It's hard to lie the blame solely at Nowitzki's feet for something that is by all means a team accomplishment, but when history looks back on his time with the Mavericks, he will still carry the brunt of responsibility for their failures.

Why?

Nowitzki has been recognized as one of the NBA's premier talents almost from the moment he entered the league, and Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban has been more than willing to surround the German-born star with quality help.

In fact Dallas has been among the NBA's top teams in terms of talent since 2004, but the Mavericks have come to be defined by their epic collapses in the postseason rather than success.

During the 2006 regular season Dallas was one of the NBA's top teams, and the trendy choice to win the first championship in the history of the franchise.

Up 2-1 on the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals, Dallas appeared ready to finally live up to their promise, but instead they became an unwilling participant in the crowning of Dwyane Wade as a bonafide NBA superstar.

With the series on the line Dallas was unable to prevent Wade from penetrating the lane, and either scoring or getting to the free throw line, and the Mavericks helped the Miami Heat's cause by choking at the charity stripe.

It was a career-defining moment for Wade, and another glowing example of the Mavericks' tendency to bend under pressure when it matters the most.

2006's collapse was bad for Dallas but in the eyes of many 2007 was worse, because the Mavericks finished the regular season as the Western Conference's top seed only to be spirited out of the postseason by eighth seed Golden State in six games.

The loss to Golden State seemed to solidify the theory that Dallas was incapable of winning in the postseason, and even though Nowitzki excelled in each instance, he couldn't escape the shadow of failure.

It has never been a question of talent with Nowitzki, because he is arguably the most unique player in the game today.

I have always been intrigued by the thought of a true seven foot player with perimeter skills and Nowitzki not only fits the description, he shatters it.

Nowitzki has averaged 22.8 points per game and 8.5 rebounds, while shooting an astounding 38 percent from three point range through the course of his career.

Nowitzki's seven foot frame makes it next to impossible to block his jump shot, and even if a player does time it just right he would still be foiled by Nowitzki's quick release, or his feathery touch.

Some people consider Nowitzki to be a power forward and although he has decent rebounding numbers, his game is much better-suited for the perimeter, and he is clearly more comfortable there than in the paint.

Nowitzki is in essence the perfect example of a nightmare match-up, and unless an opponent has a player on their roster who is long, and comfortable defending the perimeter, they will always lose that positional battle.

Nowitzki has lived up to the hype in the regular season and his career numbers have been even better in the playoffs, as he has averaged 25. 6 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting 46 percent from the field.

But despite those impressive numbers it's hard to explain the Mavericks' inability to get over the postseason hump, and popular opinion around the NBA says Nowitzki will have another great season in 2010-11 and Dallas will lose again in the playoffs.

With Nowitzki, the conversation has shifted to questions about his heart and desire because it's almost impossible to argue with anything he has done on the court.

The Mavericks once again have one of the league's most talented and complete rosters, and on paper they look like a good bet to make a deep run into the postseason.

They have size in players like Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler, and they have plenty of athleticism and defensive talent in Caron Butler and Shawn Marion.

Although Jason Kidd is past his prime he remains one of the NBA's better point guards, and Dallas has one of the league's most explosive sixth men in Jason Terry.

Of course, Nowitzki is the superstar that brings it all together, except if last year's postseason was an omen of things to come there was little inspiration to be found.

Nowitzki had another excellent postseason averaging 26 points per game while shooting 54 percent from the field, and 57 percent from the three point line, yet the Mavericks failed to advance past the first round.

It has become somewhat of a cruel joke when Dallas is installed as a contender for the West because no one outside of die-hard Mavericks' fans really expects them to win.

Nowitzki to his credit has been a class act, and even though he has opportunities to leave, Nowitzki has proved that he is a Maverick for the duration of his career, for better or worse.

It's more than likely going to be worse but that should not diminish what Nowitzki has brought to the game of basketball in general, and the Mavericks' franchise in particular.

I'm not sure if Nowitzki can ever escape the company of great players who have never won a championship like Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, or John Stockton.

But Nowitzki's career numbers certainly suggest that he deserves to be mentioned in the same "great" breath with those three players, whether he ever wins a ring or not.

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The Miami Heat forward was spotted Friday evening at the Wadsworth vs. Wooster football game in Wooster, Ohio, supposedly to watch his cousin who starts for Wadsworth.

This continues a trend of potentially awkward moments between the former King and his old kingdom, and according to James it won’t be the last.

LeBron has taken to his twitter account publicly rooting for the Ohio State Buckeyes in their upcoming game September 11^th against, of all teams, the Miami Hurricanes, the same school James and other members of the Heat have been frequenting for pick up games.

James has also hinted at the possibility of attending the game, much to the objection of Buckeye fans.

Now we’ve all had those awkward moments where we run into an old flame at the movies, grocery store, or other common area. First, you try not to act like you notice them, then you strategically devise a master plan to avoid being seen, and exit the area as if you were breaking out of Shawshank itself.

James now becomes that significant other, and seems to be relishing all the attention that comes with it.  While Cleveland fans are going through the “it’s over with, let’s move on” stage, everywhere they look their South Beach bound ex is there to greet them, like nothing ever happened.

Cedar Point is one example.  Not only does LeBron strut around like the locals won’t notice, but he again makes like a bird and lets the whole world know he’s back. Naturally, he received the proper heckling shooting hoops no less (he missed every shot). Florida has Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios, so why are you at Cedar Point?

As oblivious as he was when he did his ESPN special, LeBron needs to realize he isn’t welcome in the majority of the state. Yes, Akron will still welcomes him back simply because of the money his publicity raises in his basketball camps and bike-a-thons (even though he cut his usual ride short by 8 miles) but outside of the Rubber City, who really wants him around?

The real kicker was when his girlfriend and mother of his children, Savannah Brinson, publicly announced that Cleveland was “home” and that Miami was “not my favorite place."

It was also announced that his two children, LeBron Jr. and Bryce Maximus would stay in Akron area schools. What was once a 30 mile difference between work and home now becomes 1,200. Brinson also stated that she would be splitting time between Miami and Akron. This brings up one small dilemma, while LeBron and Savannah are sipping Mojitos watching the South Beach sunset, who’s going to be watching the kids?

With all these great reasons to stay in Ohio, the question would be, why not just stay in Ohio? James doesn’t even seem to realize that he left, like his Decision was all just one brainwashed incident that he went along with just like any other commercial shoot he’s been through.

LeBron, please quit acting like a 13-year-old girl trying to make your ex boyfriend jealous.  We treated you like the princess you were, and you left us for the senior with the tattoo and the bike. 

Sure, you’ll have fun for awhile, but soon we’ll get a call from you one lonely night, crying and begging for us to take you back. Sadly, we’ll shake our head and decline, saying you had your chance.

And that’s our final Decision.

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With that in mind, let's breakdown the possibility into reality.

Heading into his third NBA season, Durant is just a mere 33 points shy of 6,000 points. This last year, Durant averaged an impressive 30.1 (PPG) and I see no reason why he can't continue to keep doing so.

Now just because Durant is putting up amazing numbers does not guarantee that he will be able to sustain a consistent average of (PPG) throughout his entire career.

There are many things that could get in the way of this dream-type possibility turning into reality. Injuries, laziness, and age can all affect Durant from surpassing Kareem.

Before I go into the details, let's take into account that Durant has not officially stated the desire to even attempt to become the all-time scoring champion. In fact, Durant said that his ultimate goal is to win championships.

So with that, let's try and breakdown Durant's possible future numbers.

Minimal Number Of Years Needed To Play

At the rate Durant's going, it will take him about 15 more years to pass Kareem, oh and he has to average at least 30 (PPG) every year of his career.

Realistically it won't happen, but with great players, you just never know.

Taking MJ's Spot

Though I don't see Durant surpassing Kareem, I could see him taking Michael Jordan's #3 spot. Jordan scored 32,292 points in his career, that is about 6,000 less than Kareem, so it is more realistic.

