The all-nba team selections were really no surprises and full of the exciting and highly marketable superstars that the fans love, the only thing that really pissed me off was yao ming getting booted down behind shaq and ben wallace to 3rd team all-nba, shaq just got by on name value because his season wasnt that great and he showed that he is foul prone and a physical shell of his former self, while i dont see how ben wallace can get 2nd team with a lack of a real offensive game and being one of the worst free throw shooters ever, yao had a monster season and finally started aggressively attacking the basket, hes always had the soft touch and the post moves and obviously the height, the total package really for a center ever since he put on more strength, but now that he shed his passive nature and started attacking the rim (and attacking on defense as well) with authority he became pretty unstoppable. other 3rd team guys were shawn marion, the versatile, long armed, and athletic playmaking machine who is the ultimate finisher and double double machine, his awkward and inconsistent shot is the only knock against this underrated player who finally got his props this year. gilbert arenas was next, hes an unstoppable scoring machine with a fearsome drive to the basket and a deadly three point shot and one of the game's best offensive players, just kind of selfish. allen iverson's team didnt have a good year, but he put up his usual numbers, hes not only one of the most popular guys to ever play the game because of his fearless style of play and his heart and desire, but hes one of the games all-time best offensive players and scorers, definitly controls the ball too much and is selfish but is such a prolific scorer, if not a real sharpshooter. carmelo anthony rounded out the 3rd team, he emerged into a big superstar and prolific scorer this year even though he had a horrible postseason, he improved his decision making and shot selection when under pressure which was the main weakness with him (along with defense) and showed that he is one of the best clutch players in the game right now, great athlete and versatile offensive player and scorer.

the NBA 2nd team starts with elton brand, who had such a monster career year this season and played the best basketball of his life, its no coincidence that his team made the playoffs for the 1st time in 10+ years this season. he was in the best shape and conditioning of his career and got himself a fantastic and consistent midrange shot this year which made him unstoppable, hes always had that amazing length and quickness to make up for a somewhat lack of height and hes a great shot blocker and versatile offensive player, he finally got respect this year. mr. fundamental and consistency tim duncan was next, injuries caused him to put up career lows in most stats, especially offense, but he is still the best player on the champion spurs, not flashy but does everything right and knows how to score and get boards, plus great length and underrated quickness still make him an impact defender. just overall so solid, effective, and plain good and the spurs offense basically runs through him. ben wallace followed duncan, hes an obvious choice for one of the all-nba squads but i think hes overrated and lots of people hype him because of his team's success or his familar name, im not denying this guys impact or ferocious energy on the court though. he makes up for a big height disadvantage for the center position with incredible strength and hops, added to an unrivaled tenacity and desire on defense and in grabbing rebounds. hes the nba's defensive player of the year (4 time winner) and an outstanding shot blocker and finisher around the rim and with alle-oops, plus his height and quickness let him get out of the post occasionally and play defense on the perimeter. chauncey billups was one of the 2nd team guards and an mvp candidate, hes been one of the games most complete and polished floor leaders for a few years now and one of the best big time three point shooters as well, he ran the offense and kicked his own offensive game into high gear occasionally under larry brown but he has been free to unleash his offensive scoring and shooting talents under flip saunders while still making plays happen for others and playing great defense. finally we have dwayne wade, the young superstar and leader of the miami heat, his strength and athleticism and fearless drive to the hoop make him one of the games most prolific scorers, he is one of the best and most acrobatic finishers and some of the ways he scorers are jordan-esque. hes known for being a great leader and playmaker for his teammates and always makes big plays happen and shoots better down the stretch. his inconsistent shot is his only fault.

