Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 2:53 pm  |  151 responses

SLAM 124: On Sale Now!

Point Guard Heaven.

For someone that doesn’t care too much about the Jazz, I’ve sure been writing about them a lot this year. From a sales perspective, my guess is that the star of this issue will be Chris Paul, as on a national level he is the more popular of these two great point guards. But from a SLAM history perspective, the big deal is that a player from the Utah Jazz is finally on a SLAM cover. Hey, who said we don’t listen to our readers?

At the moment, this dope issue, featuring two awesome—and inextricably linked—players who didn’t make it onto our six-cover extravaganza last month, is only on sale in the rarest of Manhattan spots now, but you know we still like you to see your SLAM covers here first. The cover stories are mainly q+a’s, which were written by veteran Lang (CP) and newcomer Ryne (DW). Because Chris and Deron are a little sick of the comparisons, and because we deemed them each worthy of their own cover (even if it’s the same month), Lang and Ryne spent their respective stories sticking mainly to big-upping their subject, which I was in favor of. However, these guys are also regular sports fans who like to debate, and in the weeks since they turned their stories in, they’ve been going back and forth about which player is better. Come back here Friday, by which point this issue should have started to show up nationally, as Lang and Ryne will unveil their e-debate on the topic.

P.S. I see you, Matt the Jazz Fan.

P.P.S. Pre-empting the business questions: both covers will be sold at newsstands everywhere, including overseas. I’m not sure if we have the ability to see who out-sells who, but if we do I’ll try and fill everyone in down the road when we get the numbers. Subscribers will be divided evenly: 50 percent getting Chris and 50 percent Deron, totally by luck. If you don’t like the one you get, trade it to another SLAM fan via our site. Or just go to simbackissues.com, click on SLAM and buy the one you want.

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  • WhaHuh

    nice, very nice

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    I was hoping that his squad would be decent enough for B-Diddy to get a cover this year. Oh well, you know what they say, wish in one hand, Clipper in the other.

  • RV

    i got Kobe in the last issue, if i get Deron for this issue i’m going to cancel my susbcription ….. I’m kidding, but that’s no way to treat a Rockets fan! ….by the way, is an Aaron Brooks piece possible in the near future?

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Regardless of which one I get, i’ll be copping the other one at the newsstand. I need a P/T gig with ya’ll so I can get some free issues. Recession’s suck.

  • http://www.freewebs.com/betcats BETCATS

    JJ Hickson? Really?

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    @Tad:Why do you think there have been so many multiple covers issued that are absolutely must haves? SLAM’s gotta get theirs too.

  • http://slamonline.com Holly MacKenzie

    Beautiful covers. The white/white with the blue font… Perfection. Just like Chris Paul. Looking forward to these issues! And, Kha, can’t wait to see the piece on Stuckey.

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    lol@BET:new stuff on the blog, homie.

  • http://AllAbout-Penis-Enlargement.com Jukai

    BLong: Are we talking about the olympics or the NBA? A 2-1-2 zone is legal in Europe, making Deron William’s half court styled-offense FAR more useful. If the NBA was a FIBA organization, I’d have to say that Deron is a better point guard. YET, a) it’s NOT a FIBA organization and b) if Chris Paul had to change up his game, given time, I think he could and he’d STILL be better than Deron Williams. Chris Paul scores better, passes better, and lemme tell ya, Deron really isn’t a better rebounder, Paul is so quick that he is ALL over the boards (although that is situational because Paul’s team is full of jump shooters and rebounds go farther out). Yes, Deron is a better one-on-one defender, but NO ONE in the NBA sees and plays the passing lanes better than Paul, N-O O-N-E.
    Besides, I can’t believe someone like YOU would be telling me to check the Olympics for proof of how one player is better than the other. Weren’t you telling me to STFU about the Olympics when I was using that to explain why Lebron was better than Kobe?

  • http://AllAbout-Penis-Enlargement.com Jukai

    I mean, I know it’s entirely debatable, but in my mind, it’s not even close. Chris Paul has the ability to be a top five tier point guard, I don’t see Deron Williams having that ability.

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    I was hoping Caron would eventually get a cover too but his team is falling apart around him and you guys haven’t really done a non-mainstream cover in a minute.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Okay….Wednesday, November 19th at 4:56 pm…

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    The Gold medal game killed your LeBron vs. Kobe argument. Deron Williams has given Chris the buisness ever damn time they’ve played against each other, IN THE NBA.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Oh, sorry ya’ll. Was just making a note that I completely agreed with Jukai. Carry on.

  • http://AllAbout-Penis-Enlargement.com Jukai

    Why would the gold medal game kill anything? Because Kobe played one game good out of eight? His bricks almost made us lose to Argentina, I wouldn’t really say that killed anything. If I remember correctly too, it was Chris Paul in the first quarter with 7 or so points that kept the US in the game in the final round. Soooo yeah, bad argument.

  • http://AllAbout-Penis-Enlargement.com Jukai

    Why are you talking about head to heads, anyway? I’m sorry, what was Utah’s record and what was New Orlean’s record? Who was second in MVP voting? Who had a wayyyy better 9-cat rating? Who took over more games, who lead the league in assists, who is generally considered the best point guard since Isiah? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not Deron Williams.

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    Deron also runs a totally diffrent offense than the Hornets run, which allows Chris to play more in the open court. I’m not saying Deron is head and shoulders better than Chris, I love CP3′s game and I plan on catching a couple of them live in Nawlins this year, I just don’t think it’s fair to anoint him the best until Deron gets healthy.

  • MIkey

    NICCEEEEE these covers are clean!!

