upset of the tournament with his win over No. 2 Dirk Nowitzki.
North Division 1st Round: No. 3 C Dwight Howard vs. No. 6 PF Chris Bosh
7 of 42This matchup is easy to predict. It pits a freakishly strong and athletic 6'11'' Center in Dwight Howard against a weak PF in Chris Bosh who is afraid, with his undersized figure, to bang down low.
While Dwight Howard's game doesn't necessarily lend itself to one-on-one play, his unbelievable physicality will carry him to an easy first-round victory. Chris Bosh will look weak and exposed when he attempts to take the ball into the paint against Howard.
Chris Bosh will hit a few shots early, but ultimately Dwight Howard's defensive prowess and tenacity will overpower every aspect of Chris Bosh's game. The three-time NBA defensive player of the year shuts down Chris Bosh in the tournament's first blowout.
Prediction: Dwight Howard 25 Chris Bosh 11
No. 6 Chris Bosh gets an early trip back to the beaches of Miami, FL, courtesy of Superman himself, No. 3 Dwight Howard.
North Division1st Round: No. 4 SG Joe Johnson vs. No. 5 SG Tyreke Evans
8 of 42In a matchup pitting youth against experience, this game will come down to the player who has the ball last. 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans (19.1 ppg), has the slight edge over Joe Johnson (17.7 ppg) in career offensive production. What Johnson lacks in production he makes up for in experience—and that keeps him in this game until the last possession.
Tyreke Evans is an athletic shooting guard who just happens to handle the ball like a true point guard, whereas Joe Johnson plays like a legitimate two guard. Joe Johnson will overwhelm Evans early on with his ability to shoot the ball, getting out to an early 12-7 lead.
After a few blown possessions, however, Evans will get hot and his athleticism will take over the game.
While this matchup will go back and forth for the entirety of the game, ultimately Tyreke Evans will pull out a mini-upset based on his ability to dominate with his athleticism.
Prediction: Tyreke Evans 25 Joe Johnson 23
No. 5 Evans edges out No. 4 Johnson in a nail biter that could have gone either way.
North Division 1st-Round Winners and 2nd-Round Matchups
9 of 42North Division First-Round Winners are:
No. 1 Seed—SF Kevin Durant
No. 3 Seed—C Dwight Howard
No. 5 Seed—SG Tyreke Evans
No. 7 Seed—PF Kevin Garnett
Previewing the Second-Round North Division Matchups:
No. 1 Seed—SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 7 Seed—PF Kevin Garnett
No. 3 Seed—C Dwight Howard vs. No. 5 Seed—SG Tyreke Evans
The clear highlight of these second-round matchups is the "Kevin vs. Kevin" matchup pitting the upstart Durant against the experienced Garnett.
Before we get to any second-round games we must move on to the first-round South division matchups...
South Division 1st Round: No. 1 SF LeBron James vs No. 8 SG Rudy Gay
10 of 42This matchup pits two players who consistently fall short of expectations. The only difference between the players is that LeBron James is a two-time NBA MVP and a seven-time NBA All-Star, whereas Rudy Gay is just, well, Rudy Gay. What Gay lacks in accolades he makes up for in potential—but that won't carry him through this matchup.
LeBron, like usual, will start off slow, allowing Gay to get out to an early 7-2 lead. Once LeBron decides he wants to win, he will take over every aspect the game.
LeBron will dominate Gay on defense, shutting down his ability to drive and forcing him into long jump shots that he will undoubtedly miss. LeBron will ultimately overpower Gay on offense, too, getting to the rim when he pleases.
Prediction: LeBron James 25 Rudy Gay 14
LeBron will show Gay what a true superstar looks like and what it takes to be one .
South Division 1st Round: No. 2 SF Carmelo Anthony vs. No. 7 SG Eric Gordon
11 of 42What happens when you pit a 22-year-old athletic shooting guard who is just beginning to realize his potential against a 27-year-old four-time All-Star?
You get a matchup that looks pretty lopsided on paper, but actually turns out to be quite a nail biter.
Carmelo Anthony on paper is more consistent and more "star-studded" than young Eric Gordon, but Gordon brings an athleticism to the court that Carmelo often lacks. On a young, athletic team, Gordon has risen to the top, averaging 18.1 ppg in his career, whereas Carmelo has averaged 24.5 ppg. on consistently above-average teams filled with other stars.
Gordon knows what it's like to lose, and I'm pretty sure he is quite sick of it.
Carmelo will be taken off-guard by Gordon's ability to get to the rim and score with authority early on in this matchup. Gordon will take a mid-game lead at 18-14, but that is where Carmelo will take off.
