Vince Carter: "Le Dunk De La Mort"

Vince Carter has arguably some of the best in-game dunks in the history of the NBA. There are dozens of posters and videos I could link you to to prove my point, but his abilities can be summed up in one short highlight clip. It was the 2000 Summer Olympics, 6'6'' Vince Carter stole the ball and literally dunk over 7'2'' Frederic Weis. The french media called this "le Dunk de la Mort", or in English: the Dunk of Death.

Seattle Supersonics

In 2006, Oklahoma businessman Clayton Bennett purchased the Sonics with the intentions of keeping the team in Seattle. Key Arena was outdated and undersized, but the owners could not seem to win over government officials to fund a new arena. Bennett moved the team to Oklahoma City in 2008 renaming the team to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The relocation of the Supersonics was devastating to the fans in Seattle. Just watch a Sonics game. Listen to the crowd. Its rare to find an arena as electric as Key Arena. Whether the Sonics were up 20 or down 40, the fans always made themselves known, and it is unfortunate that the franchise had to move.

Gary Payton, Sean Kemp, and head coach George Karl

NBA Lockout

At midnight tonight the current CBA (collective bargaining agreement) between the National Basketball Player's Association (NBPA) and owners of the NBA is set to expire, and a lockout will be put into effect. The last time the NBA experienced a lockout was in 1998, which led to a 50 game '98-'99 season. Lets hope they can reach an agreement before the 2011-12 season starts!!!

Jason Williams: Pistol Pete Is Alive #55

Jason Williams was drafted in 1998 to the Sacramento Kings. During his 3 season with the Kings, Williams excited the Sacramento crowd with his unbelievable passing abilities. With Williams unselfish leadership, the Kings became a Playoff contender once again. After 12 great years, he announced his retirement in 2011.

"I'm the kind of person who would rather have 15 assists than 50 points." -Jason Williams

Manute Bol

One year ago the basketball world was mourning the death of one of its most influential and respected players, Manute Bol. This Sudanese 7 foot 7 big-man did more than just block shots, he contributed greatly to the Sudan refugee efforts. Rest in peace, Manute.

Rafer Alston: Skip To My Lou

All the way uptown in Harlem, NY you will find the mecca of basketball and the court that America's best basketball players have been playing on for over 50 years: Rucker Park. Wilt Chamberlain has player there. Kareem has played there. Vince Carter has played there. But Rucker Park is not about fundamental NBA basketball, it is about schoolyard street ball.

In 1998 the first AND1 Mixtape was filmed at Rucker Park highlighing America's best young street baller, Rafer Alston aka "Skip To My Lou". He is best known for being able to break down any defender, making his way to the basket with his jaw dropping dribble moves and unbelievable ball handling.

Alston was a late 2nd round draft pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998. He struggled in his first few seasons but would go on to make his mark on the NBA, eventually finding a way to incorporate his street ball technique to the game with such teams as the Raptors, Rockets, Heat and Magic.

Orlando Magic Early Years: Shaq and Penny

In 1989, the Magic became the first major league professional sports franchise in Orlando. Despite having a solid roster in Dennis Scott, Scott Skiles, and Nick Anderson, they were still looking for the right puzzle pieces to put them on the map.

After the Magic's 1991-92 season of 21 wins to 61 losses, they won the 1992 Draft Lottery for the #1 pick. So it was an obvious decision on May 17, 1992, that they would choose the big man Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq led the Magic to their first .500 season (41-41), but were just short of the Playoffs. He also won the Rookie of the Year award.

Despite their 20 game improvement from the previous season, the Magic again won the 1993 Draft Lottery #1 pick. Orlando drafted the Michigan Fab 5's Chris Webber, but traded for Golden State's #3 pick Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. The young duo would help the Magic reach the Playoffs for the first time with a 50-32 record. Shaq had 15 blocks against the Nets and brought down a couple backboards that year. But the Magic were swept in the first round of the Playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.

