NBA

Michael Jordan VS LeBron James

patterob009 Uncategorized , , , , 1 Comment

Lebron Or MJ? The debate over who is the GOAT has had very good arguments and it can be very mixed opinions. The Debate over who is better or greater has been going on for many years now.

Who guards the throne?

LeBron was a Runner up for NBA Defensive Player of the year twice. So far in his career his defensive rating is 104.6. He has been named on the All-Defensive Team 6 times. Michael Jordan has won 1 NBA Defensive Player of the year. MJ’s defensive rating is 102.7. He was on the All-Defensive team 9 times. Jordan is a better defensive player than Lebron James only because of his 9 times on the All-Defensive team and his one DPOY award.

ALL STAR

Lebron has been in 20 All Star Games. He has 3 All Star MVPs.  Michael Jordan has 14 All Star Appearances. He has 5 All Star MVPs. And the only triple double in All Star history. MJ averaged a better stat line than Lebron James.

Lebron facing Michael Jordan

AWARDS

Lebron has 4 rings in 10 appearances and MJ has 6 rings in 6 tries. Jordan has 6 Finals MVPs, and Lebron won 4. MJ won 5 MVPs and Lebron only won 4. Lebron was the first cavalier to win rookie of the year. MJ also won rookie of the year.

TEAMMATES

MJ and Lebron both had some really good teammates, like Kyrie Irving, Scottie Pippen, Ray Allen, Toni Kukoc, and more. But who helped the most? The right answer is probably Scottie or Kyrie. People would definitely say Scottie, that would affect who is better.  

When MJ got drafted his career lasted 15 seasons, But Lebron is still going with his 22nd year and his son in the league. Lebron is #1 most total points ever, and he isn’t stopping yet. Lebron and Michael Jordan are inspirations to little kids, teenagers, and even adults. 

Lebron is 6’9 and 250 lbs. MJ is 6’6 and 216 lbs. Lebron is a Power Forward and Small Forward and MJ was a Shooting Guard. He was a great shooting guard and they have both earned the GOAT title. 

Both MJ and LeBron are very consistent. but I think MJ is way more consistent because he is 6-0 in the finals. They are also both very successful. LeBron is worth 1.2 billion, and MJ is worth 3.2 billion.

When it comes to overall impact on the game, both players have had and had a lot of impact on the game. Michael Jordan made basketball into a global sport in the 1990s and became one of the most famous athletes in history. His “Jordan” brand is still popular today, and his success helped inspire a new generation of players to reach greatness. 

LeBron James has also made a lot of impact on the game, especially with his inspiration for kids. He has become a role model for athletes around the world. LeBron has shown the power of basketball by taking control of his career, choosing teams that would help him succeed, and setting an example for players in how they manage their careers.

In the end, choosing between Michael Jordan and LeBron James often depends on everyone’s personal perspective.  Jordan is praised for his rings and defensive ability, and his clutch scoring. But Lebron ,has had a longer career with better stats  and more inspiration. Both players are legends, and while people may continue to go back and forth, it’s safe to say that both Michael Jordan and LeBron James are among the greatest players the NBA has ever seen.

2024 NBA playoffs predictions.

shawjos003 Uncategorized , , , , , , , , 0 Comment
2024 NBA playoffs predictions.

At this point in the NBA playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves have beat the Phoenix Suns 4-0 and are the only team to move on to the second round. The New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers are up in their series 3-1. The OKC Thunder are 3-0 in their series and the Boston Celtics are up 2-1 in their series. The LA Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers are both 2-2 in their series. 

Now my predictions are that in the New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers series, the New York Knicks will win in 6 games, move on to the second round, and play against the Indiana Pacers who will win in 7 games almost allowing the Milwaukee Bucks to win. My next prediction in the east is that the Boston Celtics will win in game 5  and go against the Cavaliers who will win in game 6. Heading to the west I believe the Nuggets will beat the Lakers in game 5 to play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. The Thunder will sweep the Pelicans in 4 games and play the Mavericks who will win in game 6.

