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.

well the day football fans everywhere were waiting for came and went, and im surprised to say that the expectations of this draft as one of he most unpredictable in years were fulfilled, plenty of surprises and interesting picks. the draft started out with a bang when the texans shocked and disgusted most of the world, including me, and selected 6 foot 7 physical phenom mario williams as the number 1 pick instead of reggie bush, who most everyone just assumed would be the number one pick with all of his talent and versatility. i thought the texans would be idiots to pass up on bush's talent, hes gonna fire up any offense he goes to and he fit in really well with houston, but there must have been something wrong because im very surprised that they passed up on a chance to land such an impact playmaker. they must have some serious confidence in mario though, a pass rushing defensive end from nc state, because they are naming him as a future superstar and the cornerstone of their rebuilt defense, which they are confident will eventually win them a championship. this might turn out to be a good pack and he could become a star defensive player pretty soon but he is going to be compared to bush his entire career and i dont think fans will get over the flash and the immediate impact bush will make and it will be tough for mario to get over that pressure. williams is a physical specimen who displayed amazing speed and strength in his workouts, he never had a dominating year in college but showed that he could be a nearly unstoppable pass rusher to start the year last season before ending the year on a slow note. he definitly could be a cornerstone defensive player.

the saints obviously couldnt pass up on bush falling into their laps with the number 2 pick and snatched him up. they already have a franchise back in deuce mccallister but that wont be a problem at all for reggie because of his versatility. he will be able to be a productive reciever and punt returner when deuce is playing , and should get plenty of touches at running back while spelling deuce, who is coming off of a season ending injury last year that took him out for most of the season. bush has so much skill he will make an immediate impact on the offensive end and help this team improve their record by at least a few games.

the titan's pick at number three was a tough one to predict, lots of media reports were sayin that the upper management wanted vince young and all that talent and raw potential but that the coaching staff wanted the more pro-ready matt leinart. it seemed like the leinart pick would make more sense because he would be reunited with his college offensive coordinator norm chow, now o-ooordinator for the titans, who coached leinart to his national championships, and jeff fisher, former coach at usc and head coach of the titans. matt had questions about his arm strength and athletic ability but was perfect in all other categories and definitly had the brain and leadership to lead a pro team, while vince young is a physical specimen with more talent than anyone in the draft, hes never been hotter coming off his legendary rose bowl performance. he has a very awkward side-arm throwing motion and his passing mechanics still need to be developed, plus his overall skill set is raw and he wont be able to run like he did in college and he will have to learn more complicated offenses than the simple one he had at texas. with that said hes so big, fast, and hard to bring down and he has a very strong arm and seems to be improving his passing mechanics. well the titans took young, more talent and potential but probably needs time to develop even though he might be thrust into the starting role with a steve mcnair release likely.

new york skipped out on a quarterback and began rebuilding their offense from the inside out, picking the best offensive lineman in the draft with virginia tackle d-brickashaw ferguson. he has some of the quickest feet of any offensive lineman around right now and a huge wingspan, plus great height, but there have been questions about his bulk and size. he has gained weight in that area so that isnt much of a problem anymore. his speed and length should make him a franchise player and a cornerstone lineman for years to come, he will be a vital member of the jets.

the green bay packers need to rebuild some defensive areas and they couldnt pass up on the amazing ohio state linebacker a.j. hawk, even though linebackers usually arent picked this high. physically and athletically hes off the charts in all categories, and he just has great instincts and feel for the game, one of the more intense players around in all of college. his speed and hitting ability were demonstrated throughout college and he should be a playmaking defensive force for years to come.

san francisco nabbed maybe the best player in the draft, a great pick for them and a number one target and reciever for alex smith in speedy tight end vernon davis, from maryland. he is a freak athlete with great speed, strength,and leaping ability and will be an immediate contributor and a reliable, maybe even gamechanging, receiver. his speed will make him a home run threat every time and he could be rookie of the year, hes one of the early picks along with reggie bush.

