Here's another round of random thoughts about sports. More specificly, basketball thoughts as the NBA season finally starts tonight. Here are my thoughts, with some other issues sprinkled in:

The Lakers and Blazers meet in the TNT nightcap. Four words about the Blazers' chances: Keep Greg Oden healthy!

As for the Lakers, we'll see if the return of Andrew Bynum really is the missing link there. Number of games played before Lakers fans panic: two if they lose both, three if they don't.

The Celtics also tip off tonight against the LeBrons, er, the Cavs. Don't give me that Maurice Williams stuff; he isn't enough to get Cleveland over the figurative hump.

The Celts are my favorites in the East. Why? Five words: "new Pistons coach Michael Curry".

Speaking of my hometown team: Still no changes in Bridesmaid town. They won't need to worry about crying after the conference finals; they won't get there. I'm begging Rasheed Wallace to erupt, just so it can hasten his departure. Wait; he has! Dammit!

Let's go to baseball for a moment: The Phillies/Rays game won't end until Wednesday. If the Phillies had won that 'game' yesterday because of the weather, that would have been the most embarrassing thing to happen to MLB since, well, Jose Canseco.

Back to the NBA: Mike D'Antoni hates the Knicks' practice habits, and Eddy "Hefty" Curry is out of the rotation. D'Antoni has found out quickly what can happen without Steve Nash or any good athletes.

First coach to be fired/resign: Larry Brown, Bobcats. Why? He still has half the NBA to coach!

League MVP: Kobe. And to those who say LeBron: think CSAJTSHL. Translation: He Can't Shoot A Jumper To Save His Life! He's too incomplete to be an MVP.

And finally; Skip "Manu's Boyfriend" Bayless has jumped off the Spurs' bandwagon and jumped on the Hornets' one. Gambit, you'd better be careful; whatever Skip touches turns to ####, so I'm scared about the Hornets.

That's all I have today. I'm so gald that the NBA begins, so I don't have to talk about the Lions anymore! Take care!

It's the offseason in the NBA, and if ever the league had a real 'off'season, it's this year. There has been little movement during the summer, and the feel of many NBA stories (including some of my own) is not very positive. So, I've spent about a week thinking about certain things. And, after thinking about things, here comes the result. Here are some things about the NBA I would do if there was a perfect world for the association.

Beef #1: The recent trouble of rookies Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur

This has been the hot topic of the recent NBA posts. Let me be brief: Arthur and Chalmers made a mistake under the current laws of the land. It has nothing to do with race, upbringing, or anything but their personal judgment. As such, there's plenty to blame to go around. I realize that I came down hard on David Stern yesterday, but I believe that Stern must be consistent. As for the players union, yes, they should work with Stern to change the rules regarding this. But both sides must be proactive, not reactive

Solution: Institute madatory suspensions for any player caught using pot (I'd say a 1 game suspension to start is O.K., and then go from there). As for players like Josh Howard, do what the NFL does and just periodically test him to make sure he's straight.

Beef #2: The coverage on ESPN/ABC is, as Bill Walton says, "Horrrrrrrible".

This was supposed to be the topic of a different post about two weeks ago, but my computer troubles prevented it. Anyhow, to the point; many people (at least on other sites I frequent) don't like how ESPN/ABC handles the NBA package. Yet, despite this, they were renewed until 2016! In this instance, money triumphs over all, and that's sad to me. I actually enjoy the real classic games from the NBC and CBS eras because they handled the NBA better than ESPN/ABC.

Solution: The NBA does deals with the networks just like the NFL does. ESPN/ABC gets a "Game of the Week" every Sunday (starting in January); NBC and CBS get conference-exclusive games whenever they want to schedule them (like Fox does with the NFC and CBS does with the AFC). TNT can keep their schedule as is.

For those who say "How could the major networks work that package in?", I say this; NBC is 4th in the major network ratings! Wouldn't you rather see action than "Celebrity Circus"? I know CBS would be a little trickier, but their Saturday night lineup is thin. Can't they squeeze it in there? And wouldn't it be cool to get the old school NBA songs from each network than the generic #### on ESPN/ABC! Maybe you can even do "Retro Week" and bring back the voices from the past for one broadcast. Imagine the possibilities.

Beef #3: The lack of player movement

Other than the Ron Artest trade, there hasn't been much to talk about. That's why these blogs haven't been real active. Simply put enough, there has been little to talk about.

Solution: Get a couple of GMs drunk and convince them that last year's trade of Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol was a steal for Memphis, and get them on the phones, telling them "One of you must make a major deal!".

This will probably be the scariest part of the utopia for Mitch Kupchak, Danny Ainge, Pat Riley, Joe Dumars, etc. Need I say more about how the unpredictability would make the NBA more interesting?

Beef #4: Stephen A. Smith

Sorry, I just can't keep him out of a problem/solution blog.

Solution: Fire him.

No explanation necessary.

What would you do if there was an NBA utopia? I don't care how outlandish it may be; leave a suggestion if you want. In the mean time, I'm going to give Riles another drink.

(P.S. You may notice the song player I just added. Finally, technolgy worked for me! If you have any songs that I can search and add, suggest them! Hell, might as well fill it up!)

(P.P.S. Did I mention we should fire Stephen A. Smith?)

