I know it’s only November but, I gotta say, Dwyane Wade’s dunk over Anderson Varejao last Thursday, Nov. 12, before a nationally televised game on TNT was just plain ‘ol nasty. 

The best part about the whole throw-down was the reaction of the Cavaliers’ forward, who looks like the Brazilian Carrot Top.

D-Wade not ony posterized him but he did it with such force that it knocked Varejao into the padded basket support. Check it out:

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LeBron James will likely wear a number next season. For what team? James won't say. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LeBron James revealed last night that he is thinking about changing his jersey number.

James told TNT’s Craig Sager that he will likely ditch No. 23 and switch to No. 6 – the number he wore when he played for Team USA in the Olympics – as his way of honoring his idol Michael Jordan, who was in attendance at American Airlines Arena in Miami to watch James’ Cleveland Cavaliers play Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat Thursday night.

“He’s the greatest basketball player to ever play the game,” James said of Jordan. “I’ve been thinking about it lately and what I’m gonna do is I think I’m gonna change my number next year. No guy in the NBA should ever wear 23.”

James believes that since Jordan can’t get the NBA logo, the best way to recognize his greatness and contribution to the growth of the league is to retire his No. 23 around the league.

“His number shouldn’t be worn by any player in the NBA,” James said. “What he did for this game, he laid down the stepping stone for everybody who came up through the ranks. That’s how much respect I have for a guy like that.”

Now that LeBron has committed to a new jersey number, Sager tried to get him to commit to a team in 2010 to which James replied: “We’ll see.”

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Each year, OneManFastBreak.net ranks the five best players in the NBA. The ranking system is based on ONE MAN’S opinion and doesn’t conform to the All-NBA format where you have to pick one center, two forwards and two guards. It is strictly based on last season’s performance, regardless of position, with more weight placed on the playoffs. Last season’s top five included Kobe Bryant (1), LeBron James (2), Chris Paul (3), Paul Pierce (4) and Tim Duncan (5).

OneManFastBreak.net rates the five best players in the NBA (rankings will change from year to year):

5. DWIGHT HOWARD
Orlando Magic, Center

Superman II made the biggest leap of any player on this list. He surpassed San Antonio’s Tim Duncan as the best post player in the league. Though his statistics were slightly lower last season compared to 2007-08 (his points per game dropped from 20.7 to 20.6 and his rebounds went from 14.3 to 13.8, but his blocks went up from 2.2 to 2.9), Howard’s team got better as he improved his defense and his awareness on offense. Behind Howard’s more focused approach, the Magic reached the NBA Finals before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Howard has very little competition at the center position so he should be able to lock up first-team status for the next five to 10 years.

4. CHRIS PAUL
New Orleans Hornets, Point Guard

There is no denying CP3 as the No. 1 PG in the league. His competition is either too old (Steve Nash and Chauncey Billups), too young (Derrick Rose) or took step back a year ago (Deron Williams). Paul’s ability to get to the rim going to his right as well as his left without losing any speed is second to none. And throws one of the prettiest alley-hoop passes I’ve ever seen since Sherman Douglas. He has become the most dominant player under 6-foot-1 the league has seen since Isiah Thomas and if he gets any help from newly acquired center Emeka Okafor, the Hornets should be a factor in the West. Hornets coach Byron Scott should thank Paul for saving his job, which was on the ropes four years ago. CP3 has single-handedly changed the whole culture in New Orleans and will always be in consideration for MVP.

3. DWYANE WADE
Miami Heat, Shooting Guard

D-Wade is back! After a subpar season in 2007-08 (if you consider scoring 24 points per game below par), Flash returned to the elite level, lifting Miami back into the playoffs and winning his first scoring title (30.2). Tim Grover, Michael Jordan’s super trainer who put D-Wade back together during the offseason, should get some kind of residual check for helping Wade get his explosiveness back and added strength to his frame. After playing in just 51 games the previous two seasons, Wade played a career-best 79 games in ‘08-09′ and the added burden of being the undisputed superstar of the franchise didn’t hinder the 2006 NBA Finals MVP.

And now, for the top two. Drum roll please ….

In order for LeBron James to win that elusive ring, he'll need to go through Kobe Bryant.

No big surprise here. In fact, you can probably pencil these two for next year as well.

