>10 Best NBA Players Ever

Posted: February 6, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Basketball, bill russel, jerry west, kareem addul jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, micheal jordan, nba championships, nba players, oscar robertson, shaquille oneal, sky hook, tim duncan | Leave a comment

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By Erin Baker

1. Micheal Jordan

 

 Jordan really didn’t have much weakness in his basketball game. He was a relentless defender as witnessed by his 9 All defensive 1st team selections and also winning a defensive player of the year award. He was also by far the most dominant offensive force of his generation, routinely having to battle double and triple teams every game yet still scoring at a career 30.1 PPG pace. Clutch shooting was also his forte as he hit so many game winning shots and his stats only improved in the playoffs when it really mattered. Micheal Jordan had 10 Scoring tiles, 5 season MVP awards, 6 Finals MVP awards and 6 championship titles.

2. Wilt Chamberlain
 

Statistically Wilt Chamberlain should be number one on this list. In a single game he once scored 100 pts by himself! In another game he scored 58 pts and pulled down 45 rebounds. His most amazing stat I think is that he never once fouled out of a NBA game in his entire career. He had absolutely off the chart career numbers 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, .540 FGP %. Chamberlain was over 7 ft tall, could run and jump like a gazelle and was one of the strongest men on two feet. On the downside Wilt only won one NBA championship and was a notorious poor free throw shooter.
He may have won more championships if he didn’t have to face the great Celtics team of his era almost every year in the playoffs.

3. Bill Russell

You can not argue with winning and Bill Russell and his Celtics won 11 and I repeat 11 NBA Championships.
Not much more to say about Bill other then he was a fierce competitor, tenacious rebounder, consumate team player and a born winner.

4. Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Where to start, Most total points in the NBA ever at 38,387. Kareem won 6 NBA Championships with career averages of
24.6 PPG and 11.2 RPG. Jabbar was a basketball phenom and his famed “Sky-hook” was his unblockable signature shot that kept finding the twine for 1560 NBA games.

5. Larry Bird

Larry “legend” Bird was a renowned clutch shooter, equally adept at the 3 point line and the free throw. Bird won 3 NBA Championships and 3 season MVP awards finishing his career with averages of 24.3 ppg and 10 rpg. A great team player and leader who could back up any of his trash talk on the court.

6. Magic Johnson

Johnson put the show in “Showtime” in Los Angeles. His behind the back passes, amazing shots and flair for the dramatic were all part of his game. Magic was a towering PG who could play all 5 positions on the court.
5 NBA Championships and 3 Season MVP awards are just some of the numerous awards in Johnson’s great NBA career.
Magic Johnson could have easily been # 5 on this list but I could only choose one.

7. Jerry West

Jerry West also know as “Mr. Clutch” was an all star every year for 14 years he played in the NBA . West led his Lakers to the NBA finals 9 times in his career winning only 1 championship. 6 of those finals losses would come to the great Celtics team of his era. West was a perfectionist at his craft and was known to be a great defender and excellent shot. Only one player Micheal Jordan has a higher scoring average in the NBA playoffs then Jerry West. Career averages of 27 ppg, 6.7 Apg and 5.8 RPG reflect his basketball greatness.

8. Oscar Robertson

Considered by many to be the perfect all around skilled player. In only his second NBA season he averaged a triple double for an entire season! Robertson won one NBA championship and had career averages of 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 9.5 APG.

9. Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille also known as “Shaq” has dominated the Paint and dunked on opposing players at an alarming rate. At 7″1 and 325 pounds O’Neal is a physical force that can not be stopped. Shaq dominated the late 90’s and into the new millenium Winning 4 NBA Championships with career averages of 24.7 PPG and 11.2 RPG with a .582 FG %.
An unstoppable Post up game he is the most feared big man to ever put on a NBA jersey. Poor free throw shooting and not much outside shooting range are some of his few weaknesses.

