Built Ford Tough

With the Ukic/Delfino for Johnson/Weems trade, the Raptors ended up filling that final roster spot was filled.

So if Chris Bosh leads the Raptors to the second round in the playoffs this year the fact that he has led the Raptors just as far as Carter did and in the process would have more wins in the postseason than Carter as well won't mean anything? What about the fact that he is the Raptors all time leader in points scored, rebounds, blocked shots, minutes played and field goals made? After this year is up Bosh will have most likely tied Carter in All-Star Appearances and if he manages to sneak onto an All-NBA team he will have matched Carter in that regard as well. Vince Carter is my favourite Raptor of All-Time and he is the most talented player that the Raptors have ever had and he helped put the Raptors on the map, but whether or not people want to admit it or not, Chris Bosh has quickly closed the gap when talking about the greatest Raptor of All-Time.

Eric Gordon is 6'3 and 222 pounds. Dwyane Wade is 6'4 and 216 pounds. So tell me again, can undersized shooting guards be franchise players? Gordon is 20 years old and coming off of a very solid rookie season, so it is a little early to be calling him one dimensional as far as I am concerned. How many players come into the league when they are 19 years old and have a truly refined, all around game anyways? I don't think that you are wrong by saying he is not a franchise player because I don't think that he is one either, but out of the players left to choose from, he is undoubtedly the one that posses the most talent and highest possibility of being a franchise player.

Eric Gordon without any doubt. He is easily the best player available and he fits in perfectly with the Knikcs and D'Antoni's style.

NHL: Luke Schenn NBA: Steve Nash MLB: Justin Morneau Don't know about the others.

In McGrady's 3 years with the Raptors he averaged: 10.6 ppg/5.4 rpg/2.4 apg on 44 FG% and 28 3PT% in 24 mpg. Aside from his third and final season in Toronto in which he averaged 15.4/6.3/3.3 on 45% in 31 mpg, T-Mac was a below average player during his time in Toronto. He was a player with potential and nothing more than that. And Carter is still currently the best Raptor of All-Time, but Chris Bosh is quickly closing the gap and if he manages to lead the Raptors into the second round of the playoffs this year, he will be the best Raptor ever. Just for the sake of it, lets compare what Carter and Bosh have done/did with the team. These are from Wikipedia, so don't blame me if they are somewhat faulty (although they look pretty good to me) Playoff Appearances: Vince Carter: 3* Chris Bosh: 2 *Carter was injured when the Raptors made their playoff push in 01/02 and didn't play in the playoffs. Playoff Victories: Vince Carter: 6 Chris Bosh: 3 All-Star Appearances: Vince Carter: 5 Chris Bosh: 4 (will be 5 most likely after this year) All-NBA Teams: Vince Carter: 2 (1 2nd and 1 3rd) Chris Bosh: 1 (1 2nd) Rookie Of The Year: Vince Carter: yes Chris Bosh: no All Rookie Team: Vince Carter: First Team Chris Bosh: First Team NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week: Vince Carter: 15 Chris Bosh: 3 NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month: Vince Carter: 0 Chris Bosh: 1 Games Played: Vince Carter: 403 Chris Bosh: 439 Minutes Played: Vince Carter: 15,408 Chris Bosh: 16,289 Total Points Scored: Vince Carter: 9,446 Chris Bosh: 8,597 Total Rebounds: Vince Carter: 2,091 Chris Bosh: 4,025 Total Blocks: Vince Carter: 415 Chris Bosh: 532 Total Assists: Vince Carter: 1,553 Chris Bosh: 949 Field Goals Made: Vince Carter: 3,541 Chris Bosh: 3,044 Free Throws Made: Chris Bosh: 2,527 Vince Carter: 1,784 Career Averages With Raptors: Vince Carter: 22.2 ppg/5 rpg/3.7 apg/1.3 spg/1 bpg on 44 FG% and 36 3PT% Chris Bosh: 19.6 ppg/9.1 rpg/2.2 apg/0.8 spg/1.2 bpg on 49 FG% and 29 3PT% If we are talking about who was the most talented player the Raptors have ever had, then it is Vince Carter without a doubt, but if we are talking about the greatest or best Raptor ever (in terms of what they accomplished as a member of the team and stuff like that), Chris Bosh is right up there with Carter and if the Raps get into the second round of the playoffs, Bosh will have officially passed Carter as the greatest Raptor ever.

He stopped being a point-forward.

