THE LeBRON SERIES-THE LION

The Lion King.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

Jungleland. Somewhere between the mighty Miami and eternity, the lion sleeps tonight. 'Ah wimboweh', 'hakuna matata', 'nants ingonyama bagithi baba' and all that jazz. Here comes a lion father and although he's been sleeping on his throne for two years he's not about to give up his pride. Roaring into a rematch with the Spurs of the West, LeBron James is about to wake up to game on, game one of something where the outcome will change not only his life but the lives of his band of brothers and force of foes around and against him. As the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs meet in the Finals for the following year, somehow, someway the rest of the year doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how bad its got for the legend Kobe Bryant and the legacy of his storied Los Angeles Lakers. It doesn't matter how close but how far the Indiana Pacers got. It doesn't even matter how great the Most Valuable Player, Kevin Durant and his formidable Oklahoma City Thunder franchise is. They all got all so close but no Michael Jordan cigar. Now its between the greatest player in the league today and his talented team versus one of the greatest players of all time-who is the first active player since Mike to be in your all time starting five-and his seasoned but stellar squad.

Still this series is more than just LeBron James versus Tim Duncan. More than whoever is David to the other Goliath great. More than the baton and torch passed between these gold Olympians and World Champs both suiting up for the belt in this knockout bout. We have more than just Dwyane Wade's and Tony Parker's and Chris Bosh's and Manu Ginobili's for this battle of big threes that have enough Michael Beasley's and Boris Diaw's to go deep beyond just a regular sweep. Last year it all came down to seven games, a few seconds and a Ray Allen dagger to the drawn out Texan heart and this year means so much more. If the favorites Miami make good, James will finally recede those hairline critics for good and rewrite history in his name. Joining his greatest likes of Jordan and Kobe in being one of the only legends able to three-peat. If the king takes his throne once again then he'll not only sit on this but the poised potential to be one of the first to four-peat.  That may be a couple of weeks and a year ago pending but how's that for greatness? The back-to-back, doubled up dominance of Duncan and his Spurs-who have been in contention since 1997 and champions since 1999-have never hit three in a row. Still if the longevity of this dynasty is able to add one more chip to the cabinet then not only will they devastatingly deny 'Bron and his boys three. They'll also show that whilst pushing 40, they can also push further down the classic career corridor of their Hall Of Fame team. Let alone the own enshrining of one of the greatest big-men this association has ever seen. Now can I get a witness? If LeBron is like Michael before him, then Duncan is a descendant of the mighty lord of the rings, Bill Russell himself. Still right now this feels like 'Bron's path. The finals is his place like home down his yellow brick road. Lions, tigers and bears oh my! This predator owns this forest. The lion, the clutch and the trophy cabinet.

LeBron is ready to scream "you shall not pass" to this older than Wizards team for this Harry Potter generation. James' quest sees him look to emulate Jordan in more ways than one. Like M.J.'s legendary Chicago Bulls team, L.J. wants to make his Miami Heat Voltron franchise as legendary as the storied Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics franchises. Like the San Antonio Spurs already are as much as those well known Philadelphia 76ers and News York Knicks. Its well within reach. Even the Tim Hardaway's and Alonzo Mourning's that have come before him can't match what he's brought to South Beach, bringing the Heat like when Will Smith welcomed former Cavs teammate Shaq to Miami before Cleveland. This is more than the career and franchise high of 61 points this year. Even the cavalier Wade and all he's won has been eclipsed in the heat of LeBron's time under the sun. The cooled off by injury Heat have used 20 different line ups this year but it all comes down to the Iron Man, one LeBron whose avenged and played through all this assembling. Only Pat Riley has done more for this team when it comes to the decision room. In this game of thrones the sword belongs to the king and if people don't like it heads will roll and explode. George R. R. Martin isn't there only one willing to kill off and write out everyone and anyone in the story of his career. You don't become the king without defending the walls of your castle by any means necessary. With everybody watching the throne even Kanye West and Jay-Z have to compete. There's no church in the wild. Time to go H.A.M., there's no meat for vegetarians and right now between Duncan's words of confidence and conflict there's more beef than a man versus food bar and grill.

Adam Richman may have slimmed down these days but its still 'Bron versus the world like Scott Pilgrim in this video game, digital day and age. Even this scroll across, throwaway, iPhone app generation can't deny this lion LeBron is a whole different animal all together.  His beefed up Oscar Robertson, academy averages are still all steak and state in the stakes of the playoff push. This lion leaves everyone looking like lambs as he knows his game is a wrap like J. Cole. With the Carter administration by his side he rocks this nation. This young Simba doesn't have to wait to be the king. He just has to defend his throne and castle and the leader of the pack won't back down to any hunter.  Any threat to his South Beach nation, foreign or domestic. Whether the Virgin Islands, Argentina or France. From Nebraska to Africa they all know this lion and king. Springsteen to the American dream, it belongs to James like the game. Even people in Lebanon know LeBron. Simply put the world is his...now who on earth is going to stop him? You don't dominate across the board from points to boards without stealing and blocking out the rest to be the best. The league standard to the tune of 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.4 per on 56.7 shooting for your complete game. Showing he's more than pure, but a purists favorite who gives as much as the criticism he unfairly receives from all the court cynics, this guys assists and rebounds show he's making more than just a scoring leader point. Look for that ante to be upped over the next four to most likely seven games and you may just see why this guy could earn himself another finals MVP, win, lose or drawn out series. How? Why?! He's about to show you for your water cooler blog tell tales. You can just chalk it up to the fact that this mans about to leave everyone for the dust he throws up before games. They used to throw rocks at the throne and burn sacrifice jerseys as billboards came tumbling down but now there's so much love the hate is falling. Even Dan Gilbert wants this Ohio native back home, but someone should tell him they don't schedule parades in Cleveland this time of the year. Even San Antonio in 2007 know this. Sure the Spurs have been clicking and clacking as the West best for what seems like decades now but these latest years belong to a new beast in the east. The National Basketball Association of America is LeBron James' kingdom now. Now hear him ROAR!