Future Numbers/Career

As of right now, Durant is averaging 25.3 (PPG), but we all know he can average more if he wants to, so I would expect Durant to average somewhere around 30 (PPG) in the next five years, and around 20 (PPG) any year after that.

If Durant could manage to do so, it would still be an amazing achievement, whether or not he takes a spot as one of the top three scorers of all time.

The fact that Durant is a jump shooter, it would be very difficult to near impossible to score as much as Kareem did. Kareem could score so much due to his position and his style of play. Kareem was always near the bucket and he had many second chance oportunities due to his size, and let's not forget how great Kareem was fundamentally. He could score anyway he wanted to, whether that be from his signature hook shot, dunking, or shooting mid range jumpers, he could do it all.

That's not exactly the case for Durant. He may be a very good all-around player, but he won't have as many chances under the basket as Kareem did and for that reason, it will be near impossible to score so much. It would be very hard for Durant to be as consistent as Kareem merely because Durant has to shoot lower percentage shots and like I said, I just don't see him surpassing Kareem.

Andre Iguadala, Genius Or Moron?

“Kevin Durant will be the NBA’s all-time leading scorer when it’s all said and done,” Iguodala said emphatically, “He loves the game and has a knack for putting the ball in the basket.”

This is what Andre Iguadala told the media just recently.

I'd say he's neither actually, Iguadala just hasn't thought this through and I hope this piece I've presented at least gave you a better idea of this debate, don't be the next Iguadala and make a fool out of yourself.

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The fans in Indiana thought the team had distanced itself from such characters as Stephen Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley, Ron Artest, and to a certain degree, Jermaine O’Neal.  Then Lance Stephenson got arrested for domestic assault.

Since then little has been said out of the Pacers’ or Lance’s camp, but Mike Wells, beat writer for the Indiana Pacers, is starting to shed some light on the situation.  In two of his most recent tweets he tells us that Stephenson is working out with assistant coaches at a different facility from the rest of the team, and has not been permitted to workout at Conseco at all.  What he doesn’t tell us is what that means.

The Pacers have three options.

>>>CONTINUE READING AT THEROOKIEWALL.COM

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1. New York City

Lebron James has said that he didn’t want the pressure of playing in New York. Carmelo has said that he wants to play in a big market and wouldn’t have any pressure on him. He went to Syracuse and got married in New York, as well.

2. Amar'e and Paul/Parker

Miami has three of the top 15 players in the NBA. Right now the Knicks have one. If Carmelo comes to the Knicks, that would make two. Then in 2011, Tony Parker will become a free agent, and in 2012, Chris Paul will be a free agent. Paul is a top 15 player, while Parker is a top 30. Either would fit and that would give them their own big three.

3. Madison Square Garden

I’ve been to MSG at least 30 times, going to Knick and Ranger games. People don’t lie when they say it’s the world's most famous arena. Great players have played in MSG, from Patrick Ewing to Mark Messier, to Wayne Gretzky to Walt Clyde Frazier. They played here and became famous. Carmelo would love to do the same.

4. Miami Heat

Everyone knows what has happened in South Beach this offseason. Every team in the NBA would love to beat them. He would have better chances of beating them in New York than with the Nuggets.

5. Up and Coming Western Conference

The Lakers have been the team to beat in the West since Kobe came to L.A. Now a lot of teams are going to be able to challenge them, like the Thunder, the Blazers, the Mavericks, the Rockets, and the Grizzlies. The East is getting harder, but there are less teams to worry about.

Obviously Carmelo will decide for what’s best for him, but according to me, New York is his future home. 

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Help defense is easier to gauge because most defensive statistics such as steals and blocks occur as a result of help defense, while great individual defense is more difficult to explain with numbers.

Recognizing great individual defense demands more of an a person's attention, because it involves observing the more fundamental aspects of defense.

Footwork, posture, instincts, and court awareness are a few traits of a superior defender, and in a league based on man-to-man defensive principles, there are few players who actually stand out in that category.

Last season's NBA All-Defensive first team consisted of Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Rajon Rondo, and Gerald Wallace.

All five players are competent individual defenders, but Bryant and Rondo are really the only ones that have a reputation as great man-to-man defenders.

Howard was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, and he earned the award due to his dominance in the paint, which mainly consisted of vicious blocks and strong defensive rebounding.

Howard's size, strength, and athleticism make him an ideal help defender in the paint, and he is one of the better players in the NBA when it comes to guarding the rim.

But as far as man-to-man defense goes, Howard is still learning the nuances of playing solid post defense, and he has a habit of crossing his feet instead of sliding when he is forced to guard a player on the perimeter.

One of the reasons Howard is whistled for so many fouls is because he consistently gets beaten off the dribble, and he often finds himself trying to block the opposition's shot from behind.

That's not to take anything away from Howard though, because his impact on the defensive end can be game-altering for the Orlando Magic, and his accolades are well deserved.

However, once Howard is able to gain a grasp on defensive fundamentals and the principles of individual defense, he could very well be one of the greatest post defenders to ever roam the paint.

James is simply the best help defender in the game today, and although his signature defensive image may be his acrobatic blocks, he is just as good at recognizing the opposition's strategy and adjusting accordingly.

James was usually the last line of defense during his time in Cleveland, and his superior physical attributes made him a defensive nightmare all over the court.

Although James is an above average man-to-man defender, he has not yet reached the elite level, but it would be silly to think that plateau is not in his immediate future.

In Miami, James will not be forced to play such a prominent role on the help end because he has another elite defender playing alongside him in Dwyane Wade. This should allow James to focus his attention on individual defense.

Wallace and Rondo, like James, are also superior help defenders and either player is capable of dominating a defensive stat sheet when it comes to steals, rebounds, and in Wallace's case, blocks.

But Wallace and Rondo are also excellent man-to-man defenders, and Wallace is the rare talent who is just as effective on the perimeter as he is in the post.

Rondo is arguably the top defensive point in the NBA, and it's scary to think that he still has room to improve as an individual defender.

Rondo has excellent defensive fundamentals, but he does have a tendency to get a little lazy, and instead of staying in front of his man, Rondo has a habit of reaching from behind in order to create turnovers.

Sometimes Rondo is successful, but his technique also results in petty fouls which could be avoided by simply sticking to solid defensive principles.

Bryant is the standard by which most great perimeter defenders are measured, as illustrated by his eighth career selection for the NBA's defensive first team.

Bryant may be the most fundamentally sound man-to-man defender in the NBA, but age and injuries have diminished some of the physical gifts that made him consistenly great on the defensive end.

Bryant is still a superb individual defender mostly because of his court intellect and instincts, and the presence of Laker teammate Ron Artest has helped Bryant transition to a more efficient help defender.

Which brings me to a very interesting point about Artest.

The four finalists for the league's Defensive Player of the Year award were Howard, Wallace, Atlanta's Josh Smith, and Artest. And of the four only, Artest failed to make either of the NBA's All-Defense teams.

Most Lakers' fans would admit that Artest's impact on the defensive end played a major role in the team's championship last season, and some would even say his impact on that end was far greater than Bryant's.

That point may be debatable, but Artest was unquestionably the most consistent individual defender for the Lakers last season.

Artest's career has been defined by his defensive prowess, and for the majority of his time in the league Artest has been a shining example of what a complete defender really is.

Artest has been an All-League defender a total of four times, and he was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year during the 2003-2004 season.

Artest has also led the NBA in steals twice, finished second in that category on three other occassins, and managed to carry a 2.0 steals per game average throughout his career.

What's more impressive about Artest's theft totals are the fact that many of them occur because of solid man defense as opposed to help defense.

Artest is blessed with quick, strong hands, excellent footwork, and a fierce, aggressive style that is based on allowing as little room as possible for the opposition to operate.

Artest's strength also allows him to defend larger players in the post, and he is exceptional at using his body to dictate an opponent's movement in the paint.

Time has robbed Artest of some of his quickness on the perimeter, but he is still regarded as one of the elite man-to-man defenders in the NBA, if not the very best.

