7 NBA Players I’d Hate to Have on My Team
Yesterday I hit you with the list of NBA players I’d love to have on my team, so today I figured I’d come back with the list of guys on the other side…
Yao Ming - There are going to be people who go crazy because I have Yao at the top of the list. He is clearly a very good basketball player, there’s no denying that. But, and I don’t care what anybody says, dude is painfully soft. He’s always hurt, he’s always tired, he constantly has a whiny face - it has to drive his teammates crazy. Give me a center I can go to battle with, like Dwight Howard or my guy B-Mill, or even a guy like Chris Kaman.
John Salmons - When he plays real minutes, he puts up real numbers (see his 31-point game over the weekend). But at what cost? Ball movement and any semblance of an offense stops as soon as he touches the ball. The flow is killed by over-dribbling and/or a forced shot.
T.J. Ford - He’s awesome on the break, but it would drive me crazy if T.J. was running my offense. Watch a Pacers game. Without fail, every fourth or fifth possession, Ford will decide that he’s taking a shot no matter what. (See also: Williams, Mo)
Mehmet Okur - Another flow killer. Memo is 6-11, but doesn’t block shots, isn’t a very good rebounder, doesn’t play great D and pretty much shoots the ball every time he touches it, many times from about 45 feet out. It’s not like he’s a great three-point shooter either - he’s shooting a horrendous 20% from behind the arc this season.
Everyone on the Wizards Not Named Caron Butler - At some point Eddie Jordan’s “Princeton-style Offense” turned into the “Whoever-Brings-It-Up-Shoots-It Offense.” Just brutal.
Willie Green - He’s arguably the worst player in the NBA who gets actual minutes and he’s a gunner.
Tim Thomas - Never has someone done so little with so much. Guys would kill to have his skills and athleticism, but the “I don’t care” just oozes from him.
What NBA players would you hate to play with?
November 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Jase says:
green’s not so bad if you think about it haha first
November 18th, 2008 at 10:11 am
memememe says:
agreed with the yao thing.
im from houston, huge rockets fan but DAMN IT YAO.
he doesnt fight for rebounds, only gets the ones that come right to him.
maybe not this season but last few season, he was ALWAYS on the floor, tripping on himself or just plain falling down for no reason.
just plain and simple is not tough enough……
yes he can score but if he has an off night what good does he do….stand there and be tall. and hope the opponents shots bounce off his head or something
November 18th, 2008 at 10:13 am
E$ says:
Whiny face?? Are you serious? Every player that gets called for a call has a whiny face…..You reaching with this blog
November 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
chiaki says:
how bout ricky buckets? he’s like a curse..
November 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am
JCARR says:
Yao had to be first. At 7′6″ he’s almost a Shawn Bradley. And what about Marbury and Tinsley? (Two complete bums who don’t do anyhthing but complain) Agree on most because they are all just one dimensional players.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Hayesfan says:
Something you are overlooking with Yao is his incredible work ethic. It’s a great thing to have your star be the first one on and the last one off the court. Soft is a label, not reality. That whiny face you are talking about is merely an interpretation.
Anyone who watches him with regularity can see that he works his butt off to be able to do the things he does.
And to you above from Houston, I don’t know exactly why you think he doesn’t fight for rebounds. His frame causes him to move differently than the Dwight Howard’s of the world, but not for a minute do I think he doesn’t work for rebounds.
And Chris Kaman over Yao? Are you serious? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jss1xEzh5b4
November 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
GEE... Well Sa da Tay! says:
PC I ain’t hating, Yao goes on my list too.
Without going into detail he just pisses me off.
So Imma say my 7 would be
Yao
Melo
Crunchbury
Sean May
Greg Oden
Eddie House
Josh Howard
November 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Reverend Paul Revere says:
Salmons, Green, Tim Thomas. Are you sure this isn’t a list of players Billy King wants on his team? The only two that are missing are Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:33 am
YOUNGFED says:
This article lost all credibility when you put Yao on the list. Yao is a PG’s dream. Mr. Cassidy you sir have offended me with this read. I’d have T-Mac on here before Yao.
Arena’s(all I wanna do is shot)
Tim Thomas
odom
mo williams
Jameer Nelson
Bruce Bowen (because my team would have to fight too much)
Aldrige
November 18th, 2008 at 10:35 am
E$ says:
You have Yao on the list, but not Josh “2 hits & pass” Howard….wow
November 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
rell says:
My 7 would be
1. like chiaki said Buckets Davis. Started to dispise him when he played for the Celtics. Shooting at the wrong goal to get a triple double.
2. Tim Thomas - tired of people with potential not doing anything.
3. Ime Udoka - everytime I watch him play I keep asking myself why is Bruce Bowen not play. He can’t hit the open 3 and not even that great of a defender
4. Brian Scalbroine - why, just why? 3.26 million dollars per year.
5. Eddie Curry - you make millions of dollar and you are about to eat your way out of the NBA.
6. T-Mac - same reason as Yao because he always get hurt.
7. Jerome James - waste of money
November 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
karizmatic says:
I think Mehmet is actually an underrated rebounder, not that he’s a force on the boards or anything but he puts up good rebounding numbers every few games, enough to justify his playing time. If I could bring him off the bench I’d run with him.
