HOOP issue 28 10-11 Greatest Hits

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The PoinT

Now that’s he’s officially submitted his walking papers and put to bed all his nicknames,1 where does Shaq rank in the pantheon of all-time great NBA centers?2 Let’s start with hard facts and stats. Among the esteemed group, Shaq is third in championships with four. He stands behind only Kareem and Wilt in points and is tops in shooting percentage. Shaq finishes last in rebounds and presumably3 fifth in blocked shots. With just one MVP, he’s tied for last place. He does top the list with three Finals MVPs, but keep in mind that award wasn’t given out until 1969.4 We could delve into deeper statistics,5 but we’ll keep this simple.

Let’s begin with Malone. Other than rebounds, there isn’t one other area that Moses tops Shaq in. Shaq > Moses.6 Of all the centers, Shaq is probably most like Wilt in terms of being physically a generation or two above his peers. They both dominated the opposition while on the floor and their free-throw shooting is a push. You could have flip-flopped the two in time and the final tallies in points and rebounds would’ve been similar.

Wilt might have the mind-boggling stats, a better skilled offensive game, the 100-point game7 and claim to 20,000,8 but Shaq did double him up when it came to rings. I’m going to say that had Shaq played in Wilt’s era, he would’ve done the same, so I’m going to say Shaq stands just inches above Wilt.

The only center on this list who Shaq went head-to-head against, Olajuwon put a young Shaq to sleep in their 1995 Finals. Even if you halved Dream’s beautiful low-post game, it would still be miles ahead of Shaq’s. Shaq was nowhere in Hakeem’s class on defense. I would even go as far to say that Hakeem was every bit as good as Russell on defense. Needless to say, I think highly of Olajuwon.

I know some folks who use the number of rings on a guy’s finger as the be-all and end-all to greatest-ever discussions; I’m not one of them. Yes, Russell had 11 of them, but he also had 11 other players who played a part in those rings.

Russell played during a time of big scoring numbers but still only managed pedestrian scoring numbers and shooting percentages. There’s no denying Russ’ ability to play team ball and raise the level of play around him. He is also the best defender in this discussion. Could Russ have guarded Shaq? My guess is that against 1999-00 Shaq, a Wilt and Russ double-team would have a hard time stopping Shaq.9 That said, in a one-on-one game, our money is on Shaq, but in

the context of a team game, we like Russell.10 As for Shaq vs. Kareem, the two pivots played almost the same number of years, making their cumulative body of work easy to compare. Except there is little comparison as Kareem dominated in every area. An in-his-prime Kareem would’ve given the best Shaq a handful and vice-versa, but even Superman’s power game would be rendered useless against Cap’s go-to kryptonite: the skyhook. What really makes this comparison a moot point is this: Shaq’s top two movies (Kazaam and Steel) don’t come close to Kareem’s (Airplane and Game of Death).

My final centers pantheon ranking: 1. Kareem 2. Russ 3. Dream 4. Shaq 5. Wilt 6. Moses.

Could Shaq have been higher? Maybe. He presumably could’ve won a few more rings11 had he been able to co-exist with Kobe. He probably could’ve been able to further max out his ability by spending more time honing his game, freethrow shooting and conditioning.12 But it would’ve been at the cost of him being the most quotatious, funny and approachable big man ever—three qualities that none of those other centers can touch.

There will be a giant void—figuratively and literally—in the NBA next year.

Ming Wong #2

BONUS POINTS 1. Now Dwight Howard can wear the “S” and don the cape again.

2. To me, that would mean Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Bill Russell.

3. The NBA didn’t officially track blocks until 1973-74 season, but it’s safe to assume that had they, Wilt and Russ would be sitting at No. 1 and 2 in this category.

