Dallas Mavericks Ultimate Roster

Dallas Mavericks, 798.0 rating, 19th overall (10th seed in the West)


1. Dirk Nowitzki (371.4 rating)
2. Rolando Blackman (93.6)
3. Mark Aguirre (68.2)
*4. Steve Nash (57.1) (on Suns roster)
5. Michael Finley (54.9)
6. Josh Howard (35.2)
7. Derek Harper (34.3)
*8. Jason Kidd (29.8) (Nets)
9. James Donaldson (29.2)
10. Jason Terry (28.0)
11. Brad Davis (26.6)
12. Sam Perkins (22.0)
13. Erick Dampier (17.8)
14. Shawn Bradley (16.8)

Indiana Pacers Ultimate Roster

Indiana Pacers, 766.4 rating, 20th overall (10th seed in East)


1. Reggie Miller (244.7 rating)
2. Jermaine O'Neal (101.6)
3. Mel Daniels (65.4)
4. Dale Davis (57.8)
5. Roger Brown (56.8)
6. Rik Smits (53.0)
7. George McGinnis (45.7)
8. Billy Knight (41.3)
*9. Detlef Schrempf (30.0) (on ThunderSonics roster)
10. Vern Fleming (26.0)
11. Danny Granger (25.4)
12. Mark Jackson (25.0)
13. Jeff Foster (23.7)

Denver Nuggets Ultimate Roster

Denver Nuggets, 655.5 rating, 21st overall (11th seed in West)


1. Alex English (164.4 rating)
2. David Thompson (104.6)
3. Carmelo Anthony (81.7)
4. Dan Issel (76.0)
5. Fat Lever (70.8)
*6. Dikembe Mutombo (54.3) (on Hawks roster)
*7. Bobby Jones (33.1) (76ers)
*8. Chauncey Billups (30.5) (Pistons)
9. Kiki Vandeweghe (30.2)
10. Larry Jones (25.0)
11. Ralph Simpson (22.6)
12. Antonio McDyess (22.0)
13. Nene (21.7)
*14. Allen Iverson (19.9) (76ers)
15. Calvin Natt (18.5)
16. Marcus Camby (18.0)

Miami Heat Ultimate Roster

Miami Heat, 629.7 rating, 22nd overall (11th seed in East)


1. Dwyane Wade (222.2 rating)
2. Alonzo Mourning (163.9)
*3. Shaquille O'Neal (104.5) (on Lakers roster)
4. Tim Hardaway (100.1)
5. Udonis Haslem (29.5)
6. Eddie Jones (24.5)
*7. Glen Rice (20.1) (Hornets)
8. Grant Long (15.8)
9. James Posey (15.2)
*10. P.J. Brown (15.1) (Hornets)
11. Brian Grant (13.1)
12. Rony Seikaly (12.6)
*13. Dan Majerle (12.5) (Suns)
14. Jason Williams (12.1)
*15. Anthony Mason (11.1) (Hornets)
16. Voshon Lenard (10.7)
17. Bimbo Coles (10.0)

Rosters Update

You know what? Screw it. I'm too anxious to get this tourney underway, so I'm just going to post all the rosters and then go back in and edit them with all the details later. (Quick reminder: players can only qualify on one roster, I'll list them if they would've qualified with a second team, but they won't play in the tournament. Those players are noted with an asterisk.)

Orlando Magic Ultimate Roster

Orlando Magic, 590.0 rating, 23rd overall (12th seed in the East)
Ah, Orlando, two periods of "really good" to "semi-great" with long stretches of mediocre to awful in between.


1. Dwight Howard (175.3 rating) - #12, Center
Resume: 2005-2010; 489 Games, 17.5 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 65.4 Win Shares, 0.707 MVP Award Shares, 3 All-NBA 1st Teams, 1 All-NBA 3rd Team, 4 All-Star Selections, 4.5 Finals Win Shares, 1.9 Conference Finals Win Shares, 2 Defensive Player of the Years ('09, '10), 2 All-Defensive 1st Teams, 1 All-Defensive 2nd Team
It's hard to know what to say about Dwight Howard. He should be the most dominant big man in basketball by far. But, he's not. At least not consistently. Sometimes I get the feeling he just plays basketball because he's 7'0 and, hey, why not?