Today, I'll pick up where I left off yesterday and preview the Western Conference. Here are the picks:

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers: Until someone else unseats them, you have to go with the defending conference champs. Kobe will still be determined to win, and if Andrew Bynum is healthy and playing like he did last year, the Lakers could win between 56-62 games this year.
2. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul and Co. are another year older, and the addition of James Posey will work wonders with the D, not to mention his winning pedigree. Expect about 54-58 wins, and maybe more, as they pose the single biggest threat to the Lakers.
3. Houston Rockets: Ron Artest's mood will be the biggest key; my gut feeling is that he'll be a quiet guy and play like a man possessed. Yao should be healthy, and McGrady (and everyone else) will be more comfortable in Adelman's O. I think they can win up to 56 games. And they should end their 0-fer and win at least one playoff round.
4. Utah Jazz: The Jazz really needed to find someone who could take some scoring pressure off of Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Co., but they (like many other teams) didn't find anybody. So, the same things that stalled them against L.A. last year will still be prevelant. They should win about 52 games, but Portland could give them fits.
5. San Antonio Spurs: This team needed an injection of young blood... and all it did was resign Michael Finley. Then, Manu Ginobili reinjures his ankle and could be out early in the season. The Spurs' window could close shut this year unless Parker has a career year and Duncan plays more assertively. Expect a drop to about 48-50 wins.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: The team with the current longest postseason drought should end that this year. Greg Oden will debut, and while he won't be dominant, he should be a defensive force almost from the start. Plus, Brandon Roy and Co. can carry the O. I think they will flirt with the division for awhile before finishing with 47-49 wins.
7. Phoenix Suns: The spots after #6 are tricky, but Phoenix should have just enough to squeeze one more playoff berth out of this aging and thin cast. Shaquille O'Neal undoubtedly will get hurt, and the Suns will play great without him. Then he'll come back, and they will struggle. Expect about 44-46 wins at most.
8. Golden State Warriors: The Warriors win out here because, even with Monta Ellis out, Don Nelson can get the most out of this cast. The Warriors will still be high scoring, and with Baron Davis gone, they should be more harmonious. 43 wins should be enough for 8th this year.

The Best of the Worst:

9. Dallas Mavericks: Talk about fitting square pegs into round holes; Rick Carlisle's grind-it-out defensive oriented attacks are the antithesis of what Dallas is used to. While that could benefit Jason Kidd, it won't mesh with Dirk Nowitzki. Expect plenty of Mark Cuban fretting, and a slip out of the playoffs with about 42 wins.
10. Sacramento Kings: Reggie Theus did a decent job last year without much to work with, but now he won't have Ron Artest to lean on. Kevin Martin is a solid scorer, but he's not the guy your team can build around. If the Kings match their 2008 win total, that should suffice.
11. Los Angeles Clippers: Good news: Baron Davis give the Clips their best PG play in years (not counting the brief Sam Cassell run). Bad news: Elton Brand bolted shortly thereafter. This franchise always finds ways to turn gold into ####, and even with Davis, they won't be that much better. Expect about 35-37 wins and for Mike Dunleavy to be ousted after the season.
12. Denver Nuggets: Remember the 1990-91 Nuggets? That team led the NBA in scoring with about 118 PPG... and were still outscored by 12 per game! This Denver team is a clone of that one; Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson should light up the board, and unfortunately, so should the opposition. They will be lucky to win 32 games, and George Karl could be the first coach to quit/be fired this year.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Welcome to the NBA, Kevin Love! Now, try to get this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Although Love and Al Jefferson could remind GM Kevin McHale of himself and Robert Parish in the future, there's not much else around them. The Wolves should feel lucky to reach 27 wins this year.
14. Memphis Grizzlies: Speaking of rookies with bad teams; welcome, O.J. Mayo! Mayo does have potential, but it wouldn't surprise me if he dogs it when the Grizz start to lose regularly. Mayo will still get his stats, but there even less here than in Minnesota. The Grizzlies should win about 20-22 games, and Mark Iavaroni will be canned afterwards.
15. Oklahoma City 'Thunder': Assuming that this is indeed their name, the Thunder won't make much noise this year record wise. Although they should experience high turnout simply because of the novelty factor, other than Kevin Durant, what do they have to build on? Plus, they'll see what karma is like. The Thunder will finish with the NBA's worst record, and that should be no better than 13-17 wins max.

That's it for the West. When I actually get the updated rosters, I'll do a more in depth preview of the 2008-09 season. Until then, just be lucky you're not Love, Mayo or Durant!

I have been rather inactive in recent days on these blogs. But not without good reason; my dad returned home after another sabbatical, and the adjustments have been hard to get used to. But I assure you, even with the hectic schedule I now have, I'll still have time to post my thoughts about sports, and in particular, basketball.

Speaking of which, today's post is one of what should soon reach a million that will 'predict' or 'preview' the NBA in 2008-09. This isn't going to be a real lengthy preview, considering that the player movement wasn't that vast. But I'll give my current predictions (surely to be proven wrong by April, at least) for how the teams should finish. We'll start in the Least, er, East;

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics: Even without Posey, they should still be the class of the East. You know that the Big 3 aren't satisfied with one ring, and that should be good for 56-60 wins.
2. Orlando Magic: They're not that much improved, but another year of experience and a weak conference should be good enough to at least match their 2008 win total or be right around it.
3. Detroit Pistons: Sorry, Michael Curry; this team is due for a fall. They haven't changed the core that has failed in three straight conference finals, and they aren't getting better (certainly not 'big-time' free agent Kwame Brown), they're just getting older. I'd say about 46-50 wins at best.
4. Philadelphia 76ers: Assuming Elton Brand is healthy and meshes quickly, this is my surprise team in the East. They pushed Detroit hard in the postseason last year, and Brand gives them a big time scorer and rebounder to ignite the fast break. Expect early season difficulties, then about 44-46 wins, perhaps more.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Eventually, LeBron will tire of being a one-man gang and bolt, but until he does, the Cavs will make the playoffs in the East. Adding Maurice Williams will help some with the scoring, but not enough (the Cavs haven't had a player score better than 16.9 per game since LeBron arrived). Expect right around a .500 record with 43-45 wins.
6. Toronto Raptors: The Raptors took a chance by acquring Jermaine O'Neal from Indiana, but they had to take it to end the Ford-Calderon battle. Now Calderon will lead the attack, and if O'Neal stays healthy (yeah, it does sound funny), the Raptors could win up to 48 games. But expect O'Neal to miss about half the year, and the Raptors struggle to reach .500.
7. Washington Wizards: Speaking of the chronically unhealthy, here are the Wizards. Once again, they'll depend on their trio of Arenas, Jamison and Butler to lead them. Once again, Arenas and Butler will miss significant time. Eddie Jordan has worked wonders with this perennially undermanned team, but the Wiz won't win more than 39 games unless they are healthy.
8. Miami Heat: This ranking is dependent on whether they keep Shawn Marion; the rumors persist that he will be dealt. But if he stays, the combo of Dwayne Wade (who looked great in the Olympics), Marion and rookie Michael Beasley give Miami hope in the Least. And the 8th seed can be had with about 38 wins, which Miami should challenge for.

