What if NBAers played for the Hometown Team?

Over at Depressed Fan, they realigned the NBA rosters according to where the players are from. Everybody plays for the hometown team, no exceptions. It's a pretty cool look at how different everything would be and what cities and towns are hotspots for future NBA talent.

Here are some of the best teams and some interesting squads:

Charlotte Bobcats:

PG Chris Paul (Clemmons, NC)

SG Ray Allen (Dalzell, SC)

SF Josh Howard (Winston-Salem, NC)

PF Antawn Jamison (Charlotte, NC)/David West (Garner, NC)

C Kevin Garnett (Mauldin, SC)

This is the best team out and I can't see any reasonable way that this team wouldn't win the title. Chris Paul and KG would be unstoppable together and Allen/Howard/West is a deadly finish to the starting 5.

Chicago Bulls:

PG Derrick Rose (Chicago, IL)

SG Dwyane Wade (Oak Lawn, IL)

SF Andre Iguodala (Springfield, IL)/Wilson Chandler (Benton Harbor, MI)

PF Corey Maggette (Oak Park, IL)

C Eddy Curry (South Holland, IL)

Watching Rose, Wade, and Iguodala together would be awesome. The dunks, drives, and highlights would be unbelievable to watch.

Houston Rockets:

PG TJ Ford (Sugarland, TX)

SG Rashard Lewis (Alief, TX)/Daniel Gibson (Houston, TX)

SF Paul Millsap (Grambling, LA)

PF Kendrick Perkins (Beaumont, TX)

C Emeka Okafor (Houston, TX)

This is a solid team that would do a great job competing. But, no way Perk gets in this starting lineup.

New Jersey Nets:

PG Randy Foye (Newark, NJ)

SG J.R. Smith (Newark, NJ)

SF Al Harrington (Elizabeth, NJ)

PF Troy Murphy (Morristown, NJ)/Tim Thomas (Paterson, NJ)

C Andrew Bynum (Metuchen, NJ)

This team would be surprisingly good. Harrington and Tim Thomas would spread the floor and give Foye and Smith room to run all over the floor. Not too mention Bynum is the middle.

New Orleans Hornets:

PG Chris Duhon (Slidell, LA)

SG Monta Ellis (Jackson, MS)/Mo Williams (Jackson, MS)

SF Danny Granger (New Orleans, LA)

PF Tyrus Thomas (Baton Rogue, LA)

C Al Jefferson (Prentiss, MS)

I like this team with Mo at the point. This team is very solid and would give team nightmares with their athleticism.

Orlando Magic:

PG Damien Wilkins (Orlando, FL)

SG Vince Carter (Daytona Beach, FL)

SF Tracy McGrady (Auburndale, FL)/Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Montverde, FL)

PF Marreese Speights (St. Petersburg, FL)

C Amare Stoudemire (Orlando, FL)

This team would suck, but watching VC, T-Mac, and Amare would be awesome.

Washington Wizards:

PG Allen Iverson (Hampton, VA)

SG Jeff Green (Hyattsville, MD)

SF Carmelo Anthony (Towson, MD)

PF Kevin Durant (Rockville, MD)/Michael Beasley (Prince George's County, MD)

C Rudy Gay (Severn, MD)

This is another team that would be better suited for the highlight reel than standings. Green should really be the PF and Durant the SG. They'd get bullied all day inside, but who cares, they'd push the fastest pace of all-time. It'd be 4 seconds or less.

Lebron...Or Kobe...

Lebron James... or Kobe Bryant. I do not even watch the NBA, but after seeing what the two just did back to back games at the Garden, I do not know who the best player in the league is at this point in time.

Let us take a look at Kobe. 61 points: the highest mark in the Garden ever put up by a player, both home and visiting. The league's reigning MVP will go down as one of the best players to ever play this game. Kobe's 61 came at the perfect time. Laker's center Andrew Bynum went down with a torn MCL and will be out 8-12 weeks. Kobe is the NBA's third leading scorer behind "The King" himself, and Miami's Dwyane Wade. Kobe has proved himself many years ago to the world. He, along with James won a gold medal in the summer Olympics.

Lebron aka The King aka The Chosen One. What else is there to say. Coming out of High School, he was the most talked about, and recruited player. He had NBA talent in 11th grade. And he wasted no time. Let's flash forward to Wednesday night: 52 points 11 assists 10 rebounds. One word: ANIMAL. Lebron saw what Kobe did, and said to him self... where were the assists, and no rebounds? He laughed and said Kobe, step your team game up. Lebron is making a case for MVP. He wants it: he won't say it to anyone, but deep inside, he wants it. He wants that title of MVP, and all that hoisted that trophy. He too will go down as one of the best, if not, the best.