In the second round, my predictions are that the Timberwolves will beat the Nuggets in 5 games and play the Mavericks in the conference finals who will beat the Thunder in game 6. I predict that the Boston Celtics will beat the Cavaliers in 6 games and go against the New York Knicks who will beat the Indiana Pacers in 7 games. Now the final teams in my prediction for the NBA playoffs are as follows. In the western conference finals Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks and the east conference finals are the Boston Celtics vs the New York Knicks. Now game 1 in the conference finals my predictions are that the Celtics will win by 7 and the Timberwolves will win by 12. In the next game ( game 2 ) the Knicks will win against the Celtics by 5 and the Timberwolves will win by 6. In the east, the Celtics are tied in their series 1-1, and in the west, the Minnesota Timberwolves are winning their series 2-0. Things aren’t looking good for Luka and the Mavs, there is a reason Mark Cuban sold the team. Anyways, In the next two games the Celtics will once again trade games with the Knicks and their series will go 2-2 but on the other hand, the Mavericks will take one game but then lose game 4. Celtics vs Knicks tied 2-2 and the Timberwolves vs  Mavericks, wolves winning 3-1. In the next game the Timberwolves will move on to the NBA finals and the Celtics will move on in game 6…

2024 NBA finals Boston Celtics against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In game 1 the Celtics will win 96 to 90 game 2 the Wolves will win 102 to 95 and in game 3 the Wolves will win again 89 to 78 Things are looking great for Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, they are up 2-1 in the finals and are 2 wins away from winning it all. But they can’t celebrate too soon, The Boston Celtics will win the next game and now the series is headed to game 5 with the series tied 2-2. In a nail-biting game the Wolves will win and will now go up 3-2 in the series. Heading to game 6 all the Wolves have to do is win one more game. In the 4th quarter of game 6, the Wolves are down by 6 with 75 seconds left and they somehow come back and win the NBA finals!!!!!! 

Anthony Edwards at the age of 22 won Finals MVP and his first ever NBA finals win.

The Top 10 NBA Players Of All Time!!!!

shawjos003 Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment
The Top 10 NBA Players Of All Time!!!!

  There have been roughly 4,000 to 5,000 NBA players and only ten of them made this list. From 5’’2 Mugsey Boges to 7’’7  Manute Bol, These are the greatest.

10.Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain is mostly known for his unbreakable records.  He once scored 100 points in a game and averaged 27 rebounds per game. He also played in an era where he was taller than 99% of the league so that is why he made it so low.

9. Bill Russell

 Bill  was born to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell and  lived in Monroe, Louisiana. Growing up everybody knew he’d be something special. He went to San Francisco to play college basketball and then got drafted to the Boston Celtics in 1956. He is mostly known for having the record of the most NBA finals won of all time being 11. But like Wilt he was taller than 99% of the league.

8. Larry Bird

Larry Bird “Bird Man” might not be seen like an NBA player physically but boy y’all are wrong. Bird was one of the best shooters in his era and was at the top of his game during the mid 80’s.  He won 3 NBA championships and won MVP 3 times as well.

7. Tim Duncan

People might be mad at me for this one but I’m telling you there are 6 NBA players better than Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan won 5 NBA championships and won 2 NBA MVP awards.

He was an elite defender and was an amazing post player.

6. Erving “Magic” Johnson

Magic Johnson was super blessed with amazing eye vision and an amazing sized body. Standing at 6’9” Magic was a very over sized point guard and regarded as Larry Bird’s rival. He won 5 NBA championships in the 80’s. He had to retire in 1991 due to his HIV. After some time then he returned in 1996 but retired the same year after losing to Houston in the playoffs.

5. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry, son of Wardell Curry, absolutely changed how basketball is played today. Coming into the league he showed some sparkes of the fire. But then in the 2015-2016 season Steph became different. He became the league MVP depending on the 3 point shot. The warriors have made it to 6 finals and won 4 of them.

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem was drafted in 1969 and won his first championship with the bucks in his second season. He went on to win 6 more NBA titles. He also won 6 MVPs and made the all defensive 1st team 11 times. But the reason he is so high in the list is because he had the scoring title up until last season when Lebron won it.

3. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant was drafted straight out of highschool in 1996. He won his first championship in 2000 and went on to win 2 more and have the first 3 peat since the Chicago Bulls. Kobe won 2 more championships in his 20 year career and is regarded as one of the greatest.

2.Lebron James

Lebron James was born in Akron Ohio and raised by his single mother Gloria Marie James. He was the best NBA prospect of all time and  got drafted #1 overall in the 2003 NBA draft.  He has made it to 10 NBA finals and won only 4 of them. Like I said before, he has the scoring title scoring 40,000+ points in his NBA career and has won 4 MVPs.

1.Michael Jordan

 Micheal Jordan the son of Dellorious and James Jordan was born February 17, 1963. Micheal Jordan’s dad was a baseball player and it seemed Mike was gonna have the same career. But one day when Micheal tried out for the high school basketball team he didn’t make the cut. Micheal Jordan took it personally and didn’t stop playing basketball and practicing. Day after day shot after shot he didn’t quit and when the opportunity came he took it. He became an amazing highschool player and got a scholarship to play basketball to the D1 college the North Carolina Tar Heels. After two amazing seasons with North Carolina Micheal was drafted at the number three pick in the 1984. Micheal went on to win 6 NBA championships, 1 Defensive Player of the year, and 5 NBA MVPs.