My most hated guys,
Nate Robinson - a straight gunner
Eddy Curry - what a surprise, but no one should be that big and not be able to pull rebounds
You hit it right on the head with Tim Thomas
Kwame Brown- forget about the underachieving, just the overall lack of confidence in himself is a team killer
Dirk Nowitski, just because I’m a Dirk hater and think he’s a small forward in a power forward’s body, plus he’s not clutch when it comes right down to it.
Vince Carter - Because I’m a Vince Hater and I just think he’s been lazy with his talent.
DJ MBenga- just because he’s DJ Mbenga
November 18th, 2008 at 10:47 am
fallinup says:
In Yao’s defense…he has the weight of China on his back. And rarely gets rest in the off season. I see that a big contributor to his being “soft” and injury prone. Yao’s got very very raw talent and has the touch of a shooting guard…but he’ll never have a chance to truly develop that with his commitment to China…they won’t let him and he’s programmed not to care.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Bruce says:
DJ MBenga- just because he’s DJ Mbenga. At least DJ tries.
Anyone that DOES NOT hustle. It doesn’t take talent to hustle.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:57 am
fallinup says:
Jerome James (stiff with a fat wallet)
Sebastian Telfair (all hype, nothing to show)
Gerald Green (can fly, can shoot, can’t dribble??? c’mon)
Lamar Odom (cracks under pressure)
Robert Swift (fragile stiff)
And Patrick….no Ricky Davis on your list????
Riiiiight.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
karizmatic says:
@ Bruce, you’re right I shouldn’t dock DJ because at least he does try…there are a lot of guys out there who just dont’ try. I would have named Gilbert (shootaholic) and Deshawn Stevenson just because I think he’s way overrated and quite frankly not as good as he thinks he is, but everyone not Caron on the Wizards was already named. I can understand that sentiment, although I like Javale.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:03 am
DO says:
antoine walker (is he retired?)
all he does is dribble between his legs for 5 seconds and shoots a 3
November 18th, 2008 at 11:08 am
control says:
I’d say my top 7 would be:
Ricky Davis - kid just sucks, shoots everytime he gets the ball. Any team with him is guaranteed a nice long summer vacation.
Allen Iverson - guy is good, but he will stare you down as you are open in the corner, just to do a 20 foot fade away with 3 guys hanging on him.
SJack - why would anyone want to play with a guy who only passes the balls when he’s standing out of bounds? Guy will jack up shots if he’s hot or cold.
Zach Randolph - His stupid looking fat face would just irritate the shit out of me. I’d be throwing him a beating before the first month was done.
Zadurnas Illgoukas - The guy’s goto moves are so slow, I could start a suicide as he starts his move…finish my suicide and get position for the rebound before he is done. Might be the slowest guy with the ball in the nba.
TJ Ford - If anyone has seen him play…it’s obvious. Guy will straight ignore any called plays to get his, and it happens randomly throughout the game.
Manu Gniobli - His antics would have me kicking his ass during the game. I’d hate to have him flop onto my knee and injure me. The games take twice as long because everyone has to stop and wait while he picks himself up off the floor.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:11 am
TD says:
My Hated Starting 5:
Ben Gordon - Your too short to be a shooting guard, don’t handle the ball well, and you think you’re worth max dollars
Michael Redd - You got max dollars and your team hasn’t had a winning season yet, and you played in the leastern conference when it was terrible.
Melo - You sucker punched someone 7 inches shorter than you and ran away, PUSSY!!!
Reggie Evans - Really you thought it was a good idea to grab Kaman’s nuts… all bad
Emeka Okafor - Someone acutally signed this guy to almost max dollars so that he could play in 40 games a year and his team won’t ever make the playoffs
November 18th, 2008 at 11:13 am
JR says:
@JCARR: comparing a 20/10 guy to shawn bradley is jus plain ridiculous.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
isotope says:
I’d rather have Yao than 90% of the centers in the league. Actually same with Okur(maybe 60%). Theyre not the tough hard-nose players that we are used to at their position but they do what they do well.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Mamba says:
Andrew Bogut - guy is whiny, soft, and I think one of the worst #1 picks ever, I could really go to town on this one but will save my breath….
Michael Redd - similar to Bogs, cant play through injury, preaches about being humble and man of the lord but is so damn selfish with the ball, has been very lazy on D
Shaq - has become to much of a cartoon version of himself, bitches and moans in order to hear his own voice, has just become a lazy, chubby slob
Melo - This is a REAL tough one for me because I love his game, but I really question his desire and heart - I dont think he gets the most from what he has
AI - again a hard one because I have always been a huge fan, but if this is about being honest and objective, then in my mind he is a team killer, but I will NEVER question his heart or toughness
November 18th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Hehateme says:
My two cents,
I agree with YOUNGFED, you definitely lost credibility when you placed Yao on top of your list. Yao is definitely top three center when he is HEALTHY. Argue against it all you want, go look up his numbers.
As far as your list, i have trouble in gauging your criteria and how you choose your players. Does one have to be a winner? a great player? or a bad ass? to be in your love list. yesterday, you listed KG, pj/kurt thomas,LBJ, ROY, Nocioni, Buttler, Miller, Paul and Nash.
If this list is based on winning, then Brad miller, Butler, Nocioni have no business being there.
if youbased it on their skills, then i rather have KOBE than Buttler anyday( btw, dont mix up war with a game of basketball, im a vet and i dont appreciate people mixing war and basketball cause they are nothing alike.)