it was a possibility for the oakland raiders to take a qb since that situation is kind of iffy over there, but they think they have their guys in young andrew walter and inconsistent and unproven veteran aaron brooks, and they ended up getting versatile playmaking texas defensive back micheal huff. he is a gamechanging force and one of the draft's best players, he has elite speed and great hitting ability so he can play either safety or cornerback and make an immediate impact.

buffalo took donte whitner, a safety out of OSU, kind of a questionable pick but the bills need serious defensive help, especially against the run, and whitner is a great athlete and hard hitter who can be physical enough to get in the trenches and stop the running game, i think that him going this high shows the great depth at defensive back in this draft.

detroit needs playmaking linebackers bad, some serious defenive holes here, but they have qb needs too so this pick was interesting. they ended up getting florida state lb ernie sims, who was the most talented linebacker left at this position but maybe not the best choice or immediate impact player. hes all over the place and always making plays happen, really makes action go down, but hes had a lot of concussions and is a real wildcard.

arizona got a steal in pro ready quarterback matt leinart, not too many people expected him to still be around and he will be tutored by veteran kurt warner and spell him when injuries aris until its time for him to take over the franchise. there is all the offensive firepower around matt to make him a star and help him make things happen, arizona is geographically and team-wise a perfect fit for leinart. he is the smartest and maybe most accurate qb in the draft, great decision maker and leader with all the intangibles, he gets a lot of crap for his lackluster arm strength and athletic ability but he doesnt deserve a lot of it and he is probably the only quarterback in the draft who is pro-ready and set for an immediate impact if he plays.

the denver broncos got maybe the best qb in the draft and someone who will be ready to take over for jake plummer in the future, jay cutler. hes got the real strong arm and physical skills, plus fearless leadership skills and a knack for making big plays. he doesnt have much winning experience at vanderbilt however, and hes been known to force things and make mistakes, compared a lot to brett favre and he should be good getting tutored by jake the snake.

baltimore got the huge run-stuffing defensive tackle haloti ngata out of oregon to satisfy ray lewis and get someone to open up the holes for him so that he can get into the backfield and at the qb. takes up a lot of space and clogs up anyone tryin to get up the middle.

cleveland picked up a great defensive end that they need in kamerion wimbley, they need pass rushing help and have needed it ever since all their draft busts at defensive end like courtney brown, and this is a great start to the rebuilding of their defense, wimbley is quick, athletic, and physical.

the phila eagles got a big time defensive tackle in broderick bunkely, maybe a little high for him but they need some serious interior help on the defensive end to patch up their porous run defense and he is a great start to getting that area fixed.

st. louis got super-fast and athletic but undersized corner tye hill from clemson, hes gonna fire up the defense and add some major energy with his speed and should make a big impact on this porous defense, theyve always had defensive problems because mike martz was so offensive minded.

miami addressed their serious backfield needs thanks to free agency by picking up hard-hitting and physically gifted safety jason allen. he hasnt played as much as other big time college guys thanks to injuries but he definitly has the talent and potential.

minnesota picked my favorite player in the draft, iowa linebacker chad greenway who i believed the lions should have taken instead of ernie simms. hes very solid in all areas and knows how to play the game of football right, can make an immediate impact as well with good physical skills that were not really shown at the combine. hes got the speed and open-field tackling ability to be a serious playmaker and disrupter anywhere on the field and is dangerous in coverage too, fills up a big hole in the vikings linebacker corp.

dallas added to an already monster defense by selecting ohio state linebacker bobby carpenter, making their linebacking corp one of the games best and maybe a unit worthy of future greatness, lots of guys are saying the dallas lbs really stack up well to bill parcells legendary linebackers back when he coached the new york giants in the 1987 range. carpenter isnt a physical wonder who gets by on athletic ability or super-speed, but he plays the game the way its supposed to be played, hes strong and tough with a great work ethic and attitude, great tackler with underrated speed and should be the glue that holds together the lbs of the cowboys.