"I'm blessed, man...that's all I can say."-LeBron James.

#TheLeBronSeries

#TheRematch

#NBAFinals2014

TIM DUNCAN Feature-DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF EPIC FEATS?

T-21,000.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

2019, years from now scientists of this sport will have a problem. A fundamental one! How do they come up with another player like this? Especially in the extinct age of dying big men. Where the central core position of this game ends with the good and bad sides of the likes of Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum and now Roy Hibbert for better or worse. Sure the future is blazing with Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, but to reboot and make another player like the robot Tim Duncan is impossible in even this day and digital age. The basketball prototype and Power Forward's paint-work and artistic impression of player perfection is still running on crude oil and pistons you couldn't even work in the bad boy 80's days of Detroit, two years shy of 40. Still on the top of his game. Still a statistical outstanding output of 20 and 10 on his best cycle. This guy must be running on a computer, because he's a video games dream. Technology can't match the T-Bot's run-time. Nothing on this assembly line can. They could try and build an exoskeleton in his 6 foot 11, 250 pound likeness but they couldn't duplicate the big body that has been banging around under the boards with the rest of the broads for 17 plus years in this National Basketball Association. They could put hydraulics in this carbon copys arm and work out the right strength and firing mechanism to have it duplicate that money in the statistical savings account bank shot, but they still couldn't bank on this machine that doesnt need water or rest being a better glass cleaner than Duncan. They could brand a 21 on his back, even give it some pesonality but leave a smile off its face, and they still couldn't come up with another Timmy. All the tinkering of nuts and bolts and rewiring would just result in another imitation. This man is more than just an influential impression. Tim Duncan is the blueprint of baskeball.

Number 21 looks up to box-score on the jumbotron again. Seconds wind down. 3.00, 2.00, 1.00, to nothing but red illuminating light and ticker tape. The score remains 112-107 and the San Antonio Spurs remain in this game as the Oklahoma City Thunder yet again fail to make the NBA Finals and the trophy demands of Larry O'Brien that everyone thought would finally be rightfully theres. For now it doesn't matter that Kevin Durant is the leagues Most Valuable Player and the best one in this league not called LeBron James. For now the energy of Russell Westbrook means nothing. Neither does how well Serge Ibaka has been playing. It doesn't even matter that the retiring Derek Fisher was one of the best playoff clutch shooters of all-time, who often killed teams like the San Antonio Spurs in less than half a second. Tim Duncan isn't even looking at any of them after the hugs and handshakes. Especially now 0.4 has passed. Now this shots in the bank the score doesnt even matter when there's a bigger one to settle. Number 21 looks above the jumbotron and all the space where ballons and tape would fall and holds off the celebrations. He looks to where his number 21 jersey will eventually hang next to his old friend number 50 and all those banners he brought with his mentor and tower tandem partner David Robinson. The admiral who has left port for quite some time but can still be found starboard, courtside in allegiance attendance. He looks at the empty space next to the four championship curtains of credit. There's room for one more. At this point it really would mean so much more. It's time. When every critic inked their end and aged demise like a tattoo, Duncan and his forever clicking Spurs showed they where permanently here to stay. With Pop, Manu, Tony, the real big three that lasts beyond that many seasons there is so much more on the roster. The real team from Matt Bonner to Boris Diaw, Kawhi Leonard to Tiago Splitter, Danny Green to Corey Joesph...and the one they call Tim.

Now one man and his own big-three stands in his way...again. As the king looks to take his throne once again, LeBron James and his Miami Heat of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, the big threes of Ray Allen, the smaller lookalike and playalike of Tim Duncan, Shane Battier and so much more look to three-peat like the Duncan Spurs-who have been in contention since 1999-have never been able to do despite all the back-to-backs. Still despite all those saying this is now LeBron's league and predicting that the scorching Heat will comb through the state of Texas with a sweep, Tim and his San Antonio stars want to make Miami another team unable to turn a big three into three O'Briens in a row like Phil Jackson's Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. It seems all you need for this is a Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or even a bigger Shaquille O'Neal but LeBron and Duncan are here right now to prove when it comes to league legacy right now it's their legend. The kid, the man, versus the veteran, the godfather...not the old man but the giant. David and Goliath all over again. The rematch is set, but it's not what it seems. Some may think it'll all be over in a week, but they may just want to count to seven. Sure 'Bron and his boys have never looked hotter...and Timmy and his old bucks have never been older...but they've never looked as fresher either. Even with all the flash of Wade, James and all Heat's blade runners, you can't deny the android that is Duncan and all the playbook productions that play out like clockwork. Like counting sheep over and over the hill again. Don't fall asleep, you may even lose some when it comes to this dream team. Some may not spell fundamentals with 'fun', but this team really is for the poetic purists of this game, league and essence of true teamwork. Call them boring and they'll show you their boardwork. Sleep on them now and they'll wake up the history books for your bed time reading. Besides isn't it getting a little boring that the Heat are always winning? Put that to rest. How about something new, old, or at least borrowed? Just don't call it a comeback.