4. The Finals MVP trophy is now named in Russell’s honor, so you can imagine how many he would’ve copped.

5. Please forgive me, fans of advanced metrics.

6. Wow, that was easy. But it gets harder.

7. An untouchable record. Actually, check that…

8. A truly untouchable record.

9. Yes, a bit of hyperbole.

10. Yes, a bit of a cop-out answer.

11. Assuming the duo stayed intact, my guess is six titles.

12. Greatest ever center? Quite possibly.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS It began once LeBron James announced he was joining his buddy Dwyane Wade in South Beach, and the attention only intensiďŹ ed as the season went along. Every awe-inspiring play conďŹ rmed on the vast potential of the pairing, but with every setback or loss, the pundits questioned the move. But whether the eyeballs were there to see them succeed or fail, the results were spectacular as the tandem overwhelmed opponents and entertained the throngs that packed arenas to get a glimpse of two of the most dynamic players in the League running together. Despite the end result of the last game of the season, the LeBron & Dwyane Show can only expect higher ratings in season 2.

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From the announcement of another lost season for Greg Oden to the long-term health issues surrounding franchise player Brandon Roy’s knee, it’s an understatement to say 2010-11 was a tough year for the Portland Trail Blazers. The lone good news for the team was the continued development of LaMarcus Aldridge, who looks to be an inside-outside force.

We didn’t realize it, but 2010-11 was the final year that the Diesel would rev down NBA courts. It might’ve been an injury-plagued year, and far from the greatness that we’ve been accustomed to seeing from Shaquille O’Neal, but he nevertheless entertained both on and off the court.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS It was a pregame ritual that the fans of Cleveland used to share and celebrate whenever #23 would bless the crowd with chalk prior to tipoff. Upon his first return to the Quicken Loans Arena, #6 no longer got the same ovation during his routine. Instead of cheers, he was met with jeers and turned backs. LeBron got the last laugh, though, as his Miami Heat celebrated a win over his former team.

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The 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard continued to show why he is the most dominant paint presence in the game. fErnando mEdina/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

Yes, it was two balls and two baskets—a Slam Dunk Contest first—but JaVale McGee’s double-dipper still counted for just one dunk attempt, which meant it only garnered a perfect score of 50, not 100.

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Between Serge Ibaka (#9) and Tyson Chandler (#6), you have a guy who led the League in total blocks this season and one of the most viscous dunkers in the game. We really don’t know the outcome of this play, but you can bet neither guy was giving any ground.

Had Blake Griffin not missed all of last year, qualifying him for rookie status in 2010-11, John Wall’s impressive debut season of 16.4 points, 8.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game would have warranted Rookie of the Year status. nEd dishman/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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10 11 GREATEST HITS We’re guessing here, but as a self-professed Chicago Bulls fan, Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama might’ve gritted his teeth while accepting a commemorative team-autographed Los Angeles Lakers banner when the team stopped by the White House in December for the ceremonial post-championship visit. andrEw d. BErnstEin/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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Where caring happens.

Š 2010 NBA Entertainment Photos by NBAE/Getty Images.

www.nba.com/cares

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After another season-ending injury cut short his campaign, it was another painful season for Yao Ming to endure, but he still did his best to spread cheers to people’s faces. Instead of turnaround jumpers and low-post hooks, Yao relied on charitable works like decorating Christmas cookies with Houston children.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS Dirk Nowitzki deservedly gets the lion’s share of the credit for Dallas’ amazing season, but many have pointed to the addition of Tyson Chandler’s defense as a key cog to propelling the Mavs from contender to champ. danny BollinGEr/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

With over 22,000 points scored in his career, Dirk Nowitzki has become one of the best scorers in NBA history. Much has been said about his shooting prowess (he’s a top five shooter of all time in our book), but what separates him from much of the pack is his uncanny ability to shoot it from all angles and manners, and in a 7-foot package that makes his jumper one of the most unguardable shots the League has ever seen. And now he’s a champion, to boot.

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It was still worth just three points like the previous 2,560 that he’d hit prior, but the 2,561st three-pointer that Ray Allen dropped, on February 10, gave him more than any other NBA player in history. After the historic shot, Allen acknowledged the former three-point king, Reggie Miller, who was on hand to pass the crown over.