The Best of the Worst:
9. Charlotte Bobcats: I think that Larry Brown could work wonders with an underachieving group of prospects in Charlotte, but then again, it could end up like New York all over again. Brown's tendency is to tear down and build up, so it could get rocky in Charlotte. I think 36 wins is the best to expect here.
10. Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks caught lightning in a bottle last postseason, and nearly upset (except for a lopsided game 7) the eventual champs in round 1. But Atlanta hasn't had a winning season since the lockout shortened 1998-99 season; no team has a longer stretch of futility in the league. They won't end that streak this year; expect a drop to 34 or 35 wins.
11. Chicago Bulls: #1 pick Derrick Rose will give the Bulls their first true floor leader in years (assuming he's healthy), but Rose doesn't solve the Bulls' lack of an inetrior presence; Joakim Noah isn't enough to me. FIrst time coach Vinny Del #### will experience growing pains as the Bulls will be lucky to reach 34 wins this year as they biuld for the future.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: First year coach Scott Skiles has usually had success in the first year with a team; in both Phoenix and Chicago, he made the playoffs in his first full season. The Bucks do have some talent, but can players like Bogut and Villanueva adjust to a demanding coach? I don't think they will. Expect about 30-32 wins and a tear-down job to follow.
13. New Jersey Nets: The Nets are just biding their time until 2011, when they will sign LeBron for about a billion dollars and part-ownership of the team. I kid, but they are just waiting for King James to arrive, so the next three seasons could be brutal for the team. Vince Carter has shown in Toronto that he will Randy Moss things if they aren't going well, and they won't go well here. I predict 26-28 wins and that Lawrence Frank will be fired, either mid-season or shortly after the season.
14. Indiana Pacers: The Curse of Artest continues: the Pacers are still haunted by his actions three years later. The trade for T.J. Ford not only ended Jermaine O'Neal tenure, it also should signal the end for oft-injured Jamaal TInsley; he's not a 2, and the team wants to purge the remnants of the Artest error, er, era. I hope Larry Bird has a plan, because other than Ford and Danny Granger, who do they have? They'll be lucky to reach 24 wins this year.
15. New York Knicks: The Knicks finally gave Isiah his walking papers, and now Donny Walsh and Mike D'Antoni must clean up the mess he left behind. The Knicks don't seem to be able to run the frenetic offense that D'Antoni prefers, as neither Nate Robinson or Stephon Marbury are Steve Nash (obviously), nor is Quentin RIchardson the same guy he was in Phoenix, or... you get the picture. D'Antoni is trying to fit square pegs into a round hole, and it will still be quite ugly in Gotham. The Knicks will spend all year simply looking for players to keep for next year, and it will be an accomplishment to win 20 games this year.

That's it for the East. Tomorrow, I'll predict for the Western Conference. Until then, may you not end up in Larry Bird or Donnie (yeah, I know I misspelled it above) Walsh's shoes!

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!

On Wednesday, I promised that the My List special would continue with the Wizards. Needless to say, I was unable to write yesterday; let's just say that major car trouble (the back brakes desperately needed repair) plus a doctor's appointment, plus the fact I only slept four hours before I did both, wore me out. So, to make up for that, I'm going to profile two teams today; the Wizards, and the Trail Blazers. Let's start with the Wizards.

Starters:

PG: Gilbert Arenas: "Agent Zero" may not function like a true PG, but that hasn't stopped him from helping Washington reemerge as a good team after some dark years in the 90s. Acquired as a FA from the Warriors in 2004, Arenas became one of the league's best scorers in D.C., averaging no fewer than 19.6 PPG every full season he's played there (minus last year's injury-destroyed season), including a career best 29.3 PPG in 2005-06. Overall, he has made three All-Star teams (2005-07), has career averages of 22.8 PPG and 5.5 APG (single season best as a Wizard of 6.1 in 2005-06), and the Wizards have not missed the playoffs since he arrived after missing in 15 of the previous 16 years.

SG: Earl Monroe: "The Pearl" had his best individual years with the Baltimore Bullets before achieving team success with the Knicks later on. Drafted by the Bullets #2 overall in 1967 (out of tiny Winston-Salem State), Monroe quickly emerged as a great scorer, averaging 24.2 PPG as a rookie and winning ROY honors that season. Monroe averaged better than 21 PPG each year in Baltimore (career best of 25.8 PPG in 1968-69), and was All-NBA 1st team in 1968-69. He also helped the Bullets win two division titles and reach the 1971 NBA Finals (they were swept by the Bucks) before being dealt to the Knicks the following year.

C: Wes Unseld: For all of Unseld's mammoth failures as a coach and a GM, he exceeded expectations as an undersized C. Unseld, drafted #2 overall in 1968, accomplished something that only Wilt Chamberlain had done before (and no one else has done since); he won both ROY and league MVP honors in 1968-69, averaging 13.8 PPG and 18.2 RPG, and making All-NBA 1st team as the Bullets improved from 36-46 and last place to 56-26 and a division title. Unseld was a great rebounder; he averaged double figures in boards in 12 of his 13 seasons (he led the league in 1974-75 with 14.8 per), and led the Bullets to four NBA Finals and the 1978 title, for which Unseld was named Finals MVP. Unseld would also make five All-Star teams before retiring in 1981.

SF: Bob Dandridge: Dandridge provided Washington with the steady second scorer needed for the team to get over the past Finals failures it went through in the early 70s. Signed as a FA from the Bucks in 1977, Dandridge averaged 19.3 PPG and was a major factor as the Bullets beat the Sonics and claimed their first NBA title in 1977-78. He then averaged 20.4 the following year, helping the Bullets claim the NBA's best record, and made a return trip to the Finals (they would lose to the same Sonics team). Dandridge would make the last of his four career All-Star games as a Bullet in 1979 (before injuries shortened his career), and finished with career averages of 18.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG.

