The Unthinkable is Becoming Reality

My job here at Laker Nation is to be the voice of the fans, thinking, debating, and dreaming of the best scenario for the Los Angeles Lakers. Explaining how we could get KG, how we could still go far in the playoffs, or how we can still acquire a big name. But now it’s time to be real and look at the facts and arrive at an educated guess of what will happen to the Lakers.
As hard as it is for me to say, a DIEHARD Kobe Bryant and Laker Fan. KOBE BRYANT will NOT finish his career as a Los Angeles Laker.
It all starts when talks first surfaced that someone from the front office said the Shaq trade was Kobe’s fault. After hearing this I first thought, “Here we go again, can Kobe or the Lakers ever shake the Shaq story?” After hearing Kobe’s trade demands, having him rescind those demands, demanding a trade again, talking to Buss in Spain, coming to training camp, and now Buss’s latest statements the answer to that question is No.
Kobe Bryant will never be able to stay in Los Angeles without having the “Shaq Shadow” haunt him until he wins another championship. Regardless if Shaq is on his last leg, or that Shaq’s Heat got swept by a young Chicago Bull team. Kobe and Shaq will always be linked together.
Kobe has always been blamed, and the front office especially Buss, never stepped up to the plate and said,” Yes, I traded Shaq because I wanted too, and I felt it was the right decision in the long run for this franchise, and NO Kobe Bryant had nothing to do with my decision nor did he say anything to me regarding O’Neal’s future!”
Buss never fully had Kobe’s back, and he let the media eat up the story that Kobe forced Shaq out because he wanted his own team. That frustration accumulated over the years for Kobe. However, he always brushed it off because it was from other meaningless sources.
However, when word got out this summer that someone officially from the precious Laker front office backed those vicious rumors, it made Kobe lose all faith in the Laker organization. The people he felt was on his side, now turned against him.
After all this it seemed that Phil Jackson, Buss, and other Laker management talked to Kobe and he was ready to put everything behind him and lead his troops back to the postseason. But once again we were all fooled.
The talk in Spain come to find out was unsuccessful. Buss talked till he was blue in the face why Kobe should stay and at the end Kobe basically said, “I feel you but umm, I still want out!”
The damage was already done and especially after realizing all the big time players that desperately wanted to become Lakers didn’t. The likes of Baron Davis, Jermaine O’neal, Ron Artest, and recently Jason Kidd all would have loved to play in LA with Kobe. But, the Lakers failed at that miserably.
It seems for the first time in the Buss regime that he is ready to rebuild and doesn’t really mind if they don’t win now!
After seeing all the facts this summer and following this story religiously. The recent Buss statements filled all Laker diehards into desperation of what will happen to this team we love so much. Looking at the entire situation, at this time in Kobe’s career and how much he wants to be a winner, there’s no doubt that if we were all in Kobe’s shoes we would want out too. The Laker purple and Gold is beautiful and the fans are indeed “sweethearts”, but sometimes the bad outweighs the good and you have to do what is best for you as an individual player, your family, and your legacy.
So from now until doomsday, Kobe will remain quiet so the Lakers can get a decent offer without other owners looking at the Lakers as a charity case much like what happened with Allen Iverson in Philadelphia.
It might not be in the near future, it might not happen until the February deadline, heck it might not be until this summer but as a diehard Laker fan it now seems that it is the inevitable.
The only plausible reason that I can see Kobe staying is if somehow we get an unbelievable trade that makes us an instant contender and leaving would just not be in his best interest. However, with Mitch Kupchack saying “He likes this team”, and grading the Lakers in the past it doesn’t seem like they’re even capable of pulling the trigger. That gun left when Jerry West did.
So for the Los Angeles Lakers, if this indeed happens, you have traded the most dominant center in NBA history, and arguably the closest thing to the best ever in Kobe Bryant all in a matter of 4 years.
Dr.Buss you’re not winning this hand of poker. Because you just folded pocket aces!

by Dbricks

LAKERNATION.COM

Save The Knicks!

