2008-09 Predictions

Rookie of the Year - Derrick Rose

This year's first overall pick is truly something special. His combination of aggressive penetration and silky jumpers make him a beast on the offensive end, and his tenacity on the defensive end should make him an above average on the ball defender. I'm predicting 15, 7, 3 and 1.5 steals for ya boy. Don't hate. Anyone who has been monitoring the summer league has seen this guy dominate and he is currently peaking in the NBA's pre-season. Chicago will likely be duking it out with the Heat for those final playoff spots in the East, so we will truly see if Beasley can be Dwayne's Aid. An unselfish 30 last night has people calling him the best player on the Bulls' roster. Wow really? How are ya gonna do that to Andres!

Runners-Up (in order): Mike Beasley, OJ, Eric Gordon

Defensive Player of the Year - Marcus Camby

Baring any sort of injury I think the Camby man can cop another one in his waning years. With a new squad, Camby will once again be the defensive general in an effort to replace the Clips glory years of Elton and The Alien formally known as Cassell. Marcus is a blocking machine, who should get some help side swats working along side the newly German, Chris Kaman. Marcus is looking to improve on his 07' campaign where he had a career year in rebounding (and defensive ones as well) and I won't doubt him. If his soon to be 35 year old knees can hold up, Marcus could help the Clips weasel into the playoffs.

Runner Up: Josh Smith (Ron Ron gets suspended and isn't considered for the award based on his behavior)

Sixth Man of the Year - Manu Ginobli
What is pretty much a formality at this point should ring true again. If he doesn't have to fill in too much because of injury's, Manu should be Manu. The Spurs are getting too old for my liking, but if anyone can run on the squad its that wiry Argentinian. With what have become routine years of acrobatic shots and clutch hoops, I'm not really excited for Manu's year...another run into the playoffs. With the shifting power in the West, it looks the like Spurs may not have home court come playoff time. Count on Manu to shift the odds.

Runner Up: Barbosa, Nate Robinson

Coach of the Year - Byron Scott

I'm under the impression that the Hornets are going to win it all, so it seems only fitting that Byron Scott would should get another quick one. With a combination of a more experienced core and the addition of Playoff heart throb James Posey, I think the Hornets might be lookin at the best record in the league.

Runner Up: Mike Brown

Most Improved Player - Francisco Garcia


Aside from the blatant upside that Thornton possesses, there is room for some other blow ups. While the Sacramento Kings fight for last place in the West, there will be a need for someone to step up. While I do have some faith in John Salmons' abilities, the responsibility will ultimatley lie on an individual with more scoring punch. Former 2005 first round pick, Cisco Garcia upped his scoring from 6 to 12 ppg last season, and he looks primed to build on those efforts. The Kings are going to be playing catchup alot this season, and with stiff offensive competition, there will be a need to jack up mad buckets. If Garcia can shoot around 40% from distance like he did last year (and the Kings acknowledge they truly are rebuilding by trading Brad Miller and beloved plug Kenny Thomas), he could be looking at near 35 minutes a game. I smell fantasy dividends.

Runner Up:

Most Valuable Player - Chris Paul

If anyone can build on their success from last year, Chris Paul can. CP3 is only one of the Americans to win gold this past summer and there is no doubt that playing along side such talent helped his game. Remember, the Hornets almost won the West last year..and they got better in the offseason. Kobe was due for his chip last year. Look for Chris at the top of the assist and steal leaders, with a 55+ win team and an ever improving all around game. The Hornets live and die by Chris, so if they can edge the Lakers and win their conference this year, it's a wrap. They were undefeated in the pre season as well, but don't worry about that.

Runners Up: Bron, Dwight

East All-Stars

Starters - Dwayne Wade, Agent Injured, Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard

Bench Mob - Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups, Elton Brand, Caron Butler, Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Andre Igoudala
(Rashard Lewis!)

