The Answer vs. Kobe & Shaq

Back in 2001, Allen Iverson a.k.a The Answer was the most dominant scorer. He carried the Sixers franchise on his back, and he played with toughness and his heart. Here is a look back at one of his memorable games. Game 1 of The NBA Finals at Los Angeles. 

2001-2002 NBA season individual stats and awards: 

                         27.7 pts* 4.9 rebs 2.5 stls* per game  *Led the league

League M.V.P

All-Star M.V.P

All NBA First Team

Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley is a great talent, but he is probably one the NBA's best kept secret. He has had his troubles in the past, but I think he is ready to explode back on the scene with this fresh new start with the Phoenix Suns. You heard it hear first, Beasley will have a break out year and possibly be the league's most improved player next year. B Easy has All-Star talent, so I won't be surprised if he gets some love for February's classic game mid-way through the season. I believe he is ready to take that next step.

lebron vs melo high school

Both of these guys knew they were going to make it big.

#5 pick Thomas Robinson

#5 pick of Sacramento Kings Thomas Robinson


Thomas Robinson story is better than his basketball talents because it speaks about how great of a man he his. Losing close family members and having to take care of his little sister while going to class and playing for a top five college program shows he is mature and ready for the NBA scene. Robinson plays hard and he has been a better player over his two years at Kansas thanks to Danny Manning. 


Strengths: Strong, fast, and a great athlete. Has shown the ability to face up on the low post, and has enough strength to play power basketball. Can shoot a decent percentage from 15ft and in.


Weakness: Might be under-sized at the power forward position. Has shown raw ability but needs more of a polished low post game. Needs to develop some sort of jump hook.

Pre-season Top 10 2012-13 College Basketball

1. Indiana

Indiana stays put at No. 1 after surviving the draft deadline unscathed. Cody Zeller and Christian Watford decided to stay in school and that means each of IU's top five scorers return from last season's Sweet 16 team, in addition to a top-10 recruiting class. So yes, the Hoosiers will still be the pick in the Big Ten and a preseason favorite for the national title. It took a while, but Indiana is back. Get used to it.

2. Louisville

Louisville didn't have to deal with any draft issues. The Cardinals are as untouched now as they were in New Orleans after losing in the national semifinal to Kentucky. The losses of Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith can't be dismissed, but everyone else returns, Wayne Blackshear will be around for a whole season, Mike Marra and (perhaps) Rakeem Buckles will return from injury, double-digit scorer Luke Hancock arrives from George Mason and Peyton Siva should be the preseason Big East player of the year. No reason the Cards can't make it back-to-back trips to the Final Four.

3. Kentucky

The Wildcats will almost certainly lose Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to the NBA, and likely Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague, as well. Senior Darius Miller also is gone, and he was one of the best glue guys in the country. So how is Big Blue still No. 3? All about the newcomers. John Calipari has hauled in the nation's No. 1 class for the fourth straight year at UK, led by the nation's No. 1 player, shot-blocking extraordinaire Nerlens Noel. The additions of NC State transfer Ryan Harrow and freshmen Archie Goodwin, Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley -- along with a former top recruit like Kyle Wiltjer who will get his chance to shine -- will keep Kentucky near the top again.

4. Kansas

Kansas lost Thomas Robinson as expected, as well as senior Tyshawn Taylor. But the returnees (led by Jeff Withey and Elijah Johnson) and the newcomers (led by Perry Ellis and redshirt freshman Ben McLemore) make the Jayhawks once again the team to beat in the Big 12. No matter what the personnel losses are, haven't we learned our lesson not to dismiss this program as long as Bill Self is in charge? Yes. Yes, we have. KU isn't going anywhere.

5. Michigan

After flirting with the NBA, Trey Burke decided to remain in Ann Arbor. That's huge for the Wolverines, who would've had a serious void at the point without the invaluable Burke. He will join Tim Hardaway Jr. and a loaded freshman class that includes ESPNU 100 recruits Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson Jr. and Nik Stauskas. This team is loaded and as long as the newcomers blend in, there's no reason to believe Michigan can't compete at the highest level in both the Big Ten and nationally.

6. NC State

How did this happen so fast? Is North Carolina State really the ACC favorite? Why not. North Carolina and Duke are taking on serious losses, and the Wolfpack overachieved under Mark Gottfried to get to the Sweet 16. It took a little while, but C.J. Leslie announced he's returning, which basically means the entire team returns. In addition, Gottfried has one of the top recruiting classes in the country coming in with Rodney Purvis, T.J. Warren and Tyler Lewis. This program has a lot to look forward to.

7. UCLA

The Bruins might be the most fascinating team of 2012-13. How will this all shake out? Not only is the embattled Ben Howland bringing in the No. 1 recruiting class led by a pair of top-five players (guards Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson) and an elite big man (Tony Parker), but also UNC transfer Larry Drew II, who left Chapel Hill in controversial fashion. And who knows what you'll get with a frontcourt that includes the Wear twins and the enigma that is Josh Smith. Tyler Lamb and Norman Powell will also play signifcant roles. This has a true boom-or-bust feel to it. Nothing less than Howland's job security rides on it.

8. Ohio State

The Buckeyes have never disappointed under Thad Matta. This team is a consistent winner that is always near or at the top of the Big Ten and in title contention. Next season won't be any different. The big news from the past week wasn't losing Jared Sullinger. That was expected. But getting Deshaun Thomas to come back means they have a go-to scorer in the frontcourt, even if he likes to score more facing the basket. And the Buckeyes still have Aaron Craft doing all the things Aaron Craft does, andLenzelle Smith Jr. and LaQuinton Ross are going to be studs.

