From: Allen Linton To: Brian Clarke Re: NBA Decade Superlatives
Last Updated on Sunday, 03 January 2010 17:07 Written by Allen L. Linton Saturday, 26 December 2009 20:18
Best Player: Tim Duncan
“Big Fundamental” embodies the attributes of best player by being complete offensively, a defensive presence, revolutionizing his position, obtaining individual success, and winning championships. The two-time MVP led the only team to reach the playoffs in every season this decade (San Antonio Spurs) but produced against different levels of talent and remained the best player on his talented teams. With a winning percentage around .690, Duncan took the Spurs to continued success amid one of the most dominant duos in league history (Shaq and Kobe). Ten All-Star games, ten All NBA Teams, ten All Defensive Team selections, and ten years of dominance. With 21.2 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game, Duncan faced the toughest player and emerged as a leader and winner of the league’s most dominant team. (I know that people will suggest this is my anti-Kobe sentiment, but Kobe is second best as he is moving to the most elite atmosphere in NBA history. They way he transformed himself from selfish, to tanking the Lakers/overcoming scandal, to winning a title and being liked it unreal. Similarly, the post game that he has developed is sickening. He continues to reinvent himself to stay ahead of the curve…Jordan-esque.)
Best Team: 2000 Los Angeles Lakers
I cannot believe how great this team actually performed throughout the season. After winning the Pacific division with a record of 56-26, the Shaq-Kobe-Phil trio absolutely destroyed everyone they faced in the playoffs. Lakers swept the Utah Jazz, swept the Sacramento Queens Kings, and swept the hell out of the Spurs. After losing game one of the finals to the 76ers, they reasserted their dominance led by Shaq’s game two performance (28 points, 20 rebounds) to win out and finish with the highest playoff winning percentage of all time. No team could match up against the power of Shaq and the free willing talent of Kobe.
Franchise of Decade: San Antonio Spurs
For all the reasons that made the Tim Duncan the best player, the Spurs produced EVERY YEAR with their talent in the toughest conference in the league. Never did the stumble to a sub-.500 season (like the 2004 Lakers going 34-48) and they always maintained a team spirit and execution, unlike the fragile Lakers Love Triangle of Kobe, Shaq, and Phil. Thinking back on it, I have no idea how the Spurs continued to win with such a mundane group of players, but they symbolized the last true team concept in an era dominated by offensive superiority.
Best Draft Class: 2003 NBA Draft
Besides having to listen to the tagline “We have witnessed the King,” the draft produced the most amazing talent of the decade. Lebron James, Carmelo “2009-2010 MVP” Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Mo Williams. All-star members, Sixth Man Award recipients, most improved players, and pieces of winning teams.
Best Rags to Riches Story: 2007 Boston Celtics
After being screwed in the 2007 draft (first draft where three worst teams did not received the top 3 picks since 1993), the Celtics revamp the entire team by building the Garnett-Allen-Pierce trio that dominated the league and led to an NBA Championship over the dominant Los Angeles Lakers.
Best Performance: Allen Iverson – Game 1, 2001 NBA Finals
Giving the Lakers their only loss in the 2001, Allen Iverson went to the largest stage against the most dominant team and laid down 48 points making Kobe and Shaq look real bad. The highlight goes to A.I. hitting the fade away jumper and stepping over Tyrone Lue. It symbolized everything A.I. did to the Lakers (
). Honorable Mention: Shaq Game 2, 2001 NBA Finals (28pts, 20reb, 9assists, 8blks)
Worst Decision: Drafting Darko Miličić
I have no idea what the Pistons saw on tape that suggested that Miličić would pan out into a decent NBA player. Especially over Anthony, Wade, and Bosh! What the hell is wrong with you if you decide “Darko is going to be a franchise player, lets draft him at number 2!” With his 4th team since being drafted in 2003, he is averaging 5.5ppg and 4rpg. Number two draft pick. Congrats!
Best Franchise: San Antonio Spurs
Yes, that was easy.
Worst Franchise: Memphis Grizzlies
I did not make them the worst because their record sucks, rather their carefree trade of Pau Gasol to the Lakers. That trade changed the complexion of basketball and led to the Lakers whooping everyone. Horrible.
Most Embarrassing Moment: Malice in the Palace
Every fear of the league and society realized in a single moment ending with suspensions, stigmas, and David Stern giving the funniest press conference ever (because he had to remain calm which is always funny to see). As the modern American sporting experience becomes more personalized, the fans get closer to players than ever. With players more emotional and alcohol consumption at its highest, the league dealt with players fighting in the stands against fans and fans rebelling by trashing the court and players. Fears of black males became realized by greater society (with Stephen Jackson’s ghetto butt leading the pack) as black players attacked white fans. The incident scared both the league and the world of sports at large.
Weakest Punch Delivered/Weakest Punch Received: Carmelo Anthony/Mardy Collins
One of the funniest things I have ever seen. Carmelo starts pushing people around and for some reason decided to nail Mardy Collins with a b*tch slap/punch thing and he actually fell out from it.
For all the reasons that made the Tim Duncan the best player, the Spurs produced EVERY YEAR with their talent in the toughest conference in the league. Never did the stumble to a sub-.500 season (like the 2004 Lakers going 34-48) and they always maintained a team spirit and execution, unlike the fragile Lakers Love Triangle of Kobe, Shaq, and Phil. Thinking back on it, I have no idea how the Spurs continued to win with such a mundane group of players, but they symbolized the last true team concept in an era dominated by offensive superiority.