The New Heads of the NBA.

shawjos003 Uncategorized , , , , , , , 0 Comment
The New Heads of the NBA.

The NBA has new stars coming in every year and the “old” stars are decreasing day by day. But, this is a great time to watch and be an NBA fan because we are watching the new stars progress and become the next heads of the NBA . But there are 2 NBA players I want to talk about.

1. Anthony Edwards was drafted pick 1 in the 2020 NBA draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Growing up Anthony Edwards’ dad left the family and then when Anthony was in the 8th grade he lost his Mother and his Grandmother due to cancer. They both died on the fifth day in separate months and that’s why he wears number 5. Anthony Edwards was raised by his 2 elder brothers being his brother Antonie or Antony and his sister Antoniette. Anthony was a very hard worker and really wanted to go to the league to provide a better life for his family.

2. Another amazing player in the NBA right now is Victor Wembanyama who was picked number 1 in the 2023 NBA draft to the San Antonio Spurs. Victor grew up in a suburban town 15 minutes away from Paris called Le Chesnay in France. His parents Felix Wembanyama and Elodie de Fautereau raised him alongside his 2 siblings Oscar and Eve. His parents were professional athletes and taught Victor how to play basketball. Victor was blessed with a very tall stature and amazing hand eye coordination. He would practice shooting and his post skills all day long and really tries to perfect his craft. People agree that he is the best NBA prospect since Lebron James.

Now both of these players are putting on amazing statlines but the one that stands out the most is Victor Wembanyama. As a rookie he is averaging 20.7 pts 10.4 reb and 3.5 blk per game! Here are Shaquille O’neal’s rookie stats compared to Victors. 23.4 pts 13.9 reb and 3.5 blk. These stat lines are nearly identical! Now Anthony Edwards is also looking amazing. He is already considered a superstar in his 4th season in the league. This season he is averaging 26.7 pts 5.4 reb 5.1 ast and 1.3 stl. Another NBA legend and one of the best guards of all time is Dwayne Wade. In his rookie year he averaged 27.4 pts 4.7 reb 7.5 ast and 2.1 stl. Both these NBA players are looking like they have an amazing bright career in front of them.

As we all know the biggest feat in any sport is winning the NBA championship and one of these players as a matter of fact is pretty close to winning it. Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are the 3rd seed in the western conference with a 47-22 record. They are led by there big three Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony-towns and Rudy Gobert. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next couple of years the Minnesota Timberwolves become NBA champions.

Unlike the Timberwolves the San Antonio Spurs are out of the playoffs and are dead last in the western conference. But this isn’t Wemby’s fault. In the beginning of the season Jeremy Sochan was the point guard and they were not winning games . when they changed it to Tre Jones they did way better. In the future if the Spurs get a new point guard it will make Victor even better.

So the next time you are free, turn on the TV and watch some of these young players become better and better, and the next heads of the NBA.

How Good are NBA Players Compared to the Average Guy?

jacobmic017 Uncategorized , , 0 Comment
Some NBA players posing for their draft picture.

How good are NBA players? NBA stands for National.Basketball.Association. This is the highest level and league of the sport. The NBA is where the best, of the best, of the best, players play. Every single one of these guys are elite and have been that way in every league they have played in. There is a 0.03% chance you play in the league. Also the average height of an NBA player is 6’7. So you gotta be pretty tall too. But how do you actually make it to the top?

Early Years

 Well for most players they have been playing since they have been born. Right when they have been able to hold a ball, they have played the game. A lot of NBA players’ parents also played basketball. Their parents can teach them the fundamentals of the game from an early age. Going forward, players can start to join AAU or highschool teams.

AAU/High School

Most players start playing AAU and High School ball next. Most High Schools have programs for younger grades that can help them develop and learn what offenses, or defenses, their High School runs. AAU can get you noticed and much better. AAU basketball can go all year round, but mostly in the summer where there’s many tournaments, and leagues you can sign your team up for. Even in High School, AAU has tournaments and leagues all around the country for scouts and recruits to watch prospects play. So most players usually are playing on two, maybe three teams at some point, when they are young. Around their junior, and senior year, kids can start to really get noticed. College recruits can reach out and start giving them offers to schools. Scholarships can be a huge boost of confidence and a goal achieved for most players. The next step for players is College basketball.

College Career

Once they hit their College years, it’s much different. There is no AAU, but there are multiple levels of college basketball. Lower divisions like Juco, D3, D2, are all still very competitive. All college basketball is, and there’s many very good players at those levels that can still make the NBA. But D1 is the highest level for college basketball. That’s where most NBA scouts watch games, and players. Collegiate players can start getting NBA scouts to notice them when they play well in big games, or tournaments like “March Madness”. But to make it to that point you have to be way better than anyone else on your team. Even if your team is a very high caliber squad. After the players’ college years, they can start thinking about playing professionally.  