Carmelo amps up his defense, forcing Gordon into difficult jump shots that he ultimately misses. For once in his career, Carmelo's defense will carry him to victory.
Prediction: Carmelo Anthony 25 Eric Gordon 23
Sorry, young gun—it's just not your time yet.
South Division 1st Round: No. 3 PF Blake Griffin vs. No. 6 PF Kevin Love
12 of 42This first-ound matchup pits two rising stars against one another. One superstar is the freakishly explosive and athletic PF Blake Griffin and the other is consistently fundamental PF Kevin Love. These two players could not be any more different. Griffin is known for his highlight reel dunks, whereas Love is known for his knack for dominating the boards.
Let's get to the point here: Blake Griffin is way too athletic for Kevin Love to compete with. Griffin lacks a true jump shot, but in this matchup that doesn't matter, because he will get to the rim whenever he wants.
Love will be able to hit some long-range jumpers and mid-range hook-shots, but Griffin's athleticism will shut down Love's interior post game.
In this one-on-one setting Love cannot rely on his basketball I.Q. and his knack for taking charges. Once Griffin shuts down Love's outside game with his athletic defense, he will quickly take over the game and turn it into a first-round blowout.
Prediction: Blake Griffin 25 Kevin Love 11
Griffin aptly displays how athleticism trumps fundamental play in one-on-one games and sends Love home.
South Division 1st Round: No. 4 PF Tim Duncan vs. No. 5 PF Amare Stoudemire
13 of 42Shockingly, this is one matchup where massive PF Amare Stoudemire is actually undersized.
The good news for Amare is that his athleticism and strength overshadow his height and weight and make Tim Duncan look his age in this first-round matchup.
Similar to the Blake Griffin vs. Kevin Love matchup, this game is all about fundamentals against athleticism. The problem here is that, while Tim Duncan is the epitome of fundamental basketball, he lacks the long-range shot that Kevin Love has.
Stoudemire not only has the pure athleticism to take over any game, he also has a developed a mid- to semi-long-range jump shot.
Stoudemire's ability to actually hit jump shots will set him apart from Tim Duncan. Duncan will be hot early and jump out to an early 10-6 lead, but it will not last long. Stoudemire will begin to push Duncan around when he tries to post up, which will result in rushed shots and turnovers.
Ultimately, Stoudemire runs away with this one in the only upset of the "South" division first round.
Prediction: Amare Stoudemire 25 Tim Duncan 16
Just another game where athleticism overwhelms fundamentals. Let's recap the "South" division first-round winners and look at the second-round matchups.
South Division 1st-Round Winners and 2nd-Round Matchups
14 of 42South Division First-Round Winners are:
No. 1 Seed—SF LeBron James
No. 2 Seed—SF Carmelo Anthony
No. 3 Seed—PF Blake Griffin
No. 5 Seed—PF Amare Stoudemire
Previewing the Second-Round South Division Matchups:
No. 1 Seed—SF LeBron James vs. No. 5 Seed—PF Amare Stoudemire
No. 2 Seed—SF Carmelo Anthony vs. No. 3 Seed—PF Blake Griffin
Talk about must-see matchups! LeBron vs Stoudemire and Carmelo vs. Griffin. Fans couldn't ask for a more exciting second round.
Before we get to any second-round games, though, we must move on to the first-round East division matchups...
East Division 1st Round: No. 1 PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 8 Tony Parker
15 of 42If there is a player in the NBA who is more explore, athletic or exciting to watch than Derrick Rose, I sure don't know about him. The 2011 reigning NBA MVP enters into a difficult No. 1 vs. No. 8 matchup against a true veteran in Tony Parker.
Tony Parker is the definition of a consistent leader at the point guard position. He always seems to make the right plays at the right times, but the one thing he lacks will be his achilles heel in this matchup—that is, pure athleticism.
Parker is a strong team player, and a dominant point guard, but that won't help him in a one-on-one matchup with the powerhouse known only as Derrick Rose.
Sadly, this matchup will not even be close. Rose will dominate every aspect of this matchup with his ability to get to the rim whenever he wants. Look to this matchup to be a highlight reel for Rose. The only hope Tony Parker has is for his ex-wife Eva Longoria to show up and distract Rose.
Prediction: Derrick Rose 25 Tony Parker 11
This matchup displays why Derrick Rose will be a multiple-time winner of the NBA MVP trophy.
East Division 1st Round: No. 2 Chris Paul vs. No. 7 Rajon Rondo
16 of 42Upset Alert! When I hear the name Rajon Rondo I immediately think of the words gritty, hardworking, determined and street. Rondo plays NBA basketball like he's on a street court rather than inside a stadium—and that's exactly why he wins this matchup with Chris Paul.
Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo are nearly mirror images of one another, aside from the fact that Paul has a consistent jump shot. Paul's ability to create space for himself and hit long-range jump shots will give him the early lead in this game, 12-6.
Once Rondo figures out how to force Chris Paul into driving situations—and I know he will—the tide of the game will shift. Rondo will start pushing Paul around and will get his way in the paint.
Shockingly, Rondo's development of a mid-range jumper will be the key to victory here. In what will turn out to be the most contested and physical contest of the first round, Rondo will prove that he is one of the toughest point guards in the league.
Prediction: Rajon Rondo 25 Chris Paul 24
Rondo's ability to play bigger, stronger and faster than he actually is will lead him to a huge upset over Chris Paul in this No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup.
East Division 1st Round: No. 3 PF Pau Gasol vs. No. 6 PF Zach Randolph
17 of 42This matchup pits the dominant play of two great power forwards against each other. The only difference in this one-on-one tournament is that Gasol now has no Kobe to rely on, which will ultimately be his downfall.
During the 2011 playoffs, Zach Randolph rose to the occasion and carried his young and inexperienced team to an enormous upset of the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Randolph dominated his opponents, averaging 22.9 points per game, proving that he can compete with the best.
On the other hand, Gasol fell short, only averaging 13.1 point per game in a disappointing dismantling at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
This matchup will ultimately show that Randolph's ability to hit long-range jumpers is what sets him apart from most other power forwards in the league. Randolph will push Gasol around physically in this close matchup. Gasol, like usual, will fall apart when it matters and will show his softer side on the court.
Prediction: Zach Randolph 25 Pau Gasol 21
Zach Randolph continues his dominance in this first-round upset.
East Division 1st Round: No. 4 PG Russell Westbrook vs. No. 5 PG Manu Ginobli
18 of 42Russell Westbrook plays like a man on a mission. He plays at 110 percent every minute of every game, which at times can be a fault, but which will help him in a one-on-one game against an aging Ginobli.
This matchup will result in the dismissal of all San Antonio Spurs from the tournament. Manu Ginobli is a crafty veteran and he has two inches and about 20 pounds on Westbrook but that will carry him to an early lead and nothing more. Ginobli will use his experience to control the pace of the game for the first ten minutes, but ultimately Westbrook and his ferocious athleticism will dominate the game.
Westbrook will use his speed to counter the size difference between him and Ginobli. A few late three-pointers and a few dominant dunks will be the difference in this game.
Prediction Russell Westbrook 25 Manu Ginobli 16
Sorry, Spurs fans—all the members of your team show their age and go home early.
Let's recap the "East" Division first-round winners and preview the second-round matchups.
East Division 1st-Round Winners and 2nd-Round Matchups
19 of 42East Division First-Round Winners are:
No. 1 Seed—PG Derrick Rose
No. 4 Seed—PG Russell Westbrook
No. 6 Seed—PF Zach Randolph
No. 7 Seed—PG Rajon Rondo
Previewing the Second-Round East Division Matchups:
No. 1 Seed—PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 7 Seed—Rajon Rondo
No. 4 Seed—PG Russell Westbrook vs. No. 6 Seed—PF Zach Randolph
Is there a better potential point guard matchup than Derrick Rose against Rajon Rondo? Here's hoping for an instant classic reminiscent of their 2010 playoff matchup.
Before we get to any second-round games, though, we must move on to the first-round West division matchups...
West Division 1st Round: No. 1 SG Kobe Bryant vs. No. 8 SF Paul Pierce
20 of 42Well here is a classic matchup. Lakers vs. Celtics. 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals rematch. Kobe Bryant vs. Paul Pierce is the epitome of greatness.
I'm pretty sure that these guys don't really care for each other, which only adds to the beauty of this early first-round matchup. These guys have met in two NBA Finals, with both lasting at least six games. Pierce got the best of Kobe and the Lakers in 2008, while Kobe got the best of Pierce and the Celtics in 2010. That puts the record at 1-1, with this one-on-one matchup deciding the true champion.
Paul Pierce has about 30 pounds on Kobe, which makes him bigger. It also makes him slower—which will ultimately be his downfall. The other main difference between Kobe and Pierce is the fact that Kobe is a shutdown defender and Pierce is not.
Pierce will start off hot, hitting clutch mid-range jumpers like he always does, but it will not be enough. Kobe's defense takes over the 20-20 tie and holds Pierce scoreless the rest of the game.
