Kevin Durant Signs with Warriors

If LeBron James to the Miami Heat was Hulk Hogan joining the nWo, then Kevin Durant teaming up with the Golden State Warriors is Seth Rollins siding with The Authority. (More or less, don't think to hard, it's funny.)

Kevin Durant be like #Warriors pic.twitter.com/6YlMqOaRty

— CLOUD N9NE SYRUP™ (@CloudN9neSyrup) July 4, 2016

Top 25 NBA Players and Where They Were Picked

This list is not an exact science.  You may think player #10 is much better than #7.  Fine.  I also prioritize age.  Younger guys are more likely to be on this list than say Tim Duncan, who is impossible to rank.

1. LeBron James (1st)
2. Stephen Curry (7th)
3. Kevin Durant (2nd)
4. Russell Westbrook (4th)
5. Anthony Davis (1st)
6. Kawhi Leonard (15th)
7. Blake Griffin (1st)
8. James Harden (3rd)
9. DeMarcus Cousins (5th)
10. Chris Paul (4th)
11. Paul George (10th)
12. Draymond Green (35th, 2nd round)
13. Jimmy Butler (30th)
14. LaMarcus Alrdidge (2nd)
15. Damian Lillard (6th)
16. Kevin Love (5th)
17. Klay Thompson (11th)
18. Carmelo Anthony (3rd)
19. DeMar DeRozan (9th)
20. John Wall (1st)
21. Kyle Lowry (24th)
22. Kyrie Irving (1st)
23. Andre Drummond (9th)
24. Chris Bosh (4th)
25. Karl-Anthony Towns (1st)

Full disclosure, probably forgot a few.  

Keefe's NBA All-Stars

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
John Wall, Washington Wizards
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks
Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

NBA Champions Led By Just One Player

LeBron James is 2 wins away from his 3rd NBA Championship, but his first with garbage playing along side him.  Of course Kyrie Irving (3rd Team All-NBA) and Kevin Love (3x All-Star) are hurt, and what is left?  Knicks castoffs, scrubs, Tristan Thompson and his offensive rebounding (I guess?).  It's underwhelming.  This would be the most impressive accomplishment in LeBron's impressive (for lack of a better word) career.

Who won the NBA title with the worst supporting cast?  Good question.

First off, LeBron hasn't won yet, but here's a breakdown:

2015 Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron James
-Matthew Delladova, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert

Brutal.  Thompson was a high pick.  They dealt two 1's for Mozgov, Smith can shoot (sometimes), and Shump can play D. Pretty gross.

2011 Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki
-Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry

No way.  Kidd was old but still solid.  Marion is a beast, multiple All-Stars, and Terry was 6th Man of the Year.

1994 Houston Rockets - Hakeem Olajuwon
-Vernon Maxwell, Kenny Smith, Otis Thorpe, Robert Horry, Sam Cassell

Thorpe was an All-Star in '92.  This was Cassell's rookie year.  Scrubs.  Good case this was the best example of 1 guy carrying a bunch of bums.  Yes, Horry was clutch, but this was also his 1st (of 7) rings.


You go back any early and there were only 8* teams in the league so everyone was loaded.  And think of all the other teams...

LeBron, Wade, Bosh
Duncan, Parker, Ginobili
Garnett, Pierce, Allen
Billiups, Wallace (2x), Hamilton
Shaq, Wade
Shaq, Kobe
Duncan, Robinson,
Jordan, Pippen
Hakeem, Drexler
Thomas, Dumars, Laimbeer, Rodman
Magic, Worthy, Kareem
Bird, McHale, Parish
Etc. Etc.


*Not confirmed.

Curry Vs.

Thought of this the other day.  Had to be a first.  And it is.  Look, there's a graphic to prove it and everything.

I mean, what are the chances?

Anyway, I'll take the Warriors in 6.  (Should be less, but my hatred for LeBron means he'll win a couple games.)

All-NBA Teams

All-NBA 1st Team:
F - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
C - Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
G - Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
G - James Harden, Houston Rockets

All-NBA 2nd Team:
F - LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
F - DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
C - Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
G - Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
G - Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

All-NBA 3rd Team:
F - Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
C - DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers
G - Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
G - Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA All-Star Starters

EASTERN CONFERENCE

John Wall, Washington Wizards
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

Cavs Just Won The East (For The Next 5 Years)

At least.  

