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Basketball

The Disappointing State of the NBA All-Star Game

My favorite All-Star game among the four sports is a mess.

          Don’t get me wrong. Apparently the NBA All-Star Game and the weekend as a whole is a success. Early reports stated that ratings for the weekend have been at its highest point in four years. Which perhaps is all that matters.

          But watching the game last night? Watching 24 (estimate, way too lazy to look up just how many players were in the game) of the greatest basketball talents in the world drift through the game like it was a random scrimmage rings empty and hollow. And ultimately disappointing.

          All-Star games aren’t supposed to matter. They are exhibitions. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be meaningful in some way. Those who watch or attend want to see exciting plays from their favorite players, and since this is a game, want to see a winner. This couldn’t be more apparent than at the 2002 Major League Baseball All-Star game, which infamously and embarrassingly ended in a 7-7 tie as both teams ran out of available players. Major League Baseball decided that beginning in 2003 the best idea would be to bastardize their world championship each year by having homefield in the World Series be decided by the result of the All-Star Game. Combine that with the other silly rule about each time having a representative in the All-Star Game and you can’t help by laugh at Major League Baseball. The NFL is no better, although this is less of a fault of the NFL. The game resembles a flag football game by necessity as no one wants to risk injury. This didn’t stop the NFL from messing around with its locations and rules anyway. And I’m not quite sure what’s going on with the NHL’s All-Star game other than it seems to be a four team tournament or something. Whatever.

          But the NBA’s All-Star Game? It was pretty perfect all things considered. It obviously had some problems by All-Star Game standards: fan voting, players not going all out for 100% of the time, etc. But the nature of basketball means player competitive juices flow at all times. In no other league can you have 10 of the best players in the world on the court at the same time looking to beat one another. Individual pride is something that seems to matter more in the NBA than any other big sport. And if the game was close, things got good at the end.

          Want proof? Remember in 2013 when Kobe blocked LeBron over and over in the final few minutes? Commentary told us how this was Kobe’s chance to remind LeBron who the best was. LeBron of course got heckled the year before in the 2012 All-Star Game when LeBron passed off a potential game winning shot to Deron Williams. We all cared about that one too. (Side note: One of the hecklers was Kobe…which was funny since he did the same thing in 2001). Speaking of Kobe, how about his coming out party in the 1998 All-Star Game? Knowing all eyes were on him and that he had Michael Jordan on the other side of the ball, Kobe showed off his best moves to show he arrived. What about in 1987, where Magic Johnson, looking to win at all costs, fed Tom Chambers in the pick and roll down the stretch to win the game? How upset were all of us when Michael Jordan’s potential winner in 2003 was ruined by Jermaine O’Neal’s dumb foul on Kobe? My favorite example of this is in 2001. The East were big underdogs because the West had all these monsters (Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, etc.) and the East were led by guards. Only Dikembe Mutombo did all the big man work (22 rebounds) and the East completed a comeback because Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury refused to let them lose. That’s what I miss about the NBA All-Star Game.

          But last night? It was all about getting the hometown boy the MVP with his 50 points and breaking a Wilt record. Or some Durant vs. Westbrook drama that didn’t go anywhere. Last night there was no one challenging LeBron like Kobe did in 2013, or like Kobe challenged MJ in 1998 (Side Note to this too: MJ did win the Game MVP, so he accepted the challenge obviously). The game was close in the 4th, and Reggie Miller kept bring up during commentary that “this is where the game usually buckles down and players play hard”. Only they didn’t. Someday a team will drop 200 (we’re getting pretty close now). Or even an individual player will drop 100. Maybe NBA fans will like that.

          I’ll just be thinking about when players actually had some pride.

Basketball

NBA Predictions 15-16

                It’s almost time for another season of NBA basketball. The Pre-Season is usually the last time fans can have a realistic outlook for how their team will perform. While the NBA has traditionally lacked parity, several roster changes and several young stars making the leap allowed a Final Four involving four teams that hadn’t made a Final Four in years (Cleveland last made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009 thanks to the return of LeBron, Atlanta has to go back to 1970 before they were that close to the Finals, Golden State’s last Conference Finals was way back in 1976, and the emergence of Stephen Curry was a big reason why, and Houston last got to the WCF in 1997, led by the emerging James Harden). Once again the off-season had big pieces moving all around. That, combined with the emergence of some new stars (read: Anthony Davis) plus the return of some others (Kevin Durant) makes this another unpredictable NBA season…

Right?