In the 1994-95 season, the Magic aquired the Bulls All-Star forward Horace Grant (and his awesome goggles), and the Magic would improve to a 57 win to 25 loss season. They fought their way through the Celtics and Bulls in the first two rounds of the Playoffs, and made it all the way to the Finals after defeating the Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately Hakeem Olajuwon and his Houston Rockets were too much for the young Magic Squad, sweeping them 4 games to 0.

The Shaq and Penny duo was a dominant force in the East, but O'Neal had other plans as he made his way west for LA. The Magic did not return to the Finals until 2009 on the back of their new big-man, Dwight Howard. The Magic lost to the Lakers in Game 5, and are still on the hunt for their first championship.

Shaquille O'Neal announced retirement in 2011 after 19 years in the NBA and 4 Championships.

Gilbert Arenas: Agent 0

What makes basketball the most thrilling and electrifying sport is that any game can be decided with less than 1 second left on the clock. If there is one thing we learned from watching the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals (or even the Pacers vs. Knicks in 1995), its that you never change the channel before the final buzzer sounds and the shot clock reached 00:00. Perhaps the best way to illustrate to someone who does not follow the NBA as to why the game is never over until the final buzzer rings is by showing them Derek Fisher's history "0.4 shot". After Tim Duncan hit what everyone thought was the game winner, Derek Fisher drills a turnaround jumper with less than half a second on the clock, putting the Lakers up 3-2 against the Spurs in the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals.

Throughout the history of the NBA there has been a number of historic game winning shots. But my personal favorite crunch time player has to be the Washington Wizards former All Star point guard Gilbert Arenas. Arenas is known as Agent 0, because of his jersey #0. But I like to think of him as being the Agent 0 because of what he can do when the shot clock creeps closer to 0. In his '06-'07 season with the Wizards, he had a number of signature buzzer-beater shots. He beat the Milwaukee Bucks on January 3rd 2007 with a deep 3 point shot (in the post game interview: "My swag was phenomenal".) He drilled another 3 point game winner just 2 weeks later against the Utah Jazz (notice that he raises his arms up in jubilation before the ball even hits the net.) He plowed through the lane in Seattle, beating the Supersonics at the buzzer with a wild bank shot. And in the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Gil beat the Chicago Bulls on a pull up jumper with 3 seconds left, giving the Wizards their first Playoff lead since 1988.

Arenas also had two exceptionally deep 3 point buzzer beaters against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He sunk a long range shot to force overtime in the first round of the 2007 Playoffs. But my favorite has to be his 1st quarter buzzer beater in Cleveland from way (way, way, way) downtown.

Honorable mention: being from Orlando and a life-long Magic fan, I have to highlight both Gil's 3rd Quarter long range buzzer against the Kings and his full court shot that was waved off because it banked off the shot clock.

Gilbert Arenas receives a lot of negative criticism due to his gun charges in 2010, poor performance due to injury, and his controversial (and extremely entertaining) Twitter account which he was fined for in 2011. Regardless, a true fan of the NBA has to appreciate the unbelievably clutch plays he put together during his time in Washington, and hopefully he will get back to his old self, whether its in Orlando or with another ball club.

Gilbert Arenas bows for the Staples Center

after dropping 60 points against the Lakers.

"Good Night South Beach, There's No Heat In Cleveland"

The 2003 NBA Draft was an exciting year for the future of the association. Dwayne Wade was picked 5th by the Miami Heat. Chris Bosh was picked 4th by the Toronto Raptors. But the most promising prospect was Lebron James, selected 1st overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. James made the Cavs exciting for the city of Cleveland. With the addition of Mike Brown as head coach in the 05'-06' season, the Cavs produced their first 50 win season in over a decade. James led the Cleveland to the NBA Finals in 2007, but were swept 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs. In both the '08-'09 and '09-'10 seasons, Lebron led the Cavs to back to back 60-win seasons, finishing 1st seed in the Eastern Conference. He would also be awarded MVP in both seasons, but could not seem to fight his way back into the Finals.