Best NBA All-Star Event: Rookies vs. Sophomores

I couldn't care less about the upcoming NBA All-Star game. Fan voting is a bunch of shit and the NBA one is just as bad as all the others'. I think the MLB game is best, but not by much, but that's neither here nor there. I like the Dunk Contest, but it lacks any real excitement or punch nowadays. The Skills competition is cool, but only goes so far. The real fun is in the Rookies vs. Sophomores game.

The NBA just released the rosters for the game and I think this year's should be a good one. The Sophomore squad is weaker than in years past and the Rookie team is stacked. Also, a most likely useless, but interesting addition is that Dwayne Wade will assistant coach the Rookies and Dwight Howard will work with the Sophomores. Here's rosters:

Rookie Team Roster
Michael Beasley (Heat)
Rudy Fernandez (Trail Blazers)
Marc Gasol (Grizzlies)
Eric Gordon (Clippers)
Brook Lopez (Nets)
O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies)
Greg Oden (Trail Blazers)
Derrick Rose (Bulls)
Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Sophomore Team roster
Aaron Brooks (Rockets)
Wilson Chandler (Knicks)
Kevin Durant (Thunder)
Jeff Green (Thunder)
Al Horford (Hawks)
Luis Scola (Rockets)
Al Thornton (Clippers)
Rodney Stuckey (Pistons)
Thaddeus Young (Sixers)

On name recognition alone, the Rookies seem the clear-cut favorites and are projected to win, which would be a first for them in a long time. But I still think that the Sophomores are going to find a way to pull it out. Kevin Durant is the best player playing in the game and I don't see any Rookies who can stop him. Westbrook, Mayo, and Rose should run wild up and down the floor and seeing as no one plays defense in these games I don't see anyone stopping them. However, Al Horford is a great post-player, polished, and smooth, good chance he goes for atleast 15 and 15.

In the end, I see Durant leading the Sophomores to a thrilling win and finish and ending the night holding up the MVP trophy of the game. Then again, the game is being played on Friday, the 13th, so who knows what could happen?

Pick 'Em: Top 5 Centers in NBA

As I write entries for this blog, I find a ton of problem coming up with new and interesting things to write, so I'm starting a new staple: Pick 'Em. It'll be top fives or tens or however many, of anything from athletes at positions (like today's top 5 centers) to cheesesteak places to who knows. So let's kick it off with today's Top 5 Center's in the NBA:

1. This one is a no-brainer and if I didn't have Dwight Howard here, I would undoubtedly and rightfully be bludgeoned in the head by Matt or Vineesh. Superman is across the board dominant on defense and his budding offensive game is shinning almost every night. Dwight is posting 20.2 points and 13.8 rebounds a night and adding a ridiculous 3.2 blocks a game. Also, Howard alters approximately 39.1 shots a game (I just made that up, but it's probably close). I have a question though, I have trouble thinking that he can fit through doors without turning sideways. On tv he looks 5 feet wide. Does his house only have double doors? Moving on, Dwight is only 23 and will most likely top this list for the next 5-8 years as he gets better and better.


2. I think that Yao Ming is currently the two-man here, but not for long. Have watched him on the court recently? Well, chances are that you haven't because he's constantly getting injured. I don't think Yao's body is going to hold up too much longer. Couple that with the fact that the game has been changing away from big, sloth-like, centers for quite some time and Yao's days are numbered. His numbers are still great, but there's just so much not to be excited about with Yao. The Rockets lack of playoff success (that's on T-Mac too), his lack on intensity/personality, and his lack of athleticism. However, for the time being, he reigns number two.


3. Third, is vastly underrated and personal favorite (by this I mean: I love him in NBA 2k9), Al Jefferson. Al's offensive game is technically sound and fluid, he averages 22/10 on a piss-poor Timberwolves squad where everyone knows than he's the only player worth covering. If Al wasn't toiling in mediocrity (much like our man, Danny Granger), he'd be getting some big time media love. Hopefully, Kevin McHale resigns sometime soon so the city of Minnesota can move forward with Jefferson's prime.


4. The way he's playing, you can't leave the Diesel off the list this year. Shaq has been awesome this year and who saw this coming? I guess with a few days off here and there, Shaq is ready to roll like it's 2004. It helps that the Suns have slowed the pace, but by and large it's been all about the Diesel. The only reason he isn't higher is because he just isn't built to play every night anymore.
5. I can't believe I'm writing this, but next up I gotta take Andrew Bynum. I still remember watching an awkward Bynum play in high school, thinking how the hell did this joke get drafted 10th overall in the NBA! Low and behold, he grew into his body, got some good coaching and is emerging as a big-time center. As a senior, he was second-team all-county in Middlesex, NJ! That isn't exactly a basketball haven, correction, it is embarrasing that Bynum didn't dominate playing against unsuspecting pimple-faced kids (like our own poster Vineesh, now there's a fantastic high school basketballer for you. he was my pick if I'm the Lakers GM) in Central Jersey. Anywho, the only reason Bynum's numbers aren't near the top of the league at center is because he is the third, maybe fourth option on a great team. It makes sense that he doesn't score too much when he plays alongside Kobe and Pau Gasol. But he is ever-improving and should remain on this list for years to come, with his great defensive play as the focal point of his game.

