The "Just the Tip" All-NBA Team @ The Fan Hub

by Dave Jacober November 11th, 2010

While the 2010 NBA season is still in its infant stages, I am reminded of a few constants that will never change. First, the officiating gets worse and worse every year, which, when I actually think about it, makes me twitch. Second, Kobe Bryant is the closest thing to MJ that we have ever seen (as a Celtics fan I feel the urge to throw my laptop out the window for even thinking that, never mind writing it). And finally, even when you think David Kahn might be the worst GM in the history of sports, the good lord blesses us with yet another example of how he is even worse than that. Here is another truth that all NBA fans should come to realize: there are a handful of players that will unquestionably spend a good portion of the season roaming the sidelines in $10,000 hand-stitched suits, many of whom are difference makers that are dearly missed by their teams. These players make up the “Just the Tip” team, a small collection of players who do such an outstanding job teasing us with stellar play only to let us down by not staying on the court. (I thought about naming it the “Lord Forbid These Guys Play 10 Games in a Row” team as well.) 
Now, we’ve all played the “just the tip” game, right? Guys, girls, the young, the old, it’s a natural right of passage. In fact, I sternly believe that MTV should rename the show “Teen Mom” to “ We thought we would play just the tip and things got out of hand, sorry Mom and Dad.” It’s a game that is used to do one thing: tease people into wanting more. The best part about such a game, or in some cases “agreements,” is that there is no gender prejudice, ageism, or sexism. It’s just about who can do the most the teasing and who has to put up with it. The joke of course is that the whole game is based on person A’s ability to tease person B into the idea that something else might actually happen. That is exactly the case with these players. Every season, fans are lured in while “Team Tip” is productive and at times dominating, only to be left hollow as they spend more time on the inactive list than they do on the court. Lets meet the squad. 
At guard, 6’-6”, in his seventh year out of Auburn: Marquis Daniels. In seven seasons, Daniels has never played 82 games; not once he has managed to play even 80 games. He has managed on average to only play in 57.42 games a season. So roughly he misses one third of the season every year. Why is he important, you ask? Surely there are players of his caliber or better who have missed more. Maybe you’re right; Daniels has never averaged more than 13 points a game, but he has averaged over fifteen minutes every year since being in the league. He has always shot a reasonably high field goal percentage, plays good to great team defense, and if he could ever stay healthy, could be a potential sixth man of the year candidate. If Boston is going to get back to the finals, Marquis Daniels has to stay healthy. The Celtics have an aging roster and are very thin at the three spot. In a division with Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Rashard Lewis, Luol Deng, and Joe Johnson, it’s an area they can’t afford to be weak. Boston will have to rely on him to come in off the bench to spell an older Paul Pierce.
At the other guard, 6’-1”, in his seventh year out of Alabama: Mo Williams. In 2008-2009, Mo played in 81 games. That was his fluke year; every player has one. If you treat that year like the anomaly it was, Mo averages just 66 games a season. Despite what most critics say, I am actually a Mo Williams believer. I think he and the rest of the Cleveland teams from 2008-2010 were not terrible, and that Lebron had an above average supporting cast. Sure there was no second superstar, but Mo more than held his own, averaging over 15 points per game in both of his seasons with LeBron. Oh, and without Lebron (and I know it’s early), Williams is averaging 20 and 4; Cleveland is 3-3 and the East has six teams that will make the playoffs for sure, which means that Cleveland could easily grab the seventh or eighth seed. Other than JJ Hickson and, at times, Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams is the Cavs best player. So if Cavs fans have any hope for the playoffs, Mo will have to actually be on the court. 
At forward, 6’-9”, out of Duke University: Carlos Boozer. Boozer is a power forward who cannot protect the rim, but the bigger problem is that in eight years he has only averaged 66 games per season. How many times have you heard the Utah announcers say “Boozer is expected back tomorrow night as his __________(insert injury here) is swelling up?” The Bulls might be the best purely talented team (aside from Miami) in the East this year, with Derrick Rose, Deng, Joakim Noah, Ronnie Brewer, and Kyle Korver. But to beat Boston in a seven-game series—or Miami or Orlando—the Bulls need to have Boozer at full strength.
The man in the middle, 7’-0”, the pride of Plainsboro, NJ, #17: Andrew Bynum. With a healthy Bynum, the Lakers are all but assured the top seed out West and a direct path to the NBA finals. Here is the problem: Bynum has averaged 55 games a year, and the Lakers do not have much depth at center if Bynum can’t play. When on the court, Bynum is a legitimate center, even a top-30 guy. He can protect the rim, has a subtle but affective offensive repertoire, blocks shots, and cleans up around the basket. He has teased Lakers fans for the last three years; when he plays, he plays well. It’s just that he is usually dressed in street clothes on the bench. 
At forward, 6’9”, from Alabama: Gerald Wallace.  Lets face it: Charlotte is probably not going to be a very good team this year. But Gerald Wallace is a guy who is not only fun to watch, he also has a consistent 15 to 20-foot jump shot, can attack the basket, plays good defense, and could be a central building block for the Bobcats. Wallace is the ultimate ‘tipper’ because when he plays he is a top-25 player easily. He is close to averaging a double-double, but still only manages to play 66 games per season. 
Despite the need for these players on the court, their fans can probably rest assured that this season it will most likely again be more of “just the tip,” with no one getting the chance to go “all the way.”

What did you think? Leave a comment

TOPICS

PEOPLE

BRANDON BASS

The Bass Master

Read more
JEFF GREEN

The Jeff Green Question

Read more
RAJON RONDO

Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo against the Philadelphia 76ers.…

Read more