Prediction: Kobe Bryant 25 Paul Pierce 20
Just like he always has in his career, Kobe proves he is one step ahead of Paul Pierce.
West Division 1st Round: No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade vs. No. 7 SG Ray Allen
21 of 42This "West" division is full of classic matchups. After Paul Pierce's loss to Kobe, Ray Allen will look to avenge that loss against his opponent Dwyane Wade.
Ray Allen is the definition of a spot-up shooter. The all-time leader in three-point field goals made is much better in a system where screens enable him to get open than he is on a court all by himself.
Dwyane Wade, on the other hand, is an explosive off-the-dribble player who also has a shooter's touch from long range. Dwyane Wade is bigger than Allen, physically speaking, and that will ultimately prove to be the difference in this game.
Ray Allen will stay in the game with his ability to create space and hit shots that only he can make. Sadly, all shots are only worth one point, which means Allen will work harder for difficult shots that are only worth as much as Wade's highlight-reel dunks.
Ultimately, Wade outlasts Allen in this matchup, using his physicality to prove once and for all that he is one of the best in the league.
Prediction: Dwyane Wade 25 Ray Allen 19
Half of the Celtics "Big Four" (Rondo, Allen, Pierce and Garnett) is sent back to Boston after this one.
West Division 1st Round: No. 3 PG Deron Williams vs. No. 6 PG John Wall
22 of 42Here is another matchup that will quickly turn into an all-time classic, coming down to whoever has the ball last. John Wall has as much upside as any NBA player and Deron Williams appears to be finding his groove as a two-time NBA all-star.
The difference in this first-round matchup is the fact that John Wall is just a little more explosive than Deron Williams. Wall consistently makes athletic plays on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Last year, Wall averaged 1.8 steals a game—Williams averaged only 1.2.
In an extremely close game, one or two steals will be the difference—Wall will make those steals, not Williams.
Look for this matchup to get extremely physical with Deron Williams ultimately losing his cool and playing with too much emotion. John Wall hits a fade-away at the foul line for the game winner.
Prediction: John Wall 25 Deron Williams 24
John Wall shows the world just how great he will one day be.
West Division 1st Round: No. 4 PG Monta Ellis vs. No. 5 SG Stephen Curry
23 of 42In the first round's only matchup between teammates, this game will come down to the wire, favoring the player who can shoot the ball the best. That player is Stephen Curry.
This matchup will be an instant classic, pitting an explosive "Allen Iverson" type of point guard, Monta Ellis, against one of the best pure shooters the NBA has ever seen, Stephen Curry. With each player trying to show the Warriors' front office who is the best, Curry will outdo Ellis by just a hair.
Stephen Curry always has been able to hit big, clutch shuts when it counts the most—and that won't change in this game. Ellis has the toughness and street-ball ability to keep him in this game, but ultimately the fact that Curry had to carry his college team (Davidson) every day of the week will help him dominate in the clutch.
This game will be back and forth until the very end. If the game wasn't capped at 25 points, it might go on forever, but Stephen Curry hits 25 points just before Ellis does.
Prediction: Stephen Curry 25 Monta Ellis 23
There you have it, Warriors—keep Stephen Curry and trade Monta Ellis to the 76ers.
West Division 1st-Round Winners and 2nd-Round Matchups
24 of 42West Division First-Round Winners:
No. 1 Seed—SG Kobe Bryant
No. 2 Seed—SG Dwyane Wade
No. 5 Seed—SG Stephen Curry
No. 6 Seed—PG John Wall
Previewing the Second-Round West Division Matchups:
No. 1 Seed—SG Kobe Bryant vs. No. 6 Seed—John Wall
No. 2 Seed—SG Dwyane Wade vs. No. 5 Seed—SG Stephen Curry
With the first round coming to an end, we are left with some potentially epic second-round matchups that will be summarized in the next slide.
All 2nd-Round Division Matchups
25 of 42North Division Second-Round Matchups
No. 1 Seed—SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 7 Seed—PF Kevin Garnett
No. 3 Seed—C Dwight Howard vs. No. 5 Seed—SG Tyreke Evans
South Division Second-Round Matchups
No. 1 Seed—SF LeBron James vs. No. 5 Seed—PF Amare Stoudemire
No. 2 Seed—SF Carmelo Anthony vs. No. 3 Seed—PF Blake Griffin
East Division 2nd Round Matchups
No. 1 Seed—PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 7 Seed—PG Rajon Rondo
No. 4 Seed—PG Russell Westbrook vs. No. 6 Seed—PF Zach Randolph
West Division 2nd Round Matchups
No. 1 Seed—SG Kobe Bryant vs. No. 6 Seed—PG John Wall
No. 2 Seed—SG Dwyane Wade vs. No. 5 Seed—SG Stephen Curry
Without further ado, let's move on to the North Division second-round matchups...