I rather have Manu than Nocioni and ill take Yao over ur boy Brad Miller( are you from sac town or something?)Manu is as dirty as Nocioni, but plays 10x better. ill argue about yao over miller later.
What about Toughness? Pjbrown and Kurt thomas?? forget them, i rather have Danny Fortson maybe even Dennis Rodman( u mentioned a retired player, so i did the same).If you think PJ brown and Thomas are tough, you should try googling the likes of oakley, Fortson and Rodman, cause among these guys, pj and thomas are choir boys.
last but not least, i would go with Yao over Brad Miller any day. Sure Miller can pass the ball, but Yao scores..You said hes always hurt?? well centers are always hurt with the exception of Howard. Your boy, Brad Miller is not an Ironman either, he never played 82 games in his entire career, not even his rookie season. While Yao played 82 games twice. Like fallinup said maybe Yao is tired cause of his commitment to China and his selflessness is his demise. In the end, for a SOFT guy, in a h2h match up based on last season, Yao beasted bmiller and held his own against Dhow and Kamman.
So come up with better reasons for putting Yao on top of your hate list….
case close
November 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Jei says:
“Give me a center I can go to battle with, like Dwight Howard or my guy B-Mill, or even a guy like Chris Kaman.”
- KAMAN and B-MILL are always injured as well, Einstein.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Brown says:
Mike James, TJ Ford, Rafer Alston aka the Raptors wasteland of failed Point Guards.
Them and Drew Gooden. I’d pay my teammates to hold him down so we could shave off whatever stupid growth of hair he has coming out his head.
Also, anyone who is inept at playing defense. I hate playing with guys who only care about one end of the floor.
TJ Ford is at the top of my list. I have a general dislike for everything he does as a basketball player.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
YOUNGFED says:
@#23
Got D@MN…..Preach On, brother Preach on! lol
November 18th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
David Brandon says:
nice post man…
and like a lotta ppl, i agree w/ the yao thing. just never was big on him like that. if youre 7′6 whatever…and youre not tossin 4-5 shots a game, what the hell’s goin on??
anyway…my list:
ricky buckets - we all know why
mike bibby (outside of having that clutch label for no rason, he really cant shoot anymore and his ast/to ratio seems to be getting worse)
john salmons - he can be on the team as long as he doesnt get any tick i guess…
anderson varejao - sideshow can’t run on our team.
yi jianlian -
earl watson - GARBAGE!!
raja bell - i just dont like him
kwame brown’s sorry ass
damon jones - nuff said
donyell marshall - like bibby sans the rep
honorable mention goes to greg ostertag lol
November 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Kobeef says:
The “not on my team” Starting 5 (by position)
1. Mo Williams: has there ever been a player this bad who attempted so many shots per game? It’s like he is trying to set a record.
2. JJ Redick: Let’s just admit this - JJ is not an NBA player. This kid must have something on Stern cause otherwise I can’t explain why he is in the NBA.
3. Richard Jefferson: Note to RJ, you really aren’t very good and you need to come to grips with that. JKidd made you. Face it. You can’t shoot or do much of anything without Kidd.
4. Boozer: I’m just a hater.
5. Yao: doesn’t block, not an enforcer, gets stuffed by nate robinson who is 2 feet shorter than him. I dunno…pretty much everything about Yao makes me think that it is painful and depressing to be his team mate.
3.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
chinesedespot says:
Dime never misses a chance to make snarky remarks about Yao Ming (see the Smack post today where they suggest that his stats were just down to him being tall). It’s pretty clear there’s an agenda going on at Dime. One wonders what it is. It’s kinda clear that Yao doesn’t quite fit into the street/ghetto/gangsta/brotherhood/ibuntu bullshit that helps to sell the NBA. But hey, getting on their platform and screaming ‘Ghetto’ must make even white kids out of college (or deracinated African-Americans) in downtown Manhattan feel like real hard nuts.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Ian says:
my list
kevin garnett if i were his teammate i would tell him to shut the fuck up an let me play
carmelo the most overrated player in the nba imo
arenas patrick said why
kobe same as arenas
iverson same as kobe not a superstar like many think and is team killer (quest im sorry is just an opinion)
baron davis the mini antoine walker
ben gordon how about playin some d and passing the ball
November 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Austin Burton says:
David Brandon described the “criteria” for Pat’s list with his Raja Bell comment: “I just don’t like him.”
This is all based on personal preference, nothing more. I don’t care if T-Mac gets hurt more often than Kobe or that Kobe is a better player. I just like T-Mac more, so I’d want him on my team. (Plus he’s a better passer.) That’s all there is to it.
