SLAMonline's Top 50 NBA Players Today

[KingSpeed]

http://slamonline.com/online/categor...online-top-50/

Everyday, they're writing a profile on each player as they announce their rank.

Here are the rankings so far:

1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Chris Paul
6. Steve Nash
7. Paul Pierce
8. Dwyane Wade
9. Amare Stoudemire
10. Dwight Howard
11. Deron Williams
12. Dirk Nowitzki
13. Carmelo Anthony
14. Manu Ginobili
15. Yao Ming
16. Baron Davis
17. Gilbert Arenas
18. Allen Iverson
19. Carlos Boozer
20. Tracy McGrady
21. Tony Parker
22. Chris Bosh
23. Shawn Marion
24. Caron Butler
25. Chauncey Billups
26. Joe Johnson
27. Elton Brand
28. Brandon Roy
29. Antawn Jamison
30. Jason Kidd
31. Pau Gasol
32. Andre Iguodala
33. Al Jefferson
34. Rasheed Wallace
35. Ray Allen
36. Vince Carter
37: Josh Howard
38. Shaquille O'Neal
39. Lamar Odom
40. Richard Hamilton
41. Ron Artest
42. Jermaine O'Neal
43. Michael Redd
44. David West
45. Tayshaun Prince
46. Monta Ellis
47. Josh Smith
48. Marcus Camby
49. Kevin Martin
50. Kevin Durant

I'll update this as the list continues. Will Oden make it? Probably not but you never know....

Hey- at this point, does anyone want to start guessing who will make the Top 10? I'll start, in no particular order:

LeBron James
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Dirk Nowitzki
Amare Stoudamire
Dwight Howard
Steve Nash
Paul Pierce

Anyone care to take a guess? I might be leaving Dwyane Wade out. Let me know what you think.

 

[drexlersdad]

good shit right here.

#28 Brandon Roy

I’m not suggesting you give it a try, but mentally compartmentalizing NBA players can be a simple exercise:

There are the athletic freaks of nature. Volatile malcontents. Extra-efficient specialists. Cocky superstars. Non-conformist social deviants. Corny, viral video hopefuls. Long-range gunslingers. The list continues…

The process of creating mental groups allows us to comprehend what would otherwise be chaos in our mind. We do this as an automatic mind organizer – our anti-entropy filing system. To our brain, the NBA is too complex to have a single working definition. We build our conception from the ground up – players combine into groups; groups are arranged into concepts; and concepts form our opinions.

For example, we might group RayRay, Michael Redd, and Joe Johnson since they’re all deadly shooters. Defensive students of the game, Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince fit nicely. Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Deron Williams fit for obvious reasons. Gerald Wallace, Josh Smith and Rudy Gay practically own our cranium’s amazement compartment. Baron Davis and Chris Bosh go together as they’ll likely petition for our All-Star votes for years to come.

We may combine these groups into larger, even more general groups until we finally create broad enough concepts to comprehend the NBA. It may seem difficult on paper, but when we all think ‘NBA,’ our brains do this automatically in a millisecond’s time.

I tell you this because I believe there is one player who constitutes his own group – his own concept in our minds. Yes, that player is 24-year-old Brandon Roy.

He is the single error in an otherwise flawless system. If he were to be considered a horse of a different color, that color would be clear. I find Brandon to be very frustrating and exciting at times – often both at once. You see, his most notable feature is that he doesn’t have one.

After exploring the wildest stretches of the imagination and turning the corners of the most abstract mental affiliations, I deduced the 6-6 guard is without peer no matter how you look at it. Brandon Roy is one of many great players in the League today, yet unlike the rest, his most unique attribute not only fails to stand-out, it doesn’t exist.

The fact of the matter is Brandon Roy will never be among the NBA’s most popular players. His jersey will never be come near the Top 10 sales lists in America or abroad. He’ll never be a first-round fantasy pick. He probably will never lead the League in any statistical category. And if you get your news from the late-night sports highlight reels, you’ll likely forget about Roy altogether.

