Dee Brown (Celtics, Raptors, Magic) (Winner)
Pre-Show: Brown is best known for his no look dunk to win the 1991 slam dunk contest. He was always a solid player during his twelve year career but he was never a standout. He retired after the 2002 season so he should have a good idea of what the league is like in the present day. He says his biggest challenge is going to be challenging players and coaches. Unfortunately, that is what NBA analysts normally do. Due to that weakness, I think Brown will be the first or second to go.

Predicted finish: 5th place

Episode 1: On the show, Dee said he was a perfectionist. His performance was far from perfect. I thought he was very slow, boring, and bad at pacing. Anybody would be able to tell he was reading through his notes. I don't think he gave much analysis either. Like everybody on the show, I'm sure he has knowledge but he just doesn't know how to put it into words. For once, I agree with the Dream Job judges. If this was an elimination round, you would have been the first one out and I would have actually predicted something correctly.

Episode 2: Your performance was much improved. You did much better than Matt in fact or fiction. However, I thought your argument about LeBron not winning a championship in five years was weak and wrong. You really shined in the two-man weave segment. Your point that teams that trade Marbury always seem to do better was absolutely correct and well argued. The Antoine Walker argument was also good. Bringing up the point that this was in response to the Sixers trades was really good. After a weak first week I now think you will make the finals.

Episode 3: I think you really got lucky by not being cut. I personally didn't think you were agressive enough in the 5th Quarter. You talked way too quickly. You struggled with names and the highlights. I thought your information on Bobby Sura was pretty good but the point on Alonzo Mourning was insane. There is no way that a washed-up player like him is going to compete with Shaq. I personally think that you were the second worse this episode.

Episode 4: You were by far the best of the night. You are now easily the favorite to win the game after struggling last week. You absolutely dominated in the bracket breakdown segment. You had good arguments, were very agressive, and added some humor throughout. You didn't slow down in Give and Go. Your analysis was really good. You used stats well. Some of the questions you asked Scott Williams were pretty dumb but I like the Dream Job one (although it should have been last). If you really didn't use notes, that is impressive. On the Al Jaffe sports quiz you were four for five but I thought you got the easiest of the bunch. Who traded Ben Wallace is not hard enough to be the fourth most difficult question. Overall, great job.

Episode 5: Barring some huge mistakes in the finale, you have this job won. You were the best in the fifth quarter as usual. What I liked the most was that you were very specific. I thought your three-man weave started out slowly but got much better as it went along. I really like the personal touch with the inside information on Antoine Walker. I also liked the argument on Chris Webber. Overall, I thought it was the best performance of the three in the segment. Like Woody, I hate it when people rephrase the question in their arguments. Also, you still have to slow down just a bit more. I think fact or fiction was your worst segment in several weeks. On one of the arguments you gave more reasons against your choice than for it. Still, you are easily the most natural and talented of the group.

Episode 6: (Won) Coming into the night, you had to choke to lose the game. While you struggled in certain segments, you did just enough to hand on to the win. I think you won round one (5th Quarter) as usual. However, it was much closer because Matt finally showed up in that segment. Your teamwork in that segment was incredible. I think you did a better job with stats and that gave you the slight edge.

One on One-I think the choice of Grant Hill to interview was a good one. Since he has been injured for several years in a row and is just now getting back to normal, he is an interesting player. There were many possible questions you could have asked but all of yours seemed uninspired. Stephen A. and Al both came up with several good ones that could have beaten any of the ones you asked. You even stumbled occasionally when you were asking the questions. Also, just like Matt, there were no follow-up questions. An interviewer should always pay attention and look for new potential questions in the player's responses. You did add a nice little personal touch with the inside information on Grant Hill but you defended him and his team way too much. I was very disappointed with you during this segment.

Trivia-You handily won this challenge. You scored ten (and won) and you had the tougher questions (at least in my mind).

Fast Break-I think you did a pretty good job in this segment but I think Matt once again beat you. I really thought you did a good job in analysis when the Kings stole the ball. It was pretty good throughout the rest of the highlights. On the downside, I don't think you were excited enough. It didn't even look like you were live. You also weren't assertive enough and you continued your trend of talking too fast.

Even though I think you were beaten tonight and you aren't as fun to watch as Matt, I do think you deserved your win. Throughout the entire season, you have been the best of the best. I personally picked Matt to win but I am definitely not disappointed with your win. As usual, my prediction was dead wrong. Of the five original competitors, I picked you to go first. Obviously, I was wrong again.

   Matt Bullard (Rockets, Hornets, Hawks) (Eliminated)
Pre-show: Bullard was pretty much a journeyman player throughout his eleven years. He retired recently, so like Brown he has an edge in knowing many of the players and coaches. Even more importantly, he has experience as a color commentator. The job of NBA analyst should be pretty similar so I am picking Bullard to win the job.

Predicted finish: 1st Place

Episode 1: It is never a good idea to irritate Stephen A. Smith. If you taunt him he will never forget it and he will hold it against you. You could tell he was harsher than he had to be and I think it was just because of the teasing. I think you were the best of the five (although that doesn't say much). I thought you had very good insight and were the only one who brought humor (the Paul Silas and the seven words you can't say on air thing was funny). No doubt, you were the most natural up there. The only thing you need is a little more excitement.