That said, I’d also have to put Richard Jefferson on my list, plus Damon Jones, Chris Wilcox, Rafer, Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm and Brendan Haywood.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Fuck Yao his weak as hell…Soft is his middle name “Ming Soft Yao” I can’t stand how his weak ass make it into the allstar game every year and feel like they should change the rule letting everyone in china count as a half vote since there are so many of them.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
control says:
Since some people are mentioning people who pretty much suck, and are nobodies, I thought I’d add Nate Huffman. He was on Toronto for a minute, basically stole 4 million from them or some bullshit. I seen him at a game, and he was so depressing to look at, I almost pulled a Ron Artest and beat up some of the Detroit fans. He was like the biggest emo I’ve ever seen (more than Robert Swift). I haven’t bothered to look, but I bet he has some nasty rips on the Raptors on his facebook or myspace.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Tha Boddy says:
Patrick,
I have to get you for your Wizards comment. Nick Young is having a awesome season and is better than Thad Young. Nicks only problem comes in the form of D-Stevenson who Coach Jordan won’t bench and let the youth movement start.Jamison is just having a bad start to the year but he is a PF-SF that atleast 80% of the league would die to have…McGee is just a rookie and will bump out the shots until he feels he got more than he should…I’m right on this trust me
November 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
doug says:
T-mac tops this list that cat will miss a game because of a stomach ache, he’s just not a warrior he’s overpayed, always injured and soft as cotton.He wouldn’t survive in L.A. we would boo that cat like he was Kwame Brown. We’ve gotten so use to having warriors like KoBe who plays through anything that we couldn’t possibly tolerate a softy like T-mac, Phil was quoted in his book the”last season” as saying we wanted to do a straight up trade T-Mac for KoBe but everytime T-Mac has to play defense his back seems to hurt. Even Phil during his Kobe-Shaq drama days wouldn’t allow his hate for KoBe to impair his logical thinking. KoBe brings it every night regardless of what you think about him…T-Mac not so much.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Austin Burton says:
@chinesedespot — Show me the part in Smack that says Yao only had a good game because he’s tall. And the implications of your post are obvious enough without having to slip an African phrase in there. I get what you’re trying to say, and no, Yao doesn’t get snarky remarks because he’s Asian.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
vinny says:
HAVE TO AGREE WITH POST 23- AND HOW THE FUCK CAN U GO TO BATTLE WITH cHRIS kAMAN?? he is way overpaid and underskilled! my list
1Kobe-because he is just a phoney teammate and when things dont go right a pain in the ass to play with.
2tim thomas-biggest waste of talent since derrick coleman!
3nate robinson-is anyone more out of control and less in control of there emotions than him??
4eddie curry-fat bastard! nuff said
5vince carter- becasue the highlights aint worth all the whining!!
6wally z-because his jump shot aint worth his inflated ego and his complete lack of anythiong close to defense!
7peja s. because he always disappears in big games-always!!
8steph-there is a reason everyone on the knicks hates him!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Dime Magazine says:
@ vinny -
I’m not saying that Kaman would be my first choice - I’m saying that I’d probably rather have him than Yao.
- PC
November 18th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Jayo says:
I can’t believe that Antoine Walker hasn’t been on anybody’s list. I remember when Paul Pierce called him out for being a chucker.
The other’s on my list would be
J.R. Smith
Dirk Nowitzki
T.J. Ford
Mo Williams
Kevin Durant - has notched an assist yet in the NBA?
November 18th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
doug says:
Ahhh Vinny there you go littering the blogs with your hater ways between you and Ian i don’t know whose the bigger hater. Your the only guy on the planet who wouldn’t want to play with KoBe…even fat SHAQ has recanted calling KoBe the best in the game and saying he wouldn’t rule out going back to the LAKERS. Phoney? Pain in the butt? Man we’re talking basketball..cats that are going to be in the game when the chips are down. Cats that don’t mail it in because they have a stomach ache. This dude plays through anything, he give 110% everynight for his whole career has a tireless offseason work ethic and he’s a true competitor which is very hard to find now a days. Are you mad because this cat won’t accept losing? You do know KoBe’s so called pain in the butt phoney mentality is the reason we have the squad we have now and are favorites to win the ship this year. How could you not get behind a cat that brings it like this and won’t accept losing. Vinny your retarded and spiteful it’s sounds like.You put the best player in the game on the same list with Eddie Curry, V.Carter and Nate Robinson….yeah I think I nailed it right on the head your a Kobe hater.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Dime Magazine says:
Jayo -
I can’t kill Durant. He’s in a situation where he’s basically being told to shoot at will.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Ian says:
jayo
who can durant pass to
November 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
doug says:
Definitely agree I’ll sub KoBe out of vinny’s top ten and put fat antoine walker on that list…that dudes a bum I heard him and paul pierce have the same trainer, have you taken notice of the cats build…man these cats Pierce included, look like UPS workers….definitely not athletic builds at all.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Ian says:
someone just mentioned kobe shouldnt be on anyones list.
why??? because he has lead the lakers to multiple championships or maybe because he doesnt quit on his team when things dont go right or maybe iits because hes the lovable teammate everyone wants lets ask bynum or maybe its because he doesnt accept losing he just loses but he doesnt accept it or maybe its because no one can have a diff opinion of his fav player or because he makes u the favs on paper and has yet to deliver. which is it?
im with austin not sayin whos the better player but on a team that i have more allstars give me tmac.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Ian says:
someone forgot what the article is about is not whos the one of the best or who sucks its who do you want on YOUR team
November 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
vinny says:
retarted and spiteful- nice of you to respond so intellectually Doug. Lets see last time i was an idiot becasue i made negative comments about your kobe.
I’m not a hater-well maybe a little but the ? in the post was who wouldnt i want on my team. Beside that you like my top 8? how is that possible??
November 18th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Bruce says:
Yao is an All-Star because of the voting system. There are more than 1 Billion Chinese worldwide. If there is a Vietnamese player in the NBA, I’ll be voting for him regardless. Whether he starts or riding the pine, I’m voting for him. Representing the country!