san diego caused controversy by picking up FSU cornerback antonio cromartie, i dont agree with this because its been almost 2 years since this guy has played because of injuries, even though his physical abilities and potential ability to be a lockdown corner are off the charts and pretty tough to pass up on, especially seeing how the chargers need some serious help in their inconsistent secondary.

kansas city needed help in various areas of their defense, most notably their secondary, but herm edwards fell in love with penn state pass rushing phenom tamba hali. hes quick and athletic and should make an immediate impact with his skills at getting to the qb and should at least help out the pass defense a little, even though KC probably could have used a shutdown corner or safety. i hope he is successful seeing as he is probably the feel good story of the draft coming from a war-torn African country and trying to make some money and become a U.S. citizen so he can get his mother into the United States because she is still over there.

new england started off another fantastic draft by selecting their running back of the future in laurence maroney, a superstar at minnesota but he always ran behind a running-back friendly offense and stellar offensive line and those were the only questions about him seeing as he is a complete back with very few faults, hes fast, tough, and pushes it up the middle or can break away for big gains and should be a great NFL back. he will start in the near future but for now the pats are just happy to get a good backup for the aging and oft-injured corey dillon.

san francisco used their 2nd pick of the 1st round to take manny lawson, mario williams' partner at defensive end for nc state. he doesnt have the game changing, cornerstone-of-the-defense potential of mario but his speed, athleticism, and pass rusing ability are off the charts and he will make an immediate impact for the 49ers porous defense.

tampa bay made the right choice and picked up a cornerstone offensive guard for their flawed and injury prone offensive line, oklahoma OG Davin Joseph. tampa bay's offensive line was their main problem last year and they had some major trouble protecting the passer, and joseph should help out right away in that category.

cincinati could not pass up on ultra-talented but inexperienced south carolina cornerback jospeh jones, only one full year playing at the D1 level but his speed and playmaking skills along with some tenacious ball-hawking and good tackling to support the run defense, the bengals could not pass up on a player with this kind of playmaking potential, even though they really need some beef up front on their defensive line there wasnt really an impact player for this position who was still available.

pittsburgh made an excellent decision to trade up and grab the best reciver in the draft, santonio holmes, to take over for departed free agent playmaking machine antwan randle-el. holmes has game changing speed and great athletic ability and is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. a great deep threat who should make some big plays for the steelers this year and eventually take over full time for randle-el.

buffalo once again addressed their horrible run defense by filling the defensive tackle hole left by sam adams and selecting john mcargo. this is a better pick than their earlier one (donte whitner should not have gone so high and the bills could have used help in other areas), he fills a big hole and should make an immediate impact stuffing the run.

carolina got the running back they wanted to be there for their injury-prone starters and to take over and add another dimension to their running game, memphis star deangelo williams. the panthers like to have two running backs for their offense and williams more than fills his role, hes short and undersized but is a complete back who is strong and fast and showed that he could do it all and carry a team at memphis last year. power-running and a scrappy style of play define caroline and williams should fit right in.

jacksonville helped out their recieving game big time and got an impact pass catching tight end in ucla's marcedes lewis. he adds another dimension to the jaguars offense and gives byron leftwich a pass catching tight end that jacksonville hasnt had since hes been there, should help out the offense right now and be a long term option if he proves doubters wrong and shows them a good work effort and an attitude to improve.

new york continued to rebuild their offense from the inside out by getting another cornerstone offensive linemen in ohio state center nick mangold, takes over for former franchise star kevin mauwi and will be an immediate starter and impact guy for a long time and shows that the jets are really making the smart picks and getting the offensive line they need.

