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!

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: Michael Adams: One brilliant year on a terrible team.

SG: Ralph Simpson: See Williams, and his best years were in the ABA.

There are the Nuggets. Tomorrow, team #15 will be the Kings. Take care until then!

The My List special rolls on today... with a team that recently moved. But while Oklahoma City has the team formerly known as the Sonics, Seattle will be represented today. Here, without further ado, is the Sonics' all-time lineup.

Starters:

PG: Gary Payton: The "Glove" was the spark for the Sonics almost from the time he arrived (as the second overall pick in 1990) in Seattle. Becoming a starter as a rookie, Payton began to evolve into an elite PG by the mid-90s, as he first averaged 20+ PPG in 1994-95 (20.6, to be exact) and also was a skilled defender; he stole more than 100 balls each full season in Seattle (1991-2002) and led the league in that category in 1995-96, which led him to winning Defensive POY honors. In addition, he was named All-NBA Defensive 1st team each year from 1994-2002. Payton helped lead Seattle to the 1996 NBA Finals, and the team won four division titles during his tenure.

SG: Dennis Johnson: "DJ" is almost as well known today as a Celtic, but he played some of his best ball as a Sonic. Drafted in the second round by the team in 1976, Johnson feuded with coaches early on, but soon enough, he helped the team reach the 1978 Finals. After shooting a John Starks-esque 0-14 in the deciding game that year, he returned with a vengence, leading Seattle to its only sports championship in 1979 by winning Finals MVP and teaming with Gus Williams to score over half the teams' total points. Johnson had his best Seattle season in 1979-80, scoring 19 PPG and adding 5 RPG and 4 APG, being named All-NBA second team and to his second straight All-NBA Defensive 1st team, but after the Sonics lost to the Lakers in the conference finals, he was traded to Phoenix for Paul Westphal.

C: Jack Sikma: Sikma was a steady interior presence for the Sonics throughout the late 70s and into the 80s. Drafted by the team #8 overall in 1977, Sikma helped the team to the NBA Finals as a rookie with solid averages of 10.7 PPG and 8.3 RPG. When the Sonics allowed Marvin Webster to sign with the Knicks after the season, they moved Sikma into the starting lineup, and he averaged a double-double for the season (15.6 PPG, 12.4 RPG) as the Sonics won the NBA title. It was the first of seven straight seasons with a double-double average (career best averages of 19.6 PPG and 12.7 RPG in 1981-82), and Sikma would make seven All-Star teams for his career.

SF: Ray Allen: Admittedly, Allen is out of position, but after the cries from some bloggers that certain players should be starters regardless of position, I'll make an exception here. Allen, acquired from Milwaukee for Payton in 2003, was as pure a scorer as the team ever saw, averaging at least 23 PPG every full season in Seattle (26.4 per being his best average in 2006-07). Though Allen led Seattle to just one playoff berth overall (in 2005, the team's last division title, as well), his overall body of work (plus the likely pressure to put him there) give him the nod here.

PF: Shawn Kemp: The "ReignMan" may be known today as a prolific producer of children and a fat guy, but back in his Seattle days, Kemp was an absolutely dominant player. Drafted #17 overall in 1989, Kemp took some time to grow (having played very little college ball), but by his third NBA season, he was averaging a double-double (15.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG). He would do this for five straight more seasons (his best averages 19.6 and 11.4 in 1995-96), and he also was a prolific shot blocker; he actually is the all-time Sonics leader in that category. Kemp made five All-Star teams in Seattle, was All-NBA second team three straight years (1994-96), and helped Seattle reach the 1996 Finals.

Reserves:

PG: Gus Williams: The "Wizard" was the compliment to DJ in the great Seattle backcourt of the late 70s and early 80s. Acquired from Golden State in 1977, Williams blossomed as a starter, averaging 18.1 PPG and 3.7 APG as Seattle reached the Finals his first year there. In year two, he helped Seattle win their only NBA title as he and Johnson combined for over half the team's points against Washington. After missing the 1980-81 season, Williams rebounded to score a career-high 23.4 PPG in 1981-82. He averaged over 20 PPG three times as a Sonic (he added a fourth with Washington in 1985), and made two All-Star teams.