Which makes it a puzzling coincidence that Artest failed to make either NBA defensive team.

The NBA's defensive teams are decided by the votes of the league's 30 coaches, and Artest missed out on joining the second team by a total of three votes.

Artest garnered 11 votes overall and finished behind Thabo Sefolosha of the Oklahoma City Thunder who garnered 14 total votes.

Not to take anything away from Sefolosha, but few observers would consider him to be in the same class of defenders as Artest, and the same can be said for Cleveland's Anderson Varejao who also made the second team.

Some people say Artest deserved to make the first team over Bryant, and even though that is only opinion, its' hard to justify the logic of him failing to make either team.

Artest's defense against Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce during the 2010 postseason proves he still resides among the league's top individual defenders, and he has a very strong case for the NBA's best.

Of course, that is a subjective matter, and although I tend to sway more towards the coaches when it comes to judging a player's effectiveness, I believe the people who picked Artest as a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year got it right.

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Inevitably, the conversation shifted towards LeBron James (as it seemingly always does) and the aftermath of this year's free agent spending frenzy.

Our friend Jackie (not the biggest basketball fan in the world) grew tired of our debate and asked, "What's the big deal? It's not like he did anything wrong."

As you might imagine, this comment didn't sit well with a group of Cavs fans. As we tried to explain why his actions were so morally reprehensible, she interrupted again.

"OK, OK, I get that. But all he did was go play somewhere else to play with his friends. There's no rule that says you can't do that."

That simple statement pretty much took the air out of the conversation. The only comeback for it was, "Well, technically you're right..but it was still wrong."

LeBron's actions this offseason were slammed across the country by not only Clevelanders, but media personalities and former players alike.

James went from one of the country's most beloved superstars to being seen as a narcissistic egomaniac who wanted nothing more than to see his name on every television program, radio talk show, and in every newspaper article.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports chronicled one story after another in James' "offseason PR nightmare."

Former NBA player Charles Barkley was critical of the one-hour special on ESPN, and called the show, as well as the welcome ceremony for James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, a "punk move."

Commissioner David Stern also did not approve of the way he announced his future plans.

"Had he asked my advice in advance, I might have suggested that he advise Cleveland at an earlier time than apparently he did that he was leaving, even without announcing where he was going, so we could have eliminated that," Stern said at the Las Vegas summer league.

"I would have advised him not to embark on what has been come known as 'The Decision.' I think that the advice that he received on this was poor.

"...this decision was ill-conceived, badly produced, and poorly executed. Those who were interested in it were given our opinion prior to its airing."

Not exactly endorsing words from the Commish to one of the league's biggest money makers.

And, perhaps most famously, Michael Jordan admitted that he would have never "called up Larry, called up Magic and said 'Hey look, let's get together and play on one team.'"

This was one of the biggest basketball headlines for days, even though all it did was confirm something that fans knew for weeks—LeBron James isn't mentally wired like Michael Jordan.

Whether you agree with how James conducted himself in the past three-and-a-half months is a personal issue. The fact of that matter is that he didn't break any rules or do anything that went against NBA regulations...right?

Two words came up among owners, team personnel, and NBA front office executives when discussing James: tampering and collusion.

Then-Phoenix Suns GM Steve Kerr was fined $10,000 for talking about LeBron in a radio interview on May 14, saying, "If he'll take the mid-level [exception], we'll give it to him. I think he'll take it. Don't you think?"

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban coughed up $100,000 for this little blurb: "Come July 1, yeah, of course. Anybody would be interested in LeBron James and if he leaves via free agency, then it's going to be tough.

"If he does like I'm guessing...which is say 'I'm not going to leave the Cavs high and dry', then he'll try to force a sign-and-trade, and that gives us a chance."

A few days later, Atlanta Hawks owner Michael Gearon took a $25,000 hit for saying he would put the team in the luxury tax if it meant signing James.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Nets minority owner Jay-Z had plenty to say about his long time buddy over the past year.

When asked about the possibility of James joining the Nets, he said, "How amazing would that be? I tell people all the time, he's my friend first. If Cleveland is building a championship team around him, then my advice is to stay there.

"If it's the Nets who are building a championship team that could be around him then my advice is to come to the Nets."

Jay-Z made several comments publicly about James but has never been fined one cent by the league. Pretty odd, since that particular statement seems to be right on par with anything Kerr, Cuban, or Gearon said.

Rampant speculation also ensued based on the idea that James, Wade, and Bosh had this outcome planned for years.

Some believe that the bond formed during the 2006 World Basketball Champions and the 2008 Olympics led the three to make a pact to eventually play together at some point during their careers.

Even during the ceremony that introduced basketball's biggest new trio to Miami, Bosh casually mentioned that he had been talking with James and Wade about joining forces for months.

It was the basketball version of The Wire—three of the league's top players forming a co-op in an attempt to establish complete control of the entire market.

But after league investigation, Stern announced that the Heat organization was not guilty of tampering and the players did not violate any rules in discussing free agency among themselves.

That's not to say Stern was pleased with how everything unfolded this offseason—his comments regarding "The Decision" basically said as much.

However, there's not much he could do about it.

In today's game, where players bond and grow up with one another in AAU and summer camps, the odds are that a majority of them will remain friends throughout their careers...and they're always going to talk about their futures. It's the direction the game, and the league, is headed.

That said, Stern may get his way in the end with the introduction of the new collective bargaining agreement.

A few weeks ago, Ken Berger highlighted a few key big-picture ideas that discussions between the owners and players union were centered around. Directly or indirectly, James is involved in two major points of interest.

The first is restoring competitive balance in the league. Obviously, the acquisition of James and Bosh make the Heat automatic contenders for the title, to go along with the Lakers and Celtics.

Between James, Bosh, Wade, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Rajon Rondo, you have six of the best 20-25 players in the league...and that's not even mentioning the other big three in Boston (Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett).

Every year, despite the influx of talent across the league, there are really only four or five legitimate contenders for the NBA title. Not surprisingly, those contenders are typically built around elite superstars.

With the exception of the '08 Celtics (who didn't have one absolutely hands-down superstar and leader, but did have three Hall-of-Famers not far off the prime of their respective careers), the '06 Heat (Wade and Shaquille O'Neal are obviously Hall-of-Famers, but that Miami team was horrible to watch), and the '04 Pistons (a defensive-oriented team perfect for a league that was struggling to consistent offense), every NBA champion in the last 20 years has featured a star that should be considered one of the 10-15 best players of all time.

Kobe Bryant ('10, '09, '02, '01, '00).

Tim Duncan ('07, '05, '03, '99).

Shaquille O'Neal ('02, '01, '00).

Michael Jordan ('98, '97, '96, '93, '92, '91).

Hakeem Olajuwon ('95, '94).

On the flip side, this forces the middle-of-the-pack teams to either wait for years and patiently build through the draft, hoping an elite player comes along (a la Kevin Durant in Seattle/Oklahoma City), or overpay for talent that's either overvalued or past his prime.

This isn't a defense for the front offices that foolishly throw money around (like giving $42 million to Adonal Foyle). But for a small-market team, a six-year flop can really be a setback, forcing them to eat their losses and remain uncompetitive.

To quote Berger, "In the owners' view, shorter contracts and the ability to restructure them midway through—a provision that exists in the NFL's CBA—would help teams become more competitive faster."

The second point focuses on free agency. According to the same report, "owners were rattled by the bold free-agent coup pulled off by star players this summer...and have become focused on limiting player movement as a result.

"...they're determined to write provisions into the new CBA that would provide stronger disincentives for free agents to leave their teams."

Of course, the talks for a new collective bargaining agreement are based on more than the decisions of a few players this offseason. But the ramifications of what happened in Miami cannot be denied; owners don't want anything like this to happen again.

The only way to do so is by restricting contracts and player movement, which will have a ripple effect on how the league unfolds in the next 10 years...and that's pretending that the players' union will concede to all of the owners' demands (which will assuredly not happen).