November 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
dano says:
1. Iverson - watching him on the nuggets was an absolute joke. it was like watching And 1 streetball, dude LITERALLY only passed when he couldnt score. And it looked like that was George Karl’s game plan. Iverson’s a great player, toughest in the game, but CANNOT play on a team. There goes Detroit’s run at another conference finals.
2. Ginobli - Simply because of the flopping. Dudes got some game, but the NBA instated the fines for flopping rule based mostly on his antics. I HATE when players flop. I think it should be a technical foul. Play some straight up D and if you’re in the correct position you shouldnt need to flop. Dont be a bitch.
3. Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Tim Thomas, etc. - Any player who would take big money and being the first option on a shitty team over average money and being the third option on a contender, or any player who plays hard just in a contract year. Johnson bolted for Atlanta WAY back and their just now getting good, and its not just because of him (Hello Mr. Horford, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Bibby), and Marion was whining all the way to Miami after having career year after career year with Nash just lobbing him alleys left and right. Without Nash, Marion cannot score on his own, and his days as a fantasy giant are over. Thomas worked his ass off for the Suns only to get paid by the Clips, and, surprise, hasnt done shit yet.
4. Paul Pierce - Not saying he isnt a baller, I just dont like the guy. I think he only started playing when he got Ray Ray and KG, as if nobody else could win a championship with those guys. And i really think the Celtics are KG’s team not Pierce’s. Its like Phil Jackson winning nine championships with MJ, Scottie, Worm, Diesel, and KB24, was it really that hard?
5. Oden - Nothing against the kid, its just that hes made entirely of glass. Science screws you like that sometimes.
6. Carmelo - Will never, ever, ever, ever live up to the standards of Lebron and DWade. The perfect manifestation of a one-dimensional player. Parents, dont let your players grow up to be Melo. If the nuggets do anything this year it will be because of Billups.
7. TMac - Never got out of the first round, and, o look, he just got hurt again. I cant believe it.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Ian says:
big shot bob
i think yao starts if we only counted them as half a vote
it should be around one vote every 5 fans to make that shit fair
btw is like bruce said
im latin (dominican) so big al charlie v and francisco garcia would get my vote the rest goes to the argentines.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Ian says:
dano
liked that list even if u had my fav player on it (manu) but its because of the floppin u admited he has game hehehe.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
vinny says:
@DANO Joe Johnson got big money-yes, but can you fault a player for going somewhere for so much more money(than what the suns were offering) great post but i have to disagree on the johnson part-oh and he is a big part of the atlanta team being better.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
vinny says:
ian-lol!!
November 18th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
E$ says:
“HI Haterz” How can you hate anyone & tune in to watch them play…..find something else to do with your time, I haven’t watched a Raptor game since T.J. was traded…I like Bosh, but it’s not the same.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
doug says:
“retarted”Vinny the correct spelling is r-e-t-a-r-d-e-d, what’s up with your spell check man? you must live near Ian. Ian you and austin would take T-Mac just out of your sheer hate for Kobe but you would have to pick up another player if he was on your team because he would always be “injured” stomaches, headaces, the guy is the softest thing in the NBA, shoulder braces, knee braces, back braces I’ve never seen such a fragile player. And it was just as I suspected with you and your boy Ian, Vinny you guys are haters, so your opinions don’t matter there not based on anything solid,like say a fact.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Ian says:
vinny
i mean lol i cant be like doug and call someone a retard just cuz u dont like a player i like
maybe if manu were on danos team he would like him and id hate him
thats how this works
and im with u on players taking the money i mean if the salary dif isnt that much id be the third option but hes getting superstar money and has a good young team around him but i think al will be the best of the group. remember what he did to pierce in the playoffs?? priceless
November 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
rodnets says:
these are the superstars I don´t want in my team, for lack of will, spoil team chemistry, and the reasons described above:
in no specific order:
Yao, Kobe, Arenas, Dirk, Vince, Tmac and Aaron Gray
November 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Ian says:
doug really u tryin to correct spelling really????
“You do know KoBe’s so called pain in the butt phoney mentality is the reason we have the squad we have now and are favorites to win the ship this year”
really win the SHIP u gettin a boat if u win the finals?
doug i mean comon first when u said kobe is top 3 alltime then the stupid comment about kobes resume being more impressive than duncans made u look like u are in love with the man now all this really? u must have had kobes cock at least 2 inches from your mouth to defend a man that much.
u said facts on what did u base the kobe top 3 alltime better resume than duncan comment on what facts??? its only your imagination my friend
hope u win that boat this season so kobe at least has one being the man on his team
November 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
doug says:
Ian your not retarded because you don’t have my same opinion you and Vinny are ignorant because your opinion is rooted in hatred for a particular, even if it was Ron-Ron, T-Mac, KG, whoever it is. Your opinions are much like a female, rooted in hatred and spite, that’s how you guys operate, atleast that’s how it seems to me. Get it together
November 18th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Ian says:
ohh look doug
lol rodnets doesnt want kobe on his either we are 4 retards now
now go check the article on the ten players u want on your team and add the ones that dont have kobe
its adding up right?