the 1st team starts with the nba's highest vote getter this year lebron james. i shouldnt have to say more, you already know hes the most complete player in the game right now and now that he has the jumpshot to go along with the physical and athletic freakishness, the scoring and driving, and the floor leading and passing he probably is the best player in the league besides kobe and is a better leader for his teammates than bryant, hes become very adept at taking control of games down the stretch as well and almost averaged a triple-double this season. just doesnt have the mechanics of defense down yet though. dirk nowitizki is one of the most skilled offensive players ever to play the game and is the biggest matchup problem ever at 7 feet tall, his shooting touch and perimeter sharpshooting make him basically unguardable and hes starting to play on the blocks and attack the rim more on offense and for rebounds under avery johnson, which can only make him more unstoppable. shaqille o'neal is still a big and dominating force who eats up so much space in the post and knows how to use his body so well that he can still be unstoppable for stretches, but his physical skills have declined considerably, hes injury prone, he fouls too much, and officials are calling a lot more on him than they ever have before. still one of the games most dominant scorers. kobe bryant put up historic scoring this season and showed us why he is the nba's best player, not just on offense. he is unstoppable on offense with his scoring theatrics and ability to shoot over the defense, and hes one of the league's quickest defenders and best athletes. steve nash was a repeat mvp winner this year, he makes up for not being the biggest guy and energizes and makes everyone around him a lot better, with his shooting touch, penetration, control of the offense, and pinpoint passes and carefree style of play he inspires confidence in his teammates and in the offense while being of the leagues best playmaking and shooting point guards.

All-Defensive Team 1st: the all defensive team is lead by this years defensive player of the year and 4-time recipient, ben wallace. his intensity and desire seperate him from his counterparts, as well as his fearsome strength and big time hops, quickness, and athleticism. hes one of the games best shot blockers and a frightening presnence when you see him coming at you, hes much smaller than other centers but can physically bang with them easy and he has the versatility to guard the perimeter and get in the passing lane for steals. bruce bowen is the next guy, he has a rep for being the most physical and aggressive defensive presence in the league, lots of offensive stars hate him and many people think he is a dirty player because hes physical and in your face the entire game, one of the most vital members of the spurs tital teams and maybe the most impact defensive guy in the league. andrei kirilenko comes next, he may be skinny but his length is unrivaled among small forwards, he also had great quickness and athleticism and is one of the games best shot blockers and is always tenacious and in the opponents grill. ron artest is the only guy to snatch the defensive player of the year award from ben wallace in the past five years, hes one of the strongest, most aggressive and physical players in the league and very versatile in his skill set. always a frustrating impact defender and very strong and athletic too. jason kidd is the best defensive guard in the nba and has been since coming into the league, hes always tough and physical and not afraid to bang in the post,his impact on the team is most vital however because he has made the nets a great team defensive squad by leading and playing tough defense himself even though they arent very good on defense individually. kobe bryant rounded out the 1st team, hes one of the few superstars to play defense let alone be a game changing defender, his quickness and tenacious instinct and pursuit of the ball got him on the list. the 2nd team starts with tim duncan, one of the best defensive players in nba history ever since he came into the league and defense is just another solid part of tim's game that he uses to impact his team. he has amazing length and knows how to bang and be physical, plus his quickness is underrated. chauncey billups is the defintion of a complete guard and defense is one of his specialties, hes also bigger than and physically overpowers other guards. kevin garnett has been one of the leagues best defenders ever since coming into the nba becasue of his length, noone can touch KG's length and shot blocking, added to his quickness and athleticism that no power forward has had in nba history. marcus camby has some of the longest arms and best shot blocking instincts in the nba, his shot blocking lead the league this year and his length makes up for a lack of bulk or real toughness. tayshaun prince ends the 2nd team, his long arms and height make for huge matchup problems on defense and his quickness and athleticism add to that length to make him one of the nba's premier shot blockers, his strength is also underrated but he still gets overpowered by stronger small forwards at times.

6th Man of the Year: im not a mike miller fan because he has a serious lack of toughness but he did deserve sixth man of the year, he led bench players in scoring this year and is instant offense coming off the bench. he is easily one of the league's best shooters and is automatic when open and is able to create his own shot, opens up the floor and most important player for memphis besides pau gasol. other guys that could have won are jerry stackhouse, another fantastic shooter and offensive wonder whos better overall than mike and antonio mcdyess who may not have the hops, quickness, or athleticism of his past before his knee surgeries but he has an automatic corner jumper and can shoot anywhere from midrange and he still knows how to bang and play defense.

