Christmas Day for basketball fans is the unofficial start of the “real season,” when contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders.

Seven of the top 10 teams and seven of the 10 best players in the NBA are playing on Christmas Day. There’s no shortage of star power when ABC starts its live marathon live coverage at noon ET.

But this year there’s major competition.

The NFL has a three-game slate on Dec. 25. Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers take on the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. ET followed by the Denver Broncos-L.A. Rams at 4:30 p.m. ET. The prime-time game at 8:20 p.m. ET features Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Arizona Cardinals.

Football is king when it comes to TV ratings, so the NBA will have to compete for viewers on a day when it usually owns the viewing audience. To help solve this viewing dilemma, OneManFastBreak.net has tagged three must-see NBA games. The other two games, well, let’s just say you’re fee to switch channel to the NFL games.

Must-see games
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks (noon ET, ABC/ESPN) — The Knicks enter Christmas Day as one of the hottest teams in the league. They’ve won eight in a row and now currently sit among the top six teams in the Eastern Conference. The offseason acquisition of point guard Jalen Brunson has solidified New York’s once shaky backcourt. Brunson is the perfect tough-as-nails leader head coach Tom Thibodeau has been seeking since his days with the Chicago Bulls. Brunson takes the pressure of forward Julius Randle and knows how to win close ballgames, which was a big problem last season. The Sixers have been coasting so far, but they still have MVP candidate Joel Embiid. When Embiid decides to take over a game, there are few people on planet Earth who can slow him down. Madison Square Garden will be rocking for this sexy matchup.

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — This could very well be a preview of the East finals. Both teams enter the colossal showdown with their full compliment of players. Khris Middleton, who missed last year’s playoff series with a knee injury, is starting to get back into shape. Middleton is the Robin to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Batman. The Celtics welcome back center Robert Williams, who was vital to their run to the NBA Finals last season. Jayson Tatum is enjoying an MVP season and his running mate, Jaylen Brown, is making a strong case to make the All-NBA squad. Celtics had owned the league’s best record until a rocky West Coast trip tripped them up and allowed the Bucks to gain ground in the standings. The Bucks’ game in Milwaukee starts at 5 p.m. ET, well after the kickoff for Packers-Dolphins game. Wisconsin fans will be able to watch their Packers and their Bucks on Christmas Day.

Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — The Suns-Nuggets game is the last NBA game on the Christmas Day schedule. The first quarter of Suns-Nuggets might be a skip since most of us will be watching the end of the Buccaneers-Cardinals game when Brady leads the Bucs to victory over a depleted Cards squad. Once the NFL prime-time game is over, you can tune in to Suns-Nuggets. Both teams don’t like each other. During the 2021 playoffs, the Suns swept the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic was ejected in the clincher for a hard foul on Cameron Payne. Jokic and Devin Booker had to be separated after a heated exchange. Jokic’s brothers got involved in the bruhaha when they yelled at Booker from the stands. We could see fireworks again.

Skip these games
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — A once promising matchup turned into a sour showdown after reigning Finals MVP Steph Curry injured his left shoulder and will be sidelined for a few weeks. Without Curry, the Warriors are a shell of themselves. There’s some bad blood between the Grizzlies and Warriors, so this could have been spicy. The Dubs-Griz game will be going head-to-head with Bucs-Cards, and we all know America will always choose football over basketball. It’s OK. This game could get ugly, anyways.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — Not even LeBron James and Luka Doncic can save this awful matchup. The Lakers won’t have All-Star Anthony Davis and the Mavericks are struggling to find four other guys to play with Doncic. If LeBron was playing Luka one-on-one, then this game actually be interesting. But as currently constructed, it’s a battle of two teams closer to the bottom of the conference.

Giannis Antetokounmpo got a taste of championship champagne and now he wants more.

After leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971, the two-time league MVP and newly minted 2021 NBA Finals MVP said he is not satisfied and has his sights set on repeating as champion.

“I’m not even close to being satisfied,” Antetokounmpo said. “As the leader of the team, that’s the tone I’m gonna set. We understand teams are coming for us. We’re gonna be ready.”

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have extra motivation because they’re not favored to win in the 2021-22 season. The Brooklyn Nets, the team the Bucks eliminated in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals, are the betting favorites (+250) to win the title followed by the Lakers (+400), according to FanDuel. The Bucks have the third-best odds (+650) to win it all.

“We know we’re the 2021 NBA champs,” Giannis said. “But right now, we’re just the Milwaukee Bucks, and nobody believes in us. And nobody believes we can do it again.”

