Imitation is flattery. And nearly every NBA franchise has tried imitating the Chicago Bulls three-star model after Michael, Scottie, and Horace/Dennis spent the nineties winning more championship ice than Jacob the Jeweller.

Most successful teams still build around a star trio, though. Last year, Boston sipped champagne because of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce. San Antonio has won three NBA Titles behind Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker.  

Still, with the league becoming increasingly competitive, a new four-star model is starting to emerge.

The reasons are simple. The NBA is a talent driven league. And teams with the most talent host June parades with the Lawrence O’Brien trophy. If trios become the norm, franchises would likely move towards four-stars to stay competitive.

Detroit, for example, used this system to win an NBA Title. Tayshaun Prince, their ’fourth piece’, spent the summer with Redeem Team USA and is one of basketball’s best two-way players.

The lanky swing does most things well. On offense, he thrives as a complementary option, hitting open jumpers and scoring off broken plays. On defense, the Prince is very much a ‘King’. He can guard four positions and possesses the athleticism to challenge shots.

(Ten of Prince’s crunch-time blocks.)

Prince, however, suddenly faces competition from L.A.’s Lamar Odom. That’s right. Jadakiss’ former running mate is now a fourth star (click here and wait until three minutes of the youtube clip). 

After all, Kobe Bryant is the Lakers’ undisputed top dog. Pau Gasol is the new number two and Andrew Bynum, when he returns to health, is likely the third option. So Odom, one of the NBA’s most polarizing players, has fallen to fourth-banana status.

The Southpaw could thrive in a reduced role. Odom never enjoyed being the purple-and-gold’s second option on offense. As the fourth piece, he’ll still post double figures in points and rebounds, while maintaining the ability to facilitate for teammates.

Detroit and L.A. are providing alternatives to the trio system. If either wins the 2008-09 NBA Title, imitation could once again become flattery and four-stars could become the championship standard.

Is the four-star model replacing the trio system? Who is the NBA’s best fourth star: Prince, Odom, or someone else? Get at us in the comment box below and return to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of compujeramey.

• I know he’s back with his wife. But Shaq will have to wait to answer to allegations he stalked an Atlanta woman. Update courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

• Basketball and music go together, right? Of course, they do. Just ask The Hoop Doctors who recently dropped 7 basketball songs I care to remember.

• Steve, at Celticsblog.com, has more on Travis Outlaw’s role with the Blazers.
  

• An oldie, but a goodie. The folks at Warriors World have a one-on-one with former NBA coach Eric Musselman.

• No gold medal and redemption project is complete without doing Oprah. On September 8th, Kobe Bryant reportedly sits down with Mrs. Stedman Graham.

• The Arsenalist has details on the Raptors contingency plan in case injuries hit.

• Blog-a-bull reports on CSKA Moscow’s offer sheet to Ben Gordon.

• Sactown Royalty has an interview with Francisco Garcia while he’s getting his ’lid busted’ in the NYC.

• The Score’s Branded has pics of Chris Paul sporting the Hornets’ sharp new uniforms.
  

• More from The Score ... video has emerged of the Celtics celebrating their recent NBA Title with a member of New Kids on the Block (rumour has it the boy band hails from Boston).

• And One has the latest Puma offerings. Picures included, too

• Of course, nobody does sneakers like HoopsVibe’s very own CYE. This time he’s reviewing Nike’s Questlove 1World Air Force One.

• Meanwhile, Crave’s Johnny Firecloud looks at the American who overshadowed Redeem Team at the Olympics. Click here for other great sports features on this site. 
  

NBA news mixed with analysis ...

Their News: The 76ers are close to signing 6-foot-9 veteran forward Donyell Marshall, according to a league source. Marshall could meet today with the Sixers and sign a veteran-minimum contract - for an estimated $1.26 million - sometime this week. Marshall, 35, was recently waived by Oklahoma City. The source said the Sixers had been in discussions with Marshall since last week. A native of Reading, Pa., Marshall has played in 932 NBA games and has career averages of 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. (Philadelphia Inquirer linked on CNNSI Fan Nation)  

Our Analysis: Philadelphia’s makeover continues. They’ll soon add another complementary piece in Marshall, inking the ‘vet’ to a minimum contract.