I highly doubt it. Pippen is a very good player and there is no doubt that if he was the number one option of a team for the duration of his career that he would've experienced a lot of success and led his teams into the playoffs for the majority of his time there. However, you have to take into consideration that in order to win a ring, Pippen would have to go through players/duos like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway (later Kobe), Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson, John Stockton and Karl Malone, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, Tim Duncan and David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and John Starks (and later Ewing and Houston/Sprewell), Reggie Miller and the depth of the Pacers, Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, and last, but certainly not least, Michael Jordan (I am sure they would've found somebody to replace Pippen, but even then, Jordan on his own is a scary player). During that era, there was a lot of great, great players at their best and some insanely talented teams. Unless Pippen had another superstar alongside him (and if that was the case would he really be considered the undisputed number one option?) he would not be able to get through the surplus of great teams that were around during the prime of his career, at least not in my mind. About the leadership thing, I know what you are trying to say and I do agree with it somewhat, but I firmly believe that you are either a true leader or you are not, and I don't think that Pippen had what it took to be a true leader of a team. He had the physical tools to do it, and his skillset was enough as well (although I don't know if I would trust him down the stretch to take over a game but thats neither here nor there) but I don't think that he was mentally capable of leading a team. He would quite possibly get better at it, and that is something that we will never know, but I just don't think that he was mentally capable of being a leader on a Championship team. I could definitely be wrong though. He might have led his team to 1 Championship, but that is all that I will concede to you. Yeah, I am well aware of the fact that Jordan was unable to get over the hump that was the Detroit Pistons/Boston Celtics during the beginning parts of his career, but lets be honest here, would you really expect Jordan and the Bulls at that time to beat teams like that? It was basically Jordan, and a young Jordan at that, and Oakley against teams like the 80's Celtics and the Bad Boy Pistons. Jordan had absolutely no help at all during his younger years and it was a miracle that he even managed to get those teams to where he did. Yeah the MVP voting is nice and all (it was actually 3rd, not 4th), but its like Brandon already said, the voting was absolutely dominated by Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson and Pippen never really came close to actually winning the award. Besides, I am not trying to deny that Pippen wasn't an elite player during his prime because he was, and if Pippen is the number one option on a team, I would expect a player of his abilities to be in the running for the MVP, especially considering he had a very good team around him. Yeah the Bulls only lost two more games during Jordan's failed attempt at playing pro baseball, but they also only made it to the second round of the playoffs as well, which should be mentioned. You like to bring up how good of a job that Pippen did in his first, and full year without MJ on the team, but what about the next season (94-95)? The Bulls finished with a record of 47-35, which is a solid record, but if you look deeper into it, the Bulls were only 34-31 before Jordan made his comeback and were looking like a bottom seed playoff team at best. It wasn't until Michael came back that the Bulls picked it up and finished off the season by going 13-4 in their last 17 games. I know that the Bulls were a weaker team from the previous seson, but they weren't that much weaker that they would've went through such a steep drop off. I don't think that you can use those Blazer teams as a case for your argument to be honest. There was no undisputed leader of that team and it was a team effort with great contributions all around from guys like Rasheed Wallace (16/7), Steve Smith (15/4), Damon Stoudemire (12.5/5), Arydias Sabonis (12/8) and Scottie Pippen (12.5/6.3). The reason why this team was so successfull was because of the contributions that they got from all of their starting lineup and their great team play. Even in the playoffs, Rasheed Wallace and Steve Smith were the main offensive options, and Pippen actually struggled somewhat as he shot 41% from the field in the playoffs that year. In the most important game of the Blazers season, Pippen was basically non existent on the offensive end with his 12 points and 33% shooting. The Blazers also blew a 15 point lead in the 4th quarter to lose the game, which could be another knock on Pippen's leadership. Even if the Blazers won it all that year, you can't say that Pippen led them there because it was a complete team effort and nobody was the clear cut best player of that team. I really hate statements like this. I would probably agree with you that if prime Pippen was on that team that they would've won, but if Pippen was dominating the ball and things like that, do the Blazers get as far as they do in the first place? Are players like Smith, Stoudemire and even Wallace as effective as they are? See, I can spin it in the opposite direction just as easily as you can spin it in your direction. 85-86 was actually the season that Jordan missed the majority of the year and the Bulls only won 30 games or so, just thought I would point that out. They were 40-42 in 86-87. Anyways a rookie Michael Jordan with a [expletive] supporting cast that only won 27 games the season before a third year Jordan that had to average 37 ppg just to get his weak [expletive] team into the playoffs and a 38 year old (eventually 39 year old) Jordan who was 3 or 4 years (can't remember which) removed from the game somehow validates your argument? What these numbers show is that even the greatest player of All-Time can't get it done on his own and that he had to go through hardships early in his career to become the player that we all remember. Yeah, I completely agree that Pippen was an integral piece to those Bulls team, but just throwing out these stats doesn't tell the story, esepcially when you consider that it was Jordan, Oakley and thats basically it going up against two of the best teams in NBA history in the Bird led Cetlics and the Bad Boy Pistons. These stats, while easy to throw out there, don't hold much weight as far as I am concerned. Anyways, all of this talk about what Pippen did and/or could've done without Jordan doesn't change the fact that a healthy Grant Hill would have a greater legacy than a 1st option Piston. Nobody is denying that Pippen would've been a great player and did great things regardless of Jordan, but a healthy Grant Hill would've been a greater player and did greater things.

Why? With Ginobili Terry and Flip Murray coming off of the bench, Barbosa would be completely redundant as he gives nothing but offense to the team, and Gino and Terry are both better at it than he is and Murray is better at running an offense than Barbosa is. With Terry, Ginobili and Murray, Barbosa is not needed at all.

We got to see how good Hill was during his prime, but we did not get to see how good he was during his absolute prime, which he was just enterting before he was decimated by injuries. Grant Hill was on his way to becoming the face of the NBA after Jordan retired and he would have been the one that carried the torch into the new millenium and been the poster boy for the NBA. He was coming off of a 26/6.6/5.2 on near 50% shooting and led his fairly weak Pistons team to the playoffs as Stackhouse was really the only other star on the team. The rest of the team was filled up with role players like Lindsey Hunter and Christian Laettner. Although these two were very solid role players, the team was definitely lacking outside of Grant and Stack. This is completely incorrect. Lets just look at the stats from Hill's teammates during his tenure in Detroit: 94-95: Joe Dumars: 18.1 ppg/5.5 apg Terry Mills: 15.5 ppg/7.8 rpg Allan Houston: 14.5 ppg/45 FG%/42 3PT% 95-96: Allan Houston: 19.7 ppg/45 FG%/42 3PT% Otis Thorpe: 14.2 ppg/8.2 rpg/53 FG% Joe Dumars: 11.8 ppg/4 apg/40 3PT% 96-97: Joe Dumars: 14.7 ppg/4 apg/42 3PT% Lindsey Hunter: 14.2 ppg/1.6 spg/35 3PT% Otis Thorpe: 13.1 ppg/7.9 rpg/53 FG% Terry Mills: 10.8 ppg/4 rpg/42 3PT% 97-98: Bison Dele: 16.2 ppg/8.9 rpg/51 FG% Jerry Stackhouse: 15.7 ppg/3.3 rpg/3.1 apg Joe Dumars: 13.1 ppg/3.5 apg/37 3PT% Lindsey Hunter: 12.1 ppg/1.7 spg/3.5 rpg 98-99: Jerry Stackhouse: 14.5 ppg/2.5 rpg/2.8 apg Lindsey Hunter: 11.9 ppg/3.9 apg/38 3PT% Joe Dumars: 11.3 ppg/3.5 apg/413PT% Bison Dele: 10.5 ppg/5.6 rpg/50 FG% 99-00: Jerry Stackhouse: 23.6 ppg/3.8 rpg/4.5 apg Lindsey Hunter: 12.7 ppg/4 apg/42 3PT% Christian Laettner: 12.2 ppg/6.7 rpg/47 FG% So as you can see, Hunter was never second fiddle for the Pistons and was the third or fourth option and shot in the low 40's, sometime even sub 40, for the Pistons during the time that Grant was there. To be perfectly honest, a big part of the reason why Hunter was able to put up double digit point totals during these years was because of Hill's playmaking ability and all of the attention that he demanded whenever he stepped onto the court. After Hunter stopped playing with Hill, he only averaged above 10 ppg one more time in his entire career with his 10.1 ppg mark in his first, and only, season with the Bucks back in 00-01. After that season, he hovered around 5 ppg for the rest of his career aside from one season with the Raptors in which he averaged 9.7 ppg. Don't get me wrong, Scottie Pippen is an All-Time great and most likely a top 5 small forward to ever play the game, but if Pippen was the first option for the duration of his career, a large part of what makes him so great (6 Championships) will be gone because I don't think that he had what it took to lead a team to the promise land as the main man. He was an elite second fiddle, perhaps the greatest of All-Time, but he did not posses the leadership capability nor did he have "it" (you know what I mean, at least I hope as it would be hard to explain lol) to be an elite first option and franchise player. Grant Hill had "it" and, if he was not decimated by injuries and management put the right players around him, he would have led his team to multiple championships. If Grant was never hit by injuries and had a healthy career, he would be a top 10 player of All-Time and would've gave Larry Bird a run for his money as well (although I don't think he ever would've surpassed Bird, he would be the undisputed second best small forward to ever play the game). I don't think that Pippen would not have been top 10 ever if he was the number one option for his entire career. It truly is a shame that Hill was hit so hard by injuries, because the NBA and us as fans, missed out on seeing a truly special player, and one that does not come along often. EDIT: I just read your latest post and wanted to respond to one thing, hold on a second before (if) you reply to this lol. I'm typing right now. The funny thing is that you say if Pippen was in his prime during todays game that he would be the number 2 small forward in the game today (and I don't disagree with that) but you say that LeBron would be the one small forward that is ahead of him. Well, Grant Hill was LeBron James before LeBron James was around. I mean, Grant Hill was doing exactly what LeBron has done during his career and that is put up ridiculous, jaw-dropping numbers. LeBron would score more and dish out a few more assists (although Hill did have a season that he dropped 7.3 apg, which is more than James has ever done) but Hill would grab more rebounds (averaged 9.8 in his sophomore season, 9 in his third season and was hovering around 7-8 the next three years) and play better defense. By saying that Pippen would be second to LeBron James, is basically the same thing as saying that Pippen would've been second to Grant Hill because Grant Hill was LeBron James before LeBron James (if that makes sense lol).

