Game Greatest Nba
Who do you want your offense to run through with everything on the line? Counting down 30th to 1st (one per team), I’ve ranked the League’s go-to guys…
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#1: KOBE BRYANT, L.A. Lakers
Grown-man fear is a complicated thing. It’s not a pure phobia, nor the fear one experiences through startled shock, nor is it a fear that cripples, like that of failure or open spaces.
Grown-man fear is a healthy fear, a rational and smart fear. Born out of respect, it grows bigger and stronger when fueled by mythology or previous experience. It’s the feeling you’d have if a mafia-looking cat asked you to sit in the front seat, or if you felt handcuffs on your wrists in a foreign country.
No active basketball player inspires grown-man fear quite like Kobe Bryant. Defenders assigned to guard him feel it, as well as teammates who don’t do their jobs. Then on another level, you have Kobe’s NBA peers who sometimes seem fearful of even mentioning anyone but Kobe when asked to identify the League’s best overall player or its most dangerous clutch performer. I’ve personally asked those questions, and seen several players spit out “Kobe” as if it’s reflex. And from some of them I caught a sense that although they didn’t truly believe that answer, that’s what they were sticking to. Anything else could create a reason for Kobe to single them out for a 50-point statement game or a one-time baptism on the wrong end of a highlight.
Look at Kobe’s recent run with Team USA. Playing with the game’s elite go-to players, from Dwyane Wade to LeBron James to Carmelo Anthony, Kobe wasn’t just the first option in crunch time — he was unquestionably the first option in crunch time. Had Coach K drawn up a play for a cold-shooting Kobe in a crucial situation, the likelihood of one of his teammates steeping in to say, “Nah, Coach, I’M taking this shot!” was unnaturally low.
Going by the numbers, though, there are other players who could hold this No. 1 spot. While Kobe did lead the NBA in “clutch time” scoring last season with 56.7 points per 48 minutes, his 45 percent field-goal shooting in the clutch was well below LeBron, Carmelo and Vince Carter, among others. Wade and Danny Granger were more prolific fourth-quarter scorers, while Chris Paul and Brandon Roy shot significantly higher percentages in the fourth. Kobe’s clutch time and fourth-quarter assist numbers were relatively low considering he is the Lakers’ primary playmaker, and according to 82games.com, Kobe has made only 25 percent of his game-winning shot opportunities over the last six years; Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitzki and Allen Iverson trump him in either their number of game-winners, or have hit a higher percentage of their daggers. Kobe has gone head-to-head with Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups, Steve Nash and Tim Duncan on the NBA’s biggest postseason stages, and lost. Sometimes decisively.
But then every time I ask, “Who do I least want to see coming out of the other huddle when my team needs a defensive stop?” … Kobe is always the first answer.
Do you have to believe the media machine that has decided Kobe’s “will to win” is greater than anyone else’s? That he’s so much more competitive than everyone else? That his refusal to lose somehow has an impact on every other player on the court? No. But do you remember that Nike commercial a few years ago where the skinny kid on a dirt road somewhere is listing any and everyone that he’d beat in a race?
“Anybody, anywhere, any time. Put ‘em next to me, you say ‘Go,’ I’ll race ‘em. And I’ll beat ‘em.”
The kid’s name was Myzel Robinson, but his swagger was definitively Kobe Bryant. And maybe he doesn’t always win. Maybe he doesn’t always make the shot or make the right decision. But if you’re on the other side, you’ve always got that grown-man fear that he will, and it nags at you more in Kobe’s case than in the case of anyone else playing this game.
That’s the story.