10. Tim Duncan

Probably one of the most underrated yet most fundamental player on this list. Tim Duncan has a huge basketball IQ and knows how to play the game as it should be played.Some of Duncans many skills include great footwork, excellent bank shots and being able to change opposing players shots. Quietly winning 4 NBA championships he has amassed career averages of 21.4 PPG and 11.7 RPG and 2.3 BPG.
These are my top 10 NBA players of all time. Some players who are still competing have a chance to maybe make this list in the future notably Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.
Erin Baker is an author and the owner of a great shopping website Air Jordans [http://www.shoes-basketball.com/] featuring Athletic Shoes and NBA jerseys. This article may be used only if kept entirely intact with the author’s name and URL

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>Why the NBA Playoffs are More Exciting Than They Used to Be

Posted: February 4, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Basketball, exciting game, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, michael jordan, NBA 2010 all-star game, nba final, Pistons, playoff, SPurs | 1 Comment

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By Nishan Wilde
8 in a row and 10 out of 12.
6 in a row.
5 out of 10.
At first glance, these numbers seem like batting averages or shooting percentages. If they were, they would be pretty impressive. However, these numbers are even more striking as the realization sets in that they represent the number of times a single NBA team has won the championship. The legendary Celtics of the ’50’s and ’60’s won 8 straight titles and 10 out 12 from 1957 to 1969 under Red Auerbach. With Michael Jordan at the helm, the Chicago Bulls won the championship 6 straight times and won every finals in which they appeared. During the 1980’s, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the rest of the Lakers won 5 championships and appeared in 3 more finals.
 Simply put, during these eras in basketball history, you pretty much knew what was going to happen in the playoffs. The Celtics were going to stifle their opponents with unpenetrable defense, the Lakers were going to employ their unstoppable “showtime” tactics, and the Bulls were going to let Jordan loose. Even though each of these teams exhibited sublime poise and talent, the playoffs were only exciting for the fans of the aformentioned teams. As close as the opposition got to winning, fans around the country knew who was going to eventually win the championship. The lack of anticipation and suspense created a less exciting atmosphere for basketball fans.
However, as of late, the NBA playoffs have been more up in the air. Aside from a few years dominated by the Lakers and the Spurs, the playoffs have been less of a forgone conclusion, attracting more and more viewers each year. During this decade alone, 4 different teams have already won the championship, inlcuding two teams (the Pistons and the Heat) who haven’t won the championship in a long time.
I tend to compare these two eras in NBA history to watching movies. The earlier years, dominated by the former NBA titans, were tantamount to watching the same movie over and over again. Even though the movie is a classic, it gets a little boring. Knowing what happens in the final scene takes away from the experience. However, seeing teams like the Warriors and Cavaliers make the playoffs and upset some of the better teams in the league is like watching a twisted Steven King film. You are amazed and surprised when it happens, and you still can’t believe it long after it ends. In short, lack of knowledge is preferable to knowing the outcome. Does that mean that it would be good for the league for the Bulls, Lakers and Celtics never to win the championship again? No. In fact, when they do, we feel a sense of nostalgia, much like a watching a classic we had seemingly forgotten about. Nevertheless, variety is the spice of life and when new teams do well in the NBA playoffs, it makes for a more exciting summer.
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>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – NBA’s Greatest Center

Posted: January 28, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: center, greatest of all time, jabbar, james, kareem abdul jabbar, la lakers, lakers best, lineup, Magic Johnson, most points, mvp, showtime lakers, sky hook | Leave a comment

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  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, (born April 16, 1e947 Fredrick Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr.) An American NBA All-Star basketball player considered one of the best players of all time. His career spanned over 20 years from 1969-1989. His incredible 7 ft 2 in height made him a force to deal with. His record breaking 38,387 points made him the highest total scorer of any player in the league. Kareem was known for his famous skyhook shot and was awarded six Most Valuable Player Awards.
Kareem was picked for the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Karem remained a dominant force for the Bucks scoring 38 points per game and helping the Bucks to division leaders for four straight years. By 1973, Kareem had won three MVP Awards and one of the top NBA players in scoring.
In 1975 Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had a dominant season averaging 27 points per game and leading the league in blocked shots and rebounds. He still holds the NBA single season record for 1,111 defensive rebounds. Kareem continued to play strong during his next two seasons and named to the All-NBA Second Team twice and the All-Defensive Team once. The Lakers went on to become the most dominant team in the 1980’s with the winning combination of Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson to win five NBA Championships.
Kareem announced his retirement in 1989 after 20 years of professional seasons. The Lakers made the NBA Finals in each of Abdul-Jabbar’s final three seasons, defeating Boston in 1987 and Detroit in 1988. His athletic honors include; Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame in 1995, Rookie of the Year in 1970, six time NBA champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), MVP (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980), Final MVP (1971, 1985), One of the fifty greatest players in NBA history, and first player in NBA history to play a total of 20 seasons.