Antetokounmpo might be exaggerating a bit when he said “nobody” believes in the Bucks. There are many — including OneManFastBreak — who fear the deer. OMFB predicts the playoff order in the Western and Eastern conferences, including the eight teams in the play-in brackets.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (TOP 6)

1-Brooklyn Nets (projected record 59-23) — The Kyrie Irving anti-vaccine drama has sucked up much of the oxygen inside the Nets’ locker room this offseason, and a resolution can’t come soon enough. Irving’s availability is vital to the Nets’ title hopes, but it’s not a deal-breaker. With or without Kyrie, Steve Nash’s unit has the most potent offense in the NBA, ranking at the top or near it in points (119), field goal percentage (49.4), and 3-point shooting (39.2). As long as Kevin Durant and James Harden are healthy, Brooklyn will be the heavy favorite in the East.

2-Milwaukee Bucks (58-24) — The biggest challenge for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. will be how they deal with having targets on their backs every night. They now go from being the hunters to being the hunted. The Bucks lost defensive stopper P.J. Tucker to free agency, but the core of the 2021 championship team returns for head coach Mike Budenholzer. The Bucks brass brought back veteran guard George Hill, who will serve as a solid backup plan at point or shooting guard. And at the end of the day, the Bucks still have the Greek Freak.

3-Atlanta Hawks (50-32) — When Nate McMillan took over the helm, the Hawks took off. They became a completely different team. Trae Young blossomed into more of a traditional point guard under McMillan, shedding some of the wild shots he was known for during his first two seasons and becoming a true playmaker. Young took fewer shots per game (down from 20.8 to 17.7) but maintained his assists (9.4). Young’s ascent into elite status is crucial to how far the Hawks can go and prove to naysayers that last season’s playoff run wasn’t a fluke.

4-Miami Heat (49-33) — After taking a big step back last season following an NBA Finals appearance in the bubble, the Heat upgraded their point guard position by acquiring veteran Kyle Lowry. Lowry’s playmaking ability will fix some of the woes Miami had on offense, which at times became stagnant and reliant on Jimmy Butler. Fresh off a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, Bam Adebayo came into camp in fantastic shape and added a face-up jumper. Tyler Herro looks to rebound after a disappointing sophomore season.

5-Philadelphia 76ers (48-34) — Awkward. That’s the status of the 76ers organization and All-Star forward Ben Simmons. Simmons wants out of Philly but Philly can’t find a deal that would satisfy both sides. Sixers president Daryl Morey and head coach Doc Rivers are put in an uncomfortable position. They must navigate through this Simmons mess while trying to contend for a title. Philly won’t be able to move forward until they figure out what to do with their petulant star.

6-New York Knicks (46-36) — Tom Thibodeau squeezed out every ounce of talent and energy from his squad last season and surprised many by finishing in the top four. New York was one of the best defensive teams in the league and forward Julius Randle elevated his game to All-Star level. But with every Thibodeau team, it’s extremely difficult to maintain this hard-charging style. Expect a drop-off this season.

PLAY-IN TEAMS

7-Chicago Bulls (43-39) — The Bulls added some nice pieces in the offseason and are now primed to make their first playoffs appearance in four seasons. The addition of point guard Lonzo Ball, forward DeMar DeRozan, and utility man Alex Caruso gives head coach Billy Donovan three solid pieces to fit with All-Star guard Zach LaVine. Ball was the big free-agent catch, signing a four-year, $85 million contract. LaVar Ball just keeps winning. Neva lost!

8-Charlotte Hornets (41-41) — Reigning NBA rookie of the year LaMelo Ball gave us a taste of what a Big Baller looks like and his basketball brilliance is making a once-moribund franchise into one of the most exciting teams in the league. You can almost hear LaVar Ball in the background saying, “I told you so!” Charlotte will have eight nationally televised games in 2021-22 and it’s all because of LaMelo.

9-Boston Celtics (40-42) — Ime Udoka, 44, takes over for Brad Stevens, who left the coaching bench after six seasons to become team president. Udoka’s first order of business is to fix the Celtics’ woeful ball movement (25th in assists). Celtics won’t have Kemba Walker to dump on as the 34-year-old guard packed his bags for New York after two underwhelming seasons in Boston. Udoka will lean heavily on forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Boston sorely missed Brown (injured wrist) in the playoffs, and his mere presence will open up the floor for Tatum.

10-Indiana Pacers (39-43) — Rick Carlisle is back at the helm in Indiana, replacing Nate Bjorkgren, who was let go after one season. This isn’t Carlisle’s first rodeo in Indiana. He was the Pacers head coach from 2003-07 and was Larry Bird’s top assistant for three seasons. Getting healthy will be the No. 1 priority for Carlisle’s crew, and he has a nice building block in big man Domantas Sabonis.

WESTERN CONFERENCE (TOP 6)

1-Phoenix Suns (56-26) — After finishing with the second-best regular-season record a year ago, the Suns are poised to make the jump as the No. 1 team in the West after coming within two wins of winning it all. Phoenix returns the same group that started the 2021 NBA Finals. Monty Williams is finally getting the recognition he deserves as one of the top coaches in the league. Deandre Ayton’s growth and development into an elite center elevated the Suns into a Western powerhouse. However, the Suns declined to give Ayton the max contract extension, which means 2021-22 is a prove-it-to-me-again season for the 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick.