2. LeBRON JAMES
Cleveland Cavaliers, Forward

I apologize for sounding like a broken record but…I’ve always believed that if LeBron James ever got that second option, that all-star type player who can take some of the pressure off LeBron, the Cavaliers easily becomes the best team in the NBA. Mo Williams was suppoed to be LeBron’s Scottie Pippen a year ago but he fizzed during the postseason. Enter Shaquille O’Neal. The Diesel has promised to “get a ring for The King” so LeBron is going to hold him to that statement come June. That’s how good James is. He’s like a one-man army. But to win an NBA championship, James needs a little help from his friends. Remember, he took the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2007 despite playing with a rookie point guard, an old center, average-to-subpar power forwards and a coach who doesn’t know a thing about offense. Last season, the Cavs were ousted by the Magic mainly because Howard simply overpowered the Cleveland big men and James could not possibly guard both Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu at the same time. Whoever LeBron didn’t guard, that was the player the Magic targeted and made the big shots down the stretch. A championship ring is the only thing separating LeBron and being officially crowned king of the NBA.

1. KOBE BRYANT
Los Angeles Lakers, Shooting Guard

Speaking of The King, even though he goes by the nickname “The Black Mamba” Bryant is…and always has been for the past four seasons, the BEST PLAYER ON THE PLANET. The reigning NBA Finals MVP added a fourth championship ring to his collection box and his No. 24 jersey is No. 1 around the world. He finally shed the “couldn’t win without Shaq” label last season when he pushed the Lakers past the Magic in the NBA Finals. With the addition of Ron Artest, the Lakers should roll through the West again and Bryant could potentially face LeBron and Shaq or Howard and the Magic or Kevin Garnett and Celtics in the Finals. At this stage of Kobe’s career, he’s not as into statistics and individual awards. He knows his Lakers are built for the long haul and he doesn’t have to carry the load night after night. Besides, at 31 years old, Kobe understands that he needs to start preserving his body for the playoffs. Although when challenged, he can always put on his Black Mamba game face and devour anyone who tries to get in his path. He knows his legacy is secured and his Hall-of-Fame pass is waiting for him at the doors of Springfield, Mass. About the only thing missing on his checklist is the No. 7. That’s the number championship rings he needs to win to surpass Jordan.

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Michael Jordan left a lasting impression in the game of basketball.

What would the world look like without Michael Jordan? For one, there would be no Kobe Bryant. Two, there would be no Dwyane Wade. And three, there would be no LeBron James.

Greatness can’t be measured by statistics. True greatness is defined by a player’s legacy. Michael Jordan’s impact in the sport can be seen through his basketball sons: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

In a lot of ways, Jordan can be held responsible for practically raising Bryant, 31, Wade, 27, and James, 24, through his profound impact in the game. He educated them in how to work hard, play hard and dominate, setting the bar for them to jump over.

In short, Air Jordan showed his apprentices how to be great.

When we see Kobe, aka The Black Mamba, we see Jordan’s thirst for perfection, his mannerisms and incredible will to win. When we see D-Wade, aka The Flash, we see Jordan’s history in Chicago and the impact he’s had in that community where Wade grew up in. And when we see LeBron, aka King James, we see No. 23. We see the relentless attacking style that Jordan unveiled early on in his career. It is style that features an ability to get to the basket, absorb contact and score, and finishing with power.

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are still chasing Michael Jordan's shadow.

“He’s the master. He’s the guy that really perfected the game. Taught me a lot about the game of basketball, and how to prepare and leadership and competitive spirit,” Bryant said of Jordan, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2009, a class that includes John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan and Vivian Stringer.

Because Bryant came into the NBA in 1996, he is one of just a handful of active players who had the opportunity to go head to head against Jordan when he was still considered the Top Gun. Wade and James entered the league after Jordan retired for the third and final time and never got a chance to test their skills against the six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time regular season MVP, 10-time scoring champion and six-time world champion.

Bryant, Wade and James are no different than any other player in the Association. Even though all three All-Stars have already accomplished a lot in their careers (Bryant is a four-time NBA champion and 2008 MVP, Wade is a world champion and 2006 Finals MVP and James is the reigning league MVP), in some ways they’re still following the template Jordan built more than 25 years ago. In so many levels, they’re all chasing his records, his championships and his enormous fanbase, and jealously admiring the Air Jordan silhouette that is embedded on shoes, billboards, headbands, beverages, baseball caps, sweaters, T-shirts, shorts, sweat pants and socks.

Before Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, people got to see Michael Jordan through the power of videos. VHS style! If you were a true basketball fan, you owned a tape of “Come Fly With Me” and “Michael Jordan’s Playground.”

