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As the 2011-12 season takes shape, it’s time to rank the best basketball players in the world. During the lockout, ESPN came up with a pseudo list to categorize the top players in the game. The problem? It was inaccurate. Why? It had little to do with basketball and more to do about nostalgia (Duncan and Nash), personal vendettas (Kobe and Melo), and hyping personal favorites (D-Wade and LeBron). Naturally, any list is likely to stir debate; however, the ESPN list was designed to reshape how the public views certain players—instead of actually ranking  players based on ability. To take a different approach, we constructed a list based on a player’s current ability along with a variety of intangible qualities that are difficult to quantify (such as a player’s ability to take over a game, convert field goals with a high degree of difficulty on a regular basis, etc.). So, let’s take a look at the league’s top 20 players in 2012:

20. Rudy Gay: A rising star on a rising team. With an $85 million contract, the Grizzlies are banking on him to climb higher in the rankings—and move his team deeper into the playoffs.

19. LaMarcus Aldridge: At 22.7 points a game Aldridge is blazing a trail of progress that keeps his stock rising in the Beaver State.

18. Andrew Bynum: Early in his career, Bynum was given a chance to start and went 8-8 from the floor against the New York Knicks. At that point, it was clear that Bynum had the tools to develop into a high level player. The problem? Phil Jackson decided to start Kwame Brown ahead of the young center until he was shipped out for Gasol. Today, Bynum is the second best center in the league—and he’s only getting better.

17: Monta Ellis: As the game’s third best shooting guard, it’s only fitting that Ellis breaks the top 20. After all, he averaged 24.1 points per game last year and is league’s seventh best scorer early into the 2012 season.

16. Rajon Rondo: Rondo controls tempo of the game and drops the rock in the right spot to an aging group of stars to keep the Celtics on the periphery of contention. If he ever gets a jumper, he might hurdle over a couple of the players ahead of him.

15. Chris Bosh: Although he’s not the best player on the Miami Heat roster, this 2008 US Olympic champion averaged 24.0 points per game in the year before he took his talents to South Beach. Now, he’s the second leading scorer on the team with 20.o points per game on 51% shooting.

14. Russel Westbrook: Westbrook is taking big strides in becoming a top tier player. If he continues to improve, look for him to join three other point guards to represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic games in London.

13. Amare Stoudomire: Amare is a beast—and among the most underrated players in the game. With the evolution of Kevin Love’s game and the meteoric rise of Blake Griffin, however, one must wonder if Amare can crack the top 10 again.

12. Kevin Love: A rebounding machine becomes a lethal scorer and three-point threat? Question Kevin Love all you want, but 25.6 points a game and 14.3 points per game indicate he’s evolving into a legit superstar. As Ricky Rubio becomes more acclimated to the NBA game, get ready to watch these two become a dynamic tandem that propels the T-Wolves into the playoffs—someday.

11. Blake Griffin: There’s no limit to how high this guy can fly. Teamed with CP3, watch for the Clippers to take flight as Griffin continues to leap out of the building—and right into the postseason.

10. Derron Williams: D-Will is a franchise player looking to join another franchise player to get a ring. Will he get help from D-Howard or will head West to join the Black Mamba?

9. Dirk Nowitzki: The best shooting seven-footer in NBA history certainly cracks the top 10. After taking two months off and coming in slightly out of shape, however, he showed everyone how he lacks one of those intangibles qualities that keeps him from becoming a truly elite players. In other words, Kobe and LeBron hit the weight room over the summer while Dirk decided it was too taxing to prepare for the 2012 season. Did anyone spot Dirk and Pau kickin’ it on the beach in the Basque Coast during the lockout?

8. Carmelo Anthony: Who needs defense when you can score like Melo? Silky smooth on the offensive end and one of the game’s top three closers, Melo is clearly one of the game’s elite players.

7. Dwayne Wade: A top five player until D-Rose blossomed into a superstar and CP3 reminded everyone that he’s game’s best point guard. Nonetheless, D-Wade remains among the game’s top tier players—and is in a good position to lead the Miami Heat to the finals in 2012.