PF: Elvin Hayes: The "Big E" finally showed what he could do with a good team after not having that with the Rockets at the beginning of his career. After being traded to the Baltimore Bullets from the Rockets in 1972, Hayes continued to play excellent ball; he averaged a double-double in eight of his nine seasons with the team (highs of 23.7 PPG in 1976-77 and 18.1 RPG in 1973-74) and the Bullets won four division titles, three conference championships, and the 1978 title. Hayes made the All-Star team eight times as a Bullet (12 overall), led the league in rebounds in 1973 (also did it once as a Rocket) and was All-NBA 1st team three times.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Rod Strickland/Kevin Porter: Neither one had much tenure (Strickland played four full seasons in Washington, Porter played six spread over two tenures), so I picked both. Strickland, acquired in a trade from Portland for Rasheed Wallace in 1996, helped the Bullets reach the playoffs in 1997 for the first time in nine years with 17.2 PPG and 8.9 APG. He then led the league in assists in 1997-98 with 10.5 per game, before the team fell apart and he was traded in 2001. Porter, drafted by the team in the third round in 1972, started for the team that reached the 1975 Finals (swept by the Warriors) and led the league in assists that year with 8 per game. He would lead the league in assists three more times (including one more as a Bullet in 1980-81) before retiring in 1983.

SG: Phil Chenier: Chenier may not be a name many people remember, but he was a good scorer on some excellent Bullets teams of the early-to-mid 70s. Drafted by the team in a suppemental draft in 1971 (this draft was strictly for hardship cases after the Spencer Haywood case forced the NBA to change its draft rules and allowed underclasssmen to be drafted), Chenier proved to be a solid scorer, with three seasons of 20 or better PPG (a high of 21,9 in 1973-74), and he made three All-Star teams (1974-75, 1977). He also played on the 1978 champs, but during that season, injuries started to pop up, and he was forced to reitre in 1981 with the Warriors.

C: Walt Bellamy: Many people may not recognize Bellamy, but for the Wizards/Bullets, he was an early pillar for the team. So early, in fact, he began his career at the same time as the team (which began as the Chicago Packers in 1961-62). Bellamy has an awesome rookie debut on a bad team, averaging 31.6 PPG as a rookie (which remains a team record for a season) and 19 RPG, easily winning ROY honors. Bellamy averaged at least 24.8 PPG and 14.6 RPG in each of his four seasons with the team (and made the All-Star team each of those years) before being dealt to New York in 1966.

SF: Bernard King: For those who may say Caron Butler, I say look ahead, but I put King here because the mere fact he played after his severe knee injury in 1985, much less the great way he played, deserves mention. After being left for dead by the Knicks in 1987, the Bullets took a chance on King, and he played solidly as a part-time starter in 1988, averaging 17.2 PPG. He then averaged over 20 PPG in each of the next three years, and in 1990-91, he made the All-Star team (and averaged 28.4 PPG, the second highest average of his career), capping a remarkable comeback. Though injuries would resurface, King no doubt proved just how tough he really was.

PF: Antawn Jamison: Jamison gets this spot because, of the big three in D.C., he has been the healthiest and is consistently productive. Jamison, acquired in a trade with Dallas for Jerry Stackhouse in 2004, has averaged at least 19.6 PPG each season, along with 8 RPG as well, and has made the All-Star team twice as a Wizard. Last season may have been one of his best; with Arenas and Butler out for long stretches of time with injuries, Jamison averaged 21.4 PPG (his best average since 2002-03) and 10.2 RPG (a career high) to lead Washington to the playoffs. Good stuff, and consistency counts.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Richard Motta: Motta had already established himself as a great defensive coach with the Bulls in the early 70s, and after leaving Chicago for Washington in 1976, he put that stamp on the Bullets, as well. Motta led the team to the playoffs each season he coached there, won a division title in 1979, and won his only NBA title in 1978 as Washington beat the Sonics in seven games. For his career, he won 935 games.

Assistants: Eddie Jordan, Gene Shue: Jordan took over a team in chaos in 2003-04, and today, he is the longest tenured coach in the Eastern Conference. Jordan has guided the team to at least a .500 record and the playoffs in each of the last four years, and when he guided the team to a first round win over Chicago in 2005, it was the first playoff series win for them since 1981. Shue coached the team in two seperate tenures (1967-73, 1981-86), and in his first round, he led the team to four division titles and a Finals berth in 1971, and his second go-round, he made the playoffs three out of five full years.

Honorable Mentions:

SF: Caron Butler: Great stats, but always seems to be hurt.

PF: Chris Webber: Much better known as a King, and his tenure in Washington seemed to be the "Era of Bad Feelings".

C: Moses Malone: Only played two years there, and he wasn't the same dominating force he was in Philly.

SG: Richard Hamilton: Played better in Detroit after the stench of Washington was washed off him.

SF/PF Juwan Howard: He almost wrecked the franchise with that deal that cost the team draft picks in 1996, and let's be honest; he was slightly above-average at best.

SG: Michael Jordan: O.K., I'm kidding; let's forget (we know Jordan already has) that this ever happened.

Now, for the Blazers:

Starters:

PG: Terry Porter: Porter personified how the Blazers were consistently good in the 80s and 90s; they could find small-school products who were real players. Porter, drafted #24 (last pick) in the first round in 1985 from Wisconsin-Stevens Point, became a starter in his second season, and averaged a double-double by his third season (14.9 PPG and 10.1 APG, the only double-double average of his career). Porter would make two All-Star teams in his career (1991, 1993) and piloted the Blazers to two NBA Finals before leaving the team in 1995.

SG: Clyde Drexler: "Clyde the Glide" may have been the major reason the Blazers passed on Michael Jordan in 1984, but Drexler was a great SG in his own right. Drafted #14 overall in 1983 (little known fact; the Bulls, drafting one slot ahead of Portland, took Ennis Whatley over Drexler. So nobody's perfect!), Drexler unseated Jim Paxson as a starter by his third season, and by year four Drexler averaged 21.7 PPG (the first of seven season with over 20 PPG). Drexler made his first All-Star team in 1986 (made nine overall for his career), was All-NBA 1st team in 1991-92, and helped Portland reach two NBA Finals before capturing his only title as a Rocket in 1995.