SG: Fred Brown: "Downtown" was a legendary figure in Sonics basketball early on in their history. Drafted #6 overall in 1971, Brown averaged over 20 PPG twice as a Sonic (a best of 23.1 in 1975-76, which also marked his lone All-Star game appearence), and he was a consistent scorer as a reserve; he averaged double figures in 11 of his thirteen seasons. Brown was also a member of the 1979 championship team, and he really earned his nickname by being the first 3-point % leader in NBA history (he hit 44.3% of his 88 threes attempts in 1979-80 to lead the league).

C: Spencer Haywood: Again, Haywood certainly isn't a C, but if not him, then who? Jim McIlvaine? Benoit Benjamin? And Haywood had a great run in Seattle. His arrival litterally changed NBA rules; he bolted the Denver Rockets (later the Nuggets) of the ABA, but Seattle couldn't initally sign him because he hadn't been in the NBA draft. Seattle paid a $200,000 fine and Haywood was allowed to join the team, and the NBA revised its eligibility rules a few months later. Haywood averaged a double-double in four of his five Seattle seasons (career bests of 29.2 PPG and 12.9 RPG in 1972-73) and made the All-Star tea, the same amount of times (1972-75). Haywood led the Sonics to their first playoff berth in 1975 before being traded to the Knicks in 1976.

SF: Detlef Schrempf: The player who paved the road for fellow Germans like Dirk Nowitzki, Schrempf had played decently in Dallas and great as a reserve in Indiana (two time Sixth Man winner from 1991-92 while there), he is best remembered as a Sonic. Acquired in a trade for Derrick McKey in 1993, Schrempf had his best scoring season in 1994-95 with a 19.2 PPG average. Schrempf made two All-Star teams (1995, 1997) with Seattle, averaged at least 15 PPF in each season there, and was a starter on the 1996 finalists.

PF: Xavier McDaniel: The "X-Man" helped bring Seattle basketball back to life after a rough patch in the mid-80s. Drafted #4 overall in 1985, McDaniel became a starter immediately, and had nice rookie averages of 17.1 PPG and 8 RPG. In his second year, McDaniel helped spark the 39-43 Sonics to an unlikely conference finals berth after upsetting the Mavericks and Rockets before losing to the Lakers. That year, McDaniel had the first of four straight 20+ PPG scoring seasons (and his 23 PPG average that year was a career best), and he also made the 1988 All-Star team, before being dealt to Phoenix in 1991.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens: Wilkens had two tenures as Sonics coach. In his first run (as a player/coach)from 1969-72, he was spotty (he did lead the team to their first winning record in 1971-72), making zero playoffs berths. In his second run from the middle of the 1977-78 season to 1984-85, he more than made up for that. After taking over in 1977, Wilkens led the team to the NBA Finals. In his first full season, the team finished the deal and won the NBA title. Wilkens led the team to 50 or better wins three times in his second run, and also led the team to three conference finals, before stepping down in 1985.

Assistants: George Karl, Bernie Bickerstaff, Bill Russell: Karl stepped into the Seattle job in 1992 and almost immediately made them a contender; in his first full season, the team won 55 games and made the 1993 Western Conference finals. Overall, the team won four division titles, at least 55 wins each year, and a berth in the 1996 Finals. Bickerstaff led the team to an unlikely conference finals berth in his second season, and the team made the playoffs three times in his five years on the job. Russell, while not as successful as in Boston, did lead the team to their first playoff berth in 1975 (and their first playoff series win, against Detroit that year), and had two playoffs berths, despite a 162-166 record while there.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Hersey Hawkins: Solid, but Brown had more of a legacy in Seattle than Hawkins.

PG: Lenny Wilkens: Good years in Seattle, but better known as a Hawk, and didn't make same impact as player as Payton and Williams.

SG: Dale Ellis: Great scorer, but so was Allen, and he was better than Ellis, to me.

SG: Kendall Gill: Moodiness sullies his Sonics tenure; they were more than happy to see him go.

SF: Rashard Lewis: Not quite as impactful as Schrempf and Allen.

PF: Lonnie Shelton: Good role player, but not all-time good.