About the Author: Eddie Delgado is the owner and writer for [http://www.VintageSportsCardMemorabilia.com] VSCM is the ultimate NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL sports card and memorabilia site for serious collectors.

>Magic Johnson

Posted: January 6, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: 80s, all-star, boston celtics, dream team, earvin johnson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, mvp, new, showtimers, sport, success, transition game, tv | Leave a comment

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  Earvin Johnson grew up in Lansing, Michigan and was a standout player at Michigan State University, leading them to a national championship in 1979 when he was a sophomore. He turned pro the next year and spent his entire career with the Lakers. During the 1980s the rivalry between Magic’s Lakers and Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics helped make the NBA a worldwide success.  

  The Lakers won championships in 1980, ’82, ’85, ’87 and ’88. Magic was most important part of “Showtime” Lakers, with his unexpected assists, impossible shots and quick transition game. Johnson played in 12 All-Star Games, was the league’s MVP three times (1987, ’89 and ’90) and was a member of the USA’s “Dream Team,” gold medalists in the 1992 Olympics (after he’d announced his retirement). His enthusiasm for basketball and flashy play made him a crowd favorite and one of the most popular faces of the NBA. 

  Now he’s occasionally on TV as a sports analyst and busy running Magic Johnson Enterprises, a collection of business interests that includes movie theaters, restaurants and fitness centers.

“Magic” Johnson (Earvin Johnson, Jr.) led the Los Angeles Lakers to five national championships, then retired from basketball in 1991 upon discovering he had the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).


 
Johnson, at 6′ 9″ (206cm), was also the biggest point guard in the NBA… 

In his career he scored 17,707 points, retrieved 6,559 rebounds and made 10,141 assists… He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
 

>Showtime Era of Lakers

Posted: December 16, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: 80s, Basketball, hack, jabbar, james, la lakers, Magic Johnson, nba, pat riley, showtime, video, youtube | Leave a comment

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  Showtime Era refers to a time period in the (NBA) over which the Los Angeles Lakers won five championships. The Lakers team of the 1980s has been labeled a dynasty by basketball fans and analysts alike. Coached by Pat Riley and lead by 6’9” point guard, Earvin “Magic” Johnson this team combined solid defensive principles with a fast break offense to produce a style of basketball that both entertained Lakers fans and consistently produced wins.
  In the summer of  ’79, via a draft pick obtained from the New Orleans Jazz, the Lakers drafted Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a 6’9” point guard who had already then a great potential. That first season Johnson lead a Lakers to an NBA championship.His teammates in that season were  Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Norm Nixon, Jamal Wilkes, and another rookie, Michael Cooper.
  Pat Riley soon took over the coaching duties from Paul Westhead and it was under his direction that the Showtime style flourished. Celebrities from nearby Hollywood soon took notice and joined stalwart fans such as Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon at Laker home games.

  During the 1984-85 Season James Worthy and Byron Scott stepped in the squad Worthy, in particular added a new dimension to the Showtime style with his ability to finish the fast break. The post season featured Kareem Abdul Jabbar, at the age of thirty-eight take finals MVP honors as the Lakers beat their longtime eastern conference rivals, the Boston Celtics for another NBA Championship.

 The Showtime Era lasted the entire decade, culminating in back to back championships in 1988 and 1989. By the end of the decade the Lakers had gone to the finals eight times and won five championships.