indianapolis hoped they got their running back of the future with speedy and versatile LSU back joseph addai. he wont fill edgerrin james' shoes so colts fans shouldnt expect him or anyone to, but he is very good and can do it all, homerun speed, pass catching ability, and blocking skills, just kind of undersized. should be a cornerstone player for them and a very solid franchise back if he pans out like he should.

seattle needed serious secondary help, espeically after the departure of a couple of key players in free agency, so, in this draft of unprecedented depth in the secondary, seatlle had one of the more talented corner's in this years extravaganza fall into their laps in the form of miami defensive back kelly jennings. he has elite speed and good height, good lockdown coverage skills and he should be a longterm option at corner for the seahawks if he can stay healthy and bulk up to get more durable and tougher against stronger recivers and running backs.

and finally, the new york giants had the last pick of the 1st round and the dumbest pick. they have the best 2 defensive ends in the nation right now but they need big help for the linebackers and the secondary, and they go and pick another defensive end, and one that isnt even ready to play right away and will be a project until he realizes his monster potential in BC's Mathias Kiwanakua. he has monster ability, size, athleticism, speed, and potential, but he needs to add a lot of bulk to his long frame and he isnt a great pass rusher right now. could be good and eventually take over for micheal strahan i guess, but he will sit for a little while and i think that this is a waste of a round 1 pick.

