TAKEOVERS

Take-Over. What's a "Take-Over?" A Take-Over is a player who can create his own offense whether it's off the dribble getting to the rack or is capable of creating space for a jump-shot in your mouth.

A "Take-Over" is that guy a team depends on for that guaranteed bucket or call to the free-throw line during clutch situations.

A "Take-Over" is an expected play-maker who can dominate and impose his will on either ends of the floor at any and all times and possesses the vaunted "killer-kill" instinct.

A "Take-Over" will boom over you anywhere and his range of dunking capability parallels the unbelievable angles you can take off from by hitting the turbo button on your controller when playing NBA2k (Think Derrick Rose over Joell Anthony most recently in Miami).

A "Take-Over" is fully capable of "wapping" you for 2 straight three's and four jumpers after posterizing you for said dunk.

The prototype "Take-Overs" are multi-dimensional players (above average shooters, dribblers, passers, defenders) and usually resemble an uber athletic 6'5"-6'8" swing-man in stature.

A "Take-Over" is a perennial top-5 scorer in the league, and has won an MVP(or Def MVP) in either the All-Star Game, the season, or the Finals.

Lastly a take-over is a winner who can win games off of will and can affect his teammates just off his potential and presence.

Super-star players win championship rings. With the exception of the 2004 Detroit Pistons, teams who win titles in the NBA are lead by an uber dynamic star if not two, or three (Kobe/Shaq, Shaq/Wade, Kobe/Pao, Boston 3, Spurs 3).

Of course there is only one Larry O'Brien trophy annually awarded, and the rest of the "Take-Overs" are left regrouping for the proverbial cliche "next year."

The Break is over. Here are the "Take-Overs" that's running this league ish:

1 Lebron James: on offense he's Andre Johnson/Big Ben, on defense he's Dorelle Revis/Mario Williams. 1/3 OFF/DEF Hybrid Take-Overs.

2 Dwyane Wade: Also an OFF/DEF Hybrid Take-Over.

3 D Rose: the first player on this list that isn't at least 6'5" or plays the SG/SF position. MVP. 25 ppg as a point guard and dunking on fools while dramatically improving his jumper.

4 Kevin Durant: Maybe the second best pure scorers in the league, but he's definitely a shooter. He and Melo could definitely pick it up on the defensive end, but single-handedly leading the country to a gold medal last summer and being the youngest back to back scoring champ in league history carries a lot of weight. That's what is in his bookbag.

5 Melo: Maybe the best scorer in the league. Can shoot the 3 and outside jumper, but his jab-step, hesitation jumper is lethal. He's also a load in the paint, just ask Kobe in the '09 playoffs. I initially gave this nickname to Paul Pierce, but Melo is "The Handful."

6 Kobe: Kobe isn't in my top 5 players as of the week of 5/22/11, but I'll reserve my judgement for Kobe until he rests up and heals all injuries. Until then, he's the last of the OFF/DEF Hybrid Take-Overs.

7.D Howard: His multiple Def MVPs and fact you can't stop him in the paint put him on here. Being a liability at the free-throw line may have him off the list sooner than later.

*****Dirk: Dirk isn't on the list right now because of the way he went out in '06 and the year he won MVP, he lost in the first round as a #1 seed. He's no doubt the MVP of the 2011 playoffs so far, but I'm waiting to see how he goes out verse the Heat. ***********

Now you know what the qualifications and ingredients are for a "Take-Over" and who they are. I know what you're saying, "I believe you, its the right amount of people!"