Professional Basketball

Now after college they can put their name in the NBA draft. If you were extremely good in college, you might get drafted, and have a shot at the NBA. But being that great is very, very hard. So most good players in college try to go pro. But even that is very hard to do, because now you are getting paid to play the sport. For most players that’s a dream come true. Your job is to literally play the sport you have been playing since you were born. But also that means the stakes are higher, and you can’t mess up nearly as much. It’s easy to stop paying a player, if they aren’t contributing to the team, and for some that happens to them. But if you do play professionally, and keep getting better, your chances of making the league go up.

Taking your Shot

Now all of those hours practicing, shooting, dribbling, playing, etc, all lead up to you getting a possible shot in the NBA. The chances of you making the NBA are 0.03%. But it is still possible. If you have an amazing college career or pro career, you can make it. When you’re playing at the highest level possible, it’s just that much harder to get minutes and playing time. If you want to even be a rotational player, it’s hard. But if things fall in place, you can be even more.

How Can I Make it

In conclusion, NBA players are way, way, better than the average hooper. Showing this path that most players go down to make it to the league, helps you understand the difficulty of playing at that level. But if you really want to make it, go watch films of greats, and work really hard. Whoever does that wins.

Top 10 Best NBA Players in History

obraryd000 Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment
Top 10 Best NBA Players in History

There have been more than 4,000 people play in the NBA. Out of all these players there are 10 players who stand out among the rest. In this article I will be naming who I think the top 10 best NBA players are.

10.Steph Curry

Ordell Curry better known as Steph Curry is 35 years old and in his 14 season in the NBA. Steph Curry has made many accomplishments in his career such as passing Ray Allen three pointers making him the best shooter of all time, getting MVP (Most Valuable Player)  2 times, and making all NBA nine times. Steph has shown great leadership skills as well by leading the warriors to their first championship in franchise history making him the best warrior of all time. Looking at all the stats I had to put Steph at No.10.

9.Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan was born and raised in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, before basketball Tim Duncan wanted to become an olympic level swimmer. Tim Duncan has won 5 championships with the Santonio spurs. He has also made many achievements in his career like winning MVP of the league two times, 15 time all star, and making all NBA 13 times. Tim Ducan is a very talented player and is sometimes overlooked. He can be higher on the list but I think NO.9 is a respectable spot.

8.Wilt Chamberlain

Ok, I know what everyone is saying “How is Wilt at number 8”   and I understand. Wilt Chamberlain was an amazing player and some people even put him in the top 5, but Wilt played from 1966-1980 that was a long time ago so the league wasn’t as advanced as it is now. But Wilt made many achievements in his career like scoring 100 points in won game, winning 2 championships, 4 time MVP, and being the only player in history to score 4,000 points in one season.

7.Bill Russel 

Bill Russel was a great player and sadly passed away last year. There is a documentary on him on netflix. Bill Russel was the only one who could guard Wilt Chamberlain, creating one of the biggest rivalries in NBA history. Russel won the most championships in NBA history with 11 championships. Russel won MVP 5 times and made all NBA 12 times. The reason Bill Russell is not higher up on the list is for the same reason as Wilt Chamberlain, the time period that he played in was just not as advanced as it is now. Like I said Bill Russel was a great player and will be remembered RIP.

6.Larry Bird

Larry Legend better known as Larry Bird  was a great player who changed the game and shaped it into what it is today. Larry Bird played in the league for only 13 seasons but in those seasons he made many achievements like winning 3 championships, won two finals MVP awards, and 3 league MVP’s. Bird is considered one of the best shooters of all time. Larry Bird would be in my top 5 if he did not hurt his back. Every game Bird had to stretch for hours before games. Larry Bird was a great player and one of my favorite players ever.

5.Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson is one of the most well known players to play in the NBA and inspired many players like Kobe Bryant. Magic Johnson is most well known for being the best point guard in the history of the NBA. Magic won 5 championships with the lakers. Magic Johnson has many feats like being one of six players to get a triple double in the finals, 3 time MVP, and 10,141 assists. The reason Magic is not higher on my list is because sadly he caught a disease called HIV which made him have to retire.  Magic Johnson was a great player who changed the game 

4.Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant also known as the Black Mamba was a great player who is as close to Michael Jordan as you can get. Kobe Bryant is known for being the best Laker ever and one of the most clutch players ever. Kobe Bryant was very dominant and worked harder than any other player ever. Kobe would do stuff like call his coach at 4 in the morning just to ask him what they were going to do at practice. Kobe also would not pass the ball to anyone if they were not willing to put in the same amount of work as he did no matter how good they were. Kobe ended his career with 5 championships, 11 time all BA, and the only player in history to score at least 600 points in the postseason for three years in a row. Sadly in 2020 Kobe and his daughter Gigi died in a helicopter crash RIP.