C: Bill Walton: He may aggrivate people today on ESPN, but in his playing day (when he was healthy, of course), Walton may have been one of the most complete centers in NBA history. Chosen #1 overall by the team in 1974, Walton was only occasionally healthy (his high in games played in a season was 80 in 1985-86, in Portland 65 in 1976-77), but he was magnificent when healthy (double-double average all four years in Portland, highs of 18.9 PPG in 1977-78, 14.4 RPG in 1976-77) and he led Portland to its only NBA title in 1977, winning Finals MVP. Despite more injuries in 1978, he was named league MVP, but during the Blazers' first round loss to Seattle that year, Walton reinjured his foot. He blamed the team doctors for the injury, sat out the 1978-79 season, and signed with the Clippers the following season.

SF: Jerome Kersey: Kersey was yet another example of the Blazers looking high and low for talent, as he came from Longwood college (as the Blazers' second round pick in 1984). Kersey didn't become a starter until his fourth season, but he became a steady producer for the Blazers' two Finalists of the early 90s; he averaged at least 10 PPG each year from 1988 to 1993, and his best averages were 19.2 PPG in 1987-88 and 8.4 RPG in 1989-90. Kersey played for the team for 12 years before leaving in 1995, and in 1999, he won his only NBA title with the Spurs.

PF: Maurice Lucas: Lucas not only provided Walton with the physical enforcer he needed to be most effective, he was the reason Walton's son is named Luke! This "Luke" was acquired by the team in the ABA dispersal draft in 1976, and he led the team in PPG (20.2) and was second in RPG to Walton (11.4) as Portland had its first winning season (49-33) and rode the magic to the NBA title in a major upset of the 76ers. Lucas played solidly for the Blazers for two more seasons (another season with 20.4 PPG in 1978-79) and made three All-Star teams (1977-79) before being traded to New Jersey in 1980.

Reserves:

PG: Geoff Petrie: The current GM of the Kings was a solid player for the Blazers as the team was established in the early 70s. In fact, Petrie was the Blazers' first ever draft pick (#8 overall in 1970). Petrie had a solid first season, finishing tied for ROY (with Dave Cowens) after averaging 24.8 PPG and 4.8 APG. Petrie averaged better than 24 PPG three times (high of 24.9 in 1972-73) and made two All-Star teams (1971, 1974) before retiring in 1976, on the eve of the Blazers' only title.

SG: Jim Paxson: Paxson, the brother of current Bulls GM John Paxson and a former GM himself (with the Cavaliers; he drafted LeBron James), was a solid SG for the Blazers of the early 80s. Drafted #12 overall in 1979, Paxson became a starter in year two, and averaged over 20 PPG twice during his Blazers tenure (high of 21.7 in 1982-83) and made the All-Star team twice during his stay in Portland (1983-84). Paxson eventually abdicated his starting spot to Drexler in 1985, and he played solidly as a backup until he was traded to Boston in 1988.

C: Arvydas Sabonis: Sabonis may have been past his prime by the time he arrived in Portland, but he still played well for the Blazers for six years. Originally drafted by the Hawks in the fourth round in 1985, Sabonis was declared ineligible because he had not turned 21. The follwing year, Portland snapped him up with the last pick in the first round and (because the NBA changed its rules the year after the Hawks fiasco) held his rights until he came over for the 1995-96 season. Sabonis averaged a soild 14.5 PPG and 8.1 RPG sharing the center spot with Chris Dudley (Chris Dudley!?!?), then became a starter in year two. His best individual season in the NBA was 1997-98, where he averaged a double-double (16 PPG and 10 RPG). Sabonis averaged double figures in points each year, and helped Portland reach two conference finals.

SF: Sidney Wicks: Wicks may have been the Allen Iverson of his era (wanting the stats without the hard work), but Wicks did put up solid numbers for the Blazers of the early 70s. Drafted by the team second overall in 1971, Wicks averaged over 20 PPG in four of his five seasons in Portland (high of 24.5 as a rookie in 1971-72, which won him ROY honors), and made four All-Star teams1972-75). But the Blazers never made the playoffs, and they traded Wicks to Boston in 1976, and while Wicks destroyed the Celtics with his selfish attitude, the Blazers won the NBA title. Oh, the irony.

PF: (tie) Buck Williams/Rasheed Wallace: Buck was an key piece of the Blazers team that made two NBA Finals in the early 90s, but Sheed was the face (like it or not) of the Blazers earlier in the decade. So, I'll profile them both. Williams, acquired from New Jersey for Sam Bowie in 1989, brought the toughness the Blazers needed to make those two NBA Finals, and had his best stats year in Portland in 1993-94, where he nearly averaged a double-double (9.7 PPG and 10.4 RPG). Though these stats are tame compared to what he did in Jersey, he was solid enough to make it. Rasheed, acquired from Washington for Rod Strickland in 1996, was a solid scorer (better than 15 PPG five times, a high of 19.3 in 2001-02) and made the All-Star team twice in Portland. He also helped the team reach two conference finals.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Jack Ramsay: Dr Jack was fresh off taking the Buffalo Braves to three straight playoff berths when he was hired by Portland in 1976. In his first season, with Bill Walton at his healthiest in Portland, the team captured the NBA title by upsetting the Sixers. Ramsay would lead the team to a division title and top overall seed the following year, but injuries to Walton derailed the repeat run. Ramsay made the playoffs in nine of the ten seasons he coached in Portland (though that 1977 team won all but one of the five playoff series he won), and before he reitred from coaching for good in 1988, he won 864 games.

Assistants: Rick Adelman, Mike Dunleavy: Can you believe that the Blazers have hired just 11 coaches in their 38 years of existence? Anyhow, Adelman took over during the 1988-89 season, and in his first full year, the Blazers returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years. Adelman took the team to another NBA Final in 1992, and won two division titles and won over 50 games four times before leaving in 1994. Dunleavy won at least 46 games in every non-lockout year he coached with the team (1997-98, 1999-2001), and won a divison title during the lockout season of 1998-99 and to two donference finals (1999-2000).

