Today's edition of the My List special profiles two Eastern Conference teams, the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here are the players starting with the Nets.

Starters:

PG: Jason Kidd: Kidd seems to transform any team from alsoran to contender (except the Mavs, of course), but the job he did in Jersey was truly remarkable. Acquired in a trade from the Suns for Stephon Marbury in 2001, Kidd took a team that hadn't had a winning season since 1998 and had not won a playoff series since 1984 to their first NBA division title (at 52-30), their first #1 seed, and to their first NBA Finals (swept by the Lakers) with averages of 14.7 PPG, 9.9 APG (2nd in league), and about 7.5 RPG (for some reason, NBA.com doesn't have his stats, so I'm winging it here). Kidd made the All-Star team each year in Jersey, and helped the team win four division titles and make two trips to the NBA Finals.

SG: Vince Carter: Having "Vinsanity" here on this list may indicate lack of talent here, and it does. But Carter is high profile, so he makes it (half-hearted defense, I know). Acquired via trade from the Raptors for spare parts in 2005, Carter has maintained (for worse, I believe) his scorer's only mentality; he has averaged at least 21.3 PPG in each Jersey season, with about 6 RPG as well. Carter has made seven All-Star teams, and helped New Jersey claim a division title in 2006. What else can I say? This book just doesn't have many pages.

C: Darryl Dawkins: It speaks volumes about how weak the C spot has been for Jersey when "Chocolate Thunder" is a starter. No offense to Dawkins; he had some decent years after being added to the team in 1982. He averaged over 12 PPG four times as a Net, and had his best year in 1983-84 with 16.8 PPG and 6.7 RPG as the Nets upset his old 76ers team in the 1st round of the playoffs that year. After that season, Dawkins started getting hurt, and eventually the team released him in 1987. If I can say so, a waste of talent.

SF: Julius Erving: Before gaining worldwide recoginition as the NBA's (and the Sixers') ambassador, Erving had three great years with the Nets in the ABA. Acquired in a complex deal (one that involved two ABA and two NBA teams) from the Virginia Squires in 1973, Erving added plenty to his trophy case during his tenure; he was named ABA MVP all three years he played there (including a co-MVP with George McGinnis in 1975), and two scoring titles in 1974 and 1976 (to go with one with Viriginia), and Erving led the Nets to two of the last three ABA titles. Then, after the merger, the cash-strapped Nets (forced to pay $3.2 million to enter the league and $480,000 to the Knicks a year in indemity payments) sold Erving to the Sixers, and the rest is history.

PF: Derrick Coleman: Coleman may have wasted much of his NBA career, but during the early-to-mid 90s on the Nets, he had some very good seasons. Chosen #1 overall by the team in 1990, Coleman was named ROY after averaging 18.4 PPG and 10.3 RPG. He averaged a double-double in four of his five seasons in Jersey (highs of 20.7 PPG in 1992-93, and 11.3 RPG in 1993-94), and made the 1994 All-Star team. He also took the Nets to the playoffs three straight years (1992-94) before being traded to Philadelphia for Shawn Bradley in 1995.

Reserves:

PG: Kenny Anderson: Anderson was Coleman's partner in crime (so to speak) on the Nets of the mid-90s. Drafted #2 overall in 1991 (fresh off a highly productive career at Georgia Tech), Anderson replaced the traded Mookie Blaylock as a starter in 1992, and had three very productive seasons with the Nets, averaging at least 16.9 PPG and 8.2 APG (with highs of 18.8 and 9.6 in 1993-94, which included starting the All-Star game that year) and taking the Nets to the playoffs as a starter twice. But soon enough, the team and Anderson had a falling out, and he was traded to the Hornets for Kendall Gill in 1995.

SG: (tie) John Williamson/Kerry Kittles: Kittles has tenure on the team over Williamson (eight year to about five) but Wiiliamson was solid on both Nets ABA title teams, so they both make it. Kittles, drafted #8 overall in 1996, was a solid scorer in some solid Nets teams earlier this decade, averaging about 13 PPG each season (high of 17.2 in 1997-98) as the Nets won three division titles and two conference titles before leaving in 2004. Williamson, added in 1973, started as a rookie on the Nets' first ABA title team, and added a second ABA title in 1976, before jumping with the team to the NBA. The Nets traded him during the first NBA season, but reacquired him the following year from the same team they traded him to (the Pacers), and he averaged better than 23 PPG each of the next two seasons before they traded him again in 1980.

C: Mike Gminski: Gminski had some good years with the Nets of the early-to-mid 80s. Drafted #7 overall in 1980, Gminski was a solid reserve as the Nets became a decent mid-level playoff team in the mid-80s. Gminski eventually became a starter in 1984-85, and his best Nets years came in 1986-87; during that two year stretch, he averaged about 16.5 PPG and 8.8 RPG. But by the late 80s, the Nets were a team in steep decline, and they traded Gminski to Philadelphia in 1988.

SF: Richard Jefferson: Before he was traded to Milwaukee this offseason, Jefferson was a key contributor to the Nets' contenders (used loosely) of the early 2000s. Acquired in a draft day trade with the Rockets in 2001 (in a draft pick swap for the late Eddie Griffin), Jefferson was the sixth man on the first conference championship team in 2002, but he started for the second, and became a prominent player in the Nets' offense; he averaged better than 15.5 PPG each season, along with better than 5.7 RPG three times (highs of 22.6 PPG just last season, and 7.3 RPG in 2004-05) as the Nets made the playoffs every year until last year and won four division titles.

PF: Kenyon Martin: "K-Mart"'s best stats years came in Jersey before injuries derailed his career in Denver. Drafted #1 overall in 2000, Martin overcame a broken leg in college and emerged as a very solid big man when paired with Kidd; he averaged better than 12 PPG each year in Jersey, but his stats shot up with Kidd to 16.7 PPG and about 9 RPG (up from about 5) during Kidd's run with him. He also made the 2004 All-Star team before bolting for Denver that offseason.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Kevin Loughery: While Byron Scott would have been the easy choice (and he will be mentioned in the "Assistants" page and on the Hornets, where he did a better job), Loughery took the Nets to two ABA titles, and thus sneaks into the head job. Loughery was hired in 1973, and in his three years with the Nets in the ABA, they won at least 55 games each season and those two ABA titles. He jumped with the team to the NBA in 1976, but didn't have a winning season during that time (1976-80, though they did make the playoffs in 1979) before he was fired in 1981.

Assistants: Byron Scott, Chuck Daly: Scott coached the team from 2000-03, and after a rough 26-56 season in year one, the team turned around with 52 wins and a Finals berth. Scott repeated this accomplishment (with 49 regular season wins) before being fired during the 2003-04 season (reportedly because of a rift with Kidd, which makes that stomping the Hornets gave Kidd's Mavs much sweeter). Daly rattled off two winning season from 1992-94 (the first the team had since 1985) and two playoff berths before Daly retired in 1994 with a Nets record of 88-76.

Honorable Mentions:

PG: Micheal Ray Richardson: As I said with the Knicks, if only he could have stayed clean.

SG: Drazen Petrovic: Having forgotten to mention him, I'll replace Kittles and Williamson with Petrovic, who had two 20+ PPG seasons before his tragic auto accident in 1993.

SF: Kendall Gill: Good defender, but not quite as good a scorer as Erving or Jefferson.

SF/PF Keith Van Horn: Mainly just a scorer, and not that good of one.

C: Sam Bowie: Did recover some dignity after all those injuries, but was just average at best.

Now, for the Cavs:

Starters:

PG: Mark Price: Price belied his small 6 foot frame to become a very good scorer for the Cavs of the late 80s and early 90s. Drafted in the second round in 1986, Price became a starter in his second year, and in his third, he became an All-Star qith averages of 18.6 PPG and 8.4 APG. His best stats year occured in 1989-90 with 19.6 PPG and 9.1 APG. Price would make three additional All-Star teams and win the 3-point shootout in 1993 and 1994 before leaving for Washington in 1995.

SG: Ron Harper: Before Harper became known as a scrapper and champ with the Bulls and Lakers, Harper was a gifted athlete with the Cavs in the late 80s. Drafted as the team's second 1st round pick (#8 overall) in 1986, Harper made an immediate impact by averaging 22.9 PPG and 4.8 APG and RPG. Harper averaged over 15.4 PPG and 4.8 APG each year in Cleveland, and helped the Cavs win 57 games in 1988-89 (often as the finisher on the break) before he was traded to the Clippers in 1989.

C: Brad Daugherty: The man who today does NASCAR commentary on ESPN could have been one of the NBA's best centers had he not suffered a severe back injury in 1994. As it was, Daugherty had a solid career. Drafted #1 overall in 1986, Daugherty had a solid rookie year with 15.7 PPG and 8.1 RPG. Daugherty averaged a double-double in four of his eight seasons in Cleveland, with highs of 21.6 PPG and 10.9 RPG in 1990-91) and made five All-Star teams during that span. However, 50 games into the 1993-94 season, he suffered his back injury. He spent most of the next two years trying to recover, but he never returned to the court.