its time for me to write about my hometown team, the h-town rockets. honestly this was a really pathetic year they had this season, i really believe they need to rebuild their role players from scrath. positives for the year were yao finally playing up to his potential and dominating games and entire teams after the all-star break, and the very nice play of rookie luther head. the rockets always are a fantastic defensive team, mostly thanks to coach van gundy, who preaches defense 1st. they are especially good in the paint thanks to yao ming and dikembe mutombo. their offense was lethargic and one of the worst in the league this year, but like the rest of the season's woes, that can be attributed to the horrifyng amount of injuries that struck the rockets entire roster this year. i truly believe that houston could have strode into the playoffs with ease if tmac and yao would have been healthy the whole season, give or take for a few of the role players like david wesley and jon barry. injuries and offseason acquisitions that didnt pan out are to blame for the rockets 34-48 failure this year i believe. at the time the deals went down i was excited about the players houston was getting on the roster through free agency, like flashy athlete and super high leaper stromile swift. i thought he would have a great year with a chance to start for the 1st time in his nba career, i knew houston needed more of a banger opposite yao to do the dirty work and that stro is a finesse player but i thought he could be an intregal part of the new fast breaking rockets (van gundy has always had a slow paced, grind it out offense but was showing signs of that changing with the new players he was getting) and a great finisher around the basket. he could also team with yao to make a fearsome shot blocking duo in the paint, but to say he underacheived would be an understatement. he never had that fire or energy in him the whole season, he averaged lower stats in all categories than he did last year, he didnt start, and just never seemed to play hard or that great when he came in. he struggled with injuries mid-season but when he was healthy van gundy showed a reluctance to play him for extended minutes. there was no denying his talent and ability, i mean he would throw down highlight dunks every game, but there must be something about his work ethic or energy level that van gundy doesnt like because he didnt play him that much at all. like ive said, hes a high leaper and a one of a kind athlete, hes got long arms, hes a great finisher, but for having such long arms hes not a great rebounder or shot blocker and i think that says something about his effort. he does have a soft touch from the top of the key but not much of an all around game and it will be interesting to see how he fits in next year. in the summer of '05 they also picked up derek anderson, a three point shooting ace and defensive minded veteran who is injured literally all the time, and it was no difference when he came to houston. a few games into the season he got hurt and never recovered, so he ended up getting traded to miami where he did an aight job in his role there. the big move that got me pissed during the offseason was the trading of big time scorer point guard mike james to toronto for playground legened point guard rafer alston, a.k.a. skip to my lou. at the time this deal made me giddy, cause i had never seen rafer play in the nba but knew him from his fabled and1 mixtapes. james had been a key contributor and scorer off the bench for houston last year but supposedly they were looking for a more traditional pass 1st point, like rafer. now like ive said, james is a score 1st point guard and not a traditional guy at the position, but i could never have predicted the year he had with the raptors this year, averaging about 20 points a game, took over games with his scoring and became the 2nd best player on that team to chris bosh, all the while raising his free agent stock to amazing levels. while rafer had a decent year and solidified his status as a solid long term option, we could have had james, who would have been a huge boost in scoring with all the injuries so that juwan howard wouldnt have had to carry the team when yao and tmac were hurt. the supposed attitude issues that some ppl thought might have been a problem with rafer becuase of squabbles with his old coach were never even a factor, but he was never a big spark or a game changer, and he really ended the season on a fitting note that really personified the whole mess this year when he missed both of his two free throws at the end of a season finale loss to the spurs when he could have made at least one to tie it. he did do his job this year though, getting the ball to yao ming and the few shooters on the roster while making open threes when the ball got back to him and taking the ball to the rack and making fancy plays happen around the rim occasionally. he never really played with the carefree and loose style that defined him back in the and1 days, i think that hindered him a little, or maybe van gundy put the reins on his flashy play. he was held back by injuries to start the year but played pretty well midseason and down the stretch when he got more comfortable in the team's system. plenty of minor trades, waives, and acquisitions occured throughout the season as well. they traded out of shape but solid banger lonny baxter to the bobcats for 2 guard keith bogans. i know they needed a guard but i think they could have found a better one than this, i mean hes not a bad player but he makes a lot of mistakes and never makes a big impact or does a whole lot, and he isnt a very good or consistent shooter. he can play defense and pass, just an all around solid player, but he likes to drive to the basket even though that never gets him anywhere and he almost always loses the ball because he has no moves down there in the paint, and like ive said hes not a consistent downtown shooter and doesnt seem to play with much confidence. they picked up rick brunson midseason to add some depth to that position, but he has struggled with injuries for a while now and wasnt in great shape, plus he doesnt do one thing particulary well and isnt the most talented guy. like most of the rockets roster, he is just solid. probably the best thing he can do is knock down the open shot, but he had trouble doing that as the season wore on. richie frahm was a late season pick up, a young guy out of gonzaga who doesnt have enough of an all around game to play in the pros, but he is a great shooter and deceptively quick and athletic. but they picked him up for three point shooting and stability and he always does his job when he plays, im not complainin about this pickup but im not praising it either. chuck hayes was an undrafted rookie out of kentucky that they picked up, doesnt have much of a shot or offensive game and is height-challenged, but is one of the best young effort and toughness players in the league, always plays hard and does the dirty work, very strong and tough on the boards, he makes important plays doing the little things that nobody notices and has been an important player for the rockets even though hes also probably a reason that their offense sucks so bad. ive actually had mixed feelings about him this year because hes no good on offense unless hes 2 feet from the basket and hes one of the worst free throw shooters ive ever seen. macjej lampe is a big polish forward/center recieved in trade with the hornets for moochie norris, he only got in one game the whole time so i dont know what to say about him, hes still young so i guess he could pan out as a good player, because hes big and hes got a soft touch, but hes obviously raw and needs to understand the game better and keep learning if he doesnt wanna be a benchwarmer or playing in europe his whole career. he also needs to get more durable because hes been afflicted with numerous injuries in his breif career.