PG: Nate McMillan: Solid player, but likw Wilkens, who do you replace with Payton and Williams?

There are the Sonics. Next up tomorrow, the #14 team, the Nuggets. Until then, may Oklahoma City realize what kind of history their crooked owners took from Seattle!

At the beginning of every NBA season, you hear commentators say "This team needs home court advantage to win in the playoffs. That refrain is heard all through the season. And usually, those guys are right. However, what's going on in round 2 of the playoffs makes me wonder if homecourt is the only way teams can win in this round.

Including last night's games, the home team is an incredible 19-1 in round 2. Only the Pistons in game 4 of their series with Orlando, and the final score was 90-89! The Celtics, the team with the best regular season record, are winless in five road playoff games (by the way, the last team to make the Finals without a road victory in the playoffs was the 1963 Lakers, and they only played one playoff series to get there). How has homecourt suddenly become unstoppable?

With that in mind, here are some possible solutions to allow the road team a chance to win at least once in the games coming up:

Have Robert Horry hipcheck someone (Chris Paul) into the boards, forcing a benched David West and Tyson Chandler to get off the bench, leading to their one-game suspension for game 7 in New Orleans: Hey, it worked against Phoenix, didn't it?

Have Joe Crawford re####ame with Tim Duncan, then allow them to really fight: Crawford would give the stoic Duncan a war, but the smart money is on Duncan.

Have DeDoNothing Stevenson badmouth one of the road teams' best players and call them overrated before the game: It made LeBron want to knock out the Wizards, and I found a way to keep my nickname in the news.

Warn the Hornets, Lakers and Celtics the 'consequences' of another Spurs-Pistons Finals matchup: That thought, in Stern's mind, is scarier than the 'Saw' series! He'll threaten the Lakers with a Kobe trade if they fail to make it!

Tell the remaining teams if they fail to win on the road, some of the players will be traded to the Knicks!: A fate worse than death, perhaps? They'll play their butts off to win then!

Have Tony Romo sing for the home team before their game: They'll be so frazzled, they won't be able to concentrate and stop the opponent!

Take the home team to watch 'Speed Racer' before the game: See above.

If they fail to win, the road team's players must watch all of Shaq's movies... without a break!: See the Knicks above.

Yeah, this may be sarcastic, but what's preventing these teams from winning A ROAD GAME? I'm not saying that every win should be on the road, but a figure closer to round 1's figure (7 of 10 wins by the home team) would do. What makes these games so hard to watch is that, for the most part, they are blowouts, and blowouts don't interest the casual fans and make diehards fall asleep, too.

So, what's your take? Does this homecourt dominance take away from the excitement of the playoffs? And what would you suggest to fix it? Let me know! Until then, may everyone run should Romo sing in front of a theater showing 'Speed Racer'!

Don't be confused by the title. I'm referring to the Seattle Supersonics, who may very well be playing their last (official) game tonight. Many bloggers are well aware of the acrimonious relations between majority 'owner' (I use that loosely) Clay Bennett and bestest buddy David Stern against practically the entire stat of Washington. So I won't go into details. However, this being the first time I've talked about this topic, I'll state my feelings about it.

This situation has been disgraceful from the start. From the moment the Sonics were sold to Bennett's company, the feeling must have been "When", not "If" they were/are going to move. The e-mails that came out recently only solidify that assesment. I'd have more respect if Bennett had said "I really want a team in my hometown, so I'm moving the team there.". At least then he would have a little more of his dignity. But Bennett's position pales in comparison to Stern's.

I commented a while ago on a blog about this topic that Stern needed to consider stepping down as commish because his grip on what's right or wrong was slipping. I comnpared him to Pete Rozelle, who was a broken shell of himself by the time he stepped down as NFL commish in 1989. Well, his actions this morning (on Mike & Mike in the Morning) only confirmed those fears; he actually said the owners had negotiated with the city in good faith! How do you call conspiring to move a "good faith effort"? Isn't that what Art Modell said when he moved the Browns to Baltimore?