West All-Stars

Starters - CP3, Kobert, Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudamire, Yao Ming

Bench Mob - (Deron Williams if not hurt), Carlos Boozer, David West, Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Corey Magette

Playoffs

East Bracket: 1- Boston Celts, 2-Cleveland, 3- Orlando, 4- Detroit, 5- Toronto, 6- Philadelphia, 7-Miami Heat, 8-Wizards

West Bracket: 1- Hornets, 2- Lakers, 3- Utah Jazz, 4- Houston Rockets, 5- San Antonio Spurs, 6- Phoenix Suns, 7- Trailblazers, 8- Mavericks

East Finals: Celtics over (Cavs lose in 7 in conference semi's)

West Finals: Hornets over Lakers

Finals - Hornets over Celtics in 6

It's Prediction Time!!

by AJ
It's everyone favorite time of year again: prediction time. The season's opening tip is just weeks away as players whip themselves into shape after summers of steady blunting, extreme moped riding and whatever else multi-millionaire athletes do in their spare time. As it usually is with this league, things will almost never play out as scripted; it's anyone's guess who could be poppin' bottles, polishing trophies, changing cities or escalating their status this season. With that in mind, here's a few thoughts on what might go down this season, the (completely un-)Official Christian's Basketball Rants '08-'09 Season Preview:

Awards

Rookie of the Year - Michael Beasley

The guy's an absolute monster; strong, athletic, unlimited potential and a swagger that could prove dangerous, but is desperately needed in Miami right now. He sounds like he's hungry, played well in Summer League and Preseason, and For the first time in his life, Beasley won't be the best player on his team, and if his ego can handle it, he'll have plenty of opportunity to thrive in Miami. His MVP ambitions are a little premature, but settling for this award in a deep class is no slouch. (Runner-Up: Greg Oden)

Defensive Player of the Year - Ron Artest

I'm expecting big things from Ron-Ron because although he's clinically insane, he's also one of the most passionate players in the league. He's joining a team that's already reknowned for its ability to keep scores low, and playing for a legit contender after years of frustration will inspire him to be what he is: the league's best defender. (Runner-Up: Josh Smith)

Sixth Man of the Year - Manu Ginobili

He might lead the league in flop-related fines this year, but Manu should also be its best bench player if he reprises his role in the Spurs' system. With their core a year older and the need for fresh legs off the bench, it's hard to see him starting unless something very drastic happens (and when does it ever in San Antonio). It's even harder seeing another player taking this award from him as long as he's eligible. (Runner-up: Leandro Barbosa)

Coach of the Year - Nate McMillan

Trying to predict this award's tough; you know what you'll be getting with players in most cases, but so much of a coach's chances of winning this award are contingent upon what he gets out of his team versus what was expected of them. Lord Byron and Sam Mitchell, the past two winners, brought teams out of nowhere to top-3 seeds; every now and then a coach runs a truly tight ship and wins on outright excellence, but the COY's nature defeats predictions. It's really anyone's guess. Mine's based on the Blazers' continued growth and the outstanding job MacMillan did last year at keeping a bunch of kids so poised. He's in all likelihood not going to win though.

(Runner-Up: Phil Jackson)

Most Improved Player - Al Thornton

As both the Clippers' starting forwards bolted during the offseason, it created room for Thornton to slide into the starting lineup and likely emerge as the team's second scoring option. His long, athletic frame reeks of potential and he'll be given an increased opportunity to build upon numbers that shot up after the All-Star Break last year. (Runner-Up: Louis Williams)

Most Valuable Player - Lebron James

He enters every season as the prohibitive favorite to win this award, only to have his chances ruined by his team's incompetence. Expect his numbers to take a dip as the Cavs try to monitor his minutes and keep him fresh for the postseason, but even a relatively pedestrian 28/7/7 will win him an MVP if the Cavs can crack that mystical 50-win plateau. With more talent, no training camp holdouts and James' assertion that this is the best team he's had, bet on him to take the award that at his jersey-matching age, he already seems overdue for. (Runner-Up: Chris Paul)

East All-Stars

Starters - Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard

Bench Mob - Chris Bosh, Andre Iguodala, Caron Butler, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Elton Brand, Shawn Marion

West All-Stars

Starters - Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming

Bench Mob - Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony,

Carlos Boozer, Marcus Camby, Tracy McGrady, Baron Davis

Playoffs

East Bracket: 1- Boston Celtics, 2- Cleveland Cavaliers, 3- Orlando Magic, 4- Philadelphis 76ers, 5- Toronto Raptors, 6- Detroit Pistons, 7- Washington Wizards, 8- Atlanta Hawks

West Bracket: 1- Los Angeles Lakers, 2- Houston Rockets, 3- Utah Jazz, 4- New Orleans Hornets, 5- San Antonio Spurs, 6- Phoenix Suns, 7- Dallas Mavericks, 8- Portland Trailblazers

