A Dash of Duncan, a Pinch of Garnett...

Picking the NBA’s best team really isn’t that complicated, like making a cake, you just follow a simple recipe. You start out with the “best” center (I think we are still in agreement that Big Diesel Shaq holds that distinction), add two parts forward, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett anyone? Then you need to sweeten the pot with a scorer, Kobe Bryant, and finally you need to find a place for King James. Toss in seven great players on the bench and you have yourself this awesome looking team:

C – Shaquille O’Neal, Miami Heat
PF – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
SF – Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
SG – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
PG – LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

G – Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
G – Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
G – Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets
F – Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
F – Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
F/C – Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
C – Amare Stoudemire, Pheonix Suns

Coach – Phil Jackson

See, now this is an awesome team which could steamroll anyone who came into their path. They wouldn’t have any problems beating any weak U.S. colony (and don’t point out to me that it cannot be a national team because Dirk’s on it, I’m just making a point here…). It’s relatively simple why they’d is it not? Simply put, because they are (arguably of course) the 12 best basketball players in the world by position. What’s that sweetie? You say that’s ‘the same arrogant boastful thinking that got the American Olympic team into trouble, it ISN”T just about talent?’ Are you sure? Because my old hoops nemesis, BigCuz used to tell me that it was utter lack of talent that made me a terrible player. Ok, let me think what could possibly de-rail a roster as great as this one? Hhmmm… well, firstly can Shaq and Kobe co-exist in the same state, let alone in the same arena, on the same court, teamed together? For that matter, would Kobe let anyone else touch the ball? Would AI dribble the ball around for 23 seconds before hoisting an ill-advised trey? Or Would T-Mac even let him get the rock? Would T-Mac’s back let him come out to play? Would Carter be the focused, driven player he was with the Nets, or would he bet the sullen, no dunking, illicitly listening to his iPod character they love in Toronto? Could Shaq and Duncan space themselves properly in the paint and how would Garnett and Wade feel about playing the entire game out of position? Would the Zen Master make it to the bench or would he be too busy selling the rights for his tell-all book about the team, “Zen and the Art of Flapping Your Arms While Making Giant, Petulant Men Do What You Want,” but most importantly, if Shaq ended up choking Kobe to death, would I be held responsible?


Ok, instead lets create a team which would make John Wooden and Dean Smith happy, a team which emphasized the team part of Best Team.

C – T. Duncan, SA --- 3 NBA Championships, 3 NBA Finals MVPs. The consummate teammate, a consummate professional, and a darn good player to boot.

PF – K. Garnett, Minn --- He is, simply put, the best player in the world right now. Minnesota would be idiotic to trade him, but for our sake I hope he’s moved to a more relevant team, before his skills are in retreat.

SF – L. James, Cle --- Even at the end of last season, I would have had Shaq starting at center (Duncan and Garnett at the forward spots) and James coming off the bench, but the kid has taken his game to the proverbial “next level.”

SG – D. Wade, Mia --- A natural scorer, Wade can handle the ball, find the open man, and corral others missed shots. His defense is not as good as it will be and he needs range on his jump shot, but he gets the nod over Kobe’s superior skills because he’s a better teammate.

PG – S. Nash, Phe --- The perfect point to lead this team, the foppish wonder can run in the open court, can initiate the half court offence. He will look to get everybody involved, but exploit and match up advantages, and hit the open J when the ball comes back to him.


G – C. Billups, Det --- He won the finals MVP and he’s still somehow the most underrated player in basketball.

G – M. Ginobili, SA --- A swirling, whirling Tasmanian Devil of a player, Ginobili does everything with a unique blend of sound fundamentals and barely contained circus credo.

G – R. Allen, Seat --- Every great team needs some pure shooters off the bench and Allen just happens to be the best, it doesn’t hurt that unlike most real team’s pure shooter he also brings a bunch of other tools to the table.

F – R. Artest, Ind --- This one was a very difficult choice, if I didn’t go with Artest, I wanted to select Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko. While both men bring incredible upside to the team, they both have difficulties staying on the court (for very different reasons of course). I like Artest’s game just a little better, and I’m betting that the Big ogs on this team keep Artest in line.

F – D. Nowitzki, Dal --- The Maverick’s hot start (including blowout wins over Detroit and San Antonio) is a direct result of the big German’s intense play. He’s on another level right now, but for my team there’d need to be a gag order in effect, because he occasionally makes questionable quotes.

F/C – A. Stoudemire, Phe --- This is assuming that he comes back as the same explosive, powerful player we saw overpowering the Spurs last June, otherwise, Jermaine O’Neal.

C – B. Wallace, Det --- Ideally, I’d want Shaq to come off the bench and provide 20 destructive minutes, but since I don’t see the diesel accepting his demotion well, I’m forced to drop him for the gritty, workmanlike play of Wallace.

Coach – G. Poppovich, SA --- This is a talented, selfless team. It needs a strong, selfless man to lead it from the bench. Someone with the stature and success to command respect, but who will not muddy the waters with his ego driven agenda. I’d also pencil in underrated coaches, Flip Saunders, Rick Carlisle, and Nate McMillan as assistants.