Honorable Mentions:

C: Mychal Thompson: Did play very well in Portland, but gained more acclaim as a Laker.

SF: Bob Gross: One of Walton's favorites, but he had a mediocre career.

PF: Brian Grant: Good stats, but not all-time stats.

SF: Scottie Pippen: Past his prime when he joined, and didn't produce when it counted.

SF: Kiki Vandeweghe: Great stats (four seasons with over 20 PPG) but didn't play with team over long haul like Kersey did.

PG: Damon Stoudamire: Wasn't the bellcow he was in Toronto, and Porter and Petrie had better numbers.

SG: Brandon Roy: Let's wait a few years and see what he can do with Oden.

SG: Steve Smith: Underrated, but not spectacular on Blazers earlier in this decade.

Well, there are the Wizards and Blazers. Next week, I'll start the final week of the countdown with the Jazz. Take care for now!

Let's resume the My List countdown with the most traveled team in NBA history, the Sacramento Kings, who were the Kansas City Kings, who were the Kansas City/Omaha Kings, who were the Cincinnati Royals, who were the Rochester Royals (whew!). So, as you can see, I had a lot of history to look at. Here are the nomad's best players.

Starters:

PG: Oscar Robertson: The "Big O" began his career with his hometown Royals in Cincinnati in 1960 (fresh off teaming with Jerry West for Olympic gold) as the top overall selection that year. Robertson had a brilliant debut, averaging 30.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG and 9.7 APG as the Royals improved by 14 wins over the previous year. The next year was perhaps the best all-around stats year in NBA history; Robertson averaged a triple-double (with 30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 11.4 APG, leading the Royals to the playoffs for the first time since 1958. Robertson averaged over 30 PPG six times as a Royal (top single season average was 31.4 in 1963-64), had five years with over 10 APG, and was selected to the All-Star team ten times as a Royal, was All-NBA 1st team nine straight years (1961-69), and won one regular season MVP (1964), three All-Star game MVPs (1961, 1964, 1969), and is the Kings' all-time leading scorer and assists man.

SG: Mitch Richmond: Richmond was a solid scorer on some pretty poor Kings teams in the 1990s; if only he had played on a more prominent team in his prime. In any case, Richmond, acquired via trade for Billy Owens from the Warriors in 1991, did the best he could in the mess; he averaged better than 20 PPG each year in Sac town (a high of 25.9 in 1996-97), and made the All-Star team five times with them (1995 game MVP). Despite this, RIchmond made the playoffs with the Kings just once (1996), and though he did win a title with the 2002 Lakers, he was past his prime. Again, what could have been if the team was better.

C: Jerry Lucas: Ohio State fans, rejoice! Lucas may have won his only NBA title with the Knicks in 1973, but his greatest NBA stats years came with the Royals in the 60s. Drafted by the team as a territorial pick in 1962, Lucas joined the team a year later, and had a great debut season, with 17.7 PPG and 17.4 RPG, winning ROY honors (as Robertson did in 1961, btw). Lucas averaged a healthy double-double each full season in CIncy (his scoring high was 21.5 in 1965-66 and 1967-68, and his RPG high was 21.1 in 1965-66), as Lucas made the All-Star team six times as a Royal (1965 game MVP). For his career, he averaged 17 PPG and 15.8 RPG, and made the All-NBA 1st team three times (1965-66, 1968).

SF: Peja Stojakovic: Before moving on to the Pacers and now the Hornets, Stojakovic was (and still is) a sweet-shooting (most of the time) forward for the Kings earlier in this decade (and though I think my backup might have been better, I'll bow to pressure). Drafted by the team #14 overall in 1996, Stojakovic joined the team in 1998-99, and within three years, he became a starter. Peja averaged over 20 PPG four times as a King (career best 24.2 in 2003-04), and made three All-Star teams (2002-04) while there. He also was a key player on the team that reached the 2002 Western Conference finals, before being traded to the Pacers in 2005-06.

PF: Chris Webber: Say what you may about Webber's inability to win the big games, the Kings hadn't played in many big games before he came on the scene (in a trade with Washington for Richmond and Otis Thorpe in 1998). Webber led Sacramento to its first winning season since 1982-83 with a 27-23 mark in the lockout year of 1998-99. Within three years, the Kings were in their first Western final since 1981. Webber averaged better than 20 PPG in five of his six full seasons with the team (high of 27.1 in 2000-01), made four All-Star teams for his career, and had a double-double average five times (rebounding high of 13 per in 1998-99), before being traded to Philadelphia in 2005.

Reserves:

PG:(tie) Mike Bibby/Bob Davies: Davies was one of the great early PGs of the NBA in the 40s and early 50s, but Bibby had a big hand in the Kings success in the early part of this decade. So, they both make it. Davies joined the team while it was still in the NBL (a rival of the BAA/NBA before the two leagues merged in 1949) in 1945, and three years later, he joined the NBA when the Royals, Lakers and Pistons jumped to the BAA. Davies was a solid (for that era) assists man (career best 6 per game in 1951-52), and was a steady scorer (double figures each year, high of 16.2 in 1951-52). He made the first four All-Star teams (1951-54) and led Rochester to the only NBA title in team history in 1951 over the Knicks in 7 games (the first seven game final). Bibby, acquired in a trade with the Grizzlies for Jason Williams in 2001, helped the team reach the Western Conference finals in his first year there, and the team reached the playoffs in each of Bibby's first five years there. Bibby averaged a career best 21.1 PPG in 2005-06, and averaged better than 15,9 in each full season there, until being traded to Atlanta this past season.

SG: Ron Artest: I'll admit that I feel conflicted about this choice; when I did this list initially, I put Otis Birdsong in there. But despite Artest's list of dirty deeds, which have put the NBA into such a bad light I can't explain it, his all-around talent gets the nod here. Artest was acquired in a trade with the Pacers in 2006, after his much-publicized meltdown there, and Artest sparked the Kings to the playoffs that year, averaging 16.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.2 APG. Artest is considered one of the best individual defenders in the league (2004 Defensive POY, over 2 steals per game every full season since 2001) and has made one All-Star game (2004).