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 03: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics carries the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at TD Garden on April 3, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Atlantic Division
Celtics: 46-36 (5)
Nets: 35-47
Raptors: 34-48
Knicks 32-50
76ers: 21-61

                I swear each year this division gets worse and worse. There are two intriguing teams here. First we have who I predict will win the division, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics honestly are primed for another dynasty with a bunch of Brooklyn Nets picks and even a Dallas Mavericks 1st too. Isaiah Thomas’ trade to Boston last year led to a 21-4 season finish and a playoff berth. Adding David Lee will only help the offense. The Raptors had made the playoffs  two straight years and bring back potentially a more dangerous team than the last two years (adding DeMarre Carroll) but there was a lot of doubt in Coach Dwane Casey after a disappointing playoff exit and I think the Raptors go downhill until there’s a switch. The Nets are a mess, the Knicks need a huge Carmelo year and really I think they’re going to trade him anyway as he got his money, and the 76ers are like a PS2 Madden Franchise hoarding picks all over the place. Problem is, unlike Madden, those picks haven’t been guaranteed to be anything yet.

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Central Division
Bulls: 54-28 (1)
Cavaliers: 52-30 (2)
Pacers: 44-38 (7)
Bucks: 38-44 (8)
Pistons: 35-47

                Derrick Rose problems aside, I think the Bulls will improve from the coaching switch. Tom Thibodeau tired players throughout the season and played a defensive heavy system. Fred Hoiberg should open up the offense and rest guys appropriately. It’s like the poor man’s version of The Warriors switching from Mark Jackson to Steve Kerr last season. I expect Jimmy Butler to have a huge season as well. The only thing that will derail the Bulls will be if Rose and Butler have issues. The Cavs are the Cavs…which is a great thing for them. Irving’s injuries and the need to rest LeBron a bit will cost them some wins, but at this point it’s clear it doesn’t really matter as long as LeBron is good for the playoffs. The Pacers lost tons of pieces and even added Monta Ellis, but Paul George returning should be enough for 44 wins in the East, even if he plays the 4. The Bucks might be better than 38-44, but I think adding Greg Monroe will clog the pain and actually add problems for Jabari Parker. As long as Reggie Jackson starts at point guard for Detriot, the longer they’ll be stuck in mediocrity unless Andre Drummond goes off (and don’t rule that out).

Miami Heat's Chris Bosh shoots a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. The Grizzlies won 104-86. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

Southeast Division
Heat: 49-33 (3)
Hawks: 48-34 (4)
Wizards: 45-37 (6)
Hornets: 35-47
Magic: 29-53

                Miami should be able to reach the expectations they had last year post-LeBron. As long as Hassan Whiteside wasn’t a fluke, Chris Bosh is healthy, Dwyane Wade realizes he’s not who he once was and Goran Dragic gets to play his game they should be good. The Hawks lost Carroll but should be fine. 60 wins was a bit on the luck side last year. Washington has yet to tell me why they’ll be improving, and losing a veteran like Paul Pierce is only going to hurt. Could John Wall and Bradley Beal bring their games to the next level? Maybe, but I think they both actually have limited upsides and we’re close to them already. The Hornets would be a lot worse if they weren’t in the East. Orlando has a lot of young talent but has a long ways to go.

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Northwest Division
Thunder: 51-31 (5)
Utah Jazz: 44-38 (8)
Trail Blazers: 31-51
Nuggets: 29-53
Timberwolves: 18-64

                Of course, the return of a healthy Kevin Durant will be a huge deal, and Russell Westbrook played like a MVP candidate last year, but I sense that won’t work out too great here. 51-31 isn’t a bad record, but all the fears fans had in the past about Westbrook taking too many shots and Durant not taking enough will manifest this season now that Westbrook experienced the year he had last year. Yes Westbrook led the league in scoring last year. Yes he was ridiculous. But he’s not Kevin Durant. The Thunder have serious depth problems with Dion Waiters potentially in a starting role as well. My pick for the young team to improve is Utah. The Stifle Tower and Derrick Favors were pretty good last year. They were 19-10 after the All-Star Break. I think Damian Lillard is a dark horse for leading the league in scoring this year…to go along with 40% shooting. Denver’s pretty much a mess and will probably trade off all of their pieces, and Minnesota needs a couple of years still.

