All hail Rafer Alston, all hail Mutombo, all hail the Houston Rockets...and let's pile on KB24.  CP3 with a bum ankle was much more disciplined and team oriented in a loss to the charging Pistons.  30 plus shots are only good when you are actually open, or just unconcious, and neither was the case for Kobe today.  Well, I guess he did keep shooting like he was in a coma and couldn't tell those were terrible shots!  And while the Lakers NOW are the team falling in the west, the cracks are showing and have been showing even before Pau got injured Friday. The Rockets rise to the #1 spot in the west this week is capped off by 22 wins in a row.  And even though the Lakers pulled within 2 points in the fourth quarter, KB24 sealed the loss with poor shot decisions and selfish play once again.  The Lakers have lost their rhythm (and have been for a couple of weeks) as the Rockets are all singing the same song, while dancing and gyrating in unison like the cheerleaders on a timeout break!  

Now the player rankings, 3-16-08. 3:30pm PST.

1. King James- TP is Spectacular almost at all times- Can overpower pretty much any defender in the league, draws lots of fouls, Jump shot is improving, it is not always soft, but when it is on, it’s in! -(a true superstar game-changer)

1A. Chris Paul-TP is Spectacular almost at all times- EATS EVERY POINT GUARD UP AND IS UNSTOPPABLE AT TIMES- MID RANGE IS TIGHT- drive and dish is spectacular an ELITE - DOUBLE DIPPER-(a true superstar game-changer)

3. T-Mac- (Finisher/Game-taker, game-changer)

4. Ginobli (superstar game-changer)- I’M SAYING THIS IS MANU’S TEAM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

5. KG – game-changer

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

7. Tim Duncan - game-changer

8.  Dirk - Finisher/Game-taker

9. Kobe Bryant- AN EMBARRASSMENT ON SUNDAY, WE WILL SEE HOW HE RESPONDS, I AM RESPONDING… – (a true superstar game-changer)

10. Dwight Howard (DD)

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

12. STAT (DD)

13. AI-(true superstar game-changer)

14. Baron Davis -(superstar game-changer)

15. Paul Pierce

16. Tony Parker (finisher game-taker)

17. Deron Williams - superstar game-changer

18. Melo

19. Brandon Roy (Mover, game-changer)

20. Rasheed Wallace

21. Carlos Boozer (Mover)

22. Ray Allen -(finisher game-taker)

23. Pau Gasol

24. Chauncey Billups (Finisher-Gametaker)

25. Shaq (DD)

26. Chris Bosh

27. Tayshaun Prince (game-changer and GG)

28. Caron Butler (GG, gametaker)

29. Stephen Jackson (Finisher-Gametaker)

30. Josh Howard

31. Rip Hamilton

32. Richard Jefferson

33. Barbosa (Gamechanger)

34. Rafer Alston (BIG TIME SUNDAY)

35. Ben Gordon (game-taker)

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

37. Lamar Odom (DDL, GG)

38. AK 47 (DD, GG)

39. Devin Harris

40. MUTOMBO!

Notable Omissions (in somewhat of an order)

Antwawn Jamison, Michael Redd , Monte Ellis, The Matrix, Luol Deng, Lamarcus Aldrigde, Jason Terry, Bruce Bowen, David West, Rashard Lewis, Tyson  Chandler, Vince Carter, Kevin Martin, Al Jefferson, Grant Hill, ,  Jared Jack, Sam I am Cassell, Joe Johnson, Bibby, Stoyakovic, Janero Pargo, Turiaf

DQ’d: Yao, Andrew Bynum,  Elton Brand, All Knicks at this point, Agent Zero, Jermaine O’neal,  D. Wade (true superstar game-changer), Alonzo Mourning
Let me know what you think!  

Wow no Yao and the Rockets are rising; the Sun’s are setting in Phoenix, what’s the most surprising?