North Division 2nd Round: No. 1 SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 7 PF Kevin Garnett
26 of 42On paper this semifinal matchup looks pretty straightforward. Kevin Garnett has two inches and almost 25 pounds on Kevin Durant, so wouldn't that give him the clear advantage?
It would—if Kevin Durant didn't own the past two NBA scoring titles. Unfortunately for Garnett, Durant does.
This matchup will be a back-and-forth battle. Kevin Garnett will ride his initial emotion to an early 10-5 lead. Like usual, Durant will catch fire offensively and it will be hard for Garnett to even get the ball back. Durant will be able to hit step-back jumpers over Garnett, who will be just one step too slow.
This match will not only showcase Durant's amazing offensive prowess, but it will also showcase the fact that Garnett is just getting older and older. While Garnett will ride the "underdog" train for a while and stay in this game, he will ultimately run out of gas and lose to a better offensive basketball player.
Prediction: Kevin Durant 25 Kevin Garnett 18
Kevin Durant moves into the North division championship and one step closer to the overall tournament title.
North Division 2nd Round: No. 3 C Dwight Howard vs. No. 5 SG Tyreke Evans
27 of 42This might be the oddest matchup in the one-on-one tournament so far. An incredibly strong center in Dwight Howard against a flashy, energized shooting guard in Tyreke Evans. Dwight Howard has five inches and 45 pounds on the young Tyreke Evans, which, at first glance, appears to be an enormous advantage for Howard.
The unfortunate thing for Howard, however, is that although he is a lot bigger, he still has to dribble the ball. What Tyreke Evans lacks in size he makes up for with point guard-esque handles and an ability to finish strong at the rim or pull up and hit a mid-range jumper.
This game will come down to missed opportunities, which I believe will plague Howard. Evans will use his quickness to create turnovers that he will undoubtedly turn into points.
While this matchup will be extremely close, I think Evans will use his ability to elevate and hit jumpers over Howard on the perimeter, ultimately resulting in another Tyreke Evans upset.
Prediction: Tyreke Evans 25 Dwight Howard 22
Superman's inability to defend on the perimeter will be exposed by Tyreke Evans. On to the North finals for Mr. Evans.
North Finals Matchup: No. 1 SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 5 SG Tyreke Evans
South Division 2nd Round: No. 1 SF LeBron James vs. No. 5 Amare Stoudemire
28 of 42This is a matchup that I would pay top dollar to see.
This is a battle of two NBA All-Stars who play drastically different types of games. LeBron has a weak post game, but is a solid shooter and is close to unstoppable off the dribble. Stoudemire, on the other hand, dominates opponents in the paint and has a decent mid-range jumper at best.
When the ball hits the court, I would put my money on LeBron in this matchup purely because he has a major edge in athleticism and ball-handling ability. While Stoudemire has two inches on LeBron James, James has the ability to make up that difference with his ability to get off the floor with ease.
Stoudemire will stay in this game because of his freakish size and strength, but ultimately LeBron's ability to force Stoudemire out to the perimeter to defend him will be what makes the difference here.
Once LeBron gets the ball and hits his groove he will be nearly impossible to stop. LeBron will take an early 11-5 lead and will never look back. LeBron will dominate this matchup all the way to the South finals.
Prediction: LeBron James 25 Amare Stoudemire 16
LeBron moves one step closer to the championship.
South Division 2nd Round: No. 2 SF Carmelo Anthony vs. No. 3 PF Blake Griffin
29 of 42This is a matchup that really could go either way—it all depends on which Blake Griffin shows up.
I imagine the young, inexperienced, hot-headed and offensively-challenged Griffin is the one we see against Carmelo in this matchup. In last round's matchup with Kevin Love, Griffin was able to rely purely on his athleticism to carry him to victory, but that will not be the case this time around.
Griffin meets a more experienced four-time NBA All-Star in Carmelo Anthony, who will be ready to bring it to Griffin. After a few quick emotional scores for Griffin, Anthony will quickly shut down his post game and force him into dribble/drive or jump-shot situations which will expose the young Griffin.
Carmelo will force Griffin into making bad decisions and missing long jumpers. This matchup could turn into a blowout early, but Griffin will fight defensively to stay in it as much as possible. Griffin ultimately will fall short because he lacks the offensive touch that most other stars have.
