Top 100 NBA Players of 2018

[SlyPokerDog]

31. LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE, SPURS
Even his staunchest defenders must admit that Aldridge (17.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.2 BPG) didn’t hold up his end of the bargain with the Spurs last season. When Aldridge signed with San Antonio in 2015, he got it all: Max money, a chance to compete for titles, the opportunity to learn from Tim Duncan and play alongside Kawhi Leonard, and a lighter minutes and usage load. In exchange, Aldridge would be expected to be a star-level difference-maker on both ends and a go-to scoring option in the playoffs. Unfortunately, that’s not how 2016-17 played out for the 32-year-old power forward, whose PER hit its lowest level since 2010, whose rebounding rate hit its lowest level since 2009, and whose bread-and-butter mid-range shooting fell off by 5 percentage points from the previous season. Then, under the bright lights of his first career trip to the West finals, Aldridge struggled badly to reassert himself as a lead scoring option once Leonard was lost to injury.

One could argue that Aldridge caught a little too much flak during the playoffs. After all, he’s an easy target given his contract number, aloof personality, and passive tendencies, he was facing a nightmare individual match-up with Draymond Green, and the Spurs were badly outmatched as a team against the Warriors. It’s also worth mentioning that Aldridge generally doesn’t receive enough credit for playing a major role on the NBA’s best defense. He allowed opponents to shoot just 49.3% shooting from within six feet last season, a rim-protection rate that compares favorably to the likes of Green and Rudy Gobert. Still, the Spurs need more – and have every reason to expect more – from their five-time All-Star and No. 2 option next season. — BG

 

[SlyPokerDog]

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/09/12/t...m&utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

No, I worn a condom.

But, I'm the one player capable of completely shutting down HCP.

BNM

#hcpstopper

 

[SIeepwalker]

lol, let's ask teams around the league if they would rather have Aldridge or CJ.

 

[Voodoo]

None of the Blazers deserve to be on this list, they haven't achieved anything and are terrible defenders. Oh, and they don't care about the Portland ball boys.

Am I doing this right?

 

[THE HCP]

#hcpstopper

Please guys, lets not make this thread about The HCP. I don't want members to quit this forum or lose possible new members just because of me.

 

[BonesJones]

39. CJ MCCOLLUM, BLAZERS
After establishing himself as a lethal all-around scorer during his 2016 Most Improved Player season, McCollum (23 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.6 APG) took his offensive game to new heights in numerous ways last season. The 25-year-old shooting guard shot a career-best 42.1% from deep, he flirted with a 50/40/90 shooting season and led the league in free-throw percentage, he ranked among the league’s most efficient mid-range shooters, and he improved dramatically as a finisher in the basket area. Simply put, McCollum is a nightmare one-on-one cover for opponents thanks to his high comfort level pulling up off the dribble, his slick handle to create space, his polished pick-and-roll game, and his ability to be score from 30 feet and in. That last part isn’t hyperbole, either, as McCollum knocked down a Stephen Curry-like 44.6% of his ultra-deep threes (from outside 25 feet).

This charmed story takes a darker turn on the other end of the court, where McCollum’s lack of size and length continues to limit his defensive effectiveness. His Defensive Real Plus-Minus ranks 78th among two guards, in the same range as sieves like Lou Williams and Marco Belinelli, and Synergy’s tracking system rates him in the 25th percentile as an overall defender. When McCollum shares the court with fellow backcourt starter Damian Lillard, the Blazers’ elite 111.8 offensive rating is largely offset by a rocky 108.1 defensive rating, which is equivalent to a bottom-six mark league-wide. With the right cast of frontcourt help, it’s possible to envision McCollum as the No. 1 or No. 2 option on a contender. Without that cover, though, life on the playoff bubble and early postseason exits are likely to be the norm. — BG

Why the fuck do we always get slept on??? Retarded ass article.

 

[BonesJones]

lol, let's ask teams around the league if they would rather have Aldridge or CJ.

CJ is better than Melo at pretty much everything too.

 

[BonesJones]

Please guys, lets not make this thread about The HCP. I don't want members to quit this forum or lose possible new members just because of me.

How do we make you quit instead?!

 

[trailblazer18]

ESPN top 100 has Nurk #44 and LMA #45. Upgrade!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

ESPN top 100 has Nurk #44 and LMA #45. Upgrade!

I blame Trump!

 

[illmatic99]

They put Dame at 17.

 

[Boob-No-More]

They put Dame at 17.

Just ahead of Kyrie, Lowry and Conley, but behind John Wall (and Westbrook, CP3 and Curry).

Can't really complain about that.

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

Thats a lot of love for Dame right there.