They really have been here for years. Like Duncan who came into this league in 1997 ready. Ready as more than just a Rookie Of The Year, but one of the best players in the league then and until now...period. He's a 4 time champ. 3 time MVP in the Finals. To go with two more in the regular season. That not enough for you? He's a 14 time All-Star and has an MVP for one of those too. He's been named to 10 NBA All-First teams and when that hasn't happened he's been a part of three second ones and one third. Now sprinkle 8 more first team defensive ones, with 6 second ones, no third but an all rookie team credit in his R.O.Y. debut year. The recepie for the only player ever to be named to both all-NBA and all-defensive first teams in all of his first 13 seasons in the L. Unlucky for some. Add some All-Star fun of a Shooting Stars Champion award to his fundamentals to go along with a USA Basketball Male Athlete Of The Year Award and you have a guy that even goes back to the Consensus National Player Of The Year in 1997. To go along with 2 consensus All-American first team honours and 3 NABC Defensive Player of the Year awards, 2 ACC Player of the Year awards and his number 21 already retired at Wake Forest college. Now what does that all add up to, apart from a red carpet down the classic trophy cabinet corridors to the Hall of Fame? A whole lot of breath and talk ran out of if you ask this writer and take his career averages of 19.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per and you have the San Antonio Spurs all-time leading scorer too. Sure here's to you Mr. Robinson, who may have been the admiral and the iceman George Gervin, but it seems that Tim Duncan is simply the man. Although people say he played like a machine, he's still running to this day on all mettle and no metal. Pick who you want for your NBA Mount Rushmore and all-time starting five. Of course Jordan will be in there with Magic on point next to him in the backcourt and at the three you can't leave out the threes of double 3 Larry Bird. As for your centre you could pick the most dominant of Shaq, the defence of Bill Russell and even the hook of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but I could give you 100 reasons to pick Wilt Chamberlain. Still, with all that said and done when it comes to your Power Forward nothing compares and nobody comes close to Tim Duncan. He's not the easy, today choice and even in this decade gone age of the four position taking pressure and presence off the five it's still all 21. Not even the deliveries of the mailman Karl Malone (they'll just get returned to sender) could be posted higher. Nothing but Tim. So tell me if one of the greatest players in all time history of this sport is still playing and strong how could you possibly bet against him when it comes to what could be his finals chapter? Even in the face of the king this man is not going to miss his royal appointment with gold. Anything else just does not compute.

"We'll do it this time..."-Tim Duncan

#NBAFinals2014

NBA FINALS Feature-THE FINALS CHAPTER

How Many Days Are Coming?

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

What does early June mean to you? That last exam? The end of school or college maybe? A couple of weeks from that holiday you've been working towards all year? It could be anything but what does early June mean to an NBA player?

It means the final destination of the year for two NBA teams out of sixteen who endured the tough, long season and a play hard or go home playoff campaign. It means that one of these two teams will write their names in the NBA history books where the other team will merely remain an afterthought. It's about the NBA Finals and it will end with the champion team reaping all the glory and the success that every team worked hard for but that only one team can obtain.

It means more than the commercials, no matter how hot they are. It's truly amazing. It means more than the sneakers, no matter how nice those hyperdunks may be. It means more than all the big trades and news stories that dominate the 82 game long season instead of just being a sidebar. It means more than the state of the art, awe inspiring arenas, coupled with the money made off merchandise and the concessions, although there's not much that beats a Friday night big game with a brew and your closest. It means more than the emphatic player introductions, fireworks and in game entertainment, although that does get you fired up. It means more then the cheerleaders, although they do look real nice. It means more than the celebrities in the Jack Nicholson seats, dominating the first rows, although there's not much cooler than seeing Larry David sitting next to Spike Lee.

It means more than the expensive suits, and grown up, dress code envelope pushing fashions of the players arriving to the game. It even means more than the multi-million dollar endorsement deals and recession defying bidding wars for advertising space between timeouts. It even means more than any single player gracing the court that night. With all respect to the elite superstars of the league. It means more than almost every home fan wearing the same players jersey, this is all about every player on the floor and on the bench giving their all-as one-for a common goal. This is because what all it comes down too is the game itself, which for the majority of players, coaches and personnel will be the biggest game of their lives.

It's deeper then the midseason grind of a 10 game road trip. Its more vivid then the dream of a kid emulating a Jordan buzzer beater on the streets, his friend by his side assuming the role of the commentator, line for line like it was an infamous quote from a movie. For the two teams that make it you may have come close and tasted it before, but now you have first class reservations. It doesn't matter how long you've dreamed and waited for this moment you better be ready, because its here now.

No matter what happened this season, no matter how many games previously you won or lost it doesn't matter. No matter which journalist wrote you off or which pundit championed you it doesn’t matter as its all about now. It's all about the next four to seven games. It's about every second from the tip to the buzzer. It's about every loose ball, every hustle, steal, charge, foul, free throw and every point whether made on the scoreboard or on the tone of the series. It's about the game as strategic as chess and as unpredictable and free as Jazz (word to Utah). It's about your heart, your enthusiasm your drive. It's all about how much you really want to win, because if your desires not as strong as your opponents then you simply wont win.

It's all about your chance to go down in history, it's all about those 'amazing' moments. It's all about Magic's junior sky-hook or his playing centre and leading his team to the 'chip in the absence of Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Its all about “Who caught it?”, “Havlicek”! It's about warriors of the game like Willis Reed carrying his team on one leg. It's all about playing hard and prevailing over Bill Laimbeer and the rest of the Detroit Pistons who fight so tough. It's all about balloons falling on your floor with no one there to celebrate because you tempted fate to much in the face of Celtic pride.

It's about defying expectations, breaking rules, going against the grain. It's about not caring that no team has come back from a deficit of so many games, because your not going home tonight. It's about being wrote off completely and ignoring all put downs. It's when a strong team and unit defeats and almost sweeps a team with four Hall of Famer's on it. It's about every game counting. It's all about David beating Goliath at least once, draining it from deep whilst stepping over Tyronn Lue. It's about after a decade of never touching glory crying tears of joy one year to not one year later sitting in a suit and watching your team being eliminated. It's all about worst to first, best to least.

It's about Larry O'Brien, its about those fingers on your hands waiting for those rings. It's all about the same dream you had as a kid. It's all about working on your dream all day long and then bouncing your worn out Spalding against a poster of Larry Bird when it got too dark and cold to play outside. It's that dream that you would of spent all day as a kid chasing if it wasn't for knowing if you didn't respond to the next time your mum called you inside there would be hell to pay. It's about what means the world to you, what gets you out the bed, to the gym, to the court or just even what gets you to subscribe to the NBA League pass. Then again this is just basketball right? After all this is just the NBA Finals, just what you've been waiting all year to watch and just what the two teams have been waiting their whole lives for to play.

Get Ready.

DARRYL DAWKINS Feature-DUNK BY CHOCOLATE

Thunder Strikes

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

"Its the Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam."-Darryl Dawkins.

He was the sneaker soaring-arena aerial-crowd chair collapsing-glass cutting-diamond in the rough-gold mining-tomahawk throwing-rim rocking-slam stuffer.

He was the barn burning-heavey haymaking-barrel busting-corn chopping-force farming-city boy rocking the country.

He was the life is like a box of chocolates-you never knew which dunk you where gonna get-leaving the forest of big men looking like gump-thunder sonic strike-like Seattle and Shawn before Oklahoma-kamikaze Kemp-umbrellas no use-you can't stop the reign.

He was the Florida hot-taken talents-magic of Orlando-kingdom reigned-Disney fantasia-Maynard Evans high jumper-school taker-evening class car pooling-trophy cabinet refurbisher-graduating great.

He was the Philly cheese-steak sharing-slam spreading-Dr. J consulting-Erving epic-Moses parting-Malone mailing-World B. Free changing-Peace playing-Metta magical-free throw line escaping-brotherly love boldly embracing-star treking-no man has gone before-dunk generations-dynamic generating-Rocky stair climbing-high jumper.

He was the ball busting-defense deflating-breakaway rim-backboard shattering-we're going to need a bigger basket-and the janitor-wheres the broom to sweep up this glass-and the time to make a new goal-the dust pan and brush of the game-leaving everyone stuck to the hardwood like dust.

He was the Chocolate Thunder-not self dubbed-but reason and rhyme promoted-puncuated and personified-but who bestowed I wonder-it was Stevie-yep magical Motown-Stevie Wonder-the writing was on the wall-no superstition-innervision-reaching for higher ground-signed, sealed and delivered-hotter than July-my Cherie amour-going crazy like Cooper-the silver linings of his play book-not even Michael could stop this Showtime-80's was just all about the court side seats watching Magic-you don't know Jack.

He was the famous fifth-perfect pick-seventies cool-to eighties rule-New Jersey and uniform-like Erving's opposite-Net gain-ABA game-then Jazz player-making magnificent music-the salt of Utah-motoring on to Detroit-Piston powerful-motor cities Wonder proud-record breaking-groove scratching-needle threading-what a hit-greatest classics.

He was the Globetrotting-born for Harlem-no purse stealing-glitter throwing-ball on a line-world on a string-Italy imported-Europe exported-game changeing-league legacy-basketball without borders-backboard boundary breaking-toast of Torino-Milano magnifying-Libertas liberating-global game giving-world apart talent-the CBA, IBA-league of his own he would play.

He was the did you see that blazer-suits you sir duke-knighted king-the ring was his realm-lord slammer, jammer-not from this earthly world-out of this universe-the basketball Gods showman-Juicy Lucy's first love-planet Lovetron's first born, amazing alien-the planets funkiest mothership connection-wilder than George Clinton-the Rim Wrecker, the Go-Rilla, the Look Out Below, the In-Your-Face Disgrace, the Cover Your Head, the Yo-Mama, and the Spine-Chiller Supreme-stat sheet seperator-"Sir Slam", "Dr. Dunkenstein"-mean, lean dunking machine-speed, skill and slam-quite simply put...the man.

JOAKIM NOAH Feature-NOAH

You Must Be Joakim.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

"Ooooh yeeeeah! Heeeeey baaaby"! 'What the hell is that sound' this young reporter and the veteran commitee of experienced journalists around him wonder in the postgame press conference of a preseason exhibition clash between the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls in England's capital city London back in 2009. As we and are dictophones wait along with the television cameras to hear about what then Jazz point Deron Williams has to say about his teams loss we can hear something from the other room. Some crazy, fun time singing from the next door locker-room, from someone who's acting and performing like he's just won the NBA Finals not just another friendly exhibition drummed up by the NBA to give another basketball withour borders game for it's international market and one that lapped up the tickets for its hometown star Luol Dengs's homecoming. "Ladies and gentelman...Joakim Noah" laughs the man responsible for introducing each player to the podium...but this Chicago Bulls center of attention isn't here to give us a press soundbite, but even so from next door we don't need a quote from him to tell us just how happy he is. Later on as this young reporter gets to interview the man himself one-on-one as he leaves for the team bus the gracious Noah gives this rookie his time, his humble thanks when I tell him his top-selling jersey in Europe will sell even more after tonight and almost even accepts my invitation to show him the cities best pubs. When it comes to professionals in the NBA who are down-to-earth superstars genuine and kind, you have to tip your cup and drink to this.