Prediction: Carmelo Anthony 25 Blake Griffin 18
Carmelo moves on to the South finals against LeBron James, setting up a battle for the ages between two stars of the 2003 NBA Draft class.
South Finals Matchup: No. 1 SF LeBron James vs. No. 2 SF Carmelo Anthony
East Division 2nd Round: No. 1 PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 7 PG Rajon Rondo
30 of 42This might be the most anticipated matchup of the tournament thus far. In the 2010 NBA Playoffs, Rajon Rondo ultimately got the best of Rose and the Bulls in their playoff series, but I think payback is due for Rose this time around.
Here is the key to victory for Rose in this game: his jump shot. While Rondo has worked hard at developing something resembling a jump shot, it is nowhere near as consistent as Rose's. Rondo, because of his lack of a jump shot, will try to get into Rose's head and control the pace of the game, but it will not work against the reigning NBA MVP.
Derrick Rose will do his best to lock down Rondo, but Rondo will stay close in this game until Rose starts to hit long-range jumpers. Rose will hit a string of jumpers and finish with a powerhouse dunk to finish off Rondo once and for all and move into the East Division finals.
Prediction: Derrick Rose 25 Rajon Rondo 21
Derrick Rose gets payback for the 2010 NBA playoffs and proves he is the most versatile point guard in the NBA.
East Division 2nd Round: No. 4 PG Russell Westbrook vs. No. 6 PF Zach Randolph
31 of 42What an odd matchup, huh? A 6'3'', 187-pound point guard in Russell Westbrook against a 6'9'', 260-pound power forward in Zach Randolph.
Just hearing those measurables would seem to give the clear advantage to Zach Randolph—but hold on. If you've ever watched Russell Westbrook play, you know that he consistently plays bigger than his size. Zach Randolph will be able to post Westbrook up and get some easy baskets, but the moment Randolph misses, Westbrook will take advantage with his speed and long-range jump shot.
Ultimately this game comes down to who wants it more and that man is Russell Westbrook. Westbrook will amaze the fans by constantly banging with Randolph and at times exhibiting his massive vertical leap to block Randolph. Westbrook walks away bruised but not broken, winning this battle of David and Goliath.
Prediction: Russell Westbrook 25 Zach Randolph 22
Just like the above photo, Zach Randolph will be left watching Westbrook as Westbrook moves into the East Division finals to face Derrick Rose.
East Division Finals Matchup: No. 1 PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 4 PG Russell Westbrook
West Division 2nd Round: No. 1 SG Kobe Bryant vs. No. 6 PG John Wall
32 of 42This matchup is pretty straightforward. One of the best players of all time in Kobe Bryant against an explosive young gun in John Wall. Unfortunately for Wall, all of that upside doesn't mean anything when it comes to matching up against the bigger and stronger Bryant.
John Wall will come out of the gate firing on all cylinders. He will jump out to an early 8-2 lead—but that is where his luck will end. Kobe will start playing the kind of defense that has earned him nine All-NBA Defensive First Team honors. Kobe will lock down Wall on defense and will start hitting jumpers with ease over the shorter Wall.
Kobe will ultimately run away with this matchup, making John Wall look vulnerable in his ability to hit mid- to long-range jumpers. In his dismantling of his young opponent, Kobe will ultimately prove that experience is often more valuable than youth and athleticism.
Prediction: Kobe Bryant 25 John Wall 14
Kobe moves one step closer to the overall tournament title by reaching the West Division finals.
West Division 2nd Round: No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade vs. No. 5 SG Stephen Curry
33 of 42This is a matchup that hinges on how hot Stephen Curry can get against Dwyane Wade's lockdown defense. Wade will rely on his defense to get him back into the game late after Curry develops a big lead.
Curry will ride his ability to create space and hit clutch shots to an early 15-7 lead, but that is when Wade will decide to turn up the heat on defense. The three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member will shut down Curry's jump shot opportunities and will force him to the rim where Curry is not as comfortable. Wade will force the inexperienced Curry to turn the ball over, which will result in easy scoring opportunities.
Wade will have to come from behind to win this one, but he will do it by relying on his defense and his ability to finish like a power forward at the rim. Wade's ability to consistently drive around Curry and hit jump shots off the dribble will prove just too much for Curry to handle.
Prediction: Dwyane Wade 25 Stephen Curry 21
Dwyane Wade reaches the West Division finals, where he will take on the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant.
West Division Finals Matchup: No. 1 SG Kobe Bryant vs. No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade
Now on to the division finals matchups...