C: Vlade Divac: The original flop artist (before Manu Ginobili made it cool), Divac arrived as a FA from the Hornets in 1998, and helped Sacramento turn into a playoff team right away as Divac averaged a double-double for the third (and final) time in his career with 14.3 PPG and 10 RPG. Divac made one All-Star team while in Sac town, helped them reach the playoffs each year he was there, and started for the team that reached the 2002 Western finals.

SF: Jack Twyman: Twyman's prime years were actually better than Peja's prime years, but I knew I'd hear the wolves howl at me, so Twyman is only a backup. Twyman joined the team in Rochester in 1955 (as the team's first selection), and moved with them to Cincinnati two years later. Twyman's prime years came between 1958-59 and 1961-62, where he averaged better than 22.9 PPG each season, and better than 8 RPG as well, and made the All-Star team three times in that span (1959-60, 1962, with additional appearences in 1957, 1958 and 1963). Overall, his career averages were 19.2 PPG and 6.6 RPG.

PF: Maurice Stokes: There is no telling how great Stokes' career could have been had he not gotten severely sick in 1958. As it was, he had three outstanding years before illness struck. Drafted as the 11th player taken by the Royals in 1955, Stokes showed that the team had gotten a steal, as he averaged 16.8 PPG and 16.3 RPG, winning ROY honors. Stokes averaged 16.4 PPG and 17.3 RPG during his three years with the Royals (winning the rebounding title in 1958) before his illness took over. His career was over, and he eventually passed on in 1970. A truly tragic story.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Les Harrison: I put the first coach of the team here because he is the only one who can boast an NBA title with this team. Harrison, who also owned the team from their existence in the NBL until 1958, led Rochester to two division titles (1949 and 1952), six winning seasons (including a 51 win season in 1949-50), and the NBA title in 1951. During his tenure as owner and coach, the team won 394 games, and he was enshrined into the basketball HOF in 1979.

Assistants: Rick Adelman, Cotton Fitzsimmons: Adelman took over the team in 1998, and led the club to its first winning season in 16 years that year. Overall, Adelman had a winning record each year in Sacramento, won two division titles, and took the team to the 2002 Western finals before leaving the team in 2006. Fitzsimmons coached the team from 1978 to 1984, and had three winning seasons while there, and won a division title in 1978-79. His greatest achievement while there was taking the 40-42 Royals to the 1981 Western Conference finals before losing to the Rockets.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Otis Birdsong: After being on the original list, I had to mention him as an HM. But he was more of a score-only guy, and that lack of vversitility hurt him.

SF: Scott Wedman: Despite making the All-Star team as a King (1976), he is better known as a Celtic.

SG: Doug Christie: Good defender, but Artest is better.

C; Sam Lacey: Very solid player (six times averaged a double-double), but team wasn't as good during his time as it was with Lucas and Divac.

SF: Eddie Johnson: Gained more acclaim with the Suns and Sonics.

PG: Phil Ford: Three good years, but that was about as far as Ford got in the NBA.

SG: Danny Ainge: Better years with the Celtics, Blazers and Suns. Why? Because they won!

PG: Nate Archibald: Wait, I'd like to amend my backup PG choice; put Bibby and Davies in the HM section, and put Archibald as the backup! Archibald, drafted in the second round in 1970, was the only player to lead the league in scoring and assist in 1972-73 (34 PPG, 11.4 APG). He would make six All-Star teams for his career (1981 game MVP), won an NBA title with the Celtics in 1981, and for his career made three All-NBA 1st teams (1973, 1975-76). There, see, even I make mistakes!

On that note, that's the Kings. Tomorrow comes team #16, the Wizards. Until then, don't forget Nate Archibald!

The countdown on the My List special moves on to team #14, the Denver Nuggets. Here are the best players (in my opinion) from the thin air.

Starters:

PG: Lafayette Lever: "Fat" was the player assigned to make Denver''s frenetic offense go in the 1980s. Acquired from Portland in 1984, Lever helped direct the Nuggets to the conference finals in his first season there. Lever's best stats years came in the late 80s, where he would have three seasons (1987-89) of near triple-double averages. For a 6 foot 3 guard, he could rebound well (two seasons he averaged 9.3 RPG), and he was a two time All-Star (1988, 1990). For his career, he averaged 13.9 PPG, 6 RPG and 6.2 APG.

SG: David Thompson: The original Skywalker was like a shooting star; he burst onto the scene with a flurry, then almost as quickly, he was gone. Thompson was drafted #1 in the NBA draft by the Hawks in 1975, but he decided to accept the Nuggets' offer and jumped to the ABA. In his lone ABA season, Thompson won their ROY award as well as All-Star MVP, and took Denver to the last ABA Finals (losing to the Nets). He then moved with the team to the NBA in 1976, and didn't skip a beat; he averaged over 20 PPG in each of his first five NBA seasons, with a high of 27.2 in 1977-78, as he lost the scoring title to George Gervin on the last day of the season by .07 (the closest race ever for that title). Before injuries ended his career in 1984 (with Seattle by that point), he had made four NBA All-Star games (1979 game MVP) and had career averages of 22.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 3.2 APG (not including his ABA season) and had two All-NBA 1st team selections (1977-78).

C: Dan Issel: I can amlost smell the Dikembe Mutombo argument, and he'll be up later, but Issel had more tenure with the team as a player (ten seasons to five for Mutombo), so I give him the nod. Issel joined the team in 1975 after helping the Kentucky Colonels win the ABA title that year, and he nearly helped the team accomplish the same goal in 1976, as they lost to the Nets in the finals. Issel averaged 23 PPG and 11 RPG that year, then became a steady presence when they moved to the NBA. His best NBA season occured in 1977-78, when he averaged 21.3 PPG and 10.1 RPG. Overall, he had one All-Star berth (1977), helped Denver reach the Western Conference finals in 1978 and 1985 (his last year), and averaged 20.4 PPG and 7.9 RPG over his NBA tenure.