LeBron Playing in the NFL?

Recently, you may have seen the new LeBron commercial where he announces that he has a "big announcement" coming this Sunday, the 18th. Here it is, if you haven't seen it.

And more recently, there have been some leaked photos that give some clues:

I think that this is a great marketing idea for LeBron. Pretending to pull an "MJ" and change sports mid-way through his prime should make for a great commercial. Debating how LeBron would fare in the NFL is wildly interesting to think about. I can already see Asante Samuel shitting himself trying to figure out how he's going to tackle him.

Just for fun, let's imagine what this 6'9, +270 lbs athlete who most likely runs a 4.4-4.6 would do in the NFL. Wide Receiver would be a natural choice for LeBron. He's most likely got fantastic hands and his ball skills and body control are exceptional. Couple that with the fact that he's 9 inches and 70 pounds heavier than nearly ever defensive back, it'd take atleast 2 guys to bring him down everytime. Tight End would work pretty well too, becaue with that size, he's bigger than any defensive end in the league and would do fine in the blocking game.

Any other position would be a waste of his abilities. He probably doesn't have the ferocity to play defense in the NFL and tackle on a consistent basis. Also, at Quarterback he'd do well seeing over the lineman, but most likely doesn't possess the accuracy for that level (Then again he is one of the best passers in the NBA!).

As for an NFL comparison, think of Anquan Boldin, plus 8 inches and 70 pounds. He is already one the best run after the catch receivers in the game, LeBron would take it to another level just as he has in the NBA.

NBA's Best Alley-Oop Combo?

At the bottom of the Friday Bullets over at Truehoop, I followed the link over to Dime Magazine's website who posed the ever-important question, which tandem of teammates is the NBA's best alley-oop combo? Here are the candidates the give:

• Mike Bibby to Josh Smith


• Rajon Rondo to Kevin Garnett


• Ray Felton to Gerald Wallace


• Mo Williams to LeBron James


• Derek Fisher to Kobe Bryant


• Jameer Nelson to Dwight Howard


• Andre Miller to Andre Iguodala


• Steve Nash to Amare Stoudemire


• Sergio Rodriguez to Rudy Fernandez


• Chris Paul to Tyson Chandler


• Deron Williams to Ronnie Brewer

The way I see it Paul to Chandler is the most consistent alley-oop combo out there. They aren't the flashiest but Paul probably throws the best alley and Chandler is always looking for the oop. As far as highlight reels go, anything involving LeBron or Amare has got to be up there. Also, Sergio and Rudy usually team up for some nasty oops but lets be honest, Rudy just can't do things like the LeBrons, Kobes, and Amares. I think Kobe is the best in-game dunker in the NBA but he doesn't alley-oop all that much. Iguodala is athletically good enough to be one of the top guys, but I don't think he has the game-sense to consistently put himself in the right places on the court to get the oops. That's just my thoughts, what do you think?

Danny Granger Deserves Better, Show Him Some Respect

Lost somewhere in Indiana is a fantastic basketball player who doesn't get nearly the hype or notariety that he deserves. Danny Granger has been a stud this season but you would never know that. Other than his highlights from when the Pacers knocked off the Lakers, the only Danny Granger you see is his ridiculous game by game stats rolling on the ESPN Bottomline. And even in that game, most people only saw the game winner by teammate Troy Murphy.

Granger was a solid player immediately after he was draft 17th overall out of the University of New Mexico and has progressed exponentially ever since. I know, he's not LeBron or Kobe or Chris Paul, but he's immensly talented and it is being wasted in Indiana where competitive basketball goes to die.

The Pacers know what they've got and gave him a big extension after last season and are building the team around his abilities. Their personnel moves are moving in the right direction by getting rid of Jermaine O'Neil and removing Jamal Tinsley from the roster, but they're still a loooong way away from being relevant. Indiana is yet to reach double-digit wins and is last in their division with little to no hope of a playoff berth.

This season, Granger is averaging 24.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 3.2 APG up until this point and that includes him being the other player on the team worth worrying about. Granger is 30th in the NBA in PER (Player Efficiency Rating) and is a lights-out shooter from behind the arc. Should Indiana find anybody worthwhile to play along side him, Granger is going to be a star for years to come. Until that time, he is going to be living his life in obscurity while lesser players get all the publicity for being in bigger cities on better teams.