East Finals: Boston over Cleveland

West Finals: Los Angeles over Utah

Finals: Lakers over Celtics (Finals MVP - Sasha Vujacic)

The Top Two

#2 - Kobe Bryant &

#1 - Lebron James

...And then there were two. 48 players and several thousand words deep, we find the two gentlemen whose names dominate almost any debate as to who's the NBA's best. It's a twisted and difficult dilemma; it doesn't feel right denying either of them the crown. One's been the league's most revered player for ages; a 3-Time Champion and reigning MVP who just led a miraculous turn of events for his franchise, played through a broken finger, and won the toughest conference ever. The other's lightyears ahead of his age; the high school prodigy who's become the league's leading scorer, most versatile player and one of the most dynamic talents in all of sports. At 23. How do you go wrong with either? It was the toughest decision on the entire list, not only because it was the most important.

Kobe's game is immaculate; the Jordan comparisons are played out worse than Hey Ya, but Bryant's no doubt the closest thing to being Like Mike, probably in history, definitely in his generation. While his scoring took a dip this past year as he accomodated a more team-oriented focus (and, again, played through a broken finger on his shooting hand), Kobe's still the most feared triggerman in the NBA. Memories of 81 and his streak of 45's aren't too distant and the Mamba's strike isn't any less venomous now that his teammates have picked up the slack. Bryant also ranks among the league's top men on D; a perennial All-Defender who'll guard the opposition's best wing and seldom be able ot take plays off.

Although he was always a skilled passer, Bryant was historically seen as a somewhat selfish player who always looked to score and didn't create for other players. Shaq's departure in '04 only fueled Bryant's desire to be The Man; an abstract concept that he tried to grasp through personal dominance rather than team success. After years of stubbornly trying to rule the Lakers with iron fist, Bryant gave into Phil Jackson last season and adopted a team approach, becoming a totally different player in the process. He stopped publicly criticizing teammtes, and instead threaded them beautiful feeds when he drew doubles. Proving he could lead a successful team, even before the theft of Pau, Kobe's beginning to re-write his legacy...

...Just as Lebron James is cementing his as the league's best player. What he lacks in hardware (despite the ROY and two All-Star MVPs) can be accredited to his team and the inadequate job they've done of surrounding him with cohesive talent. Dragging his sad Cavaliers squad to the Finals in '07 was every bit as impressive as classmate Dwyane Wade's ring, and if the Cavs could crack the 50-win plateau he'd surely have been crowned MVP by now. Despite this, James led the NBA in per game and 4th quarter scoring last year; while his perimeter jumper remains streaky he's the league's best finisher around the net and would often have to shrug off three defenders to get that far. His 8 rebounds and 7 assists are punctuated by 2 steals and a block every game. He carries the L's most impressive numbers but makes clocking these digits look easy because the speed and agility with which he carries his 6'8"/250 frame is unheard of, his court vision paranormal, his poise unbreakable.

What would already be legendary status at any point in one's career is only compounded by Lebron's youth. Still just 23, five years deep in pro basketball, James's game is still evolving. He's becoming more comfortable with his outside shot, putting in more effort on defense, becoming the deadliest clutch player around instead of Damon Jones' set-up guy; maybe he'll even become a good foul shooter. We're all going to have to face the not-too-distant reality of Lebron James being absolutely unguardable, not even by the Celtics. His career's had to stand up to unprecedented expactations, but he's managed to exceed them time and time again. He was the ROY of the 2nd best Draft ever as a 19-year old, dropped a triple-double in his first playoff game, and as a 22-year old, managed to lead the shallowest team ever to the Finals. He's instilled too much respect for there to be many critics, but he's silenced every one of them, and as his game continues to stretch the stratosphere, the reign will only continue. Long live the King.

The Top 50

#3 - Chris Paul

Four summers ago, I walked into my neighborhood Mickey D's shortly after doming a huge joint. Very hazy and disoriented, I thought I was just seeing things; that the dude in front of me in line wasn't then-Wake Forest standout point god Chris Paul. I was confused because this guy wasn't much bigger than I was, yet dominated a game full of the tallest athletes alive. As he stood around tossing dice with the rest of the USA Squad - in town for a FIBA tournament - he looked like a child amongst men, and I was dumbfounded as to how he could overcome such physical slighting; how a player so small could do such big things.

