North Harbour

Because here comes, from the All-time Mock Draft, Team 1 Large Hawaiian Thanks!!!!!!!

Starting at Center, the two-time All-Defensive first teamer with an MVP title under his belt,  #32 Bill Walton!!! His top season with PPG was 18.9 points, his top rebounding season was 14.4 rebounds. Quite simply put, there was no better center at making others better. He could command teams to double-team him and would punish him with his passing and excellent shooting if they didn't, his shooting was awesome at .521 for his career and .562 season best.

Starting at Power Forward, the two-time MVP, with four-time All-Star MVP out of 11 All-Star games, #9 Bob Pettit!!! His top season with PPG was 31.1 points, his top rebounding season was an amazing 20.3 rebounds. This top five of all-time Power Forward could score and rebound with the best of them, quite a feat considering he played in the late-50s and early-mid-60s.

Starting at Small Forward, with an amazing five-time all-NBA first team, 16 total all-star games and 4 total MVP titles, #6 Julius Erving. Dr J had his top scoring season when he scored at 26.9 PPG, his top rebounding season was 8.5 RPG. He was so good that Michael Jordan was supposed to be the next Dr J. His shooting percentage was fantastic at .507 for his career and .546 season best.

Starting at Shooting Guard, the five-time All-Star, #31 Reggie Miller. The Indian Pacers stalwart personified 'clutch play'. His top scoring season was 24.6 PPG. Leading the pin-striped Pacers to wins during their glory days Miller could always be relied upon for that shot exactly when it mattered.

Starting at Point Guard, being in an All-NBA team 11 times, the five-time all-defensive 2nd team and ten-time All-Star, #12 John Stockton. John Stockon had his best shooting season  at 17.2 PPG and known for his passing, getting a season-best 14.5 APG. 14.5 APG, that is insane. He is one of the top passers of all-time, his vision led the Jazz to many playoff berths. He was also a master stealer, if you didn't protect that ball, even for a second, Stockton would pounce and punish you.

On the bench:
At center, Yao Ming.
At power forward, Horace Grant.
At small forward, Marques Johnson.
At shooting guard, Paul Arizin.
At point guard, Bill Sharman.

I want your thoughts and opinions on my All-Time team....Team 1 Large Hawaiian Thanks is ready to go!!!

I have a pretty simple question, I could bring up stats and all and have paragraphs of info and argument...but basically here's the bottom line....My question is:

Would it be a slap in the face to Red Auberach if I said that when Phil Jackson retires the Red Auberach coach of the year award could be renamed the Red Auberach and Phil Jackson Coach of the Year Award?

I want your opinions..

(NB: In New Zealand, What America calls Universities or Colleges we call universities and what America calls High School we call High School or College.)

Yesterday, (Friday 23rd) I was refereeing a regional under 17 high school game between Birkenhead College and Westlake Boys High School. Westlake were by far the better team, they didn't have any real stars, they were more a team of above average players that were coached very well. Birkenhead had a team that were obviously poorly coached, their team had 2 players that were above average, 1 superstar and the rest couldn't post up on a chair.

Birkenhead's superstar could dribble past everyone, pass through any gap at will, a true superstar. When he drove to the hoop if he wasn't fouled there was a 95% chance he would get it in. If any other player on that Birkenhead team drove there was a 40-55% chance if would go in. When those players were touch-fouled by Westlake, the other officials and I wouldn't call a foul. Because chances were, while it affected the shot a little, that it wouldn't have gone in anyway and if it did go in with that touch foul, well good for them. When Birkenhead's superstar was touch fouled we would call it, because if it missed there was a pretty good chance his shot would've gone in. IF that shot went in and we called a foul, he did well to adjust and that is testament to just how good of a player he is.

When other Birkenhead players dribbled and carried the ball a little, we would call a travel. Because they didn't have as much control over the ball. When Birkenhead's superstar carried it a little, he would be in full and complete control of the ball and calling a travel would be irrelevant because he had full control and wasn't taking steps to an over-excessive advantage.

Rules aren't contrete, the Referee's job is to interpret the rules not enforce them. To all the people crying conspiracy and bias referees (those calls may have been helped by the whole Tim Donaghy thing) you are just being stupid.

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That is my opinion and examples. I want to know your opinion, even if it is agreeing or disagreeing with me...comment on something I brought up...anything...cya.

First they were in Buffalo, then San Diego....they found themselves homeless. Off to Los Angeles they went...now, it seems, they find themselves unwanted. The Lakers are the team of Los Angeles, everyone knows it.

The Lakers are the championship team, they are the playoff team, they are the team with the superstars and the publicity and media attention. In my opinion, the unwanted bastard child of Los Angeles needs to find a new home.

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Economically it makes so much sense, if you manage to find the right home -- first off, you won't be competeing for support, sales and general revenue against the Lakers. It would be absolutely mind-boggling, I'm sure to see the amount of revenue the Clippers get compared to the Lakers from Los Angeles. How do they get the money to support themselves like other NBA franchises I don't know, because the Lakers are just taking their share and them some more from the Los Angeles audience.

Basketball-wise, as we have seen this playoffs, home court is ever so important. I have to admit, I haven't watched much Clipper games over the years but still the Lakers have a better crowd, that is for sure. If the Clippers could get some solid support behind them from a solid fanbase they could really start to grow as a franchise.

New Orleans seemed to accept and back the Hornets straight away, of course that was helped by hurricane katrina, their community spirit just inflated to awesome levels. It seems that Oklahoma City, if anything like when they hosted the Hornets will be accepting of the Sonics franchise and support them. If the Clippers get to the right home, (could be Seattle), they could become a successful franchise.

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Who are the candidates for cities who want teams, where do they go?