 

3. Kareem Abdual Jabar

Kareem played in the NBA for 20 seasons. He was 7’2 so he could easily     shoot over anyone with his signature move the sky hook. Kareem is the 2nd all time scorer of all time with 38,387. Kareem ended his career with many feats like six championships, six MVP’s, and two finals MVP’s. With his stats and accomplishments Kareem definitely deserves to be in the top 3.

2. Lebron James

Lebron James has played 21 seasons in the NBA and the league has never seen anything like what Lebron has done. Last year Lebron passed Kareem in scoring with 47,000 career points. Lebron has won 4 championships, 4 MVP’s, and 19 All-star games. Lebron James has been playing in the NBA for a long time and has inspired many young plays. After looking at his stats there is no question that he is the 2nd best player of all time.

1. Michael Jordan

The best player of all time with 6 championships, 5 MVP’s, and one time defensive player of the year is Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan played for 15 seasons but accomplished a lot in those years. Michael Jordan even impressed Larry Bird who is known to be one of the best trash talkers ever. Another reason Jordan is the best player ever is because people feared him. Players were so scared of him that they wouldn’t even look him in the eye. Basketball wouldn’t be the same without Michael Jordan and no one will ever come close to what Jordan accomplished.

 

 

 

 

 

Who I Think Will win the NBA Finals

henrysticht Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment
Who I Think Will win the NBA Finals
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday

#1: Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have the best record in the NBA right now, led by MVP caliber player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis does have some help from 2nd time all-star Jrue Holiday. They have a record of 52-20, and are 25-5 in their last 30. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 10%

 

 

 

#2: Boston Celtics

The Celtics are second in the nitty gritty eastern conference, at a 50-23 record. They are led by 2 time all-star Jaylen Brown and MVP caliber player Jayson Tatum. Together they have led the Celtics to the 2021-22 finals, but ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors in 6 games. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 122%

#3: Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are 1st in the Western Conference, at a 49-23 record. They are led by MVP caliber player, playmaking center, Nikola Jokic. 3.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, they have already clinched the NW division title.  Odds to win the NBA Finals: 12%

#4: Philadelphia 76ers 

3rd in the Eastern Conference, this team has a league-high 2 MVP contenders. Led by MVP-ladder leader Joel Embiid and 9th place James Harden, they have a record of 49-23, 0.5 games away from the Boston Celtics in 2nd place. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 13%

#5: Phoenix Suns 

With recently requiring superstar Kevin Durant, the Suns have a bright future ahead, with a few championships in sight. 4th in the Western Conference with a 38-34 record. Since KD started playing on the Suns, they’ve had a 5-5 record. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 5%

#6: Memphis Grizzlies

2nd in the Western Conference, this team is led by all-star starter Ja Morant, an explosive, young guard who plays alongside potential DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. Jaren Jackson Jr. was a 1st time all-star this season. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 10%

#7: Sacramento Kings

3rd in the Western Conference, they are led by 1st time all-stars Domantos Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. They have the best offense in the league averaging 120.9 points per game and have the league/season high points 176. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 5%

#8: Cleveland Cavaliers

Currently 4th in the Eastern Conference, this team is led by 3rd time all-star and first time all-star starter Donavon Mitchell, who has been a standout in the “Land” since he got traded out of Utah. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 14%

#9: New York Knicks

5th in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are in a time of prosperity. MVP candidate Julius Randle and underrated star Jalen Brunson have led the team to a 43-33 record. Just 2 years ago, they had finished 4th in the Eastern Conference, but got 1st rounded by the Hawks. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 5%

#10: Golden State Warriors

Led by all-star Stephen Curry, they have the 6th best record in the Western Conference, but have the 4th worst Road game record at 9-29. They still have an overall 38-36 record. A slight disappointment after last year’s championship winning team. Odds to win the NBA Finals: 1%

#11: Minnesota Timberwolves

Currently riding a 4 game win streak, they are 6th in the Western Conference. Their end of season boost may carry momentum over to the playoffs and help them power over the tough Kings, Grizzlies, and Nuggets. Led by 1st time all-star Anthony Edwards and crazy frontcourt duo of Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns, they have a 39-37 record. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

#12: LA Clippers

5th in the Western Conference, they have an opportunity to step out of the Lakers shadow as the “Other LA team”. Led by 8 time all-star Paul George, 2 time DPOY winner Kawhi Leonard, and former MVP Russell Westbrook, they have a 40-36 record.Odds to win the NBA Finals: 1%

