My Favorite NBA Jerseys

In April 2010, one of my first posts on the blog was a list of the ten NBA jerseys I most wanted to have. It was a list not just of my favorite players in the league, but a combo of players I like to watch and jerseys that I just think are cool to look at. Well, since then a lot has happened in the NBA and I thought it was time once again to put out my list of top 10 (make that 11) jerseys I want to own. Let's get to it.

1. Brandon Roy (2010: #1) - This one is simple. Roy will always rank high on my list of favorite players, I love the Blazers road blacks and with his recent retirement, the jersey is suddenly retro.
2. Blake Griffin (NA) - Isn't this everyone's favorite?
3. Jon Brockman (#2) - I love the Brockness Monster and I really like the Bucks uni's a lot better than his old Kings jersey.
4. Deron Williams (NA) - This should be higher since he is the best player on my favorite team, but I just have the feeling he is leaving at the end of the year. Why get the jersey if it will be obsolete in a year.
5. Kevin Love (NA) - I love, love Kevin Love. Something about 20/20 lines just does it for me.
6. Tim Duncan/Manu Ginobili (#4) - I just love the classic look of their home whites. Oh, and I like the players.
7. David Lee (NA) - I really love his occasional 15/15 lines, but really what does it for me is the jersey. I love the logo on the front.
8. Danny Granger (#6) - Alternate yellow's are just ballin.
9. John Wall (NA) - I don't necessarily like the player, but I love the old school Bullets colors that the franchise is once again sporting.
10. Danilo Galinari (NA) - Picking a player was arbitrary, I just really like the powder blues.
11. Kevin Durant (NA) - I know all my Seattle friends will hate me for even suggesting this, but it is a proven fact - this team is super exciting and Durant is a stud.

So who dropped out from a year ago? Well, Brooke Lopez got bumped simply because he is not the same player he once was. I still love Steve Nash, but I grew tired of the Suns jerseys. Gerald Wallace and Andrew Bogut were replaced by other teammates on the list. And I'm waiting for Dwight Howard to get traded first.

Who almost made the cut - Kris Humphries, Kemba Walker, Gerald Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge, Quincy Pondexter, Isaiah Thomas, Ricky Rubio, Dirk Nowitzki, Nate Robinson, Eric Gordon

NBA Lockout A Good Thing

Ok, maybe it's not a good thing, but it certainly presents a good opportunity for me.

Tonight, when I heard that David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the NBA season, I was unfazed. At that moment I realized that I don't care about the lockout. I just don't care. I am over being angry - I did that in 1999. Now I am just numb to the whole situation. Bottom line is the owners are greedy and the players are out of touch with reality. They entire system is effed up and I think it will take a prolonged work stoppage to really get the two sides to blow it all up and start again. It the entire season is canceled, I won't be mad.

Sure it's a terrible time for the league to have a work stoppage. For the first time since MJ left in 1998 people care about the league. It's not just that the talent is at an all-time high, but for the first time in decades there is a certifiable villain. Fans tuned in last year not just to watch hoops, but to see the Heat lose. Last year was a monumental year for the league.

And now...all the momentum is done. Again, not ideal, but not overly concerning to me. If anything, it represents a great opportunity. I don't have enough time to watch the NFL, NBA, NHL, college football, college hoops, EPL and MLS. With the NBA away, I can focus all my attention on the Devils, BU hoops, UW hoops and the end of the MLS season.

Really, it's a good thing. If the NBA does come back, then cool - I'll have more to choose from. BUT if it doesn't come back, then I get to devote even more time to my boys. Frankly, I'm looking forward to more time with Zach Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk, Martin Brodeur, Adam Larsson, Mike Muscala, Abdul Gaddy, Keith Price and all the guys in rave green.

A Lot Has Changed

With no NBA games to televise because of this stupid lockout, NBATV has been broadcasting a lot of "Hardwood Classics." While the currently airing game (Golden St-Washington in the 1975 NBA Finals...yes, the Warriors and Bullets actually played each other in the NBA Finals at one point) won't be shown in this house, I did treat myself to a little late 80's hoops over the weekend. Specifically, I watched a few minutes of the 1986 and 1989 All-Star Games. Obviously the differences between then and now are too numerous to count. You know them. I know them. Together, we could talk for hours (here's a fun game - start talking about the short shorts and see where it takes you).

What I couldn't stop thinking about after turning off the game was the amazing course of events that have led us from 1989 to 2011. I know all professional sports have changed over the past two decades, but I can't think any more so than the NBA. If we told the 1989 All-Stars that the following would happen to their sport, would they believe you?