6. Chris Paul: With incredible court vision and blistering speed, there’s no one better at managing a game and getting easy baskets for his teammates. Now, he’s surrounded with real talent. As a result, watch CP3 move into the MVP conversation as the season moves forward.

5. Dwight Howard: There is no greater degree of separation among players at a particular position. The three-time defensive player of the year and perrennial MVP candidate makes the Magic a force in East—until his inevitable move to the Westside creates a seismic shift in the NBA landscape.

4. Derrick Rose: The reigning MVP is simply one of the best in the game. Like Kobe, D-Rose is one of the few players in the league whom is able to put a team on his back down the stretch and score from nearly anywhere on the floor—and he’s only 23 years old.

3. Kevin Durant: Durant’s game is quickly closing the gap on the two players ahead of him. Although the ESPN ranking failed to place him in the top five, the reality is that the reigning scoring champ might become the league’s most valuable by the end of the season.

2. LeBron James: LeBron is clearly the most athletic player in the NBA; however, there’s a difference from being the best athlete in the NBA and best basketball player in the world. Like Durant, LeBron is in a rare position to make it to the top of the list within a year after putting in off-season work to improve his game—and after watching his quick start to the season—the gap is smaller than ever. Now, he just needs to learn how to close games and win on the big stage.

1. Kobe Bryant: Last year, Kobe led the league in scoring per 48 minutes—despite coming off knee surgery and playing through a litney of nagging injuries. In 2012, Kobe still maintains superior footwork, better range, and a deeper of understanding of how to evolve his game than his contemporaries. In short, the NBA’s greatest assassin is the greatest all-around player in 2012. At 33-years old and a torn ligament in his shooting hand, Kobe Bryant is leading the league in scoring at 30.8 points per game, pacing the Lakers for first place in the Pacific Division

Team USA unveiled its pool of players under consideration for the 2012 Olympic games—and it looks like the gold standard is making a comeback. With Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and Kobe Bryant, the city of Los Angles has three players whom are likely to make the final team of 12. Here’s a list of the 20 players in the mix.

• Kobe Bryant
• LeBron James
• Kevin Durant
• Dwight Howard
• Derrick Rose
• Chris Paul
• Carmelo Anthony
• Deron Williams
• Russell Westbrook
• Blake Griffin
• Chris Bosh
• Kevin Love
• LaMarcus Aldridge
• Eric Gordon
• Rudy Gay
• Lamar Odom
• Andrew Iguodala
• Dwyane Wade
• Tyson Chandler
• Chauncey Billups

With Kobe Bryant teaming with Dwight Howard and LeBron James for a second time to compete for the gold, it’s clear that Team USA will have the Midas Touch in London this summer.

As the game hung in the balance, Kobe Bryant hung in the air long enough to drill a spinner off the dribble with 54.6 remaining. Vintage Kobe. Then, the Lakers fell apart. Four missed free throws by Josh McRoberts and Paul Gasol left the door open wide enough for Derrick Rose to walk inside and slam it shut. With a nice play off the dribble, D-Rose showed what an MVP is suppose to do—bring your team from the brink and hit the game winner. With a hotly contested game in the books, here’s a recap of opening night for the Lakers:

A Few Bright Spots

Kobe Bryant: With a torn ligament in his shooting hand, Kobe was still able to drop 28 points on 11-23 shooting while collecting seven rebounds, six assist, and two steals. The good news for Laker fans is that Kobe was able to find his spots rather easily throughout the game. The problem? The injury to the hand is affecting his ball handling ability, resulting in eight turnovers.

Devin Ebanks: Ebanks played well for the Lakers as a solid role player in his first start, going 4-5 from the field with two assists and no turnovers in 25 minutes of play.

Josh McRoberts: Despite missing two timely free throws, McRoberts played well as a niche hustle player, shooting efficiently (3-6), collecting eight rebounds, and blocking two shots.