November 18th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Ian says:
sorry my opinion is hatred really???? u r basing everything here on what kobe might do not what he has done
no idea why it hurts u that deep that some of us think kobe is not a chem guy let it go
and u sound like an ethug insulting here now that is retarded
November 18th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
doug says:
Rod”nuts”never broke down why he didn’t want him on his team Ian plus he isn’t always blogging of his hatred for Kobe, you and Vinny seemed to be doing this quite often, besides aren’t you a spurs fan? You guys pulled that big 3 point win off yesterday against the clippers to bring you to an even 5hundred record, you guys suck. You and all spurs fans should go into hiding for the time being, the Spurs look terrible!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Ian says:
and dont call me a hater because ive never said kobe sucks or anything i even said i had him on my top 15
u r the only hater here when u said timmeh is a choker and that he hasnt accomplished more than mr bryant. are u counting rapes also?
November 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
dagwaller says:
Don’t really want to get in between you guys, but I would HATE to have Kobe on my team. Let’s see, shoots all the time, doesn’t pass, hates on his teammates if they don’t excel, throws teammates under the bus…yea that sounds pretty hellish to me.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Ian says:
thats 10 games man and u havent won
we are missing OUR backcourt what more do u want
u talk alot but havent u always say u guys are the favs but how about winning first
btw u sound better now arguing without the insults
November 18th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Ian says:
thats 5 doug with dag
u see not everyone likes him
those are the reasons why i dont want him on my team
November 18th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Ian says:
doug
timmeh has a 4-1 record with a Dleague squad as teammates
November 18th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
vinny says:
@doug if anyone is acting like a female its you- what are you so in love with kobe that you cant see any negative?
I never said he couldnt play, or that he doesnt play hurt, or that i dont fear him in the 4th quarter but again Doug the ? was who wouldnt you want on your team- the guy who sold out his teammate in denver, the guy who wouldnt sign unless they got rid of Shaq, the guy who pushed chris paul off the foul line in china-thats the guy i dont want on my team-he places himself above others.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
control says:
rodnuts
Did you just call Aron Grey a superstar? Who is he?
There are a lot of people who wouldn’t want Kobe on their team. Anyone with white daughters around the age of 17-19. Anyone who likes getting the ball passed to them instead of fighting for an offensive rebound for their touches. Anyone who doesn’t like a media circus following them constantly. Anyone who doesn’t want to accidentally be hit by a Chris Childs/Shaq punch for standing too close to him.
Kobe has slowly changed his tune, from a ball hogging whiner to a decent teammate. He has to come a little bit farther and not have those games where he reverts to selfish Kobe, or stares at his teammates like he’s Darth Vader doing the mind choke thing.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Hehateme says:
The article is clearly about ” Who I want on my team” with an emphasis on I. As a basketball player and die-hard fans, i marvel at winners and champions. It doesnt mean that i change my teams every year, but as much as i hate the celtics, spurs or lakers, i give them props when they are due.
With that in mind, i play basketball to WIN and support my Jazz to see them WIN. i want my team to score more points than you. With that in mind, i respect Duncan and Kobe, both in their own ways. They are champion and consummate leaders.
I just have issues with Kobe’s rep in this forum. People in here have claimed that he doesnt pass the ball, kills team chemistry, whiner and a phoney and etc. This was somewhat true about two years ago, but Kobe’s recent game and numbers shows otherwise. to support that argument, i will refer to the olympic games, where he decided to concentrate on Defense and let the young guns take care of the O. In addition, LBJ and Carmelo raved about his leadership quality and work ethic,which shows his dedication to the team. the kobe of yesteryear is no more, he doesnt have to hog the ball, because his supporting cast got better. He was hogging cause he was playing with the likes of atkins, aaron mckie, mihm and young vujacic. With decent supporting cast, kobe doesnt shot the ball as often, but he does take over during crunch time. moreover, Kobe’s number has been down accross the board for the past two seasons, which indicate his deference to his teammates.
I dont have a problem with who you guys pick/like or who you guys hate as long as its base on facts rather than opinionated claim,because thats just HATE.
I think Kobe is just guilty of having a competitive streak, because exceptional players does not accept mediocrity.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Ian says:
hehateme
and if people would post opinions like u did instead of insulting i would say its your opinion u r not wrong but i still dont like him on my team cuz when things dont go right he gives his teammates these weird look and quits on them and that just my opinion. we leave it at that and we dont argue about it. and u r right u dont want players u hate on your team regardless if they are good or not.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Ian says:
hehate
reading my post again sounded weird what i meant is that everyone here has posted just an opinion no need to call someone else a retard. u have the same idea of kobe as doug but u defended him in a good way.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
rodnets says:
@ian, agree 100%
November 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Hehateme says:
i just want winners man. i dont care about the color of your skin or the language you speak if you can win me games.
So i want 10 guys that give me the best chance of winning. So if the teletubies, pee wee herman and barney can get me that W then they can be in my squad…
Its all about the W..
November 18th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Hehateme says:
ian,
i dont want to argue with you, but i didnt call anybody a retard. i just think people should refer to numbers and facts rather than stuff like “kobe sucks cause he attracts the media”.. What does that have to do with putting a ball in the basket?