Transcendant Talents, Tantalizing Matchups, and Heart Stopping Agony... Just Another Day at Anton's

In a single elimination game anything can happen, which is why you must keep as players of transcendental talent on your team as possible. Would the 1998 Olympic team have beaten Dominik Hasek and the Czechs if Mark Messier had gone to Nagano? Well, not likely, but I do believe that we would have won had coach Marc Crawford given a penalty shot to Wayne Gretzky. You have the all time greatest player sitting on your bench when you absolutely need the puck past the goaltender and you look past him? Sure, the Great One was in his late 30s, a step slower with both the feet and the hands, but penalty shootouts in the semi-finals of the Olympic tournament are when transcendental players shine. It might have been Messier somehow finding a way to score in overtime, or it might have been Gretzky scoring on a penalty shot to keep us alive (it certainly didn’t help that another of those transcendental players, Mario Lemieux was 18,000 miles away in his sweatpants at the time, retired from hockey). I cannot help but wonder about how the shootout would have gone, had we put the puck on the stick of Gretzky, Lemieux, Steve Yzerman (who was on the team, but also did not shoot), Joe Sakic, and Paul Kariya (who were both on the team, but injured). Of course, the Dominator was at the top of his game in ’98 and perhaps he stonewalls all those guys as well, we’ll never know, which some would say means I should stop thinking about the possibilities, but there is value in ensuring that we do not make thee same mistakes going forward. I was thinking about this the other night when I read that captain Mario had offered to give up his spot on the Olympic team for Sydney Crosby. Crosby is a unique selection choice at this point, he is not a given as he will be for the next Olympics, but at the same time, he has come in to the NHL and shown that even at 18 he can excel at the top level, that the hype about him is valid. So, at some point a decision is going to be made about him in a more direct way than for any other player. And, almost precisely because of 1998, if it were me making the decision, as it will be bellow, I call Syd the Kid’s name, because even at 18, he is that transcendental player which raises a team to greatness.

1st Line: C – Joe Sakic (36) – Colorado Avalanche (assistant)
RW – Jerome Iginla (28) – Calgary Flames
LW – Mario Lemieux (40) – Pittsburgh Penguins (captain)
D – Scott Niedermayer (32) – Anaheim Mighty Ducks
D – Adam Foote (34) – Columbus Blue Jackets

2nd Line: C – Vincent Lecavalier (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning
RW – Danny Heatley (24) – Ottawa Senators
LW – Simone Gagne (25) – Philadelphia Flyers
D – Chris Pronger (31) – Edmonton Oilers (assistant)
D – Scott Hannan (29) – San Jose Sharks

3rd Line: C – Brad Richards (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning
RW – Sidney Crosby (18) – Pittsburgh Penguins
LW – Alex Tanguay (26) – Colorado Avalanche
D – Wade Redden (28) – Ottawa Senators
D – Ed Jovanowski (29) – Vancouver Canucks

ChK Line: C – Joe Thornton (26) – Boston Bruins
RW – Shane Doan (29) – Phoenix Coyotes
LW – Kris Draper (34) – Detroit Red Wings
Alt – Ryan Smyth (29) – Edmonton Oilers
Alt – Dion Phaneuf (20) – Calgary Flames

In Goal: Martin Brodeur (33) – New Jersey Devils
Roberto Luongo (26) – Florida Panthers
Jose Theodore (29) – Montreal Canadians

Hard Cuts…

Were does one begin to whittle down 81 players to 23? It’s like eating the whole plate at Anton’s Pasta, if you want that “I ate the whole thing” pen, you just have to pick up your fork and get to work… Every great team begins in goal, so that’s where I began. Nine players, three spots and really not even that complicated, because there are only four worth considering: Brodeur, Luongo, Theodore, and Marty Turco. For this tournament, Brodeur is still our starter. He’s had a slow start, but I think the rust from a year off will whittle away and he’ll be back to his top form (which is to say, best in the NHL). I gave Luongo the nod over the other two to start for the 26 to 30 team, so he gets the backup nod, and I give it to Theodore by a hair over Turco (although I wouldn’t fault those who feel it goes the other way).

In defense I again started with the locks: Niedermayer, Pronger, Foote, Redden, and Jovo are all still at the top of their game and deserve to play in Italy. Now, two spots remain from a pool of 18 players, which makes things tough. So, I revert to slicing the dead wood off the bottom: Adrian Aucoin, Steve Staios, and Sheldon Souray are good but not that good. Eric Desjardins is not the player he once was, nor is Jay Bouwmeester the player he soon will be (despite his excellent performance at the 2004 World Cup). There are a group of guys in their prime (Dan Boyle, Kyle McLaren, Derek Morris, and Brad Stuart) who despite considerable abilities, didn’t make the 26-30 squad and thus are easily eliminated. Which leaves Rob Blake, Nick Boynton, Eric Brewer, Chris Phillips, Hannan, Barret Jackman, Phaneuf, and Robyn Regher, of whom Boynton and Jackman just aren’t quite in the same league. Blake was a hard cut, but at 36, I feel he has slipped and the team has enough veteran leadership to withstand his loss. I chose Hannan, because he is the top defensive presence of those players remaining and I felt the team could use one more solid defensive blue liner. Now, choosing the alternate is tricky. You want someone who can step in a play a big role if say Niedermayer (knock on wood that he doesn’t) goes down in the tournament (players lost before the Olympics begin may be replaced), so I chose Phaneuf, because he does everything well, is a 20 year old franchise defenceman (which could also read, transcendental player) and will benefit by being with the team. I would consider pre-tournament injury replacements from among those final three (Regher, Phillips, and Brewer) with possibly Blake and Bouwmeester thrown in as well.

