REPLACEMENT 16

As one of my astute readers (or perhaps my one reader, who happens to be astute—Ryan doesn't count) pointed out, I posted my Caron Butler haiku twice, at 16 and 25. I suppose I could claim that Butler is so good that he deserves two spots on my definitive All-Haiku NBA Top 50 List™, but that would be a total lie. So I owe you, my faithful reader(s) a replacement poem. Which I shall write right NOW.

Here's the thing, though. I will not put a name with this haiku. It will be up to you, dear reader(s), to guess the subject. It will probably be either super-easy or completely impossible. First, though, I should refer to the list so I don't make the same mistake twice. Sigh.


Blocks and dunks? Simple.
The rest of the game, not yet.
Great expectations.

(I was actually thinking of two different guys when I wrote this, but it fits one better than the other. Not sure whether it's super-easy or completely impossible, although I expect the guy I wasn't really thinking of to be named before the guy I was really thinking of. If that makes any sense.)

15. Chris Paul

Best since Isiah?
Scorer who runs the offense
Scared of nobody

16. Caron Butler

Serving of Tough Juice
Ain’t never from concentrate
Fresh for you daily

17. Darko Milicic

How many chances?
When does potential come true?
Possibly never

18. Greg Oden

Wise beyond his years
You have to wonder if he’s
As old as he looks

19. Kevin Garnett

Intense beyond words
Team defense and primal screams
Powerful message

20. Allen Iverson

Some things never change
Still quick, still strong, still fearless
Hasn’t lost a step

21. Ron Artest

Houston’s newest hope
Will he be the difference?
Ask Indiana

22. Larry Hughes

Story told in tattoos
Moments of sadness and joy
Captured forever

23. Kobe Bryant

Best in the game now
Depending on who you ask
Shaq would not agree

24. Yao Ming

Bigger is better
Except in case of breakage
Which happens too much

25. Caron Butler

Tough Juice like OJ
Small forward in name only
Traded for Kwame?

26. Paul Pierce

Cold blooded scorer
Subverts game, takes lesser role
Seventeenth banner

27. Tim Duncan

Expressionless face
Except when the whistle blows
Then he comes alive

28. Brandon Roy

Face of the franchise
Channing, Aldridge and Oden
Follow the leader

29. Amare Stoudemire

The rim is afraid
Rebuilt stronger and faster
Microfracture this

30. Chauncey Billups

Hey Mr. Big Shot
Why just one championship?
Shots not big enough?

31. Jermaine O’Neal

Have you forgotten
Of what he is capable?
You will remember

32. Jamal Crawford

Hair trigger release
Hits three pointers in bunches
None of them matter

33. Carmelo Anthony

Playing with AI
Has always been difficult
Ask Jerry Stackhouse