The season Isiah Thomas assumed control of the Knicks, the opening day starting lineup was Charlie Ward, Allan Houston, Keith Van Horn, Kurt Thomas and Dikembe Mutombo. The season before, the opening night lineup had Ward, Houston, Shandon Anderson, Othella Harrington and Thomas. Virtually all are either out of the NBA or, effectively, bit players.
So it's not like he had much to work with, either.
Sure, Thomas has made mistakes as Knicks president, though he didn't trade Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Elton Brand, Ray Allen (twice), Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Jason Kidd or Kevin Garnett. He didn't let go in free agency Gilbert Arenas or pass on Carmelo Anthony in the draft. The point is running any professional sports franchise is not a science, and the best make plenty of mistakes. Take a look at Jerry West's last few years in Memphis when the only quality player there, Pau Gasol, was there before he arrived. Thomas inherited Don Chaney as coach and hired Lenny Wilkens and Larry Brown, two of the best in the history of the game and coaching Hall of Famers.

Yet, Thomas remains a major polarizing figure, especially in the wake of the civil sexual harassment case against he and Madison Square Garden.
So can the Knicks be saved? Or is this a version of the famous tabloid headline some 30 years ago when New York was suffering a financial crisis: Feds to New York: Drop Dead!
There's one word: Kobe.
Thomas is sort of a sports version of Hillary Clinton. People know they hate him; they just don't always know quite why.
Thomas actually had a plan when he took over the Knicks in December 2003, though it didn't work.
It made some sense, though the hindsight is he should have rebuilt, stripped down the franchise and gone with young players and draft picks.
It's much easier said than done, especially if a team is in a major market.
Big cities, which charge the most for tickets and have the least patient fans, rarely go through these kinds of rebuildings. And when they do, everyone there at the start loses their job. Chicago tried it after Michael Jordan left, and it was seven years until they began to regain some respectability. Los Angeles never has really tried, even after Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left.
It's nice to watch these kid stories going on now in the Major League Baseball playoffs. But you notice they occur in Colorado and Arizona, smaller markets with less demanding media. New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles basically keep trying to tweak for instant gratification.
Thomas was another in a long line of executives who didn't have the stomach to rebuild.

So he decided, given the deep pockets the franchise had with the backing of Cablevision and the largest per game gross in the league, to acquire the best players he could, All-Stars and former All-Stars teams might want to dump to save money or move on, and eventually package one or more for a star.
It made some sense, but the stars Thomas acquired were mostly flaming out: Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway, Tim Thomas, Jalen Rose, Steve Francis. Thomas took chances on some free agents, like Jerome James and Jared Jeffries, who seemed to make some sense at the time. But they didn't work out. He got some young prospects, like Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford, but they really are supporting players.
This summer Thomas took a shot at Zach Randolph, another high level player, though never an All-Star for a variety of behavioral reasons.
The fact is he hasn't been able to get a star.
Or yet develop one as Curry is only close and quality draft pick David Lee has yet to become a fulltime starter.
There is no fixing the Knicks as currently comprised because there isn't quite enough talent there. Thomas opted for players with offensive credentials, so he's stuck with that game. It doesn't appear they have quite enough firepower to make up for their lack of defensive prowess.
What this season — Thomas' last, many in New York are predicting — should be about for the Knicks is Kobe Bryant.
Things don't look like they are going to get much better for the Lakers unless they can make a major trade. That seems unlikely now as well. Bryant came to camp the good soldier, remaining positive and embracing coach Phil Jackson's request to be more of a playmaker.
But this Lakers team could miss the playoffs, and even if they make the playoffs, can they get past a loaded top four in the West? It seems unlikely.
Then Bryant will be one year away from leaving as a free agent.
The Knicks will hardly be far enough under the salary cap to make Bryant an offer, but while Bryant has talked about playing in Chicago, New York seems an ideal stage to complete his career. Bryant would be the kind of star New York demands, and he loves that kind of spotlight and attention.
And after another down season and with an unhappy Bryant, the Lakers could be ready to take the plunge. You figure Jackson would move on and they'd look for a fresh start.
So the Knicks season should be about trying to obtain the pieces that could go a long way toward making the Lakers whole after dealing Bryant.
A team never gets quite the value when trading a star of that magnitude, but you figure the Knicks could offer a good No. 1 pick as they may not make the playoffs. They probably keep Curry, which is not an issue as the Lakers have a future center in Andrew Bynum. The Knicks can offer Lee and Crawford, but they also need to go about finding a point guard since a deteriorating and often unstable Marbury wouldn't be of much interest. They have the money to throw into a deal and there also are opportunities to buy draft picks from other teams. They could take on a bad contract.
Sure, you need some pieces to keep so Bryant will have a chance. But it is easier in the East. Look at LeBron James in the Finals with THAT team. You can be sure that's part of what set off Bryant last spring.
But Bryant is so good, the best individual talent in the NBA, that he could make up for a lot of voids on the roster, especially competing in the East.
There's talk in New York about Curry, who now has shoulder problems, and Randolph playing together, both 20-point type scorers, of a high octane, offensive game. Though where it's going is questionable. This season should be all about trying to assemble the pieces to deal for and accommodate Bryant. And then Thomas can bring in Jackson, who played most of his career in New York and whose coaching mentor is Red Holzman, to have a two or three-year run with Bryant. It would be the biggest show on Broadway, which is really what New York is about.