I don't really pay any attention to wrestling anymore as it has gotten boring for me, but I have nothing better to do tonight so I decided to watch a bit of it, and I must say, that match between Mysterio and Ziggler (is that is name? the audio in my feed is a little hard to understand) was actually pretty good.

Like HG said, I would replace Anderson with Pryzbilla. He is just a much better overall player than Birdman if you ask me and has basically everything that I look for in a backup big man (grit, toughness, defense, rebounding etc..). I would also replace Flip with Hinrich. The bench would have enough offensive punch with players like Ginobili, Terry, Odom and even Posey can give you a solid offensive contributor so I think that players like Flip Murray or J.R. Smith would be a little bit redundant. Having Hinrich would give the second unti a reliable floor general and a player that will run the offense (which they don't really have as Terry is not a true point guard). Hinrich is also a very capable offensive player and will hit open jumpers when they present theirselves and is good at creating for his teammates. Defensively, he gives you a very good defensive guard, which is one of the major things lacking in your perfect bench. I would definitely put Hinrich on there instead of Flip. He would really compliment the rest of the players well and strengthen up what little weakensses this bench had. Other than that though, good article man. Oh and one thing I just noticed, what is up with the whole "Songalia is a dominant offensive big man coming off of the bench" statement? Would you mind explaining that one a little better because I definitely don't think that dominant and Songalia should be used in the same sentence.

Yeah its fine to lay it down horizontally. I've never stood mine up vertically and I've had it for like 2 years.

Andrea Bargnani: 3.7 3PA ; 1.2 BPG Mehmet Okur: 2.8 3PA ; 0.8 BPG (and 4.1 3PA ; 0.4 BPG the year before) Or is the 1 inch height discrepancy really that big of a deal for you? I'm not saying that Bargnani is a top 10 center, although if he continues his strong play from the second half of last season and improves his rebounding he has a very strong case, but its pretty hypocritical to say that abuot Bargnani and not say anything about Okur, unless you really consider that extra inch that Bargs has on Okur to be so important. EDIT: Forgot my list lol Bynum Bogut Kamen Okafor Okur

Looks good. Great job Brandon.

Evans should start at point guard even if he might not be completely ready for it. The Kings aren't going to be relevant at all next season and the entire season is going to be devoted to developing their young players. They might as well start him from the get go. Also, Udrih is a good point guard when he isn't forced to be a player that he is not. Last season too much was asked of him and he struggled as a result of that. As for small forward, I would probably give the nod to Nocioni. He gives them a tough, gritty player at the 3, but to be perfectly honest, I don't think it really matters either way who starts at the 3 for them next season.

If Larry Brown wants absolutely no part of Iverson, why would he say: Source I remember reading something in June saying similar things about how he would be open to a reunion with Iverson. I get that people don't always tell the whole truth when being interviewed by the media but they also don't go out and straight up say "I love Allen." or "I'm very open to a reunion." or "I'd be all for it (coaching him)." Iverson gets such a bad rap for what happened in Detroit and gets basically all of the blame placed on him, which is bogus as far as I am concerned.

Allen Iverson has said on his twitter that the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and the Charlotte Bobcats are all teams that he is interested in signing with. And with reports coming out of ESPN, among other media outlets, that Iverson is getting close to a deal, it makes you wonder which of these three teams are going to take a chance on the fallen superstar. While the Knicks and Heat are interesting scenarios for Iverson, I think that there is a definitive answer to the question of where Iverson should sign, and that answer is the Charlotte Bobcats. The Charlotte Bobcats are one of the best defensive teams in the game which is to be expected from a Larry Brown coached team. They do a fantastic job of playing team defense and making it difficult for the opposing team to score on them and that was the reason that the Bobcats almost managed to make their first playoff appearance in franchise history last season. However, despite their excellent defensive play, the Bobcats are missing a player that can be the focal point of their offensive scheme. They have some very good complimentary pieces on offense in players like Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw, but they lack that one player that can take over a game offensively. Cue Allen Iverson. Say what you want about Iverson as a person or a player, but there is no mistaking his ability to score the basketball and for a team that is hard up for scoring, his offensive capabilities could prove to be invaluable. He is terrific at slicing through defenses and drawing contact on his way to the rim. To put it simply, he is one of the most dynamic scorers that the NBA has ever seen. On any given night he is capable of an offensive explosion and going off for 40-50 points, and on a team that is as defensively sound as the Charlotte Bobcats are, these kind of scoring outbursts could very well be the difference between a win or a loss. Having Iverson on the team will open things up for his teammates though, and Iverson has shown in the past that he is more than capable of setting up his teammates with easy buckets. When Iverson is at his best he is putting the pressure on opposing defenses with his relentless attacking of the rim and this opens up plenty of opportunities on the outside for his teammates. People are quick to point out the flaws in Allen's game and say that he is washed up, but in 2007/08 Iverson scored 26.4 points per game and 7.1 assists per game. He also shot a career best 45.8 percent from the field. With him having a season like that such a short time ago, I can't help but think that Iverson still has it and if he is put in the right situation, he can rejuvenate his stalled NBA career. Allen Iverson experienced his best years as an NBA pro when he was surrounded by defensive players and had the ball in his hands on the offensive end and was making plays. The Charlotte Bobcats are a defensive oriented team and built in the same mold as the Philadelphia 76'ers that Iverson led to the playoffs earlier in the decade and I can't help but notice the similarities between the two teams. No coach has gotten more out of Allen Iverson than Larry Brown. Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, has stated that Iverson would be happy to play under his former coach, and Larry Brown has not once indicated that he wouldn't be willing to reunite with Iverson. Could a reunion be in the works? With the Charlotte Bobcats being a fantastic defensive team coached by Larry Brown that is in need of a focal point on the offensive end of the floor, signing Allen Iverson would be a perfect answer to not only Allen's questions, but the Bobcats playoff questions as well. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/239462-the-charlotte-bobcats-the-answer-to-all-of-allen-iversons-questions?ref=lead *I wrote this yesterday before hearing about the Houston/Iverson speculation. I just thought I would post it anyways*