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If you combine the ages of the 1995 co-Rookies of the Year, Jason Kidd (#2) and Grant Hill (#33) would total 76 years. Proving that age is certainly nothing but a number, the two graybeards started 80 games apiece for their respective teams while staying productive. christian pEtErsEn/GEtty imaGEs sport

10 11 GREATEST HITS A big reason for the Indiana Pacers’ return to the playoffs after four-season absence has been solid bench play, headlined by Tyler Hansbrough. With a reputation as a hard-nosed player, Hansbrough comes off the bench with a rabid mentality that sometimes even his fellow teammates have to endure. Just ask Mike Dunleavy.

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Much like the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers will soon have to start seeking out more rafter space what with the storied tradition of championship banners and retired numbers of franchise greats. At the start of the season, the Lakers unveiled their 11th title banner since being in L.A. noah Graham/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

11 10 GREATEST HITS All the talk was about Miami’s formation of a power trio, but in order to make it happen, the Heat had to unload 2008’s No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley. Beasley made the most of his opportunity as one of Minnesota’s featured players by averaging 19.2 points per game and hitting—and subsequently celebrating— this game-winning shot in November. daVid shErman/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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Even with all the hype surrounding the LeBron James and Dwyane Wade pairing, Kobe Bryant proved during the All-Star Game in his L.A. backyard that he is still the king of his court as he cleanly picks Wade’s pocket and narrowly evades LeBron’s patented chase-down block during a breakway. In addition to putting on a show for his city, Bryant also took home All-Star MVP honors.

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With his second consecutive All-Star selection, Atlanta’s Al Horford (#15) looks like a likely fixture for the midseason showcase, while Chicago’s Joakim Noah’s breakout season might put a pair of former NCAA National champion Florida Gators in the Eastern Conference squad for years to come. scott cunninGham/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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10 11 GREATEST HITS Charlotte’s Stephen Jackson is “Captain” in both nickname and title on the Bobcats, so it’s no surprise he sets the tone for the team by diving headfirst into the sidelines after a loose ball.

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Even with all the hype surrounding them, Miami’s Orion’s Belt did not disappoint. They averaged 70.9 points per game and became the first trio since the 1961 Cincinnati Royals’ Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman and Wayne Embry to each score at least 30 points and collect 10 rebounds in a single game. marc sErota/GEtty imaGEs sport

11 10 GREATEST HITS It was Russell Westbrook’s All-Star coming-out party in 2011 and the Oklahoma City Thunder guard made the most of the opportunity. The high-flying Westbrook relishes breakaway moments, and he got just that during the All-Star Game.

As you can guess—and the photos indicate—he did not disappoint. andrEw d. BErnstEin/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs; pool/GEtty imaGEs sport

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The 2010-11 season was the year of the point guard.

Two of the breakout 1s include Boston’s Rajon Rondo (#9) and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook (#0).

Rondo displayed a keen passing eye with 11.2 assists per game while Westbrook delivered an all-around game of 21.9 points, 8.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest.

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The weakness to the best defense will always be dribble penetration. It funnels the defense in and attracts so much attention that it will free up open looks for the offense. Few in the League can get into the paint as well as Boston’s Rajon Rondo and even fewer also have the ability to accurately locate a teammate—in this case, Glen Davis—to set him up for the scoring opportunity.