Such a great city, as they say, you have to say it twice, New York, New York.
It's really the only true hope the Knicks have left with this roster.

by: Sam Smith
MSNBC

Fisher: Kobe Wants Winners, Not Just All-Stars

HONOLULU - From afar, before he returned to the Lakers this summer, Derek Fisher felt the pain of both Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson.
Fisher understood their frustration when both lashed out and questioned the organization's commitment to making the team better, calling for significant improvements.
But to Fisher, Bryant's rant was never solely about bringing in top talent. To Fisher, Bryant's rant had a deeper meaning.
"I never thought it was 'I've got to get Kevin Garnett' or 'I've got to get Jason Kidd' or 'I've got to get Jermaine O'Neal,' " said Fisher, who has played eight years with Bryant and won three championships with him.
"I just felt he said, and still is saying, 'I need some winners. I want some winners.' "
The Lakers made unsuccessful bids to get Garnett and O'Neal and didn't pull the trigger on the Kidd trade last season. They re-signed Chris Mihm and Luke Walton and brought back Fisher.
To Fisher, who has become a confidante to Bryant, the superstar hasn't given up on his teammates. He just wanted some more "warriors."
"I hear him saying, 'Give me guys that I like, that I see that put their shoes on every night to win,' " Fisher said.
"My name isn't Jason Kidd. But I guarantee you that Kobe is going to appreciate what he gets from me on a night-in and night-out basis, compared to what he's had at that position."
Kobe as Facilitator
Jackson has placed Bryant in a new role this season, the role of facilitator in the offense.
It means Bryant starts the offense before he takes over and shoots, and it has been a slow process, Jackson said.
"We talked a little bit about what I'd like to see that's not apparent yet," Jackson said, referring to the practice sessions. "It's a new role and so it'll take some kind of guidance, I think, for him to see that."
Mihm Back in Action
On March 12, 2006, Chris Mihm went down with a sprained right ankle. He played in one more game after that, wound up having two surgeries on the ankle and missed all of last season recovering.
Mihm was back in the starting lineup Tuesday night in the Lakers' exhibition opener against Golden State.
"I'm just excited to put the jersey on again," Mihm said. "It's been a while."
Luke Walton, who has a sore right hamstring, didn't suit up, and neither did Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown, both of whom are recovering from surgery.
Curfew Not a Zen Concept
When told that first-year Kings coach Reggie Theus said he was going to impose a midnight curfew when his team is on the road, Jackson smiled.
"Wow!" Jackson said. "Good luck, Reggie."
It would seem to be a hard thing to enforce, Jackson was told.
"Stand in hallways," Jackson said, laughing. "Make a fool out of yourself."
When Fisher played last season for Utah, Coach Jerry Sloan imposed a midnight curfew on the road.
He said when they stayed in a team hotel, there was security on both ends of the hallway ready to inform Sloan of any violators.
"I got checked one time for coming in at 12:15 a.m." Fisher said. "It was in our (team) handbook, but I hadn't read it yet."