SF: LeBron James: Again, as with Carter, James' inclusion on an all-time list indicates weak talent, and when a team starts guys like Mike Sanders at the position, it sures does! In any case, LeBron is here. Drafted #1 overall in 2003, James has been the highest profile player in the NBA since his arrival (often negatively, but still), and though James hasn't developed into the all-around player he should be, he has played well; he has averaged better than 20.9 PPG since his rookie year (with a career best so far of 31.4 in 2005-06), and has averaged about 6 RPG and 6.6 APG. James has revived Cleveland basketball and led the team to its first NBA Finals in 2007 (swept by the Spurs).

PF: Larry Nance: Nance brought an all-around game to the Cavs in the late 80s, and his arrival made the Cavs a feared team during that period. Acquired in a trade from the Suns (for Kevin Johnson, Mark West and Tyrone Corbin) in 1988, Nance made the All-Star team in his first full season in 1988-89 with 17.2 PPG and 8 RPG. Nance maintained those averages throughout his six full years there (and made another All-Star team in 1992). Nance also helped Cleveland reach the 1992 Eastern Conference finals before retiring in 1994.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Terrell Brandon/World B. Free: Both were key scorers in various Cleveland eras, so both make it. Free, Acquired in a trade with Golden State in 1983, Free had three solid scoring seasons from 1983-86, with at least 22.3 PPG each year (high of 23.4 in 1985-86) and helped Cleveland reach the playoffs in 1985. Brandon, drafted #11 overall in 1991, took the starting job from Price in 1994-95, and averaged 19.3 PPG in each of his two years as a starter, making the All-Star team both years, before being traded to Milwaukee in 1997.

SG: Austin Carr: Carr may have been an average player (not something you want a former #1 pick to be), but with limited talent, Carr makes it. Drafted #1 overall in 1971, Carr was explosive in his first three years, averaging better than 20.5 PPG each year, with a high of 21.9 in 1973-74. Carr would remain a solid player for the rest of the 70s for the Cavs, and he helped Cleveland reach the 1976 Eastern finals (The Miracle of Richfield) before being drafted by Dallas in the expansion draft in 1980.

C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas: "Big Z" has overcome major foot injuries to become an above-average center for the Cavs this decade. Drafted #20 overall in 1996, Ilgauskas missed the entire season of 1996-97 with foot problems, but he helped Cleveland reach the playoffs in 1998 with averages of 13.9 PPG and 8.8 RPG. Then, more foot injuries set in; he missed 45 of 50 games in 1998-99 and the entire 1999-2000 season, along with 58 games in 2000-01, with foot injuries. He recovered, and he has averaged at least 11.1 PPG each year since 2001-02 (high of 17.2 in 2002-03) and about 8 RPG (high of 9.3 just last year) and helped Cleveland reach the 2007 Finals.

SF: Mike Mitchell: Mitchell had some good seasons with Cleveland in the early 80s. Drafted #15 overall in 1978, Mitchell had two seasons in Cleveland with over 20+ PPG (high of 24.5 in 1980-81) and about 6 RPG (high of 7.2 in 1979-80). Mitchell also made his only All-Star team in 1981 with those 24.5 PPG. But the team was a total mess, and Mitchell was traded in 1982 to San Antonio, right before the team nearly collapsed into bankruptcy.

PF: Jim Chones: Before winning a championship with the 1980 Lakers, Chones made an impact in Cleveland in the mid 70s. Signing with the team from the ABA's Carolina Cougars in 1974, Chones had two seasons with a double-double average (best year was 1977-78 with 15 PPG and 10.3 RPG). Chones also was a key factor in the team making the 1976 Eastern finals (he got injured in the loss to the Celtics) before he left for Los Angeles in 1979.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Bill Fitch: The Cavs' first ever coach was also its longest tenured coach. Fitch struggled initially with an expansion team, then he caught fire in 1975-76, as the Cavaliers won their first Central division title and a berth in the Eastern finals. FItch also led the Cavs to two other playoff berths and was named COY in 1976 before he departed for Boston in 1979. He won 944 as a coach and was named one of the top ten coaches in NBA history in 1996.

Assistants: Lenny Wilkens, Mike Brown: Wilkens returned to coaching in 1986, and after losing 51 games his first year, Wilkens didn't have a losing season with the Cavs after that, as the Cavs won 50 or more games three times and reached the 1992 Eastern finals before resigning in 1993. Brown, despite not being noted as a great X's and O's coach, has won 50 games in two of his three seasons, made the playoffs each year, and took the Cavs to the 2007 Finals.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Craig Ehlo: More known for his defensive lapse in 1989 than solid overall career.

PF: Shawn Kemp: Played better in Seattle than he did overweight in Cleveland.

C: Nate Thurmond: Much better known as a Warrior.

any other Cavs: If anybody else is worth mentioning, let me know.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, we'll feature the Magic and Hornets. Until then, let the criticism of LeBron begin (lol!)!

Today, I begin the final lists in the My List special series of all-time teams. There are ten teams (excluding Charlotte) that I haven't profiled, so to send this series out in (some sort of) style, the remaining lists will be double feature lists. Today, it's the Jazz and Pacers who will be shown. For starters, here's Utah's team.

Starters:

PG: John Stockton: This was one of two no-brainer choices (we all know the other), as Stockton belied his modest size to become one of the greatest PGs in NBA history. Chosen in the talent rich 1984 draft (which included Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Otis Thorpe, Kevin Willis and Sam Perkins in the 1st round) #16 overall, Stockton unseated 1984 All-Star Rickey Green by his fourth season, and in that 1987-88 season, he led the league in assists for the first time with a 13.8 average. It was the first of nine straight years that Stockton led the league in assists (breaking Bob Cousy's record of eight straight). Stockton had 1000 or more assists in seven of those nine years (including a league record 1164 in 1990-91) and he would become the all-time assists leader in 1994 (as well as all-time steals leader in 1995). Stockton made 10 All-Star teams (co-MVP in the 1993 game) and helped Utah reach two NBA Finals.

SG: Pete Maravich: "Pistol Pete" helped establish the Jazz back in their early days in New Orleans. The Jazz got Maravich from the Hawks in 1974 and banked on him to put New Orleans pro ball on the map. While the Jazz weren't very successful during his tenure (they never had a winning season; best year was 39-43 in 1977-78), it wasn't because of Maravich's efforts; he averaged better than 21.5 PPG each full season with the Jazz, including a scoring title in 1976-77 with 31.1 PPG (the last white player to win the scoring title, for those who care). After that scoring title, however, injuries started to creep up on Maravich (missed at least 32 games each of his final three seasons) and, after the team moved to Utah in 1979, it sent him to Boston, where he finished his career in 1980.

C: Mark Eaton: Eaton was the epitome of one-dimensional, but that dimension (shot-blocking) wans't done better by any center of his era. Drafted in the fourth round in 1982, Eaton blocked 275 shots as a rookie, but that was a mere prelude to what was to come. In 1984-85, Eaton set a league record (which still stands) of 456 blocks in a season (a staggering 5.56 BPG) to go with career bests of 9.7 PPG and 11.3 RPG (although, ironically, he made his only All-Star team in 1989 with averages of 6.2 PPG and 10.3 RPG, and 315 blocks). Eaton remained a defensive force in the middle for the Jazz until he retired in 1993.

SF: Adrian Dantley: "A.D." had his best years of his career with the Jazz in the early-to-mid 80s. Acquired from the Lakers in 1979, Dantley, who was a solid player with the Buffalo Braves, Pacers and Lakers, became a great scorer with the Jazz, averaging at least 26.6 PPG each season with the team (this includes scoring titles in 1980-81 with a 30.7 PPG average and 1983-84 with 30.6 PPG). Dantley helped Utah emerge from the doldrums of the NBA to become a contender, as the Jazz would win their first division title in 1984 and their first playoff series (against Denver). Dantley led the Jazz to the playoffs the next two years before being traded to Detroit in 1986.

PF: Karl Malone: Here's the other obvious choice. Malone may not have won a title (a major blemish, to be sure), but he became the standard by which today's PFs are judged. Taken #13 overall in 1985 (behind such 'stars' as Jon Koncak, Kenny Green and Joe Kliene), the pick so surprised the Jazz (nicely surprised, btw) it prompted then-coach Frank Layden to ask "Does he have AIDS or something?" when the Jazz were able to get him. However the case, Malone became a dominant star; he averaged between 21 and 31 PPG every year from 1987 to 2002, with his best stats year coming in 1989-90 with 31 PPG (career best), 11.1 RPG and 2.8 APG. Malone was selected to 13 All-Star games (played 12, including co-MVP in 1993 and sole MVP in 1989), was named to 11 All-NBA 1st teams, won two league MVPs (1997 and 1999), and played in three NBA Finals.

Reserves:

PG: Deron Williams: Despite having the pressure of being selected ahead of highly touted Chris Paul in 2005, Williams has handled it very well. After being drafted early in the 2005 draft, Williams overcame a sometimes rocky rookie season to become an elite PG, averaging career bests of 18.8 PPG and 10.5 APG this past season. Williams has led Utah to two division titles (their first back-to-back since 1997-98) and to the Western Conference finals in  2007, and undoubtedly will be an All-Star mainstay in the near future.