9. Michigan State

The Spartans lose Big Ten player of the year Draymond Green, Brandon Wood andAustin Thornton. But if you think Michigan State is going to slide under Tom Izzo, you haven't been following the program. Keith Appling and Travis Trice return, along with a healthy Branden Dawson. The Spartans don't ever lack for talent, and a top-10 freshmen class is on the way.

10. Syracuse

Four of the top six scorers are gone. Dion Waiters left early. Fab Melo did, too. Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine were seniors. But the depth and talent is still there withRakeem Christmas and Michael Carter-Williams, as well as Brandon Triche and C.J. Fair. The addition of big man DaJuan Coleman is huge. Don't expect the Orange to fall off in their likely last season in the Big East.

Jeremy Lin to the Rockets

Jeremy Lin resurrected his career in New York, but he has a chance to become a full time starter and a solid NBA player with the Houston Rockets. Lin is one of the players to look out for the upcoming season.

Breakthrough Athlete of the Year: Jeremy Lin, the former Harvard guard and NBA vagabond who came off the New York Knicks' bench to average 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game. Jeremy Lin received the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Award at the Espy's Wednesday, July 11 of 2012. 

Congratulations!

Shout out to Helen

Dwight vs Bynum

Dwight Howard is obviously the more athletic and more accomplished player than Andrew Bynum. But Bynum showed signed last season he can potentially be a franchise Big Man, maybe even the best low post player in the game. Dwight is a defensive dynamo and is a game changer on the defensive end. Dwight is probably the fastest center along with being the most athletic in the game today. However Bynum is bigger, a little stronger, and is more polished on the offensive end. I also think he has more of a mean streak than Dwight, probably a little tougher mentally than Dwight.
Who would you take?

Melo talks Lin

I'm not sure if Carmelo Anthony fully supported Jeremy Lin coming back to the Knicks, but it would of been nice to see a healthy roster of Lin, Melo, Amare, and Chandler healthy to start the season.

Two Athletic Guards

Enjoy!

Dion Waiters

#4 Draft Pick Cleveland Cavaliers


Dion Waiters was probably there best player this past college season, and he wasn't even a starter. He is  an explosive scoring guard. He is a high risk, high reward type of player. He is a little under-sized at the two guard spot, but at the end of the day he is a straight baller. He has overcome some adversity at Syracuse during his freshman year. However, Waiters turned it around and became one of the best scorers in college basketball.


Strengths: Dominate scorer! He can score from anywhere on the court. Has good ball handling skills, and can create something out of nothing at anytime. He is a great athlete. Not afraid of the moment. Plays with a chip on his shoulder.


Weakness: Waiters is a little under-sized. Not sure about his one-on-one defense because he primary played in the 2-3 zone in college. Can he make the transition from college to pro mentally?

Rashard Lewis

This free agent signing might quietly be the best pick up for the Miami Heat because of Rashard Lewis skill set. With an injury free season, Lewis can prove vital for the Heat chances at a repeat.

Top Point Guards

Which point guard would you start a franchise with right now? Top Five Point Guards: Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, and Russell Westbrook
(If you don't agree with this list, please feel free to comment)

Amnesty time!!

There have been some players that have received the Amnesty clause. A couple of those players include Elton Brand from the Sixers and Rashard Lewis from the Hornets. But I think Carlos Boozer gets the next axe because he is overpaid, and when he needed to step up for the Bulls during the playoffs he fell short. Bye Bye Boozer!

Kevin Durant too nice??

Skip Bayless from ESPN First take said something really interesting. He felt like KD was too nice during the Finals, especially towards his LeBron James. Remember Game 2 at OKC when LeBron got away with basically two fouls against KD when he pulled up for the game winning shot on the baseline. Skip feels like KD should of stood up and say something about it instead brushing it off like it was nothing. Kobe was recently interviewed during the Olympic practices and Kobe feels like it would be hard to be someone's friend after losing to him in the Finals. Kobe might be trying to stir things up a bit, but I think Skip is right about this. KD and LeBron are friends and they workout together during the off-season, so I think KD didn't go at LeBron with that same intensity like he did in the previous rounds. LeBron doesn't play at his best when you can get in his head because he is sensitive. Jason Terry was able to do that successfully during the Finals last year. 
Did Kevin Durant's relationship with LeBron James ultimately hurt KD's killer instinct during the Finals?

No more Big 3?

New CBA death to 'Big 3' model?

By Larry Coon | ESPN Insider

The NBA emerged from its 161-day lockout with the promise of a new system in which all 30 teams, if managed well, could turn profits and compete for championships. The league's new collective bargaining agreement and accompanying revenue-sharing system signaled a fundamental shift in the league's economy.

Under the new rules, revenue sharing pulls money from big-market teams and gives it to small-market ones, and teams with big payrolls will get onerous luxury tax bills, the money from which is redistributed to teams that keep their payrolls in check. Taxpaying teams also will have less freedom to operate, with restricted access to many salary-cap mechanisms.

With these changes comes a fundamental re-thinking of the best way to build a franchise. The three-star system, long considered a template for building a winning team, has come under new scrutiny. As teams evaluate the way they do business, their decisions will determine how the balance of power is distributed in the NBA during the next decade.

Biggest steal of the Draft?

Oklahoma City Thunder fell short of winning the NBA title this year, but with an already strong team they just might have won this years NBA draft. OKC selected Baylor's Perry Jones III 28th overall, which is a lot lower than anyone expected. Teams were scared away from a reported knee injury, but Jones III has top 5 game, and he can add a deadly punch off the bench to an already great ball club. Many people compared him to Kevin Durant, so if Jones III can learn from the all-star forward the sky is the limit for this young talent. Jones III is primed for a big year because he got lucky he fell to a championship squads lap. Watch out for Perry Jones III for OKC.