NBA Lottery Odds and Mock Draft Generator

ESPN is back with another gadget to satisfy our projections need with the NBA Mock Draft/Lottery Odds Generator. It basically gives you a random project of how the NBA Lottery will be drawn out and you can shuffle and randomize the odds as many times as you like. The lottery odds come with a mock draft so it also shows you who your team would draft in that spot. I'm particularly excited to see Stephon Curry being projected in the top 5 and can sit around for hours looking at all of the different possibilities. Maybe, I have too much time on my hands.

Another Coached Canned

Monday morning, the NBA said good bye to another coach. This time, the Sacramento Kings cut ties with coach Reggie Theus. Theus is the sixth NBA coach to be fired before Christmas this season, along with Philadelphia's Maurice Cheeks, Minnesota's Randy Wittman, Toronto's Sam Mitchell, Washington's Eddie Jordan and Oklahoma City's P.J. Carlesimo. This is the most amount of coaches fired before Christmas than any other season. The previous record was three.

Assistant coach Kenny Natt has been promoted to interim coach. Natt is Sacramento's fourth coach in less than three years, following Theus, Eric Musselman and Rick Adelman, who left the club after the 2005-06 season.

"I had no idea [in advance]. We were just coming off our best win [over the Lakers] the past two years. We've had a lot of injuries. ... Everyone knew we were rebuilding and the projection was for 20-25 wins," Thues stated in an interview with ESPN.

Sacramento's victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last Tuesday night in perhaps the season's biggest upset to date appeared to ease the pressure on Theus. But the calm didn't last when the Kings surrendered 43 points to the Knicks in Saturday's first quarter and were rarely competitive in a 24-point defeat.

Natt is in his second season with the Kings after three years as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played three NBA seasons, including before moving up the coaching ranks in a path that included nine seasons as an assistant to Utah coach Jerry Sloan. Even though many people have not heard of him, why cant he get a chance just like the other 6 coaches who have never been heard of until being offered the position. We will soon find out.

Fantastic Reading: YardBarker Player and Athlete Blogs

If you've never been there or even head of Yardbarker, it's time to go there. I couldn't tell you what the purpose of the website is, however I frequently go there to read their Athlete blog section. Player/Athlete blogs are phenomenal reading because if the blogger is dedicated you get great insider information and behind the scenes stories you would never normally hear. Curt Schilling and Gilbert Arenas are two players whose blogs are very popular and definitely worth checking out at places other than Yardbarker. However, Curt Schilling is a self-absorbed, media whore and Gilby doesn't blog all too often, or atleast not very recently.

On Yardbarker, there is a slew of player blogs to check out and they are updated pretty regularly with interesting new posts to look at. They have athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Olympic, etc. for your enjoyment, whoever you are.

Greg Oden has a great blog and is consistently insightful and full of cool information about the team, himself, and being on the road. He does a great job of posting interesting things and rarely disappoints. For instance, last week he talked about how cool it was to be in New York and see all the scenes from one of his favorite shows, Gossip Girl. If he didn't blog it, how the hell else would we know such fantastic information.

Donovan McNabb and Chris Cooley give great blogs and are definitely worth checking out. Derrick Ward, Santonio Holmes, Rajon Rondo, Vernon Davis & Kevin Slowey are some others, just to name a few. There are bunches and bunches of athletes, you're bound to find someone you like.

However, the best blog by far, is by Buffalo Bills Running Back Marshawn Lynch. Marshawn Lynch writes his blog in a language that can barely be called english. He uses a crazy mix of internet shortcuts, slang, phonetic spelling, and a bunch of other things that I've never heard before. Here's some dynamite excerpts from Marshawn's awesome blog:

• "yb i been thinkin these pass couple days bout dis chargers game cumming up dis weekend. im ready 2 hit dat field fast. i ben practicing hard beastin it out looking 4ward to trent pullin thru gettin bac active. we "da bills" took ah loss n arizona lookin pass dat getting ready 4 da next. lovin da fan attitude they holdin us down wining or losing and dats whats up!... feels good 2 be back n da yard again... holla bac and talk to yah boi.... gone fast like ah nass car. beaasssst mooooode!"


• "i cant find da words to say how happy i am 4 beatin dem bay boys da 1st time i played dem. it was a fun and hella close game..."


• "wha it do YB? two words... BEAST MODE! we did are thang against dem chief. i had hella fun again playin wit my teammates gettin that W! i jus wasnt feelin dat late hit but its all good. U feel me tho? lmao. shots out to dah fans dats been supportin my beast mode clothin line i thank u. i seen those dat had dem on. Dats whaz up!... its ah new week cumming up gotta get ready for dem 49ers. lookin 4ward to another W... hold ya chin up.....nuh nuh nuh gone"

Before I go, here's a fantastic Marshawn clip to brighten your day: