The 2014 NBA All-Headcase Team (1st Team)

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Headcase-a mentally ill or unstable person.

We all know a headcase in our lives, our jobs and even our families. Well the NBA is no different and with the pressure to perform up to organizational standards as well as the expectations of fans and big contracts, the pressure of the NBA can really bring out the instability in a player. With that said I have decided to name the 2014 NBA All-Headcase team, these are the guys that have a few screws loose and make you wonder what in the blue hell is going on in their head.

Center-Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers)

Standing at 7 foot and 2 inches tall Roy Hibbert presents a rather big body no matter where he his on the court, but size only means so much. You would think at that height that a guy should be penciled in for 10 rebounds or more, or at the very worst 9 a game, but Hibbert is a special case. He only averaged 6.6 rebounds per game during the regular season which ranked him 4th on his own team behind Lance Stephenson (7.2 RPG), Paul George (6.8 RPG) and David West (6.8 RPG). In fact just this past post season he recorded 9 games where he collected 5 rebounds or less, talk about ineptitude on the glass. Hibbert’s post game can come off very unpolished and bow-legged when watching him, his 43.9% field goal percentage kind of illustrates that.

Of course stats don’t illustrate being a headcase, actions do so watch the video up top.

Power Forward DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)

For all intensive purposes I have moved DeMarcus Cousins to power forward because quite frankly he deserves to be on this list. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who thinks DeMarcus will one day be the best big man in the league and a top-10 player if the Kings get their situation around him straight. I mean for crying out loud this guy has played for 3 coaches in 4 seasons (Paul Westphal, Keith Smart and Mike Malone). Any player that plays in 3 different systems in 4 seasons while trying to develop themselves and lead a struggling franchise out of the basement of the western conference would be frustrated. Cousins has showed many instances of immaturity, but the guy is only 23-years old and I think has come a very long way (even if his technical foul count says otherwise). Last season he actually reached the league limit of 16 technical fouls and got a 1-game suspension for getting to many, the media overshadows Cousins excellent play by his antics and its a crying shame. Hopefully the Kings win so he becomes more celebrated league wide.

DeMarcus went on a tirade and cursed a ref out in a game last year vs the Rockets which led to an ejection and his 15th techincal of the season.

Small Forward LeBron James (Miami Heat)

Now I can already here it in my head from these Heat fans that will ask me “How can LeBron be on this list”? Well I’ll tell you exactly how, we all know LeBron is a great player but from the standpoint of never thinking he commits a foul and complaining to the refs when they rarely make a call on him makes him a headcase. He gets more star treatment than any athlete in sports with the possible exception of Tom Brady in the NFL. Ever since the day he put on a Heat jersey he has committed 21 technical fouls and if you watch the Heat enough you would know that he deserves a lot more because no player in the league is as blatantly disrespectful to the refs than LeBron but its tolerable since he is the leagues #1 grossing player…give me a break.

Its one thing to whine about calls during the game but to complain to the media for Kirk Hinrich wrapping you up while you’re running full speed is ridiculous. It’s like LeBron doesn’t know how big he is.

LeBron James complains about hard fouls on him but when he throws DeMarcus Cousins to the ground everything is ok, thats hypocritical and LeBrons lack of awareness about what is and isn’t a foul makes him a headcase. He should be happy that DeMarcus didn’t retaliate because it most likely wouldn’t end well for the 2-time champion.

Shooting Guard- Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers)

Before I get into what I want to say about Lance first let me state that my Charlotte Hornets need to take a risk and sign him, this guy still has upside and him and Kemba Walker in the same backcourt would be a serious problem for the opposition.

Now that I have said that let me get into what I got to say about “Born Ready”. Lance Stephenson is an interesting character, his antics with LeBron James are well documented. His headcase ways date all the way back to 2012 when he was a bench warmer giving LeBron the choke sign from the sideline. Then he blew in that mans ear, slapped him in the face and didn’t back down. His antics didn’t work because the majority of the Pacers starting 5 played worthless when it mattered most. Lance led the league in triple-doubles this year with 5 and I don’t think any player on this list did more to deserve a spot on this team more than him.

The infamous “Blowing In The Ear” incident was enough to get him on this team.

As if blowing in another mans ear wasn’t enough Lance smacked the same guy in the face.



Lance then got tired of LeBron and smacked Norris Cole right upside the head like he owed him some money, Lance deserves to be here.

Point Guard- Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Russell Westbrook is on here for a bevy of reasons. First of all he is the only person on this list to not have a picture in a basketball jersey, his style or whatever you want to call it is just like his shot selection-questionable. Obviously Westbrook is a top 5 guard in the NBA who plays with a relentless motor that anybody should be able to appreciate, but his hero ball tendencies turn a lot of people off. I won’t use this years stats because he was injured but during last regular season he led the Thunder in field goal attempts at 18.7 per game. Now on most teams he would be let off the hook but most teams don’t have this guy named Kevin Durant who is the leagues best player so thats where he is in the wrong. His field goal attempts per game last season was 1 higher than Durant’s 17.7 and he shot 8% less from the field than Durant. The Thunder haven’t had a 2nd wing scorer outside of Durant since Kevin Martin left last season so a lot of his play is based on the personnel OKC has.

Westbrook has had 10 technical fouls or more in his last 3 seasons, he’s had 35 in total over the last 3 years.

6th Man- J.R Smith (New York Knicks)

Interesting fact-When J.R Smith had 13 technical fouls last year the Knicks won 54 games and were the 2nd seed in the East, this year he had only 2 techs and the Knicks didn’t make the playoffs. Coincidence? I THINK NOT!!!! In all seriousness though J.R may have had only 2 technical fouls this year but his antics stretch far beyond normal headcase stats.

J.R Smith was fined $50,000 for untying Shawn Marion’s shoe during the game, the refs didn’t see it so the league hit him where it hurts. Either way only a true headcase would think of something like that to do in the middle of a game.

Head Coach- Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)

Gregg Popovich is the best kind of headcase, he’s the type that wants everything done his way or no way at all. Players love him and coaches try to emulate him, but nobody can duplicate what Pop has in San Antonio because he gets the players to buy into his way. He’s always the deciding factor for them win or lose, his adjustment to start Boris Diaw in the middle of the NBA Finals ultmatley landed him and Tim Duncan their 5th ring this year.

Popovich has long been known for his one word answers and comedic timing with the media and for that he is the coach of my 2014 NBA All-Headcase team