The new CBA will almost definitely put a halt on dramatic spending, making a situation like the James-Bosh-Wade signings nearly impossible to happen again.

Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle breaks this down a little further:

"The league will likely try to eliminate, or greatly reduce, the exceptions to the salary cap that permit teams to overly outspend opponents, particularly the ones that intentionally move under the cap to pursue free agents.

"If teams can no longer acquire or keep players through those cap exceptions, the risk in cutting payroll to move far under the cap would not be so great, since competitors would no longer be permitted to exceed the cap to outspend them."

For example...maybe the thoughts of a Chris Paul-Carmelo Anthony-Amar'e Stoudemire trio playing in New York seem far-fetched and improbable. But because of what occurred this offseason, that theory has to take on a little more weight.

And the odds that it would happen in 2011 or 2012 significantly dwindle if Anthony isn't already a member of the Knicks before next summer. As stated above, it would be incredibly risky for the Knicks to try to free up enough cap space for two max players.

So (this is strictly hypothetical and just based on what happened this summer) if Anthony, Paul, and Stoudemire did have a plan to unite in New York, the CBA could stand in their way.

What we saw this past offseason could be something that will never come close to being duplicated again. While the actions of James, Bosh, and Wade could be viewed as shady or deceptive, they "technically" didn't break any rules.

Instead, they could have inadvertently played a role in rewriting the entire free agent process.

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And while all those scenarios could work out in a perfect world, Iverson signing with any of those teams seems as far-fetched as LeBron James rejoining Cleveland. The fact is almost every team in the NBA has come out and said that they won’t go in that direction.

The past two seasons have been very tough for Iverson, as he went from being among the league’s top earners, to having to settle for around the veteran’s minimum. Over the past two years,he may be the guy who’s suffered the biggest drop-off in the NBA, whether it be physically, health-wise, or his image.

Let’s go back to last season when Iverson and Memphis had decided to go their separate ways after just three games. Iverson thought he could have his way now that he was on the open market, and for a while, it looked like he would get his way.

Out of desperation, the New York Knicks seriously considered him, and there were multiple reports confirming AI would be offered a contract. However, at the last minute, the Knicks pulled out and flat-out said after long consideration that they weren’t going in that direction.

At that point, Iverson was at rock bottom, and he did the unthinkable, retiring just a few days before Thanksgiving. Everyone knew his retirement was temporary, in fact, it may have been a ploy to get Iverson’s name back on the headlines, or get league executives to remember him again.

Inevitably, Iverson came out of retirement as soon as the Sixers decided to bring him back to boost attendance and give the team some buzz. The signing was a huge failure for multiple reasons.

The main reason was that Iverson wasn’t very productive. When he came back, he looked like he was in no shape to play basketball, and during his first few games, he would get winded after playing just a few minutes.

During his second go-around in Philly, Iverson averaged 14 points and two assists in 32 minutes, and he wasn’t efficient at all, shooting 41 percent and posting a player efficiency rating below 14.

Iverson simply was a shell of his old self.

He was brought back to the Sixers to boost attendance, but during his stay, the Sixers had only two sellouts, his first game back, and when the Lakers came to visit, which is always a sellout. So technically, he only produced one sellout. In fact, after a few games, the fans realized AI wasn’t anywhere near his old self and that it wasn’t worth paying to see him anymore.

Iverson also didn’t produce any wins or signature moments on the court during his second stint with the Sixers. The team went 10-15 during his 25 games. Iverson was also in and out of the lineup constantly, as his knees had given out on him and he lacked a serious step of explosiveness.

He also took playing time from the Sixers’ promising point guard of the future, Jrue Holiday. Holiday was the youngest player in the NBA last season, and when he got his chance, showed great promise. He started at point guard towards the end of the season, and the potential reps he could’ve gotten while Iverson was on the team could’ve helped.

Iverson eventually took an indefinite leave of absence to be with his daughter, which turned out to be a permanent leave of absence. Later in May, rumors surfaced that Iverson was having serious gambling and drinking problems.

Stephen A Smith said Iverson “will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away.” In fact, Iverson’s problems were so bad that he was banished from casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City. He later confirmed that he was “going through some very tough times.”

Reality is Iverson had to hide his personal problems while he was on the Sixers, but the leave of absence showed that basketball shouldn’t have been one of his top priorities.

Iverson wasn’t in the physical or mental shape to play basketball back then, so what makes you think he’s going to be ready all of a sudden?

If Iverson were to play again this season, he wouldn’t be able to sustain the strength to play a full 82-game season, wouldn’t be able to play heavy minutes, and would only be useful coming off the bench, which he hates to do. He would just be making a mockery of his already Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Iverson just wanted to go out on his own terms, however, he may never get the chance to do so. AI still has a lasting legacy of going down as one of the greatest little guys to ever play the game, but the time for this little warrior to retire is now.

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The successful careers of Arvydas Sabonis and Vlade Divac gave hope, and helped pave the way for the importation of the next class of foreign players ready to make an impact for NBA frontlines. The only problem is that it is a crapshoot, a high-risk, high-reward game with improbable outcomes. While Nowitzki, Gasol, and Yao have elevated their games to repeat All-NBA and All-Star status, there are countless others who fail to meet expectations and are sent a one way ticket back to their country of origin.

Two foreign centers have been drafted in the top two overall, with Darko Milicic going second in the 2003 Draft, and Andrea Bargnani being the number one overall pick in the 2006 Draft. Both have failed to live up to expectations, while the former is arguably the biggest bust in NBA history. NBA draft boards have been littered with highly touted foreign big men who were largely unsuccessful to say the least, with top ten picks Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Yaroslav Korolev, and Rafael Araújo highlighting the list.  

The failures of a number of these players, along with the stigma of foreign players being soft and having a tough time adjusting to the physicality of the NBA game, led to a decline in the number of foreign big men selected on draft day over the past few years.

International bigs are often criticized for not making their presence felt in the paint on both ends of the court. Soft post defense, the inability to get tough rebounds, lack of a back to the basket game on offense, and not possessing the mental fortitude needed to carry a team to a win in crunch time have all been common criticisms.

Fortunately for Spurs fans, “soft” is not a part of Tiago Splitter's vocabulary.

Splitter is a multi-talented, physical, bruiser of a power forward with a high basketball IQ, and a load of international experience. He might be a rookie to the NBA, but a rookie to professional basketball he certainly is not.

Splitter was drafted 28th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, only to return to the Spanish ACB League and rack up awards while making life miserable for his opposition.  

Splitter followed up his 2008 All-Euroleague first team selection by making the All-Euroleague second team in consecutive seasons in 2009 and 2010. Tiago capped off his 2010 Spanish League campaign by being named the 2010 Spanish League MVP and Spanish League Finals MVP after leading Saski Basconia to victory over Ricky Rubio’s FC Barcelona in the Finals.

Splitter’s jump shot will never be confused with Dirk Nowitzki’s feathery soft stroke, just as his post-game will never be confused with Pau Gasol’s seemingly unlimited arsenal on the block. Splitter is a player who plays within himself, knows his own limits, and will not hurt the Spurs by attempting to force the issue on offense, or blowing defensive assignments. He’s an extremely valuable role player, and one that will help San Antonio immensely.

Tiago is a prototypical Greg Popovich type of player, and will fit perfectly into San Antonio’s system. He adds much needed youth and depth to the Spurs frontline, and will make life much easier for Tim Duncan.

He has the ability on offense to hit the open jumper, finish inside with either hand, run the high-post offense with his remarkable pinpoint passing ability, set solid screens, and should excel in running the pick and roll with pick and roll extraordinaire Tony Parker.

On defense, Splitter will bump and grind until the final whistle, and fight for any and every rebound in his vicinity, much like his new teammate DeJuan Blair. While he is not a shot blocker, he is an excellent man to man defender, and his combination of speed and quickness will help on defensive rotations as well as defending the pick and roll. He seldom makes mistakes on this end of the court.