Well there's little bewilderment anymore; CP3's game is a once-in-a-generation thing, the type of player whose talent far eclipses any height issues. Paul exploded onto the NBA scene the next year, came a vote shy of sweeping the ROY race and immediately entered the league's best quarterback debate. Last season, he ended any argument with an MVP-calibre assault on the league that saw him score or assist half the Hornet's field goals and lead them to the 2nd seed in the uber-tough West. He basically powered the glaring spotlight on a city that's desperately needed a team to cheer for.

Chris Paul does so many things well on the basketball court. He's the league's best playmaker by a wide margin; his handle and passing ability are beyond adjectives, and his fearless takes to the hoop (see photo above) attract defenders from all angles for his teammates to punish. His shooting percentages are all far above-average (especially for a 6-foot guard), and he never forces shots, playing the most controlled game in the L. He also rocks a 4 1/2:1 assist/turnover ratio, not exactly Calderon but given how much Paul's relied on to produce, his efficiency's even more impressive. As though killing everyone who tried to guard him wasn't enough, he easily led the league hawking almost 3 balls a night, and not the kind of steals the come from dangerous gambling, but perfect timing.

The praise almost gets redundant this high on the list; there's not too many bad things to be said about the guys who form the NBA's elite ranks. But Paul, even if he's only clocking at #3, might be the most impressive player on this list, simply because no one in the league is doing so much with so little. His game is so pure and flawless that only the most discerning cynic could be critical of him. His skills are othworldly, his character commendable; he's among the game's best leaders at just 23. If he continues improving as he's been - or if such a thing is even possible - he'll simply be the game' best.

The Top 50

#4 - Kevin Garnett

KG is an aboslutely outstanding basketball player. Top three All-Time at the four. He's got both the game's most coveted pieces of hardware, a decade of dominance and the the most campaigns of 20/10/5 All-Time padding his resume. He's this high on the list though, even as he enters what could be the twilight of his career, because Kevin Garnett does so much more than just play basketball. He's the ultimate presence on any team.

Garnett's the guy you want to draft at a pickup game; the one who's always busting his ass, being your third eye and getting on guys for not playing hard. He's the one who knows he can take the game over but still remembers it's 5-on-5, gets everyone involved. He's the dude you want to play hard for and not let down 'cause you respect his skills, the sage leader you seek advice from, the guy who teaches you the game, who truly makes his team better. His hunger for a title permeated to the rest of the Celtics this season; he wasn't going to let them lose and made sure the whole squad was on the same page. He was a selfless leader all season and perfect mentor to Boston's young supporting cast, all of whom had career years under his tutelage. That they capped the season with a Championship parade should've surprised no one.

But let's talk about the basketball for a minute: Garnett's one of the best and most versatile players in history. He's easily eclipsed 1000 steals and blocks over his career while grabbing over eleven boards en route to eight All-Defensive teams and a DPOY last season. He capably guards four positions and relays screens and blind cuts to his teammates better than anyone in the game, only stretching his value. He's a nightmare on offense as well, where his combination of length and quickness allow him to shoot over and stretch around so many players. KG's equally comfortable working the low block back-first and facing up from 15, from either elbow and baseline, as smooth with a fadeaway J as a baby hook. A model of big-man ball movement, he creates open looks and can even handle for lanky 6-11 dude; the fundamental skills of his game have very few flaws.

What for years had been the biggest knock on Garnett had been his finishing; namely his tendency to defer to teammates in the clutch and years of first round futility. His defection to Boston after years of exile in any icy basketball abyss brought him an opportunity to instantly rectify his legacy, and he came up with innumerable huge plays during his title run, and only a handful of them were baskets; true to form he really did everything for Boston. No player in the league was more deserving of a ring this season, and beleive that if Kevin Garnett has his way, it won't be his last.

The Top 50

#5 - Dwight Howard

This guy could quite honestly be the villian in one of the most terrifying movies ever made. It's hard to fathom given that he's a humble-mannered, well-spoken devout Christian, but Dwight Howard frightens more men in the NBA than any other. This 6-11/265 muscle-bound monster imposes his will upon whomever he choses in a game full of the league's biggest athletes. Last season he finished just slightly shy of Wilt-only numbers and is a mere 22 years old; his game is raw and growing exponentially every season. The notion that the beast he is today is only a shadow of what he could become; now that's truly scary.

The Magic surprised most NBA heads when they nabbed Dwight straight out of high school with the first pick in the '04 Draft. Any and all doubts were quickly answered as Howard took the league by storm with his unrivaled balance of size and athleticism, leaving many broken egos of poster victims in his wake. A double-double with almost 2 blocks in his rookie season was only a sign of the horrors to come...

