SI.com's Top 100 NBA players of 2017

[Wizard Mentor]

First post in the thread.

OK, they added to their post, thanks.

 

[BonesJones]

CJ at 50 LMFAO. THEY SLEEP

 

[BonesJones]

How is an efficient 21ppg so overlooked?

 

[BonesJones]

They said CJ didn't show any primary playmaking skills. I guess they didn't watch when Dame was out last year...

 

[Five Second Violation]

Aging backup Iguodala is 6 spots higher than CJ. Not buying it.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Who will be ranked higher, Batum or CJ?

Batum

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Batum

<palms face while wearing a Felton jersey and drinking a Bud Light>

 

[BlazerWookee]

<palms face while wearing a Felton jersey and drinking a Bud Light>

I didn't say it would be credible.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I didn't say it would be credible.

I know. I'm just providing midday drama.

 

[BonesJones]

Apparently Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka are better than Isaiah Thomas, DeMar Derozen, and CJ McCollum. Such stupidity. I will be putting out a top 100 list to match. It will be better.

 

[Cippy91]

So how is a top 5 SG in the league number 50? who knows

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Apparently Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka are better than Isaiah Thomas, DeMar Derozen, and CJ McCollum. Such stupidity. I will be putting out a top 100 list to match. It will be better.

Make sure you post it on Blazersland!

 

[PDXFonz]

Will Dame be top 10?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Apparently Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka are better than Isaiah Thomas, DeMar Derozen, and CJ McCollum. Such stupidity. I will be putting out a top 100 list to match. It will be better.

So, that means OKC had 4 of the top 42 players in the entire NBA, yet they still managed to blow 15 4th quarter leads during the regular season and a 3-1 series lead in the WCF. Imagine how many leads they would have blown if they didn't have so many great players.

BNM

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Will Dame be top 10?

No.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Will Dame be top 10?

He won't even make the list. Haven't you heard? He's the most underrated player EVER!

BNM

 

[Shaboid]

Throwing it out there; I think Hark could be a top 100 player next year. His growth potential is on that level.

 

[BigGameDamian]

50. C.J. McCollum, SG, Trail Blazers

McCollum’s secondary billing on the Blazers camouflages just how remarkable a scorer he’s become. Only 22 players in the league finished the season averaging 20 points per game. Among them, McCollum ranked sixth in effective field goal percentage. Some players buoy their efficiency by driving in volume and creating opportunities for fouls. McCollum manages it by making good on a startling percentage of his pull-up jumpers, both inside the arc and out. That kind of shot profile is amazingly difficult to maintain at McCollum’s clip but benefits from just how difficult it is to deny. When a guard like McCollum can pull up or step back any time he has the ball, the floor for a typical possession becomes a quality look. Accessibility of offense—a crucial element for players who create in volume—just isn’t an issue for a player who can handle and rise up so easily. McCollum also meshes that skill set with complementary function in a way that benefits high-usage teammates. At minimum, he’s an elite shooter running off of pin-downs and spacing the floor from the weak side, perfectly cable of counter driving when the defense overextends. The only awkwardness in McCollum’s game comes from the fact that he hasn’t shown the chops to work as a primary playmaker and doesn’t have the size or length to safely defend top shooting guards. There’s nothing distinctly wrong with falling into that combo guard middle ground, though it does require particular skill compensation from players around him that isn’t always available. (Last year: Not ranked)

+ Rained threes from all over: 40.8% above the break, 44.9% from the corners
+ Effective in-between game of lofty floaters and tricky bank shots
– Doesn’t have much of a feel for defense, either in coverage or rotation
– Ordinary athlete by NBA standards

Horseshit, should be top 10!!

 

[Strenuus]

Horseshit, should be top 10!!

YOU HOMER! You're saying he's untouchable?

 

[Strenuus]

Throwing it out there; I think Hark could be a top 100 player next year. His growth potential is on that level.

Agreed... I could see him in the 75-100 range, which is not too shabby for where he is.

 

[ripcityboy]

I can't wait the Top 30 come out.... Where will Dame be? Tick....tock....tick.....tock!

 

[Mediocre Man]

This thread has everything.

 

[Orion Bailey]

So, that means OKC had 4 of the top 42 players in the entire NBA, yet they still managed to blow 15 4th quarter leads during the regular season and a 3-1 series lead in the WCF. Imagine how many leads they would have blown if they didn't have so many great players.

BNM

Not as many. They wouldn't have had as many leads to blow.

 

[e_blazer]

This thread has everything.

Now it does.

 

[Trackjack]

I don't get excited about who is rank where all the matter what there doing for our team at the time. Every get caught up in individual stats and achievements. But I rather have a player that plays team ball then trying to get there stats. You might be rank high in top 100 but your team might be last place.

 

[PDXFonz]

This thread has everything.

Now it does.

Almost. Need Eric to come in here and talk about how much better Plumlee is than Howard.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Almost. Need Eric to come in here and talk about how much better Plumlee is than Howard.

I would welcome that!

 

[Shaboid]

Almost. Need Eric to come in here and talk about how much better Plumlee is than Howard.

They can't guard him.

 

[Nate]

They can't guard him.

SI should learn the game, then post.

 

[Shaboid]

Lillard Ranks #21

Up three spots from No. 24 in SI's rankings last year, Rob Mahoney writes of Lillard:

"There is an unmistakable moxie to Lillard that serves as a guiding principle of his play. Whatever shot the defense gives, he’ll take; Lillard isn’t shy about stepping into long three-pointers or pulling up early on defenses daft enough to give him room. He keeps his balance and his wits about him on the toughest of shots, finding ways to connect on a larger percentage than would seem reasonable. The volume of what Lillard can generate is more than enough to lead an offense and the range of looks he creates is more than enough to keep it viable. Scorers of his magnitude essentially force a defense into mistakes. Either opponents overplay Lillard so severely that his teammates are left wide open or they leave themselves vulnerable to Lillard’s incendiary shooting game. There are no safe plays or right answers—all because Lillard himself nixes them."