The forwards were the most plentiful, so I started by eliminating anyone who didn’t make their own age group (seems reasonable don’t you think?). 10 gone, 39 left, 13 spots… hmmm… we need some gimmies. Well, Mario’s the captain and even at 40 if he wants to go he gets my “C” and a plane ticket. Then we have Sakic and Iginla who remain his line mates. After them, Thornton, Lecavalier, Richards, Gagne, and Heatley are all locks given their prior involvement, stature, and current level of play. Despite what some people think, you cannot send the “best” players (by which they mean top scorers) and stack them any which way and expect success – position and a solid checking line are important. Thornton centered the checking line so exceptionally well at the World Cup, that I would again ask him to play that role (I think it speaks to his character as a team guy that he accepts the role with such vigor, something the acerbic press in Boston should remember) and if you’ve read the opening four columns of this series you know I love his line mates from ’04, so accept your invitations Mr. Doan and Mr. Draper. All of which leaves me with 3 spots left… time to shave off the bottom of the pile. Eric Lindross, Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, Rob Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan, Glenn Murray, Jeff O’Neil, Marc Chouinard, Brendan Morrison, Patrice Bergeron, Michael Ryder, Pierre Marc – Bouchard, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter are all eliminated either because they’re just past their prime, not yet at their prime, not quite good enough, or “damaged.” Finally we have to look at things positionally. The top line is filled, as is the second line (the Lecavalier-Gagne-Heatley), and the checking line. Richards is a perfect third line center (which means a sound two-way guy), so all that remains is two wings for him and an alternate player. For the moment, lets forget about the alternate, so I can immediately eliminate checking line players Kris Draper, John Madden, and Michael Peca, although if someone on the checking is injured these would be the guys to whom I’d look for a replacement. Also, while young centers Jason Spezza and Eric Staal are having exceptional seasons, they are not (yet) better than any of the centers already selected. Their time will come, but for now they must wait. I’ve already said I would include Crosby, who would be a natural fit on the right side of Richards line. Which leaves the left wing and four players: Steve Yzerman, Tanguay, Smyth, and Martin St. Louis. Really, it’s like deciding which you’d rather drink, Guinness, Stella, or Phillips Espresso Stout. Any way you look at it, you’re going to have a great drink… In the end, I left St Louis off, because he’s had a slow start to the season, but if in the next month he gets it going, he might be a natural choice to pair with line mate Richards. I left Yzerman off because I think his body has finally reached that point where it is not competing with the precision he’d like. Thus, he narrowly lost out to Smyth for the alternate spot. I like Smyth because I think he could fill a role on any line if asked. St Louis would likely be the player I called if someone hurt themselves prior to the games, although there really is always a place on my team for Stevie Y.

Linear Deliberations…

I think I pretty much covered my goaltender and forward decisions above and the defensive pairings are fairly logical, strong defensive presence to support superb two way player.

Eight Ball Says…

Well, we all know that Canadians expect this team, no matter who Gretzky selects to play, to come home with the gold. I like this particular roster for its depth, versatility, blend of savvy veterans and agile youngsters. It has playmakers, goal scorers, and an abundance of size (the feature which really distinguishes Canadian hockey, our blend of skill and power). I do not think that gold can be guaranteed any longer, goaltenders from other countries are just too strong (the Fins could easily ride Kiprusoff to a gold medal) and I of course am phobic of those darn Czechs… still, this team would have some great players from whom to choose 5 penalty shooters, transcendental players who would score when the chips are down, of course I don’t think my heart could handle it (I knew I shouldn't have eaten that entire pasta, with a cream to boot...), I’d be collapsed on the floor missing the finals moments as Crosby raced towards the net, gave his leg kick, juked, turned, put the puck on his back hand and…

Age and Treachery Shall Always Beat Out Youth and Skill...

This boys and girls is our third and final Olympic age based team. They’re old, they’re cantankerous, and they’re accomplished. Together they have won an astounding 28 Cups, with 6 Hart Trophies, 6 Art Ross Trophies (to be fair, all Lemieux), 3 Norris Trophies, 4 Vezinas, 5 Frank J Selkes, and 4 Conn Smythes. All of which makes them extremely accomplished and very knowledgeable about the game. Thirteen of them have tasted the success of Olympic Gold (what… you mean it isn’t chocolate wrapped in foil… aww man, why’d I skate so damn hard then…), but age is a factor. The average age of the team is 34, which means a lot of experience (see above), a lot of baggage (see Lindros, E.), and a lot of thick and tired legs. Still, something about these guys is tantalizing, perhaps it’s their involvement in 28 Stanley Cups, that cannot be a bad thing.

1st Line: C – Joe Sakic (36) – Colorado Avalanche
RW – Brendan Shanahan (36) – Detroit Red Wings
LW – Mario Lemieux (40) – Pittsburgh Penguins (captain)
D – Scott Niedermayer (32) – Anaheim Mighty Ducks
D – Chris Pronger (31) – Edmonton Oilers (assistant)

2nd Line: C – Eric Lindros (32) – Toronto Maple Leafs
RW – Glen Murray (33) – Boston Bruins
LW – Paul Kariya (31) – Nashville Predators
D – Adam Foote (34) – Columbus Blue Jackets
D – Rob Blake (36) – Colorado Avalanche

3rd Line: C – Jason Arnott (31) – Dallas Stars
RW – Steve Yzerman (40) – Detroit Red Wings (assistant)
LW – Rob Niedermayer (31) – Anaheim Mighty Ducks
D – Eric Desjardins (36) – Philadelphia Flyers
D – Adrian Aucoin (32) – Chicago Blackhawks

ChK Line: C – John Madden (32) – New Jersey Devils
RW – Kirk Maltby (33) – Detroit Red Wings
LW – Kris Draper (34) – Detroit Red Wings
Alt – Michael Peca (31) – Edmonton Oilers
Alt – Steve Staios (32) – Edmonton Oilers

In Goal: Martin Brodeur (33) – New Jersey Devils
Ed Belfour (40) – Toronto Maple Leafs
Curtis Joseph (38) – Phoenix Coyotes

Hard Cuts…

There were the perfect number of goalies and defensemen, so there was no challenge there, but Gretzky named an astounding 19 forwards 30 or older. I imagine he was trying to cover all his bases and not alienate any elder statesmen of the game. Six had to go, and as always I began with the surefire locks to stay: Lemieux, Sakic, Yzerman (assuming he’s healthy), Murray, and Draper were easy. After that, Shanahan’s lost a step or two, but he’s pretty much a given, as are checking dynamos Maltby and Madden. Choosing Madden pretty much eliminates Minnesota’s Wes Walz, a checking line center who just isn’t quite as productive. All of which means, five spots remained for 10 guys. Jason Arnott has never quite played to his offensive potential, but he’s a talented forward who excels defensively as well, the same could be said of Niedermayer, so they’re both in. Paul Kariya has had his head rocked a few too many times and arguably suffered more than any other player from the “clutch and grab” era that hockey is now emerging from, but his ice vision is almost unparalleled. Peca is a perfect fit as the alternate, given the many talents he brings to the table. All that remained was the need for a second line center, so Nashville’s Scott Walker and Steve Sullivan, and Pittsburgh’s Mark Recchi were out. The final cut came down to Lindros, Florida’s Joe Nieuwendyk, and Philly’s Keith Primeau. In the end, as much as it pained me to choose the under achieving head case, he’s having something of a resurgent season with Toronto, while Primeau just cannot get healthy and Nieuwendyk is finally succumbing to old man-dom.