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Pacific Division
Clippers: 62-20 (1)
Warriors: 59-23 (3)
Suns: 33-49
Kings: 33-49
Lakers: 30-52

                My big prediction: this is the year the Clippers have a dominant regular season, and Chris Paul actually wins his first MVP trophy. When Stephen Curry (rightfully) won the ’15 MVP with a 23-7, that opened up the doors for someone like Paul. Golden State will be right there of course, unless Curry gets hurt. The Suns added Tyson Chandler, which made little sense at Phoenix is a team that needs to rebuild and won’t be contending. I see more George Karl-DeMarcus Cousins problems in Sacramento. Let’s be honest, the Lakers need to rebuild at this point. I think D’Angelo Russell is my Rookie of the Year pick though, unless Kobe never lets him touch the ball.

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Southwest Division
Rockets: 60-22 (2)
Spurs: 52-30 (4)
Grizzlies: 48-34 (6)
Pelicans: 45-37 (7)
Mavericks: 38-44

                James Harden should only get better (and he was actually my MVP pick last year) and Dwight Howard has somehow become underrated. The Ty Lawson upgrade, as long as his head is on straight, is going to be huge for Houston. Everyone seems to think the Spurs are going to control the league with LaMarcus Aldridge joining, but in reality it’s going to take some time for him to get used to the Spurs system after being the go to in Portland. Still…I think it works out by April. The Grizzlies are the same team they are every year. Anthony Davis is amazing, but the reality is his team is awful around him and guys like Tyreke Evans only looked better last year because of Davis’ presence. Davis is going to be in that Davis Robinson position for a while. As much as I love Dirk Nowitzki…Dallas just lost too much with Chandler and who knows what Chandler Parsons will be like this year.

                But I did mention that I think the Spurs figure it out by April, and when they do they’ll get through this as tough as ever West and defeat Cleveland to win the franchise’s sixth Championship.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 15: TIm Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs poses for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2014 NBA Finals on June 15, 2014 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Basketball

Top 100 Pro Basketball Players Ever: #100 – #91

See the tab at the top of this article to understand the process for these selections.

#100: Mark Price

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All-NBA 1st Team: 1x (‘93)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 3x (’89, ’92, ’94)

NBA All-Star: 4x (’89, ’92, ’93, ’94)

NBA Career WS/48: .158 (69th)

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 116 (28th)

Career FT%: 90.4% (2nd)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 155th

Mark Price could be considered the Steve Nash prototype for a series of entertaining Cavs teams in the late 80s-early 90s. Like Nash, Price’s Cavs teams would fall short, at best getting to the Conference Finals in 1992. The ’92 Cavs were quite competitive, finishing off Larry Bird’s career in the Semi-Finals and taking one of the better Jordan Bulls teams to six games in the Conference Finals. A familiar story for Price and the Cavs.

Twice Price’s Cavs won 57 games (in ’89 and ’92), yet both times were beaten by Jordan’s Bulls. Just add Price to the list of players denied a Championship by Jordan (they absolutely could have won in ’92).

Price had a great supporting cast: Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance, which also drew parallels to the late 2000s Suns with Nash, Amar’e and Marion. Mark Price was ahead of his time and would have ranked much higher on this list if his career lasted longer. He’s destined to miss this list in the future as guys like James Harden are destined to make it.

#99: Tom Chambers

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All-NBA 2nd Team: 2x (’89, ’90)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’87)

NBA All-Star: 4x (’87, ’89, ’90, ’91)

Top 10 NBA Points: 3x (’87, ’89, ’90)

Role Player on one Runner-Up: 1993 Suns

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 96th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 120th

In a way, the power forward, Western Conference version of Mark Price. Chambers was a high volume, high scoring power forward who also couldn’t quite get to the finish line. In 1987, his Sonics got to the Conference Finals but fell to the Lakers. In 1989 he was with the Suns, got to the Conference Finals…and lost to the Lakers. In 1990, against Chambers’ Suns got to the Conference Finals but fell to the Trail Blazers. By the time the Suns got to the finals in ’93, Chambers was a role player as Charles Barkley had arrived and taken Phoenix to the next level.