He’ll never land a modeling gig with Sean John, and he’ll probably never design a signature sneaker. He’ll never get like his teammate Greg Oden and sing a piano duet with J.T. in front of a national audience.

When a system is working well, we don’t notice the nuts and bolts. But when there’s a wrench in the system, the wrench becomes our only focus. Brandon Roy stands out like a freckle – it goes unnoticed until it’s specifically being searching for. But in Brandon’s case, this freckle is a birthmark the size of a quarter – the mere fact that it’s different seems to merit our attention.

Brandon Roy is different all right. He does pretty much everything on and off the court well. He makes the right decisions – starting with his choice to pull his name out of the 2002 Draft – and exudes an air of control without speaking a word. There’s an inexplicable calm that he brings to the fore. Even the diehard basketball fan might forget Brandon is rehabbing a torn meniscus in his left knee. He’s become so reliable and professional, Blazer fans are treating the surgery like he was in for a routine physical.

Brandon’s most complex mystery is what he does best. He is not a jack of a single trade, but a prodigy who can do it all well. Therein lies Brandon’s difference again – he has no flaw to hide. In a world of specialists, Brandon is undeniably old school. Teams today have set roles for nearly every player on its roster. Brandon acts all roles equally well. Today’s manifesto highlights strengths and avoids weaknesses. Brandon Roy is the student who gets an ‘A-‘ in every subject instead of mostly ‘B’s’ and an ‘A+.’

Brandon is unlike anyone in the NBA. It’s clear he cannot be grouped with the rest of the stars in the NBA. Nor should he. He clearly is setting new standards. I thought such a unique player should have his own group – his own category. After exploring the wildest stretches of my imagination and turning the corners of my most abstract mental affiliations, I came up with nothing suiting. I slept on it, and it was obvious all along.

The category in which Brandon Roy fits perfectly is ‘Trailblazer.’

 

[BlayZa]

nice! ive been checkin out the old thread on bbf for the updates, but i always feel filthy going there now... and now i dont have too!

 

[DennisRodman]

First 9 spots, In no order:
LeBron James
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Dirk Nowitzki
Amare Stoudamire
Dwight Howard
Yao Ming


last spot: not sure, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, Paul Pierce or a healthy D-Wade.

 

[KingSpeed]

Wow, cool. So we agree on 8 of them. And maybe 10. Anyone else?

 

[drexlersdad]

lebron
kobe
duncan
cp3
garnett
dirk
dwight
dwade
yao
mcgrady

 

[Minstrel]

Top 10, no order:

Chris Paul
LeBron James
Dwyane Wade
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Tracy McGrady
Amare Stoudemire
Yao Ming
Dirk Nowitzki

Toughest to leave out was Dwight Howard. I think he's on the cusp and will definitely make it soon, probably this season.

 

[BlayZa]

meh, take amare outta there and put in nash if anything.... back to back league MVP honors c'mon now...

kobe/bron/kg/wade/cp3/dirk/timmy/nash/dwight/yao

 

[KingSpeed]

meh, take amare outta there and put in nash if anything.... back to back league MVP honors c'mon now...

kobe/bron/kg/wade/cp3/dirk/timmy/nash/dwight/yao

While I did include Nash, please remember that the list is about who is the best right NOW. Is Nash still the player he was when he was MVP?

 

[KingSpeed]

Chauncey Billups at 25. That makes 4 Pistons on the list, probably the most from any one team.

 

[DennisRodman]

Chauncey Billups at 25. That makes 4 Pistons on the list, probably the most from any one team.

Lakers probably should have 4 on the list too with Kobe, Odom, Pau, and Bynum.

 

[Ed O]

Chauncey Billups at 25. That makes 4 Pistons on the list, probably the most from any one team.

I guess all those conference finals weren't by chance, huh?