2. Tracy McGrady (136.2) - #1, Forward
Resume: 2001-2004; 295 Games, 28.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 48.2 Win Shares, 0.721 MVP Award Shares, 2 All-NBA 1st Teams, 2 All-NBA 2nd Teams, 4 All-Star Selections, 2001 Most Improved Player
It's sort of eerie how much McGrady and Shaq were alike for the Magic. They both played for 4 years, put up ridiculous numbers (their PPG and win shares are almost identical), won a lot of games but couldn't put it all together, and then left with everyone in Orlando hating/loathing them. (Obviously a lot of differences, too, though - draft/free agent, money payed, position played, Shaq had significantly more playoff success.)


3. Anfernee Hardaway (121.6) - #1, Guard-Forward
Resume: 1994-1999; 369 Games, 19.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.3 APG, 46.3 Win Shares, 0.341 MVP Award Shares, 2 All-NBA 1st Teams, 1 All-NBA 3rd Team, 4 All-Star Selections, 2.4 Finals Win Shares, 1.9 Conference Finals Win Shares
Has anyone ever started so strong and faded so fast and so completely as Penny Hardaway? Is that why he was nicknamed Penny? Because you used to be able to take you places and get things but now he's virtually worthless? I'm going with yes. (Also, I like how Orlando had absolutely no intentions of retiring this guy's number, giving it almost immediately to McGrady.)


*4. Shaquille O'Neal (120.8) - #32, Center
Resume: 1993-1996; 295 Games, 27.2 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 48.2 Win Shares, 0.949 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 2 All-NBA 3rd Teams, 4 All-Star Selections, 3 Finals Win Shares, 1.5 Conference Finals Win Shares, 1993 Rookie of the Year
Shaq will be suiting up for the Lakers, but man, those were a really impressive first four years to start a career in Orlando. (The Magic waited a bit longer, until 2009, before they started letting people wear Shaq's number again. Although it was worn by someone named "Jeremy Richardson" who probably isn't quite the caliber player that McGrady is/was.)

*5. Rashard Lewis (32.2) - #9, Forward

Resume: 2008-2010; 232 Games, 16.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 25.8 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection, 2.7 Finals Win Shares, 1.6 Conference Finals Win Shares

Lewis made the roster for the Oklahoma Seattle City ThunderSonics, but he's right on the fringe there (he's their 12th man), so a few more years should either give him a higher score with the Magic or else someone on the Thunder may surpass him.

6. Nick Anderson (31.5) - #25, Forward-Guard
Resume: 1990-1999; 692 Games, 15.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 52.9 Win Shares, 1.7 Finals Win Shares, 0.6 Conference Finals Win Shares
To hear some people tell it, Nick Anderson was on his way to stardom until he bricked those four free throws in the playoffs that one time. 1996, I believe, but I could be wrong. But I have my doubts. Even if he makes those free throws, he was still going to be Nick Anderson.


*7. Horace Grant (29.0) - #54, Forward-Center
Resume: 1995-1999, 2002-2003; 411 Games,  11.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 42.2 Win Shares, 2.4 Finals Win Shares, 1.5 Conference Finals Win Shares, 2 All-Defensive 2nd Teams
Grant will be on the Bulls roster in this tournament. These weren't his best years anyway.


8. Jameer Nelson (25.3) - #14, Guard
Resume: 2005-2010; 394 Games, 12.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 28.0 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection, -0.1 Finals Win Shares, 2.2 Conference Finals Win Shares
Yes, that's right, Nelson had negative win shares in the 2009 NBA Finals. Maybe Stan Van Gundy shouldn't have played him just for those five games... Good player, otherwise, though.


*9. Grant Hill (20.6) - #33, Forward
Resume: 2001-2007; 200 Games, 16.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 17.5 Win Shares, 2 All-Star Selections
Hill's obviously going to be on the Pistons. And like Horace Grant, these definitely weren't his best years anyway. (His first All-Star selection in Orlando was a vote-in where he played four games all season.)


10. Hedo Turkoglu (20.4) - #15, Forward
Resume: 2005-2009; 377 Games, 15.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 32.3 Win Shares, 1.7 Finals Win Shares, 2008 Most Improved Player
Look, I will always think Hedo sucks. You're just never going to convince me otherwise.