Most Improved Player: boris diaw defintly deserved this award and i didnt think he had any serious competetion besides david west. he deserves it just for his sheer unknown before the season, he was just a throw in player for the joe johnson trade when he went to the suns and has come out as a star and probably a future all star seeing how young he is. he was always a great passer and playmaker with great finesse skills, but nash helped make him a star and the phoenix offense brought out the best player in him and gave him the freedom and confidence to be a great player, he also nabbed multiple triple doubles this year and his complete all-around game was amazing. his size can create mismatches and he can play multiple positions, though he is much better in the post where his quickness and athleticism hurts other post players when hes playing defense on them and hes more natural in the paint than he was playin the point in atlanta last year. he has improved his shooting and his finesse game has made him a favorite option for nash. david west also had a huge year after just being an average bench player last year. chris paul has made a huge impact on him and his improvement and west's improved play is also a huge reason for the hornets turnaround. hes athletic and strong and has became a good scorer with a dangerous midrange shot, perhaps his best asset has been his clutch play and all the multiple game winners he drained during the regular season.

MVP: Winner:Steve Nash-steve definitly showed that he is deserving of the nba mvp award for getting his team the 2nd seed in the western conference for the playoffs and doing it all without amare stoudemire, who some people had credited some of nash's success to last year. he is not the best player in the league but he makes his teammates so much better and turned a bunch of no-names into stars this year and his team wouldnt be nearly as good without him, but you could also say that about lebron and kobe since their teams would be nowhere without them. but nash is a fantastic player who is maybe basketballs best penetrator and ball handler, his playmaking skills and ability to run the offense are pretty unrivaled around the league and he fits in the phoenix dream offense perfectly and knows how to get his teammates open looks. his shooting is also great and he can get his own shot off and score a bunch of points if he wants to but he chooses to help his team and lead the league in assist. hes not very big, strong, or athletic and can be a defensive liability but obviously he makes up for it.

the immediate runner up was lebron james, who emerged as maybe the most talented player in the nba this year, probably 2nd to kobe. he had such a memorable season and showed that he basically has no flaws in his game, a definite superstar who will be putting up hall of fame numbers for years to come seeing as he is only 21 and he has plenty of time for deep playoff runs in the future, he is currently having a legendary playoffs carrying his team right now. his all-around offensive game is unrivaled by anyone but kobe and he is a once in a generation physical specimen, but he hasnt grasped the fundamentals of defense yet, that is his only weakness. he ended up getting a perimeter jump shot last year which he didnt have when he 1st came into the league and has the floor vision and passing skills of a point guard. kobe was another runner up, the most talented player in the nba right now and he put up historic numbers this season, dropping plenty of 40 and 50 point games as well as his ubelievable 81 point outburst against the raptors earlier in the season (he averaged 35 a game). his offensive skills are unrivaled probably in history by anyone except MJ and he plays great defense, hes still workin on his leadership and team play though and needs to find better ways to balance his scoring with being able to inspire and lead his teammates while getting them into the game, if he does that then you can start comparing him to MJ. dirk was another runner up, hes the biggest matchup problem in nba history and the most offensively skilled seven footer as well, his shooting and perimeter touch is unrivaled among guys his height and his finesse skills and ball handling make him basically unguardable. avery has him playing more on the blocks too and going after offensive putbacks and more aggressively attacking the basket, which is just adding to his unstoppable ability. he doesnt give much effort on defense and doesnt have the natural talent of other mvp candidates though. other runner ups were chauncey billups, the capable and complete floor leader for the pistons whose always had an unbelievable combination of talents but now has unleashed the full potential of his big time shooting and offensive skills now that larry brown has left, and elton brand, the most underrated player in the league for the past few years whose been a 20 and 10 guy since coming into the nba, hes finally getting the credit he deserves now that he has the right role players around him and the team is winning. hes also got in the best shape of his life and got himself a deadly consistent midrange jumper to go along with his amazing length and quickness for the power forward position which made him such a deadly scorer, rebounder, adn shot blocker.