Expect to see Splitter starting next to Tim Duncan on opening night. Due in part to Tiago’s blue collar approach to the game, his excellence on defense, and the fact he is a phenomenal rebounder, spending time at center while allowing Duncan to play at his more natural power forward position is a distinct possibility. Their skill sets compliments one another very well, and as the season progresses and the chemistry between these two improves, expect this to be one of the best frontcourts in the league, clicking on all cylinders come playoff time.

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It was the summer of free agents and the league did not disappoint in the speculation, drama, and subsequent backlash that came from it. The media world stayed well-armed with cameras and recorders ready for the latest news out of South Beach, New York, or Chicago. But for these guys, things were much different when they inked their deals. Just the players themselves, a contract and a chance to make their mark on the hoops world.

For these men, the summer was far different from what it was for your LeBrons, your Carlos Boozers, even your 38-year-old Shaqs. Career journeymen or up-and-comers stuck in the wrong system, or behind the wrong players, waiting for their chance to find their niche.

But for well-informed front offices and fanbases, these are often the signings that can win championships or earn playoff berths. Think of the San Antonio Spurs bringing in an unknown Stephen Jackson in 2001 to push for a roster spot, or later, taking a flier on Brent Barry in 2004 to see if the former Slam Dunk Champion had anything left in the tank.  Or the Detroit Pistons rolling the dice on an up-and-coming Chauncey Billups in 2002.

These players are poised to help a veteran team make another deep playoff run or help bring together a youthful group looking to carve their place in the NBA hierarchy.

These 10 players will factor heavily in the 2010-11 NBA season. You just may not realize it yet.

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For a player who should be considered a first ballot Hall of Famer, he was barred entry by eligible voters. The problem is that they let his off the court antics overshadow his accomplishments on the hardwood. While this is a subject that has been harped on many times, I present the definitive case for his enshrinement.

Defensively, Rodman was easily one of the greatest to ever play the game. No matter the position, he was able to expertly defend any player of all sizes from baseline to baseline. A feat not many, if any at all, can lay claim to.

Scottie Pippen, former teammate and recent Hall of Fame inductee, is considered one of the top five greatest defensive forwards. Rodman was not only better than him in that department, but the very best at the position. 

While Rodman's height limited his ability to block shots and he never really gambled for steals, when you needed to lock down a player, the "Worm" was your man.  Rodman was regularly placed out of position to guard the best centers and power forwards from the opposing team. 

Not only did he effectively limit their offensive output, he shut them down on many occasions. He did all of this while at a considerable height and weight disadvantage.  Back to back Defensive Player of the Year awards coupled with seven All-Defensive First Team selections only helps to further solidify the argument.

Rodman's rebounding prowess is unmatched in the history of the NBA. Standing at 6'7", 228 lbs., he battled against players who not only towered above him, but outweighed him by a substantial margin. Pound for pound, he had no equal in this department. 

You can look no further than his record seven straight rebounding titles as proof of this. 

To shed even more light on this aspect of his game, since 1973, he holds five of the eight highest season rebounding averages (18.7, 18.3, 17.3, 16.8, 16.1). His career rebounding average comes in at 13.1 per game, good enough for 10th best in the history of the sport.

These numbers are slightly skewed due to the fact that he entered the league as a small forward playing limited minutes on a stacked Pistons squad. Had he been given starter's minutes from the beginning, his career rebounding average would have undoubtedly surpassed the 15 rebound mark.

Since 1998, the only player to come close to approaching his rebounding numbers was Ben Wallace in 2002 (15.4 rebounds per game). The leading rebounder today, Dwight Howard, has a good four inches and 30+ pounds on him, yet he can barely crack the 14 rebounds per game average.

A criteria that frequently gets lost in all the stats is the fact that he made both his teams and teammates better. After the Pistons drafted Dennis in 1986, they went on to win their first of consecutive championships starting in his third year. 

When he joined the Bulls in 1995, it started their next three-peat championship run following two years of droughts. Through all of this, it was Rodman who did all the unheralded dirty work. Something that was often overlooked as he was out-shined by his flashier, higher scoring teammates.

Offensively, he was considered to be middling at best. 

His highest scoring output came in his second season with the Pistons where he averaged 11.6 points per game. This would be the only time his scoring average would crack the double digit barrier. Rodman didn't take many shots because he wasn't looking to score.

He left that burden to the likes of players such as Michael Jordan and David Robinson. 

Early in his career, he was consistently near the top of the league in field goal percentage. His scoring totals could have potentially been much higher if he demanded the ball on offense. This unselfish attitude helped each team he played for thrive. It is no mere coincidence that Jordan captured three consecutive scoring titles and two MVP awards with Rodman at his side. 

The same goes for Robinson who won his lone scoring title and MVP award playing with Rodman.

In the end, whatever bad press and headaches "Dennis the Menace" brought along with him was well worth the trouble.  Rodman outworked and out hustled every single player on the court on any given night. 

He had the heart of a winner with a ferocious tenacity to match.

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And in the 27 seasons (1976-2003) in between?

Twenty-six trips to the postseason, 24 .500-or-better seasons, six conference finals appearances, three conference titles, and an NBA championship.

Consider another interesting factoid: After missing the playoffs in each of their first half dozen seasons, the Blazers captured the NBA’s ultimate prize in their first postseason appearance.

Unfortunately, this is not all the Blazers are known for. In addition to nearly three decades of consistency sandwiched between a pair of lean stretches, the Blazers are known for catching some tough breaks, no pun intended. Well, maybe a little.

Three times in a 32-year span, Portland has drafted a big man with a top-two draft pick with hopes of entrusting its future to a franchise cornerstone.

The first time this happened was in 1974, when the Trail Blazers used the first overall pick in the draft on UCLA superstar Bill Walton. Walton was chronically plagued by crippling foot injuries and never managed to suit up in more than 65 games in any of his four seasons in Portland. And he was the success story!

It helps that in those fleeting moments when he was healthy, Walton was an All-Star, an MVP candidate, a champion, a selfless teammate, and one of the best all-around centers ever.

However, by the start of the 1980s, Walton was gone, leaving fans to wonder wonder what might have been.

A few short years later, the Blazers found themselves in a similar spot, this time picking second in the 1984 draft. With future Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon selected with the top pick, and a young stud in Clyde Drexler already on their team, Portland again looked to shore up the middle.

You can’t blame them too much; that was formula that worked in the past. They passed on a young Michael Jordan and selected the University of Kentucky’s Sam Bowie, a great passing big man with a history of foot injuries (this may be where you want to dole out some blame).

After a solid rookie season in which he averaged 10 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and nearly 3 BPG in 70 games, Bowie would only take the floor for the Blazers 66 more times (includes three playoff games in 1989) over the next three seasons.

Almost a quarter of a century later, the lottery gods smiled on Portland, as the Blazers landed the top pick in the 2007 draft and were faced with a decision between Kevin Durant, a lanky scoring machine out of the University of Texas and Greg Oden, an old-school seven-footer who’d shown flashes of dominance during a solid freshman at Ohio State.

As the saying goes, “you can’t teach seven feet.” With that the Trailblazers opted for Oden over Durant. Durant's gone on to average at least 20 PPG in each of his three seasons, has become an MVP candidate, and the youngest scoring champion in NBA history. Meanwhile, Oden missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, and has managed to take the floor for just a third of the Blazers’ 246 regular season games over the past three seasons.

Fortunately for the Blazers, over the three decades for every Sam Bowie or Greg Oden, there’s been a Clyde Drexler, a Terry Porter, a Jerome Kersey, or a Brandon Roy to keep them competitive.

Even the exorcism of the Jail Blazers, which knocked the Blazers out of the playoffs for five years, was relatively short-lived and well worth the cost given the positivity that it brought back to Portland.

As a Laker fan, I’ve spent most of my life rooting against the Trail Blazers and am now mentally prepared for a pair of beatings each season in the Rose Garden.

