Hollinger and them ain’t got nothin’ on me, I don’t crunch numbers, I just call ‘em as I see- 

I am not worried about player efficiency ratings and such.  I do like the situational numbers as they can tell a great deal about a player.  But what I really like to do is watch and study the game and the players.  Watching over 100 games per year the past 3 years on a rough average, and basically watching every playoff game possible since 1985 (and since 1999 I have missed very few playoff games), I’d like to consider myself well versed in these things...  Also I have found this is pretty difficult! 

 My Formula:  General season Preparation (does the player show up to camp already in shape and improved in someway?)

 Overall consistency (I think this speaks for itself)

Clutchness (this could be its own category; it can get you in, or out of the top 40) 

Overall Team Value (can be key…)  

Big Game Solid (otherwise known as BGS, when on a nationally televised game, on a TNT night or NBA Sunday afternoon, when the team needs the player to be HUGE, in rivalry’s, playoff games, division leaders meeting head to head, etc. does he show up BIG?)  

Team Player? (Speaks for itself)  

Intensity (Do I see this from the player in most each and every game (this can come in many forms) and/or is the player so crazy and talented enough to get away with threatening his teammates, getting a coach fired or threatening management, or even decking a teammate like Mike did Steve Kerr in a practice early in ‘96 I think it was?) 

Enthusiasm (Does the player make guys want to play harder, or does the player just ooze passion and joy for playing)  

Defense (it might make you, but it can’t break you…Mr. Nash)  

Finisher/Game Taker (Much, much different than clutchness, this is basically reserved for the high point men in the fourth quarters, but note; it is important to actually see games and see basically garbage time 4th quarter points vs. a game in true duress and true high intensity.  I also need to see this more than once a year, so that will leave most Hawks and Bobcats out of the mix…Tyrone Lue, that includes you Buddy)  

Double Dipper – this goes for the double-double guys that control the game with their rebounding and defense, this usually involves shot blocking, but not necessarily – see B. Bowen)  

Mover (can become any one of the designations at any moment, i.e. Game-changer, SGC…etc…) 

 *Special designation: True Superstar Game-changer – (Guys who can do it inside, outside, whenever it seems needed, and on the Biggest of stages, consistent to the Form, but not the glory of MJ) a notch below you will have the Superstar Game-changer and the Game-changer.

So here goes, my TOP FORTY...+1-

1. Kobe, Kobe, the one and only.  (The gsp, oc, cn, bgs are above the line, obviously scores high in finisher/gt category.  Tp needs work, but Enthusiasm and defense are usually at a high level – (a true superstar game-changer)

1A. King James-(true superstar game-changer) TP is Spectacular almost at all times-

1B. Chris Paul-(true superstar game-changer) TP is also Spectacular almost at all times-

4. Tim Duncan - game-changer

5. T-Mac (Finisher/Game-taker)

6. Dwight Howard (DD)

7. Nash-  superstar game-changer (if his defense was better, he’d be top 5) 

8. KG – game-changer

9. Dirk - Finisher/Game-taker

10. D. Wade (true superstar game-changer)

11. Ginobli (superstar game-changer)

12. STAT (DD)

13. J Kidd - (true superstar game-changer)

14. AI-(true superstar game-changer)

15. Paul Pierce

16. Tony Parker (finisher game-taker)

17.  Deron Williams

18.  Melo

19. Brandon Roy (Mover, game-changer)

20. The Matrix

21.. Barbosa

22. Baron Davis -(superstar game-changer)

23. Carlos Boozer (Mover)

24. Michael Redd (will move up quick with more exposure)

25. Tayshaun Prince-(game-changer)

26. Ray Allen

27. Lamar Odom

28. Devin Harris

29. Chauncey Billups

30. Josh Howard

31. Yao

32. Stephen Jackson

33. Chris Bosh

34. Pau Gasol

35. Ben Gordon

36. The Other A. I. (Andre Igudola)

37. Luol Deng

38. AK 47

39. Richard Jefferson

40. Bruce Bowen (DD)

40A. Alonzo Mourning (still on the list even though basically done)

Notable Omissions (in somewhat of an order)

Rip Hamilton, Lamarcus Aldrigde, Jason Terry, David West, Grant Hill, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Kevin Martin, Al Jefferson, Shaq, Jared Jack, Sam I am Cassell, Joe Johnson, Bibby, Jermaine O’neal, Stoyakovic, Andrew Bynum, Janero Pargo, Turiaf

DQ’d: Elton Brand, All Knicks at this point, Agent Zero

Let me know what you think!  Like I said, this is a chore, and I know I left a Blazer off the list and a few more folks!