Diesel, I never said that the Hornets made it to the second round of the playoffs two straight years. I said that Chris Paul led them to the playoffs for the second straight year last season. It is a little confusing though, so I can see why you misread it. Thanks for the compliment as well. This article ended up on CBSSports. http://www.cbssports.com/nba That was not expected lol.

Anthony Johnson is still three times the player that Williams is and Anthony Johnson sucks. That just goes to show how bad Williams is now.

I would take Miller at throwing lobs as well, which is why I put perhaps there because, well, saying that he is the second best in the league just doesn't shound as perhaps the best, if you know what I mean lol. As far as for where Philly would rank if Brand were to return to his 20/10 form, I think that they would be able to have a strong case for being around top 10. They would go ahead of Atlanta and Utah for sure and I would probably put them ahead of Toronto or Phoenix as well. They wouldn't be ahead of the Blazers though. I would say either 11 or 12. 13th at the lowest.

Yeah I know what you mean as that actually happened. Just as I thought I had the perfect order assembled, I would end up shuffling some teams around. I probably changed the order at least 4 times before I finally decided to just post it on B/R before I changed my mind again lol. As for your comments in the first post, which I saw and planned on responding to I was just waiting for the rest of your opinions as you said you would get to it so don't think I was avoiding it lol, I can see where you are coming from and if this were duos, I would give the number one spot to Kobe and Pau without thinking twice about it. However, as a trio, I think that the Celtics and Spurs both edge out the Lakers by slight margins and a lot of it has to due with the fact that we have seen what these two trios bring to the table and how they play together, while the Lakers is somewhat uncertain with the addition of Artest. To be perfectly honest though, the top 3 can go in any order as long as the three teams are the Celtics, Spurs and Lakers in my opinion. I wouldn't have a problem if you put the Lakers at 1, Spurs at 2 or Celtics at 3 or any other variation of those three teams. Thanks for the read and comment though, Brandon.

To Erick: I completely agree with basically everything that you said. I just wanted to have 30 trios with one from each team so I used my best judgement on who I think deserved to be apart of their teams respective trios. As for the names that you mentioned, I have no problem with any of them and can see where you are coming from. It really comes down to a matter of personal preference when talking about teams that don't have a clear cut "big three". Thanks for the comment though man. To ATDI: The major reason why I had the Grizzlies so much higher than the T'Wolves is that as a trio I think that the Grizzlies are just a lot more rounded. The Wolves have the best player of the 6, but the Grizzlies have the next best 3 and it is by a fairly considerable margin in my opinion (Flynn may have something to say about that though). Now that I think about it, you do have a point with the Wolves and if I were to redo it I would definitely have them ahead of the Pacers and the Bucks for sure. When I was writing it I just took Jefferson's injury a little too much into consideration and the fact that Love really didn't break out until Jefferson was injured. I can definitely see where you are coming from though, and when I first organized it how I thought the order should be, the Wolves were actually at about 25 but I ended up bumping them down to 27 by the time I finished it. Thanks for the reply though.