The miami heat were one of the more interesting teams to follow this year, it was pretty hard to avoid them actually because they were all over tv the entire season and the media really overhyped all their storylines and players. they probably have the flashiest players and the biggest names in the league on their squad, some high-profile guys came over to this team after their supposed "failure" last year and i dont think they are any better, lots of flash and fun to watch all these stars but they had better vets last year and guys who could play their roles, chemistry is something this team lacks severly and really needs, they have a talent overload and too many players who want the ball in their hands all the time. they have shaquille o'neal so they are obviously going to get overhyped and followed insanely by the media, plus coach stan van gundy quit pretty early in the season to supposedly spend more time with his family even though many saw this as an excuse for pat reily to satisfy his coaching itch and take the reins once again. he definitly improved the team's record, but whether they became a better team after the switch is debatable, they seemed to have a few distractions when pat took over and they kind of blew off the regular season and acted like they were just gonna turn it up when it was playoff time, something a lot of elite teams seem to do but i dont agree with it because you can lose your hunger and focus plus if you continue to play around with teams and toy with them as if you are superior you will get surprised eventually and lose a game or more because of this lack of focus. there is no denying that pat reily is a legendary coach though and there is a ton of talent on this team, definitly championship worthy talent but there are better "teams" out there and i just cant see the heat winning. the main faults for miami are the lack of chemistry and players who sit back and play roles, too many selfish players that want the ball in their hand, and the careless attitude they took in the regular season as of they were just coasting through until the playoffs. they also are a really bad perimeter defensive team, if u watch their games you can see that talented guards can exploit them and put up huge numbers against them anytime, just watch the bulls playoff series with gordon, hinrich, and nocioni lighting them up. shaq is also getting old and physically worn down, struggling with foul trouble and keeping gas in his tank until the end of the game. 1st off ill profile shaq, probably the most recognizable face in the league and one of the most charismatic and popular players in the nba for a long time. obviously hes a shell of his former self physically, hes battled weight issues and injuries all season and is 34 years old now, hes had stamina problems and is just not the same guy physically, thats why hes smart to let d-wade know that he is the number 1 player on this team now and shaq isnt. its worth saying that he did lose about 15 pounds during the season on orders from pat riley. anyone whos watched o'neal throughout his career knows he is one of the most dominating guys to ever play the game and an instant impact team-changer for any team he goes on. hes so huge and he can use his body so well that in his prime up until about a year ago literally noone could stop him, he doesnt have the softest touch and never really shoots the ball but he is a frightening finisher and is so physical down low that your gonna get posted to the ground if u try to take a charge or stop him from scoring. in his prime he also showed a rare athleticism in people his size and quick feet, but you dont see that much anymore. hes not dominating anymore, and certain players in the league have figured out how to stop shaq and have gotten tougher with him, but hes still so huge and hard to stop that hes a valuable player, but not a star anymore and i still think that LA got the better deal out of the whole kobe-shaq mess. the refs have always let shaq get a way with a lot of pushin, elbow throwing, and real physical, almost dirty play down low because its hard to call things on shaq since hes so physical, but they seem to be much stricter with o'neal now. hes also so big and clogs up the post so he could be classified as a defensive force, with all the pressure and double-teams he draws he also knows how to kick the ball out to the open man and is a premier passing big man. dwayne wade is now the team's superstar and the number 1 guy, he also gets along perfectly with shaq and they both jell excellently together. when wade 1st came into the league he was a physical specimen with amazing hops and strength, and a fearless and explosive drive to the basket that made him a prolific scorer in college and in his 1st few nba years. his main problems when he 1st came into the league was a spotty and inconsistent jump shot, plus the obvious lack of experience and he ended up with a lot of injuries because of his fearless playing style. now he has emerged as one of the league's best players and a definite superstar, one of the toughest and most intense competetors in the pros and a class act and great teammate as well. his scoring skills are jordan-esque and he gets at least 5 highlight worthy plays a game, he has a knack