As products of the ESPN generation, Kobe, D-Wade and LeBron – along with millions of fans around the world thanks to the growth of cable television – got see Jordan up close and personal through video highlights on SportsCenter. They mimicked his every move from the tongue action, to the way he wore his shorts, to the one-handed ball fakes, to the way he licked his fingers and how he chewed his gum, to the way he dominated the basketball, to the way he clamped down on defense and to the way he imposed his signature in each and every game he competed in.

Sometimes, they even sound like Jordan.

Try watching one of Bryant’s interviews or Wade’s or James’ and tell me how many times they refer to the sport as “the game of basketball.” Kobe just did it a few paragraphs ago. That’s a Jordan influence.

Because of his undeniable influence in today’s generation of superstars, Michael Jordan’s legend has grown exponentially. MJ may be retired but we still see flashes of him.

Everybody still wants to Be Like Mike.

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O.J. Mayo of Memphis is a leading candidate for rookie of the year while L.A.'s Kobe Bryant is driving towards another MVP award. (REUTERS)

When he was a freshman at USC, O.J. Mayo spent his summer vacation playing one-one-one against Kobe Bryant at Bryant’s basketball camp held at Loyola Marymount in Marina del Rey. Bryant won most of the battles, but Mayo more than held his own against the player regarded as the best in the world.

Mayo’s basketball education that summer was also his introduction to the NBA. After going through the Kobe gauntlet, Mayo’s transition from college to pro has been a smooth one. It’s like going from boot camp to pilates. Through 51 games for the Memphis Grizzlies, the former high school All-American is averaging 19 points per game and is the only rookie ranked in the top 25 in scoring.

Meanwhile, Mayo’s sparring partner, Mr. Bryant, is piecing together another MVP season and could be in line for a rare double-double – winning MVP and defensive player in the same season, a feat that has only been done twice. Michael Jordan won league MVP and defensive player of the year in 1988 and Hakeem Olajuwon did the same in 1994.

At the unofficial halfway point of the 2008-09 NBA season, OneManFastbreak.net presents its midseason report card:

BEST TEAM IN THE WEST: Los Angeles Lakers – The Lakers were a perfect 6-0 in their recently concluded East Coast trip, highlighted by victories at Boston and at Cleveland. We might as well skip the rest of the regular season because my crystal ball says the L.A. Lakers will be in the NBA Finals and no team in the Western Conference, San Antonio included, will stand in the way of Kobe and Co.

BEST TEAM IN THE EAST: Boston Celtics – For a team that began the season 27-2, the Celtics are flying under the radar. Boston is still in position to repeat as Eastern Conference champs and is on a collision course with the Cavaliers. I’m predicting a Lakers-Spurs West Final and a Celtics-Cavs East Final. No need to watch the first couple of rounds in the playoffs because these four teams have distinguished themselves as the only worthy Final Four players.

MVP: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers – To be league MVP, you have to prove to the basketball jury, beyond reasonable doubt, that you are the top dog. We’ve witnessed LeBron James put together a super season for Cleveland, but there is enough evidence to make a case for Mr. Bryant. Exhibit A: His record-breaking 61-point performance at Madison Square Garden. Exhibit B: His late-game heroics helped the Lakers snap Boston’s 19-game winning streak on Dec. 25 and Boston’s 12-game winning streak on Feb. 5. Exhibit C: In two high-profile games against LeBron and the Cavs, Kobe’s Lakers won twice. Case closed!

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers – In their two head-to-head meetings, Kobe assigned himself to guard LeBron, who is two inches taller and about 40 pounds heavier, and all he did was turn King James into Prince James. With Kobe glued to his chest, LeBron shot 9-for-25 in L.A. and went 5-for-20 at the Q. In both games, Bryant showed James why he’s the reigning alpha male.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies – Easily the most consistent first-year player this season. His jump shot is better than advertised, shooting 44% from the field, 87% from the free-throw line and a respectable 38% from 3-point range. Mayo’s body of work for the season slightly outdoes Chicago’s Derrick Rose, who is second among rookies in scoring (16.9) and first in assists (6.3).

Rookie O.J. Mayo, left, has been one of the few bright spots for the Memphis Grizzlies. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Nate Robinson, New York Knicks – Don’t be enamored with Jason Terry or Manu Ginobili. Both are starters masking as reserves. Nate The Great averages 16 points per game in less than 30 minutes of floor time. He had back-to-back 30-point games the week before the All-Star break and had a 33-point outing last December at Staples Center against the Lakers. If there is a Knick player worth the price of admission at Madison Square Garden, it’s Nate Robinson.