Also all four of them are outside of the top 24, which might indicate why they're less successful in big series, when the best players seem to drag their teams to victory...

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

Lakers probably should have 4 on the list too with Kobe, Odom, Pau, and Bynum.

Not to be a broken record (all Bynum, all the time) but there's no way that Bynum is one of the best 50 players in the NBA right now IMO.

Ed O.

 

[DennisRodman]

Not to be a broken record (all Bynum, all the time) but there's no way that Bynum is one of the best 50 players in the NBA right now IMO.

Ed O.

If he is healthy, I'd consider him a top 5 center. I mean the guy was efficient shooting 64%, 13 ppg, 10 boards in 29 mpg, 2.1 bpg.

Yao and Dwight are ahead of him right now,

Others:
Oden is a possibility. Maybe Kaman (because of mpg), maybe Tyson Chandler (but I would say Bynum > Chandler because Bynum is a better scorer down low)

 

[Minstrel]

If he is healthy, I'd consider him a top 5 center. I mean the guy was efficient shooting 64%, 13 ppg, 10 boards in 29 mpg, 2.1 bpg.

Yao and Dwight are ahead of him right now,

Right now, I'd take Yao, Howard, Kaman, Bogut, Jefferson and Biedrins ahead of him. If you count Stoudemire, he's ahead also. I won't count Oden since he hasn't played yet.

There's no way Bynum has already played like a top-50 player, IMO.

In the future, he will be. For long-term value, I'd only place Oden, Yao and Howard ahead of him (and Stoudemire, if you count him).

 

[DennisRodman]

Right now, I'd take Yao, Howard, Kaman, Bogut, Jefferson and Biedrins ahead of him. If you count Stoudemire, he's ahead also.

There's no way Bynum has already played like a top-50 player, IMO.

In the future, he will be. For long-term value, I'd only place Oden, Yao and Howard ahead of him (and Stoudemire, if you count him).

1-3, Yao, Howard and Kaman. Fine I'll say that makes sense.

4-6: Here is their stats adjusted for per 35 minutes per game.
Bynum: ---64% FG%, 15.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 2.1 apg
Jefferson: 50% FG%, 20.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.4 apg
Bogut: ----51% FG%, 14.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 2.6 apg
Biedrins:--63% FG%, 13.5 ppg,, 12.6 rpg,, 1.5 bpg, 1.3 apg

I think statisically it can be seen that Bynum beats Biedrins in these 5 main categories category. Bynum beats Bogut statistically in everything but slightly in ppg, and 1 apg. However I would much rather have my center averaging 64% FG% over 51% FG% than 3.2 apg vs. 2.2 apg. I mean statistically Bogut isn`t that far off, however head to head matchup I`d take probably Bynum.

Bynum is the biggest center of the 4, he is the best post defender of the 4, best shot blocker. If I had to choose one of these guys to play center on my team I'd take Bynum assuming his knee is healthy.

If I could play Jefferson at PF, where I think he is better suited I would consider taking him over Bynum.

7 I don't consider Amare a center at all anymore, since he has always been a PF (as he has always said), and now that he has Shaq he will start at PF.

 

[Minstrel]

1-3, Yao, Howard and Kaman. Fine I'll say that makes sense.

4-6: Here is their stats adjusted for per 35 minutes per game.

But I don't think you can simply extend Bogut's numbers out to 35 minutes. Part of his efficiency is likely fueled by the fact that he only played a limited number of minutes and took a limited number of shots. I think with more of both, he'd record fewer rebounds per minute (so, under the 13.1 RPG you project in 35 minutes) and shoot at a lower percentage.

His counting stats would clearly go up with more minutes, but I'd be pretty surprised if it were a straight linear increase.

 

[DennisRodman]

But I don't think you can simply extend Bogut's numbers out to 35 minutes. Part of his efficiency is likely fueled by the fact that he only played a limited number of minutes and took a limited number of shots. I think with more of both, he'd record fewer rebounds per minute (so, under the 13.1 RPG you project in 35 minutes) and shoot at a lower percentage.