The worst kept secret in sports, Kevin Love is going to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Minnesota gets a great haul in return for a player who was going to walk at the end of the year.  They'll get the last two number one picks in the draft: Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins as well as a future 1st round pick.   Not bad at all. 

But the other 14 teams in the Eastern Conference just got boned.  They didn't even have time to celebrate the break up of the Miami Heat.  There's a new juggernaut in town.  

With Paul George's injury and Carmelo picking New York over Chicago, you can go ahead and PEN the Cavs into the Finals. Love and LeBron is going to be lethal.  

Starters:

PG Kyrie Irving

SG Dion Waiters

SF LeBron James

PF Kevin Love

C  Anderson Varejao

Bench:

Tristan Thompson

Mike Miller

James Jones

John Lucas III

Shawn Marion (potentially)

Joe Harris

Well the West should be close again...

LeBron Going Back To Cleveland

LeBetrayl! http://t.co/DMgP4cawr7

— NBA GIFs (@TheNBAGif) July 11, 2014

This is the best. We've now seen LeBron in the nWo and now The Shield, two of the greatest stables of all-time.

Which Site Will Get More Hits Tonight?

LeBronJames.com

Or

SportsBrief.blogspot.com

Toss up, really.  He should get a boost with all this "where will he go" talk, but I have faith in our die hard fans. 

Thanks for making us #1*

*Hypothetically 

Big 4?

Big 3 could become the Big 4?  The fellas at ESPN think so.

How insane would this be?  Yes, they would need a lot to happen, opt outs, pay cuts, and everything else, but good Lord.  You thought people went nuts when LeBron, Wade, and Bosh teamed up, this will crush that.

In a weird, weird way, I want this to happen.   Don't get me wrong, I want Melo to play for the Celtics, but if he doesn't give me a hated villain.  The Heat are already the NBA's villain, can you imagine what it would be like if they add Melo?  Come on.

LeBron's Kryptonite

It wouldn't be fair if he was everything-proof. 

The Sports Brief's 2013-14 NBA Awards

MVP:
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Defensive Player of the Year:
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

6th Man of the Year:
Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Rookie of the Year:
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers

Coach of the Year:
Jeff Hornacek, Phoenix Suns

Most Improved Player:
Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers


1st Team All-NBA:
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
James Harden, Houston Rockets

2nd Team All-NBA:
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

3rd Team All-NBA:
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Al Jefferson, Charlotte Bobcats
Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors


1st Team All-Defense:
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
Patrick Beverley, Houston Rockets
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

2nd Team All-Defense:
Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies


1st Team All-Rookie:
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Trey Burke, Utah Jazz
Tim Hardaway, Jr, New York Knicks
Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets

2nd Team All-Rookie:
Kelly Olynyk, Boston Celtics
Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings
Giannis Antetokoumpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Nate Wolters, Milwaukee Bucks
Hollis Thompson, Philadelphia 76ers

Who Wore It Better: Mask Edition

Lots of Bane comparisons out there (they should be talking Black Mask, if you want to go Batman villain).  But it's just the black version of Aldo Montoya.  Cut and dry. 

Ranking The Best Duos In The NBA

NBA Jam.  What are the best (and worst) two-somes in the NBA.  Leaving injury out of this here is how I rank the NBA Jam possibilities 1-32.   (No subs, just the starting 2).

1. LeBron James & Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
2. James Harden & Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets)
3. Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
4. Chris Paul & Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
5. Tony Parker & Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
6. Damian Lillard & LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers)
7. Paul George & Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers)
8. Steph Curry & Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
9. Dirk Nowitzki & Monta Ellis (Dallas Mavericks)
10. Kobe Bryant & Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers) (HURT, I Know)
11. Derrick Rose & Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls)
12. Carmelo Anthony & Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks)
13. Deron Williams & Joe Johnson (Brooklyn Nets)
14. DeMarcus Cousins & Rudy Gay (Sacramento Kings)
15. Kevin Love & Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves)
16. John Wall & Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
17. Anthony Davis & Eric Gordon (New Orleans Pelicans)
18. Kyrie Irving & Luol Deng (Cleveland Cavaliers)
19. Zach Randolph & Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)
20. Paul Millsap & Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks)
21. Rajon Rondo & Jared Sullinger (Boston Celtics)
22. Goran Dragic & Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix Suns)
23. Ty Lawson & Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets)
24. DeMar DeRozan & Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
25. Brandon Jennings & Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)
26. Al Jefferson & Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats)
27. Arron Afflalo & Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic)
28. Gordon Hayward & Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz)
29. Michael Carter-Williams & Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia 76ers)
30. O.J. Mayo & Brandon Knight (Milwaukee Bucks)

Nailed it.  The injuries make it tough and some of the guys (Deron Williams/ Tyson Chandler, etc.) are having bad seasons.  But I still feel very ok about my rankings. 