SG: Jeff Hornacek: Hornacek's best stats years actually came in Phoenix, but he brought a steady influnce to the Jazz teams that made two NBA Finals in the mid-90s. Acquired in a trade with Philadelphia (for Jeff Malone, among others) in 1994, Hornacek's best stats year in Utah came in his first ful season there, with 16.5 PPG and 4.3 APG. Hornacek would win the three-point shootout twice while there (1998 and 2000, as well as the now-defunct 2ball competition), and when he retired after the 1999-2000 season, his career averages were 14.5 PPG and 4.9 APG.

C: Memhet Okur: Okur may drive Jerry Sloan crazy with his play, but he has helped to return Utah to contention in recent years (plus, their history with centers absolutely stinks!). Added as a FA from Detroit in 2004, Okur has become a solid starter after being a key reserve on the Pistons' 2004 title team; since becoming a starter in 2005, he has averaged at least 14.5 PPG and 7.2 RPG (highs of 18 PPG and 9.1 RPG in 2005-06). Okur made the All-Star team in 2007, and for his career has averaged 13.4 PPG and 7.1 RPG.

SF: Thurl Bailey: Despite the fact that Bailey primarily was a reserve, he still was a key scorer on the break for the Jazz in the late 80s and early 90s. Drafted #7 overall in 1983, Bailey initially started, but he actually became a more effective scorer after going to the bench; he averaged at least 12.4 PPG each year from 1984-85 to 1990-91, with a career best of 19.6 in 1987-88. Bailey also helped the Jazz win two division titles (1984, 1989) before being traded to Minnesota for Tyrone Corbin during the 1991-92 season.

PF: Carlos Boozer: For those who may think I'm slanted more towards the present with the Jazz, just gaze at their history; they didn't become good until the year I was born, for goodness sake! Anyhow, Boozer took time to become an elite big man because of injuries, but since he has been healthy, the Jazz have also been healthy as well. Boozer, acquired as a FA after saying to Cleveland he would sign with them as a FA in 2004 (he essentially lied, though there was no verbal agreement), Boozer spent most of his early time in Utah on the bench with injuries; he missed 31 games his first year, and 49 in his second, as the Jazz began to lose patience with him. Boozer responded with an excellent 2006-07 season, with 20.9 PPG and 11.7 RPG. Boozer had another solid year this season, with 21.1 PPG (career best) and 10.4 RPG, and played in his first All-Star game.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Jerry Sloan: If any one coach today symbolizes stability, Sloan would be the guy. Promoted to the head position by outgoing coach Frank Layden (who kicked himself upstairs as an executive) early in the 1988-89 season, Sloan is the longest tenured coach in any major professional sport with one team. His teams' style hasn't changed much over those 20 years; they still use the pick-and-roll and play hard nosed defense. Sloan has 12 seasons with 50 or more wins (not including his partial season in 1988-89 when Utah won 51 games), seven division titles and two trips to the NBA Finals. He has won 1035 games as a head man (including a stint in Chicago).

Assistant: Frank Layden: Why only one assistant? Because Layden and Sloan have been the only coaches of the Jazz since the middle of the 1981-82 season. And the other coaches (including Tom Nissalke, Elgin Baylor, Butch Van Breda Kolff and Scotty Robertson) never had a winning season in New Orleans/Utah. Layden, who replaced Nissalke during the 1981-82 season, may have been known for being one of the most colorful coaches during the 1980s in the NBA, but he helped make the Jazz into a playoff team. Layden led Utah to their first division title in team history (1983-84) and to the playoffs five straight years (1984-88) after none in their first nine years. He won 277 as coach.

Honorable Mentions:

SF: Andrei Kirilenko: Solid all-arounf game, but his poutiness loses him points here.

SG: Jeff Malone: Good stats, but if he should start, why was Utah eager to trade him?

SF: Theodore "Blue" Edwards: Only a bit player on Utah teams of the early 90s.

PG: Rickey Green: Made 1984 All-Star team, but otherwise had a pedestrian pro career.

PF: Leonard "Truck" Robinson: Led league in minutes and boards as a Jazzman in 1977-78, but that was his only full season with the team.

Now, let's do the Pacers:

Starters:

PG: Mark Jackson: Jackson had some of his best team success years with the Pacers of the late 90s and early 2000s. Initially acquired in a trade with the Clippers for Pooh Richardson in 1994, Jackson's first two Pacers seasons were solid (about 8 PPG and 8 APG each year). Then, after being reacquired from Denver in 1997, Jackson finished as league assists leader in 1996-97, ending John Stockton's nine year reign on top of that category (Jackson averaged 11.4 APG that year). Jackson helped Indiana win three division titles (1995, 1999-2000) and reach the 2000 NBA Finals.

SG: Reggie Miller: Spike Lee's all-time favorite player, Miller was among the greatest clutch players (and trash talkers) in NBA history. Drafted #11 overall in 1987, Miller spent his first season backing up John Long, but he supplanted Long the following year, and in 1989-90, he made his first All-Star team with a 24.6 PPG average. Though Miller wasn't great in many categories (his high in a season for assists was 4 per in 1990-91, in boards 3.9 in 1988-89 and 1991-92), he sure could score; he averaged 19.5 PPG or better each year from 1989-90 (his best average year) and 1997-98, and made five All-Star teams. He also led Indiana to six conference finals and the 2000 NBA Finals.

C: Rik Smits: The "Dutch Boy" was a mutil-skilled big man for the Pacers throughout the 1990s. Drafted #2 overall (out of tiny Marist college) in 1988, Smits could be prone to bouts of inconsistency, but his final overall numbers were usually soild; he averaged about 15 PPG and 6 RPG over his career (highs of 18.5 PPG in 1995-96 and 7.7 RPG in 1994-95) and he made the 1998 All-Star team as well. Smits also played on the Pacers teams that won the division titles and made the NBA Finals as described above.

SF: George McGinnis: McGinnis could be a hot dog, but during the Pacers' glory years of the mid-70s, there weren't many better players in the ABA than McGinnis. Joining the team in 1971, McGinnis started as a rookie on the Pacers' second ABA title team of that era, and the next year McGinnis led the team to a third title with averages of 27.6 PPG and 12.5 RPG. McGinnis had his best year in 1974-75 with averages of 29.8 PPG (leading the ABA) and 14.3 RPG, tying Julius Erving for ABA MVP, but after taking the Pacers back to the ABA Finals, he bolted for the 76ers in 1975. He would play his last two years in Indiana (1981-82), and helped Indiana make the NBA playoffs for the first time in 1981. For his ABA run, he averaged 25.2 PPG and 12.9 RPG.

PF: Dale Davis: Nothing about Davis' game was flashy, but for the Pacers of the 1990s, he provided Smits with the tough guy he needed to be most effective. Drafted #13 overall in 1991, Davis was tough on the boards, averaging close to 8 RPG each year after his rookie year, and had his best stats year in 1993-94 with 11.7 PPG and 10.9 RPG (both career highs), though he made his only All-Star team in 2000. Davis played on three division champions and one conference champion during his Pacers tenure before being dealt to Portland in 2000.

Reserves:

PG: Vern Fleming: Fleming was a fan favorite for the Pacers of the late 80s and early 90s. Drafted #18 overall in 1984, Fleming became a starter almost immediately, and played solidly on a bad team, he averaged better than 12 PPG and 5.3 APG each year from 1986 to 1990-91 (highs of 14.3 PPG in 1988-89 & 1989-90 and 71. APG in 1987-88), and helped Indiana become respectable in the early 90s. Fleming was a reserve on two conference finalists before finishing his career with the Nets in 1995-96.

SG: Billy Knight: Knight was a high scoring guard for the Pacers just as they got their NBA feet wet in the mid-70s. Joining the team in 1974, Knight averaged 17.1 PPG as the Pacers reached their last ABA Finals, then averaged 28.1 PPG in their final ABA season of 1975-76. Moving with them to the NBA, Knight made the 1977 All-Star team with a 26.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG season (he and Don Buse were the last Pacers to make the All-Star team for 13 years). But the team was in chaos, and they traded Knight to Buffalo after the season. Knight returned in 1979, but by that time, he was simply an average scorer, and they got rid of him again in 1983.

C: Mel Daniels: Yes, this is an NBA all-time list, but these ABA players I'm mentioning helped Indy win three ABA titles and have their numbers up in the Fiedlhouse, so how can I leave them out? Daniels, who didn't play for the Pacers in the NBA, made the ABA Pacers that league's Celtics (three titles in four years). Acquired from Minnesota in 1968, Daniels was that league's Dave Cowens; short by C standards, but double tough (and talented). Daniels averaged a double-double in each Pacer season (highs of 24 PPG in 1968-69 and 18 RPG in 1970-71), and won ABA ROY in 1967-68 and two ABA MVPs (1968-69 and 1970-71). Daniels also took Indiana to those three ABA titles, and that deserves mention.

SF: (tie) Chuck Person/Roger Brown: Person had a nice run in Indy during the early 90s, but Brown was the Person of the 70s (the Chuck Person, mind you) for the Pacers, so both get in. Person, drafted #4 overall in 1986, had six solid scoring years with the Pacers; he averaged between 17 and 21.6 PPG each of his Pacers seasons (that 21.6 occured in 1988-89) and helped Indy reach the playoffs three times before departing in 1992. Brown, who joined the team in its first ever season in 1967-68, played with the Pacers for the bulk of his career, and had three straight 20+ PPG seasons from 1968-69 to 1970-71 (best year was 1969-70 with 23 PPG and 7.4 RPG) and was a part of all three Indiana ABA title teams, and he, too, has his number up in the Fieldhouse.