Cheers to Joakim Noah who now is your 2014 NBA 'Defensive Player Of The Year'. Take that Dwight Howard and all other big men trying to block him out. It seems the epic enthusiasm and evoking energy of the guy that hustles for every ball, jersey tug, screen and scream is the one that is blocking as many shots as he corals off the glass for a rebound. From the concrete hard, down to earth hitting injury of Derrick Rose for the second year running, Joakim Noah has put this team on his shoulders and taken to the defensive and offensive of lifting this team further than anyone thought Thibs squad could go without Rose and even Luol Deng. Joakim is no joke and Noah's arc of talent shows more than just the award winning dirty work which his polished him off a nice trophy for his cabinet. His 18 game streak of 10 or more rebounds a game at an average of 13.9 per clip, joined an All-Star nod confirmed by statistical evidence of big plays like his fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh sealed triple double of his career. The 15 and 10 threat had 19 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in a game against the Atlanta Hawks and then followed that up with 13 assists against the Toronto Raptors which made him the first NBA center to record 3 games of 10 or more assists since Brad Miller did that for the Sacramento Kings in the 2005/06 season. In fact the only center since Miller's King throne predecessor Vlade Divac (in 1996) to have 13 assists or more. A couple weeks later he bested that all with 14 assists against the New York Knicks (the most ever by a Bull and best NBA milestone at center since 1986) to go with 13 points and 12 rebounds for an inside and outside domination of the paint that was coloured further with his 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists motoring against the Detroit Pistons. Motown hadn't heard singing quite like that since Marvin Gaye.

Marching to 120 assists that month it was the biggest pass rate for a big man since the greatest Wilt Chamberlain's 155. With 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to follow against the Minnesota Timberwolves no wonder this guy is the second Chicago Bull to win the defensive player of the year award (his first) after the one and only when it comes to the NBA...Michael Jordan. Now that the man taking the Air apparent reign of the greatest Derrick Rose seems to be sidelined to the definition of indefinitly it is Joakim who must and has assumed this superstar leaders mantle for the mettle of the Chicago Bulls. With him grabbing this franchise by the horns they can still stampede their way to the playoffs next season, even though this seasons bid saw them being handed fishing poles early by Derrick Rose that was almost guranteed the day his injury bait took the bite. Still, with all these stats and awards it's what Joakim does for the Bulls beyond the box-score that keeps them moving through the tidal wave of the stormy waters of the NBA. Forget that this guy keeps his former double, double numbers moving three by three, he is the energetic and passionate leader that beats as the heart for the team whether Rose is wilting or blooming. This guy is even more than the beat and the blood. All the way down to the bottom of his sneakers he's the soul of this franchise from his long flowing locks to his 'let your hair down' inspired, infectious influence that keeps his team freewheeling fun, but also passionately proud and engaged and engrossed in this game to the screams and shouts of his arena vibrating vocals. He doesn't just put this whole team on his back, he invited the whole fanbase and city of Chicago to follow him on his journey too. Noah sure is the right name.

Joakim comes from a sporting heritage and the roots he is planting in Rose's garden continues the growth of this family tree. He was born in New York City to a Swedish mother and French father and has all three backgrounds to his citizenship credit. Although you can find him balling with Tony Parker and Boris Diaw when it comes to international competition. His father, Yannick Noah is a French singer and former world number 3 tennis player who won the French Open Roland Garros in 1983 and today is proud of what his son is serving up. His mother Cécilia Rodhe was named Miss Sweden in 1978 for another good look and if that wasn't picture perfect enough than Noah's grandfather Zacharie Noah has passed down some skill after being a professional soccer player for Cameroon, winning the Coupe de France in 1961. All these celebrities and all these winners are now being joined by their 29 year old who is scaling higher than the heights of the Eiffel Tower he used to see every day growing up in Paris, France. No wonder the Chicago Bulls picked this 6 foot 11, 232 pound for pound player 9th in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft. He was an engraved basketball champion and a 'Sports Illustrated' cover star before he even received his draft cap. For the University Of Florida he heated up in his sophomore season, making superstar stats of 14.2 points per and 2.4 blocks each game to lead his team. His draft status climbed even higher as him and his now NBA classmates Al Horford and Corey Brewer committed to the college campus for another court run that showed equally how proud, professional and passionate these young ball players where and still are. This kid went from being a relative unknown guy (despite his distinctive look) to an accredited 'Final Four Most Oustanding Player' thanks to his 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks against top seed but eventual runner up Villanova . Scissors may have never touched his curly hair but they sure did cut down the nets of his baskets for the case files of 2006 and 2007 as these Florida blue and oranges peeled off back-to-back NCAA championships.

This Florida Gator proved he was more than just a snappy draft day dresser as he entered the NBA. The cream of his crop was not just in his wardrobe as Noah's impressive rook averages of 6.7 points and 7.6 rebounds tied everything up like his bow-tie. The legendary baby Bulls, Rose blooming playoff series against the Boston Celtics of 2009 also saw Noah steal the ball off the big three's top tier Paul Pierce in the final minute of the third thrilling overtime period and breakaway down the floor for an emphatic dunk. This game changing moment not only ranks as one of the best in that epic series and recent Chicago Bulls or NBA playoff history, it's also one of the greatest moments this young Noah has committed to his career catalogue that read like it one day could be underlined by the Hall Of Fame. You thought the powering forward of Dennis Rodman was passionate for the Chicago Bulls with all his rebound and headline grabbing hair raising and spraying play? Well, even the worms work couldn't put holes in this kid from the Big Apples spark-plug ignited, effervescent, puncuated play. This guy has overcome the dog days and injury years to be the certified award winner he is today and you best believe he'll continue to hit career highs like his amazing 30 points and 23 rebounds or lines like 23 points, 21 rebounds and 11 blocks of last season until he moves aside his 'Defensive Player Of The Year Award' to make space for Larry O'Brien. You best believe the man that joins the big legendary likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shawn Bradley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Elvin Hayes in 20-20-10 triple doubles (outshooting these guys at 65% too) can do it. It all seemed so much closer to the Miami Heat when Rose and Deng where around, but that was all a year and an underrated Indiana Pacer team ago. Still the man who speaks fluent French translates more than just the stats heavey milestones he's achieved, his toughness and tenacity tells so much more in a raucous roar that sees this guy as the heart of the whoel league. To think the Bulls are considering trading him up for the Love of Minnesota's Kevin. Like Pau Gasol of the Lakers this oft criticized and underrated player is one of the Associations best...and you could never call this guy soft and doubt his strength. Tougher than the rest Noah stands at the top of the stormy Windy City mountain ready to lead his team. Can you think of another that could lead the Bulls stampede now? To believe this, you must be Joakim.