for draining circus shots. his out of this world athleticism make him nearly impossible to stop from getting to the basket, and his energy and clutch play have propelled this team throughout the regular season and the playoffs. he still isnt the best jump shooter but seems to be much better in the clutch and has been near flawless with his shot in the playoffs and finals. if he were healthy last year miami would have beaten detroit and gotten to the finals, and he has been afflicted with injuries again this year in the playoffs, but has continually played at a high level and they dont seem to be affecting him too much. the rest of the roster starts with derek anderson, who was picked up in the offseason by the rockets before getting hurt and eventually shipped off to the heat. he is a vet with an impressive injury history, he has been injury prone his entire career and would have been a lot better player if injuries hasnt afflicted him so much, i guess his durability is partly to blame. he is a three point shooting ace when he is healthy and a good defender and veteran presence with experience. shandon anderson is a nice veteran bench player, he brings a toughness and leadership ability when he comes into the game and is a real team player and playmaker. hes strong and a good defender, not a great shooter or offensive player but seems to deliver in that area when needed. micheal doleac is a backup center who is a vital player whenever alonzo or shaq is hurt, provides pretty good minutes whenever spelling either of them. he has a real soft touch and is a great midrange shooter when open, just not a real strong banger inside or big impact player. udonis haslem is a very important role player on this team, maybe the only guy that really plays his role and does great at it, his shaq's best friend as well because he doesnt demand the ball and is very unselfish. hes strong but undersized for the pros, which is obviously not a problem playing next to shaq, he has excelled in his position. hes maybe the toughest and best defender on the team and a great rebounder who leads the team in that category, he also knocks down the shots and makes plays happen when shaq gets pressured by double or triple teams. jason kapono was a big time scorer and shooter in college but doesnt have that total package or the athleticism to make it in the nba, hes a great shooter and offensive boost coming off the bench but he doesnt play much, too much good depth on this team. alonzo mourining is probably the best bench player for the heat, he is extremly valuable and still a big impact player even as a veteran with kidney problems and multiple surgeries. hes still one of the strongest and most physical guys in the league today, and maybe the best shot blocker, he is a fantastic defender and really intimidating in the post with all the shots he blocks. also a strong finisher around the basket who spells shaq whenever he is tired. gary payton is a veteran point guard and trash talker who is way out of his prime but still a good player and playmaker coming off the bench, i still question why miami picked him up in free agency because hes kind of selfish and wants the ball in his hands often. he was one of the best point guards in nba history in his prime, known as the glove thanks to his quick hands adept at getting steals, he was a flawless ballhandler but a selfish player who always demanded the ball in his hands to make the big shot or pass. now he is a great ballhandler and tough defender and pick-pocketer like he used to be, but not as good on offense. he takes too many shots and misses too many as well, but he can still be dangerous all over the court and he can definitly still make plays happen, he doesnt have a big impact anymore though. james posey was picked up from memphis in the offseason, he is a good, athletic and strong swingman who is most known for his lockdown perimeter defense and knack for hitting the open threes, especially from the corner, even though he is a slahser at heart. wayne simien is a rookie from kansas, kind of undersized and not the most athletic but he is strong, hes a banger, and a good post scorer who could complement a dominant center well(like shaq maybe?), really what you call a blue-collar player, winning experience and good attitude as well. antoine walker is a very talented and high energy player but he has been erratic and shot happy his entire career. he has versatile skills on offense, really a playmaker and all over the place, he can shoot the three but he settles for it and misses it way too much. he is pretty athletic and quick and can be a good defender but he gambles way too much and definitly not what you want out of your role players. jason williams is manning the point this year, he has always been one the flashiest, most talented, but erratic point guards in the game, he seems to have toned down most of his wild style now however and is content to being a pass-1st floor general who makes threes and makes plays around the basket when he has to. hes still a great ball handler and a risk-reward kind of passer, his assist to turnover ratio is much better now though, hes quick, talented, inconsistent still but he gets the ball to shaq and does what he needs to do, very valuable to the team.