Still, a solidly strong career for Chambers during a tough era for the NBA. Winning MVP in the 1987 All-Star Game, while only an All-Star Game, was impressive considering the stacked nature of the Western Conference team. He also had a 60 point game in 1990. Chambers’ only real detriment is that defensively he wasn’t much and Advanced Metrics aren’t too kind to him. But there are enough deep runs in the playoffs that he shouldn’t be discredited.

#98: Tim Hardaway

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All-NBA 1st Team: 1x (‘97)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 3x (’92, ’98, ’99)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 1x (’93)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’90)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’91, ’92, ’93, ’97, ‘98)

Top 10 NBA Points: 2x (’91, ’92)

Top 10 NBA Steals: 2x (’91, ’92)

Top 10 NBA Assists: 8x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99)

Career NBA Assists: 14th

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 87th

There are two sides to the Tim Hardaway story. The first half is the offensive side, the free wheeling Run TMC Warrior side. Hardaway was a fast point guard who was a key member and arguably the best player on some good early 90s Warrior teams. Unfortunately he then blew out is knee. He still came back strong and found himself in Miami after being traded.

This is where Hardaway lost his chance to become a top 50 guy. The Miami Heat were a solid team when Jordan was around, and became arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference after Jordan retired. The key word is arguably. Despite high seeding, the Heat constantly lost to the lower seeded New York Knicks and ruined any Championship runs Miami could have made. The Heat probably had one realistic crack at the Championship in the lock-out shortened 1999.

After the Heat upset the Knicks (after many players were suspended, allowing the Heat to come back down 3-1) in 1997, they were beaten by the Bulls. But, it looked like a sign of things to come. In 1998, the 2nd seeded Heat lost in five to the 7th seeded Knicks. Hardaway had a big series, but it wasn’t enough. In 1999 the Heat were the #1 seed in the East and the Knicks barely made the playoffs. This time Hardaway fell apart, being a major reason on why the Knicks pulled off the upset as Hardaway put up a 9 PPG, 6 APG, 27% shooting series. Hardaway proceeded to put up another stinker of a series in 2001, when both the Knicks and Heat were evenly matched, with a 8PPG, 5 APG, 29% shooting series. Had Hardaway come through in either of those series, perhaps Miami makes a Finals run. Once Alonzo Mourning has his kidney issues, the window had closed on Miami’s and Hardaway’s title hopes.

Can’t ignore his success obviously, but he could have had a better career for sure.

#97: Manu Ginobili

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NBA Sixth Man of the Year: 1x (’08)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 2x (’08, ’11)

All-NBA Rookie 2nd Team: (’03)

NBA All-Star: 2x (’05, ‘11)

2nd or 3rd Best Player on two Championship teams: ’05 Spurs, ’07 Spurs

Role Player on two Championship teams: ’03 Spurs, ’14 Spurs

Role Player on one Runner-Up: ’13 Spurs

Career Win Shares: 97.5 (86th)

Career WS/48: .202 (20th)

Best Player on 2004 Gold Metal Olympic Team

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 143rd

Gets big credit for being one of the best Advanced Metrics players in the league as well as a key member for four of the Spurs titles. He was one of the best perimeter players throughout the mid 2000s, only the Spurs style often held him back. None the less, without him the Spurs don’t win all those championships.

It should be pointed out that Ginobili also led Argentina to the Gold Metal in 2004, the year the United States screwed it up with the terrible team they threw out there.

The limited minutes and injuries hurt Ginobili’s resume for sure, but at one time he was a dangerous perimeter player that could be counted on to win games. He’s probably the evolutionary Drazen Petrovic.

#96: Alonzo Mourning

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MVP Runner-Up: 1x (’99)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2x (’99, ‘00)

All-NBA 1st Team: 1x (’99)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 1x (’00)

All-NBA Defensive 1st Team: 2x (’99, ’00)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’93)

NBA All-Star: 7x (’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’00, ’01, ‘02)

Role Player on one Championship Team: ’06 Heat

                   NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 1x (’99)                 

NBA Blocks Leader: 2x (’99, ’00)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 10x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’02, ’06, ’07)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’99, ’00)

NBA Career Blocks: 11th

NBA Career WS/48: .166 (59th)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 73rd

Influenced from the great defensive centers of the late 80s and early 90s, especially good friend Patrick Ewing, Mourning was a great defensive center that couldn’t get his team to the finish line. Like teammate Tim Hardaway, Mourning couldn’t get the Heat past Ewing and the Knicks, and his career resume suffered as a result.