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat – The Flash was left for dead last year after an assortment of injuries shut down his season. But he’s officially back. We saw a preview of things to come from Wade during the Beijing Olympics, and he has been spectacular through 52 games.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets – A year has passed since the trade and  Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson wish they could take back Harris and send Jason Kidd packing because it has been embarrassingly one-sided. Harris has increased his scoring average from 14.4 to 21.8 and is clearly enjoying the freedom Nets coach Lawrence Frank has afforded him.  Kidd has not been a total bust, but has not provided the impact the Mavs had hoped for.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers – It seems ridiculous that great coaches like Jackson, who owns nine championship rings, do not receive the proper credit they deserve. All he does is win despite the huge expectations placed on his teams at the start of each season. The Zen Master has won this award once (1996) and it’s time to give him another one.

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Michael Jordan's greatness was on display against the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.

Larry Bird once told Reggie Miller – when the two were coach and player with the Indiana Pacers – that a true basketball “assassin” is someone who is not afraid to shoot when the game is on the line. Bird said it is easy to shoot a potential game-winning shot when the game is tied, and the worst thing that could happen is overtime. But, it takes a truly special player to shoot the ball when your team is behind and the final shot will determine the outcome.

Bird and Miller were not only basketball assassins, but they were also two of the NBA’s best snipers. They both have the ability to take out an opponent from a bell tower, ala Barry Pepper from “Saving Private Ryan.” Basically, a basketball sniper is someone who has the ability knock down a game-winner from 3-point range. Jerry West was another. Magic Johnson was not a sniper like Bird, Miller or West but the Magic Man almost always found a way to make that all-important basket. Just ask the Celtics back in 1987.

Steve Kerr and John Paxson are not Hall-of-Famers, but their shooting prowess are legendary. Both have had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of ending an NBA Finals series with one shot. Chuck Person called himself “The Riffleman,” not for carrying a concealed weapon but for being able to shoot down the enemy from long range. Isiah Thomas looked like a choir boy, but everybody sang the same sad tune when the leader of the Motor City Bad Boys delivered one of his clutch shots.

But the top gun in the history of the Association is and always will be Michael Jordan. If you poll the entire league on who should take the last shot to win a game, Jordan would be on top of that list. Jordan did in college. He did it numerous times during the NBA’s regular season. And he has delivered the fatal blow in the NBA’s biggest stage – the playoffs. His legend grew with each game-winner. The shot over Craig Ehlo in 1989 runs on a loop in the NBA video archives. The Jazz were on the receiving end of two devastating Jordan moments. He secured a Game 1 Bulls victory over the Jazz with a pull-up jumper over Bryon Russell in 1997. Then, in probably the greatest series-clinching shot in NBA Finals history, he drove right, gave Russell a love tap, rose up and buried a cold-blooded shot down the throat of 18,000 screaming Jazz fans in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Now that’s a true NBA assassin.

OneManFastbreak.net rates the 12 best current crop of NBA assassins, players who are not afraid to pull the trigger when the game is on the line – especially in the playoffs:

12) HEDO TURKOGLU (aka “The Michael Jordan of Turkey”) – Dwight Howard is without a doubt the Orlando Magic’s best player; point guard Jameer Nelson may be its most important player; and forward Rashard Lewis is the best shooter on the roster. However, when Coach Stan Van Gundy draws up the final shot to win a game, Turkoglu is the man.

11) STEVE NASH (aka “The Canadian Hero”) – Nash may have lost a step in the open court but his shooting eye has not deserted him yet. In fact, Nash is shooting better than ever, even better than his MVP days. The only thing missing on Nash’s resume is a trip to the NBA Finals.

10) MIKE BIBBY (aka “The Babyface Assassin) – Looks can be deceiving because Bibby can pass for a student of the month. But don’t let the appearance fool you because Bibby can bust the trey on anyone and anytime. Bibby busted onto the scene with his breakout performance in the 2002 Western Conference finals against the Lakers.

9) MANU GINOBILI (aka “Euro”) – He proudly wears and carries the flag of Argentina but … he looks like a Euro, plays like a Euro and smells like a Euro. He’s Euro! They even invented a name for his favorite basketball move: The Euro Step. It’s the one where he runs straight at his defender and then changes direction with one cross-over step to avoid a charging call. The Euro Step is the hottest move in the Euroleague. All kidding aside, Ginobili is one of the best clutch players in the world. He’s the only Euro who is not afraid to be a hero. Most international players (i.e. Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol) tend to soften up in the playoffs, but not Ginobili. Tim Duncan may be the heart and soul of the San Antonio Spurs, but Ginobili is the oxygen that pumps air into the Spurs’ championship hopes.

8) CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (aka “Mr. Big Shot) – He earned the moniker “Mr. Big Shot” with his big-game heroics when he was a Detroit Piston. The Pistons went to the Eastern Conference finals six consecutive times because of Mr. Big Shot. Now that he’s a Denver Nugget, the Pistons will be hard-pressed to make it past the second round.

7) GILBERT ARENAS (aka “Agent Zero”) – When healthy, Arenas is one of the game’s best fourth-quarter players. He would be rated much higher if his knees were sound. Agent Zero is fearless when it comes to shooting the 3-pointer and has gunned down many opponents with his late-game heroics. Very few players in the league has the shooting range of Arenas, who has been known to sneak into the Wizards practice facility late at night to take (and make) 1,000 jump shots.

6) LeBRON JAMES (aka “King James”) – His inconsistent “J” is well publicized and, until he can elevate his mid-range game and raise his 3-point percentage, teams are going to give him the perimeter shot and pack the paint. Despite the lack of a mid-range game, LeBron is still one of the most unstoppable players in the clutch because of his powerful ability to get to the rim regardless of how many defenders are on him.

5) DWYANE WADE (aka “The Flash”) – Former Miami Heat teammate Shaquille O’Neal gave him the nickname because of his uncanny ability to get to point A to point B in a flash. He nearly became a flash in the pan with an injury plagued 2007. But after going back to the lab with renowned Jordan trainer, Tim Grover, D-Wade got back to elite status in a hurry. His coming out party came during the 2004 playoffs when Wade (then a rookie) dropped a floater in the paint over Baron Davis at the buzzer.

4) PAUL PIERCE (aka “The Truth) – The truth is, when the game is still up for grabs and the Boston Celtics need a big shot, they turn to Pierce to deliver the telling blow. Pierce is not afraid to go gangster on the opposition. The reigning NBA Finals MVP saves his best for last – as in last minute. No one was able to handle The Truth during last year’s playoffs.

3) RAY ALLEN (aka “Jesus Shuttlesworth”) – Whether it is on the hardwood or Hollywood, Ray-Ray is a prime-time player. His performance in “He Got Game” may not have earned him an Oscar, but how many NBA superstars can hang with Denzel Washington? In Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Lakers, Allen sized up Sasha Vujacic, got to the rim and scored on a left-handed layup over Pau Gasol to ice the game and the series for the Celtics. ABC commentator Mark Jackson said this on the air: “Ray Allen says I want to play one-one-one with Vujacic…and it’s time to dance! This is for all the marbles.”

2) JAMES POSEY (aka “Strike-a-Pose”) – TNT’s Kenny Smith calls him the “New Robert Horry,” which is probably the highest compliment you can give a role player. It takes a special player to come off the bench and deliver in the clutch. Posey is the ultimate “hired gun,” someone who knocks down the competition from anywhere on the court and for anyone who is willing to pay for his services. As a member of the 2006 Heat bench, Posey knocked down several critical 3-pointers during the Heat’s championship run, including the dagger into the hearts of the Dallas Mavericks during the waning moments of Game 6. Posey did it again in 2008, this time for the Celtics. He was the catalyst in the Celtics’ come-from-behind victory in Game 4 at Staples Center and his championship experience rubbed off Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. This season, the New Orleans Hornets are hoping Posey can influence Chris Paul and David West.

James Posey, right, shot down Lamar Odom and the L.A. Lakers during last season's NBA Finals. (ESPN)

1) KOBE BRYANT (aka “The Black Mamba”) – A black mamba can strike in rapid succession. That’s what Kobe Bryant can do. He can strike at any second. No player in the world has the array of shots Kobe has. He can kill you off the dribble with either hand, he can post you up, he can posterize you, he can drop a floater in the paint, he can cross you over, he can pull up for a mid-range jumper (something 90% of the league can’t do) or he can step back and stick a 3-point dagger into your heart. Basically, if you are a defender, all you can do is pray he misses, which does not happen very often. Kobe is the game’s best closer. He is the closest thing to a sure thing. A Sports Illustrated poll was taken last year to rank the most feared players in the league. Kobe was rated No. 1. Michael Jordan always told his Bulls teammates that if they can keep the game close for three quarters, he can win it for them in the fourth. Kobe is cut in the same Jordan mold. If the Lakers can negotiate a game for three quarters, Kobe will most likely close the deal in the fourth.

Kobe Bryant is the most feared player in the NBA when it comes to late-game heroics.

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