And I think a Cleveland-type situation may soon develop here. With the exception of a few owners (most notably Mark Cuban), approval of the move should occur. If that happens, I say "Let the BLEEPing team start over, too!". You do to the O.K. City team what the NFL did to the Ravens; allow Seattle to keep all the history and records, and give the team a new team in the future! Stern was benevolent to Charlotte when the Hornets moved, and Charlotte didn't (and doesn't) have the tradition of the Sonics.

What's right about this picture; Key Arena actually has more capacity than the Ford Center (forgive me if I don't know the O.K. arena's name)! And the situation there is better than Seattle! How is having fewer butts in the seats a better plan? And here I thought Stern wasd a marketing genius! This is more concerning than a refereeing scandal (although that's serious, as well) or the dress code. It shows a lack of logic and respect for the fans, the very same fans you claim to be going after to supoort you.

I can just see this conversation at a dinner banquet:

Year: 2010 (after lease is up)

Clay Bennett sits at dinner with some allies.

Bennett: "Boy, I sure am glad to finally be in O.K. City, now that those damn pesky Seattle people are out of the way. How did your moves go?"

Art Modell: "Oh, it was nasty initially, but after the fans got another team, it was tolerable. Hell, my team won a Super Bowl after five years!"

Al Davis (rises from rocking chair): "Be careful, Clay. My friendship with Pete dissolved quickly after my move, and I ended up back in Oakland because the golden palace had too many (c)racks."

Bennett: "I'm not worried. I duped Seattle from the start!"

ghost of Bob Irsay: "Don't believe the hype. My team was cursed until I passed and Peyton Manning was drafted. I think it was those damn Mayflower vans!"

Bennett: "It wasn't that bad, was it?"

Irsay: "You better believe it. If only I had moved before drafting Elway."

Bennett: "Oh my God! Don't let that happen to Durant!!"

Bennett runs to stop his move with Mayflower vans. Scene fades to black.

Should Seattle at least have the right to keep their team name and colors, and get at least an expansion team? Or should the NBA abandon 41 years of great tradition and pack up for Oklahoma? You tell me!

Let's do something I haven't done lately: rant! Another week is set to begin, and here we are still debating whether Kobe or Garnett is/will be traded. It speaks to a couple of things: (A) June is a boring month for sports action-wise, (B) Because of this, the rumor mill churns hotter than ever. Am I the only one annoyed with the "I want out, no, I want in, no.." of Kobe or Garnett's staying on a sinking ship in Minnesota simply to look like a nice guy? When does it end?

Let's get the Kobe deal off my chest; It's going to be very difficult to trade him. There's no way the Lakers can get anything close to his talent level via trade. And once/if they make the deal, Jerry Buss and company look like idiots for trading two dominant players (although in fairness, they already look like idiots). Maybe Buss is getting senile, but it looks like it's time to allow the younger Busses take over. Bottom line: Kobe probably will end up stuck in L.A. and will probably pout like a spoiled brat, so brace yourself for a rocky ride, L.A.

As for Garnett, no player I've seen play in any sport (from a limited span, since I'm only 23) has allowed himself to stay on a sinking ship more than he has. The Timberwolves' window slammed shut the day they lost the Western Conference Finals in 2004. Blame it on anything you want; GM Kevin McHale's bad player choices, ownership for sabotaging the team during the illegal Joe Smith deal in 2000, costing them four first round picks (the fatal blow), etc., Garnett doesn't want to come across as a douchebag. That's an admirable trait, but he wouldn't be the first athlete to chase a ring: Karl Malone did it by leaving Utah in 2004 for the Lakers, among others. His legacy won't be tarnished by leaving the 'Land of 10,000 Mistakes'.

Getting to Garnett's desire to play in a warm weather city (i.e. Phoenix); not happening (at least, if Minnesota doesn't live up to it's rep). Phoenix would be stupid to deal Amare and/or marion for him (although Marion sounds more feasible, given he's a free agent at season's end next year). The Suns would have to alter their style to fit Garnett's game, and that would ruin them. So, where would he go? I have no clue. I guess he's going to whoever has the pieces to give up for him.

In closing, we have a perennial crybaby and a perennial team suck-up who both want out of dodge. I can't stand hearing about the rumors every day, but with so little to talk about, that's all we have to look forward to. Maybe Mark Cuban and his other buddys forming that new football league should start it up in June. Then maybe we could have something different to talk about. Until then, at least the NBA Draft is coming up. Maybe a deal can get done by then!