With just a few puzzle pieces away from James' first NBA Championship, his free agency was inching closer and closer. On July 1st of 2010, Lebron James officially became a free agent. On July 8th, 2010, Lebron James announced on national television that his decision would be to take his "talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat". Just one day later, free agent Chris Bosh would also sign with the Heat. The Heats new "Big 3" would be one of the most criticized and scrutinized (and hated) teams in the history of the NBA.

The Cavs' were left high and dry, finishing the 2010-2011 season with a dismal 19-63 record, finishing dead last in the Eastern Conference. They also registered an NBA record for the longest losing streak, losing 26 straight games.

On December 2nd, 2010 Lebron returned to Cleveland. It would be the first time the Heat's Big 3 would play in Cleveland that season. Police and security was at an all time high at the Quicken Loans Arena. James single-handedly shut down the Cavs, scoring 38 points, leading the Heat to a 28 point blowout win. The Cavs players would receive waves of criticism and anger not because the fans expected a win, but because they barely put up a fight as the King walked all over them.

But March 29, 2011 would be a day for Cavs fans to rejoice. The Heat returned for their second match in Cleveland. James did not come out of the locker room when his name was called. But this did not hold back the sold out crowd of over 20,000 fans from the relentless booing. The Cavaliers would win wire-to-wire 102-90, never allowing the Heat to pull ahead despite a 19-1 run in the 3rd quarter and James' triple-double. The final minute of the game was arguably one of the most electric and exciting finishes to any regular season game that season. Despite one of the worst season in Cavaliers history, the team would give their city one night of triumph and celebration, and the revenge they greatly deserved.

"Good night South Beach, there is no Heat in Cleveland!!!" -Fred McLeod, Fox Sports Ohio

Golden State Warriors: We Believe

The 2006-2007 season was a memorable one for Golden State. The last time they had been in the NBA Playoffs was 1994, where they were swept in the First Round by the Phoenix Suns. But this season would be different. Their revamped roster was packed full of some of the NBA's most explosive and exciting players: Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Monta Ellis, and Jason Richardson to name a few.

Finding themselves out of reach for a spot in the Playoffs, the Warriors went on a 16 wins to 5 loss run to finish off the season, fighting their way into the Playoffs at the 8th seed. The Warriors (42 wins - 40 losses) were locked in to face the 1st seed Dallas Mavericks (67 wins - 15 losses) in the First Round.

The series was tied 1-1 after the first 2 games in Dallas. But it was the boisterous crowd (and the sea of bright yellow "We Believe" t-shirts) at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA, home of the Warriors, that led them to win both home games, giving them a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Warriors would go on to upset the Mavericks in Game 5 at home after an 18-0 run in the 3rd quarter, making this one of the most astonishing upsets in NBA Playoff history.

Since the NBA expanded the Playoffs to 8 teams in each Conference in 1984, only two 8th seed teams prior to the Warriors upset their 1st seed match-up in the first round. The Warriors would be the third.

Reggie Miller: Knick Killer

It was Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers vs. the New York Knicks. After a poor 1st quarter, Reggie Miller and his Pacers found themselves playing from behind. But it was in the 4th quarter that Reggie put Spike Lee's sideline taunting to an end when he made the choking gesture, signaling that Knicks were 'choking' in the 4th quarter. Reggie scored 25 of his 39 points in the 4th, putting the Pacers up 3-2 in the series. However the momentum would not carry through, as the Knicks eliminated the Pacers in game 7.

Reggie would get his revenge the following season in 1995. It was in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals that Reggie would shock the Knicks. The Pacers found themselves trailing 6 points with 18 seconds remaining. Reggie scored 8 points in the final seconds, and with the help of 2 missed free throws by NY guard John Starks, the Pacers would go on to take an unexpected 1-0 lead in the series. The Pacers would win in Game 7.

"Ding dong, the witch is dead!!!"

RIP Robert 'Tractor' Traylor

Robert Traylor was originally drafted 6th in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. However, Dallas quickly traded for the Milwaukee Bucks 9th and 19th picks, Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity.

February 1, 1977 - May 11, 2011