Marshall brings three things to the 76ers. First, he’s been around. The former Connecticut star has heaps of NBA experience, which will benefit an inexperienced Philly squad.

Second, he’s a professional. In Toronto, Marshall was one of the few Raptors who always competed even when his team was out of the playoff race and lodged in the Atlantic Division cellar. His lead-by-example approach will have a positive influence.

Third, and most importantly, he can still nail those trademark three-pointers from the corner. Marshall and free agent signing Kareem Rush will come off the bench and use their range to punish defenders doubling-down on Elton Brand and helping on slasher Andre Iguodala.

Here’s the real question: how good are these revamped 76ers?

Well, pretty good.

Brand and Iguodala, the club’s two stars, have much to prove. Brand must re-establish himself as an All-Star after his Achilles injury, while ‘Iggy’ has to take the next step towards superstardom. Still, these two should develop into a formidable one-two punch.  

Then there’s Andre Miller. The pass-first table-setter is on the verge of becoming an All-Star. Miller will be a free agent in July 08, so the club must create stability by extending him.

There are some nice young pieces in Thaddeus Young and Louis Williams. Veterans like Marshall and Ratliff will add depth and provide guidance.

Philadelphia, despite the question marks, is a rising power. They’ll continue challenging Detroit and Boston and, in a few years, could emerge as one of the Eastern Conference’s elite teams.

How good is Philadelphia? When will they challenge Detroit and Boston? Get at us in the comment box below and return to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of Donyell Marshall.

Every Tuesday, HoopsVibe The Blog will hit rewind and celebrate the past. We call it ’Reminiscing’ …  

They were supposed to follow Larry, Kevin, and Robert. They were also supposed to keep Boston competitive and away from the painful rebuilding projects that kill franchises.

But tragedy struck. Twice. Len Bias, the green-and-white’s second overall pick in the 1986 draft, died from a drug overdose without ever playing an NBA game, while Reggie Lewis passed away in 1993 from heart complications.

Without this duo, the Boston franchise struggled. The clips below illustrate how special this pair was (first up is Bias, then Lewis).

After Lewis’ death, the Celtics sputtered from 1994 until 2001. They drafted average talent like Eric Montross. They signed an aging Dominique Wilkins as a stopgap measure. Rick Pitino, fresh off his NCAA Titles with Kentucky, accepted a coach-executive position but had mediocre results after not getting the draft picks he wanted.  

Eventually, Walker and Pierce enjoyed some success. However, their teams were never real contenders, failing to get past the Eastern Conference and unable to compete with the top teams of the Western Conference. Only last season’s championship exercised the demons of Bias and Lewis’ passing.

After all, Bias had the athleticism to complement those great Celtic squads of the eighties. When Bird and friends were hitting retirement, he would’ve been hitting his prime.

Don’t be fooled by Lewis’ soft voice and kind manners. The man was a straight assassin, capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor and a deserving heir to ‘The Hick From French Lick’.

Together, Bias and Lewis would’ve erased the disaster of the nineties and written another chapter in Boston’s storied history. Yes, Len and Reggie would’ve been special.

Just how good were Bias and Lewis? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts and return to HoopsVibe The Blog for another edition of ’Reminiscing’ and more NBA NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of the vining.

When Microsoft makes an appearance, it’s a big deal. Recently, team owner Paul Allen watched Greg Oden play in his first five-on-five scrimmage with the Blazers since sustaining last summer’s microfracture injury.

Reports indicate the former first overall pick will be ready for training camp and shouldn’t struggle with health issues.

So his knee is good. How about his head? After all, Oden missed 2007-08, is seen by some as the next Sam Bowie, and now faces expectations bigger than the next American president.  

Well, here are three things we should expect from Oden’s rookie season.

1) Defensive Attitude … Oden must make Portland even nastier, especially on defense. Remember, the Blazers turned their 2007-08 season around after an infamous December practice, where the team pledged to get tough. Chairs were thrown; players were fighting each other. Unlike the ‘Jail Blazers’ of yesteryear nobody got arrested. The team then rallied, winning several games in a row and were suddenly competitive out west.