ryan bowen is a vet and a valuable member of this rockets squad, he didnt play nearly as much this year or as key a role(he started in the playoffs last year), probably because he doesnt give you anything on offense. he always shoots horribly in games and has no confidence in making plays happen for himself offensively, but i think hes not that bad of a shooter he just doesnt have much confidence. but he is probably the best hustle player in the league, when hes on the court he always gives 100 percent effort and energy and can always fire up the team's play, especially on the defensive end, where bowen did a great job containing dirk nowitzki in the playoffs last year. i think hes probably gonna be released this offseason because the rockets need offense and plus they didnt play bowen much this year but i know that there will be a team out there that wants his hustle. luther head was the rockets 1st round draft choice this year out of illinois, he was an intregal part of that team when they reached the championship last year. he turned out to be a fantastic choice, better than even the experts thought, because he stepped up big time with the injuries to key players and was a rare bright spot this season. when he was drafted he was just supposed to bring some youth, energy, and athleticism to houston's aging backcourt, provide some depth and play briefly to get a feel for the pro game. he has great all around skills on offense, can shoot the three really well, hes a big time shooter, can also handle the ball well and is a smart passer. he always fires up the team with his play and is more athletic than anyone thought he was in college. well he ended up stepping into a key role like i said, he was hot to start the year and helped juwan carry the scoring load with tmac and yao hurt, then he hit the rookie wall midseason and none of his shots seemed to fall. he played great in the rookie-sophmore game and seemed to get his confidence back, he shot lights out and was an important playmaker for the rockets the 2nd half of the season and led the team in scoring multiple teams, he tried his hardest to get the wins and i expect even better things from him down the road. juwan howard quietly had a great year this year, hes been a solid, consistent contributor his whole career and really stepped up and had one of his better years in the pros this season. with injuries to the superstars he stepped up bigger than anyone could have imagined and led the team in scoring plenty of times. he played consistently good basketball every game and never really had a bad night, one of the few players who could consistently knock down the shots that were expected of him. the only problem is that juwan is not the type of player who should be playing a key role, hes not a star who can carry a team on his back and is much better in a complimentary role. he can knock down the midrange set shot every time, he almost never misses it, and is very solid inside and on the boards, as well as being a stout defender. a key veteran who deserves the rockets trust that they will keep him, they should resign him because he is an important contributor and leader. dikemebe mutombo is getting very old, he is definitly a vet, but he is finishing up his career in houston and is still a game changing defensive force, still a great shot blocker. he didnt play nearly as much this year as he did before but does well coming off the bench for yao, hes just too slow and too old to play at a high level for long anymore, and he doesnt have much offensive touch at all anymore. surprisingly hes a very good free throw shooter even though the only times he scores are on putbacks and such. if he hadnt already decided to play one more year and then retire in houston i would say release him, but mutombo is a legend and i respect him enough to agree with his wishes. bob sura is a veteran guard who always has good years with bad teams, and when thats not happening hes hurt, like he is now and was for a key part of last year. he played one of the better seasons of his career last season and was a key veteran force and a vital part of the team chemistry, hes not a great shooter but he is a good floor leader, a good leader period, and a capable playmaker. he was an important contributor but i say hes out of houston, too old and has been injured too much and the rockets dont need anymore of that, plus they need more offense and i dont think sura can provide that. david wesley is another veteran guard, hes pushin 36 i believe, but hes still been a very solid contributor and also very important as a locker room presence. it may be his time to retire though, hes been undersized for his position his whole career and now hes struggling with injuries and with an inconsistent shot so i dont know if the rockets should keep him, if they do it should only be a one year deal. hes still very good with the set three point shot, not like he used to be with the hornets but still dangerous when he is open, and he always gives a ton of effort on the defensive end and just playing hard and motivating his teammates. now i dont think i really need to profile the superstars because im sure you know all about them, but heres a breif synopsis on what i think. yao ming has been criticized ever since he came into the league about not being aggressive or assertive enough, for not attacking the basket and dominating like a 7 foot 6 player should. he has bulked up significantly throughout his career and strength isnt a big issue for him anymore, and we all know hes one of the most skilled big men in a while, he has a wide array of post moves, a soft touch, and is definitly underrated in the post scoring department. hes also an intimidating defensive force and his long arms make him a good rebounder and a dangerous shot blocker. now ive agreed with the critics who have said he needs to be more assertive, but he 2nd half of this year he finally came out and played up to his potential, and i couldnt be happier. he struggled with toe injuries the 1st half and played average, but he solidified his status as maybe the best center in basketball right now when he finally started attacking the basket with authority, and became an unstoppable scorer. he did break his foot in one of the last games of the year so i hope he makes a full recovery and comes back playing like he did before getting hurt. now tmac is a whole different story. he seemed to finally be content and to have a good chance at winning in the playoffs now in houston, but things are not working as planned and tracy is having his issues. he played fantastic and demonstrated the talent i fell in love with last year whenever he played this season, but he was hurt all the time and only got to play with yao about 30 games, which accounts for most of the 34 wins the rockets got this year. we all know his ability, how he can rise up and just shoot over defenses, how hes a nearly unstoppable scorer on offense, his athleticism, and how hes just a full blown superstar. he even got his swagger back after the all star break when he put his off the court issues aside and started wearing a headband. but then he got hurt again and it went all downhill from there. all i can hope for is that he will come back playing like a beast, with something to prove, again next year and these supposedly chronic back problems he is having wont affect him too much and force him into an early retirement.