2-Utah Jazz (55-27) — Utah finished with the best record in the conference last season but bowed out in the second round of the postseason, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of Donovan Mitchell and Co. If Mitchell wants to be considered among the 10 best players in the league, he has to expand his game. Scoring comes easy for Mitchell. What the Jazz need is a playmaker who can create shots for others. Mitchell believes he is up to the task.

3-Golden State Warriors (51-31) — Steph Curry is coming off one of his best seasons, which says a lot considering he’s a two-time league MVP with three championship rings. Warriors general manager Bob Myers calls Curry “a generational player who has changed the game and won consistently at the highest level.” Curry should get his Splash Brother back this season. Klay Thompson hasn’t played in two years coming off ACL and Achilles’ tear surgeries. His return will provide the boost the Dubs need to make a postseason run.

4-Denver Nuggets (50-32) — The Nuggets opened up the vault and gave Michael Porter Jr. ($172 million) and Aaron Gordon ($92 million) massive contracts. MPJ has a huge upside and has shown flashes of becoming a superstar. The Nuggets need MPJ to reach his immense potential and become an All-Star if Denver is going to overtake the Suns, Jazz, and Lakers.

5-Memphis Grizzlies (46-36) — The grit-and-grind style is back in Memphis, and head coach Taylor Jenkins seems to have found the right blend of gritty players to play with flashy point guard Ja Morant. Morant is one of the most dynamic players in the league and the Grizzlies could win their division as long as Ja stays healthy. Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson are tough, versatile wing players who don’t mind doing the dirty work. Former Oklahoma City center Steven Adams was brought in to add more muscle to the Memphis frontcourt.

6-Los Angeles Lakers (45-37) — Much has been said about the Lakers having the oldest roster in the NBA, with nine players over the age of 32. LeBron James turns 37 and enters his 19th season. LeBron said he doesn’t want to hear about minutes restrictions. Anthony Davis holds the key to the Lakers’ season. The often-injured All-Star forward has never played more than 75 games in a season, and his last healthy full season came in 2020 when L.A. a title in the Orlando bubble. Davis needs to have an MVP-type season in order for the Lakers to raise their 18th championship banner.

PLAY-IN TEAMS

7-Dallas Mavericks (44-34) — Jason Kidd returns to Dallas to replace Rick Carlisle as Mavs coach. The first order of business for Kidd is to find a way to reduce first-team All-NBA superstar Luka Doncic’s usage rate without sacrificing all the wonderful things Luka brings to the court. The second order of business for Kidd is to find a way to light a fire in Kristaps Porzingis, who has been nonexistent in the last two seasons.

8-Los Angeles Clippers (43-39) — Paul George said he’s ready to be the No. 1 guy while Kawhi Leonard recovers from a partially torn ACL. PG13 shut down his haters with a solid postseason, turning into Playoff P and carrying the Clips into the conference finals before being eliminated by Phoenix. The Clippers re-signed Reggie Jackson to a two-year deal, believing his 2021 playoff performance wasn’t a fluke.

9-Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) — Damian Lillard felt that last season’s roster wasn’t good enough to win a championship. What did the Blazers do? They brought back the same core that lost in the first round. Instead of retooling the roster, the Blazers fired longtime coach Terry Stotts and replaced him with Chauncey Billups. Lillard is giving Billups one season to show what he can do.

10-Sacramento Kings (40-42) — This could be the year when the Kings finally brought the franchise’s 15-year playoff drought. Luke Walton is entering his third season as coach, and it could be his final one if the Kings miss the playoffs. Sacramento upgraded its defense by drafting Baylor stopper Davion “Off Night” Mitchell to help improve one of the worst perimeter defensive units in the league.

Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoyed his first trip to the NBA Finals. (Getty Images)

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a refreshing perspective when it came to playing in the NBA Finals. Giannis wasn’t born in the United States. He was born in Greece to Nigerian parents. He wasn’t a five-star recruit. He wasn’t exposed to the AAU circuit. He wasn’t a high draft pick.

His journey to the NBA was different than most athletes. Once he became an All-Star player and a two-time NBA MVP, the last level before scaling his Mount Olympus was winning a championship. He could have easily joined a super team to win a title, just like LeBron James did when he left Cleveland for Miami and just like Kevin Durant did when he left Oklahoma City for Golden State. Instead, Giannis chose to stay in small-market Milwaukee.

“This is my city. They trust me. They believe in me. They believe in us,” Antetokounmpo said moments after he led the Bucks to the franchise’s second NBA title and their first pro basketball championship since 1971.

“Obviously I wanted to get the job done. But that’s my stubborn side. It’s easy to go somewhere and go win a championship with somebody else. It’s easy,” Giannis continued. “I could go to a superteam, and just do my part to win a championship. But this is the hard way to do it, and we did it. We f—ing did it.”