Best Draft Class: 2003 NBA Draft
Besides having to listen to the tagline “We have witnessed the King,” the draft produced the most amazing talent of the decade. Lebron James, Carmelo “2009-2010 MVP” Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Mo Williams. All-star members, Sixth Man Award recipients, most improved players, and pieces of winning teams.
Best Rags to Riches Story: 2007 Boston Celtics
After being screwed in the 2007 draft (first draft where three worst teams did not received the top 3 picks since 1993), the Celtics revamp the entire team by building the Garnett-Allen-Pierce trio that dominated the league and led to an NBA Championship over the dominant Los Angeles Lakers.
Best Performance: Allen Iverson – Game 1, 2001 NBA Finals
Giving the Lakers their only loss in the 2001, Allen Iverson went to the largest stage against the most dominant team and laid down 48 points making Kobe and Shaq look real bad. The highlight goes to A.I. hitting the fade away jumper and stepping over Tyrone Lue. It symbolized everything A.I. did to the Lakers (
). Honorable Mention: Shaq Game 2, 2001 NBA Finals (28pts, 20reb, 9assists, 8blks)
Worst Decision: Drafting Darko Miličić
I have no idea what the Pistons saw on tape that suggested that Miličić would pan out into a decent NBA player. Especially over Anthony, Wade, and Bosh! What the hell is wrong with you if you decide “Darko is going to be a franchise player, lets draft him at number 2!” With his 4th team since being drafted in 2003, he is averaging 5.5ppg and 4rpg. Number two draft pick. Congrats!
Best Franchise: San Antonio Spurs
Yes, that was easy.
Worst Franchise: Memphis Grizzlies
I did not make them the worst because their record sucks, rather their carefree trade of Pau Gasol to the Lakers. That trade changed the complexion of basketball and led to the Lakers whooping everyone. Horrible.
Most Embarrassing Moment: Malice in the Palace
Every fear of the league and society realized in a single moment ending with suspensions, stigmas, and David Stern giving the funniest press conference ever (because he had to remain calm which is always funny to see). As the modern American sporting experience becomes more personalized, the fans get closer to players than ever. With players more emotional and alcohol consumption at its highest, the league dealt with players fighting in the stands against fans and fans rebelling by trashing the court and players. Fears of black males became realized by greater society (with Stephen Jackson’s ghetto butt leading the pack) as black players attacked white fans. The incident scared both the league and the world of sports at large.
Weakest Punch Delivered/Weakest Punch Received: Carmelo Anthony/Mardy Collins
One of the funniest things I have ever seen. Carmelo starts pushing people around and for some reason decided to nail Mardy Collins with a b*tch slap/punch thing and he actually fell out from it.
Fall from Grace: Allen Iverson
Began the decade as the Most Valuable Player and NBA Finals contender and ended up on the 76ers after a terrible trip around the league. Notable moments include the falling out with Coach Larry Brown and his famous “Practice” press conference, multiple injuries, a short stint with the Denver Nuggets, worse stent with the Detroit Pistons, playing for the Grizzlies, and retiring. One of the best players of all time, a man who redefined one-on-one game play, saw the game pass him by as championships needed to be won with a cast of talent. One man could not do it all (like in the 90s). Nonetheless, A.I. remains an embattled character that younger fans do not fully understand. In time, history will shine on The Answer but for now, the 00’s were not a kind finish to a dynamic career.
The Future of the NBA:
One must be concerned about the financial success of the league and how that impacts the play on the court. We maybe in the midst in seeing teams shed contracts and money to remain viable in their market. The cost, of course, is that most teams will struggle and a handful of teams will pick out high talent and keep the championships among themselves. The salary cap continues to be lowered (69.2 Million this year, projected $64-65 Million next year) and teams continue to report lower earning and more empty seats. NOTE: Bill Simmons made the great point that ticket sales do not matter because teams can give tickets away at lower prices to keep ticket numbers inflated. The problem is at net gate receipts, which have dropped over 7% from last year. Simmons noted that eight teams currently make less than $500,000 a game, with projects that more teams can join that group. On the court, however, we will see if Lebron James can sustain success going forward as we see league powers finish their careers (Duncan, Kobe, Garnett, etc). Also, the balance of the league (at the top) is better with Eastern Conference teams being competitive with the West, but can the Eastern Conference improve so more than five teams can have a winning record? I hope so. Finally, David Stern is probably the second best commissioner in sports (first is Gary Bettman, NHL). How will he handle the referee scandal or any other problem that comes up? His dress code worked. His new basketball did not. Keeping the game innovative and interesting will be an important factor for the league to be successful in the future.
One must be concerned about the financial success of the league and how that impacts the play on the court. We maybe in the midst in seeing teams shed contracts and money to remain viable in their market. The cost, of course, is that most teams will struggle and a handful of teams will pick out high talent and keep the championships among themselves. The salary cap continues to be lowered (69.2 Million this year, projected $64-65 Million next year) and teams continue to report lower earning and more empty seats. NOTE: Bill Simmons made the great point that ticket sales do not matter because teams can give tickets away at lower prices to keep ticket numbers inflated. The problem is at net gate receipts, which have dropped over 7% from last year. Simmons noted that eight teams currently make less than $500,000 a game, with projects that more teams can join that group. On the court, however, we will see if Lebron James can sustain success going forward as we see league powers finish their careers (Duncan, Kobe, Garnett, etc). Also, the balance of the league (at the top) is better with Eastern Conference teams being competitive with the West, but can the Eastern Conference improve so more than five teams can have a winning record? I hope so. Finally, David Stern is probably the second best commissioner in sports (first is Gary Bettman, NHL). How will he handle the referee scandal or any other problem that comes up? His dress code worked. His new basketball did not. Keeping the game innovative and interesting will be an important factor for the league to be successful in the future.
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