11. Darrell Armstrong (20.1) - #10, Guard
Resume: 1995-2003; 502 Games, 11.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.1 APG, 40.2 Win Shares, 0.003 MVP Award Shares, 1999 Most Improved Player, 1999 Sixth Man of the Year
I have no idea where those MVP Award Shares came from, but kudos to Darrell Armstrong for swaying at least one person into thinking he was the most valuable player in the NBA. Apparently somebody saw he already won MIP and 6th Man and apparently wanted to go for the historic trifecta. (Also, Orlando leads the league in "Most Improved Players" ... One more coming up!)


12. Dennis Scott (17.0) - #3, Forward
Resume: 1991-1997; 446 Games, 14.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 28.3 Win Shares, 0.9 Finals Win Shares, 0.5 Conference Finals Win Shares
I always get him confused with #14 on this list.


13. Bo Outlaw (13.2) - #45, Forward
Resume: 1998-2008; 360 Games, 6.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 26.3 Win Shares
Bo Outlaw? Yep, we're getting into the replacement players here with him and the next three guys.


14. Scott Skiles (12.3) - #4, Guard
Resume: 1990-1994; 384 Games, 12.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.2 APG, 24.6 Win Shares, 1991 Most Improved Player
He's the guy I think of whenever I hear "Dennis Scott." Of course, he's also who I think of whenever I hear "Scott Skiles," so... sorry Dennis Scott. Also, Orlando's 4th and final MIP. Amazing that many guys from a single franchise can win won award that's so meaningless.


15. Pat Garrity (8.8) - #8, Forward
Resume: 2000-2008; 513 Games, 7.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 17.6 Win Shares
Okay, we're almost done...


16. J.J. Redick (8.3)
Resume: 2007-2010; 222 Games, 7.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 11.0 Win Shares, 0.7 Finals Win Shares, 0.8 Conference Finals Win Shares
And we close out with the team with two white guys from Notre Dame and Duke, respectively... Neeeeeeerds!


Just missed the cut:
17. Donald Royal (7.1)
18. Marcin Gortat (7.1)
*19. Mike Miller (6.4)
20. Anthony Bowie (6.2)
21. Tony Battie (5.9)
*22. Vince Carter (5.2)
23. Derek Strong (5.2)


Outlook: I kinda like this team. Oh, wait, they don't get Shaq, Rashard Lewis, Horace Grant, or Grant Hill? Okay, never mind.

Los Angeles Clippers Ultimate Roster

Los Angeles Clippers, 504.8 rating, 24th overall (12th seed in the West)

Despite having 40+ years of history to draw on, Blake Griffin could make this squad next year if he has a good season and somehow makes an All-Star team, or, better yet, an All-NBA team. That's really all it takes to be one of the best Clippers ever.

1. Bob McAdoo (133.2 rating) - #11, Center-Forward

Resume: 1973-1977; 334 Games, 28.2 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 50.9 Win Shares, 1.490 MVP Award Shares, 1975 MVP, 1 All-NBA 1st Team, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 4 All-Star Selections, 1973 Rookie of the Year

I can never decide if McAdoo is underrated or overrated. I mean, he's in the Hall of Fame, he won an MVP and Rookie of the Year, and he won two championships (obviously not with the Clippers/Braves, they were with the Lakers in '82 and '85); however, nobody outside of hardcore NBA fans know who he is. (Also, note to the Clippers... Retire the man's jersey already. He's clearly been your best player ever. I know all his years were with the Buffalo Braves, but just do it. He at least deserves that much, just so anyone who sees a Clippers game can ask "who's Bob McAdoo?")

2. Elton Brand (89.3) - #42, Forward

Resume: 2002-2008; 459 Games, 20.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 68.3 Win Shares, 0.041 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 2 All-Star Selections

I'm still sort of surprised he left the team. I don't know why. I would've bolted in a second. I should be surprised he stayed as long as he did.

3. Randy Smith (70.0) - #9, Guard-Forward

Resume: 1972-1979, 1983; 715 Games, 17.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 50.0 Win Shares, 0.001 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 2 All-Star Selections, 1978 All-Star Game MVP

Okay, look, if you're not going to retire McAdoo's number, can you at least retire Randy Smith's? I know most of the years were in Buffalo, but he had two in San Diego, when they were called the Clippers. C'mon already!