As good as Mourning was, being the MVP runner-up in 1999 seems strange in retrospect and also seemed like a slap in Tim Duncan’s face. Nonetheless, someone needed to take over the post-Jordan post-Shaq Eastern Conference and Mourning could have been that guy. Unfortunately, the losses to the Knicks combined with his kidney problems later in his career cut Mourning’s career as a top guy short. He also wasn’t quite as good as Shaq, and not as good as Olajuwon and Robinson before him, or even Mutombo. Mourning can be classified as very good and not great, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Mourning does get some extra credit as he showed to be a great bench guy for the 2006 Heat.

#95: Dikembe Mutombo

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NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 4x (’95, ’97, ’98, ‘01)

All-NBA 2nd Team: 1x (’01)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 2x (’98, ’02)

All-NBA Defensive 1st Team: 3x (’97, ’98, ‘01)

All-NBA Defensive 2nd Team: 2x (’95, ’99)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’92)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’92, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’00, ’01, ’02)

2nd Best Player on one Runner-Up: ’01 Sixers

Role Player on one Runner-Up: ’03 Nets

NBA Rebounds Leader: 4x (’95, ’97, ’99, ‘00)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 11x (’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ‘02)

NBA Blocks Leader: 5x (’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 11x (’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02)

Top 10 NBA Win Shares: 2x (’97, ’98)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 7x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02)

Top 10 NBA WS/48: 1x (’99)

NBA Career Rebounds: 20th

NBA Career Blocks: 2nd

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 95th

One of the all time great defensive players. Mutombo’s teams always seem to succeed no matter what role he was in. Mutombo showed up in Denver and led the Nuggets to the first #8 seed over a #1 seed in NBA playoff history when they beat the ’94 Sonics. He moved onto Atlanta where the Hawks are a regular Eastern Conference playoff team. He got sent to the Sixers, and provided the defensive anchor on the Allen Iverson-led Finals team. The Nets acquired him to try to slow down either Shaq or Duncan in the finals in 2003. Mutombo then provided solid bench minutes for the late 2000s Rockets, even anchoring a team that won 22 straight games in 2008. He went down in the 2009 playoffs, his body finally broke down in the 2009 playoffs, which was a shame as the Rockets also lost Yao Ming in those playoffs and still took the eventual NBA Champion ’09 Lakers to seven games.

It’s difficult to stress just how good Mutombo was defensively. He was a destructive force in the middle that blocked pretty much anything that came into the paint. If he was around five years later, his presence would have destroyed the slash and kick game. Mt. Mutombo’s defense alone led teams to the playoffs.

The only knock on Mutombo’s career is how Shaq dominated him in the 2001 Finals. If that goes differently, Mutombo is ranked a lot higher.

#94: Yao Ming

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All-NBA 2nd Team: 2x (’07, ‘09)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 3x (’04, ’06, ‘08)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’03)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 1x (‘08)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 2x (’05, ‘09)

Top 10 NBA Win Shares: 2x (’04, ‘09)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 2x (’05, ’09)

Top 10 NBA WS/48: 4x (’04, ’05, ’07, ‘09)

NBA Career WS/48: .200 (21st)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 154th

The case against Yao: only 486 games played and only got past Round 1 once.

That’s really it. Yao Ming’s career will always be one of the great injury what-ifs. He was a great player from the moment he got onto the court until the moment he got hurt in the 2009 Semi-Finals. The 2009 Semi-Finals itself is a great what-if, as the Lakers struggled against Yao and the series went seven even after Yao went down.

You can argue Grant Hill as a better injury what-if, but Yao’s Advanced Metrics put him over the top for me. It didn’t surprise me that Yao didn’t need Tracy McGrady to advance in the playoffs. Here’s what you got from Yao: 18-25 PPG, 8.5-10 RPG. Efficient offense. Practically no help except McGrady in big moments. And yet in 2009, Yao was ready to make the leap. Just a shame his body didn’t agree.