30: New York Knicks: Al Harrington, Wilson Chandler, and Nate Robinson Al Harrington is a dangerous offensive player and coming off a 20 point per game season, but you have to question whether or not he truly is a winning player. He gets his points, but he doesn't really do anything to help his team win. He is a horrific defender, a poor rebounder, and has an absolutely terrible attitude. Nate Robinson has become a spark plug off of the bench for the New York Knicks, but his lack of size and point guard skills leave him as a limited player. He does not bring anything to the table aside from scoring and energy off of the bench though. Wilson Chandler is one of the lone bright spots on the Knicks roster. He is an intriguing prospect and showed a lot of promise last season and with an increased role on the team he looks to take his game to the next level. While there is no denying that the Knicks have a talented Big Three, the simple fact of the matter is that aside from Chandler, none of these players are conclusive to winning and seem to be content with nothing more than getting their own. 29. Sacramento Kings: Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evans, and Spencer Hawes Kevin Martin has become one of the best scoring shooting guards in the NBA over the past few seasons and looks to have a very bright future ahead of him. He is one of the best scorers in the game but does not give you much else aside from that scoring. Tyreke Evans is a huge question mark heading into the season. He will most likely be given the starting point guard spot and look to lead the Kings. He is a dynamic athlete and has loads of potential but will he be able to step in immediately? Spencer Hawes is a versatile big man that can step outside and hit the jumper. He is going to have to improve his defense and all-around game to be more than an average center, though. The Sacramento Kings have some good young talent in Martin, Hawes, and Evans, but aside from Martin, none of them are proven players. How will these youngsters perform next season? That is up in the air. 28. Houston Rockets: Aaron Brooks, Trevor Ariza, and Luis Scola The Rockets have been decimated by injuries. They are without Yao Ming for the entire season and who knows how long Tracy McGrady will be out for, or if he will ever become the player that he once was. So as a result of injuries to their star players, the Rockets are going to have to get some production elsewhere. Aaron Brooks had a coming out party during last year's playoffs and showed that he can be a legit NBA point guard. He is lightening-quick and is very adapt at getting to the hoop. He is going to have to improve his decision-making and add more to his game to continue to stay effective though. Ariza joins the Rockets from the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. He was a vital piece to the Lakers championship run and was a key contributor. However, you can't help but wonder whether or not Ariza looked better than he truly was alongside great players like Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. I guess time will tell. Luis Scola is also going to have to take a more prominent role on the team and become a focal point on offense. He is one of the best role players in the game and a fantastic energy player, but can this role player step his game up and become a major contributor offensively? Without Yao and T-Mac, this trio is looking a little wack. 27. Minnesota Timberwolves: Al Jefferson, Jonny Flynn, and Kevin Love Al Jefferson is one of the best young big men in the game today. A fantastic offensive option down low and a great rebounder. He is a limited defender and passer, but he has all of the tools to be a multiple-time All-Star. A concern about Jefferson is how well will he bounce back from his season-ending knee injury last year? Jonny Flynn is the most NBA-ready point guard that came out of this year's draft. He is an explosive athlete and a great leader on the floor. He is going to need to improve his jumper to keep the defense honest to get full use of his blazing speed. He my be small in stature, but this young point guard has a huge heart. Kevin Love is a terrific rebounder and a fundamentally sound player. He doesn't have any particular area of his game that he stands out in aside from rebounding, but he is just an all-around smart player. He isn't an ideal compliment to Jefferson however, and didn't look great playing alongside Big Al last season so that is something to keep in mind. The T'Wolves trio is full of potential, but aside from Jefferson, none of them have shown much more than just potential. 26. Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger, T.J. Ford, and Troy Murphy Danny Granger had a breakthrough 2008-09 season in which he was named to the All-Star team for the first time and also won the NBA's Most Improved Player award. He is a dynamic offensive threat capable of going off at any time and showed last season that he is a viable number one option. When T.J. Ford is focused in on playing team basketball, he can be a very lethal point guard with his incredible speed and playmaking ability. Sadly for Pacer fans, Ford tends to get caught up in individual battles too often and doesn't have the greatest of attitudes. When he is in the right mindset though, he is a good player and point guard. Troy Murphy is one of the league's better rebounder and was among the league leaders in double-doubles last season. He is a smooth shooting big man that stretches the defense and has the potential to be a matchup nightmare. He doesn't give much aside from rebounding and shooting though, as he is a pretty poor defender. Danny Granger is one of the NBA's bright young stars, but aside from Granger, this trio just doesn't shine. 25. Milwaukee Bucks: Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, and Brandon Jennings Michael Redd has been hit hard by injuries over the last couple of years, but when Redd is on his game there are not many better pure scorers in the NBA. He is a lethal shooter and an all-around great scorer but he does not bring too much to the table. The biggest knock on Redd over the past few years has been his inability to stay on the court. Andrew Bogut was taken with the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and has not developed into the player that the Bucks had originally hoped for him, but he is still a very good center. He is one of the best passing big men in the NBA and when given an opportunity, he has proven that he can be a viable offensive option. Brandon Jennings is the brash and cocky rookie point guard that the Bucks are looking to lead them into the future. He has all of the physical tools and gifts in the world, but you have to question his mind frame. He is a very good player on the court, but his mouth may get him in trouble off of the court. You can't deny his talent though. With Redd's injury problems and question marks surrounding Jennings, I simply can't put them any higher than 25 so here they are. 24. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Wallace, Tyson Chandler, and Raymond Felton Gerald Wallace is one of the most energetic players in the NBA and is the definition of a guy leaving it all on the floor. He may not be the most talented guy out there, but you know that he will give you 110 percent every time he steps on the floor. Sadly for Bobcat fans, this pedal-to-the-metal playing style often ends up with Wallace on the injured list. Tyson Chandler is the newest member of the Bobcats and he brings them an ultra-athletic, long, defensive big man. He makes his living on the defensive end of the floor and is known as one of the premier defensive centers in the game. However, he is very limited offensively and without a point guard like Chris Paul spoon-feeding him easy baskets he is not going to give the Cats much offensively. As of right now Felton is not technically a part of the Bobcats as he is still a restricted free agent, but I decided to include him anyway. Felton is a good floor general and a tough defender. He is not going to wow you with his play but he will go out there and give you a consistent effort night in and night out on both ends of the floor. This trio is very potent defensively, but do they have the offensive firepower to warrant a higher ranking? Not in my mind, so they come in at 24. 23. New Jersey Nets: Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, and Courtney Lee Devin Harris broke out last season in his first full year with the Nets and made his first All-Star appearance. Without Vince Carter in the lineup, look for Harris to improve on his terrific season last year as he is the undisputed No. 1 offensive option and franchise player in New Jersey. He established himself as a top-10 point guard last season and is looking to make the jump to top-five this year. Brook Lopez just may have been the steal of the 2008 NBA Draft. He was definitely the best big man selected and had a very good rookie campaign last year. He showed great skill down on the low block and with another year of experience under his belt, look for him to come into the season as a much improved player. Being the Nets second best player and having an increased role on the team is only going to benefit him as well. Courtney Lee was the centerpiece in the Vince Carter deal this past season, and he has the potential to become a very dangerous two-way player in the NBA. He was the Magic's best perimeter defender in their run to the Finals last season and proved that he is no slouch on the offensive end of the floor, either. This trio may be young and somewhat unproven, but do not count out their abilities as they are very good players. 22. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Jeff Green Last season Kevin Durant gave us a glimpse into his future as an elite scorer. He absolutely tore it up after being moved to his natural position of small forward. He is already one of the NBA's elite scorers and will just get better as he gains more experience. Durant is going to have to round out his game and become a better playmaker to take the next step though, but I fully expect him to do that. Russell Westbrook is coming off of an impressive rookie season. He showed his surreal athleticism and versatile skillset. With a full season under his belt and being more accustomed to the league, look for his defense to become a staple of his game. He is going to have to develop more point guard skills and play within himself more often to become a true point guard, though. When Jeff Green was drafted he was predicted to be the Scottie Pippen to Kevin Durant's Michael Jordan and Green has the skillset to become a poor man's Pippen. He is a versatile forward with good playmaking instincts. With Durant missing some time last season he was able to showcase all of his talent and he looked good. With another year of experience under his belt, look for him to come out guns blazing. The only thing holding this trio back is experience, but they are undoubtedly going to be a force to be reckoned with within in the next couple of years. 21. Los Angeles Clippers: Baron Davis, Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon Baron Davis is coming off of an absolutely terrible season in which he shot 37 percent from the field and averaged 14.9 ppg, which is his lowest point output since his sophomore season. He clashed with his coach and played uninspired basketball for the entire season. Still, there is no denying this man's talent and when he is on his game physically and mentally, there aren't many better point guards. Blake Griffin was the first pick in this year's draft and the Clippers showed their commitment to him by trading Zach Randolph and opening up the starting power forward spot for him. Many people believe that Griffin is possibly the most NBA-ready big man prospect to come into the league since Tim Duncan and he looks to be leading candidate for Rookie of the Year. One of the lone bright spots for the Clippers last season was the play of Eric Gordon. He was a dynamic shooter and showcased all of his offensive abilities. With another year of experience on his belt, look for him to come out guns blazing and improve on his stellar rookie season. If Davis focuses on the game and Griffin plays like he's expected to, this trio could very well deserve to be ranked higher. 20. Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, and Zach Randolph O.J. Mayo is a terrific scorer and shooter. He was the leading scorer for the Grizzlies as a rookie and looks to elevate his game to the next level in his sophomore season. He has already proven that he can score the rock, but in order to become a better player he is going to have to round out his game. Rudy Gay is an athletic specimen and if the reports about him adding 20 pounds of muscle are true, he is going to be a lethal slasher this season. He has shown the ability to score the rock, but much like Mayo, this youngster needs to develop the other areas of his game—his passing in particular. If he is able to become a better creator for his teammates, he could really become something special. The Grizzlies acquired talented, but cancerous Zach Randolph in the offseason in hopes that he can solve their power forward woes and lack of interior scoring. Nobody can deny the talent that Randolph has, but you have to question his work ethic and whether or not he is a player that will bring you wins. He has a history of putting up hollow, empty stats on losing teams. Will Randolph be able to turn it around and become a piece to a larger puzzle? This trio is very talented, but with the inexperience of Mayo and Gay, as well as the questionable attitude of Randolph, Grizzly fans could be in for a roller coaster of a season. 19. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, and John Salmons The Bulls lost Ben Gordon to the Pistons, but are hoping that Luol Deng is back and healthy. Deng has shown signs of being a very efficient scorer and playing alongside a point guard like Rose is going to help his game out tremendously. Before he was hit by the injury bug, Deng was considered to be one of the brightest young stars in the game and if he can stay healthy he will show why. John Salmons was a trade deadline pickup for the Bulls last season and was a huge reason why they gave the Celtics so much trouble in the playoffs. He is a smooth player that doesn't blow you away, but will methodically pick you apart. Having an entire training camp to work with will do wonders for his game, and with Gordon gone, expect to see an increase in his role as well. Last, but certainly not least, is the reigning Rookie of the Year and first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Derrick Rose. Rose showed a tremendous amount of potential and the sky truly is the limit for him. The Bulls are going to lean heavily on this explosive point guard this season and if last season was any indication, Rose is up for the task. The Bulls are a team on the rise, and this trio will be relied on heavily to improve on their successful season last year. 18. Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, and Andris Biedrins Monta Ellis had a tumultuous season last year. He was injured in the offseason in a moped accident which caused him to miss a significant amount of time. This season, he is looking to put that all behind him and prove why he was given a large contract extension. Ellis is a dynamic scorer that is one of the fastest in the game today. Stephen Jackson brings a fire and tenacity to the game like no other. He is a passionate player that plays with his heart on his sleeve, which can be his biggest strength and biggest weakness at the same time. He is the leader of this team and a very versatile player. When his head is on straight, he is a very good player and this young Warriors team is going to be looking to Captain Jack for leadership. One of the most important parts of a Run N' Gun system is being able to rebound the ball. After all, if you can't rebound the ball you can't get out and run, and this is exactly where Andris Biedrins comes in. He is a terrific rebounder and defensive player and is usually the one to ignite the Warriors fast break. Defense is his role and he plays it very well. The Warriors have always been an exciting team, and this trio should be very fun to watch next season as they start running towards the postseason. 17. Detroit Pistons: Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon Rip Hamilton has been the Pistons leading scorer for the past seven seasons and looks to continue that trend. Hamilton is one of the best players in the NBA at moving without the ball and utilizing off-the-ball screens to get himself open looks. He possesses one of the best midrange jump shots in the game. Tayshaun Prince is the player that gets the least recognition out of the members of those elite Piston teams, but with Chuancey Billups and Rasheed Wallace gone, Prince will be under the microscope. Prince is a lengthy defender that is among the best in the NBA. He also has a good jumper and his length is causes mismatches in the post. The Pistons biggest move this offseason was to sign former Chicago Bull Ben Gordon to a long-term deal. Gordon is most likely going to come off of the bench next season and if that is the case, he will be among the leading candidates for the Sixth Man of the Year award, an award in which he has already won. His role will be instant offense off the bench, and this role fits him perfectly. The Pistons had a horrible season last year as it was the first time in six years that the did not make it to the Eastern Conference Finals and if they hope to make it back to the top of the mountain in the East, it will be up to these three players. 16. Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, and Jermaine O'Neal Dwyane Wade is a top-three player in the NBA and an elite player in every sense of the word. He is a dangerous offensive player and one of the best guards in the league at playing passing lanes and blocking shots. Wade is a superstar, what else needs to be said? Michael Beasley had a somewhat disappointing rookie season considering the hype he had going into it, but with a larger role on the team and a season under his belt, he could become a force alongside D-Wade next year. His combination of size, strength, quickness, and athleticism allows him to score in a variety of ways. As long as he puts in the work on both ends of the floor, he can be a star. Jermaine O'Neal was acquired just before the deadline last season and took time to adjust to the team. He is a fallen superstar and has troubled knees, and although he is not what he used to be, he is still a great defensive presence that can have a scoring outburst on any given night. Although this trio isn't fantastic in terms of depth, I can't bring myself to drop them any further down the list considering how good Dwyane Wade is, so they come in at 16. 15. Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, and Thaddeus Young Elton Brand has been hit hard by injuries and missed the better part of two seasons now. The Sixers signed him to a fat contract last offseason and with the loss of Andre Miller, they are going to need him to show why they gave him that contract. When he is healthy, Brand is a consistent 20-10 player that plays solid defense as well. He will be relied on heavily to give the Sixers a much needed interior presence on offense. Andre Iguodala is one of the most exciting players in the league and proven to be a very good player. He has been the best player for the Sixers during their last two trips into the postseason and a healthy Brand may help give him some more room to operate. Last year he struggled with Brand in the lineup, but hopefully these two can develop some chemistry during camp and become a potent inside-outside duo. Thaddeus Young is an energetic, versatile forward that can do a bit of everything. He was fairly raw coming out of college and looks to be putting it all together. With Miller leaving the team, Young is going to have an increased role on the team and they will need him to step it up and become the third best player on the team. The Sixers have a talented trio, but chemistry issues as well as possible injuries have them stuck in the middle of my rankings. 14. Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, and Josh Smith Joe Johnson has thrived since coming to the Hawks and they have had great success with him leading the way. He is a great scorer and a very good playmaker from the shooting guard spot. He is a versatile player that does a little bit of everything on the court. Johnson is arguably a top-five shooting guard in the game today and the straw the stirs the Hawks pot. Mike Bibby was the player that many people consider to have pushed the Hawks over the top and made them a playoff team. He is a very good shooter and a great leader on the floor. He is a very clutch player and loves the big moments. He isn't a great playmaker from the point guard spot and not your typical point guard, but he is just a very good basketball player. Josh Smith is one of the most athletic players in the game today and he makes great use of that athleticism by getting out in transition and finishing on the break or by protecting the hoop with blocked shots. He is not a great man-to-man defender, but his length and leaping ability make him one of the premier help defenders in the game today. The Hawks have a very talented young squad, and have made some noise in the East these last two years, and if they are going to make some more noise this year, it will be these three players that lead the charge. 13. Utah Jazz: Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur Deron Williams is a top-two point guard in the NBA and the best player currently playing to not have been named to an All-Star team. He has great size for the point guard spot, and that, along with his excellent playmaking skills, shooting ability and screen usage, make him a terror for opposing point guards. Deron has become a complete player since entering the league and an absolutely fantastic floor general. Carlos Boozer has had a very interesting offseason to say the least as his name was swirled around in trade rumors and speculation. As of right now though, he is the starting power forward for the Utah Jazz and he is a damn good one. He is a physical banger down low with some good post moves and he also works very well with Deron Williams in screen and roll situations. He is a very good rebounder as well. His defense simply sucks and he is a fairly selfish player, but he is definitely a good one. Mehmet Okur is really a key piece to the Utah Jazz and I don't think that he gets the recognition that he deserves. His perimeter shooting ability gives the Jazz tremendous spacing and opens up the entire lane for Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams to work with. He is an excellent offensive big man that has a major impact on the Jazz. The Jazz have experienced success with this trio, and they look to get back to where they were just two seasons ago when they were a Western Conference finalist. 12. Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh, Hedo Turkoglu, and Jose Calderon Chris Bosh is one of the best offensive big men in the game today. He has an excellent jumper and is very good at getting to the line. He has a great first step which he uses very well and allows him to get to the rim. Offensively he is just a tremendous talent. He has shown in the past that when he is given a respectable supporting cast around him, he has the ability to lead them into the playoffs and this year, he has a good cast around him. Hedo Turkoglu was one of the biggest free agents to hit the market this offseason and he ended up in Toronto. He is a walking mismatch with his 6'10" frame and ball-handling abilities. He is a very good playmaker for his size and a dangerous shooter. Perhaps the best part of Turkoglu's game is his ability to come through in the clutch and in pressure situations, which is going to be a huge asset to the Raptors. Jose Calderon is one of the best pure point guards in the NBA. He truly gets what it means to run an offense and play unselfish team basketball. He is a tremendous shooter and is great using screens. He is a good playmaker and all around offensive player. His defense is a concern as he is a lousy defender, but you definitely can't deny his talents on the offensive end of the floor. This Raptor trio possess a lot of talent on the offensive end of the floor, but they really don't give you much in the way of defense, which prevents them from making it into the top 10. 11. Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson Steve Nash is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and possibly one of the best of All-Time at running a fast paced team. He is a fantastic passer and playmaker and a master at utilizing screen situations. He has a dead-eye jumpshot from the perimeter which forces teams to play him tight coming off of screens. He is getting up there in age, but he is still good for another year or two. Amare Stoudemire is an ideal power forward in an uptempo system. He runs the floor better than any big man in the game and is one of the most ferocious finishers in the paint. He is also very effective in screen situations as he has developed a very nice midrange jumper. A motivated Amare is a top-five power forward in the game. Jason Richardson was acquired in December and didn't have the season he hoped for. He is a dangerous shooter from deep and an athletic finisher around the rim. He will be a very nice target out in transition for Nash and thrives in the fast-paced game. These three players may be the most offensively talented trio in the game today, but with their lack of defense, they slide down to No. 11. 10. Portland Trailblazers: Brandon Roy, Andre Miller and LaMarcus Aldridge Roy is one of the NBA's rising young stars. He is widely recognized as a top-five, possibly even top-three shooting guard in the NBA. This youngster plays the game with the poise of a seasoned veteran. Roy is a jack of all trades as he really does not have a glaring weakness in his game. He has developed into quite the player and, perhaps more importantly, leader. Andre Miller is the Blazers' prized offseason acquisition. This savvy floor general will be the elder statesman for the Blazers and brings valuable experience to the table. Miller is a very good pass-first point guard that looks to get everybody involved. During his time with the Sixers he showed himself capable of being a solid leader, and that is something that the Blazers will love about Miller. Rounding out the trio is power forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge is a smooth shooting big man that loves to step outside and shoot the midrange jumper. He is an excellent pick and pop player. He needs to develop more of a back to the basket game and to learn how to fully utilize his exceptional length though. The young Blazers had a nibble of the postseason cake this past season, and they are hungry for me. This trio will dictate whether it will be feast or famine for the Blazers. 9. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul, David West, and Emeka Okafor Chris Paul is coming off of back-to-back MVP-caliber seasons and leading the Hornets to the playoffs for the second straight year. Paul is one of the best playmakers in the NBA and is an expert at setting up his teammates for easy baskets. He is perhaps the best point guard in the NBA at throwing lob passes. He is the player that many consider to be the best point guard in the NBA. David West is a great shooting big man. He and Paul are quite possibly the best pick-and-pop tandem in the entire NBA. West is coming off a second consecutive All-Star appearance and looks to help lead the Hornets back to the Western Conference elite. The newly-acquired Okafor gives the Hornets a different outlook. He does not posses the athleticism that Tyson Chandler has nor is he as energetic, but what he does bring to the table is a more polished offensive game along with some very sound positional, as well as help, defense. Playing alongside a point guard like Paul is going to possibly open a lot of things up for this former No. 2 pick. A lot will hinge on how well Okafor adjusts to his new team, but with a point guard like Paul, I think that adjustment will go very smoothly. 8. Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and Nene Carmelo Anthony is one of the most complete scorers in the game today. When it comes to putting the ball in the hoop, there are few players that can do it as effectively and in as many ways as Melo. He has also become one of the best rebounding small forwards in the entire NBA and has begun to round out his game since the arrival of Chauncey Billups. Chauncey Billups is a top-five point guard in the NBA. He might be your prototypical, pass-first point guard, but you can not deny his impact on the game. He's one of the best leaders in the NBA today and a great, veteran floor general. His arrival in Denver last season completely changed the culture of the franchise and helped lead them to the Western Conference Finals. Nene had a breakout season last year as he was finally able to stay healthy and produced as a result. He experienced career-highs in points, rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage. This young, athletic 26-year-old big man is looking to show that last season was not a fluke and build upon his excellent 2008-09 season. This trio proved last season that they could work together flawlessly and with an entire training camp to work with this time around, they may even be better than last season. 7. Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antwan Jamison The Washington Wizards are a team that has been decimated with injuries over the past few seasons and their Big Three of Arenas, Butler, and Jamison have unfortunately not seen a lot of court time together as a result. Gilbert Arenas has been devastated by injuries these last couple of years but when he is on his game, there aren't many better pure scorers in the game. He is a streaky shooter but when he is on, he is lights out. Injury problems have managed to stall his meteoric rise to the top, but he is apparently 100 percent healthy for the first time in years. Butler is one of the more unheralded players in the NBA. He is a versatile offensive player that has a solid midrange game and is an effective slasher, while giving you a tough defender at the other end of the floor. Antwan Jamison rounds out the Wizards trio and he gives them a versatile offensive post player. Jamison can step outside and use his quickness and shooting ability to full effect, or he can go down low and make full use of his unorthodox post game. If Arenas can become an elite player once again, and Butler and Jamison continue their All-Star level play, the Washington Wizards may be the dark horses in the East. 6. Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry Dirk is the best offensive power forward that the game has seen in a long time and is undoubtedly a top-three power forward in the game today. There aren't any better power forwards at taking over a game on the offensive end of the floor. Josh Howard is a dangerous player when he is motivated and is the player that many people believe is the X-Factor for the Mavericks. When Howard is on his game, there are not many better two way players in the game nor are there very many better third options on the floor. Jason Terry is the NBA's reigning Sixth Man of the Year and provides the Mavericks with instant offense off of the bench. He is a very good shooter and a great clutch performer that relishes the opportunity to hit big shots. Jason Kidd may be one of the leaders on this team, but the Dallas Mavericks will go as far as Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Josh Howard take them. 5. Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, and Mo Williams The Cleveland Cavaliers where the best team in the regular season last year but fell short of their ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship. LeBron James and his sidekick Mo Williams were both All-Stars last season and formed one of the more formidable duos in the league last season. Williams' shooting ability proved to be a very valuable asset to the penetrating ability of James and the two worked very well together but it was still not enough to win a championship. So what did the Cavs do to appease these players and strengthen their roster? Well they just happened to go out and trade for perhaps the most dominant player that the NBA has ever seen in Shaquille O'Neal. Although he is getting up there in age, Shaq proved last season that he is still a dominant force down low as he was an All-Star yet again and the Phoenix Suns' best player. Having Shaq down low gives LeBron the dominant big man that he has yet to play with and a guy that will take some of the pressure off of James. James is coming off his very first MVP season and is hungry to win an NBA championship. I would not want to have to face this trio in the playoffs, that is for sure. 4. Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis The Orlando Magic are coming off their first NBA Finals appearance since the 1994-95 season. They had a terrific team last season but that did not stop them from going out and acquiring perhaps the most electrifying and explosive player the NBA has ever seen in Vince Carter. Carter may be getting up their in age but he has proven that he can still play at an All-Star level and is one of the more complete offensive players in the NBA. Rashard Lewis is fresh off of an impressive 2008-09 season in which he led the league in three-point field goals made and was an All-Star for the second season in his career. His dynamic shooting ability is a critical component to the Orlando Magic's offense and the spacing that he provides is a major reason why they are such an effective team. Joining Lewis and Carter is some guy named Dwight Howard. I hear that he is pretty good. Howard is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and the league's best center. His defensive prowess and elite rebounding is a perfect compliment to the offensive abilities of Carter and Lewis. This trio looks to build on the success that the Magic had last season and I am not going to put it past them. 3. Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Ron Artest Kobe Bryant is fresh off his first NBA championship without Shaquille O'Neal and first NBA Finals MVP. Pau Gasol is fresh off a terrific postseason and his first NBA title. These two proved last season that they are a dynamic duo that is capable of great things. So what did the Lakers do to complement these two star players? Oh well, they just managed to go out and sign a guy by the name of Ron Artest. Bryant is the player who many believe is the best in the NBA. He is undoubtedly the best shooting guard in the NBA and best two-guard to play the game since Michael Jordan. Gasol has thrived in the Triangle offense and showed that he is a fantastic second option on a championship caliber team. Artest is a former Defensive Player of the Year and when he has his head on straight, a marvelous two-way player. Kobe is scary enough on his own, but when you add a possible top-fivepower forward in the NBA and one of the most feared defensive players that the NBA has seen this decade, you have the makings of a fantastic trio. 2. San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili These three Spurs just may have the best chemistry out of any trio in the league. They have been together for three NBA championships and have been among the league's elite for their entire tenure together. This trio has been the driving force behind the San Antonio Spurs for the last seven years and have yielded impressive results. Duncan is quite possibly the greatest power forward to play the game and the player that many believe is the No. 1 power forward in the game today. He is a game changer on both ends of the floor. Tony Parker has become a top-five point guard in many people's minds and proven to be a dynamic scorer. He is a former NBA Finals MVP and an All-Star point guard. Manu Ginobili is one of the best sixth men in the entire NBA. This former Sixth Man of the Year winner is capable of igniting his team and coming through in pressure situations. The Spurs have reloaded and are looking poised to make another championship run, and this trio will be leading the charge. 1. Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. All three of these players are future Hall of Famers. All three of them are still playing at an All-Star level. They led the Boston Celtics to a league-best 66 wins and the NBA championship back in 2008. This past season they looked like they were well on their way to possibly repeat as NBA Champions until Garnett was sidelined with a knee injury and eventually lost to the Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic in seven games. Kevin Garnett is a top-three power forward in the NBA and a former MVP as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Paul Pierce is a top-three small forward in the NBA and a former Finals MVP and Ray Allen is arguably a top-five shooting guard in the NBA as well as quite possibly the most feared shooter in NBA history. Together, the have brought the type of success to Boston that hadn't been there since the days of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. They have fantastic chemistry and play off each other amazingly well. The have proven that they are trio that can win a championship and give you an elite team. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/238925-triple-threat-a-countdown-of-the-best-trios-in-the-nba

I'm guessing Charlotte. It just makes perfect sense to me for AI to go to the Bobcats.