4. Bob Kauffman (40.8) - #44, Forward-Center

Resume: 1971-1974; 306 Games, 15.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.9 APG, 25.8 Win Shares, 3 All-Star Selections

Another Buffalo Brave who doesn't get any recognition because the Clippers seem to be ignoring all the Buffalo history. (This better not be what's going to happen to the Sonics.)

5. Corey Maggette (33.9) - #50, Forward

Resume: 2001-2008; 512 Games, 17.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 45.8 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection

Hmmm, Corey Maggette... Interesting. That's really all I have to say.

6. World B. Free (33.7) - #24, Guard

Resume: 1979-1980; 146 Games, 29.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 18.1 Win Shares, 0.023 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 1 All-Star Selection

Only two years with the team, but they were good years. Great stats, racked up some awards, should get bonus points for the name. (I actually don't know if he had changed it from Lloyd at this point, but for me, he was retroactively born named "World.")

7. Danny Manning (30.8) - #25/#5, Forward-Center

Resume: 1989-1994; 373 Games, 19.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 31.0 Win Shares, 0.001 MVP Award Shares, 2 All-Star Selections

Like a lot of Clippers, Manning never quite lived up to expectations. He was probably the best of that class of guys, but still, could've been better.

8. Loy Vaught (17.1) - #35, Forward

Resume: 1991-1998; 558 Games, 11.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 31.0 Win Shares

Hmmm, Loy Vaught... All right. Sure, why not?

9. Chris Kaman (15.1) - #35, Center

Resume: 2004-2010; 461 Games, 11.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 17.6 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection

Makes the list largely due to his whining that Pau Gasol made the All-Star team in 2010 instead of him when Gasol was injured for a few games. So, don't let David Stern convince you that whining won't get you anywhere in the NBA.

10. Swen Nater (14.5) - #31, Center

Resume: 1978-1983; 348 Games, 13.5 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 28.9 Win Shares

His best years were probably in the ABA. And then in Buffalo. And then in San Diego. Which is probably why the Clippers won't ever talk about him.

11. Eric Piatkowski (13.8) - #52, Guard-Forward

Resume: 1995-2003; 616 Games, 8.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 27.6 Win Shares

Ah, the only player from my alma mater (University of Nebraska) to make any team's roster. This might be why I love college football more than the NFL, but the NBA much much more than college hoops.

12. Charles Smith (12.6) - #54, Forward-Center

Resume: 1989-1992; 272 Games, 18.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 25.2 Win Shares

I don't really know anything about Charles Smith. Generic name for a generic player. I'm going to stick with that.

Just missed the cut:

13. Jim McMillian (11.4)

14. Ken Norman (10.8)

15. Norm Nixon (10.5)

16. Benoit Benjamin (9.9)

17. Michael Cage (9.4)

Outlook: You know, this could be a pretty good team. Not great. But there's some solid players here.

New Jersey Nets Ultimate Roster

New Jersey Nets, 484.6 rating, 25th overall (13th seed in the East)
It'll get a bit complicated with the Nets, as they're one of the ABA teams. All the ABA stats are worth 25% of the NBA stats.


1. Jason Kidd (164.9 rating) - #5, Guard
Resume: 2002-2008; 506 Games, 14.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 9.1 APG, 56.6 Win Shares, 0.752 MVP Award Shares, 2 All-NBA 1st Teams, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 5 All-Star Selections, 4.9 Finals Win Shares, 2 All-Defensive 1st Teams, 4 All-Defensive 2nd Teams
The quintessential Net. It's weird that he spent less than half of his career there, but it's the only team I think of when I think of Jason Kidd. It's still the only team I think of even though he's currently playing for the Mavericks.


2. Buck Williams (89.3) - #52, Forward-Center
Resume: 1982-1989; 635 Games,  16.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 62.8 Win Shares, 0.059 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 3 All-Star Selections, 1982 Rookie of the Year, 1 All-Defensive 2nd Team
I take it back. Well, not really. Can I just call Kidd and Williams "Co-Quintessential Nets"? Screw it. I'm doing it. By the way, that's a a fairly decent foundation for a team. Not an all-time ultimate all-star roster team, but just a regular team.