I have not intently watched these past few rockets games, but T-Mac is back and healthy and now reclaiming his spot in the upper echelon of the NBA’s elite players.  Up until these last few years that have been marred by various injuries, Tracy McGrady was a top 3 player always a notch behind Kobe. With the emergence of Lebron and D. Wade, T-Mac had fallen off the radar, but now, with the week that was, and is, I declare that T-Mac is back!  Let’s hope he can stay healthy now and we can enjoy another great player battle the likes of Lebron, Kobe, and Chris Paul. Speaking of CP3, great game as well, but what I am truly loving is how almost every team is moving the ball so well and creating great basketball on a nightly basis.  That is the key to any basketball team, move the ball for easy shots, cut, get to the front of the rim…too bad we had to suffer for so many years with all of the one on one play and ball stopping.  I feel, we are in the beginning stages and in the midst of some of the greatest basketball in the history of the NBA.  Now, this weeks top forty:

The 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) Glue Guy-an integral part of a team, whose stats may not be eye popping, but he is the “glue” that makes everything come together-does the “little things”, which end up big- 

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) –see also; Double Dipper Lite – perfect example is Lamar Odom or a Shawn Marion – not as big or powerful as an Amare or Dwight Howard, but similar results

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- CLUTCHNESS IS SKYROCKETING-WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE TOP SPOT THIS WEEK IF THE 50 HAD BEEN DROPPED ON A BETTER TEAM, BUT SCORES POINTS FOR CALLING THE 50 OUT TO SPIKE LEE – I LIKE HOW SPORTSCENTER TRIED TO MAKE THIS SUCH A BIG DEAL, EARLIER IN THE SEASON ON AN EARLY SUNDAY GAME, KOBE HAD A RUNNING CONVO WITH LEE AND CHRIS ROCK AND EVEN POINTED TO A SPOT WHERE HE WAS GOING TO JACK UP A THREE LIKE 6 FEET BEHIND THE LINE- FUNNY STUFF

3. Chris Paul-(true superstar game-changer) TP is Spectacular almost at all times- EATS NASH UP

4. T-Mac (Finisher/Game-taker) – MOVES UP A SPOT BECAUSE OF TP AND 18 IN A ROW, THE 41 DROPPED ON THE HORNETS DIDN’T HURT EITHER

5. Ginobli (superstar game-changer)- I’M SAYING THIS IS MANU’S TEAM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

6. KG – game-changer

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

8. Tim Duncan - game-changer

9. Dirk - Finisher/Game-taker

10. Dwight Howard (DD)

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

12. STAT (DD)

13. AI-(true superstar game-changer)

14. Baron Davis -(superstar game-changer)

15. Paul Pierce

16. Tony Parker (finisher game-taker)

17.  Deron Williams - superstar game-changer

18.  Melo

19. Brandon Roy (Mover, game-changer)

20. Rasheed Wallace

21. Carlos Boozer (Mover)

22. Ray Allen

23. Pau Gasol

24. Chauncey Billups

25. Tayshaun Prince-(game-changer and GG)

26. Chris Bosh

27. Lamar Odom (DDL, GG)

28. Michael Redd (will move up quick with more exposure-INCONSISTENT)

29. Stephen Jackson (Finisher-Gametaker)

30. Josh Howard – HURTING BACK

31. Rip Hamilton

32. Richard Jefferson

33. Barbosa (Gamechanger)

34. Yao – LOOKS LIKE HE WAS SLOWING THEM DOWN…

35. Ben Gordon

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

37. Luol Deng

38. AK 47 (DD, GG)

39. Devin Harris (GOOD DEBUT, but NOT MUCH VS. Mavs)

40. Bruce Bowen (DD)

40A. Alonzo Mourning (still on the list even though basically done) – NOTE, THE HEAT WOULD HAVE WON NOTHING IF NOT FOR ZO-

Notable Omissions (in somewhat of an order)

Shaq, Lamarcus Aldrigde, Jason Terry, David West, MUTOMBO! Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Kevin Martin, Al Jefferson, Grant Hill, , Rafer Alston 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, D. Wade (true superstar game-changer), The Matrix –THE HEAT ARE JUST TOO BAD!

Let me know what you think!