November 18th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Ian says:
i know it wasnt u
it was someone else that was defending kobe
i was saying that u and him are tryin to do the same thing but u did it without insulting so no one can really argue with u cuz u posted an opinion like we did
November 18th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Ian says:
btw thanks rodnets
November 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Amar says:
p-cass — memo had better playoff averages than tyson chandler (including rpg) . . . and dude avg. a double double after the all-star break, putting up games of 18 and 19 rebounds in the playoffs.
if he’s a bad rebounder than you must have really high standards. his defense (on the ball) is much better than boozer’s and last season he shot the ball pretty well from three (38+%). this year he’s been a no show because of off court issues (his dad almost dying twice in the past few weeks).
November 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
doug says:
and Kobe wins that’s all he does,win, compete, battle fight through injuries and constantly prove you haters wrong. Ian, Vinny your morons
November 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
doug says:
dagwaller i see the hater in you too.All this dude does is win none of these cats are moral pillars they all have there indisgressions just like you do.I’m talking about this cat strictly as a ball player not as someone you would want your daughter,sister or mom to date.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
doug says:
Hehateme is the only one operating outside of hatred just like he said keep this arguement stats not how you feel about someone you’ve never met. I actually met Kobe more than once and he’s a cool cat. Have any of you haters ever met dude?Probably not so just keep it at the viewing level. He’s a ball player not our president.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
vinny says:
@dougI have been at an event for foster youth that he attended and he was cool with the kids. Again DOUG the question was who do you not want on your team-hypothetical team. There are enough ‘winners’ to pick from to be selective-it doesnt have to be this personel thing where i’m hating because i have a different opinion.damm. and
@hehateme who on that list was retired?
@Doug try to have a constructive argument without the juvenile names!
November 18th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hehateme says:
@vinny,
that comment was directed at yesterdays post for 10 guys that hed love to have or w/e… He had PJ Brown and Kurt THomas( brown is retired)..
November 18th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
the mamba says:
surprised nobody has mentioned cuttino mobley. when he played for the rockets i called him “the black hole”, cuz the ball goes into him, but never comes back out unless its a pass to the guy in the 5th row
November 18th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
vinny says:
@hehateme. you know i completely agree with post 23 and i said that earlier, but while you make a good argument in post 69 i have to somewhat disagree. Teammate is someone who on and off the court is a winner.
Now have i hung out with kobe-no but as an observer for the last 12 years(i live in la)despite the competitiveness, and everything else potitive he brings to the table i still wouldn’t want him as a teammate. just my opinion- not hate.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
JCARR says:
@JR
I compare yao to shwan bradley because being that tall should get you at least 25 and 14 a night. He sucks (better than bradley), but as almost everyone agrees he has been below our expectations, i agree with post #38 when Dime says that “rather have kaman than yao”.
Yao = frail
November 18th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hehateme says:
@Vinny,
i also live in Los Angeles for the past 14 years. ANd i grew to hate kobe cause of the confrontation that he created with Shaq. however, i begin to appreciate his characteristic and his game. he couldve easily gave up after the stuff that he went through, but he came back stronger and repaired his imagine. I aint here to force Kobe down your throat, its your choice to like him or dislike him, but my post(69) was intended to offer the positive side of kobe, since everybody was bashing him and etc. i was playing devil’s advocate, because i respect him as a baller and its only right for me to defend him. Those negative labels might be true about 2-3 years ago, but i think he changed and im giving him the benefit of the doubt.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
vinny says:
@hehateme-you know i dont dislike him- i agree with some of what you say, i just dont give him the benefit of the doubt-it was just the summer of 07 when he trashed bynum and wanted to be traded right? now he did handle getting shut down in the finals without throwing his teammates under the bus -but i’ll wait and see if i’m wrong and he’s not phoney. Is he repairing his image just to get more endorsements? what do you think?
November 18th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Hehateme says:
@Vinny
of course, its all about public image and the Benjamins. But, the fact that he tried repairing his image is respectable though. Cause we have guys like PacMan Jones who make mistakes after mistakes after mistakes.
He did trash Bynum, but maybe thats the motivation that Bynum needed, cause he did showed up last season.
I think the action of Nba superstars are magnified, whether its Kobe’s comment about bynum or Shaq’s rap about Kobe. it is what it is though cause controversies sells and sometimes the media made something out of nothing.
I never hung out with kobe, though my good friend coached at his camp and told me that hes class.
Kobe is not my favorite player either and Lakers is not my favorite team. So im not arguing for my favorites here
Infact, My fav player is Ak-47 and i support Jazz, so dont even talk shit about AK… hahaha
good posts guys, but im done for today, i hope i dont offend anybody, If i did then IM SORRY from the bottom of my heart.
Peace!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Ian I’m half Filipino but I was born and raised in America so that makes me American. That doesn’t mean I vote for every American player there is just because they’re American. Same if they had one Filipino guy I wouldn’t vote for him just because of his nationality. Having pride for your country means if someone is doing well from your country then you vote for them. But not voting for the weakest guy in the NBA just because his a certain nationality.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
MSkittle says:
Good call on Yao. Where is Marbury on the list?
November 18th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Ian says:
big shot
sorry but i have to vote for my guys
theres only three of us in the league
the whole world thinks that way but not americans because either way ur going to be represented in the game
thats why i dont really have a problem even if yi starts
the coaches can pick the deservin players to complete the team man
November 19th, 2008 at 12:16 am
The confederacy says:
Chinese voting for Yao is like blacks voting for Obama - who gives a shit if he’s QUALIFIED, so long as he looks like me
November 19th, 2008 at 12:55 am
weng santos says:
Kobe.