After laughing at the news that Kevin Garnett shot down a trade to Boston (the King of Staying on a Sinking Ship stays put!), the next thing I focused on was the news that Greg Oden's workout in Portland wasn't spectacular. Does that mean he shouldn't be #1? I don't think so. Oden the best big man out there, and rule #1 of drafting usually is "Take the best player, especially if he's tall.". So I still think Oden's going to be taken first.

But the main reason for this post isn't to talk about the Oden/Durant debate. I want to look at the drafts prior to this one and ponder "Who where the best and worst #1's of all time?". To do so fairly, one must look at all factors, including team's play, individual's play, and championships won, among others. The criteria for today's best (and tomorrow's worst) list:

1. The players considered must have been #1 picks from 1966 (when the draft had a clear #1) to 2002 (when we can most accurately gauge an NBA career)

2. No other picks are considered (So don't come with Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan!)

So with that, let's see how I'd stack up the best and worst of the #1's...

Best #1's (from 1 to 10)

1. Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969): For starters, Kareem's drafting changed the fates of two teams. The Bucks who won the flip, turned from doormats (27-55 in 1968-69) to contenders (56-26 in 1969-70) and the following year champions. Phoenix, who took Neal Walk, are still seeking a title of their own. Kareem then was traded to L.A in 1975, joining with another #1 we'll see later to win five more titles and set numerous NBA records.

2. Magic Johnson (1979): Magic not only revitalized the Lakers, he and Larry Bird (#6 in 1978) revitalized the NBA after a rough period in the late '70s, when rampant drug use and selfish play threatened to break the league. Magic infused the Lakers with an infectious enthusiaism, and his star blossomed in game six of that year's Finals when, in the place of the injured Kareem, Magic scored 42 points, with 15 rebounds and 7 assists, to win the NBA titles. He'd go on to win 4 more titles and 3 NBA MVPs (as well as three Finals MVP) and, when he first retired in 1991, was the NBA's all time assists leader.

3. Tim Duncan (1997): That guy again? Well, here's a guy who stayed four years in college and , unlike NFL picks Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn, ended up being #1 overall despite that. Duncan made a team who had a hard season the year before he arrived into a legit contender, improving their record by 36 games (20 to 56 wins) his first year and, in year two, he led the team to the first of four NBA titles (with more possible in the offering). A two-time MVP (along with 3 Finals MVPs), the guy gets overlooked because of his demeanor, but deserves to be 3 on the list.

4. Shaquille O'Neal (1992): The picking get a little slim after this, but Shaq gets #4 for how he's lorded over the basketball scene since his arrival. At the beginning, it was raw power winning games with the Magic, but as his career moved on (as did he, to the Lakers in 1996), Shaq developed a solid low post game, although free throws did (and still) give him fits. Shaq has won two scoring titles (1995 and 2000) and four NBA titles with three Finals MVPs and one regular season MVP.

'5. David Robinson (1987): I told you the pickings were slim, but this is a case of delayed gratification. Robinson, a you know, had to wait two years after graduating from the Navy to join the Spurs in 1989, but he made an immediate impact, as San Antonio jumped from 21 to 56 wins in his rookie year, capturing ROY honors (by the way, Kareem, Duncan and O'Neal did this, as well). He then won the MVP of the league in 1995 before helping Tim Duncan to titles in 1999 and 2003. Solid.

6. James Worthy (1982): The Lakers steal yet another #1, using the pick they acquired from Cleveland to take Worthy, fresh off winning the NCAA title that year with the Tar Heels. Worthy saw a solid rookie year end early after fracturing his leg. But he soon recovered, and became a key cog in the Showtime attack. Worthy won only one award (the 1988 Finals MVP) but helped the Lakers win three titles in the 1980s.

7. Hakeem Olajuwon (1984): Although the Rockets missed out on Michael Jordan (see above) they probably were hapy to get Olajuwon, by far the best center in the draft. Olajuwon teamed with fellow #1 Ralph Sampson to reach the Finals in 1986, but his best work came later in his career, when in 1994, he won regular season and Finals MVPs after leading the Rockets to their first title. He won another Finals MVP and title the next year, and, statistically, is the all-time leader in blocks.

