Top 10 Reasons: Why LA will win the championship next year.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: No, all 10 reasons aren't Dwight Howard

The definitive Top 10 shooting guards of all time.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Some things are debatable, but these top 3 are a lock.

Off-guard, 2-guard, shooting-guard, no matter how you say it this is the position that has produced some of the most exciting players in NBA history. HoopsVibe sizes up the best of the best and put together this list of Top 10 shooting guards of all-time.

Top Ten Definitively Worst NBA Nicknames

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Do you really want to be called Boobie, Pooh,  or Bimbo? Really?

Here are the worst of the worst. If you're looking for a nickname on the blacktop do not ask one of these ballers for advice. I repeat, do NOT ask one of these NBA players. Here you go, the 10 worst NBA nicknames ever.

#10 Harold "Baby Jordan" Minor

Yes, he could leap through the roof, but with his NBA career only lasting 4 seasons comparisons to Jordan seem a bit absurd.

#9 Jameer "Crib Midget" Nelson

It's hard to view this nickname as anything but offensive. We know it's playful, but this one is simply weird.

#8 Vernel "Bimbo" Coles

We can only hope this isn't the type of nickname that got passed on to his daughters. What kind of grown man wants people calling him Bimbo to his face.

#7 Craig "Eggs" Ehlo

It's tough to be a dominating force in the NBA with a nickname like Eggs, but Ehlo actually managed quite a respectable NBA career. Ehlo reported got the nickname from John Lucas because when they played together in Houston they would play one-on-one for breakfast.

#6 Damon "The World's Greatest Shooter" Jones

I am a believer in positive thinking, but this just ridiculous. Jones isn't even in the top 10,000 NBA shooters of all time, let alone #1. Lucky for him though, he made another prestigious list. With a self-dubbed nickname like this, he was destined for the Worst Nickname List.

#5 David "DaWhite Howard" Lee

Anytime your nickname is referencing how you are the white version of a great black player you have the recipe for a Top 10 Worst Nickname. David Lee does not disappoint. Yeah, Dwight Howard is a beast in the game and Lee has his moments, but lets not get carried away her folks.

#4 Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic

The only way this nickname works is if his ex-girlfriend and mega-hot tennis pro / model Maria Sharapova gave it to him. She didn't and he rides the pine, so take it easy there Sasha. Your first name is feminine enough, don't try to overcompensate with your forced nickname.

#3 "Pooh" Richardson

I'm not sure what could be more demeaning than pooh. This Timberwolve's nickname is literally calling himself pooh, as in shit. Not The shit, just shit. 

Although we are a fan, we have to say we don't want to be called Boobiey all day long. Just think of the scenarios: "Looking good Boobie. Use your head Boobie. Do you need some water Boobie." It just seems wrong.

#1 Corey "Bad Porn" Maggette 

The logic behind this one actually makes sense if the judgment does not. Corey apparently got the nickname "Bad Porn" because of his ability to penetrate the oppositions defense at will, so for all that penetration people started calling him Bad Porn. Yuck.

Top 10 Reasons LA Won't Win the Championship This Year.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Even with Dwight and Nash many don't pick the Lakers to win this year. Here's why.

Below are the Top 10 reasons Los Angeles won't win the title this year. This is drawing from other teams of similar build as well as an analysis of their existing pieces. Los Angeles is loaded with talent, but talent doesn't always equal championship rings and these are the reasons why.

#10 Metta World Peace is wild.

World Peace is a solid defender, but his offense is sketchy and his ability to control himself in pressure situations is horrible. Look for him to have another incident this year as he continues to age and get more frustrated with his slowing body. It's not a matter of if, but simply when World Peace will go nuclear.

#9 Pau Gasol is weak.

Gasol simply doesn't pay with the heart of a champion. Now that he is the 3rd or 4th option in the offense it won't be as glaringly obvious, but having people on your team and on the court that lack desire is a killer to team moral. Look for Kobe to continue to get pissed with Pau.

#8 Dwight can't shoot free throws.

When the game is on the line Dwight can't touch the ball. This is the same problem the Clippers have with Blake Griffin. The Lakers can overcome this by simply having everything flow through Kobe and Nash, but having your key big man not able to touch the ball is a serious weakness.

#7 Nash's defense sucks.