By Broderick Turner
The Press-Enterprise

Lakers' Fisher Trying To Heal Team's Recent Woes

HONOLULU -- Even in the dim light of a high school gym on an island 2,500 miles from home, you can tell Derek Fisher is the same player he was all those years ago.
Same high arc on his left-handed jump shot. Same thumping dribble. Same swift hands. Same stocky build. Same unwillingness to yield to opponents.
But Fisher is not the same man he was when he peeled off his Lakers uniform after the 2004 NBA Finals and sought his fortune elsewhere, however.
How could he be?
Life has changed him; events far from the basketball court have altered his outlook, made him a different person than he was during his first stint with the Lakers.
So far in training camp, he's been a better friend, a stronger teammate and a more determined leader.
He is more in tune with the feelings of others.
Fisher has Tatum to thank for that.
Of course, her ordeal is not something Fisher would wish on anyone, but that's the thing about life's unexpected twists and turns. You don't get to pick and choose what happens to you or your loved ones. Good times often go hand in hand with bad ones.
When Tatum, his infant daughter, was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer earlier this year, Fisher's life was turned upside down. He wanted what was best for her, so he made sacrifices. He accompanied her to New York for a medical procedure and then traveled halfway across the country to rejoin his Utah Jazz teammates for a playoff
When he sought the best long-term care for Tatum, Fisher made a difficult decision. He asked the Jazz to release him from his contract, turning his back on a deal that guaranteed him more than $20 million so that he could move his family to a city with specialists who could better care for Tatum.
New York and Los Angeles were atop his list of cities to relocate. He retained the services of a specialist for Tatum in NewYork while doctors at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles would monitor her condition if trouble arose.
So far, so good for Tatum.
"She's doing really well," Fisher said. "She's walking and trying to talk. It's unbelievable. I don't even think she realizes what she's been through or how much she's had to endure at such a young age, but it's inspiring. It's just a perfect example of how you should just wake up every day and try to get the best out of that day because you have no earthly idea what tomorrow holds."
Over the summer, Fisher wasn't thinking much about basketball but decided to sign a three-season, $14-million contract to return to the Lakers.
It felt like he was home again. Emotions and memories flooded over him during his welcome-back news conference.
Matters had changed greatly since Fisher's first stint with the team, when the Lakers reached the NBA Finals four times in fiveseasons. The Lakers fell from among the league's elite while Fisher spent two seasons with Golden State and one with Utah.
The Lakers became a fractured team. Nerves had frayed even before Kobe Bryant's radio rants after their first-round playoff exit, and it would take a good deal of healing to bring them together again.
Fisher believed he was the man to help get it done. After all, he and Bryant entered the league together in 1996. They shared a bond that was forged by common experiences as rookies and later as veterans who won three straight NBA titles.
"There's something that's unbreakable," Bryant said. "We're inseparable. We came into the league together. We practiced together when everybody else had a day off. We go way back. So three titles later, we're inseparable.
"When we first came in the league, the rule was that if you played less than 20 minutes a game you had to go in the gym the next day after playing on back-to-back nights. So he and I were always in there. Always. We were competing, shooting and playing one-on-one. We'd challenge each other. So that's where that bond really started."
Bryant and the Lakers need the 33-year-old Fisher to be the same player he was before he signed as a free agent with the Warriors in the summer of 2004. But they need him to be a trusted teammate, too.
"He makes shots," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He's a guy who gets the ball back for you on defense by taking charges. He gets steals. There's atough aspect to his defense. He's somebody Kobe identifies as a person who can put down a shot at a critical time when people are double-teaming (Bryant). I think that he gives Kobe another option. It gives him a real comfort zone."
The Lakers also need Fisher's maturity and leadership. They need him to take some of the scoring burden from Bryant, but they also need him to mentor their young point guards, including rookie Javaris Crittenton and second-year player Jordan Farmar.
One of them might inherit Fisher's job some day.
"He's been nothing but great," Farmar said of Fisher, a player he watched intently while at Taft High of Woodland Hills and later at UCLA. "You want to surround yourself with winners. Whether it's to play good defense or make an extra pass or have enough in you to knock down the big shots, it's just the professionalism he brings."
Team Turmoil has been transformed. After only a few days in camp, Fisher believes he has helped to heal old wounds and create togetherness.
"I wasn't around the team the last three seasons, but I overheard a couple of guys talking about how this team is closer now than they have been, so that says a lot," Fisher said. "These guys have grown and they have matured. They have learned. It's not fun. Nobody enjoys it when you're not winning or when you're not playing together."
To be sure, winning solves all manner of woes, but Fisher said there should be a consistent level of respect and trust among the players through good times and bad.
"We don't have to be best friends or hang out all the time socially," he said. "But the guy next to me needs to know that I care about him and his well-being, so there's a certain level of connectedness and unity that carries over all the time."
Making the big shots, handling the playmaking duties and playing sound defense are vitally important, but there's more to Fisher's game. The role of selfless leader is not an easy one, but he believes he's the right man for the job. "I can take the pressure off Kobe and still do the mentoring off the court," he said. "He needs the freedom to be Kobe, and I can shoulder the load as far as leadership and morale and keeping the guys together. I want Kobe to focus on dominating games and leading our team."