*3. Julius Erving (63.5) - #32, Forward-Guard
Resume: (All ABA) 1974-1976; 252 Games, 28.2 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.2 APG, 51.8 Win Shares, 3 ABA MVP Awards ('74, '75, '76), 3 All-ABA 1st Team Selections, 3 ABA All-Star Selections, 2 ABA Championships ('74, '76), 6.7 ABA Championship Win Shares, 1 ABA All-Defensive 1st Team
Obviously Dr. J will be suiting up for the Sixers, but damn, it's a shame we won't see the classic New York Americans #32 jersey and a giant afro throwing down from all over the court. This makes me want to do an ABA version of this someday. Possibly. It probably won't happen, and Dr. J would probably be on the Squires anyway, but still. It's an idea.


*4. Vince Carter (58.7) - #15, Guard-Forward
Resume: 2005-2009; 374 Games, 23.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.7 APG, 43.6 Win Shares, 0.002 MVP Award Shares, 3 All-Star Selections
Meh. The opposite of Kidd. Almost half of his career there, but still I can only think of the Raptors.


5. Derrick Coleman (40.9) - #44, Forward
Resume: 1991-1995; 348 Games, 19.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 35.9 Win Shares, 2 All-NBA 3rd Team Selections, 1 All-Star Selection, 1991 Rookie of the Year
This is the kind of thing Coleman is going to excel at. You know, the "not real life" thing. Strictly as a simulated player, Derrick Coleman should dominate a few games in this tournament. Unless the simulation engine can somehow factor into "too much money, not enough maturity/focus" into the games. Although I doubt it. Also, Coleman is the first of, like, 3 or 4 extremely gifted but somewhat crazy guys on this team.


6. Kerry Kittles (30.6) - #30, Guard
Resume: 1997-2004; 496 Games, 14.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 44.6 Win Shares, 3.3 Finals Win Shares
This is the first of, like, 3 or 4 guys Jason Kidd carried onto this roster.


7. Richard Jefferson (30.3) - #24, Forward
Resume: 2002-2008; 489 Games, 17.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 50.6 Win Shares, 2.0 Finals Win Shares
It just never really happened for Jefferson, did it? I remember pretty much every year people saying this was the year Jefferson was going to be a star...


8. Kenyon Martin (26.8) - #6, Forward
Resume: 2001-2004; 283 Games, 15.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 20.7 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection, 2.9 Finals Win Shares
And here's our first (and only) guy that is both crazy and carried onto this team by Kidd's excellence.


9. Kenny Anderson (18.7) - #7, Guard
Resume: 1992-1996; 304 Games, 15.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 7.8 APG, 23.0 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection
It really is a shame he and Coleman could never really get their acts together. I feel like they should have been a consistently successful team for at least a few years in the early to mid 90's.


10. Stephon Marbury (18.2) - #33, Guard
Resume: 1999-2001; 172 Games, 23.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 8.1 APG, 19.2 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection
See what I mean about the craziness? New Jersey definitely leads the league in these guys (great numbers for a few years, one All-Star appearance, terrible teammate.) It's really not even close.


*11. Rick Barry (18.2) - #24, Forward
Resume: (All ABA) 1971-1972; 30.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 19.1 Win Shares, 2 All-ABA 1st Team Selections, 2 ABA All-Star Selections, 2.7 ABA Finals Win Shares
You know, I didn't even realize Rick Barry ever played for the Nets/Americans. Obviously he'll be with the Warriors, but holy God, look at those numbers...


12. Mike Gminski (17.2) - #42, Center
Resume: 1981-1988; 550 Games, 11.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 34.4 Win Shares
It's probably not great that this is the first true center and he's this far down the list. (Also probably not great that it's Mike Gminski.)


13. Jayson Williams (16.8) - #55, Forward-Center
Resume: 1993-1999; 373 Games, 8.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 20.2 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection
Hmmm... For some reason, my memory seems to think Jayson Williams had better numbers than this. But it also remembers that he possibly murdered someone. Or something like that. I clearly don't have the greatest memory of Jayson Williams.


14. Otis Birdsong (15.7) - #10, Guard
Resume: 1982-1988; 375 Games, 15.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 18.5 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection
Birdsong is always associated with the Kings to me, but he did spend way more time with the Nets. (He also had a higher score with the Kings, but couldn't crack their top 12... I guess he didn't crack the top 12 for the Nets, either, but you know what mean.)