Steve Nash is a wiz at no-look passes and floaters in the lane, but lateral movement and man-up defense isn't one of his strengths. This will be exploited when he is matched up with speedsters like Russell Westbrook. This will be a key matchup the Thunder will exploit. This is why the Thunder are still stronger than the Lakers out West.

#6 Dwight's attitude

Dwight is known as a happy-go-lucky guy. He has always been much stronger and more talented than his competition. Unfortunately, this has made him weak. Dwight is not tough. He does not have the heart of a lion like Kobe. He has the heart of a kitty like Pau. This lack of mental toughness will be spotlighted in the playoffs.

#5 Kobe pressing

Kobe want's his sixth championship more than anything. He knows time is running out on both his career and the Laker's ability to hold this squad of players together. Look for Kobe to up in Pau and Dwight's faces early in the season. This could backfire with Dwight who isn't used to being scolded publicly.

#4 Mike Brown needs a spine

The Zen Master not only knew how to win, he knew how to let his leaders lead, but also how to keep them within his system. Mike Brown is no Phil Jackson and doesn't command the type of respect needed to keep massive egos in check. If things get bumpy early in the system look for Mike Brown to start catching some of the heat.

#3 No Toughness.

The toughest player on the Lakers is Kobe followed by Steve Nash. Where LA doesn't have grit is underneath. They lack the big men with muscle that are willing to both hit the floor and set a bone-crushing pick. Their big men are more pretty and gritty. Teams like San Antonio and Oklahoma City that don't suffer from this same prima donna mentality will exploit this lack of toughness.

#2 LA wants results.

Look for the temperature to be turned up as the Lakers struggle early in the season. They may even loose some early games to the Clippers and be threatened with losing the crown of their home town. Los Angeles has extrememly high expectations for the Lakers and if things start going south look for egos to get bruised and fingers to start pointing.

#1 First year together.

The Miami heat didn't win the first year their Big Three united in South Beach. The Lakers are no different. No matter how much talent a team has, it takes time for players to find their roles and fit together. The Lakers have the advantage of having winners already on the roster, but so did Miami. Look for the Lakers to win in year 2, but not their first year with this grouping of players. 

Top 10 David Stern mistakes as NBA commissioner.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: We know David Stern would like us to only remember the good, but here's a look back over his biggest blunders.

Yes, David Stern globalized the NBA and grew the bottom-line for executives and players, but he also dropped the ball on a number of issues too. Here is a list of Stern's Top 10 biggest bloopers, blunders, and flat out mistakes. Some involve his personality, while others focus on his policies and implementations of rules. All are definitely 100% Stern and 100% wrong. 

#10 Biggest Ego

The fact that David Stern is not retiring, but rather simply stepping down as commissioner, but will still be employed as a consultant by the NBA speaks volumes. He is also giving the NBA a 15 month transition to Adam Silver taking over, which looks a lot more like a David Stern farewell tour. 

#9 Under-23 Olympic Rule

This was the idea that Olympic Basketball should be a 23-under competition. David Stern went public with this brilliant idea without consulting with anyone throughout the league or his own team. He wanted to prove he could still sell a big idea and quickly ran for cover when the blow-back from this grew out of control, allowing Adam Silver to absorb most of the fallout.

#8 Anti-Flopping Rule

This is the rule Stern just enacted this year to try and avoid players from flopping on potential charge calls. This penalty is handed out after the game and the player is not told what particular play during the game incurred the penalty. This is seen largely as a cosmetic rule change that will do little to nothing to stop flopping and more of a hollow rule. 

#7 Concerned with his Legacy

Stern is well aware that he will be regarded as the driving force that globalized the NBA. He is perhaps a little to aware and proud of this in fact. Stern has kept one eye on his legacy throughout most of his career, weighing decisions as much against how it would make him look personally as he reflected on what was judicious. 

#6 Power Hungry

One thing that league executives agree on is that power was consolidated under Stern. They are hoping to more localize that power in the post-Stern NBA. The problem with this is that Adam Silver is Stern's right-hand man and will certainly not speak out against any Stern policies as of yet. 

#5 Anti-Player Commissioner

It is no secret that David Stern was not liked by the players or Player's Association. Stern's lack of concern with player's health and well-bing was no where more pointed than in last years condensed season. Questions were raised by players and the players association about the potential for injury with such a small amount of rest between games. Stern was not concerned. I'm betting Chicago and Derek Rose wish he cared a little more. 