by Elliott Teaford

LA Daily News

Ten Reasons for Faith in Laker Nation

Kobe wants to leave us. We lost Garnett to Boston. We exited last year in the first round, again losing to the (more and more hated) Phoenix Suns. And here we are, dying for the season to start!
Behind the scenes Lakers management are still considering a major move. Mitch Kupchak’s line, however, remains the same, that the Lakers as currently composed can be very good. Guess what Laker Nation? He’s right. Get psyched, because here’s ten powerful reasons why now is not like then, and why you should share Kupchak’s optimism.
1. The Fish
Yes. Derek Fisher is back. Experienced. Heroic. Need I mention this moment from the 2004 playoffs. . .
How about Fisher’s dramatics in Utah. . .
For years now, Kobe has been forced into the role of one of the few elder statesmen of the team, the wise old man, the teacher, the mentor. That’s not Kobe’s natural strength, and now Fisher can fill that role, he’ll settle the offense, provide experience and triangle guidance. Kobe, meanwhile, can go back to being what he naturally is…a killer.
2. Kobe Giveth
Phil is moving Kobe back to the top of the key instead of the wing. This was his position for most of the Lakers’ threepeat. Defenses will have more problems keying in on Kobe. He’ll be more able to facilitate, find open shooters and thread the ball down low.
3. 26-13
This was the Lakers record last season before a rash of injuries crippled and plagued them. Down went Odom. Kwame, by seasons end, didn’t even jump tips. Luke got injured. Maurice Evans hurt his knee. Radmanovic went from injured in training camp to incapacitated by seasons end, and the Lakers went from an excitingly deep team to being stretched thin and ineffective. Now, the Lakers’ health is returning. They are excitingly deep once again. The forcast for this season? Look for another tantalizing start with a high probability of strong finish.
4. A Three Headed Monster
With Phil Jackson planning an aggressive defensive strategy using Bynum, Kwame and Mihm, the Lakers defense should have a vibrant new look. The centers will be jumping out on screens. With the luxury to burn through so many fouls, our monster can more aggressively clog the middle, bodying up, intimidating, and blocking more shots. Laker foes will think twice anytime they have an inkling to take the ball to the hoop.
5. J. Critt
Everyone who paid attention to the summer league knows that Javaris Crittenton provides a lot for Laker fans to get excited about. It’s no stretch to imagine this guy as a future all star giving the Lakers another dynamic backcourt scoring option. Hopefully, long before that, he’ll be playing lock down D on an annoying Steve Nash. Crittenton is passionate, intelligent and seems to carry himself well. Now let’s see how fast he develops.
6. D!
Last years’ defense was a problem spot. This year Phil is strongly considering starting Ronny Turiaf. Coupled with the Three Headed Monster this gives the Lakers a lot of bang and board. It would reduce wear on Odom, who could use his length and athleticism to help contain opposing small forwards. In addition, Fisher’s tenacious, veteran smarts will be an upgrade defensively, and Kobe’s looking quick and lean. What happens when the NBA’s quickest, Barbosa, tries to outrun a Mamba? We all found out this summer, and it wasn’t pretty.
7. Smushtraction
Lack of dissent and distraction. Addition by Smushtraction. Need I say more? Harmony off-court leads to focus and unity on-court.
8. Triangulation
Last year triangle dynamics remained an issue. This year, imagine a crunchtime lineup of, say, Kobe, Fisher, Odom, Luke and Mihm. Presto. Iscocelation. Equalateralization. Perfect triangle geometry. The long interviews full of ‘we’re a young team’ rhetoric are over. These Lakers are a brew that’s been stewing, an alchemical formula that’s coming to it’s maturity. There is youth in the mix still, but most of these players no longer need to painfully think their way through a new offense. The maturity point for this group is now.
9. Breakout Bynum!
Bynum’s returned, but packed with more muscle and in far better condition. We now enter year three in what many pundits predicted as a three year path to contribution. If Bynum can have a breakout season, the Lakers will be a force to be reckoned with. For young player assessment I, in part, use a complex, statistical method of analysis, a personal method of matrix-like code watching.
In this system, let’s call it The Da, Bynum has been rating well. But young Bynum isn’t the only player we should be looking to for a leap forward this season. Lamar Odom was on an all star path before multiple health issues struck. Even hobbled, he went out last season with a 33 point and 10 board bang! He is clearly poised to reach another level as a player.
Luke Walton spent a great part of the early season as the league leader in three point field goal percentage. His total point output more than doubled last year from any previous season, but his coming out party was, like Odom’s, cut short by injury.
Chris Mihm didn’t play last year and may return as a force. Vladimir Radmanovic and Maurice Evans were triangle rookies and got injured before they could excel. Ronny Turiaf looked good, providing endless energy, and was notably poised in his first full season (The Da has taken clear note of Turiaf’s young stock too. Analysis… Buy.)
Even Kwame Brown, who has more muscles than God, is in a contract year and therefore remains a wildcard. Any of these guys could break out this year. Likelihood indicates that more than one will.
10. We are the Lakers!
Is it magic? Ownership? Fate? Downtimes for our Lakers have been historically proven to be shorter and milder than an LA winter.
So listen up Laker Nation. Don’t languish in a bewildered Garnett-less depression. The value of our players is on the rise and, if necessary, there is still time for a major move. In the meantime, the season is starting. The warriors are assembling. So stand firm and don’t let your faith desert you. I’ve gotten a glimpse of the direction this Laker Buss is heading. And it is up!