Man-child must use his size and athleticism to help Portland evolve defensively. Opposing   teams have to fear the Blazers and the Rose Garden.

If Oden meets these criteria, his first NBA season will be a success. He’ll likely capture the top rookie award, fans will forget 2007-08, and, most importantly, those unfair comparisons to Sam Bowie will stop.

What are your expectations for Oden’s rookie season? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of PDX Pipeline.

Every Monday, HoopsVibe The Blog will drop a basketball related list for readers to debate. We call it Listed … 

You asked for it. We gave it you. And we aren’t done yet. Three editions of best big-man dunker weren’t enough, so we decided to flip-the-script and give you the top five big-man poster-job victims (thanks to reader Twata for the idea).

Just so you know, victims are defenders who always get dunked on. They’re in what seems like every highlight package, looking at the offensive player ram the ball through the rim.

One quick note: The HoopsVibe judges decided against eliminating elite defensive players, who get dunked on as a bi-product of logging heavy minutes and guarding top offensive posts. Nobody is exempt from Listed. Nobody. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Hall-of-Fame stopper or the league’s dunking/punching bag.  

So, without further adieu, HoopsVibe The Blog presents the first edition of Listed celebrating ‘The Victim’ …  

Honourable Mention:

Alton Lister: This kicked off the ‘Reign Man’ craze in Seattle.

Dikembe Mutombo: A finger-wag can backfire. Watch.

Ben Wallace: The former defensive player of the year has gotten regularly served.

#5) Theo Ratliff.

Reason for being here: The veteran post is long and lanky, so he often gets caught in vulnerable positions. See below …

#4) Alonzo Mourning.

Reason for being here: ‘Zo’ may be a proud warrior, but his shorter frame and enthusiasm for challenging shots led to prime poster-jobs.  

#3) Bryant ‘Big Country’ Reeves.

Reason for being here: Too many all-you-can-eat-buffets. Oh sorry, that’s why Reeves is out the league. My mistake. There is less video evidence of ‘Big Country’. But Vancouver’s face of the franchise (years later that still hurts) always accepted his fate as ‘The Victim’.  

#2) Greg Ostertag on behalf of Vlade Divac, Scott Pollard, Arvydas Sabonis, Will Purdue, and every other big man Shaq played against during his peak with the Lakers. 

Reason for being here: Ostertag took the worst of O’Neal’s dunks. Other players regularly victimized him, too.

#1) Shawn Bradley.

Reason for being here: Self-explanatory. 

Agree or disagree with this edition of Listed? Is somebody missing? Let us know in the comment box below and hit up HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of dblalock119.

In China, Team USA was supposedly all business. Redeeming yourself after years of disappointment is a full-time gig. No clubs. No women. No distractions.

Well, not exactly.

One day, Toronto’s Chris Bosh and Orlando’s Dwight Howard were eating in a Beijing mall. Not surprisingly, Chinese fans mobbed the famous duo.

So they filmed the outing for Bosh’s youtube channel. Both are providing jovial commentary, when Howard goes into director mode. The post looks like a young John Woo, filming the crowd ’brilliantly’ with his cell-phone when the panning just stops. Apparently, Howard, saw something/someone he liked and decided to use the power of the camera to, well, try and further diplomatic relations …

(Yes, Dwight … ‘pretty’)

Does Howard have ’game’? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts and return to HoopsVibe the Blog for further NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of karinga.

NBA news mixed with analysis ...

Their News: The Heat added to its depth at center Friday by agreeing to terms with free agent Jamaal Magloire.

Although terms were not immediately available, Heat President Pat Riley said earlier in the day the team was looking for a player willing to take the veteran’s minimum.

While the Heat has depth at center, its starting job remains in flux. (Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Our Quick Analysis: Miami’s Pat Riley has rolled the dice a bit on Jamaal Magloire. Nobody, including the oil-slick, knows what Magloire shows for training camp.