Andrew Goudelock: Goudelock only made two shots. But this much is clear: This guy can shoot. Look for him to make his way into the rotation and get more looks—particularly when Andrew Bynum returns (or Dwight Howard arrives).

Time for a Change

Metta World Peace: When Ron Artest decided to change his name, he apparently took his game with him. He was clearly lost offensively throughout the game on 2-6 shooting to go along with only two rebounds. Although Ron Ron played well at times defensively, the Lakers need him to be more than an ancillary bench player.

Pau Gasol: 14 points on 6-14 shooting to go along with eight rebounds isn’t going to cut it for the second option in the absense of Andrew Bynum. Pau played softly on defense and was clearly out-hustled throughout the game. It’s time to ship him to a new team. Isn’t the weather in Orlando good this time of year?

The New Coach

Mike Brown: The new coach is able to get the team to play with passion and intensity—a key element often missing from the Lakers last year. The tweaks to the offense look good while his game management gave the Lakers an upper hand until the team collapsed on itself, sucking the oxygen from the Staples Center in the final moments of the game.

In an exhibition game in the Philippines on Friday, Derrick Rose rocked the rim while Kobe Bryant rocked the house. With two MVPs on the break, Kobe faked a behind-the-back pass and tossed the ball near the rim to let D-Rose throw it down like he’s in Chi-Town.

Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook are changing the NBA landscape at the point guard position. With the ability to score at ease or dish the rock to an open teammate, D-Rose and Westbrook are painting an enticing picture of playmaking while establishing a new world order at the point. So where do they rank among the best point guards in the NBA today? 

1. Derrick Rose: D-Rose is averaging 25.1 points per game with 7.8 assists per game. What happens when the game gets close? D-Rose gets straight-up lethal. Whether he’s taking his guy off the dribble, shaking him for a pull-up, or weaving through traffic to dish to an open man, D-Rose is doing it all. Does this remind you of anyone?

2. Chris Paul: At the start of the year, LA Hoops considered Chris Paul the best point guard in the game—and he’s not far away from the top spot with a unique combination of blistering speed and excellent court vision. During the season, CP3 controlled the pace of games, putting up 16.0 points while dishing 9.8 assists per game. It’s going to be entertaining to watch CP3 and D-Rose battle for the top point-guard spot on the USA National Team at the 2012 Olympics.

3. Deron Williams: Getting booted from Utah might actually be a good thing. Forget about basketball. Does anyone actually choose to live in Salt Lake City on purpose? On the court, D-Will is the third best point guard in the NBA averaging 20.1 points per game to along with 10.3 assists.  

4. Russell Westbrook: Loud like thunder, quick like lighting, Westbrook can uncork a world of hurt on most opposing point guards in the NBA. In fact, Russell’s performance has been so impressive this season, that many NBA pundits decided to rank him above Kevin Durant (whom was only leading the league in scoring) in early MVP discussions. While this might be considered his breakout year, it was his play in the World Games that let everyone know that Westbrook was ready to ignite OKC.

5. Rajon Rondo: Rondo’s game is all about team management and hustle. With 11.2 assist per game, Rondo knows where to get KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen the rock. Interestingly, at only 6’0 and 170 pounds, Rondo is still able to collect 4.4 boards a game on a team loaded with bigs, proving that there hasn’t been that much hustle since Snoop Dogg broke onto the scene in the early 1990s.

Honorable Mention: Steve Nash; John Wall; Jason Kidd

As the Lakers ride an eight game winning streak into a heated battle against “King” James on Thursday, Kobe Bryant is galloping his way into the MVP discussion. Although Kobe started the season slowly due to injury, he’s making a bigger impact on the team during the stretch run, setting the tone early and closing games when necessary. As the leader of the hottest team in the NBA, Kobe is averaging 25.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game—all while playing only 33.8 minutes per game. Despite the injury and limited time on the floor, Kobe is tops in the league in scoring per 48 minutes at 35.7 points per game. With Kobe leading the charge for the Lakers, it’s interesting to note that writers rarely bring up his name in the MVP race—until one looks at the comical criteria many analysts use to assess MVP candidates. ESPN’s Marc Stein, for example, says he factors “in team success relative to preseason expectations in conjunction with the individual numbers.” So, a writer’s OPINION in the preseason factors into the MVP race during the regular season? Yeah, that makes sense. That’s like failing to award Albert Einstein the Nobel Prize in 1921 because the Nobel Committee for Physics had higher hopes for him the year before. Perhaps, a more rational approach for selecting the MVP might consist of actually evaluating a player’s performance during the season in which he competes. Naturally, this might be difficult for many writers to grasp. After all, they’ll actually have to start watching the games.

While Stein provides interesting analyses at times, it’s the consistent use of faulty logic that can make a mute laugh aloud. To bring LeBron James into the discussion, for example, Stein says that it’s important to “factor in the historic collapse of his old team in Cleveland.” OK, that makes sense—after we remove logic from the equation. Yeah, let’s consider the performance of a team for which LeBron no longer plays. For those thinking Stein might have a point—regardless of how irrational it might be—let’s not forget that Cleveland lost more than LeBron—it lost its two centers to free agency, multiple players to injury, and its coach, thus making its current roster resemble a squad from the D-league. The only way to gain insight of a player’s impact in this manner is through a position-for-position swap with a player of similar capabilities with no other changes (i.e., swapping places between Kevin Durant with all the same pieces in place during the same season). Nonetheless, ESPN’s love affair with LeBron is still alive and kicking, making it necessary to create new criteria to keep him in the MVP discussion—even as he continues to stall the offense, heave up missed shots down the stretch, and fail to make the players around him any better.

LA Hoop’s Wicked Chicken, on the other hand, provides a rational approach to MVP voting, saying that “the regular season MVP should go to the best player in the league…period.” Hey, Albert Einstein once said “if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Although Wicked Chicken provides a logical criterion for evaluating MVP candidates, let’s take the conversation to another level. The player performing at the highest level while helping his team to success is a good place to start. Yes, this includes the ability to take over a game, change momentum shifts, and put a team on his shoulders—all while outplaying his peers throughout the season. Naturally, one must evaluate these criteria by examining a combination of qualitative and quantitative variables that lead to different conclusions. Nonetheless, all analyses must be grounded in rational thought. Yes, this means that preseason expectations, the performance of a former team, and popularity among the writers are not included in this review. As a result, let’s see what players are leading the MVP race based on actual performance:

1. Derrick Rose: D-Rose is simply performing at a higher level than anyone else throughout the entire season. He’s the only player in the top 10 in both scoring and assists—and he’s taking over games during the stretch to rack up wins for the Bulls in close games.

2. Dwight Howard: D-Howard is a straight up game-changer, averaging 23.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks on 60% shooting from the floor. Without him in the middle, the Magic can only wish upon a star that they could keep the franchise even relevant.

3. Kobe Bryant: Kobe is leading the charge into the playoffs for the Lakers, galvanizing the cavalry with his increased aggression and showing that the Black Mamba makes road appearances (e.g., Golden State, Portland, etc.). In fact, no other player in the game has the ability to take over games and create momentum shifts like the Black Mamba.

4. Kevin Durant: Perhaps, Stein’s misguided thinking is a microcosm for many writers, explaining why one rarely hears about Kevin Durant in the MVP discussion—even though he’s leading the league in scoring on a contender. While many expected him to increase his scoring average from 30.1 last season, he’s still droppin’ 28.1 a game on an explosive OKC team.

5. LeBron James: LeBron deserved his last two MVP awards; however, he’s not playing at the same level this year. Moreover, LeBron’s inability to take over a game down the stretch—despite the help of two superstars—illustrates why he’s on the outer edge of the conversation.

As we approach the end of the regular season talks of the MVP race will be heating up. The privileged elite media have mysteriously become empowered to crown the MVP year after year, and more often than not, they fabricate some arbitrary formula to give it to someone other than the best player in the league.