With that said, I, like many, have taken an incredible liking to this team, and would love to see Oden stay healthy and an assassin like Brandon Roy play deep into the playoffs. Hopefully the current Blazers squad will catch some (positive) breaks on the injury front and ultimately put it all together.

However, if history’s any guide, the Portland Trail Blazers will once again be faced with a top-three decision between an athletic and versatile wing player and a big guy whose height you can’t teach.

Next time, it doesn’t have to be this way!

Just take the athlete!

Begin Slideshow

If a person was looking for the NBA's top power forwards last season their journey would likely begin and end in the Western Conference.

The East had great power forwards such as Chris Bosh, Kevin Garnett, and David Lee, but the depth of talent in the West paralleled the number of quality teams in the conference.

Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol , Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge, and the underrated David West formed one of the more impressive groups of power forwards in recent memory. The playing field has been leveled somewhat by the defections of Stoudemire and Boozer to the East, but the balance of power at the four position still slightly tilts to the West.

The New York Knicks' decision to trade Lee to the Golden State Warriors in order to sign Stoudemire means another double-double player will inherit the space recently vacated by Boozer and Stoudemire. But does Lee deserve to be mentioned in the same breath with players such as Duncan and Gasol?

Statistically speaking, yes.

Lee's 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game would rank among the top of not only the Western Conference, but the entire NBA in general, but many observers feel Lee's numbers are a reflection of the Knicks' overall ineptitude.

New York was a terrible team last season and Lee was their most consistent player and the Knicks only real interior presence. It's conceivable to think his numbers would be inflated for those reasons.

Still, it's hard to imagine that Lee, who was only one of a handful of players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds, could float so far below the radar of elite NBA power forwards.

More than likely Lee will see his numbers hold steady from last season or possibly even increase due to the free-flowing style of the Warriors' offense, but it's doubtful his stature will see a similar increase.

Lee has shown that he can be a dominant force on offense and on the boards, but until he decides to pay some attention to the defensive aspects of his game he will never be considered an elite power forward.

Lee may have had better numbers than Gasol and Duncan, but his fundamental skills are not on the same level, and his poor defense often makes him a liability on that end of the floor.

Considering Lee is transitioning from Mike D'Antoni's defenseless style to Don Nelson's equally incompetent defensive methods, the prospects for improvement in that area seem limited.

Additionally, Bosh and Garnett were the cream of the crop in the East and there were no other power forwards in the conference who were on the same tier as those players.

In the West, Lee will be faced with the prospects of facing equally talented power forwards on a nightly basis and he will find the opportunities to excel against lesser opponents few and far between.

The only teams in the West facing serious questions regarding the power forward position are Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, and possibly Denver (with the multitude of injuries the Nuggets have recently faced).

Lee has proved he can score and rebound with the NBA's top power forwards, but can he improve on the defensive end and help turn the fortunes of the Warriors around in the process?

Lee's numbers from last season were impressive, but until his individual statistics reflect on his team's success, it's hard to place him among the ranks of elite NBA power forwards in the West.

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When the 2009-10 NBA season ended, there was a ton of hype around free agency. The world wasn’t sure if LBJ was going to decide with his heart and stay in his hometown of Cleveland, or listen to his head (which follows the MJ approach) and leave town for a team that gives him the best chance at winning long-term. 

For seven years now, LeBron James has been compared to Michael Jordan in every way possible, on and off the court. Many “experts” said LeBron would go to Miami and NOT the Bulls because he didn’t want to play in MJ’s shadow, and that MJ’s shadow is so big that anything short of winning six titles and being the BEST PLAYER EVER TO PLAY THE GAME would be considered a total failure. 

Fifty-six days have passed since LBJ’s decision to take his talents to South Beach, but the following question still looms in my mind.

Is Michael Jordan’s shadow greater than the shadow LeBron James created for himself by over-hyping his decision to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami?

Jordan’s shadow was never bigger than Jordan the player. Early on in his career, he torched box scores, made jaws drop and became the league’s top player and the face of the game, but was never able to take the Bulls to the top.

As time passed, he learned that in order to be the best, he must make those around him second-bests to his best. Jordan led the Bulls to two 3-peats, six titles in eight years. He consistently outplayed his shadow, meaning he ALWAYS demolished expectations. Jordan was willing to do whatever it took to ensure that his competition was left in the dust. 

Jordan could have left town for more lucrative offers, possibly even found a better roster of teammates, but never did—unless you consider the Birmingham Barons a more lucrative offer with better teammates. 

Michael Jordan didn’t see shadows because he was always rising above them. 

The hype behind “The Decision” created a shadow so large that it will be difficult for LeBron to play himself out of it. How many titles does he need to win in order to not be considered a failure? Four? Five? Eight? It seems like he’s already in the hole, playing from behind, and must win two titles just to break even. 

In the NBA, greatness is determined by how many championship rings you have, not how many people are in your entourage, or how many one-hour TV specials you have.

In LeBron’s mind, taking less money to join up with other stars was a profound idea (the MJ approach). By doing so, he’s saying that he not only wants to be the best player in history but also wants to have the best TEAM in history. 

Sad to say it, but all of that was lost in translation. All of his good intentions were blocked from sight by his ever growing shadow.

Have any thoughts on the matter? Please share! 

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This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report

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While Artest was in the Lakers' locker room he reportedly told Kobe Bryant that he would love the opportunity to help Bryant and the Lakers attempt to win a championship the following season.

Artest had just witnessed the Lakers completely taken out of their element by the Celtics, who forced Los Angeles to abandon the safe confines of their precision-based game.

The Lakers were a very good team in 2007-08, but they had several weaknesses and none was more glaring than the lack of a strong, physical presence.

The acquisition of Pau Gasol earlier in the season had made the Lakers prime contenders to win the NBA championship, but the Celtics sniffed out their biggest flaw and ruthlessly exposed it.

In 2008 Los Angeles was battered, bruised, and beaten on the way to an embarrassing 40 point loss in the last game of the Finals, and their main focus in the offseason was to get mentally and physically tougher.

The paths of Bryant and Artest would cross again in the 2009 playoffs when Artest's Houston Rockets pushed the Lakers to the brink of elimination, losing in seven games to the eventual champion Lakers.

During that series Bryant and Artest had a memorable confrontation which began with Bryant swinging a wild elbow in Artest's direction, and ended with Artest the beneficiary of a technical foul.

From both players' body language during the exchange it would seem that a little bad blood existed between them, but actually the incident may have just been a sign of mutual respect.

When Artest joined the Lakers in the 2009 offseason the move was lauded by Bryant, and considering the importance Artest played in the Lakers' subsequent championship, Bryant's enthusiasm was well-merited.

Even though the Lakers were able to win the title in 2009 they could still not escape the label of being a soft team, and Artest immediately began to change that perception.

Artest brought a dose of toughness and a rough edge to the Lakers' finesse-based game, and he assumed the role of the defensive enforcer that was previously missing from the team.

Artest's presence meant Bryant would no longer be forced to defend bigger players such as Denver's Carmelo Anthony, and he could divert more of his energy to the offensive end.

A broken finger and problems with his knee slowed Bryant during the season and the playoffs, but in a 2010 Finals' rematch of the Lakers' 2008 nightmare with the Celtics, Artest proved his worth.

Artest virtually took 2008 Finals' MVP Paul Pierce out of the series with his intense physical style, and when Pierce and the Celtics pushed the Lakers, Artest pushed back.

The series had the same physical style and pace as the 2008 Finals, but this time the Lakers were able to hold their own when the game devolved into a battle of wills.

There were many heroes for the Lakers in last season's championship march, and none were more important than Artest. But how good can the Lakers be on both sides of the ball with an offseason of rest for Bryant?

Bryant still managed to average 27 points per game last season, but it was obvious that his shooting stroke was bothered by his finger, and it was clear that his knee issues diminished the lift in his legs.

A healthy Bryant gives the Lakers the most versatile, and arguably the most dominant scoring presence in the game, and Artest should be even better with a full season in the Lakers' system under his belt.