In just four short seasons, Howard's turned 12/10 into 21/14. Last season, he hit on 60% of his shots from the field, good for third in the league behind two dudes who scored half as much as him. He still blocks over 2/game, that number slightly deflated as his presence alone prevents more penetration than any other big man. He runs the floor incredibly well for a player his size, has a soft touch, plays within himself and shows all the signs of extending his reign of terror with each passing season. All this and he's yet to miss his first game.

While typical All-Stars might never hit these heights at their careers' apex, Howard's doing such things long before his skills catch up to his enormous body. Although he showed considerable growth last season, Howard's post-up repertoire is quite limited and his mid-range shooting is less than impressive; his 59% from the charity stripe outlines his issues scoring outside 10 feet. He's also become more comfortable passing out of double-teams, but is a long way from developing the sense of court vision that made players like Shaq and Hakeem - the kind of guys he's aspiring to become - the NBA's Michael Myers.

So as Orlando tries to position themselves atop the East, they hold a huge advantage having the league's dominant big man erupting into his prime at the core of their franchise. Already probably the NBA's best post player, he looks strong enough to drag the rest of the Magic - even Rashard Lewis' $126 million contract - up to the top with him. The Conference will be prime for taking in a few seasons when the Celts inevitably fall off and Orlando has a talented core of relatively young players, a proven bench boss, and the star of the Dwight Howard Massacre; opening nationwide this November.

The Top 50

#6 - Dwyane Wade

Two summers ago, Dwyane Wade was on top of the World. He had just improbably become the first product of 2003's star-studded Draft class to earn a ring (yes, Darko, I said "earn") by igniting a (somewhat) probable turnaround against the Mavs. His eye-popping, referee-aided acrobatics had made him the undisputed King of South Beach; even the most immovable presence in pro sports was taking a backseat to his shine. My how times change.

Two years later Wade finds himself the pillar of a massive rebuilding effort after the Heat's infastructure collapsed quicker than Shaun Livingston's legs. A lethal concoction of age, complacency and injury crippled a team that sank from Top Cheese to playoff broom fodder to league laughing stock in just 18 months. Dwyane still did his thing, most nights quite literally keeping his team alive by himself. He played as hard as ever, bringing the same board-crashing, floor-diving, kamikaze-into-the-paint mentality to a December contest as he had in the playoffs. Except the postseason was nowhere to be found for the Heat; Wade shut down his aching body in March after it became clear his efforts were all in vain. As quickly as he had risen to the epitome of basketball success, Flash had tumbled past Square One, down to the very basement of the league.

What lies before him may be even more daunting than the 0-2 hole against the Mavs in '06. Dwyane, who recently affirmed his desire to remain in Heat threads for life, is charged with

leading a talented but sceptical trio with a steps-into-the-kiddie-pool shallow supporting cast back to playoff contention under a rookie coach. While Mike Beasley and Shawn Marion are both incredible talents (Marion was far too low on this list at 35), one's an unproven rookie who is, obvious skills aside, a high-risk player, while the other could soon find himself in the same role that drove him off his rocker in Phoenix. Wade himself is enough of a question mark: he's missed 31 games each of the past two seasons and though he looked like his old self Beijing, this team is finished without him.

The Heat could really finish anywhere in the East from 6th or 7th downward this year; they're a serious wild card. Whether they're returning to relevance or praying for Ricky Rubio to solve their point guard issues, you know what you're gonna get from Dwyane Wade. Barring the fracture or removal of two limbs, he'll be busting his fucking ass and putting up MVP-worthy numbers. It's a long road back to the championship, a glory Wade basked in such a short time ago, but given what he's already accomplished in such a short time, who am I to doubt him?

The Top 50

#7 - Tim Duncan

Timmy D's been on the butt-end of severe hatred over his career. A perennial All-Star and title contender his entire time in the league, Duncan's systematic dominance has drawn the ire of many dynasty-hating NBA fans outside of San Antonio, essentially just because he's so damn good. His game may not be flashy but few have ever been as effective as Dr. Fundamental, and even fewer (specifically no) power forwards in the game's annals could claim to be on his level.