#4 Manipulative

David Stern appointing Adam Silver as his replacement is like Fidel Castro stepping down so his brother Raul Castro can takeover. Stern made sure the subsequent commissioner owed him and agreed with him on every detail of NBA labor issues and league regulations. This is simply David Stern 2.0, the Silver edition. 

#3 Absurd Penalties

From fining Amare Stoudemire 50,000 over a tweet to Kobe being fined $100,000 for a homophobic slur at a ref, David Stern is known for arbitrary penalties. He once fined Mark Cuban $500,000 for criticizing refs when they clearly goofed the call and then turned around and penalized Metta World Peace with a mere seven game suspension for a vicious elbow that could have possibly ended James Harden's career. Don't look to Stern for judiciousness.

#2 Anti-Union Commissioner

Stern established himself as clearly an anti-player and anti-union commissioner during negotiations in the 2011-2012 season. He not only stood against the players, but also insulted many of their negotiation tactics. 

#1 Over-Involvement in Trades:

People will not soon forget the fact the Stern vetoed the trade of Chris Paul to the Lakers in 2011 only to allow the trade of Dwight Howard to the Lakers in 2012. This raised the question of the NBA's involvement with Charlotte playing a role in the decision. Stern claims no harm no foul, but many still scratch their heads at the unprecedented move.

I love this game, but I also love the view at the arena too and that definitely includes the ladies.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Some squads can be debated, but the best is simply the best.

Now that the NBA season is underway, it is time to size up which teams have the right support. By support we of course mean sexy women barely dressed dancing around them while they play basketball. In the great tradition of beautiful cheerleaders HoopsVibe ranks to Top 10 Hottest NBA Cheerleading squads of the 2013 NBA season. 

Top 10 biggest surprises of the 2013 NBA Season.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Lakers Suck, Chicago's Legit, Who's Gortat, and Harden's unstoppable.

#10 Marcin Gortat blocks a ton of shots. 

I don't think you would have found too many NBA analysts picking Marcin Gortat as the shot block leader, but after one week of games he sits atop the standings with 3.5 blocks per game. He beat out big name guys like Roy Hibbert 3.25 blocks per game and Josh Smith 3.0 blocks per game, but can Gortat keep this up or is he simply on a lucky streak?

#9 Brandon Jennings lights up the league.

After one week of NBA ball, Brandon Jennings leads the league in both assists with 13 per game and steals with 4 per game. This may be the year Jennings fully comes into his own and shows the NBA he is not simply a solid player, but a star in the league. 

#8 Houston Rockets can compete.

Starting off the season 2-1 is encouraging for the Rockets. This is especially true because their new guard combo of James Harden and Jeremy Lyn appears to be clicking on all cylinders. Harden at marched out to an amazing first week and Lyn as put up rock solid numbers too. Lyn's put up 15.8 points per game, 7.3 assists per game, and 5.7 assists per game. More on Harden's numbers below.

#7 Clippers beat Lakers.

With the Lakers grabbing Dwight Howard and Steve Nash this off-season, it appeared Los Angeles was safely in the grips of the Lakers. Yet, when these two teams met for their first inter-city competition this year it was the Clippers that looked faster, strong, and more dominant. They handed the Lakers their 3rd straight loss of the season.

#6 Knicks destroy Miami.

The Knicks put a whooping on the defending NBA champions 104-84 the first week of the season. They also marched out to a 3-0 start in the first week. It looks like New York might have just figured out how to make all these pieces fit together and the answer much just be the great facilitator Jason Kidd.

#5 Milwaukee Bucks got game.

The Bucks are out to a 2-0 start and are showing they are no pushover this year. Lead by feisty point guard Brandon Jennings who leads the NBA in both assists and steals, the Bucks have quickly become a team to watch out for. They might just be the sleeper team of 2013.

#4 Spurs aren't that old.

Everyone always seems to count the Spurs out even though they had the best record in the NBA both of the last two years. They started of this season hot again going 4-0. So much for too old, too slow, and not enough talent. With the Lakers struggling and the Thunder figuring out how to win without Harden, this could the the Spurs year to take the West.

#3 Chicago Bulls are legit without Rose.