The all-rookie team this year was actually kind of tough to choose, the only definite 1st teamers to me are chris paul, who should be the unanimous rookie of the year, and charlie villanueva, who surprised all the haters by having a great year and becoming a key offensive player and prolific scorer for toronto, even droppin 48 once. the 1st team was headlined by paul, an instant star whos impact, playmaking, and leadership combined with his court presence and vision completely turned the new orleans hornets from worst team in the league to playoff contenders until the end of the season. he showed that he should have been the number one draft pick, the immediate impact he made on his 'mates and how he made them all so much better is usually a trait reserved for veterans, chris played like a battle tested veteran and future superstar this year, there was some controversy about him not being an all star this year. he led rookies in scoring with 16 a game, and his playmaking ability, penetration, and court vision enabled him to get about 6 or 7 assists too, plus he wasnt afraid to get in the lane and bang, he got about 5 boards a game and showed off his toughness and gained his teammates respect as a leader by playin through injuries. villanueva had his critics about his work ethic and the fact that he played the same position as his team's resident superstar, chris bosh, but he showed great energy and effort off the bench and his offensive versatility and skills on that side of the ball were vital to the team, he looks like a star in the making as well but he really doesnt fit in well with his postion on the raptors. he has the size to post up and score in the post, and has a game changing three point shot, just watch his 48 point game to see what he is all about. andrew bogut was another 1st team pick, was the number 1 pick in the draft, and had a very solid and productive year, pretty much fulfilled expectations, but he wasnt an immediate star. he is already one of the best passing big men in the game, and is a vital part of the offense, plus he demonstrated a surprise aggressiveness and tenacity in attacking the basket. his athletcism was doubted but he showed he was not too shabby in that area either, hes 7 feet tall with great length and should have a very nice career. deron williams was kind of a surprise pick to me, raymond felton is a point guard, i know, but im surprised that he wasnt picked to the 1st team because he played like the ROY during the season's second half. deron had a decent season, but nothing to warrant him being picked higher than paul. he has the nba body and the shooting range to be a great pro point guard, but he is playing in a rookie hostile environment with jerry sloan in utah and played like a rookie the whole year, kind of inconsistent, made too many mistakes, looked like a tweener at times, but also showed flashes of what he could be and he has the skills and overall ability to be a real nice point guard, just not a chris paul. channing frye rounded out the 1st team, he was a lone bright spot for new york's horrible season, showed flashes of being a future great and maybe the star of the franchise, but larry brown seems to refuse to play rookies enough, the rookies played the best on the team this year but it seemed like he had a vendetta against them. frye had the dreaded soft label coming out of college but has shown aggressiveness in the pros, plus his fellow centers are two real big guys. he does need to put on strength, but he has one of the softest touches out there for a big man and a real nice mid-range to close-range shot, nice offensive skills and real long arms that make him a very good shot blocker and rebounder.