Episode 2: I thought you did pretty well but not as well as the first week. I liked your stats about Ben Gordon in the fourth quarter. You also brought up a few other good stats. Unfortunately, you stumbled a little bit. Also, like Stephen A. pointed out, the Rookie Challenge argument was weak. Nobody cares about the Rookie Challenge. Fact or fiction was pretty much a nightmare for you as you struggled on both the crowd argument and the one on LeBron. I'd say you were probably only the third or fourth best tonight.

Episode 3: I don't think you were as bad as the judges thought in the 5th Quarter. Regardless, you saved yourself with a squeaky clean performance in Double Dribble. I liked the personal information on Baron Davis but you did overdo it just a bit. I loved both of your telestrated plays. Also, you were the only one to show any teamwork whatsoever. Good stats were sprinkled throughout but you may have been a little too general at times. However, you were by far the best of the night.

Episode 4: You got lucky. Once again, you struggled in the tossup questions. You just aren't agressive enough. In addition, you had weak arguments when you did answer. I thought your Give and Go was forced and the analysis was below average. Your interview was terrible (especially the question about whether that certain play was still being run). The judges thought this segment was pretty good for you but I have to disagree. To finish the night, you flunked Al Jaffe's sports quiz by only answering 1/5 correctly. Some of the questions you missed were easy enough for most fans to know. You were just lucky that J.R. sucked even more than you. You will need a much better performance to make it through to the next round.

Episode 5: Another so-so performance from you. I thought you were the second best in the fifth quarter. You still weren't agressive enough and you looked like you didn't even watch the game during your first question. However, you came on strong in the Yao argument. I personally like the Phil Jackson motorcycle thing (even though it probably doesn't mean anything). I also thought you were the second best on the three-man weave. I really liked how you went after Vince Carter for "tanking it the last two years." Sticking up for players has been a problem for you in the past, so it is good to see you conquer that problem. You did take the obvious answer in the Antoine Walker question but I though you backed it up well. Fact or fiction was also spotty. The one on the Sonics was horrific (you gave more reasons against your choice than for it). You were also pretty vague at times. Finally, you couldn't even name that "other player." I think you deserved to make the finale but I really don't think you have much of a chance to win the game.

Episode 6: (Eliminated) You had to have an incredible performance to win the game. I personally think you had that kind of a night (enough to make me vote for you to win). You really improved in the 5th Quarter. It is usually your weakest segment but you really showed up tonight. You took stances (which was another of your weaknesses). However, at times you just restated what Dee said. Even though you improved immensely, Dee still beat you in this segment.

One on One-I think you did a very nice job in this segment. I thought your personal touch about a mid-season replacement at coach was a very nice addition. I really liked the Cuban question but you didn't really have any follow-up questions. It also looked like you just read the questions. I would have loved for you to ask Avery what the two areas they needed to improve on were. You also messed up on Michael Finley's name (I'm assuming you started to say Steve Nash then realized it and ended up saying Steve Finley). Round two went to you.

Trivia-This was the category that might have lost you the game. You really struggled after a nice start to the round. You ended up with a score of six (and lost) and you even had the easier questions. Some of the ones you missed should be common sense to an NBA analyst.

Fast Break-This was your finest showing of the season. I really loved your excitement throughout and especially on the McGrady four point play. Very good analysis when they were attempting to foul. It really looked "live" to me. You sprinkled little nuggets (like how McGrady always pump fakes) throughout the highlight. On the down side, you didn't look up at the camera for several seconds. You also seemed to disappear later in the game.

I voted for you to win because I thought you brought more energy and excitement to the table. However, Dee just was more consistent throughout the season. Had you nailed the trivia segment, I think you may have been the one celebrating a well-earned victory. Regardless, you really improved this episode and showed yourself to be deserving of the job. Dee just deserved it more.

   Darryl Dawkins (76ers, Nets, Pistons, Harlem Globetrotters) (Eliminated)
Pre-show: He was the first highschooler to ever be drafted into the NBA. Of the five competitors in this game, Dawkins was definitely the most talented player. He was a dominant presence in the post. However, Dawkins is also the oldest and he may be out of touch with the present-day game. I think he will make up for this by being entertaining and he will place second.

Predicted finish: 2nd Place

Episode 1: I love the quote "Since I started talking, I haven't shut up." If this was an elimination round you would have had a very good chance to go (although I think Dee was worse). Right off the bat you struggled. You started way too late and it looked like you didn't know you were on the air. Throughout the piece you added way too many pauses (don't know if it was because you didn't know what to say or what). I know you have a lot of personality but it didn't really show during the episode. Also, his voice just doesn't sound like a television voice to me.

Episode 2: Incredible improvement. You showed more personality than anyone and some of your lines were really good. On the Webber argument, you went right after him by calling him soft. Honesty is a good attribute for an analyst. I didn't agree with you on many of your points but you backed them up well.