Every Divisional Finals Matchup
34 of 42North Division Finals (Winner Plays South Division Champion):
No. 1 SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 5 SG Tyreke Evans
South Division Finals (Winner Plays North Division Champion):
No. 1 SF LeBron James vs. No. 2 SF Carmelo Anthony
East Division Finals (Winner Plays West Division Champion):
No. 1 PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 4 PG Russell Westbrook
West Division Finals (Winner Plays East Division Champion):
No. 1 SG Kobe Bryant vs. No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade
Let the Division finals begin...
North Division Final: No. 1 SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 5 SG Tyreke Evans
35 of 42In an East Division final where defense is optional, the advantage goes to the player who is the purest scorer—and that is clearly two-time reigning NBA scoring champion, Kevin Durant.
If Durant was matched up against an opponent who valued defense, the outcome could be different—but Tyreke Evans doesn't play anything close to lockdown defense. Evans' only hope to win this game is for Durant to forget how to shoot the ball—and that is not likely to happen.
Durant will use the three extra inches he has on Evans to drain jump shots over him. Tyreke Evans will make some athletic plays and will stay in this game early, but Durant's offensive dominance will prove too much for Evans to handle. Unfortunately the young gun's streak ends here with a loss to a true champion.
Prediction: Kevin Durant 25 Tyreke Evans 14
Kevin Durant is named the East Division champion and moves on to play either No. 1 LeBron James or No. 2 Carmelo Anthony in the North/South Regional Finals.
South Division Final: No. 1 SF LeBron James vs. No. 2 SF Carmelo Anthony
36 of 42Whether either player wants to admit it or not, there is a lot more than pride on the line here. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony both want to prove here that they are the best of the 2003 NBA Draft class.
Carmelo will leave everything on the court, trying to prove that he is as good as—if not better than—LeBron James, but in the end he will fall short.
The big difference in this matchup is LeBron's tenacity on defense. If there is one aspect of Carmelo's game that has always been lacking it is his inability to be a strong defender. Carmelo might be the purer shooter of the two, but LeBron will make it near impossible for him to get clean shots off.
LeBron will open up the court for himself by hitting a few long-range shots early on, and when Carmelo tries to defend him on the perimeter, LeBron will take his game inside. Carmelo will keep this game very competitive but LeBron will always have the upper hand.
LeBron ultimately proves that he is the best of 2003 NBA Draft class and that he might just be one of the best of all time.
Prediction: LeBron James 25 Carmelo Anthony 20
LeBron James is named the South Division champion and moves on to play North champion No. 1 Kevin Durant in the North/South Regional Finals.
East Division Final: No. 1 PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 4 PG Russell Westbrook
37 of 42This matchup will go down as the closest and most physical matchup of the tournament, with Russell Westbrook setting the pace of the game early on.
With most opponents, Westbrook could impose his will and intimidate his opponent, but Derrick Rose will not fall into that trap. Derrick Rose will match Westbrook's physicality but will play more intelligently and will hold his emotions in check.
Westbrook, on the other hand, will let his emotions get the best of him in this big game and will ultimately play a little too out-of-control.
This game will go back and forth until the final point is scored. Derrick Rose will be able to finish just a little stronger at the rim and his defense will be the difference maker in this matchup. Rose will get at least two huge blocks on Westbrook, which will give him the opportunities he needs to ultimately win the game.
Rose posterizes Westbrook at least once and hits two clutch jumpers at the end of the game to clinch the championship.
Prediction: Derrick Rose 25 Russell Westbrook 23
Derrick Rose is named East Division champion and moves on to play either No. 1 Kobe Bryant or No. 2 Dwyane Wade in the East/West Regional Finals.
West Division Final: No. 1 SG Kobe Bryant vs. No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade
38 of 42This matchup could go either way on any day of the week. Kobe Bryant is an amazing defender and an unstoppable scorer. Dwyane Wade is also a great defender and is beyond explosive on offense. This may be the best matchup of the entire tournament, and one that fans undoubtedly want to see.
Dwyane Wade measures in at two inches shorter than Kobe, but he is also 20 pounds heavier. Kobe has more accolades, but it often seems that Wade has more heart on the court. Kobe has four rings on Wade, but Wade has four years on Kobe. No matter what way you look at this matchup it is near impossible to decisively pick a clear winner.
On this day, though, I will give the advantage to Dwyane Wade.
Yes, you read that right—Kobe will lose to Dwyane Wade, but not by much. The difference here is that Dwyane Wade just has an extra half-step on Kobe, and that will propel him to the championship because of his ability to get to the rim.