PF: Jermaine O'Neal: Yes, O'Neal may have burned many bridges in Indiana, but when he was healthy (which was seldom), he was a very solid big man. Acquired from the Blazers for Dale Davis in 2000, O'Neal went from bench warmer in Portland to producer in Indy; he averaged 12.9 PPG and 9.8 RPG in his first Indiana seasons after having a 3.9, 3.3 line in Portland. O'Neal averaged about 20 PPG four times as a Pacer (high of 24.3 in 2004-05) and made five All-Star teams while there, and took the Pacers to a division title in 2003-04 and the Eastern finals that year, before things fell apart (as did his body) and he was traded to Toronto recently.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Bob Leonard: "Slick" sure didn't seem like a candidate for great coaches after a 44-78 run as Chicago Packers/Baltimore Bullets coach from 1963-64. But when he took over for Larry Staverman in 1968-69, the Pacers became immediate ABA contenders. The Pacers made the playoffs every year in the NBA under Leonard, with three 50+ win seasons, and three ABA titles. Leonard also coached the team in the NBA (1976-80)and while he didn't have the success he did in the ABA, overall, for his career, he won 573 games.

Assistants: Larry Brown, Larry Bird: Brown took over this team in 1993-94, and in his first year, the team won a then-record (for their NBA existence) 47 games and made the Eastern finals. Brown took the team to another Eastern final (and division title) in 1995 and to the playoffs in 1996 before resigning in 1997. Bird replaced Brown, and set a rookie-coaches record of 58 wins as the Pacers returned to the Eastern Finals. Overall, the team won two division titles, made the conference finals all three years, and advanced to the 2000 NBA Finals.

Honorable Mentions:

SF: Jalen Rose: Three excellent years sandwiched by three so-so years.

PF: Antonio Davis: The lesser of two Davises in Indiana.

SG: Clark Kellogg and C: Steve Stipanovich: What could have been had both not gotten hurt.

PG: Don Buse: Made 1977 All-Star team, but was average for the most part.

SF: Detlef Schrempf: Better known as a Sonic.

SG/SF Ron Artest: All the good things he did in Indy (including the 2004 Defensive POY) are obliterated by the bad things that destroyed this team.

That's the lsit for today. Tomorrow, it will be the Nets and the Cavs (or, in other words, LeBron's current and very possibly future team!). See ya then!

I'm sorry I couldn't get this list out sooner, but my house needed the AC installed before we faced a sauna-esque atmosphere. Now that I'm finished, let's continue the My List special with the Detroit Pistons. Let me assure you there will be no bias here! Let's take a look at the lineups.

Starters:

PG: Isiah Thomas: Though "Zeke" may be known today as the former bumbling GM of the Knicks, in his playing day, there weren't many players more intense than Thomas. Taken #2 overall after leading Indiana to an NCAA title in 1981, Thomas helped the Pistons improve by 18 wins his rookie year, as he averaged 17 PPG and 7.8 APG. Thomas would lead the league in assists in 1984-85 with a career high 13.9 per game, and his stats prime came in the years before the "Bad Boys" took hold; between 1984 and 1987, Thomas averaged over 20 PPG and 10 APG each year (his single season scoring high was actually in 1982-83 with 22.9 per). But he was still spectacular in the late 80s and early 90s, as Detroit won two titles (he was Finals MVP in 1990). For his career, he played in 12 All-Star games (1984 & 1986 game MVP), was All-NBA first team three times (1984-86), and had career averages of 19.2 PPG and 9.3 APG.

SG: Joe Dumars: Thomas' backcourt mate for nine years, Dumars was the ice to Thomas' fire; he never seemed nervous in any situation. Drafted #18 overall in 1985 (behind such immortals as Uwe Blab, Keith Lee, Blair Rasmussen, Benoit Benjamin, Jon Koncak, and Bill Wennington!), Dumars split time with John Long as a rookie, but he became a full-time starter in year two, and by his fourth year, Dumars was Finals MVP as the Pistons swept the Lakers (who were short-handed, but they still won) in 1989. Dumars would go on to be selected to six All-Star teams, and his best stats year came in 1992-93, with averages of 23.5 PPG and 4 APG, which was also the year he was All-NBA second team. Unlike Thomas, Dumars would successfully transition into management, as the Pistons have won six division titles, made six straight conference finals, and won the 2004 NBA title.

C: Bob Lanier: Some may clamor for Bill Laimbeer here, but Lanier was one of the NBA's best C's of the 1970s. Drafted #1 overall in 1970, Lanier turned the Pistons into a dangerous team in the Western Conference with his interior play. Lanier averaged a double-double in seven of his nine full Detroit seasons (his best year came in 1970-71, with 25.7 PPG and 14.2 RPG), and would make the All-Star team seven times while a Piston. But management never surrounded Lanier with a good team, and they ended up trading him to Milwaukee for Kent Benson in 1980. For his career, Lanier averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.1 RPG.

SF: Grant Hill: Hill helped Detroit return to respectability after being drafted #3 overall (behine Glenn Robinson and Jason Kidd) in 1994. Hill averaged 19.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 5 APG, sharing ROY honors with Kidd in 1995. The following year, he helped Detroit make the playoffs for the first time in four years with a 20.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.9 APG line. In his six Detroit seasons, Hill averaged 21.5 PPG (high of 25.8 his last year of 1999-2000), 7.9 RPG (high was 1995-96 #) and 6.3 APG (high of 7.3 in 1996-97), was All-NBA 1st team in 1996-97, and made five All-Star teams, before asking for and getting a sign-and-trade with Orlando (where the Pistons got Ben Wallace) in 2000.

PF: Bill Laimbeer: Granted, Laimbeer did play center most of his career, but I felt he should be a starter, so he's at PF. No matter; Laimbeer, acquired in a trade with Cleveland for Phil Hubbard in 1982, brought the nasty factor to the "Bad Boys" with his physical (and some would say dirty) style of play. But "Lamb" was more than just a physical hack; he had a good shooting touch (he hit 202 threes for his career, and tied a then-Finals record of six in game 2 of the 1990 Finals), and averaged a double-double for six straight seasons (1983-88). He led the league in rebounds in 1985-86 9career best 13.1 per game), and missed just three games between 1983 and 1992. He also made four All-Star teams.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Dave Bing/Chauncey Billups: How could I leave either player off this list? I just couldn't do it, so here we are. Bing was a pure scorer for the team in the 60s and early 70s; he averaged over 20 PPG in seven of his nine Detroit seasons, and led the league in scoring in 1968 with a 27.1 average (the first guard to lead the league in scoring since 1948) and made six All-Star teams while here. Billups, added as a FA from Minnesota in 2002, became "Mr. Big Shot" for his penchant for hitting game-winning shots. He went from journeyman to star in Detroit, and won Finals MVP in 2004 as the Pistons shocked the Lakers. His best Detroit season was 2005-06 with averages of 18.5 PPG and 8.6 APG.

SG: Richard Hamilton: Billups' backcourt mate has not been spectacular, but boy is he steady. Since being acquired from Washington for Jerry Stackhouse in 2002, Hamilton has averaged at least 17 PPG in every season here (his high was 20.1 in 2005-06), and has made three All-Star teams during his tenure. He also started on the 2004 title team.

C: Ben Wallace: "Big Ben" may not be worth too much now, but in Detroit, he was the personification of hustle and great defense. Added as almost a throw-in in the Grant Hill sign-and-trade in 2000, Wallace averaged better than 12 RPG in each of his first five Detroit seasons, and won four Defensive POY awards. Also, Wallace was the inspiration for the Pistons' "Going to work" motif of recent seasons. Wallace was selected to four All-Star games, and started on the 2004 titlists.

SF: (tie) Dennis Rodman/George Yardley: I know I told Hoffman that Rodman would get his kudos on this list. But Yardley was also the Pistons' first big-time scorer in Detroit, so I couldn't ignore him. Rodman, drafted in the second round in 1986, was the Pistons' best individual defender during the "Bad Boys" era, and was also an exceptional rebounder even while coming off the bench (he averaged almost 10 RPG even as a reserve). He won two Defensive POYs (1990, 1992), led the league in boards twice as a Piston (his best RPG year came in Detroit in 1992 with 18.7 RPG), and made two All-Star teams. Yardley, drafted in 1953, won the scoring title in the Pistons' first year in Detroit in 1958 (27.8 average, and was the first player to score 2,000 points in a season), played on both of the Pistons teams that made the Finals in Fort Wayne in 1955-56, and made five All-Star teams while there.

PF: Rasheed Wallace: Though Rasheed never seems to go all-out in any game, there's no denying that he was the spark that helped Detroit win the 2004 title. Acquired during that season in a three-way trade with Atlanta and Boston, Wallace averaged 13.7 PPG and 7 RPG during the stretch run as Detroit rolled into the playoffs, and his all-around play helped Detroit stun the Lakers and win the title. In his Detroit career, he has averaged about 13 PPG and 7 RPG each year, and for his career has made four All-Star teams.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Chuck Daly: Daly really made good in his second chance (though really it was his first) to be an NBA head coach; his only prior head coaching experience was a 9-32 with the Cavs in 1981-82. But while with Detroit, the Pistons won at least 46 games each year, made five straight conference finals, three NBA Finals, and won two championships, as Daly shifted the teams' focus from a finesse, offensive minded approach, to a tough, "Bad Boys" defensive team. Including stints in New Jersey and Orlando, Daly won 564 games as a head man.

