IN A SPORT like basketball, where very little changes from year to year,we can look back at a completed season and learn quite a bit.

Hopefully, we've learned in the past six months that we were correct in our assessments in the first place.

Take the debate over the top pick in the draft this past season, for example. Who should it have been: Shaquille O'Neal or Kevin Garnett?

Pay attention, because we probably will be asking the very same question in October.

At the time, I thought there was no question that Shaq should be the guy. He would outscore, outrebound and outshoot (percentagewise) Garnett, which would far outweigh the Timberwolves star's advantages in assists, steals and the other percentages (free-throw and 3-point shooting).

As it turns out, I was right -- yet wrong at the same time.

Shaq did outscore, outrebound and outshoot Garnett. But because the big guy missed eight games, whereas Garnett played in 81 of the 82, those advantages were watered down somewhat.

For example, even though the NBA statistics show that Shaq ranked third in the league in rebounding (12.7) and Garnett was just sixth (11.4), there was actually very little difference between the two (a total of just 19) in terms of total rebounds.

So, when I apply my rating system -- which gives points scored the highest value, followed by rebounds/assists, field-goal percentage, steals/blocks and finally free-throw/3-point percentages -- I have to give Garnett a slight edge in terms of being this season's Fantasy Most Valuable Player.

Does that mean Garnett was the better pick with the No. 1 overall selection? I'd still have to say no.

The way I see it, 16 forwards all rated above the second-best center (David Robinson). If you paired any of them with Shaq, you'd have a better tandem than the team that took Garnett first and then got stuck with even the No. 2 center.

Plain and simple, Shaq was the bigger asset this past season. But in terms of who outperformed whom on the court, give that edge to Garnett.

Here's my All-Fantasy first, second and third teams:

FIRST TEAM: 

• Shaquille O'Neal, Lakers
• Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
• Tim Duncan, Spurs
• Tracy McGrady, Magic
• Gary Payton, SuperSonics.

SECOND TEAM: 

• David Robinson, Spurs
• Antoine Walker, Celtics
• Karl Malone, Jazz
• Jerry Stackhouse, Pistons
• Steve Francis, Rockets.

THIRD TEAM: 

• Vlade Divac, Kings
• Chris Webber, Kings
• Paul Pierce,Celtics
• Jason Kidd, Suns
• Ray Allen, Bucks