5 Minutes of Basketball

Basketball is finally in full swing, but that does not limit it to the United States. Two future lottery picks, Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings, faced off in Barcelona this past week. Jennings is known for his decision for forego college altogether and play in Europe for a year. Ricky's team, Joventut, ultimately defeated Brandon's, Roma, 97-93 in a game that proved both players have the ability to play in the League right now. Rubio was just coming off an injury and was essentially playing with one good arm so he didn't even attempt a shot yet still had a solid game playing defense and making good decisions on offense. Jennings, on the other hand, had 12 points and two assists in 22 minutes of playing time. Ricky and Brandon currently rank one and two, respectively, at the point guard position in the 2009 draft class.

From my point of view, Jennings is a better playmaker and will create more offense than any other player in next year's draft. Rubio, however, plays a much more well-rounded game. He plays superior defense, is bigger and stronger, and is one of a few players in the draft that can boast a resume that includes Olympic play.

They also have their weaknesses. Rubio is certainly not so fast nor so quick as other point guards like Ty Lawson, Jennings, and Jrue Holiday. His jump shot needs a little work as well. Brandon needs to become a better defender, first and foremost, and needs to add some bulk in the weight room before entering the L.

In the NBA, the Cavs' 11-game win streak was put to an end while the Lakers and Celtics continue to dominate and only further stoke the thoughts of a Finals rematch. LeBron James has been averaging 27, 7, and 6 in less minutes per game than last season. But don't mistake Cleveland for a one-man team because everyone is doing their part in having one of the best offenses and defenses the League has to offer. (LeBron, Mo Williams, Big Z, and Delonte West are all averaging double figures in points.) This team could be the Celtics' toughest test in the playoffs.

I find it particularly interesting that the Lakers, who featured a prolific offensive attack last season, have taken great strides to improve their defense, while Boston, home to last year's best defense, decided to change and improve their offense this year. Boston and LA are both outscoring their opponents by more than ten points per game so the changes seem to be working. The Lake Show (21-3) and the World Champion Celtics (24-2) are set to meet on Christmas Day. Stay tuned.

In college hoops, North Carolina may be the most impressive team, but Chapel Hill is possibly no longer home to the nation's most impressive player. The reigning National Player of the Year, Tyler Hansbrough, may be averaging 23 points and seven rebounds, but three other studs are making names for themselves as well.

Blake Griffin of Oklahoma has been annihilating opponents on his way to 23 points and 15 rebounds per game. Not only can he get out and run in transition, but Griffin can also use a very good spin move to drive around the defense and dunk or hit the fadeaway jumper from ten feet. I do, however, expect his averages to dip somewhat when the Sooners begin their conference schedule in January.

Another on my list is the boy who killed every single bracket last spring, Stephen Curry of Davidson. What's scary is the thought that he actually got better since last March. Currently, he's averaging 32 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals per contest. Only nine games into the season, Steph has already notched six 30+ plus scoring nights. His quick release and ability to move without the ball make him even harder to guard.

Some basketball heads would stop their lists after those two. They are forgetting one tremendous player out West when they do this though: Arizona State's James Harden. His averages of 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals don't do him justice if you can believe it. The Sun Devils have failed to score 65 points in a game three times this season, making his scoring even more remarkable. Add to that the fact that he attracts double teams and traps quite often, and you have one hell of an overlooked player.

So that's what's new in the world of basketball. Have a good rest of the week. I personally cannot wait for the Gonzaga/UConn game Saturday. I'm really liking some of the matchups, such as the "Senior Floor General Battle" (Pargo versus Price). Four o'clock on CBS, fellas.

Best of the Best: The Top Seven Players from the NBA's Best Rivalry

Last season’s NBA Finals between Boston and Los Angeles rekindled a dormant rivalry which has captivated fans on both coasts for decades. From the early days of Russell and Cousy facing Baylor and West to the fierce 1980s battles between Kareem and Magic versus Bird and McHale, many great players and a strong sense of tradition shrouds this classic series with all of its hype. One must dig deep into the past, and take into account many variables, when determining the seven best players to ever play in the NBA's best rivalry...