Case in point, here is a tweet today from Skip Bayless of ESPN:

“Respect DRose, DHoward – but don’t want MVP coming from team that doesn’t have real chance of winning it all. Theirs don’t.”

Now I’m not suggesting Dwight Howard or Derrick Rose should necessarily be MVP, but this line of thinking is misguided. There is already an award for best player on the best team. It’s called the Finals MVP. The regular season MVP should go to the best player in the league…period. Somewhere towards the end of the Jordan era the sports media stopped giving the award to the best player in the league and as a result superstars like Jordan, Shaq, and Kobe were swiped of deserving hardware by the likes of Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitzki. It’s a tragedy that Kobe Bryant will likely end his career with only one regular season MVP. Shame on you media machine.

Every year there is a build up to All-Star weekend as the most elite players take center stage at a super-sized circus. This year Los Angeles was hosting the festivities with LA Live serving as the perfect setting to showcase extraordinary athletes, musicians, and celebrities at high-profile parties and a myriad of events.

Thursday night started off with the unveiling of the Jerry West statue and ceremony with some nice words from Lakers legends and family members. LA Hoops then went off to Zo and Magic’s celebrity 8-Ball tournament, which was filled with All-Star players, legends, media, and celebrities. We will have a follow up article on this event with details and photos, but I wanted to give a personal thank you to the hosts for all the free food, booze, and good times.

Friday featured the celebrity game where Justin Bieber and his wig took home MVP honors with his 3-11 shooting and a team loss. Thank goodness for fan voting. Bieber fever went crazy when Justin crossed over hip-hop emcee Common and then dished off a dime. I’m sure Common is gonna hear it from his boys.

The Rookie-Sophomore game showcased the young stars of the game that looked more like a track meet than a basketball game. John Wall took home MVP honors and the rookie win with 22 dimes, narrowly edging out his former Kentucky teammate DeMarcus Cousins who dropped 33 points and 14 boards. “We talked about it before the game,” said DeMarcus Cousins. “We were kind of trying to work together. He wanted to break the assist record I and wanted MVP. Well, he got both.” Not much defense played in this game, but entertaining nonetheless.

Saturday is the MVP skills competition day and started with the Haier Shooting Stars event compiling teams from  a current NBA player, a legend, and a WNBA player. Atlanta’s Steve Smith, Al Horford, and Coco Miller took the win over Texas in the finals, but I’m not sure if anyone actually cared.

The Skills Challenge had a stacked lineup with Stephen Curry beating out Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, and John Wall to take top honors. Curry’s win also earned a $30,000 college scholarship for Karen Batani, a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Southern California. “Thank you so much for winning,” said Batani, seated next to Curry afterward. “It’s like the best day of my life.”

Miami Heat’s James Jones won the 3-point contest over Celtics Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, but the highlight of the event was listening to the Staples Center crowd boo Paul Pierce when he was introduced. Pierce then questioned why they were booing him and not Ray Allen. One word Mr. Pierce: Wheelchair.

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The last time the Lakers played Chicago, Derrick Rose took over the game down stretch, demonstrating his ability to put a team on his back and revealing why he’s the league’s top MVP candidate. As Chicago’s Air Apparent, Rose is walking in the footsteps of the sport’s biggest legacy, attempting to create his own. While the future looks good with Rose at the helm, Rick Reilly gives readers a great view of why Rose is special on and off the court.

The Lakers were able to get a win against OKC on MLK Day despite Russel Westbrook’s offensive onslaught. With quick footwork and explosive drives to the basket, Westbrook dropped 32 points and dished out 12 assists in another stellar performance. While Westbrook is likely to make his first All-Star appearance next month, his spectacular play makes one wonder about his future on the international scene. With his continued development, will he represent US Basketball in London for the 2012 games?

At the 2010 FIBA World Championships, Westbrook showcased his skills to the international community on both ends of the floor. Today, he’s showing he’s among the best in the NBA. By the time the 2012 games come around, one can only imagine how good Westbrook might become.

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