Antetokounmpo is built differently, literally and figuratively. The 6-11, 242-pound Greek Freak has been creating his own path since he started playing basketball at the age of 12. His story would make an interesting TV documentary. He stays humble because of his past life. Growing up in Greece, he sold watches, DVDs and CDs to help his family survive and make money after his parents came there as immigrants from Nigeria. Money was tight in their household, so Giannis shared basketball shoes with his older brother Thanasis. He wore Thanasis’ Kobe 4s when he played in a small gym in Athens.

Antetokounmpo was discovered playing in a small, worn-out gym in Athens. He began his pro basketball career for the youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens. He moved up to the club’s senior team prior to the 2013 NBA draft. He didn’t know where Milwaukee was when the Bucks made him the 15th overall selection.

“Eight years ago, eight and a half years ago, when I came to the league, I didn’t know where my next meal will come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street. Now I’m here sitting at the top of the top. I’m extremely blessed. I’m extremely blessed,” Giannis told reporters while holding the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy and the Larry O’Brien trophy.

“If I never have a chance to sit on this table ever again, I’m fine with it. I’m fine with it,” he said. “I hope this can give everybody around the world hope. I want them to believe in their dreams.”

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer believes Antetokounmpo’s appreciation for life is what makes him special.

“He appreciates all the little things, coming to the practice facility and getting in extra shots. He appreciates just everything,” Budenholzer said of his superstar. “When you’re around people [who appreciate life], their spirit fills you up. Just to listen to him, that’s a man who appreciates life. Appreciates everything that’s been put in front of him, attacks it, and makes everything great. I love being around him.”

When ESPN personality Rachel Nichols asked Giannis about his Finals experience, he used the word “enjoy” nearly a dozen times. “I feel like I’ve come a long way. Just to be able to sit here. Being interviewed by you guys, playing in this game, being with my teammates. It’s been a long journey. I’m trying to enjoy every single moment.”

Antetokounmpo said it’s “amazing” seeing 20,000 fans back inside the arena and almost 20,000 fans outside the arena is a win in itself after the whole shut down for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t worry about the outcome,” the Bucks All-Star forward said. “I want to enjoy the game. I want my teammates to enjoy the game. If I enjoy the game, I have an opportunity to win every game we play.”

Giannis even had a hilarious response when longtime NBA reporter Marc J. Spears asked him if it bothers him when opposing fans troll him for his very deliberate routine at the free throw line.

“Of course I notice! 20,000 people yelling 1, 2, 3, 4…”

Giannis talks about fans counting while he’s at the free throw line. pic.twitter.com/qB4BhZf9eM

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) July 7, 2021

“I think it’s something that’s going to follow me for the rest of my career,” he said with a grin. “I just have to embrace it and have fun with it. But at the end of the line, I’m just focused on my routine, my technique, my body, and that’s it. Like I said, it’s not going to stop. I just have to learn to live with it.”

Spears followed up by asking Giannis if he hears the fans counting. “Of course I notice. Twenty thousand people yelling 1, 2, 3, 4,” he said while laughing.

Playing the game of basketball is fun. And Giannis prefers it that way. It allows him to play with freedom and passion. At times, he plays so much instinctively that basketball pundits nitpick his game like politicians grilling witnesses on Capitol Hill.

But if there’s one thing Giannis cannot be criticized for is his effort. He doesn’t cheat the game. He’ll play until he has emptied his tank. He plays with so much energy and effort that at the end of the day he’s able to live with the result.

It is this very same approach that allowed Giannis to deliver the defining moment of his basketball career in Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Finals in Milwaukee against the Phoenix Suns. TV analyst Jeff Van Gundy called it one of the greatest plays you’ll ever see. Bucks forward Pat Connaughton called it the best block of all time. Another teammate, Khris Middleton, referred to it as an “Oh shit!” moment.

For Giannis, it was simply a great hustle play.

Giannis' HUGE BLOCK helps seal the @Bucks Game 4 win! #ThatsGame#NBAFinals tied at 2-2.. Game 5 is Saturday at 9pm/et on ABC. pic.twitter.com/aanNuTUtlF

— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2021

Giannis’ block of Ayton’s potential dunk came with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter with the Bucks ahead 101-99. Instead of the game being tied, the play ignited a Milwaukee run that put the game away.

“I thought I was gonna get dunked on, to be honest with you,” Antetokounmpo admitted. “You risk it. You kind of feel it. I felt him rolling to the rim behind me, so I knew the only chance to get a stop is just jump toward the rim and try to cover that angle for him to score.”

He continued: “I saw the play coming. I saw that [Devin Booker] was going to throw the lob and I was just going to jump vertical toward the rim. Hopefully I can be there in time, and I was there in time and was able to get a good block and go down and get two points.”