KYLE KORVER Feature-HAWKEYE

Kyle Threece.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

#SuperheroSeason

Raincheck. When it comes to Kyle Korver when he reigns...it really pours. If he was tomorrows forecast and you where the scouting report competition, you wouldn't even want to go outside. Forget your umbrellas, they'll just flap and break getting caught up in this storm. Just do yourself a favour and call the game and day on account of rain. If your team needs to unplug the scoring blockage then he is the solution. You know when commentators tell you that teams need to stop the bleeding? Well it's Kyle doing the cutting, not to the basket, but from downtown where he resides. He doesn't just make a home here, he builds a luxury condo there and invites all his teammates to come round and admire what he does on the flatscreen T.V...or Jumbotron as we like to call it. This guy is BIG...even at 6 foot 7 and 212 pounds which a NBA resume calls an "average" height. He's big in the fourth quarter, like a clutch Horry and he goes to work in all those periods Big Shot Bob used to take a break for too. It's like a three point shooting contest when he makes his way around the arc like an All-Star. The Spalding may aswell turn to blue, red and white as it sails through the air. Now who's coming in second? This guy is money. Cluth like the greatest of all-time. He needs a nickname, better than those ones calling him Ashton Kutcher like his Hollywood actor lookalike from Korver's same Iowa beginnings. You see what Kyle is farming from three makes everyone else looking like they've just been 'Punk'd', but there's no smiles and laughs of relief when they've found out who caught them sleeping on camera. This baby faced assassin is more than just a poster boy for teen idols, he's a grown veteran who can rip your playbook off the wall.

He's off the chain when he gets hotter than the Mila Kunis lookalikes he could take to town if he claimed his last role was in 'Two & A Half Men' and not the four he takes to court with as an Atlanta Hawk. He's a party-stopper...if this guy was shooting for beer pong he'd leave everyone else hungover. If he was shooting for the stars, astronomers would give Kyle "Kutcher" a call. If the Miami Heat managed to bring his talents to South Beach they'd already have a ring. Indiana or Oklahoma too...especially with Derek Fisher about to hang up his clutch championship certificate. If this guy was cupid, his arrow would catch more than just his female fans hearts...it'd drive a stake through the opposition. In this superhero season this Atlanta Avenger is Hawkeye, 'Bourne' for the position like Jeremey Renner. With more arrows than you thought where at his disposal. With multiple tricks with each bow thrown too...and you thought only Chris Bridges could get this ludicrous in the ATL. He's got more range than Legolas with his archery amazement looking to one day graduate from The Hunger Games to become a Lord Of The Rings in this NBA Game Of Thrones that currently belongs to the one true king sitting on the throne...but has all sorts of people trying to storm his castle. Atlanta may have not been able to keep pace with the Indiana Pacers in this postseason playoff push but give this eight seed more for their huge, big man talent Al Horford to work with along with the likes of Jeff Teague, Paul Milisap, Louis Willams and the veteran epic experience of Elton Brand and this will no longer be a team that takes the last seed along with a first round exit for their troubles.

Especially if Korver is still a part of their late game, late season big basket live or die by the three life blood. The Jazz lost their music when he left. Like the Bulls did their horns and let's not talk about the Philaldelphia 76ers who would have had more at stake for their woeful season if they kept the extra cheese that Kyle brought to the building. Now the Hawks truly keep their talons in their opponent when Korver lets it fly like a Bird. Larry legend or Sue of the WNBA, you call it because theres not many who shoot it better, from the villian streak of Reggie Miller time to Jesus himself Ray Allen. Kyle Korver got game too, through legends and role playes made for range like the Person's and Barry's of the world. Still theres more to the arc of this guys talent then the golden arches. Just look across the board to the steals, blocks and board figures too. More than a gun for hire this is why guys like Kyle Korver are still in this league while great gunners like Mike Penberthy are not. Guys like this may not be working at McDonalds but the Los Angeles Slam is not the Los Angeles Lakers. Still if Iverson is the crossover, Dikembe the finger-wagging block and M.J. the tongue out dunk and fade then this kid is the three. Able to shoot down the wild west like his name was Doc Holiday (perhaps a new nickname?) engraving his opponents name on a tombstone with the hope to one day chisel his next to Larry O'Brien. It'll take True Grit to do that but this mans got the spurs like he was playing with Duncan and Parker. This season...no this season and last Kyle Korver set the pace with an incredible 127 game streak of made three pointers for this century. Passing two downtowns across the 80 game epic record set from former Boston Celtic spark-plug Dana Barros. A guy no stranger to big, bold baskets himself.