Everyone figured this season was a bust with Derek Rose out, but Joakim Noah and Luol Deng are picking up the slack and have Chicago 3-1. This team still maintains a great defense and ability to shutdown opposing teams. If they can keep their offensive production solid, they just might make a run at the East.

#2 James Harden is an animal.

James Harden has singe-handedly taken the NBA by storm this year. Who knew putting Harden in the starting lineup would result in a 35.3 point per game average over the first week of the season. Harden has shown why at 6 foot 5 inches tall and a quick 220 lbs. he is so difficult to guard. Everyone knew he was good, but so far this year his numbers are amazing.

#1 Lakers Suck.

The Lakers were supposed to tear the Western Conference apart this year. They signed the best center in the league and a perennial NBA All Star at point guard to go with already impressive lineup of one of the best shooting guards in the history of the NBA and two other regular NBA All Stars in Gasol and World Peace. This was going to be a Dream Team of sorts. People were predicting a 72-win season and yet they started 0-3! They eventually won a game and now stand embarrassingly tied for last place in the Pacific Western Conference. 

Lakers hire Mike D'Antoni has head coach after they can't land Phil Jackson.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This is a horrible decision that will not end well. I feel like I'm watching the movie John Carter in slow motion. 

#10 Wrong System. D'Antonio's system did not work in New York with the Knicks where he went 121- 167. These are not the kind of numbers the Lakers are aiming for.

#9 Egos. D'Antonio does not handle big ego players well. He never had to deal with this in Phoenix and struggled with it in New York. He will drown in egos in Los Angeles and be fired by the end of the year. 

#8 No Game Plan. It only makes sense to fire Mike Brown after 5 games if you already have a contract in place with Phil Jackson. Since Jackson was not already locked up to coach, this instead looks like Laker management is in a panic. They will really be in a panic when D'Antoni's system takes weeks and months to implement and then realize it's a horrible fit.

#7 Track Recrod. D'Antoni does not have a history of winning big games. He doesn't have any rings nor has he really ever come close. This season will be no different. He failed in Phoenix, he failed in New York, and this season with the most high-powered offense in the league he will fail again.

#6 Horrible Defense. The Lakers have one of the worst defenses in the league right now. This is largely why they are losing. Mike D'Antoni is famous for having teams that guard no one. He is not a defensively minded coach. Be prepared to watch the Lakers give up a lot of 3 diget scoring nights this season.

#5 Jery Sloan. Although I don't think Sloan is a good fit for the Lakers, he is a better fit than D'Antoni. At least Sloan's offense fits the existing Laker personnel and he brings a tough-minded approach to defense the Lakers drastically need. 

#4 Brian Shaw. How is Brian Shaw not getting this coaching gig? If Phil Jackson is your number 1 option, Brain Shaw should logically be your number 2. They believe in the same offensive flow. Shaw coached under Jackson in LA and understands the triangle offense and has the respect of most of the existing players. Shaw should be the Laker's coach not D'Antoni.

#3 No Youth and Quickness. D'Antni's system is based on players that are fast up and down the court and quick on and off the ball. I don't know when anyone ever called Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace quick. 

#2 Wrong Players. Mike D'Antonio has his old point guard back in Steve Nash, but the problem is this is not a fast break team. This is not a run-and-gun team. They have big men that are built more for pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop. Even straight post-ups or some type of triangle offense would be more appropriate for this team. D'Antoni has the wrong group of guys for his system.

#1 Wrong System. Mike D'Antonio's up-tempo style of ball is not conducive to the Laker's personnel. This is a horrible match. His style of offense does not fit the players the Lakers are paying $100 million to have on the floor. This will not end well.

Top 10 rappers who can play some legit ball.

HoopsVibe's Very quick call: Ballers want to be rappers and rappers want to be ballers, but these rappers can actually ball. No, for real.

Top 10 Ugliest NBA Players of All Time.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Sometimes even your mom has to admit you aren't the cutest kid on the street.

On Friday, Forbes Magazine released it's report on the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA Players.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Aren't most NBA ballers overpaid?  I mean they get paid millions of dollars to do something most people would do for free.

Anyway, thanks to Tom Van Riper, a business of sports writer at Forbes Magazine, we now have Forbes' list of the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA players.

But before we get into the list, this passage from the Forbes article will help you understand how they measure players as overpaid.