8. Patrick Ewing (1985): O.K., he never won a championship, but Ewing makes the list because of the fact he made the Knicks legitimate again. After a 24 win season, the Knicks won the first draft lottery, and selected Ewing. He won ROY honors despite missing 32 games, and after a rough three years, got the Knicks back to the playoffs. He eventually helped New York to the Finals in 1994 (a seven game loss) and 1999 (where he was hurt). Although he never got over the hump, he was a great center for a long time.

9. Elvin Hayes (1968): Hayes gets overlooked when discussions of the best PFs begin, but for a long time, he was the standard to measure them by. Drafed by the then San Diego Rockets, he was dominant early, winning the scoring title in his rookie year, before a trade to the Bullets in 1972. There, he averaged a double-double from 1972 to 1980 and led the Bullets to three Finals and the 1978 title.

10. Allen Iverson (1996): He gets this spot over Bill Walton and Bob Lanier because of what he's been able to do despite his limitations. The prototype mind for a shooter, he won ROY honors in 1997, but it wasn't until Larry Brown learned to use him that his career took off. He led an undermanned Philly team to the 2001 Finals, where they upset L.A in game 1 before falling, and he's won three scoring titles (the smallest since Nate Archibald in 1973). Not bad for a little guy.

That's the best list. Tomorrow I'll trot out my worst list and see who really blew it. Until then, did I blow it, or not?

The NBA playoffs continue tonight with game 4 between the Spurs and Jazz (another must-win for the Jazz), but before I delve into that, lets look back at the previous night's Cavs-Pistons game. Being a Detroit resident, I watched the local news stations promote this game, and one of their reporters said that a Piston win was practically a given. What struck me as odd was he also said "The Pistons have learned from the past not to take the Cavs lightly, and they should win tonight.". Well, they didn't get the job done, and even more dangerously, they have given LeBron James confidence that he can take (and make) the clutch shots at the end. Witness his posterizing dunk on Rasheed Wallace, his big three pointer, and the clinching jumper that had Rasheed wondering if he should stay with his man or help out on LeBron. I'm not saying the series is going to shift (Detroit should win) but they don't seem to take very seriously any team until they have to. Think of it like the Lakers ealier in the decade; the Pistons flip the switch only when it humors them. Remember last year as well; they blew a 2-0 lead against this same team, letting them win three straight, before winning the last two. You know what they say; play with fire, you'll eventually get burned. As for tonight's game, it hinges on the status of Jazz PG Deron Williams, who missed practice with a stomach ailment yesterday. Williams was the key guy in Utah's blowout win the other night, and the offense will surely suffer if he can't play, since Derek Fisher has been the two-guard in his offense, and if he has to shift, Gordon Giricek would be forced to start (a scary proposition). Looking at it objectively, Tim Duncan probably won't have another off game, and I've seen Memhet Okur in action; he is not consistent on defense. Duncan will have a good game, and Tony Parker will likely challenge Williams (if he plays) or Fisher with his drives to the hoop, and I see the Spurs winning tonight, then finishing the Jazz off in game 5. Getting back to Detroit, they probably will jack off game 4, then kick it back into gear at the Palace in their game 5. The Pistons win the series in 6, then the world can yawn at another Spurs-Pistons final. Gives you thrills, doesn't it? Oh well, at least it beats the lame finals in hockey and yesterday's Indy 415, er, 500, huh?