His counting stats would clearly go up with more minutes, but I'd be pretty surprised if it were a straight linear increase.

Did you mean Bynum's numbers btw?

Well even with Bogut playing 35 mpg and Bynum playing 29. Bynum does average 13 ppg to Bogut's 14 ppg. However Bynum shot 64% compared to 51%, as well as having more rpg and bpg in less time.

 

[Minstrel]

Did you mean Bynum's numbers btw?

Yup, oops.

Well even with Bogut playing 35 mpg and Bynum playing 29. Bynum does average 13 ppg to Bogut's 14 ppg. However Bynum shot 64% compared to 51%, as well as having more rpg and bpg in less time.

That's true. Forget Bogut. I actually thought he was more productive than he was.

 

[STOMP]

4-6: Here is their stats adjusted for per 35 minutes per game.
Bynum: ---64% FG%, 15.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 2.1 apg
Jefferson: 50% FG%, 20.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.4 apg
Bogut: ----51% FG%, 14.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 2.6 apg
Biedrins:--63% FG%, 13.5 ppg,, 12.6 rpg,, 1.5 bpg, 1.3 apg

I think statisically it can be seen that Bynum beats Biedrins in these 5 main categories

I don't think he beats him in rebounds and FG% is hardly a win.

STOMP

 

[DennisRodman]

Yup, oops.



That's true. Forget Bogut. I actually thought he was more productive than he was.

So in your list that would put Bynum at #6. Behind Biedrins and Jefferson. (and we agreed on Kaman, Yao and Dwight) Jefferson I don't know, but I would put Biedrins after Bynum.

Without adjusting their stats to mpg, since you feel it would not be linear:
Bynum --63.6% FG% 13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 1.7 apg, 28.8 mpg
Biedrins 62.5% FG% 10.5 ppg,, 9.8 rpg,, 1.2 bpg, 1.0 apg, 27.3 mpg

I could go either way about Jefferson vs. Bynum, in a head to head matchup where Al Jefferson is playing center, I would take Bynum. However I think that Jefferson is more naturally a 4 at 6'10. I don't get to see Jefferson play much, so I wouldn't really argue about Bynum vs. Jefferson.

 

[DennisRodman]

I don't think he beats him in rebounds and FG% is hardly a win.

STOMP

Yea, I flipped the mpg for Biedrins and Bynum for the adjusted per 35 mpg, which I fixed. the rebounds is negligible, just like the FG%, however Bynum still is better at the bpg, apg, and ppg.

 

[KingSpeed]

Dennis- Please take that evil mouse off your signature. It's upsetting to look at it over and over as I read this thread.

I'm serious.

 

[STOMP]

Yea, I flipped the mpg for Biedrins and Bynum for the adjusted per 35 mpg, which I fixed. the rebounds is negligible, just like the FG%, however Bynum still is better at the bpg, apg, and ppg.

to me I rate them pretty close overall as prospects... or, AB is pretty good as well. I have my suspicions who will, but we'll just have to see if anyone breaks out of the young centers pack.

STOMP

 

[KingSpeed]

#24- Caron Butler

 

[maxiep]

Dennis- Please take that evil mouse off your signature. It's upsetting to look at it over and over as I read this thread.

I'm serious.

How can a mouse with one black eye and the other scarlet be evil? Now if that mouse had one eye purple and the other yellow, then THAT would be an evil mouse. To me it looks like that mouse has been blessed by the Almighty.

 

[KingSpeed]

maxiep- is that you in your avatar?

 

[maxiep]

maxiep- is that you in your avatar?

Yes, I'm a two-year old girl that looks exactly like Chris Farley.

 

[bluefrog]

Classic.

Welcome to my signature

 

[KingSpeed]

Next up: Shawn Marion. I think it's safe to say that Oden won't make the list.