Antetokounmpo said the play didn’t catch him by surprise. He saw the play develop and used his remarkable instincts to thwart it.

“Once I saw [Booker] put the ball on one hand, he was too far for a layup. So I knew he was trying to lob it,” Antetokounmpo said. “I committed so much, I felt [Ayton] roll to the rim behind me. So I knew the only change to get a stop is to jump towards the rim and try to cover the angle and [prevent] him to score. I didn’t jump to block the ball. I jumped towards the rim. That’s what kinda helped me, put me in position to get the block.”

Reaction around the basketball community was swift. The best one may have come from former NBA player and current NBA TV analyst Greg Anthony.

He tweeted: “When you factor in everything Giannis had to do on this play! May be the single best defensive play I have ever seen!!!”

Whether it’ll be viewed as the greatest block of all time is up for debate. What can’t be debated is the fact that it’s the signature moment of Giannis’ career. What also can’t be debated is Giannis’ place in history. He will go down in history as one of the greats. He’s an MVP and he’s a champion. He did it the hard way and we could all learn from that.

“I know I’m a role model. But this should make every person, every kid, anybody around the world believe in their dreams,” Antetokounmpo said. “No matter whatever you feel when you’re down, when you don’t think it’s going to happen for you or you might not make it in your career — might be basketball, might be anything — just believe in what you’re doing and keep working.

“Don’t let nobody tell you what you can be and what you cannot do. Just believe, man. I hope I give people around the world, from Africa, from Europe, hope that it can be done. It can be done.”

Deandre Ayton is causing a major reassessment of the value of an old-school basketball center. When Ayton was selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 NBA draft, some internet draft “experts” thought the Phoenix Suns were making a mistake for investing in a 7-footer who doesn’t fit the modern big preferred by analytics.

Now, the 250-pound Bahamian beast is making a believer out of almost everyone in the basketball world — including the analytics nerds.

Ayton made a splashy debut in the NBA Finals, scoring 22 points, grabbing 19 rebounds, shooting 80 percent from the field (making eight of 10 shots) against the Milwaukee Bucks. Only three other players put up those kinds of numbers in the NBA Finals: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“I’m just happy. I get goosebumps. Sometimes I overwhelm myself on the way to the game. I’m having a lot of fun because my guys in here, they keep me level,” said Ayton, who is shooting a Shaq-like 71 percent from the field in the 2021 postseason while averaging 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Chris Paul and Devin Booker grab all the headlines and the SportsCenter highlights, but it’s Ayton who might be the most important player on the Suns.

Ayton gave the L.A. Lakers fits in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, going toe-to-toe with Lakers superstar Anthony Davis. After dispatching the Lakers, Suns swept the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals. In that series, Ayton was matched against reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. Ayton basically played Jokic to a draw, which was a win for the Suns.

In the conference finals, Ayton consistently destroyed the L.A. Clippers’ small-ball lineup and forced Clippers coach Ty Lue to go back to a more conventional lineup with 7-footer Ivica Zubac at center.

Jokic, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, and Utah’s Rudy Gobert — the three big men regarding by many experts as 1-2-3 in the pecking order — are all sitting at home while Ayton keeps getting stronger with each round and appears ready to challenge Jokic, Embiid, and Gobert for a spot on the All-NBA teams.

“He’s just locked into the role,” Suns coach Monty Williams said his third-year center. “Sometimes when you tell a player they have a role, they tend to think you’re limiting their ability. I don’t think DA thinks that. I think he understands his role and how he can affect winning, on both sides of the ball.”

Ayton’s role on the Suns is simple. Offensively, when he’s not catching lobs and finishing at the rim, he helps trigger the offense by setting screens, freeing up Paul and Booker on many mid-range forays. Defensively, he protects the paint and secures any defensive rebound he can get his hands on. It’s imperative for him to win the battle of the boards because the Suns are not the biggest team in the league. Ayton doesn’t mind doing all the dirty work.

“He’s just a presence down there,” Williams said of his young center, who turns 23 on July 23. “Sometimes they have to run two guys at him to keep him off the glass, and that allows our wings to pick up some offensive rebounds.”

Williams added: “I think his focus during the playoffs has been something that doesn’t surprise me — I just didn’t expect him, as young as he is, to be locked in,” Williams said. “And he’s been listening to Chris [Paul], all of our older guys when it comes to the experience, the playoff mentality and everything he’s doing in the weight room. I’ll look over in the weight room and he’s doing something in the weight room that I have never seen him do before, and it’s usually something that Chris has in his program.”

Ayton has totally bought into what Williams has been preaching since the day he got hired as Phoenix’s head coach. Williams wanted Ayton to get in better shape and focus on the game plan.

“He’s watching a ton of film on his own, so I just think he’s embracing the experience,” Williams said. “To be as young as he is and his first time going through it, I did not expect him to be where he is right now as far as his focus and attention to detail and the level of force that he’s playing with.”