7. John Havlicek- Havlicek was a Celtic for life, so revered that his number is now hanging retired in the rafters of an arena in which he never competed. "Hondo" was a thirteen-time All-Star, his career earning him a top-fifteen ranking on SLAM's prestigious list of the Top NBA Players of All Time. Havlicek was the epitome of a clutch player, as demonstrated by his perennial toe-to-toe battles with the Lakers’ Jerry West. Havlicek had the luxury of playing in five Lakers/Celtics finals throughout his career.
Career Stats: 20.8 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 4.3 apg, 43% FG, 78% FT

6. Wilt Chamberlain- Some would wonder why Chamberlain has been ranked so low on this list, but it is important not to forget that Wilt played far from his entire career in Los Angeles. By the time he arrived in California to suit up for the Lakers, his scoring ability had dropped off tremendously yet remained a dominant rebounder. Wilt the Stilt played in only one Lakers/Celtics finals, which took place in 1969 in an epic showdown between the Cinderella Celtics (they were a 4-seed that year) and the dominant Lakers.
Stats w/ LA (5 seasons): 19.3 ppg, 19.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 62% FG, 47% FT (blocks were not recorded)

5. Jerry West- Mr. Clutch played against Boston in six NBA Finals appearances, yet walked away from his days as a player without a ring. He was, however, named the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite the losing effort put forth by the Lakers. West was a prolific scorer with a solid all-around game quite advanced for its time. He was a thirteen-time All-Star and a ten-time member of the All-NBA First-Team.
Career Stats: 27.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.7 apg, 47% FG, 81% FT (no 3-point line)

4. Bill Russell- One of the greatest defenders in NBA history, Russell was an eleven-time NBA Champion. Seven of his eleven titles came by defeating the Lakers in the Finals. He is a twelve-time All-Star and a five-time winner of the NBA MVP award. He is widely considered a top-ten player to ever play the game, and slots into the number-four slot on this storied and legendary list of players.
Career Stats: 15.1 ppg, 22.5 rpg, 4.3 apg, 44% FG, 56% FT (blocks were not recorded)

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Abdul-Jabbar is commonly considered one of the best big men in NBA history and one of its top-ten all-time players. Kareem also invented the Skyhook, his signature move that no defender could get a piece of before it drained through the hoop. He was a six-time winner of the NBA MVP award and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. Abdul-Jabbar was also a symbol of longevity, playing into his early forties. His ability to remain effective for so long is remarkable for a big man. Nonetheless, it was tough to give him a nod over the top two players on this list -- the two that gave the rivalry its credibility.
Career Stats: 24.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 56% FG, 72% FT, 2.6 bpg

2. Larry Bird- Larry Legend, as some call him, was one half of the NBA's greatest individual rivalry that was ever established. He catapulted the Lakers and Celtics to new heights. Without him, all the nostalgia which surrounded the 2008 NBA Finals (and a lot of the logic behind writing this piece) would not even exist. He was one of the best shooters ever, and Bird could rebound and pass pretty well, too. Bird was also was at his best when the game required a clutch performance, stepping up when it mattered most. All of these reasons culminated into his beating out Kareem for the number-two spot on this list.
Career Stats: 24.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 50% FG, 38% 3P, 1.7 spg

1. Magic Johnson- Did you really expect it to be anyone else? The leader of the Showtime Lakers and the most exciting player in the game at the time falls at the top of the list of greats from the Lakers-Celtics series. If you couldn't tell, he is the other half of that fantastic individual rivalry mentioned earlier. Every single time Magic stepped on the floor, he automatically created a mismatch. He was a point guard trapped in a big man's body which allowed him to essentially do whatever he wanted out on the court. Johnson was the definition of a human highlight reel.
Career Stats: 19.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 11.2 apg, 52% FG, 30% 3P, 1.9 spg

Honorable Mention (in no order): Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy.

There it is: The seven greatest players to ever appear in the NBA’s most-storied rivalry. Most of us can only hope that Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will be competing for a place on this list five years from now. The Celtics were victorious in the most recent Finals in what is, in my opinion, a series which could easily go on for years to come. Both teams are primed to keep this legendary rivalry alive!

To contact this writer, you can email him at marchmadness14@gmail.com.