I’d watch him, draft him, maybe even cheer for him.
But if I’m playing, he needs to be on the other team.
November 19th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Sweet English says:
Feeling the hate in this room people. First of, people are entitled to an opinion, which is the whole point of a thread like this, secondly, if you don’t agree, rather than just bitchin, make a valid comment, and thirdly (if thats a word) no one here is going to play on a team with any of these guys so it really doesnt matter.
All people saying Steph Marbury, yeah the guys a cock and should take the buy out etc etc (just my opinon, chill out peeps) but unless you owe him a couple o’ milli and have a salary cap to adhere too, he’s a solid addition to a team. Were talkin about playing styles and weakness on court and people who, if you were actually running with, would just piss you off all game.
E.G Tim Thomas. The kinda guy that after ANOTHER missed bucket you’d be running back on to D pure HATING on the guy in your head for not playing. Someone get this guy some red bull. man i hate tim thomas.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
rodnets says:
@someone,
Aaron Gray is a nobody playing for the bulls. I selected it to see if people payed attention to my posts.
Doug, are you Doug Christie? If thats so you have been kobe’s teammate back then, so he was able to put his DNA on you…now i see why do you defend him so much, ohh listen your wife is calling!!!
Kobe = Great Player = Poison
Peace
November 19th, 2008 at 10:08 am
rodnets says:
btw, reaching the 95 post in this article, i doubt anyone will respond
November 19th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
chinesedespot says:
Well Austin, this comes a bit late but the manner of your magazine’s bias against Yao (because of his race) ought to be put on record and clarified (if anyone’s interested).
First, let’s set the facts straight, it’s clear that this article is egregiously prejudiced (you don’t need to read the implications in my comments to see that). To quote your writer, Mr Cassidy, Yao ‘is painfully soft. He’s always hurt, he’s always tired, he constantly has a whiny face - it has to drive his teammates crazy.’ Always? Wow. He must pay a lot of attention to Yao or be an expert on facial expressions (cos I think a grimace could be read as a sign of effort and toughness). And how does he know Yao’s teammates hate having him? It’s pretty well established in NBA circles that all managers and most players would love to have Yao on their team. The disparity between what is said on Dime and elsewhere about Yao is just too great not to be taken as bias. I mean, to settle this pretty pointless debate, why don’t you guys could do an anonymous poll of impt pple in the NBA?
The fact is: Yao’s 7′6. He is a genetic freak. Have you seen any creature (let alone a human) of those dimensions that can, to use your phrase, ‘jump out of the gym’? It’s an impossibility! I’ll even venture to say that Yao’s injuries has nothing to do with toughness: it’s just impossible for the human physique of those dimensions no matter how well-conditioned to hold up a season without breaking down. Why don’t you dime guys ask any NBA medic?
Secondly, I don’t mean to insinuate that you and your chums are racist (maybe the irish and jewish guys are secretly conflicted, I don’t know), but that you guys unwittingly reflect some of the racial assumptions rampant in NBA. You can’t deny that a lot of what the NBA sells is a glamorization of what in reality is deprivation. I guess there’s nothing terribly wrong with that as long as some underprivileged people get empowered. But that isn’t going to happen as long as you guys rehash these racial assumptions uncritically. It wasn’t so long ago that many black basketballers from underprivileged backgrounds were denigrated by mainstream (mainly white and writing for CNNSI and ESPN) journos for carrying their individualism onto the court, for being ‘all about me’. Now that’s all being respun as ‘toughness’.
I want to make it clear that I don’t have time as well for writers who ascribe Yao’s work ethic to his Asianness (as if all Chinese were industrious; it’s interesting that these same writers don’t champion Yi Jianlian that way), but I think it’s about time Dime stopped hating on a guy who’s in reality one of the most hardworking (can’t that in itself be seen as a kind of ‘toughness’?) - and most skillful - players in pro ball. To compare Yao unfavourably with someone like Dwight Howard is to compare two different types of ball players: it’s like comparing Moses Malone to Bill Walton. Isn’t it pretty boring if everyone were overmuscled, one-dimensional dunkers? Let’s celebrate Yao for bringing something different to the NBA!
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
FAIL says:
Wow. Yao is better than 99% of the Centers in the NBA and he is on this list? Do you guys even watch the games or just view SportsCenter? Seriously, you guys lose credibility for putting Yao on a list of player that you’d hate to have on my team. Good thing you are here typing and not a real GM. Any GM would want Yao on their frontline.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:58 am
ac23 says:
What’s the criteria for becoming a Dime Magazine writer? Obviously knowledge of sports isn’t one!
Oh wait, I get it, your boss is a genius! He hires dumbass “writers” like yourself so it can draw controversy and get people to read the articles. That’s smart!
February 10th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Cquarter says:
What I hate about the NBA altogether is how a lot of the players don’t even try. They just sit by and watch someone make a sick dunk, then walk to the other side of the court. There are also people that walk the whole time, but when they get the ball feel the need to take a shot no matter what. It seems NBA has turned more into a 1 on 1 game then a team game now.
February 18th, 2009 at 1:30 am
urbabydaddy says:
dime magazine sucks anyways… at the magazine shop i dont even bother to think twice ever to open it up… reminds me of sports illustrated for kids