Linear Deliberations…

More so than either of the other teams, the over 30 has both the best balance and the most flaws. While it can produce four true lines, it lacks that sensational playmaker who can take over a game. Certainly Lemieux, Yzerman, and Sakic were once those players, but at 40, 40, and 36 they no longer can be asked to dominate for 60 minutes. Still, as the Leafs are doing this year, you make do with what you have. Thus, I’ve added Brendan Shanahan to fill Iginla’s right hand slot on the Lemieux-Sakic line from the World Cup. While Shanny obviously isn’t the player Iginla is, nor the player he was four years ago, he still is a physical presence with soft enough hands to capitalize on what the magicians on that line produce. Both the third and checking line are a coaches dream. The third line in particular looks great. While Arnott and Niedermayer have never produced the offence expected of them, they have both developed into extremely competent two way players, add to them Stevie Y (incidentally one of my 5 favorite players all time) and you have a line of players whom the term “true hockey guys” can be used in the same way that Yankee fans refer to Paul O’Neil as a true ball player. The Draper-Madden-Maltby checking line will frustrate opposing team’s top units and ensure that the over 30’s have an excellent penalty killing unit. Still, my biggest problem with the team is the second line. While Murray is still playing at a top level, Karriya and Lindros can both be (harshly, but accurately) described as damaged goods. They might come through with a big game here and there, but often they disappear on the ice and you watch a whole game and suddenly say, “wait, where the heck was Lindros tonight,” only to find out he’s played 18 minutes and been on the ice for all three of the other team’s goals. They aren’t great defensively and if they aren’t putting the puck in the net, well, there isn’t a lot of give in the roster to pick up the scoring slack.

Defensively the team is strong and deep. Niedermayer, Pronger, Foote, and Blake have been the core defenders of Canada’s recent national team. While each is taking a little longer than hoped to recover from the year long break (and, with the exception of Blake, adapting to new scenery), by January they should each have their bearings and be ready to be as productive (and disruptive) as ever.

In goal, Brodeur likely will be Canada’s starting goalie and he’s capable of standing on his head for two weeks and winning the gold himself, so he easily gets the nod over 2002 Olympic teammates, Belfour and Joseph. Age is a factor with all three, but they remain active and more than capable.

Eight Ball Says…

On some level I wonder where the goals for this team will come from and how they would match up against a young and fast roster (like the Russians will likely wield), but as the Bald Man used to say, “age and treachery will always beat youth and skill…” Now, I’m not entirely sure that wisdom from someone with no hair should be yielded, but perhaps here he has a point. I think this team would go deep into the tournament because the vets would always remain level-headed, they’d be very sound defensively, excel on the penalty kill and with the man advantage. It might only happen on the power play, but Lemieux and Sakic would somehow score a goal a game, and somebody like Stevie Y would find an opportune time to win the game for them. As with everything, it depends on which opponent awaited them at which stage of elimination, but I think in all likelihood, they lose to either the Czechs or our 26-30 squad in the semis and then beat the baby Canadians for the bronze. That would give us gold, bronze and a fourth place finish, which is good, but if we shook the roster up more (or even just mixed the under 25 and over 30) we could probably get that silver medal.

A Plate of Cookies, a Punch in the Nose, and a Gold Medal to Boot...

This is our team, well pretty much. It’s like making cookies from one of those Pillsbury Doughboy cylinder mixes… these are our guys, we’re going to have to add some eggs (or gritty old guys) and a touch of milk (those precocious youngsters), but that’s pretty much all we need to have ourselves some gold medal winning cookies.

1st Line: C – Joe Thornton (26) – Boston Bruins
RW – Jarome Iginla (28) – Calgary Flames (captain)
LW – Alex Tanguay (26) – Colorado Avalanche
D – Wade Redden (28) – Ottawa Senators
D – Ed Jovanowski (29) – Vancouver Canucks (assistant)

2nd Line: C – Patrick Marleau (26) – San Jose Sharks
RW – Martin St-Louis (30) – Tampa Bay Lightning
LW – Brenden Morrow (26) – Dallas Stars
D – Bryan McCabe (30) – Toronto Maple Leafs
D – Scott Hannan (29) – San Jose Sharks

3rd Line: C – Brendan Morrison (30) – Vancouver Canucks
RW – Todd Bertuzzi (30) – Vancouver Canucks
LW – Jeff O’Neil (29) – Toronto Maple Leafs
D – Chris Phillips (27) – Ottawa Senators
D – Eric Brewer (26) – St Louis Blues

ChK Line: C – Marc Chouinard (28) – Minnesota Wild
RW – Shane Doan (29) – Phoenix Coyotes
LW – Ryan Smyth (29) – Edmonton Oilers (assistant)
Alt – Jason Allison (30) – Toronto Maple Leafs
Alt – Nick Boynton (26) – Boston Bruins

In Goal: Roberto Luongo (26) – Florida Panthers
Jose Theodore (29) – Montreal Canadians
Marty Turco (30) – Dallas Stars