#13: Miami Heat

7th in the Eastern Conference at 40-35, they are led by 2 time all-star and DPOY candidate Bam Adebayo. Jimmy Butler took a step forward from last season when he averaged 21.4 points to where he now averages 22.8 points. Not named to an all-star team, Jimmy is still a defensive force, being 2nd in steals at 1.9. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

#14: Oklahoma City Thunder

Led by 1st time all-star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this team is changing the narrative for young teams. Most young teams are tanking for “Unicorn” VIctor Wembamyama, this team is a serious play-off contender. 10th in the Western Conference, Shai is that guy. He could lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals this year, if everything goes right. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

 #15: Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks lost depth when they made a blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving. Kyrie hasn’t yet found his place on the team, because with Kyrie they are 6-13 with Irving on the team. Irving is known to make teams have a downfall, but the Mavericks are hoping to break his streak. They are 11th in the Western Conference at 37-39. Odds to win the NBA Finals: <1%

And there you have it! My top 15 teams to win the NBA this year. The NBA will be a completely different place next few years with multiple superstars starting to emerge.

Odds from nbarankings.theringer.com

Standings and stats from nba.com

Top Ten NBA Players of All Time

parkejac006 Sports , , 0 Comment
Top Ten NBA Players of All Time

The top ten NBA players of all time is a big debate when it comes to sports. Everybody has their own opinion about who they think is better, but ten players stand out from the rest.

 

  1. Bill Russell

Everyone is familiar with the 11 time NBA champion! He was dominant in every aspect of the game. He averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 assists, and a staggering 22.5 rebounds per game! The best player the NBA has ever seen in his era. The reason he isn’t higher on my list is that his era was not as competitive as it is today. Besides this reason, he is still one of the best players of all time.

 

  1. Magic Johnson

Earvin Johnson Jr. AKA Magic Johnson was a once in a generation talent. His ability to pass, shoot, and be a lockdown defender helped him win 5 rings with the Lakers. His specialty was his ability to pass. He racked up 10,141 assists as well as 17,707 points.

 

  1. Shaquille O’neal

Everyone knows the giant himself, Shaq. He played 19 seasons for 6 different teams! The big man through those 19 seasons averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game! He was also able to grab 4 championships.

 

  1. Tim Duncan

The man who made bank shots popular, with 1,934 made bank shots! He played on the Spurs his whole career from 1997 to 2015. He averaged 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Though his stats aren’t the best he was a huge force in the game. In his long career he was able to earn 5 rings, 2 MVP’s, and 3 finals MVPs. 

 

  1. Kobe Bryant

You’ve been living under a rock if you have never heard of the Black Mamba before. Kobe Bryant was famous for his mentality and his ability to score in every way. He averaged 25.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. Kobe Bryant has won 5 NBA championships, two-time finals MVP, 18 time all-star, and an MVP. Kobe was a huge inspiration for the upcoming generation of the NBA.

 

  1. Larry Bird

One of the best shooters the NBA has ever seen, Larry Bird was something else. He was able to score in every way. During his 13 season career he averaged 24.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 10 rebounds! Just by the stats alone you can tell he was great. The big bird won 3 MVPs, 3 rings, and 2 NBA finals MVPs! The bird was definitely something else. 

 

  1. Wilt Chamberlain

If we want to talk about stats Wilt’s stats will blow your mind. This man averaged 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists! If you aren’t impressed yet he holds the title for most points in a single game with… 100 POINTS! He also holds the record for most rebounds in a game with an impossible 55 rebounds! During his dominating career he racked up 2 rings, 4 MVPs, and one finals MVP. Wilt was definitely the most dominant player in history, but the reason he is not higher is because his era was not as talented as it is now.

  1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Did you know the NCAA had to ban dunking for 10 years because Kareem was too dominant? This is true, no one could stop Kareem so the only way to stop him was to ban dunking. With his famous skyhook that was unguardable he was able to average 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Kareem was able to hold the scoring record for 38 years with 38,387 points! During his legendary career he was able to have a total of 6 MVPs, 6 time NBA champions, and a 19 time all star. Kareem and his sky hook were legendary.

 

  1. Michael Jordan

The biggest idol for NBA players was always MJ. Everyone wanted to be as great as him. The reason for this could be that he went 6-0 in the finals or that he averaged the most points in NBA history with 30.1. Some more of his accolades include, 6 finals MVPs, 5 MVPs, and a 14 time all star. Every part of his game was perfect, from shooting to defense, MJ was one of the greatest.

 

Honorable Mentions

 Some of the honorable mentions include: Steph Curry, Hakeem Olajawon, Jerry West, Karl Malone, Oscar Robertson, Julius Erving. Though these players were great they didn’t make my list for many reasons. 