For my next little team overview, here are the lakers. we all know their stories, and really everything about them, because they generate so much hype and media coverage, but ill go over some little things. they have kobe bryant, in my opinion the best player in the nba right now, if not the mvp. he is the best offensive player for sure, he is impossible to stop from scoring and has so many moves and ways to put points on the board. phil jackson was back coaching this year and i think his mentorship really helped the team reach the playoffs again, he really proved that he is a genius coach this season seeing that he led this young and talent-challenged squad to the playoffs when he has been criticized multiple times for winning all of his championships with superstar-rich teams. this is definitly a new age lakers team, its not that they dont have a lot of talent, its that it is either someone young, someone underdeveloped, or not playing up to their potential thats on this squad. i dont think kobe lied either when he said he had to score 82 points this year just for his team to win, he really does have to score 40 a night for his team to have a chance, he isnt being selfish. i have to admit though im not a kobe fan, ive just never liked his personality and the way he interacts or "nurtures" his teammates, thats one area thats a big difference with micheal jordan, as kobe may be able to compete with mj on an ability level(and notice i said compete), but in those areas that count kobe doesnt even come close. thats not to say hes not one of the best players to ever play the game, hes a certain hall of famer and even though he wouldnt have won his titles without shaq i dont think shaq would have won them without kobe. he just amazes me to watch, he has the total package, every skill on offense and every move ever invented, you cant stop him from scoring and if you try to make him shoot he will shoot right over you, just watch any one of his games and see how he just rises above you and fires a 30 foot laser right into the net. the only other guy playing right now that can do something like that is tracy mcgrady. kobe also is the rare superstar who plays defense, he is an excellent defender who always moves his feet and gives maximum effort on the defensive side, plus hes quick too. i havent even mentioned yet either how he is a fantastic athlete as well. just a one of a kind player, but you can all put the mj comparisons to rest by now because noone will ever be like him and have that total package. the scary thing is that kobe is still only like 28 or somethin so hes got more than a few years left. kwame brown is an important player for the team and one of the most talented, a former number one pick who infamously struggled in washington and was being called out by everyone, including his boss mj, on his work ethic and attitude and he just never panned out into the star player who he was capable of becoming. he got a fresh start here and while noone expected him to have a huge reawakening and become a star i at least expected him to be a solid contributor and have a fresh attitude with his new start. hes had his ups and downs but has mostly fulfilled my hopes, he played really well down the stretch and at the end of the year, and has become a very solid contributor. hes also very young and could still someday become a very good player and more than what he is now, but probably never a star. he has great physical tools going for him, very athletic and a strong finisher, but he has never and probably will never show that hunger or willingness to improve and the right attitude to drastically improve in the other aspects of his game that need work, like shooting. andrew bynum is a big old rookie center outta high school, very raw in all aspects of the game but he has the right body, size, and skills to become the lakers center of the future someday. hes shown flashes of what he could be whenever he played this year and he has the great kareem abdul-jabar tutoring him so i expect great things from him down the road. brian cook is a young forward out of illinois, the lakers have a lot of forwards like him and its hard to tell them apart because they are all kind of average and have similar skills, but he is versatile and has plenty of skills he can use to contribute, he is just not a game changer, isnt talenetd enough in one area, except maybe his shooting