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11 10 GREATEST HITS If you watched any NBA highlights at all this season, Blake GrifďŹ n needs little introduction. If by the off chance you never heard of the guy, consider this spread of photos a proper introduction to the 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year. noah Graham (10); andrEw d. BErnstEin (3); nEd dishman; rocKy widnEr/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs; pool; stEphEn dunn/GEtty imaGEs sport

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11 10 GREATEST HITS When the rumors of Carmelo Anthony joining the New York Knicks ďŹ nally came true in February, the searing spotlight of the media capital of the world shone directly on Melo. While the results were middling, the new hope that Anthony combined with Amar’e Stoudemire now brings is good enough to a championship-starved New York fan base. nathaniEl s. ButlEr/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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Lost amidst the Blake Griffin dunk show in 2010-11 was the continued progress of his teammate Eric Gordon. The shooting guard was just 0.2 points behind Griffin in per-game scoring at 22.3 and forms the promising inside-outside tandem for the Los Angeles Clippers for years to come. laynE murdoch/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

10 11 GREATEST HITS Golden State’s Monta Ellis might not come to mind when discussing the premier shooting guards in the NBA, but ask around the League and you’ll hear praise from opponents for his quickness, ballhandling, outside shot and ability to finish around the basket that makes him one of the toughest to cover at his position. camEron BrownE/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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Luis Scola might very well be the most overlooked player in the NBA. Why that is so is a mystery. The Houston forward finished his fourth year and he has improved his scoring average every year he’s been in the League and finished 2010-11 at 18.3 ppg. sam forEncich/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

10 11 GREATEST HITS Much of the attention to Miami’s new additions of LeBron James and Chris Bosh fell on the offensive side of the ball, but when the duo took their talents to South Beach, they were also importing some very heady defense to the Heat. issac Baldizon/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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Watch an NBA game and you’ll discover that the ways players celebrate a basket or defensive stop are as diverse as the achievements itself. Whether it’s the chest bump, the airplane, a toast to the crowd, the new kid on the block, the “three monocle” or the tried-and-true high-five, you can expect celebrations as unique as the game itself.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS It was December 8, 2010, and it will go down as a day where end-of-game buzzers were no match for the brilliance of last-second shots. In a span of a few hours: New York’s Raymond Felton (bottom right) wetted a three-pointer with the clock ticking down to beat the Toronto Raptors; in Milwaukee, Bucks center Andrew Bogut (top, right; not actual photo of the play) tipped in an inbounds pass with 0.5 seconds left to beat the Pacers; Rudy Gay’s three ball at the end of regulation (top left) gave Memphis extra life and led to overtime, where the Grizzlies would eventually defeat the Suns; And finally, Derek Fisher’s scoop layup (bottom left) that just narrowly left his hands before the buzzer turned what would be a one-point upset loss to the rival Clippers into a one-point Lakers victory. noah Graham; ray amati; Gary dinEEn/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs; christian pEtErsEn/GEtty imaGEs sport

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10 11 GREATEST HITS Before Carmelo Anthony arrived in Gotham, it was just Amar’e Stoudemire carrying and rejuevenating Madison Square Garden all by himself, earning the Knicks their ďŹ rst All-Star starter since franchise legend Patrick Ewing. chris trotman/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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HERE’S TO 15 YEARS OF GETTING AFTER IT.

WATCH ALL SEASON LONG ON TICKETS AVAILABLE AT WNBA.COM/TICKETS

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Kevin Love captured the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year thanks to a season not seen in the NBA in almost 30 years. Love became the first player since Moses Malone in 1982 to notch a 30-point/30-rebound game with a 31 and 31 game against the Knicks on Nov. 12, 2010. He also became the first since Malone’s 1982-83 season to average 20 points and 15 boards. rocKy widnEr/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

10 11 GREATEST HITS It had been but just a few weeks since Kendrick Perkins arrived in Oklahoma City via a midseason trade, but Dwyane Wade welcomed him to the Thunder by serving up some thunder of his own. michaEl Ehrmann/GEtty imaGEs sport

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Gone unnoticed by many is the fact that Steve Nash ended his nine-year run as the point guard of the top-ranked offense in the NBA. Dating back to 200102 as a Dallas Maverick, Nash has been pacing the best offensive team every season. That said, he still kept the Suns at a not-too-shabby fourth place while averaging 14.7 points and a League-best 11.4 assists per game. p.a. molumBy/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

10 11 GREATEST HITS Deron Williams certainly racked up the air miles in February. After a trade deadline deal sent the All-Star point guard to New Jersey from Utah, Williams had to quickly ready his passport for a ight across the pond to London to take part in the ďŹ rst-ever regularseason games in Europe as the Nets and Raptors played a pair of games in the O2 Arena in London. nathaniEl s. ButlEr/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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DeMar DeRozan rose up in 2010-11. The Toronto swingman showed that he’s more than just a dunker.