Bryant said recently in an interview given by teammate Derek Fisher who was standing in on ESPN's show Jim Rome Is Burning, that his batteries are re-charged and he is looking forward to next season.

Many observers felt Bryant had lost a step last season, and although age may be a factor now in his career, it's not really a fair assessment considering Bryant's multiple injuries last season.

If Bryant enters next season with an attitude that he has something to prove, then the rest of the NBA could be in for an even scarier, more focused version of Bryant than in seasons past.

Likewise, Artest should benefit from the fact he has seen his career come full circle.

After the brawl in Detroit threatened to end his career and garnered a reputation that has followed him ever since, Artest has finally found peace with the Lakers.

On BET's series Life After, Artest said as much, and he also mentioned that he had never been as comfortable in his career as he is right now.

Many people thought the marriage of Artest and the Lakers was a union destined for failure, but under the tutelage of coach Phil Jackson and the watchful eye of Bryant, it has become one of the NBA's most impressive dynamics.

The 2010-11 Lakers will be one of the deepest, talented, and most balanced teams of the Jackson era, and in the mind of Lakers' owner Jerry Buss it has the potential to be one of the greatest of all time.

Los Angeles has dominant post players in Gasol and Andrew Bynum, a deep reserves corps which is led by Odom, and a defense that rivals the offense for attention.

Reaching the NBA Finals for a fourth consecutive season will be no easy task for the Lakers, but it helps when you have the game's top scorer in Bryant, and arguably the game's best individual defender in Artest leading the way. 

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So far his scoring numbers have been somewhat meager, but he is contributing in a number of different ways. USA coach Mike Krzyzewski has made it a priority to start Iguodala in each of team USA's first four games in the World Championships as well as all of their exhibitions. This vote of confidence from a coach like Krzyzewski will only benefit Iguodala in the long run and will turn him into the leader that the Philadelphia 76ers so desperately need.

The first benefit will be confidence. The simple fact that Andre Iguodala is not only playing for team USA, but starting on it, should prove to him that he is an elite player in this league. He has a lot of the intangibles that other elite players have offensively and he is better than the majority of them on the defensive end.

This boost in confidence should lead to a much more mature and aggressive style of play this upcoming season, which should lead to Iguodala's first appearance in an All-Star game. Although Iguodala may not be putting up gaudy numbers for Team USA on the offensive end, he is making up for it defensively. 

He is tied for the team lead in steals averaging a little more than two per game not to mention a number of timely pass deflections. New 76ers' coach Doug Collins expressed that he wants to see Iguodala develop into an All NBA first team defender and his play so far for team USA shows that he is not taking his new coach's wishes lightly.

The next benefit will be an understanding of roles. Many experts have questioned whether Iguodala can be an impact player with Evan Turner on the team, because both of them need the ball to be effective. Iguodala's play thus far has shown that is not the case.

Iguodala has made an impact in a multitude of ways for Team USA, obviously defensively, but also adding 5.5 points per game and scoring with an impressive .615 shooting percentage and a .500 percentage from beyond the arc. He is also accomplishing this with very few touches. He is not taking a lot of shots, but he is taking good shots when he can.

Obviously during the season, 5.5 points will not cut it, but Iguodala will understand that he does not have to be Allen Iverson and shoot the ball 30 times a night. With a pure point guard like Jrue Holiday and a good ball handler and decision maker in Evan Turner, all Iguodala has to focus on is playing staunch defense and taking smart, opportunistic shots because those two will be sure to provide him with plenty of smart and easy scoring opportunities.

Finally, Iguodala will benefit by learning how to be a leader. It will be clear that he is the leader of the Sixers, simply because of his international experience. This new sense of leadership will be good for Iguodala because it will allow him to set the tone for the rest of the team. It will give him an undeniable voice and influence in the locker room and it will hopefully cause the rest of the franchise to seek the same level of greatness for themselves.

This offseason for the Sixers has been a good one. They solidified their backcourt for several years to come with the addition of Evan Turner. They found a coach with a track record of success when it comes to turning around wayward franchises. They brought in Rod Thorn, a good basketball mind who will take some of the load away from Ed Stefanski to allow him to just focus on personnel, and they began the process of unloading bloated contracts (Samuel Dalembert).

And although this may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the offseason, Iguodala playing for team USA might be the most important and beneficial aspect of the Sixers' offseason simply because this could be the boost that turns the Sixers' best player into a legitimate franchise player. 

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Eric Gordon played great off the bench, taking advantage of additional minutes to lead all U.S. scorers with 21 points. Kevin Love, arguably the player of the game against Iran, notched just four points and five rebounds in limited play.

In the second half, Team USA wore down Tunisia with its star-power, despite playing its second team, which led to the blowout score. However, Tunisia has no NBA-level talent.

What happens when the U.S. takes on the likes of Argentina’s Luis Scola, Spain’s Marc Gasol or the tough-as-nails Greece squad?

That’s what we’ll find out next week.

Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, and the rest of the first team will certainly see more action when the games start to matter. Regardless of the outcome against Tunisia, Team USA would have finished first in Group B.

Now this young group cannot afford to play down to the competition. One bad game, and America is once again seen as vulnerable in the basketball world, if it is not already.

Here are a few things that need to be corrected over the next few days, and which players seem to be moving up and down the depth chart.

The defensive intensity was not there against Tunisia, and it needs to be in the knockout stage. If shots are not dropping, the ability to fall back on defense is invaluable in one-and-done situations.

As for starters, Billups and Odom will remain to stabilize the team with their veteran presence.

Durant and Rose are the two best players on the squad. Andre Iguodala could be switched out for Love or Tyson Chandler based on matchups, but otherwise he provides the most versatility at the power forward spot. 

Gordon may have raised the value of his stock significantly against Tunisia.

He made 4-of-7three-pointers, made all three of his free throws and chipped in three steals. He, Rose, and Billups could eventually be the three-guard rotation for Team USA moving forward.

Stephon Curry and Russell Westbrook turn the ball over too much. If Coach K is in need of shooting, Curry could make an appearance, but otherwise in close games he will probably be on the bench. His 13 points against Tunisia cannot mask his inexperience.

The group play taught us a lot about this version of Team USA. It seems to still have the flaws of weak halfcourt offense and spotty defense that previous American squads have dealt with.

However, Team USA has not lost a game as a unit yet. And as long as that continues to be the case for the remainder of the tournament, no one will have a problem with it.

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His fall from NBA grace may just have given the Celtics an insurance policy against Rajon Rondo's shortcomings.

At 6'4", his wiry frame belies his strengths. He can post up smaller guards, shoot the three, handle point guard duties, and make free throws.  This will allow Nate Robinson to do what he does best, shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. 

Delonte will make a more reliable backup to Rondo and that can only make for a fresher player during the postseason.

Most teams treat the the 15th spot on their roster as a fill in; Danny Ainge has treated it like gold.  The Celtics can now field a complete second unit that will afford all of their starters more rest.

Doc Rivers can now call on his first 13 players and have confidence that they know what to do in crucial situations.

West's position on the team is far from secure; he has to beat out the likes of Oliver Lafayette and Tony Gaffney for the 15th spot. If he can't do that then he really doesn't deserve this golden opportunity to redeem himself.  

Let us assume that it is a foregone conclusion that he does make the team. He now has to get into Doc Rivers’ rotation and fill the role Tony Allen vacated.  

He may not be as athletic as T. A., but he has a better basketball IQ and won't cost the team games by going for pump fakes.

Boston also has added another player who is looking to restore his name in Von Wafer. Wafer is an inch taller than West, but is a below average defender.  He might be the odd man out in the rotation because he has been out of the NBA for a year and has to readjust to the speed of the game.

There doesn't seem to be many obstacles to Delonte’s progression up the depth chart and he is the only one that can derail his NBA future. Ainge said as much after the announcement was made.

The Celtics now have the luxury of letting Avery Bradley and Luke Harangody sit and learn without removing the focus on the team’s championship aspirations.