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    Kobe hit every big shot that was needed when it came down to the medal rounds. LeBron disappeared in crunchtime during the gold medal game. Did LeBron have an overall better Olympics? Yes. Did Kobe come thru when it mattered most? definitely.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    We got exclusive photo shoots with each of them, and they came out beautifully. Lang/Ryne: save it for Friday!

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    What’s good, Ben? When does this issue hit stores in the Weezy?

  • http://AllAbout-Penis-Enlargement.com Jukai

    BLong: You’re assuming Deron can play just as well in the full-court. That’s like saying Magic couldn’t excel in Utah’s system but Stockton could play just as well if not better in the Showtime Laker’s system. If we’re using the olympics as an example, there were plenty of times where Deron looked LOST in the open court, and missed SEVERAL open layups because he didn’t know whether to drive or pass going so fast. We can only compare players in the system they work in!
    Also, it’s perfectly fair to give Chris Paul the crown because last season, Chris Paul was a league and a half better than Deron Williams. UNTIL I see Deron Williams play and note he has gotten better, I’m letting Paul keep the crown. If DERON played better last year and Paul was worse, then it’d be different. Capish?

  • http://AllAbout-Penis-Enlargement.com Jukai

    Also, stop saying Kobe stepped up “when it counted.” As I stated before, it counted in the Argentina game too (that was all elimination, incase you didn’t realize) and Kobe was clunking more threes than Antoine Walker on speed. YES, Kobe played great in the final game, god bless him, but Lebron didn’t fail to step up, he deferred to the hot hand. Lebron actually played a fantastic game in the final round of the olympics, Kobe was just taking tough shots and hitting them. That doesn’t excuse playing awful the last few games.
    Once again though, I totally throw out olympic comparisons when gauging players. Is Charles Barkley better than Michael Jordan? No. But the 1992 Olympics would make you think so! It’s a different system, and some people take longer to get used to it. I gauge them on the system they have played enough so you can’t say “well, lack of adjustment time” as an excuse.

  • http://AllAbout-Penis-Enlargement.com Jukai

    But enough about me being right and BLong being wrong, these are AWESOME covers.

  • RV

    and how did you all decide who was 1 of 2 and 2 of 2?

  • Sean

    Derrick Rose is the 1.

  • http://justbecarl.adultswim.com Larrity

    So has Duncan. He returned this fall leaner and stronger, having spent part of the summer throwing tractor tires (THROWING TRACTOR TIRES!!!) as part of a new training program developed by the team’s strength-and-conditioning staff. Opponents also have quickly learned that Duncan’s shooting stroke, in addition to his tread chucking, looks as smooth as ever.

  • niQ

    OMG THIS COVER CONCEPT IS STRAIGHT UP SICK!…
    except for the fact deron’s hasn’t got to play much this season.

  • MeloMan13

    yo dese covers are firrrrre
    i like both of dem (cp3 slightly more)
    but i think i gotta get the deron one bcuz i mite not be alive to see another Jazz cover

  • http://fjsdklf.com Jukai

    RV: Well, Deron was number eleven in the Slam top 50, and Chris Paul was number 5….

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    @niQ: There’s little you can do about an injury, especially when the concept needs to be finalized on a deadline. But I hear you.

  • Sean B

    anthony morrow is the 1

  • http://slamonline.com Jacob J

    AI should’ve got the cover.

  • Mo

    Will there be Center, Power Forward, Shooting Guard, Small Forward covers too?

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Deron Williams will be my new favourite Pg when Nash retires from the game…He’s waiting in the wings to take that number 1 spot! (Chris Paul tentatively has it for the minute….?)

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Mo says:
    Will there be Center, Power Forward, Shooting Guard, Small Forward covers too?
    _______________________________________________
    What do you think of the validity of an Amare – vs – Bosh comparison…??

  • Sean Gaudet

    2 great covers back to back…good job SLAM.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Nash vs Kidd…?? Whose decline is most immenant…? Or obvious….? Poor Nashty…

  • Mendel

    Sorry Slam, but your one step behing ESPN the mag, thats ugly

  • ArmoPimp

    Dope Covers!

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    Love ‘em.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Not sure how these look anything like the ESPN cover. Sure we were saddened when they did a similar concept, but they did one mediocre looking cover and we did two hot ones. Not to harp on the few negative comments…for the most part you guys seem to be enjoying these, and I’m glad to see that. As for the debate, I think it will be even more fun when Lang and Ryne lead into it.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Jacob J: Our deadlines don’t work like that. The AI trade happened after we finished these. If an AI cover is what you want though…
    Eboy: Always appreciate the support.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Oh man, does this mean last month’s issue of SLAM is not going to be sold any longer?

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    PEOPLE SAY YOU DONT WANT TO SWIM WITH SHARKS BUT I’M FASTER THAN SHARKS SO ITS NO BIG DEAL….NASH IS AWESOME!
    _______________________________________________
    http://www.nba.com/video/games/lakers/2008/11/19/nba_chi_lal_0020800158_recap.nba/index.html?player=whatsnew

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Oh my. You guys really keep outdoing yourselves. Two thumbs up.

  • http://slamonline.com Ryan Jones

    ESPN has a magazine?

  • http://www.slam.com Adam Freenie

    For the last time LeBron is better than Kobe! He averages more points, rebounds, steals, assists, freethrows,and has a better shooting percentage. I totally agree with what Jukai said about the olympics. The King rules!

  • jub_al

    dope dope dope covers…

    i might’ve missed it somewhere, but which cover will the west coast receive? or will they both be on display?

  • jub_al

    ok, yep, saw the p.p.s…thanks… that’s what i get for scrolling down to look at the covers and reading the comments before the actual write up of the page….

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