NBA All-Star Starters

The NBA announced the starters for next month's All-Star game down in New Orleans.

Eastern Conference:
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
LeBron James, Miami Heat

Western Conference:
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves


Nice job by the fans getting Kobe in there.  Great 6 games he's played this year.

Reserves will be announced next week.  This will be the first time no Celtics make the team since the 2006-2007 season.

Jeff Green's Game Winner

Like it or not this was awesome.  I don't care if you want the Celtics to go 0-82, the face LeBron James makes after Green's buzzer beater was more than worth it.  For those of you who missed this on a Saturday night...

2013-14 NBA Season Predictions

The NBA season tips off tonight.  For the first time in 7 years the Celtics are not title contenders.  They're probably not playoff contenders, but here is how I think the whole thing shakes out.

Eastern Conference:
1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Brooklyn Nets
4. Indiana Pacers
5. New York Knicks
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Detroit Pistons
---
9. Washington Wizards
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Toronto Raptors
12. Boston Celtics
13. Charlotte Bobcats
14. Orlando Magic
15. Philadelphia 76ers

Western Conference:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Houston Rockets
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Golden State Warriors
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
---
9. Denver Nuggets
10. Los Angeles Lakers
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. New Orleans Pelicans
13. Utah Jazz
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Phoenix Suns

EAST: Heat over Nets

WEST: Thunder over Grizzlies

FINALS: Heat over Thunder

MVP: LeBron James, Miami Heat

Rookie of the Year: Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings

Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

Most Improved: Worst Award Ever.

6th Man of the Year: Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors

Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

All-NBA 1st Team:
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

All-NBA 2nd Team:
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

All-NBA 3rd Team:
Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls


All-Rookie 1st Team:
Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit Pistons
Cody Zeller, Charlotte Bobcats

All-Rookie 2nd Team:
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers
Anthony Bennett, Cleveland Cavaliers
Vitor Faverani, Boston Celtics
Glen Rice Jr., Washington Wizards
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder


All-Defensive 1st Team:
Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

All-Defensive 2nd Team:
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks
Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets


Eastern Conference All-Stars:
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Kevin Garnett, Brooklyn Nets

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
Paul Pierce, Brooklyn Nets

Western Conference All-Stars:
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

James Harden, Houston Rockets
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Anything else?

Re-Draft: 2003 NBA Top 10

Who doesn't like a "Re-Draft?"  Always fun.  10 years ago was one of the NBA's greatest drafts.  It was one that got the #1 pick just as right as they got the #2 pick wrong.  Here is how it went (Top 10) followed by how it should have...

1. LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Darko Milicic - Detroit Pistons
3. Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets
4. Chris Bosh - Toronto Raptors
5. Dwyane Wade - Miami Heat
6. Chris Kaman - Los Angeles Clippers
7. Kirk Hinrich - Chicago Bulls
8. T.J. Ford - Milwaukee Bucks
9. Michael Sweetney - New York Knicks
10. Jarvis Hayes - Washington Wizards

Really fall off a cliff there at the end.  This great draft, like all drafts, had a bunch of duds.  Troy Bell at 16?  Dude played 6 NBA games. 

HOW IT SHOULD HAVE GONE:

1. LeBron James
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Chris Bosh
5. David West
6. Chris Kaman
7. Mo Williams
8. Josh Howard
9. Kirk Hinrich
10. Kendrick Perkins

Really not a terrible job by the GMs in 2003.  LeBron, Wade, Melo, Bosh, Kaman, Hinrich all in the Top 7, and all clearly in the Top 10.  This draft has produced 8 All-Stars (the top 8 on my list).  Other decent guys include Nick Collison, Boris Diaw, Jason Kapono, Kyle Korver, Steve Blake, Matt Bonner, but none Top 10 worthy. 

Boom.  Re-drafted. 

2013 All-NBA Teams

All-NBA 2012-2013

1st Team:
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

2nd Team:
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

3rd Team:
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
David Lee, Golden State Warriors
Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers


Couple notes here: every player on the 1st team had a teammate make the 2nd or 3rd. 

Clippers, Lakers, Heat, Thunder, Spurs with 10 of the 15 players.