Hard Cuts…

There have been two main factors in our National team’s recent success, overall excellence across the board, and depth in defense. We’ve had great goaltenders, forwards and blue liners, but the depth of the men along that line has truly been a saving grace. After all, in the 2004 World Cup, our top two defensemen (Chris Pronger and Rob Blake) were injured before the tournament even started and then once in play (and unable to make roster changes) we then lost our third in Scott Niedermayer and another in Ed Jovanowski, but because of our depth in defense we were able to survive these losses. This depth was in evidence in the 26 to 30 group, where 12 guys are being considered by Team Canada. With the team only carrying 7 defensemen five guys had to be sent packing. As difficult as narrowing the choices down was, five (Redden, Jovo, Hannan, Phillips, and Brewer) were locks based upon their involvement in 2004 and their continued performance and a sixth (McCabe) has certainly cemented his place by leading NHL defensemen with 30 points. So that really left 6 guys and one spot as the alternate defenceman. An argument could be made for any of the six(Dan Boyle, Kyle McLaren, Derek Morris, Sheldon Souray, Brad Stuart, and Boynton), but ultimately my decision came down to McLaren’s defensive presence, Boyle’s offensive exploits, or Boynton’s blend of both. Since it was for the alternate position, and I like versatility in an alternate, I decided upon Boynton.

With the forwards there were only three cuts to make, and they were fairly easy choices. After the gimmies (Iginla, Thornton, St Louis, Tanguay, Smyth, Morrow, Marleau, and Doan) the final five slots are quickly filled. Chouinard is the type of gritty checking center that the youngster team is missing; Bertuzzi is certainly a controversial player (and not yet playing his best hockey), but once he gets going he’s a force; like Bertuzzi, Morrison is off to a slow start, but he is a gifted playmaker and solid center. So that leaves 5 guys and two spots, I chose the two Leafs, not because I’m a Leafs fan (though I am), but because they both can contribute to the team. O’Neil may be spotty and a little moody (which leads to him disappearing for whole games), but when his game is on, like Bertuzzi, he is a physical scoring presence, and Allison has always been a talented scorer who just cannot quite stay healthy. Since the premise of this is that everyone is healthy, he’s the most talented of the final four players (Daniel Briere, Shawn Horcuff, and Marc Savard are the others).

The three goaltender choices were givens, Dan Cloutier is an adequate net minder, but Luongo, Theodore, and Turco are franchise goaltenders who could lead their club to the Cup.

Linear Deliberations…

The hardest choice was which goaltender to start. This is certainly a decision which would be debated by many, and likely has three right answers. Who’s best between Luongo, Theodore, and Turco? Well shoot, I don’t know. Turco has the best career goals against average, but then he played under Ken Hitchkock and that ridged defensive system for so long. Luongo has the worst career numbers, but then he plays for the Panthers (not a day goes by where I don’t think, if the Leafs could only trade....) and Theodore is the only Vezina winner among the three (not to mention that he also won the Hart that year). Still, I know that Gretzky and his crew give the nod to Luongo and I’m inclined to agree with them.

Line wise, things fell into place fairly easily, the top line was almost a given. Iginla and Thornton are top ten players in the NHL, and Tanguay has developed into a dangerous and crafty sniper aptly able to take advantage of the other two guys’ talents. The second line would be a scoring dynamo; Marleau, St Louis, and Morrow are all gifted with the puck, dishing the puck, and putting the thing in the back of the net. Morrow is also a talented fore checker and St Louis a hard nosed (despite his size) gritty player, so the line would be tough for opposing teams to handle. For the third line, I decided to blend the Bertuzzi-Morrison Vancouver partnership with O’Neil. If both big guys are on their game, this line will cause havoc throughout the tournament. Perhaps, best of all is the checking line. Chouinard is flanked by Doan and Smyth. Doan has already shown a willingness to forgo his usual role of first line winger if it benefits the team, and I think that Smyth is a similar type of player. This line would shut down the opposing team’s top lines, but like the Thornton-Doan-Draper line in the World Cup, they would also be dangerous once in possession of the puck (especially since most team’s top lines are terrible moving the other way).

Defensively, the pairings were fairly simple. Redden and Jovo are the top twosome and I’d just as soon put them on the ice together. Hannan gives McCabe a fundamentally sound, physically imposing presence, which allows him to join the rush and pursue offensive opportunities. And lastly Phillips and Brewer make a completely competent third pairing.

Eight Ball Says…

This is the team which brings home the gold. 18 of the 23 will be in serious discussion for the National team, with ten actually making mine. The goaltending depth for us between 26 and 30 is better than for any other nation inclusive of all ages. The team has defensemen who can move the puck, destroy the body, and do both. McCabe or Redden can quarterback the power play, and penalty killers are in abundance. Chouinard, Doan, and Smyth will lock down other teams top lines and be feisty, pesky instigators. But, most importantly, if the big guys (Iginla, Thornton, Bertuzzi, and O’Neil) are playing at the top of their game, then nobody in the world will be able to withstand their physical power and sublime shooting touch. Even divided by age, if this team didn’t come home with the gold it would be a disappointment.

Coming through the Pipeline... A LOT of Talent.

Are you excited? You really should be, because the first entry of Team Canada’s three age based teams is, perhaps, the most exciting; it’s the guys who we will be relying on going forward. There is a lot to like in the kids: Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Danny Heatley, Simone Gagne, Jay Bouwmeester, and Robyn Regher were all integral parts of our 2004 World Cup winning team (Lecavalier was the tournament MVP), and newbies Sydney Crosby, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, and Dion Phaneuf are only just scratching the surface of their talents. For the three teams I stuck solely to the 81 candidates Gretzky listed for selection, with the exception being these babies. who didn’t have enough goaltenders or defensemen. So, first I will start by listing the roster according to the lines in which I would play them (and keep in mind that I have guys lined up where I think they would best produce, alongside complimentary players, NOT in the order of who I think is the best, so Brad Richards is this teams checking line center, not because he’s there fourth best center, but because he’s a reliable player to position there, capiche?), then I’ll give you a breakdown of why I made my selections, what’s exciting about the lineup, and how I think they’d do. Players are given with their age and team and goaltenders are listed in the order I’d play them.