• The 1987 MVP, who would go on to win the 1989 and 1990 awards, would be diagnosed with HIV in 1991 and subsequently retire
  
• The best collection of basketball talent ever assembled would compete in the 1992 Olympics and win by an average of 45 points
• The greatest of all-time would win three straight titles from 1992-1994
• The greatest of all-time would retire from the sport for two years and instead play professional minor league baseball
• The greatest of all-time would then return and win three more titles before retiring for the second time
• The league would suffer their first lockout in 1999 and lose half the season
• The team from the countries second leading market would win several more titles in the 2000's thanks to a 7' center and a 6' guard (ok, not much changed there...)
• The greatest of all-time would return for a final time, this time with the Wizards
• The league's darkest moment would occur when a player jumps into the stands and fight some fans. The player would then be suspended for over 60 games
• The league would see a new King enter the league, save a city and then devastate the fan base by leaving to join forces with another top 5 player
• Cities such as Memphis, Toronto, Charlotte and Oklahoma City would each become the home to a professional basketball team. The Sonics would no longer call Seattle their home
  
• The league's average salary would be $4.8 million a year
  
• The league would suffer from their second lockout and lose a TBD amount of the season
• Players would start to play overseas, including arguably the best player of the past decade
  

I am sure that I missed something, but the fact that Kobe Bryant is seriously considering playing in Italy is just amazing to me. I know it's not as crazy as playing for the Birmingham Barons, but it is pretty crazy. Think about it a little more: Kobe Bryant, a 5-time NBA Champion, 2-time Finals MVP and 6th all-time leading scorer is heading to Europe to play. It is entirely possible that at age 35, he hurts himself and we never see him play again in the NBA. It is entirely possible that he never gets his sixth championship to tie MJ. It is entirely possible that this is the worst decision of his life (actually, I think it will probably end up being the best decision of his life). There is no way anyone would believe that in 1989...but then again, no one would have ever believed that the greatest of all-time would retire to play baseball.

NBA's Most Funnest Teams

In what might be a huge surprise to some, there apparently wasn't enough support given to the idea of having a 12-win team on national tv in 2010-11. As a result, I don't get to see my Nets at all. However, being on the West Coast gives me the awesome opportunity to watch some really fun teams without having to stay up to 2am. My buddy Gorman was shocked to hear that I enjoy watching teams like the Suns and the Warriors considering they don't play a lick of defense, a staple of college-age Schmicker. Now while I do enjoy my share of fundamentals and defense, the 80-78 games involving the early 2000 Pistons made me want to gauge my eyes out. Just because I am not skilled enough to score at will and just because all I can do is set screens, box out and get on the floor doesn't mean I want to watch a pro team do it.

In railing on the Seahawks recently, I said that they were uninteresting and someone I didn't care to watch. Since this went over so well, I thought I should take the time to list the 2011 NBA Teams I Find Most Interesting to Watch (TIFMIW) and the reasons why. A basic premise is as follows: is this a team I am willing to watch take on a boring team like Detroit or Cleveland?

1. Miami Heat - LeBron. Wade. Killing the hopes and dreams of opposing crowds.
2. LA Clippers - Two words: Blake Griffin. Enough said.
3. OKC - Look, I'm a transplant so my allegiance to the old Sonics isn't as strong as others. the chance to see not only Durant but also Westbrook is too good to pass up
4. NY Knicks - As a Nets fans I'm not supposed to admit this, but I enjoy watching the Knicks all of a sudden. You can single handedly thanks Amare for that - I have always thought he was a freak.
5. San Antonio - Love the fundamentals. Love Popovich. Not bored by Manu or Timmay
6. Golden St. - No defense + Stephen curry + Monta Ellis = 48 minutes of fun
7. Utah - Not sure what it is, but really like Deron Williams. Would be higher if not for AK47's new hairdo
8. Chicago - Derrick Rose is quickly becoming the best point guard in the league
9. Minnesota - They definitely aren't any good, but I can't pass up an opportunity to see Kevin Love pull down 20boards in a game (he's done it 7 times already)
10. Dallas - Not a huge fan of Shawn Marion or even Jason Terry, but Dirk and aging Jason Kidd are good for at least one highlight a night

So who is a shocking omission from this list? Has to be Portland and Phoenix, two teams that at one point made my dream match-up. But then the Suns killed their team and made Steve Nash play next to Hakim Warrick, Marcin Gortat and Vince Carter. Meanwhile, Brandon Roy lost all the cartilage in his knee and in the process, Portland lost all their excitement.

Who are the teams Jonesing to get on this list?
Orlando - Always good for something, whether it be from J-Rich or Stan Van Gundy's wardrobe.
Milwaukee - Simply to see if Brockman gets any minutes
Boston - Definitely a subjective decision on my part, but I just can't get up for anyone on this team besides Rondo (Which is a shame because they are damn good)
LA Lakers- I hate Kobe, but they are at least fun to root against. And they play some nice basketball from time to time.


Meanwhile, the list of most uninteresting/least exciting teams are as follows (and no, their names do not deserve boldface):
30. Cleveland -Just everything is sad about this franchise
29. Detroit - Maybe they are punished for past discretions, but wow is this a boring team
28. Philadelphia - Occasionally Elton Brand may have a nice game, but does anyone come home from a Sixers game raving about how fun it was?
27. Sacramento - Sorry Jason, but I can't find anything fun with Sac-town these days. Maybe if they take Cousins off the meds...then just maybe
26. Toronto - Interestingly enough, this isn't a Euroleague team but an NBA. Who knew?