the 2nd team starts out with danny granger, who could have been justified for the 1st team because of the way he played in the 2nd half of the season, he really took over the artest role and showed a real versatile skill set on both ends of the floor. he was a steal for the pacers in the draft, he has so many offensive skills, can hit the three, is athletic, got great scoring skills and is a matchup problem and one of the teams best defenders, he was a key player for the team this year and in the postseason, even though they lost in 6 games. raymond felton, the star point guard from last years championship UNC team, played like rookie of the year during the seasons second half, he really ran the team and played like a veteran floor general, made his boys better. there were questions about whether he could run a slower tempo attack and half-court sets, and his shot needed to be more consistent, but he showed vast improvement in these area and demonstrated his capability to run a team and be the leader for a long time. he is set physically and can push the ball and run the transition game like no-other, hes also quick enough and strong enough to be a dangerous penetrator and inside scorer, this guy is cat-quick. luther head from my hometown rockets came next, if he hadnt hit the rookie wall and played inconsistent for a while there he would have been on the 1st team. he provided a huge energy spark and some playmaking off the bench and stepped up big time as a starter and a major contributor with all of the injuries to his team. he has a lot of skills on offense, he made big passes and plays with his athleticism and energy, hes also got a big time shot and his three point shooting was a small bright spot, when he got hot the rockets played much better. he just needs to play at a more consistent level because he has the total package. marvin williams did not fulfill expectations or potential of being drafted number 2, but once he got more comfortable in the offense and got more playing time he played much better, showed his superstar potential. noone really expected him to be an immediate contributor or star but he had the most upside and talent in the draft and its hard to pass up on this talent, but his position doesnt really fit in with the swingmen happy team. his athleticism, offensive skills, strength, frame and length, and overall potential and ability should make him a star sometime soon. ryan gomes got the final nod, he became a fantastic scorer and vital contributor to the celtics during the 2nd half of the season and should be a star on the team in the near future. his all around skills and offensive scoring will be vital to the team for a while.

honorable mention guys are the sharpshooting, fundamentally sound euro rookie sarunas jasikevicus, wide, post-scoring power forward ike diogu of the warriors, definitly a long term option for them; and theres super short but athletic, offensive sparkplug nate robinson, the sweet shooting and scoring but questionable attitude and work ethic of rashad mccants, the finesse, athleticism, and length of skinny 7 foot center johan petro, the playmaking and smart passing of traditional point guard jose calderon, the aggressive and physical, defensive minded style of point guard jarrett jack, the versatile, strong, and athletic joey graham of the raptors, the sharpshooting, potential-filled martell webster, and finally the instant offense and sharpshooting of tiny and defensive challenged salim stoudemire.

The "other" team in LA has long defined crap, the clippers have been the butt of many jokes for years and widely considered to be one of the worst franchises in professional sports, but not this year, as they rode into the playoffs on the play of superstar power forward elton brand, and the talented role players they needed and finally got to support brand. they surprised all the critics and played like an elite team, not at the championship level yet but definitly a respected team now with some really good players, brand has always been a star and one of the nba's most underrated players but he elevated his game to an even higher level this year and became a household name, he really developed a dangerous midrange shot and got a lot quicker thanks to better conditioning and some weight loss. the clippers as a team, going into this season, were thought to have too many selfish players around brand who take too many shots, but all the new acquisitions have filled in perfectly while the role players marko jaric and bobby simmons had average years at best with their new teams, marko's year was downright horrible. the clip's defense was outstanding this year as well, especially in the post, were the impressive length and size of brand and chris kaman made for a fearsome shot blocking duo. the team was up and down after the all star break but has had homecourt advantage in the playoffs and look like they should beat the nuggets in the 1st round with some outstanding defense and great team play on the offensive end, it looks like there is a new team to watch in los angeles. the point guard for the clip's this year was sam cassell, and he is another huge reason for the clipper's turn around. coach dunleavy also brought a swagger and a confidence that belies their lack of winning experience to this team. cassell has been known throughout his career as a big-time shooter, never afraid of making the big three or the clutch shot, and is a fearless leader and playmaker whenever his team needs him to be. he also brings championship experience and swagger to the team and these things are probably most important, he really gives them a swagger and leads the sqaud on offense. elton brand has been a superstar ever since he came into the league but has always played for horrible teams, starting with the rebuilding bulls