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2. Dwyane Wade
3. Paul Pierce
4. LeBron James
5. Tim Duncan
6. Dirk Nowitzki
7. Brandon Roy
8. Carmelo Anthony
9. Chris Paul
10. Deron Williams
11. Vince Carter
12. Joe Johnson
13. Danny Granger
14. Steve Nash
15. Kevin Durant
16. Gilbert Arenas
17. Derrick Rose
18. Chris Bosh
19. Andre Iguodala
20. Tracy McGrady
21. Baron Davis
22. Michael Redd
23. Devin Harris
24. Kevin Martin
25. Al Jefferson
26. O.J. Mayo
27. Stephen Jackson
28. Nate Robinson
29. Boris Diaw
30. Rip Hamilton
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NBA Betting – Atlantic Division Preview
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Before you get ready to bet World Series odds, make sure you get your picks in for the NBA season, which began on Wednesday. Here’s a look at the Atlantic Division, and all signs are pointing towards a Boston repeat.
BOSTON CELTICS
Odds To Win 2009 NBA Title – 4/1
Atlantic Division Odds – 2/9
The Celtics picked up Rasheed Wallace as backup for Kevin Garnett, who missed the second half of last season and the playoffs with a knee injury, and Garnett’s health is crucial to the Celtics’ championship odds this year. There’s also the off-court drama involving Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who will miss six weeks because of a broken thumb caused in a fight, and Rajon Rondo, who announced that he won’t re-sign with Boston. This means the Celtics will need all of their veteran experience to avoid distractions, but with Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in the mix, that shouldn’t be a problem.
TORONTO RAPTORS
Odds To Win 2009 NBA Title – 60/1
Atlantic Division Odds – 7/1
Persuading Hedo Turkoglu to come to the north was a major coup for the Raptors, who now have someone who can create a shot on their own. DeMar DeRozan has looked good in the preseason, but he’s still a rookie. Jarrett Jack came from Indiana to push Jose Calderon at the point, but the biggest question for the Raptors is, can Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani be on the court at the same time? They’re very similar players, and Bosh will be out to prove to someone that he’s worth $20 million a season. How these players perform will be the key to the Raptors’ online sports betting odds.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
Odds To Win 2009 NBA Title – 65/1
Atlantic Division Odds – 8/1
The 76ers lost Andre Miller to Portland, and no one will miss the veteran point guard more than Andre Igoudala, who now may be asked to handle the ball more. The 76ers also need Elton Brand to be healthy, as the power forward played only 29 games after signing a massive contract. Outside of these two, there aren’t many points, which means defense will be a focus, and it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes Louis Williams to grow into the point role.
NEW JERSEY NETS
Odds To Win 2009 NBA Title – 100/1
Atlantic Division Odds – 66/1
The Nets traded Vince Carter to Orlando, but they got Courtney Lee, who was starting to come into his own during the Magic’s run to the Finals, and Rafer Alston, an experienced backup to Devin Harris, who may be the league’s quickest player from baseline to baseline. Brook Lopez was great in his rookie season, and he’ll try to avoid the sophomore jinx. The Nets also have a talented and young group of small forwards, led by Chris Douglas-Roberts and first-round pick Terrance Williams. That won’t help this year, but the Nets could be a major NBA betting player for next season, especially if they snag one of this year’s prized free-agent class (ahemLeBronJamesahem)
NEW YORK KNICKS
Odds To Win 2009 NBA Title – 75/1
Atlantic Division Odds – 35/1
It’s business as usual in the Big Apple under Mike D’Antoni: lots of points being scored, and even more defensive breakdowns for the Knicks, who were third-worst in the league in terms of points allowed. Drafting gunner Toney Douglas fits into D’Antoni’s system, but the Knicks already have a small player who shoots from anywhere in Nate Robinson. Fellow rookie Jordan Hill should get some minutes, but again, the Knicks have a similar player in David Lee. Look for lots of 120-100 scorelines, with the Knicks often on the wrong side. While the Yankees will be among many World Series picks this year, stay far, far away from the Knicks.
2009 Atlantic Division Pick
The last three don’t really have a chance, the only team that can realistically push Boston is Toronto, and they have a long way to go in regards to team defense. The Celtics have more scoring options than anyone else, and they’re easily the best defensive team in the division, and even with any in-fighting (which will be squashed immediately), the Celtics should have enough to take the Atlantic again. Go with Boston in your offshore sportsbook.