Assistants: Charles Eckman, Larry Brown: Consider this; before Daly, only four guys (Paul Birch, Eckman, Richard McGuire, and Scotty Robertson) had coached the team for at least three years, and only one since (recently fired Flip Saunders) has done that. So it was hard to pick assistants. Eckman, who became a coach on a dare (as an NBA referee, he told Pistons owenrship he could coach better than the guy they had), boasted he didn't call any offensive sets, but his style worked... to a point. The Fort Wayne Pistons won two division titles and made two NBA Finals under Eckman, who is the only person to coach (1955-56) and referee (1951) an All-Star game. Brown won 108 games (54 each season) in his twow years here, and coached the Pistons to the NBA Finals in both of those years, with the crowning achievement being the 2004 title.

Honorable Mentions:

PF: Rick Mahorn: Great defensive player, but Laimbeer and Rasheed had more of a hand in the title runs than Mahorn did.

SG: John Long: Here's the dreaded "Alvin Robertson" theory at work; Long's best years were among the Pistons' worst, and it diminishes his accomplishments slightly.

SF: Tashaun Prince: Just isn't that consistent, and the least valuable (in my opinion) starter on the 2004 titlists.

PG: Richard McGuire: Decent stats, but Thomas and Bing/Billups were better.

PG/SG Vinnie Johnson: Great sixth man, but the "Microwave" can't be justified ahead of any of the guards mentioned because he was primarily a backup.

PF/C Bob McAdoo: Better known as a Brave and Laker, and his acquisition cost us the #1 pick in 1980 (the Celtics had that pick, and used it to get Parish and McHale.).

SF: Mark Aguirre: More of a Mavs legend than a Pistons legend, though he did help us win two titles.

SF: Kelly Tripucka: Great scorer, but kinda personified the finesse Pistons that didn't get over the hump.

That's the Pistons. Tomorrow, the #11 seed, the Warriors, are next. Take care until then!

Today, the My List special will resume by revealing the #8 team in the countdown, the Chicago Bulls. Before I dive head first into this, allow me to comment on the top comment getter today on the blogs. That blog has got to rank right up there with the most ignorant, spiteful, non-sports related, hateful, hard to read, bigoted, racist, stupid, and biggest wastes of time that I've seen on this site since I signed up here in November 2006. Almost worse than that, the Sizzle got into a verbal joust with gambit, and I thought (and I said as much in a comment on the blog in question) that was low-class, and while I agree that the major problem is that the blogger didn't talk about sports, that still is no excuse for taking a good blogger to task to defend that peace, er, piece of trash. You're better than that, Sizzle, and hopefully that #### is taken off this site or at least warned to stick to sports.

Speaking of sports, now that my commentary is out of the way, let's reveal the Bulls' all-time team.

Starters:

PG: Norm Van Lier: Van Lier gets forgotten by many people because he never truly stood out among the flashier PGs. But Van Lier was the engine that drove the Bulls during the 1970s. Acquired from Cincinnati during the 1971-72 season (a year after leading the league in assists with a 10.1 average), Van Lier led the team in assists every full season he played with the team. He was named All-NBA second team in 1973-74, made three All-Star teams (1974, 1976-77) and helped Chicago reach the 1974 Western Conference finals.

SG: Michael Jordan: As Bugs Bunny might say "What, you were expecting the Easter bunny?". Jordan certainly needs no introduction to basketball fans all over the world. Drafted #3 overall in 1984, Jordan captured ROY for the 1984-85 season with averages of 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 5.9 APG. After a serious foot injury kept him out of most of his second season, Jordan exploded for 63 points in game 2 of a first round series with Boston (causing Larry Bird to say it was God dressed as Jordan), and he never looked back. He would win ten scoring titles (and his career PPG of 30.1 is tops all time), five regular season MVPs (1988, 1991-92, 1996, 1998), three All-Star game MVPs (1988, 1996, 1998),  a Defensive POY (1988) and most importantly, six NBA titles, with Jordan winning Finals MVP in all six wins. He also won two Olympic gold medals (1984, 1992).

C: Artis Gilmore: Gilmore's best NBA years came when he played in Chicago. The Bulls spent a then-costly sum of $1 million to acquire Gilmore in the ABA dispersal draft in 1976. Gilmore responded with averages of 18.6 PPG and 13. RPG as Chicago won 49 games and extended the eventual champion Blazers to an elimination game in the 1st round that year. Gilmore's best stats year came in 1978-79. when he averaged 23.7 PPG and 12.7 RPG. He made four All-Star teams in Chicago, and led the league in FG% twice with the team (1981-82).

SF: Scottie Pippen: Pippen was the ideal "Robin" to Jordan's "Batman" during the Bulls' dynasty of the 1990s. Chicago traded Olden Polynice to Seattle for Pippen on draft night 1987, Pippen didn't begin to blossom until his third season, when new coach Phil Jackson made him the setup guy for his offense. Pippen made his first All-Star team that year (one of seven he made during his career), and in year four, the Bulls were NBA champs, as Pippen scored 32 to lead the Bulls in the clinching game of the 1991 Finals. Pippen would average over 20 PPG four times (a career high of 22 PPG in 1993-94), and would be named All-NBA Defensive 1st team eight straight times (1992-99). He also was the only player (besides Jordan) to play on all six Bulls championship teams.

PF: Horace Grant: Say what you may about Dennis Rodman, but Grant was on the Bulls longer than Rodman, and was a more all-around threat. Drafted by the team in 1987, Grant began to show potential in his second season (12 PPG and 8.6 RPG), and was steady throughout his Bulls run (as the third option behind Jordan and Pippen). Grant averaged a double-double twice as a Bull (1992 and 1994, which was his only All-Star game appearence), and had his best stats year in his last Bulls season in 1993-94 with 15.1 PPG and 11 RPG. He won three titles with the team before bolting for Orlando in 1994.

Reserves:

PG: John Paxson: The ideal PG for the triangle offense, Paxson was a throw-in in a trade the Bulls made with the Spurs to add George Gervin in 1985 (the Iceman played his final season with the Bulls). He eventually became a starter full time in 1989, and his precise shooting opened up the floor for Phil Jackson's revolutionary O. Paxson's zenith came in game five of the 1991 Finals, when he scored 10 points in the last four minutes of the game to clinch the title for Chicago. He also hit the clinching three to seal the Bulls' third straight title in 1993. Today, he is in charge of the Bulls as team GM.

SG: Jerry Sloan: Before become universally known as the hard### coach of the Utah Jazz, Sloan was an equally hard### player for the Bulls of the 60s and early 70s. Acquired in the expansion draft from the Bullets in 1966, Sloan was a solid scorer (five seasons of 15 or better PPG, a high of 18.3 in 1970-71), but he made his name by being a tough defensive player. Four times he was named to the All-Defensive 1st team (the first ever team in 1969, 1972, 1974-75) and he had 100+ steals twice (steals weren't kept until the final three seasons of his career). He has carried that success into coaching, with his hard-nosed style producing five conference finals berths and two trips to the NBA Finals.

C: Bill Cartwright: "Mr. Bill" may have had not been Jordan's close friend, but he was a dependable C of the Bulls' first three peat of the 90s. Added in a trade with the Knicks (where he was an All-Star in 1980 as a rookie) for Charles Oakley in 1988, Cartwright's best stats year was his first in Chicago, with 12.4 PPG and 6.7 RPG. Though his stats steadily declined, Cartwright had enough left to start on three title teams. He would play six years in Chicago until he finished his career in Seattle in 1994-95.

SF: Bob Love: Love was the original scoring machine for the Bulls in the 70s. Acquired almost as an afterthought from Milwaukee in 1969, Love expolded the following year, as he averaged 21 PPG in 1969-70 after 5.9 the previous year. It was the first of six straight years of 20+ PPG for Love, who played in three All-Star games (1971-73). Love was also a key part of the Bulls team that reached the 1974 Western finals, and was All-NBA second team twice (1971-72).

PF: (tie) Charles Oakley/Dennis Rodman: Both were rebounding forces during their Bulls tenures, so let's do both. Oakley, added in a draft pick swap from Cleveland for Keith Lee in 1985, had a double-double average in two of his three Chicago seasons, and finished second for the rebounding title in 1988 to Michael Cage in the closest margin to decide that title ever (a mere .03 margin). Rodman won the rebounding title in all three of his Chicago seasons, and despite being flaky, added three NBA titles to go with the two he won in Detroit.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Phil Jackson: Jackson seemed an unlikely candidate to even become an NBA coach as a player with the Knicks in the 70s. But he succeded Doug Collins as coach in 1989, and immediately set a rookie coaches record (since broken by Larry Bird) with 55 wins and led Chicago to the Eastern finals. The next year, they won 61 games and their first NBA title. Jackson became the first (and only) coach to have two instances (he would later add a third) of three straight titles, and by the time he left Chicago in 1998, they had won 6 NBA titles and 545 regular season wins.