 

[illmatic99]

They put Hayward ahead of Dame. Huh?

 

[Boob-No-More]

They put Hayward ahead of Dame. Huh?

But, but, but.... All Star!!!!

BNM

 

[handiman]

They put Hayward ahead of Dame. Huh?

Well, he is arguably the most overrated player in the league, so his ranking has to reflect that.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I wonder if they GM's in the league were to do a draft with the current NBA players what that draft would look like.

 

[KingSpeed]

Just ahead of Kyrie, Lowry and Conley, but behind John Wall (and Westbrook, CP3 and Curry).

Can't really complain about that.

BNM

I agree too.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

17. DAMIAN LILLARD, BLAZERS
Even at 27 years old, Lillard is still learning. There’s so much to explore when every defense he faces is rightly terrified of his jumper. Schemes are built to stop him from even taking shots, and still they cede 27 points per game without Lillard really pressing beyond what is reasonable. There are nights when Lillard settles when he shouldn’t and those when he isn’t seeing the full view of the game. But by and large, Lillard is filling exactly the role that’s set out for him—for which commanding attention is an essential part. Lillard is puzzling out in real time how to use all that attention to his advantage. His latest trick: manipulating defenders to get to his drive (and to to the free throw line) even more often.

The cat-and-mouse game has been good to Lillard, who finished 58.6% of his shots in the restricted area last season, up from 51.9% the season prior. More of his heavily contested layups are ending in fouls, too, as Lillard feels his way through the nuances of creating contact. Making space comes naturally. Lillard has spent his entire basketball life trying to put enough separation between himself and his defender to hoist up a jumper. It’s knowing when to bump and how to fall that demanded some on-the-job training, the result of which has Lillard up to 7.3 free throw attempts per game.

Lillard’s credentials as a scorer are rock solid at this point. Most of his limitations are familiar, too; running an offense through Lillard means planning around his so-so passing abiity, while leaning on him for big minutes means coming to terms with his lacking defense. Most of what holds Lillard back on that end are misguided instincts. He tries to get around a screen but charts the wrong angle. He moves to cut off a drive but charts the wrong course. So much of playing high-level defense comes from an internalized sense of what to do when. Lillard doesn’t have it, though his willingness to try at least leaves room for realistic improvement. — RM

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/09/13/top-100-nba-players-2018-kyrie-irving-john-wall-damian-lillard

 

[PtldPlatypus]

 

[SIeepwalker]

They gonna milk that shit alright

 

[illmatic99]

What is it going to take to get Dame up to top 10 again? He was ranked at 10 last year. He had his best year yet and dropped 8 spots.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

This is so sad. In previous years they polled 250 or so employees and gained an average. This year BG is pulling it out of his heinekin.

 

[dviss1]

Can you build a team around him?

Then he ain't no fuckin superstar...

 

[Boob-No-More]

What is it going to take to get Dame up to top 10 again? He was ranked at 10 last year. He had his best year yet and dropped 8 spots.

You're confusing two different lists. Dame ranked 21st in last year's SI ranking of the top 100 players. So, even though he didn't make the all star team or any of the all NBA teams, he actually moved up 4 spots.

BNM

 

[illmatic99]

You're confusing two different lists. Dame ranked 21st in last year's SI ranking of the top 100 players. So, even though he didn't make the all star team or any of the all NBA teams, he actually moved up 4 spots.

BNM

No, I'm not. I'm talking about ESPN rankings.

2016-17: Ranked 10th
2017-18: Ranked 18th

18. Damian Lillard
Trail Blazers | PG | @Dame_Lillard

Last year's rank: 10
2017-18 projected RPM: 3.36

Stats & Info: Lillard just keeps getting better and has now increased his scoring and PER in each of his five seasons. He's coming off the best shooting season of his career while also posting his lowest turnover percentage. Although Portland had the misfortune of running into Golden State's buzzsaw each of the past two postseasons, Lillard averaged 30 points in those series. The only player to average more points against the Warriors over the past two postseasons is LeBron James.

 

[dviss1]

No, I'm not. I'm talking about ESPN rankings.

2016-17: Ranked 10th
2017-18: Ranked 18th

Mannnnnnnnnn FUCK ESPN.....

 

[Boob-No-More]

No, I'm not. I'm talking about ESPN rankings.

2016-17: Ranked 10th
2017-18: Ranked 18th

Sorry, I was confused. The SI rankings are the topic of this thread, and as mentioned, Dame moved up by 4 spots from 21st to 17th.

Since his current rankings are pretty consistent between the two lists (17th and 18th) maybe his ranking of 10th in last year's ESPN poll was too high, rather than his current rankings of 18th being too low.

BNM