For example, the Heat is hoping to get the young defensive stopper, who once was an All-Star. They’ll likely get something closer to the veteran, who underachieved in Milwaukee, Portland, New Jersey and Dallas.

Attitude is also an issue. Will Miami get the good guy who remains fiercely loyal to his old Toronto neighbourhood? Or will they get the moody guy who won’t represent his country in international tournaments?  

He may be an enigma, but Magloire only cost the Heat a minimum contract. This means he’s expendable when, not if, Alonzo Mourning makes his inevitable comeback.

Joel Anthony, Mark Blount, and Mourning, when he returns, will all have guaranteed deals. So Magloire better find some of his old magic or South Beach will be his latest, and perhaps final, NBA contract.

What do you think about Miami signing Magloire. A good move or another Riley bust? Get at us in the comment box below and bookmark HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtsey of compujeramery.

• The Hoop Doctors have details on Michael Jordan, the executive, living through his players. Check out this site for other great features.
  

• Leo Rautins, the Toronto Raptors game analyst and the head coach of Canada’s national program, has thoughts on the politics of past Olympics.
  

• Scott at Raptorblog tells you about his favourite throwback jersey. Not a bad choice. But I love the ’Washington Bullets’ Wes Unseld look.

• Video of a Nets fan finally cleansing his soul on the Jason Kidd trade. I sense anger.

• Steve, the man behind celticsblog’s daily babble, has the details on the Knicks acquiring Pat Ewing Jr. 
  

• Meanwhile, The Dream Shake, an excellent Houston blog, has problems with who the Rockets got for Ewing Jr (click the link to see an all-time great facial). You’ll remember him. How could you ever forget him?
  

• At The Hive has all the info on the Hornets’ 15-man roster.

• Phoenix Stan has harsh words for Steve Nash. The Bright Side of The Suns scribe has issues with Nasty’s recent comments on the team resting him for the postseason.

• Blazers Edge has a post on a scholarship set-up in Keving Duckworth’s memory.

• ESPN’s Henry Abbott has a couple of videos of Monta Ellis cutting a rug before the injury.

• Recently, he’s taken heat (no pun intended), but NBA.com has a Shaq-Vibe collabo. The Diesel talks about his love of hip-hop.
  

• Just check out Eric Musselman’s blog. One of basketball’s brightest minds has interesting tidbits on hoops, life, and sports.

• An excellent Kobe Bryant youtube mix called a ’Bullet and a Target’. The title of the youtube clip is also the name of the accompanying music by my guy Citizen Cope. 
  

• Word is there are sports other than basketball. No kidding! Well, the boys at Crave-on-line bring straight fire on MMA, MLB, NFL, and other sports. Show love to my extended family and get at their work. I know you’ll like it.

• Speaking of the fam, H-Vibe’s CYE has sneaker stuff on Air Jordans. Get familiar with one of basketball’s most versatile and talented reporters.

Every few days in September, HoopsVibe The Blog will look at father-son combos who made the NBA. We call this feature Like Father Like Son ...

In some cultures, children inherit their parents’ professions. For example, if the father or mother worked as a doctor, then the son or daughter also becomes a doctor.

In these societies, the children must follow their parents’ footsteps to maintain their class. In basketball-loving families, sons inherit the ’job’ of dunking on defenders from their fathers. Through countless battles in the driveway ‘The Facial’ is passed from generation-to-generation. 

Some of these fathers were NBA players, who poster-jobbed defenders. Their sons then grew into NBA players, who also poster-jobbed defenders. Case in point: The Bryant clan.  

To kick off our new Like Father Like Son feature, HoopsVibe the Blog decided to showcase two eras of the Bryant family packing heat on world-class posts.  

Watch both clips and get at us with thoughts on Jellybean and Mamba’s facials in the comment box below.

Clip 1: Joe ’Jellybean’ Bryant on ’Mr. Skyhook’.

Clip 2: Kobe ’Black Mamba’ Bryant makes Dwight ‘Superman’ Howard look like ’Clark Kent’.

Which Bryant had the better dunk? Joe or Kobe? Let us know in the comment box below and return to HoopsVibe The Blog for more Like Father Like Son features and NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of Hanshin3k.