This was a run that was even better than the one Kevin Durant had passing the greatest Michael Jordan's run of games of 25 points or more-with 41-en route to be your Most Valuable Player. It was one of the stories of the season. That trade from Chicago for their old flame Kirk Hinrich and cash considerations sure paid off in a hell of a lot of money. That four year, 24 mill deal was for sure paid off...with dynamic dividends. The same that keep rising like great stock every time he catches and releases like a good fisherman. You can just tell from the way he moves across the hardwood and screens to get himself in position that he's free to do whatever he wants to do from three without the helping pane of the glass backboard to bank him in some assured figures. He's an asset all in himself that is guaranteed to pay off again and again, everytime he sets his feet in the perfect place to release the ball. As he rises the right way, let's go at the very right time you wish you could perfect whether via video game or those arcade hoops it's all gooseneck for the gooseberries of the opposition and the goosepimples of his fans that raise the hair on their necks that follow in unison with their backsides and hands. It's all celebration, champagne or commiseration (depending on who you side with) once Kyle takes a sip and a lift. Spirits thrive or die when this guy is alive from the arc. He mans the perimeter like a security guard who sees everything. Stalking his space like a Raptor, looking for and then exposing the one weakness that will make him go electric...until he shoots the lights out. Lighting up the oppositions candle 'till he blows them all out and away. Little Red Riding Hoods house wouldn't be safe when this guy huffed and puffed. Maybe Minnesota could use this Hawk as a T-Wolf because my what big eyes he's got when it comes to his court vision beyond three.

At 33 this Small Forwad/Shooting Guard is all three, tweaning between positions until he tweaks the twine. Creighton University's fifth all-time scorer also has his jersey up in the rafters of Pella High School in Iowa, that's how many times he threw it up like Saturday morning. He owns a visual communications degree from college studying of the textbook as well as the playbook, 'visual' being the apt word for how he talks to the basket. Can you believe the New Jersey Nets only drafted him 51st, than took his draft cap away and gave him a Sixers one as a trade? No wonder there is no Nets in New Jersey now like Brooklyn can prove in their ground. There aren't 51 players in the league right now that can score better than number 26, let alone that year. He's the one to make all the big numbers on the box score stat sheet, not the draft board. Following some rookie and sophmore three point contests that saw him come third and second respectively, Kyle tied Quentin Richardson for three pointers made with 226 in the 2004/2005 season. Which also became a Philadelphia record that climbed up the steps and jumped for 'Rocky' joy. Career highs and buzzer beaters came off the bench from East to West, before the stampede with the Bulls lead to parade player and champion turned Chicago announcer Stacey King to ask for the "hot sauce" everytime Korver opened for three. There was no slapping the bottom of the bottle for more garnishing once Kyle stuck the knife in. Tt was all Showtime for the Lakewood, California native who grew up watching the 80's Lakers led by Magic Johnson. The tricks of Kyle Korvers trade that now find him in the A, are capital to the success of the franchise. He may not be the face but he's the force behind their fortune. Kyle Korver may just be one player, but he's three reasons why the Atlanta Hawks will always be a force to reckon with when he's around and outside. Leave him open if you wish, but he'll close you down like club 112 after hours. Welcome to Atlanta where the players play and out of towners get got by Kyle Korver every day. The Hawk's eye see's his prey and he'll shoot it down until he gets his prize. That's just how it is when the balls in his possession. From behind the arc Kyle Korver owns this game and that will always be his parting shot.

ALLEN IVERSON Feature-GRIDIRON REP

Any Other Sunday.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

#TheIversonSeries

Ann Iverson: "You going to basketball practice today"
Allen Iverson: "I aint playing no basketball, its soft. I don't want to play no basketball..."

"...I don't like basketball!"

A young Allen Iverson is running like there's no tomorrow. No end to this path, problem or playbook. The row's and tattoo's aren't all there but the heart and soul is. Everyone's chasing him. From his opponents on the floor to all the eyes in the crowd on him. Some fixing him with doubt, others piercing with hope. He drives, twists and turns like that slippery when wet, tenacious juggernauht he is rocking to the stadium like Bon Jovi...the music this hip to the hop kid doesn't roll with. Weighing in at just shy of a buck 70, probably that mark when sweating, he tears through the open lane, a flight-path only cleared because of his crossover potenital to weave a wonder and thread his small, sinewy frame through any needle point. Men are falling all over him like he was a supermodel...he's for sure a superstar. He's leaving them for dust in the heels of his cleats. He bobs and ducks, leaving defender after defender with no fruit. Now how do you like them apples? Twisting and turning, ducking and diving like Ali, this kid looks like the greatest as he floats through the wall of defense and finds the last few steps it'll take to sting like a bee. No cream can soothe this. They said he was streaky like a bad window cleaner. Weak like all someone in that position has left and not built for this game. As he's about to score one for his team and his own legend, scoring over the opposition and every critic that tried to write him wrong this is more than just another "point" to be made however. Here it is, 'front row seat, radio in hand, snacks by feet'. Everyone's finally waking up as A.I goes to town. Round his back, all the way down to the ground as everybody screams...TOUCHDOWN!?

"Serious I never wanted to play it" Allen Iverson tells SLAM magazine, with a scoop on a conversation with his mom like only the journalism names of Jackson could get from the answer. There's no question here. You're not 'Illin' like a Run-DMC classic playing around with the great Doctor J, Julius Erving. You may know Allen Iverson from the court conviction of hoops dreams made into the realest reality. A man who overcame all the racist hate, playground level jokes and talk about his appearance and cultural shift that truly changed the game more than the overused, saturated term to show his game did the walking. A player who not only crossed over the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan, but the whole league and world too. From the dress-code to the cross over dunk trend of idolisation. An icon was born into the hip-hop/hoops soulful partnership that flowed off key together like jazz and we aren't talking about Utah or Stockton. A man that bridged the gap between Michael, Kobe and LeBron with a different player that will for sure never be duplicated no matter how many young pup players try to copy and paste the artificial intelligence of your dawg A.I. A man that doesn't need a great SLAM special collectors edition issue in his name or a gracious jersey retirement ceremony for you to remember just who he is and all he's done. It's personified everywhere in todays culture on and beyond the court. It's still so hard to believe that he's "retired" and not coming back one more time, like LL said...he's "been here for years". Are we really that old? The heart still beats for the soul saviour and survivor of purist poetry hardwood hype made history. A heart that showed he could go sneaker to sneaker with ANYBODY. Driving into the lane time and time again to paint more points that his outside J could still afford...but that his body inside couldn't. Taking shot after shot and beat down after beat down from anybody to make his way to the bucket and the rafters some championship banners really did belong next to his number 3 jersey. This David wasn't afraid of anybody, not even the Goliath daddy of them all in Shaquille O'Neal as the answer almost took Larry O'Brien off the Lake Show dynasty of Shaq and Kobe. Forget Tyrone Lue...Allen Iverson almost stepped over the entire history of the storied Los Angeles Lakers franchise.

