TheNextBestThing

Sorry for the Combo Breaker. Skynyrd is my all-time favorite, and I think their most underrated track is "Down South Jukin'." And yes, I for sure have Curtis Loew.

I think the programmers were a little bit dramatic. "Website not working" does not mean the same thing as "fatal."

The lack of Leandro Barbosa on this list is perplexing me.

Yes. "Wanted Dead or Alive" - Bon Jovi

Kobe has a more accurate jumper. Dirk's advantage is that he can shoot right over most smaller players. But if the opponent plays him with a matching 7-footer, they'll be uncomfortable playing defense so far from the basket. Kobe also has the plus of his defender being scared of him driving to the basket. This keeps defenders from exclusively guarding his jumper. If he hesitates, then jabs, he'll have a defender that's off balance. Then it's bombs away.

There's no such thing as a "motivated" Amaré.

I'll play.

Idiot. You're very immature.

Don't guess. He didn't. As good as our roster has been in years past, Steve Nash is and was the heart and soul of this team. I don't like bringing up 2005-2006 over and over...but there it is. If we have our other pieces, we are just fine without him. Amare is the most overrated player in the game, hands down. I tell you what, I'd sure swap him for Gasol in a heartbeat.

I really think it's Leandro Barbosa, but I'll admit that I've seen him play a lot more than anyone else on that list. My second choice is Harris.

Kevin Durant. End of discussion.

That would also be Okafor. But we're not talking about a new franchise; the Bobcats are a fair team, and the Hornets are pretty good. Chandler is a better add-on player because he's better at offensive rebounding, setting screens, things that good players love to play beside. My turn for a hypothetical: If you could add one of them to your Lakers, which would it be? If I were you, Chandler would be the pick.

5. James Harden 4. Stephen Curry 3. Demar DeRozan 2. Tyreke Evans 1. Blake Griffin DeRozan, Evans, Hansbrough are sleepers. Hill, Rubio, and Thabeet are busts.

Taylor is my vote for music, looks, and defensive player of the year. Joke topic.

Mine thought I was a serial killer or something. Sorry, I win.

Exactly. Therefore, inferior player but more impact.

Emeka frequently is lost on offense. He might finish at the basket after receiving a pass, but he has no dependable way to create for himself. He's plagued by shaky footwork, poor ballhandling, and an unreliable jumpshot. But here's the biggest thing: Okafor is possibly the worst passer in the league. I'm thinking of Eddy Curry, Kwame Brown and the like, but Okafor is so bad that it looks like he can't really be trying to get the ball to a teammate. I love my Suns, but the Bobcats are the local team (I suppose you could relate). I've seen a lot of Okafor, including a dozen games from the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. Chandler is no Dikembe Mutombo, but Okafor is a deeply flawed player. I'll take the lanky 7-footer.

What about the Jonas Brothers?

I think Chandler is better, but the answer to your question is Okafor. It's going to be a rude awakening for Tyson Chandler to no longer be playing with Chris Paul. By the same token, Okafor will get a huge lift. Here's the thing: Chandler with no Paul is better than Okafor with no Paul; Charlotte still made the right choice.

This topic reminds me of why the media shouldn't get to vote on player awards. Jameer Nelson 2008-09 STATS PPG APG SPG 16.7 5.4 1.2 Baron Davis 2008-09 STATS PPG APG SPG 14.9 7.7 1.7 Nelson gets one extra basket per game. However, Nelson nets 5.4 assists playing with maybe the best inside finisher in the league, and a half dozen spot up shooters. Baron manages 7.7 assists with...well, the Clippers. Yet everyone ranks Jameer higher? Well, of course. His team was better. We saw the same effect in the MVP and (God knows) the Coach of the Year voting. How about a new ranking: The 3 most important skills in basketball: 3. Defense 2. Offense 1. Having good teammates Congratulations to Jameer Nelson. It takes a special kind of dedication and work to be drafted onto a team with Dwight Howard.

Foreigner and Fleetwood Mac are classics, but not Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Eagles? I don't know why, but basketball fans in general are just desperate to avoid looking "country."

1. Featured article. Choose a good article from one of your writers, and link to it. But instead of giving the first paragraph or something, describe it. Like: "Several teams have made radical moves this offseason. Erick Blasco gives his take." 2. Pictures. They don't really need to have a central theme or idea (other than, of course, basketball). People like pictures. 3. Quote of the week. Pick a basketball related quote that would make for a good Nike poster. It might sound corny, but it works for iGoogle. 4. Link to this forum. I assume this was a given, but how about a spin: Pick 3-5 of your favorite threads, and display them on the main page. Threads that newcomers will read and say, "Wow, this is high quality discussion. I want to be a member." 5. Links to fun basketball sites/resources outside of OTR. It might sound dangerous (we want people to stay here, right?), but if you're a gateway to things that they wouldn't have known about otherwise, then they'll come back. 6. A game. Some kind of unique app that only exists on this website. I realize that's massively vague...but I'll think on it. And you could make it Suns-themed. Because purple and orange are just cool.

I cannot believe the lack of Lamar Odom on these lists. Odom is, hands down, the most brain dead basketball player of all time.

I'm going to start doing that. Thank you.

I hate you. I was going to pull Tayshaun Prince out of nowhere, and you ruin it. Anyway. Prince has always bothered Kobe with his height and length. He gives up strength, sure, but Kobe doesn't really rely on powering through opponents. Yes, I would be fearing the hesitation move to set up the jumper. But Prince would not at all be bad for discouraging that. Plus, like you said, he's a clear choice for stopping the drive. There is no "right" answer to stopping Kobe from scoring. But I am shocked at the "This is easy" people. Is Prince really that much of a pushover compared to Battier? To anybody? He's my pick.