"Advanced metrics show that in the NBA, scoring is overvalued.  Stats compiled by David Berri, economist and author of Stumbling on Wine, rates players' contribution to wins not only by scoring but shooting percentage, assists, rebounds and turnovers, all measured against opportunities to accumulate those stats (a faster paced game with more shots equals more rebound opportunities, etc.)"

Essentially, the main thing overpaid ballers have in common, according to Forbes, is that all they do is score (because they shoot so much) but lack in the other areas that help their respective teams win games.

So without further adeu, here are the most overpaid NBA ballers...

1.)  Carmelo Anthony, Knicks

Despite Melo's 28.1 points per game, his MVP-caliber season, and the Knicks second best Eastern Conference record of 48-26, Anthony is at the top of the list of Forbes' most overpaid.  Forbes asserts that while Carmelo is a scoring machine, he takes more shots than anyone else and that means fewer shots for his teammates.  He also rebounds less, assists less, and shoots more than Kevin Durant, for example.  And he gets paid $19.4 million a year to do so; so the Knicks better win a championship this season.

2.)  Ben Gordon, Bobcats

Gordon is a sick baller, no question, but the Bobcats are absolutely horrible.  So horrible, in fact, that they have the worst record in the NBA, at 18-57.  And Gordon is only averaging a modest 11.7 points per game.  His 2 assists and 1.8 rebounds don't help his team much either, yet he's making $12.4 million this year.

3.)  Joe Johnson, Nets

The Nets traded for Johnson as a guy to build a team around, and are actually having a pretty good year.  Johnson's 16.3 ppg, however, is his lowest scoring average since 2004 and he's only adding a little over 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game.  He makes $19.75 million this year.

4.)  Hedo Turkoglu, Magic

It's been a tough few years for Turkoglu, who's only played 11 games this season due to injury.  But in those 11 games, he only averaged 2.9 points, 2.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game.  That's what Orlando is getting this season for the $11.8 million they're spending.

5.)  Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks

Forbes notes that while Dirk is definitely a Hall-of-Famer and was injured earlier this season, his numbers are down.  And he's 35 years old.  His yearly salary is $20.9 million but Forbes figures he's worth about $13mill at 17.2 points per game.  I guess when you're a billionaire owner like Mark Cuban, what's a few million extra right?

6.)  Corey Maggette, Pistons

Maggette has always been a guy who can score, but he's also always been a guy who gets hurt.  Forbes notes that Maggette hasn't played one full 82 game season in his 14 year career.  (That's crazy and something I never knew.)  He's set to make $10.9 million this year, although he's only played in 18 games and averaged just over five points, one assist, and one rebound.  Oh, and the Pistons are 25-51 and not making the playoffs.  On a positive note, the dude is jacked.

7.)  Rudy Gay, Raptors

Gay was traded from Memphis to Toronto mid season this year, and is averaging 19.4 points per game for the Raptors which is up from the 17.2 he averaged with the Grizzlies.  The only problem is all he really does is score.  Granted he doesn't have much of a supporting cast around him, and I'll give him that, but the reality is Memphis is 23-9 since trading him away and the Raptors have no shot at making the playoffs.  Gay will make $16.5 million this season.

8.)  Stephen Jackson, Spurs

Jackson is an interesting one on the Forbes list because the Spurs are one of the best teams in the league and he plays a solid role on their squad.  But I think Forbes is challenging whether or not the role he plays is worth the $10.1 million he makes a year when he's averaging just 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  I see their point.

9.)  Chris Kaman, Mavericks

In the 2009-10 season, Kaman was a beast for the Clippers averaging 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.  Forbes cites that his play has since dropped off, and they're right.  They 7-foot big man is only pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game for the Mavs this season, while averaging 10.8 points and making $8 million.

10.)  Arron Afflalo, Magic

Afflalo is known as a scorer and is averaging 16.5 ppg for the Magic this season.  Forbes is all good with that; but they're not cool with the fact that he's making $7.8 million this year and only contributing 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.  It seems they think he should be doing more than scoring for that kind of money.

So there's the list, Hoopsvibers!  And a special thanks to Forbes and Tom Van Riper for a very thorough and interesting report!

What do the Hoopsvibers think?  Should anyone else be on this list??  Leave your comments below!

In honor of the spurs sweep of the Lakers we have the Top 10 animated gifs of Tim Duncan.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: They call him the Big Fundamental, but his gifs sure are funny.