This type of heart doesn't come with 'practice' (sorry...like Christophe Waltz we couldn't resist). It's something your born with but broods and breeds all throughout your life from what you hold inside to what you show to the outside world. It's heart that transcends sport so much it can translate to any game...but make no mistake the talent has to be there too. Boy did this kid have some talent too. Before he owned the streets of Philadelphia like Springsteen as a Sixer. Even before he showed John Thompson and the legendary Georgetown Hoya alumni that their biggest players weren't just the tower trio of Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo. Not to get defensive, but when the latter mount joined Iverson in Philly for a championship run that showed them as the hard working, high-guarded, anti Shaq and Kobe dynamic duo, he could see that this guy was tougher than basketball leather for another run at a DMC homage reference. Pigskin maybe?! The Philadelphia basketball legend Dr. Julius Erving knew the order, even if Charles Barkley at first didn't. We all came around. We didn't need to see an awesome Jadakiss Reebox commercial to see that his "heart was huge". All you had to do was watch some football. Some high-school highlights from Bethel high school that shine brighter than what you see in the tropy cabinet down their hall of fame for this Naismith lock. A hidden genius talent like Matt Damon's janitor 'Good Will Hunting' you have to see it to believe it. He made it in hoops despite his size and even with all that weight and height (or lack of) you better believe it. Allen Iverson was an incredible American football player. This is another dream deferred. Thank God for padding right? Let's be serious for a second and change this statement up. Allen Iverson could have played in the NFL. Yeah, I said it!

You better believe it. This kid had two fields as the 'Associated Press High School Player Of The Year'-in BOTH sports-led both squads to Virginia State Championships. Iverson was just this good when he was travelling with the ball when it was legal to do so. The Basketball God's are glad he followed their path to hoops heaven on earth and not the adjustment bureau of the Madden world, but still whether you're passion lies on the field or on the pine it's certainly more than a curious notion to think what it would have been like if young Allen entered the NFL draft instead of the NBA one. All the history he wrote in his Basketball dominace would't have happened and that's a cruel shame to even imagine but who knows what could have happened on the gridiorn?! We may have been missing out on something just as special and/or stellar. Those people (residing in Minnesota of course) who wanted to clone Kevin Garnett as he could play all five positions on the basketball floor may have wanted to save some room in the machine for the fly off court talents of Iverson. He could have been one of the best...he of course still is but we're talking about a different vision at commercial success like LeBron choosing the Cleveland Browns ("baaaby") for his televised decision. Iverson's playoffs may have not paid off with a championship but he could have had his Sherman superbowl moment from the braids to the front page...you can guranatee he would have dunked over the goal in celebration with every touchdown too. What could have been instead is what should have been in this superstars life, but looking through the glass of the alternate reality sliding doors certainly is as inspiring as it is intriguing.

They called him "electrifying". An "entertainer". Said he made the big plays on both ends of the floor...and boy could he 'run Forrest run' when given the ball. Sound familiar? They say that Iverson wasn't bulit for Basketball despite him proving everyone wrong. Perhaps he was built for this game? Need more proof for your doubt? He was all state his junior year. The schools Q.B's finest who could kick-off, punt, play running back, kick returner and defensive back as well as the quarterback position. This Point Gaurd of the first and down just knew how to lead teams with his driven desire the epic example. He did everything on the field, drawing capacity crowds of 200 off it. "Before there was Michael Vick, there was an Allen Iverson" they said. Now what does that tell you? The influential interceptions, stellar sacks and raw runs that followed through to the tenacious and triumphant touchdowns, this was an end to end genius that just knew how to play the game like the steal to smash lay-up line he made his on the hardwood. His seven interceptions at safety made a state record that still stands. This defence almost rests. Now THAT, like the player he was, was difficult to tackle. They compared him to Dion Sanders. Had him set for a different draft, until a Stern wind blew in. Still, even when it came to football, Allen Ezail Iverson was his own man with his own plan. Or maybe his mothers one. When that bowling incident derailed the football lane he was about to strike through with an undeserved prison term the future of his helmet and pads play was brought to the ground with a wake-up crunch, but this isn't the reason Iverson went a different route. After following his mothers orders to go play basketball (boy, don't you wish we all had parents like this?) he learned to love the "other" game he played as he hooped it up with his football friends. The rest of course-as you know-is history at it's finest. Like the 'Mr. Football' he was named in the Virginia Newport News and the 1,423 yards with 14 touchdowns and 781 yards gained with 15 touchdowns that made him one of footballs top recruits and a Heisman hallmark if he had made history in a different game. We're glad by the grace of the basketball lord that Iverson was called by the one true game that would become his. A same call that even without a ring The Answer will reply to Naismith one day. Still, throughout it all and especially in the early days this basketball superstar would always wonder what it would have been like if he followed football. Thankfully though this is all a notorious dream, instead of his B.I.G. reality. Still it's a play that even Madden couldn't draw up. One we'll always touch back on even if the blind side can't see.

"There are so many great offensive players. And to be a great defensive player thats special because you're stopping a great offensive player. That's like a linebacker-if you a great linebacker, that's serious, man to be able to get Barry Sanders everytime you want to. That's crazy, that's talent."-Allen Iverson.