  1. LeBron James

The king, the chosen one, The GOAT. LeBron is the best basketball player of all time. Everyone knew he would be great straight out of High School. LeBron has played 20 seasons and counting. Through those 20 seans he has won 4 Championships, 4 MVPs, 4 final MVPs, and a 19 time all star. We can’t forget that he holds the all time scoring record with 38,450 points! The reason that he is the GOAT of basketball is because of how dominant he has been through his whole career. LeBron is truly the GOAT.

 

Who I Think Will Win the NBA MVP

henrysticht Uncategorized , , , , , 0 Comment
Who I Think Will Win the NBA MVP

In this article I will not only be covering who I think will win the NBA MVP, but also the Rookie of the Year, 6th Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, Coach of the year, Defensive Player of the Year. Although the NBA has already released a few awards, such as the last six awards listed, I will still cover who I think should win.

The NBA has already released the Defensive Player of the Year award, the Clutch Player of the Year award, the Sixth Man of the Year award, the Most Improved Player award, the Rookie of the Year award, and the Coach of the Year award. The winners are as listed above; Jaren Jackson Jr., De’Aaron Fox, Malcolm Brogdon, Lauri Markkanen, Paulo Banchero, and Mike Brown. I won’t cover the Clutch Player of the Year because the statistics were too confusing for me to understand.

 

MVP

  1. Joel Embiid

While NBA.com has Nikola Jokic being the frontrunner for an MVP, I believe that Joel Embiid will take home his first MVP. Joel Embiid is an offensive force. After winning 2 straight NBA scoring titles, and no MVP’s, I believe its his time to take home an MVP. He is currently averaging 33.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.2 apg. Most points per game plus 10.2 rebounds in my opinion is an MVP caliber stat line. NBA.com has him 2nd in the Kia MVP ladder.

2. Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic may become the first player to “three-peat” an MVP award since Larry Bird did so in 1983-86. He may join the 4 player club as an MVP “three-peater”. He is currently averaging 24.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 9.8 apg. He is averaging the most assists by a center this year(3rd in NBA), and the 2nd most rebounds by a center and all players. NBA.com has him as 1st in the Kia MVP ladder.

3. Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum co-led the Celtics to a 2nd place spot in the Eastern Conference, only 1 game behind NBA.com’s 3rd place MVP contender, Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is averaging 30.1 ppg, 8.8 ppg, 4.6 apg. A near double-double from this year’s All-Star game MVP with a NBA record 55 points. NBA.com has him 4th in the Kia MVP ladder.

4-10

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

5. Donovan Mitchell

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

7. Domantis Sabonis

8. Luka Doncic

9. Kevin Durant

10. James Harden

The winner of the 2023 MVP award is yet to be announced, but hopefully will some time in May.

 

Rookie of the Year (ROTY)

The Rookie of the Year award has been dominated since day 1 by one person: Paolo Banchero. He was the consensus 1st overall pick. The only player that could’ve stolen it from him was injured rookie Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

1.Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero was the consensus first overall pick of last year’s draft to whoever had it. The Magic were the lucky winners and, of course they picked Banchero. Averaging 20 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.7 apg, he leads all rookies in scoring. NBA.com has him 1st for ROTY.

2. Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict popped off in his first few games as the Pacers 6th man. In those first couple of games he averaged 24 ppg. Overall, Mathurin averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg. NBA.com has him 4th for ROTY.

3. Jalen Williams

Jalen Williams was a standout at Santa Clara, and became a prolific scorer for the Thunder in the second half of the year. He averaged 17.24 ppg in the second half of the year. Overall, he averaged 14.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg. NBA.com has him 3rd for ROTY.

4-10

4. Walker Kessler

5. Jaden Ivey

6. Keegan Murray

7. Jabari Smith Jr.

8. Jeremy Sochan

9. Malaki Branham

10. Shaedon Sharpe

The winner of the 2023 ROTY award was Orlando Magic forward Paulo Banchero.

 

MOY

1. Bobby Portis

Bobby Portis is currently second in the 6MOY runnings. He is on the Bucks team that s looking to claim their second title in 3 years. He is averaging 14.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.5 apg.

2. Malcolm Brogdon

Malcolm Brogdon is the 6th man for the Boston Celtics. His team is looking to claim their first title since 2008, and edge out the LA Lakers in the race for the most titles. They are both currently tied at 17 rings. Malcolm is averaging 14.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.7 apg.

3. Immanuel Quickley

Immanuel Quickley is the 6th man for the surprising Knicks team. The Knicks are currently hoping to get past the Cavaliers in the first round, which would be the first time in 10 years they won a round in the playoffs. Quickley is averaging 14.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.4 apg.