by Dave Da

LAKERNATION

Does Kobe Owe Fans An Explanation?

Kobe Bryant showed up to Laker training camp last week 30 minutes late. For a short time, no one in the media knew where he was. Imaginations ran wild.
As it turned out, Bryant was simply completing a physical. So much for controversy on the first day. That didn't stop the media, though, who tried every way conceivable to get Bryant to discuss the trade request he made last May.
Bryant didn't take the bait. He's been quiet all week and participating in full at Laker camp in Hawaii.
However, many fans haven't been satisfied with this. They believe that Bryant owes Laker nation a detailed explanation of where he stands.
Is he happy in Los Angeles?
Does he still want to be traded?
Does he intend to remain a Laker for life?
While it would certainly make good copy for us in the media to get answers to these questions, answering any of them publicly would not be a smart move for Bryant. His mouth is what got him into this mess in the first place and don't think Kobe doesn't understand as much.
No matter what Bryant says at this juncture it will stir-up controversy. Obviously, if he says he still wants to be traded the media circus will intensify. If he covertly alludes to the roster needing to be improved, as the media has been waiting in vain for him to do this week, it will become a major distraction for the team. Heck, even if he says he's now happy in Los Angeles people will question the authenticity of such a statement and wonder how a guy who was so frustrated by the makeup of the roster could be satisfied now.
No amount of talking will change anything that's happened in the past and to say something at present would cause more harm than healing. There's only one productive move Bryant can make and that is to shut-up and play. And so far in training camp 2007, that's exactly what he's been doing.

By Travis Heath
HOOPSWORLD

Among shooting guards, Bryant is best

They remain the glamour guys of the NBA. They can shoot from anywhere on the floor, take it to the rack, and generally spend a good portion of the game standing on the foul line if anyone touches their glossy veneers.
We're talking about the shooting guards, of course, and they tend to be the most elite of the respected players in the league.

It's tough to refute when you're considering scoring champion Kobe Bryant, 2006 Finals MVP Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady et al. Throw in Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili and a handful of others, and really, it's not that difficult to be happy with any one of these guys as your primary scorer. And while they are all eminently capable of dominating a game on their own, there is some separation here, if only because of all-around ability.