Assistants: Richard Motta, Doug Collins: Motta took over the team in 1968, and within three years, the Bulls had their first winning record (51-31). The Bulls won 50 or more games four straight years (1971-74) and made the playoffs six straight times, with a trip to the 1974 Western finals. Collins coached the team from 1986-89, with winning records in two of those three years, and coached Chicago to an unlikely berth in the 1989 Eastern finals, before being replaced by Jackson after the run ended.

Honorable Mentions:

C; Nate Thurmond: Did help team to 1974 conference finals, but he is more of a Warriors legend than a Bulls legend.

SG: George Gervin: Like Thurmond, Gervin is a Spurs legend, and the way he went out in Chicago was sad.

PG: Ron Harper: Scrappy PG and a friend of Jordan, but I felt Paxson had more of a hand in the first run than Harper did in the second run.

C: Luc Longley: Does it matter if it's Longley or Cartwright? Interchange if you must.

SF: Orlando Woolridge: Think the Alvin Robertson theory of my last list; Woolridge's best Chicago years were not good for the team, so it diminishes them a bit.

PG: Guy Rodgers: Led league in assists in 1967 as a Bull, but that was his only full Bulls season.

PF Elton Brand: Only played two years in Chicago, and became better known as a Clipper.

Any current Bull: Let's see if they play more consistently before they get on this list.

That's the Bulls. Tomorrow, team #9, the Hawks, will be revealed. Until then, may the bad free-stylers put their "stuff" on a different blog page!

It's now time to resume the My List special and reveal the #6 team on the list, the Milwaukee Bucks. Before I do, let me say this; to everyone who mentioned Sam Cassell needing to be on the Rockets' list, I'll give him a honorable mention, and assure you that he'll be mentioned a lot more in the lists to come. Now then, here are the Bucks.

Starters:

PG: Oscar Robertson: At the time that Robertson and thd Bucks came together (1970), both sides wanted a title. And Robertson, freed from the Royals after a dispute with coach Bob Cousy, led them straight to that title in 1971, as the Bucks cruised to an 88-18 record (including playoffs) and a sweep of Baltimore for the title. Robertson averaged 19.4 PPG and 8.2 APG during that year, and also led the Bucks to the 1974 Finals in his last season. His career averages were 25.7 PPG, 9.5 APG and 7.5 RPG.

SG: (tie) Sidney Moncrief/Ray Allen: Both were key parts of various Bucks runs during their respective eras, so both will be honored here. Moncrief joined the team in 1979, and over the next decade, was a solid scorer (four seasons over 20 PPG) and an excellent defender (five straight seasons with over 100 steals, winner of the first two Defensive POY in 1983 and '84). Allen, acquired in a draft day trade with Minnesota for Stephon Marbury, was also a prolific scorer; Jesus Shuttlesworth averaged over 20 PPG each year from 2000-03, with a high of 22.1 in 1999-2000, before being traded to Seattle for Gary Payton in 2004.

C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The easiest choice on this list, Kareem came to the Bucks after being drafted #1 overall in 1969 (betcha Phoenix wishes they had called 'tails'!). In his first season, Jabbar turned the once lowly Bucks into immediate title contenders, winning ROY with averages of 28.8 PPG and 14.5 RPG, and leading Milwaukee to 56 wins (after 27 in their first year). In year two, he won his first league MVP and scoring title (31.7 PPG), leading the Bucks to their only NBA title. Kareem won another scoring title and MVP the following year (a career high 34.8 PPG) and added a third MVP in 1974, leading the Bucks back to the Finals, before asking for and receiving a trade to the Lakers in 1975.

SF: Marques Johnson: Johnson, like Kareem a fellow UCLA graduate, was a prolific scorer during his NBA career. Over the course of his seven seasons in Milwaukee, he averaged over 20 PPG five times (including a career best 25.6 PPG in 1978-79) and made four All-Star teams while there. Before suffering a career-ending (for all intents and purposes) injury with the Clippers in 1986 (he ran head-first into Benoit Benjamin's belly; AHHHHH!), his averages for his career were 20.1 PPG and 7 RPG.

PF: Terry Cummings: This was the hardest position to pick, but Cummings gets the nod here. Picked up from the Clippers for Junior Bridgeman in 1984, Cummings made the All-Star team in his first season in Milwaukee, with averages of 23.6 PPG and 9.1 RPG. Over his five seasons in cheese country, Cummings averaged about 21 PPG and 8 RPG, making a second All-Star team in 1989, before bolting for the Spurs the following season.

Reserves:

PG: Sam Cassell: There, Rockets fans; Cassell is on a list! But seriously, Cassell seems to spark a team to success beyond what it's accustomed to, and his time in Milwaukee was no exception. Acquired in a trade with the Nets and  Timberwolves in 1999 (the Marbury-Terrell Brandon deal), Cassell shook of an injury-plagued debut season and 18.6 PPG and 9 APG his first full season there. Over the next three years, he averaged better than 18 PPG and about 6 APG each year (highs of 19.7 PPG in 2001-02 and 2002-03).

C: Bob Lanier: (Note: since Allen and Moncrief tied, there's no need to list a backup SG) Lanier may have been on the downside of his career when the Bucks got him (for Kent Benson) from Detroit in 1980, but who else should I list here, Alton Lister? Lanier still had enough in the tank to average better than 13 PPG in three of his four full Milwaukee seasons, making the 1982 All-Star team, and leading the Bucks to division titles in each year he played there, and a trip to the 1983 conference finals.

SF: (tie) Bob Dandridge/Glenn Robinson: Again, each was important to their teams in different eras, so both make it. Dandridge was a good find, coming in the fourth round of the 1969 draft. He averaged better than 20 PPG three times as a Buck (and came within fewer than 2 PPG on four occasions) and was a key starter on the 1971 champs. Robinson may not have fulfilled all expectations after being the #1 pick of the 1994 draft, but he sure could score; he had seven seasons of 20 or more PPG (with a high of 23.4 in 1997-98) and helped Milwaukee reach the 2001 Eastern Conference finals.

PF: Vin Baker: Before I hear the fat jokes, Baker was actually motivated as a Buck, and in his four seasons with the team, he had two years with over 20 PPG, and two years averaging a double-double in points and boards (his best stats year there was his final season in 1996-97, with 21.0 PPG and 10.3 RPG). Baker also made the All-Star team three times as a Buck (1995-97) and with limited comp, he gets this spot.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Larry Costello: Costello jumped right into coaching after retiring as a player in 1968, as he was named the Bucks' first head coach. After a rough 27-55 debut, Costello received his greatest blessing when the Bucks drafted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1969. From 1969-70 to 1973-74, the Bucks averaged over 60 wins a year, made two NBA Finals, and won the 1971 title. Costello coached the Bucks until being fired early in the 1976-77 season, and won 410 games as Bucks coach. He also spawned two future great NBA coaches; Hubie Brown and Don Nelson, both of whom started as Bucks assistants.

Assistants: Don Nelson, George Karl: Nelson succeded Costello as Bucks coach during the 1976-77 season, and after finishing 27-37 his interim year, he took Milwaukee back to the postseason in 1978. Between 1979-80 and 1985-86, the Bucks won a division title (Midwest in 1980, Central each year after) every season, winning no fewer than 49 games over that span, and made three conference finals. Karl took a Bucks team that hadn't made the playoffs since 1991 (when he took over in 1998) to the playoffs in four of his five seasons, the highlight being the 2000-01 season, when Milwaukee won its most recent division title and made the Eastern Conference finals.

 Honorable Mentions:

SG: Ricky Pierce: Solid sixth man (won Sixth man award twice in Milwaukee; 1987, 1990), but I can't put him past Moncrief and Allen.

SF: Junior Bridgeman: Very good stats, but again, who do you take out if you want him? If only he was a PF.

PG: Quinn Buckner: Too one dimensional; couldn't shoot from outside to save his life.

PG: Nate Archibald and PF/C Dave Cowens: Brought in by ex-Celtic Nellie because he like ex-Celts, neither played a full year, and thus should not be included.

SF: Jon McGlocklin: First good Bucks player, but really only had two decent years.

C: Jack Sikma: On the downside of his career when he arrived, and unlike Lanier, didn't lead team to even a conference final.

That's it for Milwaukee. Tomorrow, team #7, the San Antonio Spurs, will be revealed. Until then, don't bring in ex-Celtics because you're an ex-Celtic!

I wake up late today after a long night yesterday, and when I awake, I find the totally expected had happened. No, not that Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells still don't see eye to eye, but rather that the Detroit Pistons had fired Flip Saunders as head coach. Saunders was dismissed after another failure in the Eastern Conference Finals Friday against Boston. Personally, the way game 6 ended, I was more surprised that Saunders wasn't fired then. The Pistons blew a 10 point, 4th quarter lead, and lost by 8. That was enough for me to say "He's finished!".

Is Flip to blame for the repeated failure of the Pistons? Partially. I never saw Saunders as a guy who had the respect of the core players. Remember, he had feuds with both Ben and Rasheed Wallace, and couldn't keep the ridiculous Richard Hamilton-Lindsey Hunter- Rasheed dispute from taking a life all its own before game 6. But the bottom line is that when they hired him to replace Larry Brown, they wanted rings, not near-misses. And for that, he didn't deliver. Enough said.