There was a moment in Game 2 of the NBA Finals involving Williams and Ayton that’ll inspire basketball fans. Ayton was sulking a bit because he wasn’t playing up to his standard. Williams immediately noticed his big man was feeling a little down, so he took the time to pump him up.

“Look at me. You set a high level for yourself. That’s why you’re down. That’s great,” Williams told Ayton. “Now go reach that level. And you can reach it with force. Dominate the game with force.”

Ayton responded with another forceful game.

Marcin Gortat saw his numbers decline after an injury-plagued 2012-13 season with the Phoenix Suns. (GETTY IMAGES)

The Phoenix Suns proved on Friday they have no interest in fielding a competitive team this coming season and are more interested in collecting picks for next year’s NBA draft when there will be quite a few possible franchise players available.

Marcin Gortat was traded to the Washington Wizards, along with Shannon Brown, Kendall Marshall, and Malcolm Lee, for center Emeka Okafor and a 2014 first-round draft pick.

“I wanna say I don’t have any hard feelings towards Suns front office people,” Gortat tweeted on Friday. “Ryan [McDonough] is an amazing GM. He put them back on the right track.”

With the team drafting Alex Len and also having veteran big man Channing Frye on the roster, trading Gortat wasn’t totally unexpected. But the return was less than expected. In 2011-12, Gortat averaged 15.4 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Last year, Gortat played in just 61 games due to a foot injury and his numbers declined (11.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks).

Gortat will give the Wizards a solid replacement for Okafor at the center position. Nene will be able to stay at his power forward position and the trade gives Washington an excellent chance to make the playoffs.

Okafor injured his neck and is not expected to start the season on opening day. He has averaged 12.3 points per game, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. With his history of injuries and nine seasons in the league, he’s no longer a starter, but he’s a capable backup. When he’s healthy, Okafor is unlikely to stay long in the Valley of the Sun with an expiring contract and playoff teams interested always interested in adding depth to their rotations.

Brown averaged 10.7 points in two years in Phoenix. He’ll give Washington a scorer and defender off the bench. Marshall was a disappointment after being the 13th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Brown, Marshall and Lee could all be released to clear cap space.

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @djroxalot.

Former Houston Rockets Goran Dragic and Luis Scola now wear the colors of the Phoenix Suns. (GETTY IMAGES)

The Phoenix Suns traded Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason. It was a stunning move since the Lakers are a huge Pacific Division rival, but it was also a necessary move.

The Suns are focused on rebuilding so they settled for a couple low-level first-round picks in 2013 and 2015 and a couple of second-rounders. After negotiating that trade, the Suns went out and added players left and right as they showed a willingness to field a competitive team this season.

They signed guard Goran Dragic, bringing him back for a second go-round. He will run the point and he did a pretty good job for the Houston Rockets last season when Kyle Lowry went down with an injury. Dragic averaged 17.8 points per game and 7.9 assists in 28 starts. They already have a solid big man in Marcin Gortat (15.4 points and 10 rebounds). Dragic will probably be running the pick-and-roll with him a lot.

Luis Scola was surprisingly amnestied by the Rockets and the Suns swooped in and picked up a solid 15-point, eight-rebound guy. Dragic and Scola were teammates in Houston, so this should bode well in terms of team chemistry.

They also picked up Michael Beasley, a volume shooter with a very questionable attitude. This was a bit perplexing to me. I thought starting Jared Dudley would have been a better idea. He’s a better defender than Beasley and can score. PJ. Tucker could’ve used 13-15 minutes per game as a backup to see what he could do or if he has a future with the Suns. And they could have saved the money they spent on Beasley.

They traded Robin Lopez to Minnesota for Wesley Johnson and another first-round pick. Johnson hasn’t played as well as many expected when he was drafted fourth overall by the T-Wolves, but he is a solid defender.

The Suns drafted North Carolina product Kendall Marshall, and he should be a solid backup to Dragic. Sebastian Telfair may find it hard to make the team, or find minutes if he does make the roster. Marshall may eventually replace Dragic as the starter within a few years. The kid has some major potential.

The Suns will most likely go with a starting lineup of: Dragic, Johnson, Beasley, Scola, and Gortat.

Doesn’t exactly strike fear in the opposing team, but it should be a decent enough team to compete while they learn to play together and gel as a cohesive unit. This is a young team whose average age is 26.6 years old. Maybe that’s why they added veteran Jermaine O’Neal to backup Gortat.

Projected finish in the Pacific Division: Fourth (may win 35-38 games)

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Send him an email at: djroxalot@hotmail.com

Forward Josh Childress appeared in just 34 games last season for the Suns. (GETTY IMAGES)

Josh Children agreed to a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. The contract is not guaranteed and no details were available, but it is thought to be worth the veteran minimum.