Episode 3: (Eliminated) What was America thinking! I thought you were the second best tonight and the best last week. I really don't think you deserved to be cut when there is still a lot of deadweight around. As usual, you were the only one to bring a little humor. The Three Stooges thing was the only thing to make me laugh this season. I thought the Lamar Odom thing was great and you repeated your Webber is soft argument. The only things you did wrong were forgetting the other two stooges names and you were a little slow on the Nets-76ers highlight. You were my favorite and I hate to see you go.

    J.R. Reid (Hornets, Spurs, Knicks, Bucks, Lakers, Cavaliers) (Eliminated)
Pre-show: Reid wasn't anything special during his eleven years in the NBA. He was a solid bench players, but nothing more. The thing he fears the most about this job is interviewing. I really don't see anything about him that stands out so I will pick him to be the second eliminated.

Predicted finish: 4th Place

Episode 1: You weren't great but compared to Dee and Darryl you were incredible. You stumbled a lot during your opening (probably just nerves). I thought you gave good information and your voice is definitely the best of the five. He said he has always wanted to be on television and I think he has a good chance of getting that opportunity.

Episode 2: I thought your performance was OK. You didn't give us any stats but you did make it personal. You mentioned your experience in Charlotte. I think you struggled in the first question of fact or fiction (regarding the All-Star game and home court advantage). However, your second argument (on the new MJ) was pretty good. Unfortunately, I think you were the second worst tonight.

Episode 3: I may have been the only one to vote for you. I thought you were incredibly boring and I can barely remember anything you said in either the 5th Quarter or Double Dribble. The only thing I remember is that you moved your hands way too much. You didn't do anything incredibly wrong but I think you were a bore that deserved to be cut.

Episode 4: (Eliminated) Throughout the show, you were just average and that finally caught up to you. While you did do great on the sports quiz (5/5), you struggled on both the give and go and tossup questions. The analysis on the give and go was pretty good but the questioning was terrible. If I wasn't a Bucks fan, I wouldn't know who TP (Terry Porter) was. Who cares where Joe Smith calls home. I thought that Matt was worse this week, but throughout the show you were weaker. That is what got you eliminated.

    Dennis Scott (Eliminated)
Episode 1: Didn't appear.

Episode 2: For your first perfomance, I think you were ok. You weren't the greatest in the two-man weave (Darryl destroyed you) but you were great in fact or fiction. Your argument on the three-point line was very good and funny. The personal touch was a great addition.

Episode 3: I disagree with some of the voters. I thought you were really agressive in the 5th Quarter. Your points were pretty good throughout the segment. You did struggle on Double Dribble (especially the telestrated Nuggets play). You were decent on the Clippers question but you didn't really express any opinions. Also, you even looked bored. I don't think you deserved to go but you are definitely not ESPN quality yet.

Episode 4: I thought you were the second best of the night (not that that is saying much). You were only two for five on the sports quiz but you came up just short on two other questions (getting like 3/4 in an answer set). I thought you did pretty well on the bracket breakdown and used stats pretty well. I thought your analysis on give and go was weak. I hated the "moneyball" thing (especially when you did it twice in one highlight). I thought the questions were ok. The slam dunk contest one was good but should have been left for last. I highly doubt you will fail to make the finals but you are going to need to improve immensely to beat Dee for the job.

Episode 5: (Eliminated) I thought you were just barely the worst of the night and I would have voted you off had the website worked. You were the weakest in the fifth quarter as you just seemed to take the others' arguments. I thought your performance in the three-man weave was better but still the worst of the three. Your best argument was the Shaq-Dwayne Wade-Kobe one. You were ok on fact or fiction (except for your terrible argument on the age limit one). The worst thing you did all night though was utter the phrase "I feel bad for my buddy KG." You are in IMPARTIAL analyst. I think that may have been the reason for your cut. You were really close to Matt until you just had to mention that fateful sentence.

   Gerald Wilkins (Magic, Knicks, Cavaliers, Grizzlies) (Eliminated)
Pre-show: He was a solid player throughout his career, but he has been out of the league since 1998. This means he is the second oldest person on the show. 1998 might not seem like too long ago, but a lot has changed in the NBA since then. I have no idea where to place him (like everybody competing on this show) so I will say he finishes third.

Predicted finish: 3rd Place

Episode 1: Please lose the hand gestures. They are very distracting and they make you look like you are nervous. Also, cut out your habit of highlighting certain words by saying them louder than normal. Your introduction was way too long and you did have a few stumbles. You gave decent information during the highlights but I think the best part of your piece was the conclusion. It really sounded like something Stephen A. would do (telling the Kings and Mavs to play some defense). You were also the only one with a little energy. Saying the score at the end of the piece was a little awkward and shouldn't be repeated. Not a great performance but it was still good enough for third place.

Episode 2: (Eliminated) I thought you were weak throughout the show. You really didn't have any arguments in fact or fiction and your two-man weave was weak. I voted for you and you definitely deserved the five votes you got. You were totally uninspired and you actually looked like you didn't know what you were doing.