1st Line: C – Vincent Lecavalier (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning (captain)
RW – Danny Heatley (24) – Ottawa Senators
LW – Simone Gagne (25) – Philadelphia Flyers
D – Dion Phaneuf (20) – Calgary Flames
D – Robin Regher (25) – Calgary Flames (assistant)

2nd Line: C – Jason Spezza (22) – Ottawa Senators
RW – Rick Nash (21) – Columbus Blue Jackets
LW – Sidney Crosby (18) – Pittsburgh Penguins
D – Jay Bouwmeester (22) – Florida Panthers
D – Barret Jackman (24) – St. Louis Blues

3rd Line: C – Eric Staal (21) – Carolina Panthers
RW – Patrice Bergeron (20) – Boston Bruins
LW – Pierre-Marc Bouchard (21) – Minnesota Wild
D – Dan Hamhuis (22) – Nashville Predators
D – Brent Seabrook (20) – Chicago Blackhawks

ChK Line: C – Brad Richards (25) – Tampa Bay Lightning (assistant)
RW – Michael Ryder (25) – Montreal Canadians
LW – Mike Richards (20) – Philadelphia Flyers
Alt – Jeff Carter (20) – Philadelphia Flyers
Alt – Steve Eminger (22) – Washington Capitals

In Goal: Andrew Raycroft (25) – Boston Bruins
Cam Ward (21) – Carolina Hurricanes
Marc-Andre Flurry (20) – Pittsburgh Penguins


Hard Cuts…

With the youngsters the only cut from the 81 was Anaheim’s Joffrey Lupol. A talented young winger, there really just wasn’t a spot for him. If he could be counted on as a defensive forward then he’d have had a place, but instead I went with the more versatile Pierre-Marc Bouchard and the “veteran” Ryder. For the third goaltender I added Marc-Andre Flurry, there might be better goalies under the age of 25 right now (Vancouver’s Alex Auld comes to mind), but Flurry is our goaltender of the future and he might as well get some experience in camp with the guys. Hamhuis, Seabrook, and Eminger were my defensive additions. Each is having a good season offensively, though each needs work in their own zone.

Linear Deliberations…

I’m not going to lie to you, I had a lot of fun with the first two lines of this team. The top line is just awesome and will be added as a unit when I make my Olympic team selections. Lecavalier, Gagne, and Heatley is a potent combination of scoring touch, ice vision, speed and toughness. The second line has gifted playmakers Crosby and Spezza giving the biscuit to super sniper Nash. It’s a young line and might not be super responsible defensively, but it’ll certainly score a LOT of goals. The third line is a little less exciting, but Staal has been the biggest surprise of the young season and Bouchard is a gifted little playmaker. Bergeron gives the line a physical power forward to crash the net. The checking line is a little of a shambles. That was the hardest part of this team, finding grinders to man the checking line. It isn’t particularly surprising, because the young players who will have gained recognition in the league are the ones who put the puck in the net. Building a reputation as a great checking line forward takes a little longer. Yet Brad Richards is a lock for the Olympic team and he’s a solid defensive scorer, so much the way the national team asked Thornton to man the checking line in the World Cup, so I would ask Richards to guide a hodgepodge checking line. For a young forward, Mike Richards has shown solid defensive attributes (likely the result of playing for hardnosed coach Ken Hitchkock) and Ryder really is relegated there. Jeff Carter is the alternate forward, a good young player, just not quite good enough.

The defensive pairings were pretty easy, the Calgary guys are a natural fit together. Regher’s stay at home defensive responsibility blends well with Phaneuf’s abundant abilities. The same can be said of the second grouping, where Jackman is a solid force in the defensive zone and Bouwmeester a great quarterback. Hamhuis and Seabrook would see time on the ice, but likely more often split apart and thrown out there with Regher and Jackman as a safety blanket. A young defense, they’re quite capable, but prone to the mental lapses of youth (the brunt of which I still make daily…).

Eight Ball Says…

This team is awesome and they would definitely score a lot of goals, but they’re a little weak at the back and in goal. Raycroft is a solid NHL net minder and he’s getting better, but there’s no way I’d want him in net for our one and only team (especially given his, and Boston’s, terrible start to the season). The top two lines would dominate the opposition and we might be able to win some shootouts against the Russians or Swedes, but the lack of some seasoned gritty vets who ensure that the little things happen would ultimately undo our kids against a balanced team like the Czechs or one of our older clubs. Still, it’s exciting to see how many guys 25 or under (12 by my count) will be serious considerations for the Olympic team and the experience that Lecavalier, Heatley, Gagne et all are getting now will only make them seasoned vets sooner. Only, skilled seasoned vets, still with young legs… You’ve got to admit, the thought of all that talent skating for Canada in the next three, four, or (in the case of Crosby) five Olympics well... it’s pretty exciting, don’t you think?