But the Pistons need not stop there in their attempt to transition the team. There are other things that need to be done if they are possible. They are:

Trade Rasheed: I feel that Sheed is the biggest reason this team has underachieved. Sheed doesn't take this game very seriously, and it shows in his hair-yanking willingness to defer and play passively. Take game 6; he goes 0-fer the three point line, scores just 4 points, and then shows his behind with that towel toss at the ESPN camera (a year after he hits an assistant coach with his thrown jersey in Cleveland). I'm tired of him playing like I do at the local gym! He needs to go.

Give Hunter a retirement check: I'll keep this short; Hunter stinks, period! He can't shoot, which makes him a very limited role player. All he did in the Boston series was play decent D and talk. He doesn't need to talk, and you can get defenders who can shoot. Retire, Lindsey!

Trade one of the backcourt starters: Sounds controversial, doesn't it? Remember when the Pistons made the first of six straight conference finals? That year saw them add Chauncey Billups as a FA and trade then-star SG Jerry Stackhouse to Washington for Hamilton. So why not do it again? Of the two, I would lean towards Billups because Rodney Stuckey seems more like a PG-type, but it wouldn't shock me if Hamilton and his Rasheed-like attitude went, either.

Get these guys to remember how they won the 2004 title: The biggest culprit to these Pistons is their stunning complacency (I've been saying this for three years). Even the ESPN guys said it, and Saunders admitted that the arrogance was their biggest strength and their biggest weakness. After using that thought against the Lakers in '04, they became the Lakers, and it cost them a shot at three more titles. I want to see the fire back in Detroit!

Do I know how to fix the Pistons? I'm not an expert. I just know that all eras, as Detroit News columnist Rob Parker said after game 6, usually end badly. This era of Piston basketball may not be totally over, but changes are needed to alter what has become a stale act around my parts. It may start with a new coach, but this group needs a swift kick in the pants, as well. If they don't change it, don't expect even a conference final in 2009.

Last night, we saw the crowning of a new Western Conference champion. Tonight, the other half of that equation could occur as the Celtics gun for their 20th Eastern Conference title in Detroit. Seeing the dissention in the ranks of the Pistons (Richard Hamilton and Lindsey Hunter weren't happy with Rasheed Wallace embracing Kevin Garnett; I think they're making too much of it) plus their injury woes (now both their starting guards are hurt) makes me worry about their chances to win tonight. Here are some keys:

Celtics keys:

1. Make use of your bench a little more: The Celts bench scored just three points in game 5 (on a James Posey 3). Observe how the Lakers were able to come back against the Spurs even though Kobe, Gasol and Odom were on the bench in the 2nd, Doc. You won't win if the starters are too damn tired to run the offense.

2. Continue to pound the glass: I don't expect Kendrick Perkins to repeat his awesome game 5 performance (18 points and 16 boards), but if he, Garnett, and the rest can maintain the rebounding edge, they'll be in good shape.

3. May this Ray Allen stay, and may the real Paul Pierce step up: Allen needs to continue the reemergence he had the prior game, and Pierce needs to score and pass, not just set up the offense. Garnett will probably get his points, but Pierce and Allen need to, too.

Pistons keys:

1. Play possessed: Tonight is not the night for the complacent Pistons to show up. They need fire (controlled fire, Rasheed!), and to play as though their lives depend on it (their legacy certainly does).

2. Keep McDyess out of foul trouble, and get Prince involved more: McDyess fouled out of the last game, and without his steady presence and reliable shot, they struggled. Prince has been a nonfactor this series, and if he doesn't show life, they're in trouble.

3. Stop bickering, guys!: This issue with Rasheed and Garnett shows some real holes in this team. Hamilton and Hunter should have kept this in-house! Anyhow, if they're still angry at each other, they'll lose for sure.

I predict that they won't be angry, and that this series goes 7. Pistons win by 9.

Meanwhile, Doug Collins appears to be returning to the Bulls bench after being replaced 20 years ago by Phil Jackson. Many might question such a move. I decided to take a look at teams who have rehired a coach after a firing/resignation. Here's the rundown of the coaches, their W-L record in the first run, and then the W-L of their second run:

Dallas: Richard Motta (267-297 from 1980-87, 4 winning seasons, 4 playoff berths; 62-102 from 1994-96, 0 winning seasons, 0 playoff berths)

Denver: Dan Issel (96-102 in parts of three years from 1992-94, 1 winning season, 1 playoff berth; 84-106 in parts of three years from 1999-2001, 0 winning seasons, 0 playoff berths)

Golden State: Don Nelson (275-260 in parts of 7 seasons from 1988-95, four winning season, 4 playoffr berths; 90-76 in two seasons from 2006-present, two winning seasons, one playoff berth)-*

L.A. Clippers: Gene Shue (78-86 in two seasons from 1978-80, one winning season, zero playoff berths; 27-93 in parts of two seasons from 1987-89, zero and zero)

L.A. Lakers: Phil Jackson (286-123 in five seasons from 1999-2004, five winning seasons, five playoff berths, three titles; 144-102 in three seasons from 2005-present, three winning seasons, three playoff berths, titles TBD)-*

Miami: Pat Riley (334-264 in 8 seasons from 1995-2003, six winning seasons, six playoff berths; 111-135 in parts of three season from 2005-08, two winning seasons, two playoff berths, one title)-x

New York: Red Holzman (388-231 in parts of 10 seasons from 1967-77, six winning seasons, nine playoff berths, two titles; 147-167 in parts of four seasons from 1978-82, one winning season, one playoff berth, zero titles)

Orlando: Brian Hill (191-104 in parts of four seasons from 1993-97, three winning seasons, three playoff berths; 112-134 in three seasons from 2004-07, zero winning seasons, one playoff berth)

Philadelphia: Alex Hannum (127-112 in three seasons from 1960-63, three winning seasons, three playoff berths; 130-33 in two seasons from 1966-68, two winning seasons, two playoff berths, one title)

Phoenix: Cotton Fitzsimmons (97-67 in two seasons from 1970-72, two winning seasons, zero playoff berths; 244-161 in parts of six seasons from 1988-97, four winning seasons, five playoff berths)-y

Sacramento: Phil Johnson (155-185 in parts of five seasons from 1974-78, one winning season, one playoff berth; 81-120 in parts of three seasons from 1985-87, zero winning seasons, one playoff berth)

Seattle: Lenny Wilkens (121-125 from 1969-72, one winning season, zero playoff berths; 357-277 in parts of 8 seasons from 1977-85, five winning seasons, six playoff berths, one title)

Washington: Gene Shue (291-267 in parts of seven seasons from 1967-73, four winning seasons, five playoff berths; 231-248 in parts of six seasons from 1980-86, two winning seasons, three playoff berths)

Notations: *= still active, x- the records given for Riley's second tenure were the complete team records during the span; his partial season records were hard to obtain, y= Fitzsimmons' second tenure was from 1988-92 and 1996-97; his stints were lumped together for the complete total seen.

So, what can we derive from that? (1) Only Jackson, Nelson, Riley, Wilkens, Hannum and Fizsimmons had much success during their second go-round, and (2) Gene Shue was really popular with teams.

What will Collins do in Chicago (assuming he takes the job)? He's known as a good short-term winner, but not the coach of a title contender. I see him much like Rick Carlisle in Detroit; he'll make the Bulls a good team, then turn it over to a legit championship-caliber coach, and return to TNT.  That's all I can say. What do you think?

The Boston Celtics have taken a 3-2 series lead after beating the Detroit Pistons 106-102 in what was by far the most compelling game of an otherwise dull-edged matchup. The Celts finally got a great performance by Ray Allen (29 points, 9-15 including 5 threes) and got the best performance of his career out of young Kendrick Perkins (18 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks), plus a good game from Kevin Garnett (33 points and 7 boards), but they almost let their guard down and blew this game. Still, it wasn't enough for Detroit to pull out the win.

The refereeing in this game wasn't good (trying to be politically correct here). The flagrent foul on P.J. Brown against Jason Maxiell was a bad call, and the tehcnical on Perkins must have harkened back to the "zero tolerence' policy; if Perkins did something wrong, it wasn't readily apparent to me. The officiating has been poor throughout the playoffs, mostly in favor of the home team, but it seemed like Ed F. Rush, Ken Mauer (or as I call him, a "Grease" reject) and Mike Callahan were a little slanted towards Detroit. We'll have to see how it goes in game 6.

The Pistons have to be disappointed in the loss, but there were a few positives. Rasheed Wallace had an out-of-body experience; he hit SIX of his nine 3-point attempts! But he was 0-3 from two, and he didn't stop Perkins from asserting himself on the boards, where the C's had a 42-25 edge (11-5 on offense rebounds). Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups combined for 51 points, and the Pistons did make the C's defense look bad numerous times. Plus, the Celtics seemed unable to pass the ball, especially Rajon Rondo; a lot of his passes looked like that teardrop he puts up often!

So, who wins game 6? I give Detroit the edge here; (hopefully) you won't see the complacent Pistons, for their sakes. This team needs to win, or major changes (Flip Saunders will be gone for sure, and players like Wallace and Antonio McDyess could be as well) will occur. Plus, Garnett, Pierce and Allen have a combined one closeout game experience (for their team) in the conference finals (Allen in 2001, and he lost), so they could be nervous. I give it to Detroit.