I had been posting blogs about the NBA playoffs round by round in recent weeks, predicting the winners (for the record, I was perfect as far as who would make it to round three) but I didn't do it this week. Why? Because these series lack any excitement to them. The Cavs-Pistons series has been particularly dreadful to watch; identical 79-76 scores, horrific shooting, and the only glimmer of intrigue is the non-call of Richard Hamilton on LeBron James (I say he wasn't fouled). I fell asleep in each contest before halftime, and haven't regretted it a bit, despite being a basketball nut. The Spurs-Jazz Western Finals isn't as bad in terms of gameplay, but as for drama, we all know this is the consolation Finals being held; the previous series with the Suns was the real Western Finals. The Spurs have this series so wrapped up, they can arrange the time to send David Stern and Stu Jackson a gift basket for handing them the Suns series (and give Robert Horry a raise for "taking one for the team!"). These series only prolong and delay the inevitable: a Spurs-Pistons disaster (and I'm from Detroit!). It isn't bad enough that Oden AND Durant are stuck in the Pacific Northeast, now we must endure slow, low quality ball play. Can't we make a rule that boring good teams must sell off their talent after three years and give them to the more appealing teams? What must it take to get some fun back in these playoffs? Sorry, I must return to bed now. I've got the perfect sleeping pill: Cavs-Pistons game three!

Last night was an eventful one in the NBA. We saw players get suspended, teams slack away another game, and a team move on to round three. Let's get topic #1 out of the way first: the suspensions of Spurs F Robert Horry (2 games for his hockeyesque hip check of Steve Nash) and Suns Fs Boris Diaw and, more importantly, Amare Stoudemire for leaving the bench. The Horry suspension was justified simply because of who was involved. If he had hit Diaw instead, it would have been one game at most or even just a fine. As for Amare and Diaw, I guess David Stern and Stu Jackson really want to decide the best series in round two, because they really didn't need to suspend them. They barely went past the coaches line and didn't up the ante of the fight! Stern and Jackson let their pride get in the way here: they thought "We've been consistent so far; let's suspend the stars anyway!". They don't realize they just swung the balance of the series to the Spurs, not just tonight, but for six and (maybe) seven, because the Suns will wear themselves out tonight and be drained for later. Congrats to them! As for slackers, the Pistons sleepwalked through another blowout loss to the Bulls, this time at home, where they hadn't lost a closeout game in over a decade, and now face a 2006 moment again: another seven game series in round two. What makes this quagmire even more depressing is that Cleveland could finish off the Nets tonight (a likely possibility) and rest and wait for Detroit in round three. Last year, Miami had loits of rest and blew away the Pistons. The sad thing is that the Pistons have let the Bulls get huge leads early in each of the last three games, and had they not made that comeback in game three, they'd be down 3-2! Why are they so complacent? No one knows. They just are. Lastly, Utah became the first conference finalists after knocking off the Warriors, allowing the 'national nightmare', as Charles Barkley has called them, to end. Personally, the Warriors were a great story, and their elimination was not a good thing. However, Utah was simply too big, and Carlos Boozer, as I stated on a previous blog entry, was the key, dominating the paint and the smaller defenders all series. Kudos also for the embattled Andrei Kirilenko, who was huge throughout, as well. That said, the Spurs-Suns winner should win the West. But the Jazz are back as a top tier team again. And Jerry Sloan proved he can win without Stockton and Malone. Well, now I must get ready for tonight's slate. Hopefully Phoenix can survive. Maybe Stern and Jackson can play.

Here we are, four years after the celebrated debut of two very talentes prodigys entered the NBA, and still we debate who truely is the best of the best. Is it the man who became a multi-millionaire before he stepped into the pros, or the man who won a NCAA title before jumping the next year? Well, in my humble opinion, LeBron wins... by default. You really can't compare two guys who are in completely different situations. Carmelo has been placed in the much tougher conference and thus has to fight just to get into the playoffs, but shouldn't that mean LeBron should have been a perennial contender in the East? You can make the argument that LeBron's cast is weak, and there is truth to that. But look at the Nuggets. Aside from an aging (and attempting to defer) AI, Marcus Camby, and maybe Nene (did I just say that?), Carmelo's team isn't a whole lot better. So lets look at it from their style of play. LeBron's game is still incomplete even today. His jumper, especially from three, is shaky, and his free throw shooting makes you cringe. But there aren't many better at slashing to the rack and jamming it home. And he does attempt to involve his lesser talented teammates. Carmelo's game is primarily about scoring. His rebounding and passing aren't quite his forte, and the so-called solution of him and AI teaming up has produce a so-so record. And to cap it off, LeBron, in two fewer appearences, has won more playoff series than Carmelo (albeit by a 1-0 score) So I'd say LeBron wins until Carmelo shows he can lead a team to victory. Period.