Three's a Crowd

Dale, Hemet, CA
Subj: Three of a kind
Much has been made of the dominance of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, but who do you think are the best threesomes in NBA history?

Superb question Dale! After several hours of careful consideration I’ve come up with five deserving trios and one honorable mention. My selections are based upon offensive proficiency, winning percentage and overall dominance.

5. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen – LeBron James and co. may be the league's best contemporary trio, but until the win their first championship "Gang Green" will continue to hold onto this prestigious spot.
Best offensive season: 2007-2008. Pierce, Garnett and Allen are currently lit up opponents to the tune of 55.8 points per game en route to winning the NBA championship.

4. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman – Admittedly more of a “Big Two” than a “Big Three” Jordan and Pippen were so dominant during their prime that it seems like a shame to exclude them from this list. That’s why I paired them with Rodman, a defensive demon who helped the Bulls win three consecutive championships from 1996-to-1998. Although Jordan and Pippen’s 50 + points per game were key, it’s unlikely Chicago would have been nearly as dominant without the Worm’s willingness to do the dirty work and defend the other team’s top scorer.
Best offensive season: 1995-1996. The Bulls finished the 1996 season with a 72-10 record as their three main men combined for an average of 55.0 points per game.

3. Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain – It isn’t often that a team can put three Hall of Famers on the court at the same time, but that’s precisely the luxury the Lakers had during the late 60’s and early 70’s when they suited up Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain. The high scoring trio went to the NBA Finals in three consecutive years before bowing out to the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. Despite their inability to win a title, Wilt, Big E and The Logo are all charter members of the league’s 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Best offensive season: 1969-1970. Opponents didn’t stand a chance against the Lake Show in 1970 when their three primary offensive weapons combined for an eye-popping 82.5 points per game. Granted, Wilt was injured for the bulk of the season, but when he was in the line-up Los Angeles was a formidable force.

2. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish – The original “Big Three” Bird, McHale and Parrish led the Celtics to five NBA finals in the 1980’s, winning the championship three times. Although Bird was the team’s unquestioned leader, Parrish was also a rock in the paint and McHale was a surprisingly adept rebounder and shot blocker who was named to the NBA All-Defensive First or Second Team six times during his illustrious career.
Best offensive season: 1986-1987. The C’s were firing on all cylinders in 1987 when their “Big Three” combined for an absurd 71.7 points per game. Unfortunately their supporting cast let them down in the postseason and Boston fell to the Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and James Worthy – Although often overshadowed by their East Coast rivals, Kareem, Magic and Worthy formed the backbone of a Lakers squad that won four championships during the 1980s. Their selflessness and clutch play kept them on top of the standings year after year and their fan-friendly, fast breaking attack revitalized a league that was teetering on the brink of irrelevance.
Best offensive season: 1985-1986. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no denying that the Showtime Lakers knew how to put the ball in the basket. L.A.’s terrific trio were at their best statistically in 1986 when they combined for 62.2 points per game.

Honorable Mention: Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond – Although this trio never won a championship they did manage to keep things interesting by scorching their opponents on a nightly basis. Hardaway initiated the attack with his killer UTEP Two Step, while Mullin and Richmond kept defenses guessing with their nearly unstoppable inside-outside game.
Best offensive season: 1990-1991. Run TMC set the league on fire in 1991 when they combined for 72.5 points per game. Sadly for fans around the league, the trio was broken up the following year when Richmond was unwisely traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Billy Owens.

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San Jose is interested in acquiring a professional basketball team. That rules out the Timberwolves.

Venezuelan authorities are scheduled to exhume the body of former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez. No word yet on when the Mets will make him a formal offer.

Michael Vick has agreed to star in an eight-part television series on BET. The show is part reality TV, part documentary and part America’s Most Wanted.

Stephon Marbury has rejected a one year, $1.3 million contract from the Boston Celtics feeling he deserves more. The only thing Marbury deserves is more scorn and more ridicule.

Al Jefferson reportedly wants to play for Team USA at the FIBA World Championship in August. Something tells us he probably isn’t the only Timberwolve who’s already looking beyond this season.