Kobe will undoubtedly hit a number of jumpers, but Wade will win by consistently finishing strong. This is a matchup for the ages and if it was played 20 times each player would win 10. This day, however, is Dwyane Wade's day. He will run to the scorer's table, hop up and yell: "This is my house."
Prediction: Dwyane Wade 25 Kobe Bryant 24
Dwyane Wade is crowned West Division champion and moves on to play East Champion No. 1 Derrick Rose in the East/West Regional Finals.
North/South Regional Final: No. 1 SF Kevin Durant vs. No. 1 SF LeBron James
39 of 42LeBron James and Kevin Durant are not the same type of player. LeBron James thrives off of defensive pressure and creating driving opportunities for himself, whereas Kevin Durant is purely an offensive juggernaut.
As with most other high-profile matchups in this tournament, the winner of this game will ultimately be the one who can stop the other from scoring—and that edge goes to LeBron James here.
LeBron has the bigger and more physical physique, which he will use to push around the smaller and less muscular Durant. No matter how much LeBron pushes Durant around though, Durant will get off jumpers and score, which will keep him in the game.
Offensively speaking, LeBron will overpower Durant with his dribble drive and Durant's inability to defend will ultimately be his downfall. Durant skated by on his offensive prowess the last few matchups, but in this star-studded one he will fall short—but not by much.
LeBron powers his way to the tournament championship game with consistent defense and his ability to finish strong.
Prediction: LeBron James 25 Kevin Durant 22
LeBron James is crowned the North/South Regional champion and moves on to the National Tournament championship game against either No. 1 PG Derrick Rose or No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade.
East/West Regional Final: No. 1 PG Derrick Rose vs. No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade
40 of 42Unlike Durant and LeBron, Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade are very similar types of players—not only because they're both from Chicago.
They are both very physical players with an innate ability to finish strong at the rim and play consistent defense. Derrick Rose has the advantage when it comes to handles and Dwyane Wade has the advantage when it comes to a consistent jump shot.
In a one-on-one game where the players are almost identical, the advantage has to go to the stronger player and the player with more offensive talent. Dwyane Wade has one inch and 30 pounds on Derrick Rose, which clearly gives Wade the advantage in the size category. Based on that advantage, I think Dwyane Wade would prove too hard to handle defensively for Derrick Rose during an entire one-on-one game.
This game will be neck-and-neck the entire way until Dwyane Wade starts to hit long-range jumpers when it matters.
Derrick Rose does all that he can to win, but ultimately falls short to a stronger and more experienced version of himself.
Prediction: Dwyane Wade 25 Derrick Rose 24
Dwayne Wade is crowned East/West Regional champion and moves on to take on Miami Heat teammate and North/South Regional champion No. 1 LeBron James in the National Tournament championship.
Tournament Championship: No. 1 SF LeBron James vs. No. 2 SG Dwyane Wade
41 of 42We finally made it. We've reached the game that everyone wants to see. Two teammates and friends pitted against each other to prove who is the best. Whether Wade or LeBron want to admit it, this game means a lot for both of their careers.
This game will show who the leader of the Miami Heat truly is.
LeBron James clearly has the size advantage against Wade, coming in four inches taller and 30 pounds stronger. What Wade lacks in size he makes up for in athletic ability and heart. The one aspect of LeBron's game that is missing is his ability to consistently close out games and this matchup will be another example of that.
LeBron will dominate early on, getting into the paint when he wants and finishing with authority. As LeBron gains the lead, however, he will lessen his pressure on Wade—and that is when the comeback will begin.
Wade will get two or three key steals on LeBron that will give him the chance to create jump shot opportunities for himself. When Wade hits three straight jump shots, LeBron will amp up his perimeter defense but in turn will leave the lane wide open.
Wade will take advantage of LeBron's miscues and ultimately win in classic Wade comeback fashion, proving once and for all that he is the true leader of the Miami Heat.
Prediction: Dwyane Wade 25 LeBron James 24
National One-on-One Invitational Tournament Champion: Dwyane Wade
42 of 42There you have it. Dwyane Wade wins the 2011 National One-on-One Invitational Tournament by beating both LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Dwyane Wade solidifies himself in history as one of the most dominant one-on-one players in NBA history and proves that he has what it takes to be the leader of the Miami Heat.
Here is a list of the Divisional, Regional Champions and National Champion:
North Division Champion—Kevin Durant
South Division Champion—LeBron James
East Division Champion—Derrick Rose
West Division Champion—Dwyane Wade
North/South Regional Champion—LeBron James
East/West Regional Champion—Dwyane Wade
National Tournament Champion—Dwyane Wade
Thank you for checking out this article. Please post your thoughts, questions and concerns, and I will respond.