Why Win One When You Can Win All Three

In a little more than a month, Wayne Gretzky and the powers that be in Canada’s Olympic hockey regime will announce the 23 roster players destined for Turin. And while the announcement will surely be met with outlandish proclamations and fevered expectations of gold, it will also be met by indignant reactions over player selection and roster choices. After all, everybody and their dog is a better talent evaluator than the guys at Hockey Canada. Never mind the exceptional run of success they’re on with Gretzky at the helm, it’s inevitable that fans of Dan Cloutier will argue for his inclusion as the third goaltender over Jose Theodore or Marty Turco. When Gretzky announced the 81 players who would be considered for inclusion, the fans on TSN’s comments section lambasted the choice of certain players at the expense of others. One gentleman from the Toronto region complained about the selection of Shane Doan over Darcy Tucker. DARCY TUCKER, I’m not even making this up. Someone actually felt that a marginal second line winger on an adequate Leafs’ team should be chosen over Doan whose exceptional play with Kris Draper and Joe Thornton on the checking line was one of the biggest reasons for our success at the 2004 World Cup (not to mention that he scored the game winner in the final). But, whatever the protestations of the fans there are two truths to the process: First, there is such an abundance of talent in Canadian hockey right now, that choosing who to put on the roster and who gets cut will be a very challenging process. Second, there is such an abundance of talent in Canadian hockey right now, that whomever they select, it will be hard for them to go wrong.

The team will likely bear a strong resemblance to that 2004 World Cup team, but for that tournament, teams were allowed to carry 26 players and four others were last minute scratches who needed replacing, which brings us to 30 guys from 2004 to sort through. Add to them the guys who’ve made giant strides since then (Alex Tanguay), the old timers who’ve gotten themselves back into the discussion (Paul Kariya), and the young players who’ve since entered the league with a bang (uhmm, that Sidney Crosby kid) and I count 46 players who could legitimately be chosen for our national team in December. Which of course leaves 23 cut by the wayside, exactly the number of a second team. Now, it has often been Canadians’ contention that we should be able to field a second squad in the Olympic hockey tournament and while this contention is never considered seriously, it is about time someone in Canada’s Olympic committee pushed for our rights. We need to stand up there, stamp our feet like a small child and say, “we don’t just wont one pretty colored medal, we want ALL THREE.” I’m not kidding, maybe it seams outlandish, but if the Austrians can field multiple downhill skiers, who win gold, silver and bronze in the same event, and the Americans can have three sprinters in the 100 meter final, then we should be allowed to send two, possibly even three teams into the hockey tournament. I don’t care that one is an individual competition, while the other a team, the point is that those other countries rack up multiple medal counts by excelling in the same event. Either a country should only be allowed to enter one competitor (or team) in one event, or we should get another hockey entry (a couple years ago I would have said that by the same argument the U.S. should get a second basketball team in the Olympics, but right now their first doesn’t seem so intimidating, let alone their second). The same euphoria which will greet the naming of our Olympic team with expectations of gold, would mean that we would fully expect to take gold, silver, and bronze in the tournament, which is a lot to expect. Olympic goaltenders are so good that any of the big six (Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and The U.S.) can win any single elimination game on any given night, but the point is that we could win all three medals. If the puck bounced right, or our snipers were just spot on, we could send 3 teams into the semi finals (likely against the Czechs), and hopefully dominate the podium. It isn’t that we definitely would, just as it isn’t that the German bobsled team definitely will win gold and silver, but just as they could so could we.

With that in mind I got to thinking about how one would break up those 81 players into three teams to compete. Do you select the same “top” 23 you would if you had only one team, and then a second team, and third? Virtually demanding that the #1 team come home with gold and hope the others can medal. Or do you sprinkle the talent throughout and hope for gold, but increase the likelihood of winning a couple medals? With that in mind I looked over the list of 81 and thought about how I would organize things, and the most interesting way to split the teams for me, was to split them according to age. Which team would be our best, the babies, the mid lifers, or the geriatrics? So with that in mind, starting Monday Achanceyougottatake Sports will break up Canada’s hockey program into three teams: 25 and under, 26 – 30, and over 30. We’ll designate some lines, anoint captains, and prognosticate about their results, and just to show that once in a while I swoop down out of the clouds and actually work in reality, we’ll finish it off by selecting our own personal (ok, well actually it’s my dog’s selection, but that pooch is pretty hockey savvy…) 23 man Olympic roster. The one that is certain to bring gold home from Turin (and there we go with those expectations again…)

Visiting the Magical Land of Make Believe...

Feeling down? The never ending barrage of rain making it hard to smile? Or maybe it’s the crappy fortunes of your favorite NBA franchise? The season is only two weeks old, but for a number of NBA teams things already look pretty bleak (except of course for BigCuz and his 4-2 Warriors). When I get blue, I like walk down the hall of my building and visit my favorite neighbor, Mr. Robinson. Kids, you all remember Mr. Robinson right? He’s the guy who looks a lot like a funny Eddie Murphy, you know the young one who was all edgy and raw. He’s the neighbor who sells drugs and whom Mr. Landlord has been trying to evict, but don’t let that sway you, he truly is a swell guy. You can tell by the nice sweater vest he always wears when he gets home. Well anyhow, when I get down I like to venture over to Mr. Robinson’s and first I make sure that I clearly identify myself – lest he shoot first ask who later – and then I tell him I’m feeling low and he suggests we visit the land of make believe, because kids in the land of make believe your NBA team can make a move which will actually increase its chances of going to the playoffs, as opposed to trading pouty superstar Vince Carter for an expensive ostensibly (as least as far as the Raptors were concerned) retired Alonzo Mounring and two beach blankets. What’s that? They weren’t blankets, they were NBA players Eric Williams and Aaron Williams? Well they might as well be blankets, because I’ve never seen them anywhere but draped over the bench… So, along with MR. Robinson, let us go to the magical land of make believe and examine three trades which should happen (and rest assured that I have done the requisite leg work to ensure that each trade works under the NBA’s salary cap rules, although a couple cannot take place until December):

Charlotte sends PG Brevin Knight, PF Melvin Ely, a 2006 1st Round Pick, and a 2007 Second Round Selection to the Atlanta Hawks for SF Marvin Williams and G Tony Delk.