and three point range, doesnt produce enough of an impact to be a long term option. devean george is a vet forward who played with the lakers coming off the bench occasionally when they won their championships but will never be a game changing starter, always solid and a pretty good mid to long-range shooter, plus hes been an important contributor this year and a veteran presence, but he kind of just sits in the back and never does a whole lot. devin green is a rookie guard who i can honestly say ive never seen play. moving on to jim jackson, a veteran journeyman whos probably been with every nba team once and is one of the more talented journeymen ive ever seen. he was a huge contributor with the suns in the playoffs last year but like every team hes been on, he just faded and the team got tired of him and released him, but hes too good to pass up on and some team always picks him up, in this case the lakers, because who doesnt want a versatile 6-6 guard/forward with a range of offensive skills, three point range, and who is a tough defender? i dont know when hes gonna call it quits but hes too talented not to get picked up by a team whenever his current employer decides they are tired of him and hes a perfect acquisition for any team wanting a solid vet presence coming off the bench and scoring points in the playoffs. aaron mckie is a veteran point guard who was great with phila but gave it all physically in his younger years and is now just here for a veteran presence, leadership, defense, and stability in running the offense. chris mihm is a seven foot tall center but he couldnt be more different from shaq. hes one of the softest seven footers playing in the pros and doesnt usually have that fire in him when hes playin, everyone needs that emotion and there are a lot of nights when you dont see that in him. he does have long arms and is a good shot blocker who has a soft touch around the rim, but he isnt a long term option for anyone at the 5 and he missed his opportunity to make a big impact for this team. lamar odon has amazing talent and was supposed to have an all star worthy season in his 2nd year playing with kobe, which is hard to do, but he didnt. he lacks assertiveness sometimes and he should be a lot better than he is with all of his skills, but he can fade away from games sometimes and just let all the work fall into kobes hands while he hangs on the sidelines. hes 6 foot 11 and can handle the ball better than most guards, i dont think theres been another player his height who can handle the ball and run an offense the way odom can. phil jackson even set up his triangle offense this year in a way so that odom could run it. hes also a fantastic shooter who is dangerous from three point range and is athletic, really runs the floor and is an aggresive finisher on the break. he had some great years in miami and hasnt really been able to show that same spark in LA, plus he seems to have bad chemistry with kobe and trouble getting along with him. smush parker was a big surprise and has played really well at the point this year, pretty unheralded coming into the season and had spent a lot of time in the NBDL, but he has good size and length for the position. he had a really hot start when he 1st came and kind of faded after a while, he still played well and did what they asked of him though. he knocks down the open shots when they need him too, is pretty athletic, and with his length he is an excellent defender. ronny turiaf is a great feel-good story for the year, came back to play after having serious heart surgery. he has actually been a solid guy coming off the bench, he is still out of shape but has been a huge energy boost whenever he comes into the game, really hard working on both ends and pumps his teammates up whether hes on the court or on the bench, still needs to improve his shooting though, his offensive ability is raw. sasha vujacic is a young and pretty-looking euro point guard, still has things to learn , especially in the triangle offense, and needs to bulk up, but hes a good shooter with plenty of talent. von wafer is a sharp shooting rookie who doesnt play much, and luke walton is another one of those solid but average forwards in the league, hes versatile, hes got skills, good passer and can score in the post and rebound in a complementary role, not a great shooter, but just not good enough to be a big time player.