Top Five Friday...Small Forward Edition

We're going to take a look at the best Small Forwards over the past 25 years. This one was a little tricky with some quality players to choose from. Here is our list.

5- Chris Mullin
The lethal lefty. This dude coming out of St. Johns could flat out shoot! Although he never won an NBA Championship, he was part of the '92 Olympic team and helped them dominate everyone. Playing for GSW for the majority of his career, he never really experienced playoff basketball and that is a shame because I am sure he would have made some clutch shots.

4- Grant Hill
It is an absolute shame that injuries plagued his career. Coming out of Duke, he was destined to be one of the All-Time greats! He had such a smooth game and played both ends of the floor. He wasn't the fastest guy, the quickest guy or the best shooter, but he was crafty and could get to his spots and knock down shots. For the first 6 years of his career he was averaging over 20/5/6 a game. He had a great all-around game. If he had stayed healthy his whole career, he might be number 1 on this list and a top player in NBA history.




3- Scotty Pippen
The best lock-down defender I've ever seen. As Lebron was getting his diaper changed, Pippen was the guy who could "guard all 5 positions." Between Jordan, Rodman and himself, I have no idea how other teams even scored on those 90's Bulls. Scotty was a 6'8" SF who could handle the rock with ease. He could shoot, get to the hole and played defense like no one else. He was Lebron before Lebron came around. Granted, it always helps when you got #23 on your side, but Pippen had a lot to do with those 6 rings as well.

2- Paul Pierce
This guy has the old-school mentality in a new-school era. He is one of the last guys that, on the court, hates everyone in an opposing jersey, and I love that! There is something to be said of a guy who stays with one team, loses year after year and continues to fight. Eventually, with the help of KG and Ray Ray, he was able to bring a Championship to Boston. There is never a shot that he feels he can't make and there isn't a player he feels he cant check. He makes it personal with everyone and there aren't many guys that have that killer mentality. Of all the amazing players that have worn the green and white of Boston, Pierce ranks 2nd in points, and 3rd in games and minutes played.

1- LBJ
This wasn't too difficult. Already he's accomplished so much and his career still feels like it has an upward trajectory. It almost isn't fair what he's able to do. There isn't player in the NBA that can check him, although Paul Pierce probably thinks he can. There really isn't an argument here with who is number one. Lebron will go down as one of the greats of all time and his game has evolved so much to make him the best 2-way player in the NBA today. As much as I dislike some of his antics (a different post for a different day) I have respect for him as a basketball player in its purest form. He does it all, and when he's not flopping and crying for calls, he makes the game look effortless.

How many times is Tebow going to get "one more chance?"

Here we go again! Tebow is back in the headlines as the Philadelphia Eagles have signed him to a one year deal. The media, for whatever reason, loves this guy and is salivating at the opportunity to fit "tebowing" into their morning/nightly news. The true sports fan and knowledgeable football fan doesn't understand why he keeps getting "one more shot."

Don't get me wrong, he seems like a good dude and I wouldn't mind sharing a beer with him, if God lets him, but he has far outstayed his welcome in the NFL. Tebow seems like that weird uncle that shows up once a year at a family picnic and its just awkward because you don't really have anything to say to him, but you have to say hi because your mom just pinched you and said "Go say hello to your uncle! Yes, he has a certain moxy about him that teams might gravitate towards, but how many more chances is this guy going to get? He got drafted by the Broncos (chance 1) and it didn't work. He was traded to the Jets (chance 2) and saw less time on the field than the long snapper. He then was signed by the Pats (chance 3. If Bill Belichick can't find a way to utilize him, not sure who can) and he didn't even make the 53 man roster. This is now his 4th...I repeat FORTH chance in the NFL. It is insane that people are saying today "its good that he gets one more chance." How many chances is he going to get? He couldn't even beat out Marc Sanchez in NY.

If you really think about it, Tebow is a pretty selfish NFL hopeful. We see year after year college QB's tell teams that they will do anything to make a team and play wherever is needed. Denard Robinson, Julian Edelman and others were college QB's and are now playing well at other positions. Tebow has stood firm with the notion that "I am going to do whatever it takes to play QB in the NFL." As admirable as that is, hes just not good at QB. Tebow has never said he'll do whatever is necessary to help his TEAM be successful, he continues to say he wants to be an NFL Quarterback and he is going to do whatever it takes to prove people wrong. That is not a great mentality when it comes to a team game, especially if you are horrible at said position. He is almost dismissing the opportunity to help a team win to push his own agenda.

I don't want to speak for others, but my dislike for Tebow is primarily based on the fact that no other NFL player has ever gotten this much attention for being so irrelevant on the field. His faith and charisma is what the media and others eat up. People that know nothing about Football know Tim Tebow. He's no doubt a polarizing figure socially, and he can move forward with his life being in the social spotlight. A former NFL player who had the mental fortitude and drive to make it all the way to the NFL when everyone told him he couldn't. Disney can't wait to write a movie about! Hell, Tebow can act in it himself and start his next career to try to get an Academy Award!

As of right now, he's 0-3 with 3 strikeouts in the NFL. One more and he will not only have the golden sombrero, he might not have any more at bats in the NFL, and ya know what, he doesn't deserve any more!