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The NBA's 7 Wonders
 By JG21

Most of us have probably heard about or even seen the 7 wonders of the world. Well, the NBA isn't just the world's biggest basketball stage, it's also, in my opinion, a separate "world" in it's own right. And just like the world today, it has it's own wonders; the special things that make the most noise in NBA basketball; the unique aspects that can only be credited to certain players. With that said, here are the 7 wonders of the NBA: 
 

SHAQUILLE O'NEALS' STRENGTH -It doesn't take a genius to realize that Shaq is the strongest player in the league. We all saw him dominate last season; manhandling defenders from left to right. When there's a 300-pound behemoth tearing up backboards, then something's just not right! And I ain't talking about shattering the glass; Shaq's literally brought down entire backboards -the whole structure! Even 'worse', he's done it on more occasions than one; from LSU (Louisianna State University) to the NBA - and probably every other backboard in-between! Shaq doesn't just define dominance, he re-defines strength.

ALLEN IVERSON'S CROSSOVER -Iverson's killer crossover is the NBA's most identifiable move. You've seen it: he casually walks up to the defender, staring at him deep in the eyes, simultaneously dribbling the ball from left to right, over and over. Then, in a flash, fakes, crosses over, and blazes by in the opposite direction, sending the sorry defender the wrong way or freezing him at the spot. Sometimes he'll just get the ball and bust-out the crossover immediately. Other times he'll shake the poor defender first, and then break his ankles with the move. Or in some cases just crosses through his legs and goes by the defender. Either way, Iverson's crossover has wrong-footed everyone in its path and has brought Iverson alot of success. Iverson created the most talked-about sequence in NBA basketball when he used his crossover to school 'the great one' - shaking him almost to his knees. A sequence that involved 3 lightning-quick crossovers in one play. Allen Iverson's warp-speed crossover is not average, good, or very good.........it's paralyzing.

TIM DUNCAN'S BANKSHOT  -There's no bankshot better, sweeter, or more precise than Duncan's. NONE. He'll face you straight up and bank the shot; he'll go at you, pull off a spin-move and bank the shot; he'll even pull off a fadeaway and bank the shot. It's just amazing how Duncan can pull-up from ranges such as 18 feet and bury the sweetest bankshot you'll ever see. It doesn't matter how, when, or where you guard him - that bankshot is more than just a solid guarantee.

REGGIE MILLER'S CLUTCH-SHOOTING   -Miller has got to be the NBA's most dangerous sharpshooter, and the greatest clutch-shooter of all time. He's proved time and time again that his clutch-shooting can't be stopped regardless of the number of hands in his face. Miller can go 3-for-20 in a certain period of a game, and go 10-for-10 in the clutch. Even at his present age, Miller has proven why his clutch-shooting is unmatched. Against the Knicks in game 6 of the 2000 Eastern Conference finals, Miller put on a vintage display of clutch-shooting as he bruised the Knicks with several key 3-pointers that prevented any chance of a Knicks' win. Who else has salvaged a win for his team by scoring 8 points in a span of 8.9 seconds?!

VINCE CARTER'S HOPS  -Carter is not only a crowd-favourite in Toronto, he's a crowd-favourite basically everywhere he plays on the road thanks to those ridiculous hops! When Carter elevates for a dunk, he hangs in the air more than anyone in the league. His "shock-absorbing" legs give him the necessary hangtime to attempt any number of difficult jams; add that to his imagination, and you have non-stop, crowd-pleasing gems! You can lob the ball anywhere around the basket and Carter will fetch it and flush it every single time. He once threw down a windmill alley-oop dunk at a Rucker summer league game that was so nasty, the game literally had to be stopped! The ball was lobbed from just inside mid-court; Vince elevated high above the rim, caught the ball in midair(at chest-level), and in his best windmill-fashion, and in classic VC-style, rocked the rim with an aggressive finish. Not to mention the dunk he threw down over 7-2 Frederic Weis of France that is regarded as the greatest dunk ever in Olympic play. Carter's aerial style is awe-inspiring and his hops are simply unmatched.

KEVIN GARNETT'S WHOLE GAME  -KG is by far the most multi-dimensional 7-footer in recent memory, maybe ever. Great scoring; excellent rebounding; effective passing; animal-defense; speed, quickness & ball-handling skills of a guard; height of a center. In addition, KG runs the floor with effortless ease, has the ability to guard just about anyone from the 5 floor positions, has unmatched versatility, undeniable athleticism, high level of energy and intensity, great deal of confidence and toughness, and will to win; plus, his overall attitude and mentality towards the game of basketball is just remarkable. Overall, his game is so complete, almost flawless, and at age 24 his prime is still years away.

ALONZO MOURNING'S SHOT-BLOCKING -Blocking takes precise timing and unlimited courage -two aspects 'Zo undoubtedly has. He is clearly undersized for a center (only 6-10) and yet he owns the paint. He plays big and stands tall. 'Zo's fearlessness is what has made him a nightmare for opposing players. He's not afraid to get posterized by the league's high-flyers; he'll challenge anyone who comes his way. 'Zo would chew through his own leg before allowing an uncontested layup or dunk. He always roams the lane, constantly searching for swats and rejections. His dedication, determination, fearlessness, tenacity, and hustle, have made him a predator in the paint. And he's established himself as a shot-blocking extraordinaire.

10/2/2000
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