after MJ left and then going to the clippers. he obviously isnt used to losing coming from duke, but it took it with a determined attitude to make this team and himself even better and that is what has happened. elton has amazing length and is a premier shot blocker on the defensive end, his quickness is also unrivaled among power forwards his size. he has great footwork and agility that no other 4's in the league can compete with and this makes him a versatile scorer and offensive player, plus, like ive said, hes in the best shape of his career now and has added a nearly unstoppable midrange jumper to his arsenal. shaun livingston is a 6 foot 7 back up point guard who often plays with cassell, he is a 2nd year guy outta high school with limitless potential and once in a decade talent, but he still has some serious development to undergoe to back up his impressive talent. the nba loves tall point guards and shaun is a matchup nightmare with his height, plus hes one of the best passers in the league right now, his playmaking skills and ability to find open teammates with ease has drawn worthy comparisons to jason kidd, plus all these physical assets make him a great defender. he is honestly one of the best passers i have ever seen play in a while, he just needs to add bulk and get a consistent shot going and he will be a superstar and solidify his status as not only point of the future for this team whenever cassell will leave but as one of the elite points in the game, this kid can seriously play. chris kaman has been an extremly vital role player, he gives brand a frontcourt partner he has never had and is having a great year. he may not look pretty, but he has great size and length, is great on defense, the boards, and doing the dirty and cleanup work around brand. when he gets a double double the team almost always wins, and he is much more athletic and quicker than he looks, he can defintly finish and put up points when brand is pressured and has been an invaluable froncourt presence and role player during the regular season and the playoffs. another vital piece of the clippers team is cuttino mobley, a veteran pickup in the offseason who has been with a lot of teams in his career and has one of the purest and most accurate jump shots in the league. he is also an underrated defender because of his quickness and athleticism, but his true value comes with leadership and experience and of course the shooting. when hes hot, which is often, he really opens up la's offense and adds another dimension to it, hes got such a sweet stroke and a good jumpshot its tough to guard him and stop his shots from falling. cory maggette is a scoring star and important offensive force on the team, he has struggled with injuries all year and hasnt had the best season but has always been one of the top scorers and athletes in the league and he is showing it in the playoffs, where he has been valuable. he doesnt always give much effort on defense and his trigger-happy shot selection has been criticized but he is a high leaper with great drive, moves, strength, finishing and ability to get to the basket and is in the top 5 in the league at getting to the free throw line. his jumpshot has also become probably his best weapon, he has improved it drastically since coming into the league and along with his strength and athleticism he is one of the most unstoppable offensive guys in the league. quinton ross is a young forward with plenty of potential and athletic ability, always tenacious and gives great effort, a coach's favorite. doesnt contribute much on offense with the lack of a jumpshot but his lockdown defense and energy get him plenty of minutes, he has been valuable in the playoffs and when he scores some points he really helps the team out. vladimir radmanavic is a fantastic finesse offensive guy, came over from seattle before trade deadline, he wanted to be a starter and passed up on a lot of money from the supersonics to be a bench player in LA but he has really contributed well for a winning team. he probably shoots too many threes but he is a marksman from downtown and three point shooting is his strongpoint, plus his height and offensive skills and scoring ability make him a matchup issue and a deadly offensive player. vin baker is a washed up and out of shape veteran, he really had a good career going in his prime, he ate up the post and was an excellent scorer in the paint, but he struggled with injury and drug issues and kind of wasted what should have been a very productive, even all-star career, as he made the all-star team once or twice in his prime. daniel ewing is a rookie from duke, he obviously knows how to play the game right and get good chemistry going with his teammates after being tutored by coach k, hes athletic and a great defender, solid passer and pretty skilled in multiple areas, not a good or consistent shooter at this point in his career yet but is a capable floor leader and could develop into something more someday. walter mccarty is a decent vet forward, hes skilled and has size and was supposed to be the biggest post threat off the bench coming into the season but hasnt played much or contributed much either, his season highlight was singing the national anthem at the all star game. zejiko rebraca is a skilled euro veteran, he had heart issues before the season and his return was questioned, but is a very solid and consistent contributor off the bench, never flashy or a game changer but he plays the game right, hes a good passer and pretty automatic with the set midrange shot. james singleton is the final player on the roster, a rookie with lots of athletic talent, a knack for the game, and plenty of potential. hes raw but hes a vital contributor and a solid player off the bench right now, hes been hurt a while, even going into the playoffs.