What likely fuels so much of the hatred is his nonchalance; the way he's cold-heartedly murdered so many helpless victims over the years without raising an eyebrow. His execution so flawless; so textbook, that the envy of the masses seems almost natural. He's a strong, long, reasonably athletic 7-footer who walks softly and carries career averages of 21/12/3/2.5 blocks. His offensive arsenal is better equipped than any big man around; he's equally comfortable working you in the post or face-up 15 feet out. He brushes aside double-teams with textbook passing and has to be mentioned among the best post defenders in league history.

His is the kind of legacy that transcends his inevitable aging (which confirms that he is, in fact, human after all). Even though his numbers have fallen and the Spurs aren't as feared as they once were, Duncan still has to be respected among the league's best. He doesn't do it as automatically as he once did but his ability to take over the game on both ends still inspires awe and envy. The Haterade's showered him almost as much as championship confetti, but 4 ittles and 2 MVPs speak for themselves, and say more than any words ever could about Tim Duncan.

The Top 50

#8 - Amare Stoudemire

The Phoenix Suns are a serious question mark this season. As their stars get a year older and a new coach takes the helm, they'll need to find a different identity and make serious strides back towards contention within one of the smallest timeframes league-wide. They face a dunting task; one of the toughest conferences ever awaits. It's probably a good thing they have Amare on board. Dude wrote the book on tough.

Despite being a can't-miss prospect coming out of high school in '02, Stoudemire's spotty grades and well-traveled educational experience sunk his draft stock. Family situations saw him attend two hands' worth of schools in a few years and he was somehow deemed less valuable as a result. He watched in agony as perennial All-Stars like Drew Gooden, Nene and Nikoloz Tskitishvili were taken ahead of him, but sent a clear message by lifting the Suns back into the playoffs and punking Yao Ming for ROY honors. STAT labored as an undersized center among the biggest athletes in the world, nou doubt shattering many egos with his thundering throwdowns. Even when a devastating knee injury could've cost him his career, he aced months of excrutiating rehab and came back as good as ever.

One of the league's most intimidating specimens, Stoudemire's one of those rare big men with ample strength and athleticism that allows him to beast on just about whoever he wants. Though his back-to-the-basket game isn't exactly refined, he can beat most bigs off the dribble and his mid-range jumper's money. Besides, playing with Steve Nash eliminates most of the need to create your own shot and since Shaq arrived in Phoenix and allowed him to slide back over to the 4, Amare's just been straight unstoppable. Recall what this guy did to the almighty Tim Duncan in '05 West Finals; he's capable of dominating against the best of the best. Soon enough he might just hold that title himself.

The Top 50

#9 - Paul Pierce

For a guy who's spent his entire career with the most storied franchise in basketball lore, Paul Pierce hasn't spent too much time in the spotlight. He was slept on in the '98 Draft, taken tenth behind such rare talents as Raef Lafrentz, Robert Traylor and Michael Olowokandi. His stellar rookie season was overshadowed by the high-flying antics of Vincent Lamar Carter, and even when he established himself as a perennial All-Star and the Celts' best player, he was forced to suffer under the reign of the offensive tyrant known as Antoine Walker. Meanwhile the Celtics were never all that great. Save for a trip to the East Finals in '02, the team never accomplished much to quench the lofty expectations of fans or the front office.

It was all The Truth could do to hover around 25/5/5 while playing some the league's most underrated defense, trying to appease the legions of green-bleeding Boston fans, even though the squad around him became of increasingly little help. Their veterans were dealt in favor of draft picks and prospects; the arrival of Danny Ainge in '03 brought a massive upheaval of which Pierce was the only survivor. He carried on eating up the league's best as his team sank further and further into irrelevance as questionable trades left them with little to salvage.

Entering the summer of '07, it was clear something drastic needed to happen in Boston. Coming off one of their most dismal seasons ever, the Celtics had an increasingly impatient star babysitting one of the league's youngest teams and a closing window to capitalize on his prime. A deal seemed imminent, though few could've fathomed how it would play out. Ainge's sleight of hand revealed two future Hall-of-Famers who would rocket the Celtics back among the league's elite and who were every bit as hungry for some time in that spotlight as Pierce had been for years.

You know how the rest plays out. Pierce made the most of his time to shine, helping lead Boston to a 1-seed, performing in the clutch during some tough opening-round battles, and locking down the MVP en route to a 17th banner in Beantown. Even though his numbers dipped with the new arrivals, he played some of the best ball of his career and was an outstanding leader during the most dramatic turnaround in league history. A definite in the Top 10. And that's the Truth.