None of the above really has the size and skill set of Bryant. He is gifted so far beyond the norm that he really can dominate any of these other players on the list more often than not because of his size, strength and defensive proclivity. So clearly he is No. 1 and Wade — when healthy — is as close as it gets.
Allen is the nonpareil shooter, McGrady was dominant most of last season (though he is still an injury waiting to happen), and Carter is always one shot away from exploding into his scoring netherworld. But the most unique of the group has to be Ginobili — the left-handed Argentinean, who has won more championships in the NBA and internationally than the rest of the group combined.
So take your pick if you like — everyone is entitled to their personal opinion. Then again, sometimes, there is no accounting for taste as we examine how the shooting guards look entering the 2007-08 season — potential super-rook Kevin Durant excepted.

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Vitals: 29, 6-6, 220, 31.6 pts., 5.7 reb., 5.4 ass., 1.4 stl., .463 FG, .868 FTThere is no better pure basketball player in the NBA than Bryant. He has all the tools on both ends of the floor, and his ability to make other players better and focus on being a team player was never more apparent than this past summer as the U.S. national team ran roughshod over the competition in the FIBA Americas Tournament.
But he's also extremely impatient and has been intolerant of what is happening in the Lakers organization since Shaquille O'Neal was traded. His own trade demands have quieted for now and it will be interesting to see how the defending scoring champion will do with his young group. Remember, they were very good before injuries struck too hard last season. His emotional maturity is every bit as important as his teammates'.

2. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Vitals: 25, 6-4, 212, 25, 27.4 pts., 4.7 reb., 7.5 ass., 2.1 stl., .491 FG, .807 FTThe 2006 NBA Finals MVP really had a rough go of it physically last season with a dislocated shoulder and cartilage problems in his knee. Both necessitated surgery during the off-season. He won't be ready for a couple of weeks yet, and perhaps a little longer. But the promise is he'll have time to get into game shape before the regular season starts. And when he's right physically, he's among the top five players in the league.
Wade could use a dependable point guard to ease some of his ballhandling responsibilities, and as his body breaks down, he'll need to expand his shooting range or all the acrobatics will ultimately shorten his career. However, the guy is relentless and extraordinary at getting his mid-range shot and/or to the rim — seemingly at will. The conundrum is what makes him great is also his greatest downfall — the recklessness has already taken a toll at such a young age.

3. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets

Vitals: 28, 6-8, 223, 24.6 pts., 5.3 reb., 6.5 ass., 1.3 stl., .431 FG, .707 FTDon't let another first-round knockout mislead you. T-Mac proved last season he still has plenty of game left, and can carry his team for weeks, which he did last season when All-Star center Yao Ming was sidelined. His back and knee issues aren't going away, but he showed more mental toughness to play through them last year than ever before and that was a symbol of his maturity. Not only did he have his highest shooting percentage in four years, but he also had a career-high in assists.
In the first round loss to Utah, McGrady averaged 7.3 assists — also a career best. So there is a growth both in his physical game and mental approach that a lot of people doubted before last season. If he stays healthy, don't underestimate what he will do for this team with the more wide-open approach new coach Rick Adelman will take.

4. Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
Vitals: 33, 6-5, 205, 26.4 pts., 4.5 reb., 4.1 ass., 1.5 stl., .438 FG, .903 FTAllen remains most likely the best pure perimeter shooter in the game, and his ability to score going to the basket is underrated. But coming to the Celtics with Kevin Garnett to join Paul Pierce and Co. will be different. In Seattle, too often his teammates cleared out for him to win games and that isn't his strength. He's one of the top half-dozen catch-and-shoot players in history and it will be up to coach Doc Rivers to help in that manner. Chances are it will come easily here because Garnett is such an exceptional passer out of both the high and low post. Also, because of the inability of defenses to bottle up both he and Pierce on the perimeter, the open looks will be abundant. While his scoring average may drop, his 3-point percentage and field-goal percentage are likely to go up considerably.

5. Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets
Vitals: 30, 6-6, 220, 25.2 pts., 6.0 reb., 4.8 ass., 1.0 stl., .454 FG, .802 FTPeople that don't watch Carter much just don't appreciate him. Yes, he went through a period of time before he left Toronto when he admittedly didn't give 100-percent effort, but that hasn't been the case with the Nets — perhaps because Jason Kidd won't let him. But that's beside the point. His skill level remains at the top of the game when it comes to getting to the rim and from the perimeter. Granted, he was horrid in too many games in their conference semifinal loss to Cleveland, but during the regular season he had a career high in rebounds and equaled his career high in assists. That reflects effort and growth. And for fans of the game in general, his dunks are still as exciting as anybody's who has ever played.

6. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
Vitals: 32, 6-6, 205, 16.5 pts., 4.4 reb., 3.5 ass., 1.5 stl., .464 FG, .860 FTIt's always difficult to gauge Ginobili, and the past two seasons it has been even more difficult because he has been so erratic. Nonetheless, he is extraordinarily tough at both ends of the floor, and he's generally at his best in big games. He is just as inclined to make a big play as an in-your-face defender with great hands as on the offensive end, and he's great at getting to the basket. People also tend to underestimate his deadly 3-point range at crunch time as well. More than anything else, the guy is a winner — some opponents hate him because of his physical and flopping style. But there isn't anyone in the world who wouldn't want Ginobili as a teammate, and that is best reflected by his championships in the NBA, the Olympic gold and World Championships as well.

7. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks

Vitals: 28, 6-6, 215, 26.7 pts., 3.7 reb., 2.3 ass., 1.2 stl., .465 FG, .829 FGThe appreciation of Redd's scoring ability continues to spread throughout the league despite the anonymity of playing on a mediocre team in a small market. He is equally capable of scoring inside and out, and rapidly becoming one of the top two or three 3-point shooters in the game. He can catch and shoot, or fire away off the dribble, while carrying the Bucks for extended periods of time. But for him to become a true superstar in the NBA, Redd needs to expand his game defensively, rebound the ball better because of his size at guard and also make his teammates better. He has never averaged as many as 3.0 assists a game in his career and for a high-level guard in this league, that is a damning statistic — even if he were playing with four guys from a rec league.

8. Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
Vitals: 29, 6-7, 195, 19.8 pts., 3.8 reb., 3.8 ass., 0.8 stl., .468 FG, .861 FTThe skinny on Hamilton has always been, well, he's too skinny. In a lot of ways he is on the road toward being a latter-day Reggie Miller without the exceptional shooting range and game-winning resume ... but he's getting there on both counts, and runs the floor with the same non-stop energy. For one thing, Hamilton does have an NBA title and he is a much more consistent mid-range shooter, defender and passer. But as the Pistons have faltered the past couple of seasons during the playoffs, Hamilton has vanished from time to time, and it's been hard to tell whether it's been a product of the offense, or his inability to make plays on his own. Regardless, he remains one of the best mid-range shooters in the game and a handful for any defender to keep up with from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

9. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Vitals: 26, 6-7, 235, 25.0 pts., 4.2 reb., 4.4 ass., 1.0 stl., .471 FG., .748 FTOn paper, Johnson has comparable size and ability to Bryant, Wade and even LeBron James. He is proficient in all aspects of the game and has played point guard, shooting guard and small forward at an extremely high level. He can shoot from anywhere very well, shut people down defensively and handles the ball as well as any point guard. Had he stayed in Phoenix, it would have been much easier to gauge his level of ability because they are so young and erratic in Atlanta. Then again, if he had James' leadership ability he would lift them. So despite all these skills, he has yet to prove to be an elite leader, and that quiet demeanor has always been the question mark. On one hand, he is an endearing, humble man. But for a maximum player with all of that talent, he needs to do more to lift his team from annual bottom-feeder status. The good news is he's only 26 and might still do it.

10. Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls
Vitals: 24, 6-3, 200, 21.4 pts., 3.1 reb., 3.6 ass., 0.8 stl., .455 FG, .864 FTGordon is an unequivocal handful when he gets it going — shooting from all over the court. He is exceedingly strong going to the basket and has a good feel for other players, although the Bulls have essentially groomed him as a designated scorer. Considering how well he moved the ball at Connecticut, it would be logical to expect he'd have more assists. He also hasn't developed defensively as well as one might expect, and both of those areas are surprising considering how coach Scott Skiles was a prototype all-around guard as a player. And while Gordon is equally adept at taking over games from the bench or starting when he's hot, does he become a liability on the floor in other respects?

by Mike Kahn
FoxSports