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The game that most of you will care about tips off at 9:30 a.m. ET, as Team USA goes for the Group B sweep against Tunisia.  If the U.S. can avoid the upset, they'll have locked up the top overall seed moving forward in the tournament. 

Below, you'll find the times and viewing schedule for every game on Thursday, with all times presented in EST.  Every game on Thursday's schedule is viewable through ESPN3.com—don't tell your bosses that I told you.

9:00 AM 

Group C: Ivory Coast (0-4) at Puerto Rico (1-3)

Here, we've got a matchup between the fourth and sixth place teams in Group C.  If Puerto Rico can defeat the winless Ivory Coast, they've booked their ticket for the Round of 16; otherwise, they're sweating out the China-Greece matchup later in the day. 

Group D: Canada (0-4) at Spain (2-2)

Spain will look to rebound after two surprising losses to France and Lithuania, and who better to rebound against than a winless Canada squad now without New York Knicks rookie Andy Rautins?  To Canada's credit, they've kept each of their four losses close—their largest margin of defeat, against both Lebanon and New Zealand, was 10 points. 

9:30 AM 

Group B: Tunisia (0-4) at United States (4-0): Viewable on ESPN2

Team USA looks to finish out its undefeated run through Group B, with only last-place Tunisia standing in their way.  There's not much reason to think of this as anything but a tune-up for the Round of 16 games, which the U.S. will appear in on Monday with a victory here.

Group A: Australia (2-2) at Angola (2-2)

Australia and Angola will be the other teams tipping off at 9:30, with a third place spot in Group A on the line for the winner.  Given that both teams beat Germany, it appears that they've both already secured a spot in the Round of 16; now, they're just trying to avoid a loss here and a likely date with Team USA in the Round of 16.

11:30 AM 

Group C: Russia (3-1) at Greece (3-1)

This will be one of the better matchups of the day, as the Russians, who have largely been flying under the radar this tournament, will matchup against the Greeks.  Hopefully we can avoid a chair-throwing incident again. 

Group D: Lithuania (4-0) at Lebanon (1-3)

Lithuania has nothing to play for here, with the top seed in Group D already locked up; then again, at 1-3 and with losses to both of the 2-2 teams in Group D, it's not like Lebanon has a whole lot more to play for than national pride. 

12:00 PM 

Group A: Serbia (3-1) at Argentina (4-0), Viewable on NBA TV

Here, we've got another one of the day's marquee matchups, as the other half of the infamous FIBA brawl (Serbia) takes on one of the prohibitive favorites to win the whole tournament (Argentina).  Argentina's Luis Scola, of Houston Rockets fame, has been on an incredible tear through the tournament so far; if he keeps it up, Argentina will be a bear of a team to stop. 

Group B: Iran (1-3) at Slovenia (3-1)

Slovenia's got the second seed in Group B locked up, and Iran can't move past Brazil or Croatia for one of Group B's four spots to advance.  Unless you're pumped about seeing Goran Dragic torch some unsuspecting Iranians, probably best to move along. 

2:00 PM 

Group D: France (3-1) at New Zealand (2-2)

France has to be one of the surprises of the tournament so far; despite not having Joakim Noah, Tony Parker, and Roddy Beaubois, they've managed an upset of Spain and a 3-1 record overall.  New Zealand's locked into a fourth place finish in Group D, so don't expect too may fireworks from the New Zealand coach.

Group C: China (1-3) at Turkey (4-0), Viewable on NBA TV 

Here's the last game of the day that's viewable on TV, as undefeated host Turkey takes on Yi Jianlian and China.  Jianlian's been showing a side of himself the Wizards can only hope he brings to Washington this fall, but the Turkish team are likely going to put a hurt on China.

2:30 PM 

Group B: Croatia (2-2) at Brazil (2-2)

Brazil, like Spain, is another team that's surprisingly 2-2 after four games, after suffering back-to-back losses to the U.S. and to Slovenia.  They'll be up against the Croatians for third place in Group B, with the winner earning the right to avoid Group A's No. 1 seed in the round of 16.

Group A: Germany (1-3) at Jordan (0-4)

 In the final game of the day, we've got two teams with absolutely no chance of making the Round of 16, and who are going home after this game.  Do yourself a favor and watch Brazil-Croatia instead.

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Sure, Mullin might have scored more, but Isiah was just coming off leading the Bad Boys Piston team to back to back titles, all while averaging 20+ ppg and 10+ apg. 

And dare I mention Dominique Wilkins, the other really notable exclusion?  If you're going to put Mullin on the team solely for the fact he has scored a lot of points, how do you keep Dominique off?

The more you look back on the decision, the fishier it seems.  Moreover, why was Laettner selected out of the college ranks when there was already Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning to choose from.  Was it Laettner's Duke All-White pedigree that led him to being selected for the honor of being on one of the greatest teams, if not THE greatest, ever?

Mullin was a great player; don't get me wrong.  He just wasn't more accomplished or better than Isiah Thomas or Dominique Wilkins.  Winning two championships back to back like Isiah did all but guarantees a hall of fame nod, but with Mullin it is less clear. 

Does simply being a clean cut white boy (albeit one that battled alcoholism in his life) allow a player to gain so much notoriety and acclaim?  It's no secret that the African American population is still a minority, with about 14% of the population being of African descent. 

Sometimes it's more apparent than other times.  But the racial undercurrent in America remains strong, and racism manifests itself even in sports.  In the case of the 1992 Dream Team, I believe that was definitely the reason for Mullin being selected to play with a team of players who were all significantly better than him.

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There are plenty of teams that can offer attractive pieces to the Nuggets, and the New Jersey Nets are certainly one of them. The Nets have plenty of young talent, but are in search of a bona fide star player who can be a go-to scorer as well as get butts in the seats.

Anthony fits that bill, and then some, and principal owner Mikhail Prokhorov appears to be prepared to do anything in his power to make this team respectable again. The problem is, rumor has it that the Nuggets won’t part with Anthony unless they get at least All-Star in the making Brook Lopez in return. It’s definitely a reasonable offer, but one that will probably not happen. With a promising front court in Lopez and #3 draft pick Derrick Favors, the Nets are already set at the 4 and 5 spots.

Let’s be honest though—Carmelo is a big-time upgrade over the Nets projected starter at the small forward spot, Travis Outlaw. With quickness at the guard spot in Devin Harris, muscle and fearlessness in Anthony, and a post presence in Favors (maybe not starting out, but over time, probably), the Nets could form a three-headed trio that, while not up to the level of the Miami Heat’s menacing beast, could still prove to be a formidable threat out East. That said, I fully admit this is an entirely idealistic and out-there point of view (but come on, you can sort of buy into it, right?).

It seems like both the Nets and the Nuggets have interest in getting a deal done. It all comes down to the Nets decision concerning Lopez. One could make the argument that great centers don’t come around that much anymore, and Lopez is on well on his way to becoming one.

On the flip side of that, many title teams in the past have gotten away with a three-headed monster and a serviceable center. The 05’, 07’ Spurs and ’08 Celtics come to mind initially (although now Kendrick Perkins has proven to be one of the most under-appreciated big men in the league). It’s a tough call, and one that the Nets will undoubtedly ponder for a little while before coming to a conclusion. Lopez’s length, age, and attitude are all positives for the future, especially when you pair that with Favors.

If the Nets are somehow able to part with him and Prokhorov is able to convince Melo to sign an extension before coming over (which is almost a necessity at this point for any team) – I say the Nets are a better team for it, although one can also understand them passing on the possibility as well.

Personally, I think the Nets did a lot of things right this past summer. I’m already a fan of Prokhorov and he seems like he’s committed to turning this team around, and hiring Avery Johnson as their Head Coach was irrefutably a stroke of genius.

Right now though, it’s anyone’s guess as to where Melo will go at this point. He might even decide to stay home at Denver (although this appears doubtful at this point). As far as percentages go that this trade actually happens, what the heck, let’s go with a 30 percent chance.

That’s my best guess. What’s yours?

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