The winner of the 2023 6MOY award was Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon.

 

MIP

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai has upped his number from last year(24.5 ppg, 45.3 FG%, 30.0 3pt%, 5.0 rpg, 5.9 apg) to 31.4  ppg, 51.0 FG%, 34.5 3pt%, 4.8 rpg, 5.5 apg. He is also sixth in the MVP runnings. He led the Thunder to a play-in berth, and a 9/10 game win versus the Pelicans with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. This year he was a first time all-star.

2. Lauri Markkanen

Lauri has made a huge improvement from last year. Last season he averaged 14.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.3 apg on 44.5 FG% and 35.8 3pt%. This season he is averaging 25.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.9 apg on 49.9 FG% and 39.1 3pt%. He is well deserving of the award he took -although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should’ve won. However, he failed to bring the Jazz to a play-in berth, finishing 12th place in the Western Conference.

3. Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson is- in my opinion- one of the most underrated players in the league. Averaging 24.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 6.2 apg on 49.1 FG% and 41.6 3pt% he is a top 20 scorer. He is the bringer of Julius Randle’s comeback(even though he won MIP in 2019-2020). Last year his stats were: 16.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.8 apg on 50.2 FG% and 37.3 3pt%.

The winner of the 2023 MIP award was Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen

 

COTY

1. Mike Brown

After winning in a literal landslide, Mike Brown coached the Sacramento Kings to their very first playoff berth since the 2005-2006 season. He had help from the Clutch Player of the Year award winner De’ Aaron Fox, and the rebound title winner Domatas Sabonis.

2. Mark Daigneault

“Coach D” -as many people abbreviate his name- led the OKC Thunder to a play-in berth after a horrible losing season last year. Without the 2nd overall draft pick from 2022, his team was led by 12th overall Jalen Williams and Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander.

3. Joe Mazzulla

He was supposed to be the Celtics assistant coach after Will Hardy moved to the Utah Jazz, but after the Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was fired, he took the reigns of one of the most dominant teams ever.

The winner of the 2023 COTY award was Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown.

 

DPOY

1. Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Grizzlies PF/C led the Grizzlies to a 2nd seed berth in the 2023 playoffs. He averaged 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. The Grizzlies were the 2nd best rated defensive team during the playoffs. The Grizzlies were the 7th best defensive team during the regular season.

2. Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez was the 3rd star for the Milwaukee bucks this year. He averaged 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. In the playoffs, the Bucks were the 14th best defensive team, but during the season, they were the 5th best team.

3. Evan Mobely

This year for Cleveland he averaged 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers were the best defensive teams with the defensive rating. During the regular season, they were the best team.

The winner of the 2023 DPOY award was Jaren Jackson Jr.

The NBA Teams With the Brightest Future

henrysticht Uncategorized , , 0 Comment

If we’re talking about bright futures, we have to talk about the OKC Thunder. The youngest team in basketball made the play-in, and was one game shy of the playoffs. With MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, the Thunder can expect a few changes in the next upcoming years.

The Magic are also a great candidate for brightest future. With Paulo Banchero as a rookie, he averaged more than 20 ppg, and with a chance to get Scoot Henderson or Victor Wembanyama, their future has never been better.

The Rockets also have great potential with Jabari Smith Jr, Jalen Green, and a 14% chance to get the before mentioned Victor or Scoot. They were battling with the Spurs for 15th in the Western Conference, which they tied, only winning a measly 22 games. For example, the Bucks won 58 games and lost 24.

The Detroit Pistons already were the worst team in all of basketball, but this season didn’t help. But, with rising stars like Cade Cunningham Jalen Duren, and Jaden Ivey, they only won 16 games. They could’ve done better, but their team leader, and the player they depend on most Cade Cunningham got injured after just 12 games. They went 3-9 with Cade, which is a win percentage of just 25%. It is still better than their season long percentage of 19%.

These next teams have the dimmest futures.

The Milwaukee Bucks have a problem no one is talking about. They have an average age of 29.47, and their lone star, Giannis Antetokounmpo is 28 years old, Jrue Holiday is 32, Khris Middleton is 31. They have traded almost all of their picks away, with only having 5 in the next 6 years. 3 of them are second rounders.

Miami Heat’s average age is 28.13. They too are experiencing the same problem as the Bucks. Only 4 draft picks in the next 4 years, none in this draft. On the bright side, 3 of the draft picks are first round draft picks. With star Jimmy Butler only doing good in the NBA playoffs, and Bam Adebayo’s being able to go into free agency in 2026, the Heat are in trouble.

The Phoenix Suns have one of the best current cores for a basketball team. 26 year old Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Kevin Durant, that trio is good for another year or so. Kevin Durant is now 34, CP3 is a whopping 38 years old,