Childress has played six NBA seasons but played in only 34 games for the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging just under 3 points per game in limited action. He never got much of a chance, but will be the primary backup behind Gerald Wallace.

Childress is a solid rotation player who should be able to give Brooklyn 13-15 solid minutes off the bench. He is a decent defender and capable scorer.

Childress was selected sixth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2004 NBA draft after playing three seasons at Stanford (he played with Jason and Jarron Collins, and averaged 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game). He averaged a career-high 13 points in 2006-07 with the Hawks, but was a restricted free agent after the 2007-08 campaign. He went to Greece where he signed a three-year, $20-million deal before returning to the NBA with the Suns.

The Nets hope he can contribute to a vastly different team that has high hopes after spending a small fortune this offseason.

Darren Jacks is a contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Send him an email at djroxalot@hotmail.com.

Steve Nash will team up with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, giving the Lakers the best backcourt tandem in the NBA. (GETTY IMAGES)

Well, well, well. Just when you thought the obituary for the Los Angeles Lakers had already been written, here comes Steve Nash.

One day after Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets made the biggest splash in the 2012 free agency period, the Los Angeles Lakers dropped a massive firecracker over the rest of the league on the Fourth of July. Nash, the two-time NBA MVP and future Hall-of-Famer, is headed to Hollywood to join fellow all-stars Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. The Phoenix Suns and the Lakers agreed on a sign-and-trade deal Wednesday that sends the 38-year-old Nash to the Lakers in exchange for draft picks and cash.

The deal won’t become official until July 11, but several media outlets have confirmed the deal and ESPN writer Marc Stein reported that Bryant’s determined persuasion closed the most stunning deal of the summer. Nash will reportedly get a three-year deal worth $27 million.

The Lakers swept in at the last minute, leaving Phoenix, New York, and Toronto in the dust. The Raptors fired the first offer, a three-year, $34 million offer, which was followed by the Knicks’ enticing sign-and-trade proposal.

But neither the Raptors nor the Knicks could offer Nash an opportunity to win now and be a champion. An NBA title ring is the only gem missing in Nash’s jewelry case and he knew, if joined forces with Kobe, the Lakers would jump over San Antonio and Oklahoma City as the top dog in the Western Conference. After a few chats with Kobe, Nash reached out to the Suns and pitched the sign-and-trade idea.

“I approached [the Suns] and asked if they would be willing to do a sign-and-trade deal with L.A. because it is very important to me to stay near my children and family,” Nash said. “They were apprehensive and didn’t want to do it. Fortunately for me, they reconsidered.

“They saw that they were able to get assets for their team that will make them better, assets they would not have otherwise had and it made sense for them to do a deal that helps their team get better. I couldn’t be more grateful to the organization.”

Leaving the Suns was tough on Nash, who is a loyal guy and thought the world of Phoenix. He could have easily signed with the Lakers without the sign-and-trade, but he didn’t want Phoenix to be left empty handed. Once the Nash deal was done, the Suns acted quickly as they reached an agreement with free agent point guard Goran Dragic to fill the void. So don’t feel too bad for the Suns.

[RELATED: THE 10 BEST POINT GUARDS IN THE NBA]

With Nash at point guard, Kobe at shooting guard, Ron Artest at small forward, Pau Gasol at power forward, and Andrew Bynum at center, the Lakers now have the best starting five in the NBA. No team comes close to what the Lakers have — an All-Star at each position.

After battling each other in the Pacific Division for nearly a decade, Nash and Bryant now form arguably the greatest backcourt tandem the league has ever seen. The Nash-Kobe combo is easily the best Laker backcourt since Gail Goodrich and Jerry West. The Lakers are the only team in the league with two regular-season MVPs on their roster.

What hurt the Lakers last season was offensive execution. The ball stopped moving, Kobe dominated the ball too much, and Gasol and Bynum didn’t get enough touches.

In the playoffs, the Lakers broke 100 points only three times. Nash instantly makes the Lakers a lethal offensive team and he will fix whatever ails them. Nash will become the offensive coordinator, and head coach Mike Brown can focus on defensive game plans.

Nash’s new teammate can’t wait for the season to start. “Even if Steve Nash is not initiating the offense you still can’t leave him open,” Artest said.

Aside from his usual steady ballhandling and pinpoint passing, Nash is a career 50% shooter from the field. He ranks fifth all-time in assists at 9,916, just behind Lakers legend Magic Johnson who had 10,141 assists. He has a 16-point career average and shoots 90% from the free throw line. Nash is one of five regular-season MVPs without a championship ring. Derrick Rose, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone are the others. LeBron James removed himself from this dubious list this past season, and Nash would love to do the same.

Defense is the only weakness in Nash’s game, but with 7-footers Bynum and Gasol protecting the rim Nash shouldn’t have to worry about shutting anyone down in the perimeter.

“If we played together, we will be amazing,” Artest said. “With an A, H, and then an M, A, Z, Z, and I, N, G. It will be Ahmazzing!”