15. Chris Morris (15.2) - #34, Forward
Resume: 1989-1995; 510 Games, 13.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 30.3 Win Shares
Um... who?


Just missed the cut:
16. Keith Van Horn (14.6)
17. Devin Harris (14.2)
18. Drazen Petrovic (13.8)
19. Brian Taylor (11.6)
20. Michael Ray RIchardson (11.5)


Outlook: If a young Dr. J and a not quite so young Vince Carter could've made this squad, it would've been a lot more interesting. I really think the full court alley-oops from Kidd to Erving would've won a few games alone. Literally. The refs would just stop the game and hand them the ball and bow. As it is, this isn't a bad team, but it's rather on the small side. (Not to mention being overloaded with both point guards and head cases.) It's one of those teams that I'm really interested to see some stats and how some games play out.

Quick "About Me"

I'd say I've been a basketball fan all my life, but my earliest memories of watching a game (outside of going to high school games with my dad) were watching the Dream Team with my dad in the summer of 1992. For some reason, my 7-year-old mind decided that Charles Barkley was the greatest player of all time. (My dad was a bit befuddled by this; he'd been a Lakers fan all his life.) Consequently I became a huge Suns fan. And sure, I was sad when the Suns lost to the Bulls in '93 (I've hated Michael Jordan ever since) but I wasn't truly crushed until the Suns traded the Chuckster to the Rockets in the summer of '96. I swore off the Suns, tried to root for the Rockets, and did a pretty good job until John Freakin' Stockton knocked the Rockets out of the playoffs in '97 with a ridiculous 3 in Game 6 of the Conference Finals (I think it was game 6 anyway.) Then I watched Sir Charles team up with Scottie Freakin' Pippen for a year, followed by him fading away into an injury filled farewell tour for a couple years. (However, I think I was going through a huge video game phase at this point anyway.) Then the Lakers started to get good again with Shaq and Kobe, and I started watching games with my dad again, and I've been a Lakers fan ever since. So, I'm going to be as objective as possible with everything I write here (I realize I already slammed 3 players and at least 2 franchises in this intro, but bear with me). It's not always going to work, but I think I can at least give credit where its due and discuss any player or team in a reasonable, objective manner. Also, if you want to hate me for liking the Lakers, by all means, go ahead, but I feel when it's passed down generationally, I earned it legitimately. (Technically I was a bandwagon Suns fans in my extreme youth in the early 90's, and didn't get back to my roots until the late 90's.)

Tournament Format

So, I realized it's a little frustrating releasing one team at a time but then not knowing which team they're going to be playing. So here's the full breakdown of the team's rankings and how the tournaments will stack up.
1. Lakers (4387.2 rating)
2. Celtics (4185.6)
3. 76ers (2232.5)
4. Bulls (1959.6)
5. Spurs (1921.0)
6. Pistons (1911.4)
7. Warriors (1675.5)
8. Knicks (1606.0)
9. Jazz (1575.7)
10. Kings (1572.7)
11. Hawks (1509.6)
12. Suns (1322.1)
13. Rockets (1289.0)
14. ThunderSonics (1177.2)
15. Wizards (1058.0)
16. Trail Blazers (885.4)
17. Bucks (844.2)
18. Cavaliers (818.8)
19. Mavericks (798.0)
20. Pacers (766.4)
21. Nuggets (655.5)
22. Heat (629.7)
23. Magic (590.0)
24. Clippers (504.8)
25. Nets (484.6)
26. Timberwolves (483.3)
27. Hornets (450.3)
28. Raptors (286.0)
29. Grizzlies (113.6)
30. Bobcats (91.7)
So there's the overall standings. (Yes, the teams are all done and calculated out already. I just need to find time to write up the rosters.)


Here's how the tournament will start out:
West:
1. Lakers
BYE


8. ThunderSonics
9. Trail Blazers




5. Kings
12. Clippers


4. Jazz
13. Timberwolves






6. Suns
11. Nuggets


3. Warriors
14. Hornets




7. Rockets
10. Mavericks


2. Spurs
15. Grizzlies

East:

1. Celtics

BYE

8. Bucks

9. Cavaliers

5. Knicks

12. Magic

4. Pistons

13. Nets

6. Hawks

11. Heat

3. Bulls

14. Raptors

7. Wizards

10. Pacers

2. 76ers

15. Bobcats