Jacques Rogge has been re-elected as president of the International Olympic Committee. Something tells us the vote probably wasn’t held in Chicago.

The Warriors defeated the Suns 104-101 in an outdoor exhibition game at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The score likely would have been much higher were it not for the fact the players kept on getting tangled up in the net at half court.

The Brewers are telling teams they have no intention of shopping Prince Fielder. That’s a shame, because they could make a fortune if they sold him by the pound.

LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal say they both want the same thing this season. And that’s to avoid being shot by Delonte West.

The Warriors say they’re in no rush to trade disgruntled guard Stephen Jackson. That’s quite a coincidence since the rest of the league is in no rush to acquire him.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor says he doesn't regret wearing Michael Vick's name in his eye black. However, he does regret asking Michael Vick to look after his cocker spaniel for the weekend.

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Fran Tarkenton has accused Brett Favre of making more stupid plays than any quarterback he’s ever seen. Tarkenton can expect thank-you cards from Ryan Leaf and Billy Joe Tolliver any day now.

The contents of a storage locker belonging to three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes were just auctioned off, unbeknownst to her. It’s still unclear whether or not Swoopes is entitled to a portion of the $5.35 the auction generated.

Tom Hicks is willing to give up control of the Texas Rangers. That seems fitting since his pitchers gave up their control long ago.

Cleveland owner Larry Dolan has been hospitalized following a mild heart attack. It was only a matter of time before he realized he owned the Indians.

Suspended outfielder Manny Ramirez will be sent to the minor leagues for 10 days as part of a rehab assignment. There’s nothing like riding a bus from Stockton to Rancho Cucamonga to make you reconsider your life decisions.

Tom Brady has dispelled rumors by announcing that his wife Gisele Bundchen, is not pregnant. We hope for his sake it isn’t because of a lack of trying.

Takeru Kobayashi outlasted Joey Chestnut in a pizza-eating contest by consuming 5 3/4 P'zones in a six-minute span. On the positive side, Chestnut did win the subsequent heartburn and diarrhea competitions.

Patrick Roy has turned down an opportunity to coach the Colorado Avalanche in order to remain with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. Evidentially Roy took a few more pucks to the head than most fans realize.

The New York Yankees were kicked out of the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland because a Saudi Arabian princess booked the entire hotel. We’re not sure what more surprising: the fact that one person would need so many rooms or that a princess would willingly spend time in Cleveland.

Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue was nearly trampled after taking the field in the middle of Miller Park's infamous Wiener Race. We always suspected too many hot dogs could be dangerous to your health.

LeBron James has said he’s happy in Cleveland. Only someone who’s spent three-quarters of their life in Akron could possibly say that.

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The Golf Channel attracted more than 800,000 viewers for its premiere episode of The Hanley Project starring Charles Barkley. An out of shape hooker hasn’t attracted that much attention since Heidi Fleiss.

The Cincinnati Reds have invited Barack Obama to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in a game against the White Sox. And if he can hit 50 mph on the radar gun he’s also been invited to join their pitching staff.

The Knicks recently gave statistician Al Marchfeld a gold watch to commemorate his 60th year with the team. After six decades of having to watch the Knicks they should have given him a purple heart.

The Oakland A’s have come to terms with Nomar Garciaparra. The free agent shortstop is expected to sign a contract as soon as he adjusts his gloves, fiddles with his hat and taps his cup 27 times.

Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones has signed on to host a new travel show entitled Dhani Tackles the Globe. We’re impressed: most of his teammates aren’t even allowed to leave the U.S.

LeBron James was recently caught on camera farting on the Cavaliers bench. It’s just one of many reasons Mike Brown keeps him on the court for 40 minutes a game.

Jim Edmonds spent the weekend judging a stripping contest at a restaurant in St. Louis. It sounds like pop flies aren’t the only thing he’s shagging this spring.

Darryl Strawberry has admitted he would have used steroids if they were available during his prime. That is, assuming he could have snorted them.

The Yankees new stadium includes a field-level seat that costs $26,000. Sadly, that’s just how much a 6 square foot patch of real estate costs these days in New York.