SF: Carmelo Anthony: Melo may not have had a long NBA career yet, but Denver hasn't exactly brimmed with top tier SFs (and for those who say Alex English, please look ahead). Anthony was drafted #3 overall in one of the best draft classes in recent history (including LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and the immortal Darko Milicic... whoops, just kidding on Darko!) and immediately helped Denver return to the playoffs after an eight year absence, with averages of 21 PPG and 6.1 RPG. In his young career, he has made two All-Star teams (the last two years), has taken the Nuggets to the playoffs each year (though they haven't had any success), and this summer will try to add Olympic gold as a member of Team USA.

PF: Alex English: English may not have played PF, but I put him here because he should be a starter. Acquired in a trade from the Pacers in 1980, English became the highest scoring player in the NBA in the 1980s (with 19,682 points, including a scoring title in 1982-83 with a 28.4 average), and he was the top dog on the run-and-gun Nuggets of the 80s. Between 1980-81 and 1988-89, English averaged between 23.8 and 29.8 PPG as Denver won two division titles (1985, 1988) and mde the conference finals in 1985. He made eight All-Star teams and was All-NBA second team three times (1982-83, 1986).

Reserves:

PG: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: The man formerly known as Chris Jackson had some good moments on the Nuggets in the mid-90s. Drafted #3 overall in 1990, Abdul-Rauf didn't become a starter until his third NBA season, when he averaged a career-best 19.2 PPG. After that season (1992-93), he announced his conversion to Islam and his name change, and was a consistent scorer as Denver became a decent team, including the historic upset of the Sonics in the 1st round of the 1994 playoffs. Abdul-Rauf would play two more seasons with the team until leaving in 1996, and for his career he averaged 15.2 PPG and 3.7 APG.

SG: Allen Iverson: Granted, Iverson has played just one full season and part of another in Denver, but aside from Thompson, Denver hasn't had many great SGs, so Iverson's body of work gets him a backup slot. After ten full seasons and part of an 11th in Philly (which included three scoring titles, an MVP in 2001, and a trip to the Finals), Iverson was traded to Denver for Andre Miller and Co. in 2007. It was thought that an Iverson-Anthony team would be a force in the West. While that hasn't been the case, Iverson's PPG averages (24.8 in the tail end of 2006-07, 26.4 last season) haven't been far off his Philly averages, and he has made the All-Star team each time in Denver. So, it's not been a total wash. Now if only Denver would play some D....

C: Dikembe Mutombo: Mutombo was only 43 years old when he arrived in Denver (I said when I profiled him in Atlanta that I wouldn't do any more age jokes, but I can't resist!) as a rookie in 1991, and immediately he made his mark on D; Mutombo blocked 210 shots as a rookie, to go with 16.6 PPG (sadly, a career high) and 12.3 RPG, making the All-Star team that year. Mutombo went on to lead the league in blocks per game three straight years in Denver (1994-96), the first to do so, and led Denver to two playoff berths and an upset win over Seattle in 1994, before bolting for the Hawks in 1996.

SF: Kiki Vandeweghe: Besides having one of the funniest names in NBA history, Vandeweghe was a high-scoring big man for Denver in the early 80s. Denver got him after Vandeweghe refused to go to the expansion Mavericks in 1980 (after being drafted #11 that year). In his four seasons in Denver, Vandeweghe averaged over 21 PPG three times (a high in Denver of 29.4 in 1983-84), and made both his All-Star game appearences (1983-84) as a Nugget. Vandeweghe also played in the highest scoring game ever (he scored a game high 51 points as Denver lost to the Pistons 186-184 in December 1983, before leaving for Portland after that season.

PF: (tie) Antonio McDyess/Marcus Camby: Until the Nuggets recently traded Camby to the Clippers (for no players!), I was set to give him the lone spot here. As it is, I'll do a tie. McDyess, acquired in a draft day deal for Rodney Rogers in 1995, had two tenures with the team (1995-97, 1998-2002), and in these pre-knee injury days, he was a remarkable physical presence on some bad Denver teams, averaging over 20 PPG twice, and making the 2001 All-Star team before injuries and a deal to the Knicks ended his run there in 2002. Camby, the man the Nuggets got in the McDyess trade, was the only true defensive presence the team has had in recent years; he averaged a double-double in three of his six years there, won Defensive POY in 2007, and led the league in blocks last year.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Doug Moe: If anybody was Don Nelson before Nellie ball was cool, it was Moe. Moe had already been an NBA head coach (with the Spurs from 1976-80) when Denver hired him to replace Donnie Walsh in the middle of the 1980-81 season (yes, the same Walsh now in charge of the Knicks). Moe's teams became famous for their run and gun style; in 1981-82, Denver averaged a league record 126.5 PPG and scored triple digits in all 82 regular season games; in fact, they scored over 100 points in 136 straight games (another record) between January 1981 and December 1982. Moe led the team to the playoffs each full season he coached there, won two division titles, led the team to the conference finals in 1985, and was named COY in 1987-88. Today, his influence (for better or worse) is still there, as he is now an assistant for George Karl.

Assistants: Larry Brown, George Karl: Can anyone believe that this was the vagabond coach's second coaching stop? Brown took the Denver job after leaving the Carolina Cougars of the ABA in 1974, and took the team to the ABA finals in 1976, then, after joining the NBA, he led the Nuggets to a division title that first year, and also repeated that feat (with a conference finals berth) in 1978 before resigning during the following year (reportedly for heart problems, even though he ran a mile before announcing the resignation?)? Amazing, isn't it? Karl, hired during the 2004-05 season, has led Denver to the playoffs each year, with a division title in 2006, and at least 44 wins each full season, but only has a 3-12 playoff mark during that time. Oh well, you can't win them all.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Walter Davis: Much better known as a Sun.

PF: Bobby Jones: Few people remember Jones began his career in Denver (and made the All-Star team twice in 1977-78) because of his better known stint in Philadelphia.

PF: LaPhonso Ellis: Often injured, and fairly mediocre when he did play.

PF: Calvin Natt: Solid numbers, but only played two healthy seasons in Denver.

PG: Andre Miller: Doing better in Philly than he did in Denver.

PG: Robert Pack: A flash in the pan.

SG: Reggie Williams: Decent stats, but not enough to put ahead of Thompson and Iverson.

PG: Michae