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash leaves the court after a game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 25, 2012. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Steve Nash, arguably one of the greatest players to ever play for the Phoenix Suns, may have played his last game Wednesday night for the franchise he has spent 10 of his 16 years in the NBA.

Nash played 18 minutes, made four of seven shots from the field and scored eight points, and dished out seven assists. He sat for much of the game, but Suns fans began chanting “We want Steve!” in the fourth quarter that forced Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry to bring his star point guard back on the court to take one final bow.

The two-time NBA MVP checked back in with just under four minutes remaining in a meaningless regular season game against the Spurs, a team that has tormented Nash and Co. for the past seven seasons. After a quick turnover and a few jogs up and down the court, Nash was taken out of the game for good at the 3:30 mark.

Nash is 38 years old and will become a free agent this summer. He has repeatedly said he’ll weigh all his options and Phoenix remains in the mix. However, given the state of the Suns and their rebuilding roster, it’s hard to image Nash passing up on an opportunity to play for a championship contender.

Nash feels he can still make a difference on the court. Even though his numbers this season are slightly below par (12.5 points, 10.7 assists), they still rank reasonably high for his position.

“I feel great especially considering the schedule this year,” Nash said after the Suns lost to the Spurs 110-106.

“I feel like if I can handle the schedule, the minutes, and all the responsibility I have with this team to make plays I feel like I can keep going for who knows. But definitely for three more years,” Nash said. “I feel really lucky and blessed to keep playing at a high level and distribute (the ball) to my teammates. I still love to compete. As you know, you can’t go back I might as well make the most of it.”

As he left the court, US Airways Arena gave him a standing ovation that is normally reserved for a player who is about to say goodbye. Nash slapped hands with teammates and got a big hug from Gentry.

As he walked to the locker room, he slapped hands and waved to his adoring fans who have stuck with him through thick and thin. But you can say Nash has done the say for them. He had a chance to leave last season or even this season, but he stayed loyal to the franchise who drafted him in 1996. He was true to his word when he said earlier in the season that he wanted to play this thing out and stay loyal to his “guys.”

The Suns made a push for the playoffs, but fell short after losing to Utah on Tuesday, giving the Jazz the final playoff spot. It was a minor miracle that the Suns were even in the playoff hunt given all the roster changes and the injuries the Suns have endured the past two seasons.

Unless Phoenix acquires a big-time free agent this summer, it is highly unlikely it will be a championship contender for next season. As Nash pointed out, he feels he could play three more seasons. It’s time he played those three seasons where he can contend for that elusive championship.

Josh Childress played with the Phoenix Suns last year after a two-year stint in Greece. (GETTY IMAGES)

Josh Childress started his NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks, but spent two seasons in Europe playing for Olympiacos in Greece before returning to the NBA last season with the Phoenix Suns.

It’s fair to say that Childress is an authority on the Euroleague. Europe has become a hot-button topic lately, with NBA superstars such as Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire and Kobe Bryant are entertaining the thought of playing overseas should the NBA lockout persists. Childress recently talked to ESPN’s First Take about his experience in Greece, and after hearing what he had to say maybe players should rethink this whole European exploration.

“My main thing is do your research and make sure that you know what you’re getting into,” the 28-year-old forward said. “It’s not bad. I really enjoyed my time in Greece and in Europe. I was with a great organization and had great ownership.

“But I just wanted to let guys know to make sure exactly the type of team and organization you’re going to.”

Childress, who helped Olympiacos reach the Euroleague final in 2010, described his overall European experience as “wonderful” and says he truly enjoyed his time in Greece. However, there are some drawbacks, mainly dealing with the tardiness of the paychecks.

He said European pro clubs oftentimes are late in paying their players, and that’s not something NBA players have ever had to deal with. “It depends on the team, but primarily you’re at the mercy of the clubs,” Childress said. “Sometimes you don’t get your payment on time and you kinda have to deal with it.”

He added, “I was lucky to be with ownership that took care of everything, but that’s not the case everywhere.”

Childress also noticed a difference during ballgames, as fans get more boisterous and sometimes become part of the action. “You’re in the gym and fans can throw things at you,” he said. “Sometimes they have a laser pointed in your face while you’re at the free throw line.

“And the referees, sometimes, are corrupt. But you learn and deal with it and try to play through it.”

Another thing Childress mentioned was the travel. He said his club team, Olympiacos, was fairly good about housing players on nice hotels, but the flights are commercial, which should be enough to scare off the majority of NBA prima donnas. Can you image Kobe and LeBron flying commercial? The horror.

His advice for those players who are thinking about Europe? “My advice, two things: Number one, make sure you are sure of yourself. [Second], make sure you have your contract done at a neutral country. I had mine in Switzerland. When we had payment problems, we’d go to court there.

“Those are the two biggest things. Make sure you are covered.”