#93: Vince Carter

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NBA Rookie of the Year: 1999

All-NBA 2nd Team: 1x (‘01)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 1x (’00)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’99)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07)

NBA Top 10 Points: 5x (’00, ’01, ’04, ’05, ’07)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’00, ’01)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (’01)

2nd in PER: 2001

NBA Career Points: 30th

NBA Career Three Pointers: 6th

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 89th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 99th

One of my least favorite players of all time mainly for two reasons: he was a massive disappointment considering he could have the best player in the league, and he embarrassingly gave up on the 2004 Raptors, which led to a trade to the New Jersey Nets.

The 1st part: Carter was an unstoppable force inside and the best in-game dunker perhaps in NBA history. He also became known for getting knocked down once and not going back inside as a result, as well as a multitude of what seemed to be ridiculous injuries. His nickname was Wince Carter. And while sometimes he was a great outside shooter, someone with his inside game shouldn’t be sixth all time in three pointers.

The 2nd part: 16 PPG, 3 RPG, 3 APG, 41% shooting in the first 20 games for Toronto in 2004. He gets traded to the Nets and puts this up: 27.5 PPG, 6 RPG, 5 APG, 46% FG. Jason Kidd isn’t that good. And if you need more proof, there’s an interview where he admits he didn’t always try hard. And you wonder why he gets booed in Toronto.

He only gets the jump on guys like Yao because as his career continues he became an effective role player for both Dallas and Memphis, and it did seem he finally realized he wasted a lot of his career. He also was unstoppable in 2001 for a Raptor team that absolutely could have made the Finals (Carter’s last second three in Game 7 just missed). Carter had a monster series in that one, with an opening 35 point game in Philly in game 1, a monster 50 point game in game 3 and a big 39 point game with the Raptors season on the line in game 6. Vince Carter was great for a short period of time, but he should have owned the league.

#92: Carmelo Anthony

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All-NBA 2nd Team: 2x (’10, ‘13)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 4x (’06, ’07, ’09, ‘12)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’04)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’07, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA Top 10 Points: 9x (’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA PPG Leader: 1x (’13)

NBA Career Points: 39th

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 105th

Carmelo may believe he’s just as good as LeBron and Wade, but he’s never elevated his game to win a Championship, only once getting close (in 2009, when he was gift wrapped Chauncey Billups). He’s failed to get past round one in the Western Conference every year he was there except 2009, went to the much easier Eastern Conference, and managed to win one playoff series in five years. He’s had Marcus Camby, Allen Iverson (slightly past his prime, but still more than enough as a 2nd scoring option easily), Billups and Andre Miller to help him.

Look, Carmelo’s on this list at this point as at times he can be an unstoppable scorer. But that’s really it. He’s a negative on defense. He clashes with coaches. He left Denver and Denver won 59 games the next season. His Advanced Metrics aren’t that good. He’s a one dimensional volume scorer. In today’s NBA, that just isn’t going to fly. After an injury plagued 2015, there’s a chance his prime might have passed him by.

He has a 62 point game and he can score. If he can either have an elite team surrounding him or he just gets his head in the game and improves, perhaps Melo can make a run.

#91: Kevin Johnson

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NBA Most Improved Player: 1989

All-NBA 2nd Team: 5x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ‘94)

All-NBA 3rd Team: 1x (‘92)

NBA All-Star: 3x (’90, 91, ‘94)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 6x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’94, ‘97)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 1x (’91)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’89, ’91)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 4x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’97)

NBA Career Assists: 19th

NBA Career APG: 9.1 (6th)

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 118.1 (11th)

NBA Career WS/48: .178 (41st)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 93rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 102nd

When he was healthy, one of the more unstoppable point guards in the league. The one time the Suns beat the Lakers in the playoffs, in 1990, KJ torched Magic and averaged a 22-6-11 in the series. KJ was an excellent offensive player who led along with Tom Chambers a very good Suns team every year.

Unfortunately, KJ wasn’t at his best when Charles Barkley arrived in 1993. His two awful games to start the 1993 NBA Finals probably cost the Suns the title (as much as being cost a title against a Jordan team could happen). KJ battled injuries for the next 4-5 years, but at least had a good ending in 1996 and 1997.