Final thoughts:

It was great that, except for the argument over flagrents, Jeff Van Gundy was subdued by his standards. I didn't have to mute the TV.

The Celtic bench had just 3 points (on a three by James Posey). That must be rectified if they want to close out in Detroit.

McDyess was plagued by fouls and had just 4 points and 5 boards. Coincidece they lost? I think not.

You know hell has frozen over when Rasheed looks like Reggie Miller from three!

How about Rodney Stuckey missing an important FT, then hitting the intentional miss? #### happens, doesn't it?

Another reason the Pistons are having problems? Tayshaun Prince isn't a factor (8 points, 4 boards). Granted, he has to guard Pierce, but Prince needs to make his presence known on offense in game 6.

Tonight, I just wasted about three hours of my life. Hours that I will never get back. How? By watching the Pistons/Celtics game. This game was as ugly as any game can get, especially for Boston. They shot an abysmal 32% from the field, and not just because the Pistons played great D, but they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn tonight. Nobody shot well on either side except Anotnio McDyess, who had a stellar 21 point, 16 board night. But one scene in this eventual 94-75 sleeper that disturbed me.

It occured late in the game, after the outcome had been decided. Richard Hamilton, who I admire as a player, hit a jumper, then proceeded to celebrate as though the Pistons had won the NBA title! Isn't slapping a bunch of hi-fives with the fans and acting like Jimmy Connors a bit much? This team still needs two wins before they can exude that kind of celebretory attitude. But I find it difficult to understand this team; they always seem to need a kick in the ### before they play like the team they are capable of being. Why can't these guys play like that more frequently?

The real scary thing for the Celtics was that even layups weren't going in for them. That could be a sign that fatigue is catching up to them; they've played 18 games so far, startling when you consider that 26 (by the 2005 Pistons) is the record; the Pistons have only 15 games under their belts, so that could play a role. Still, if, and I think only if, they hold home court, they'll survive yet again. But I just feel that the C's engine is finished, and that the Pistons will take one in Beantown in game 7 to advance to the Finals. If that happens, Rip, for the sake of the fans, don't celebrate like you did tonight; it's just bad karma.

Final thoughts:

Chauncey Billups is hurt, obviously, but Rodney Stuckey is turning into the draft's best find.

McDyess is the Pistons MVP so far this postseason.

Ray Allen's not in a slump; he's officially in a coma.

Did this game take place in the 1950s? There were a lot of fouls on both teams.

Why does Jeff Van Gundy need to make a fool of himself every game (like tonight, he imitated Al Pacino)?

I didn't feel like the C's were ever in this game, even when they were within two. Bad sign of possible things to come.

 

I was going to title this "Random Thoughts about tonight's game", until I saw NiqueDodson took my title. Damn! Anyway, I decided to jot down some of my thoughts as the Celtics and Pistons played their game tonight. Here are some of my insights:

Pregame: Loved the intro for Detroit, where Rasheed Wallace went "We're baaaaaaack!". Good stuff.

1st Quarter:

10:00 mark: Kevin Garnett's fai####ating early scores. Good sign there.

7:54 mark: (Kendrick) Perkins just got a cheap foul. He can't afford those fouls.

7:00 mark: Garnett has two fouls. Bad break.

5:55 mark: Billups has two fouls. It might be (Rodney) Stuckey time.

4:10 mark: It's foulfest on the C's: Allen now has two.

3:49 mark: Paul Pierce needs to stop passing and take command here.

3:14 mark: Why the hell is Jeff Van Gundy talking about baseball?!?

2:54 mark: Sam Cassell looks terrible.

2:19 mark: (Doc) Rivers and (Mark) Jackson just echoed me about Pierce. I'm a genius (lol)!

1:09 mark: Now Van Gundy is talking about MMA! Wtf?!?!

:31 mark: Not another Rasheed no-chance three!!!

2nd Quarter:

9:53 mark: Thank good heavens! Garnett and Allen are back. Pierce stunk!

8:17 mark: Garnett has missed twice. On second thought...

7:35 mark: Now Van Gundy is talking about his teeth! What's next, soccer!

5:42 mark: Is it any wonder that Lindsey Hunter only plays occasionally? He can't score!

5:30 mark: The big 3 have only 10 of the C's 35 points. Outrageous!

:54 mark: Just returned from a bathroom break, and it's now an 18 point lead. What happened?

:40 mark: Billups has three fouls. Oh no!

3rd Quarter:

12:00 mark: Pistons need to step up now!

8:18 mark: I think the Pistons want Ray Allen to shoot more.

6:43 mark: The (Indiana Jones) commercial said game 7; the graphic said game 5. Get your facts straight, ABC!

4:17 mark: Perkins looks great tonight!

2:29 mark: Jackson says the fans should boo (the Pistons). Bravo!

:55 mark: How bad is this game getting?

4th Quarter:

11:33 mark: Is (Richard) Hamilton playing like Billups? He's drawn 100 fouls in the last two minutes!

7:45 mark: The trap is really hurting Boston.

6:53 mark: Another terrible three by Rasheed!

5:31 mark: The Celtics should try to run more and break the trap.

4:28 mark: Stuckey is playing great!

3:38 mark: (Tayshaun) Prince committed a foul. Haven't heard his name all night.

2:17 mark: Now the Celtics are missing FTs.

2:16 mark: Now how, exactly, did Doc Rivers finish 2nd in Coach of the Year voting?

2:00 mark: The Pistons are trying so hard to mount a comeback.

End of game: Too late: Celtics win 94-80.

So, what can we take away from this game? That the dreaded complacent Pistons have once again reared their ugly heads. They dug such a deep hole, they couldn't recover. However, if the trap works like it did at times tonight, they will be in better shape Monday. But Billups is obviously still hurt, and it showed as Stuckey got more time in the 4th. If Billups can't play better, the Pistons are in serious trouble.

As for the C's, while a long awaited road win is good, they still had problems; they showed some complacency in the 4th, couldn't handle the trap, and Allen reverted to his struggles again (although that might be a good omen; the C's have lost every playoff game where Allen has over 20 points). And they have no backup for Rondo; Cassell just looks old, and Eddie House can't handle the trap. So, game 4 will be critical for the Pistons; though they are arrogant about their abilities, they probably won't recover if they fall behind 3-1. We'll just have to wait and see.

The Boston Celtics just wrapped up their second seven game series victory today with a 97-92 win over the Cleveland LeBrons, er, Cavaliers. The game was really defined by the duel between King James and Paul Pierce, in a scene reminiscent of the famed seventh game duel between Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins in 1988 (one of the people there for that game; Celts coach Doc Rivers as a Hawk. Go figure). While LeBron scored 45 and kept his team close (many would say unfairly, but still), Pierce came up with a career-defining game at the right time. With Garnett having a quiet double-double (13 points and 13 boards) and Ray allen invisible again, Pierce scored 41 and showed the heart of a champion today.

Now, the Celts advance to the Eastern Finals against the Detroit Pistons, a team that has had nearly a week to rest (especially good for Chauncey Billups) and prepare. Despite the disparity between the teams, both arer playing for their legacies. Boston (and specifically Garnett) are playing for a much-needed title to restore some of the Celtic pride, while the Pistons need a title to stamp themselves as a team to be remembered as more than an interesting footnote. But only one will earn a chance at the ring. With that in mind, let's see where each team stands in matchups:

Point Guard: Doc Rivers finally wised up and played Eddie House over Sam Cassell the last two games of the series, and House played well. He and Rajon Rondo need to step up more against Billups (assuming he's healthy). In the one game the Pistons won over the Celtics, Billups won the game with free throws he drew using his infamous "win it for me, referee!" style. Rondo must take it at Billups (especially early in the series, while Billups is rusty), and as for Detroit, use Rodney Stuckey to spell Billups and perhaps match up on Rondo when Chauncey is out.

Shooting Guard: Hopefully, the Pistons watched how Cleveland neutralized Allen and will use the same style. I think Richard Hamilton has the advantage because Allen will be run ragged at both ends by Hamilton, who was the major key to the Pistons' wrapping up of Orlando in 5 the last round. Maybe the C's will counter by moving Pierce onto Hamilton, but the Pistons win here.

Small Forward: After more than holding his own with LeBron, Pierce faces a different challenge with Tayshaun Prince, who is a much better jump-shooter than King James was. Prince is also a better defender, and won't allow Pierce the space to shoot those jumpers he hit today. Pierce should (and probably will) counter with more drives to the hole, and that will balance things out.

Power Forward: Did you notice that P.J. Brown scored ten points today? Unlike Cassell, Brown has helped a lot in terms of adding toughness and leadership to the front line. Still, all things here begin with Garnett, and the task of defending him will fall to Jason Maxiell and Antonio McDyess. I say let Maxiell be the starter and body him early, then bring in McDyess to take advantage of backups Leon Powe and Glen Davis; he can be a more effective scorer that way.

Center: The biggest key of this series. Why? Rasheed Wallace has the potential to dominate young Kendrick Perkins, who is suseptible to early foul trouble. But it depends on Rasheed's willingness to play a little more on the block; if he's content to hoist awful threes, consider this a wash.

Coaches: This may be the first playoff s