Alex Rodriguez will have to undergo a second surgery in November to fully repair his injured hip. We hope for A-Rod’s sake that his doctor performs better in the fall than he does.

Topps is on the verge of introducing a new 3-D technology to their sports cards. Baseball fans will now be able to watch their favorite players scratch their nuts with more life-like clarity than ever before.

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The Trailblazers are reportedly looking at rotund center Eddy Curry… all the way from Portland. Curry’s removal could allow New York to sign two players while simultaneously freeing up four spots on the bench.

Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad has died at the age of 93. Team officials are still trying to see if they can stick the remains of Boof Bonser and Juan Rincon into his coffin before it’s interred.

Carmelo Anthony recently hurt his hand in a win over Indiana. The injury is especially disconcerting for the All-Star forward since it’s his rolling hand.

Former American Gladiators star, Nitro, has admitted to using steroids while he was on the show in the early 90’s. The news comes as a shock to millions of viewers who thought it was perfectly normal to have man-boobs the size of engorged watermelons.

Andy Pettitte has rejected the Yankees' one-year, $10 million offer. After all, he didn’t want to be paid less than the team’s bat boy.

Shaquille O'Neal has just re-listed his Miami Beach estate for $25 million - $10 million less than its original asking price. A Shaq product hasn’t fetched this little interest since Kazaam.

Alex Rodriquez was recently spotted getting close with 60-year-old fashion designer Donna Karan. At the rate he’s going his next girlfriend might be a pile of dust.

Jessica Simpson has been included in this year’s Dallas Cowboys Family Cookbook. After all, who wouldn’t want culinary advice from someone who can’t tell the difference between tuna and chicken?

Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli got some good news recently after doctors re-diagnosed his mitochondrial disorder as the less severe channelopathy. Baldelli is hopeful that with enough time he’ll eventually have a disease he can actually spell.

The Dallas Cowboys have released troubled cornerback Pacman Jones. You know you’ve had a bad year when the INT in your stat column refers to interrogations.

Warren Sapp recently challenged Michael Phelps to a televised swimming duel. The race got off to a promising start before Sapp was suddenly harpooned after his first five strokes.

The Cavaliers are now 18-0 at home after defeating the Bobcats, proving once and for all that visiting teams hate Cleveland nearly as much as the rest of the country.

WNBA star Candace Parker is expecting her first child this spring, making her the first professional basketball player in history to actually have a planned pregnancy.

David Beckham is currently charging $700,000 per interview. Or, in other words, $350,000 for every interesting thing he has to say.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced plans to add an "all-you-can-eat" section for the 2008 season. It’s uncertain whether the decision was made to appease fans or to attract free agent pitcher David Wells.

LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000. Incidentally, that’s 10,000 points, not 10,000 women.

Roger Clemens could be facing jail time following allegations that he lied under oath. Luckily the former Cy Young winner has always looked good in pinstripes.

The Knicks have had preliminary discussions with Kiki Vandeweghe about replacing Isiah Thomas in the front office. No word yet on who will pick up the slack when it comes to harassing the franchise’s female employees.

Minnesota forward Antoine Walker missed a recent trip to Toronto because of a problem with his passport. It’s too bad there wasn’t a basketball hoop nearby or he could have proven his identity by missing 15 3-pointers in a row.

Stephon Marbury has been instructed by Isiah Thomas not to attend Knicks home games. Ironically, most of the team’s season ticket holders would love to receive the same order.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot water after erroneously reporting that Brett Favre was set to retire. The false report was so shocking it caused John Madden’s heart to stop for three full minutes.

Calvin Klein has offered Tom Brady a deal to appear in a high profile underwear campaign. It’s a natural fit for a man who was last seen getting undressed by the Giants’ defense.

Cornerback Randall Gay has agreed to a four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. The deal was initially opposed by the Catholic Church who were uncomfortable with the words gay and saints appearing within the same sentence.

China dominated the World Team Table Tennis Championships in a tournament seen as a preview of this summer's Beijing Olympics. Sadly, none of the team members will be allowed to celebrate their victory at Disneyworld since they’re too short to go on the rides.

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