Sure, the second-year man competed in his second Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star, but he also flashed NBA scoring ability, averaging 17.2 points in a League full of athletic scorers at the 2 guard spot. ron turEnnE/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

10 11 GREATEST HITS In the NBA, one of the most exciting plays is the big dunk over a defender. In this instance the dunker was Denver’s J.R. Smith and on the receiving end of things is San Antonio Spurs’ rookie Gary Neal. Welcome to the L, rook.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS Kobe Bryant spent the 2010-11 season climbing the NBA’s all-time scoring ledger. Bryant opened the season at 12th place with 25,790 points and quickly leapfrogged John Havlicek (25,395), Dominique Wilkins (26,668), Oscar Robertson (26,710), Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946), Elvin Hayes (27,313) and Moses Malone (27,409) to settle in at sixth place. Despite all the scoring, Bryant still found time to pass the ball. noah Graham/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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All-Star isn’t just about dream pairings on the court: The Western Conference tandem of Chris Paul and Tim Duncan teamed up during the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service to rehabilitate a playground.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS As a show of team solidarity with a bit of playful mockery, the Eastern Conference All-Star starters— Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Amar’e Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade—joined LeBron James during his now familiar pregame chalk toss. noah Graham/nBaE/GEtty imaGEs

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After 13 seasons of taking off from NBA arenas, Vince Carter might be unable to fly quite as high as he once did, but that doesn’t mean all flights have been grounded.

Philadelphia 76ers basketball experienced a resurgence this season, in no small part to the zealous defense of their backcourt of Andre Iguodala (#9) and Jrue Holiday (#11), here seen giving Detroit’s Will Bynum (#12) an aerial double-team.

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Their postseason might not have gone as planned, but for a team that many folks doubted to be championship contenders because of the aging nucleus of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, the San Antonio Spurs were still good enough for an NBA second-best 61 wins. noah Graham/nBae/Getty ImaGes

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He might’ve led the NBA in scoring this season with 2,161 points and a 27.7 per game average, but it doesn’t mean Kevin Durant isn’t willing to also hit the floor to corral a loose ball.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS The memories of Michael Jordan’s first championship are seared in our minds, so it still feels like yesterday when the 1991 Chicago Bulls won their first NBA Championship. As part of the anniversary, members of the ’91 title team marked the occasion with a commemorative night to celebrate the achievement at the United Center.

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Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans wisely avoided the embarrassment of being the subject in Dorell Wright’s poster shot. Wright was one of the most improved players during the season, more than doubling last year’s scoring with 16.4 points per game. rocky WIdNer/NBAe/Getty IMAGes

In addition to Tyreke Evans, last year’s Rookie of the Year, the Kings added another piece to their future core with center DeMarcus Cousins. The All-Rookie First Teamer showed plenty of promise with 14.1 points and 8.6 boards per game.

Memphis’ surprising season was made possible thanks in no small part to Zach Randolph. The southpaw forward’s unorthodox game might not be smooth, but his ability to produce and lead the Grizzlies to its best playoff showing in franchise history was undoubtedly pleasing to watch.

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10 11 GREATEST HITS Most Valuable Player awards are not based on fancy highlights, but that is not to say that Chicago’s Derrick Rose become the youngest-ever MVP in NBA history without any flash. The third-year point guard had plenty of substance leading his Bulls to the best record in the League with 62 wins, but showed plenty of style, too.

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