Why the Hawks Should Do It: Because the team is in desperate need of a point guard and has an abundance of players (Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Al Harrington) whose games are eerily similar. Williams might one day be the best of the those guys, but right now he just looks lost. The Hawks need to whittle down the wings, get some strength in the middle and someone to consistently distribute the ball – because Tyrone Lue just isn’t going to get it done (the Joe Johnson at point experiment lasted a whole two games). The draft pick will give Atlanta two in the lottery this year, so they can get future stars at the point and center, while Knight gives them someone capable for now and a heady tutor for Rajon Rondo or Daniel Gibson. Ely also gives the Hawks a productive post presence for the bench.

Why the Bobcats Should Do It: Williams was the player they wanted from this years draft. He’s a future superstar with North Carolina Tar Heal routes. Instead they took PG Raymond Felton and PF Sean May, and while May will likely be a mistake, Felton is looking like a real find, thus making Knight expendable. This offseason the Bobcats will finally be privy to the full salary cap (the NBA limits the cap threshold of new franchises), which means they will have the money to go out and fill some of their holes, thus losing the draft choice isn’t as damaging. Getting Williams would allow them to create a future front line of Williams, 2005 rookie of the year Emeka Okafor, and Primoz Brezec. Delk is just in there for salary cap purposes.

The Bottom Line: The trade helps both teams, Atlanta has gone into the past two offseasons with oodles of cap room, but is seen as such an albatross that only Joe Johnson took their money, so they need to stockpile draft picks and use them wisely (easier said then done for the Hawks). The Bobcats on the other hand are seen as a new franchise which could well be on the rise, bringing in Williams in exchange for this years pick is a no brainer.

Portland sends SF Darius Miles, SF Ruben Patterson, C Theo Ratliff, and SG Juan Dixon to New York for PG Stephon Marbury and PF Antonio Davis.

Why the Knicks Should Do It: Nobody doubts that the Larry Brown – Stephon Marbury experiment is going to end badly, it’s just a question of when and what can Isaiah get for Marbury. In this package they get two talented defenders, which will make Brown happy, and a young talented head case, which will make Isaiah happy. Dixon is there to make the salaries work, but maybe he could crack Brown’s erratic rotation. Miles is leading the Trail Blazers in scoring and would help replace some of Marbury’s punch (although he would likely drive Brown nuts). Ratliff would add to the center/forward mess that the Knicks have taken on (Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Channing Frye, Maurice Taylor, Malik Rose, along with Davis), but at least he plays defense and knows Larry Brown (under whom he was quite successful in Philadelphia). Ratliff is way overpaid, but then again Thomas is the man who gave Jerome James 29 million for five years of fat, unproductive play (… and then hired Brown a man who would never play a player of James’s ilk, god, I could write a whole column about this inanity).

Why the Trail Blazers Should Do It: When Portland GM John Nash was hired he was given a three pronged directive: clean up the team’s decrepit image, decrease the unruly payroll, and get the team back into the playoffs. All of which was a pretty difficult task, but one in which Nash seemed particularly incapable of doing (he gave bad boy power forward Zach Randolph a max extension that was likely not warranted, over paid for Ratliff, and generally decreased the talent level across the board). Still most of the notorious members of the “Jail Blazers” have been extricated and this trade would get rid of the wife abusing Patterson and the coach fighting Miles. In return it would bring back Marbury, who for all of his faults (lack of leadership, hip hop image, get mine attitude) is an extremely gifted athlete who hasn’t run afoul of the law, It would also allow Portland to pair him in the backcourt with his cousin, Sebastion Telfair in what would be a fast, shifty, proficient and exciting pairing. Davis gives the team a quality workmanlike forward/center whose 14 million comes off the books this year.

The Bottom Line: It’s a classic case of one man’s refuse is another man’s antique armoire. The salaries involved are so exorbitant that there are not many other teams who could be involved (the number of rumored trades involving Marbury to teams that logistically cannot absorb his salary is ridiculous), but these two have been rumored for weeks to be dancing. It’s time for them to finish the flirting and get their hands on each others hips. Neither trade completes the work the teams need, but it would be a start.

Minnesota sends PF Kevin Garnett to Chicago for SF Tim Thomas, SG Ben Gordan, PF Mike Sweetney, and 2 1st draft choices.

Why the Bulls Should Do It: Uhmmm, HELLO, are you paying attention? I just wrote the Bulls acquire local boy Garnett for, well who the heck cares what they acquire him for, the point is they acquire Kevin Garnett. Yes, Gordan was the 6th man last year and Sweetney is a talented youngster, but Garnett would instantly make Chicago a title contender.

Why the Timberwolves Should Do It: Are you kidding, they shouldn’t, they probably wouldn’t, but the rumours that Garnett has requested a trade just wont quite die out, and this would give the T-wolves two talented youngsters, two draft picks, and Thomas’s expiring contract to start their rebuilding. Gordon needs to develop some consistency and work on his defense, but he is a dynamic sorer, and when finally given the minutes, Sweetney will be a force on the low block. Still, unless the name coming back is LeBron James, or possibly some combination involving Dwayne Wade and Amare Stoudemire, you simply can NOT trade Kevin Garnett.

The Bottom Line: This trade is tantalizing because it would mean the Bulls could field a towering front line of uber athletic, uber skinny 7-footers, Garnett and Tyson Chandler. Teams would never score against the Bulls already suffocating D and Garnett would give them a superstar presence on offence. Of course, unless T-Wolves’ GM Kevin McHale and owner Glen Taylor have a Rob Babcock-like brain fart Garnett wont be playing for anyone else. A slightly more likely scenario would be the Wolves agreeing to trade Garnett if another team also took Wally Szczerbiak and his outrageous contract away. The Bulls do have the expiring contracts to make it happen, but it would mean a 102 million investment from chairman Jerry Riensdorf, who is likely too distracted celebrating his Chicago White Sox’s victory to make that kind of commitment. So, it’s unlikely Garnett is going anywhere, but if you’re a Bulls fan and you take a stroll to Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood the land of make believe can help ease the mid-November blues.