Kevin Durant is proving with each passing series that he’s the best player in the NBA. He can shoot from deep,handle it,dish it and he’s a dog. He has a take your heart out mentality like the great ones -Jordan,Magic,Bird- something that guy in Miami has no clue about. Best player in the game-Kevin Durant.
This year’s All-Star game in Orlando should be pretty interesting, seeing as how the coaches and fans picked the wrong players for the game. Surprisingly enough, the fans actually did a better job than than the coaches this year. With that in mind let me spit some fire at the coaches real quick like.
1- How does Josh Smith not make the All-Star team in the East…again? The coaches obviously don’t like this dude, how else does he not make it over Joe Johnson. Joe Johnson is a good player, but when Al Horford went down Johnson stepped up. Stop hatin on JSmoove!
Number 2- Rudy Gay, really Western conference coaches, really? Same story here, Zach Randolph goes down and Rudy Gay carries the team. Did he have to average 30 a game to make the All-Star team, come on man!
Number 3- For selecting Dirk Nowitski the coaches get a “child please” and a “come on man.” Guess Dirk won’t be watching the game at my crib this year. Maybe I’ll invite Khloe and Lamar over instead, they won’t be too busy that weekend.
There were other players left off the squads that would have been fun to watch like Brandon Jennings or James Harden(Black Manu). I’ll still enjoy what is easily the best all star experience in pro sports.
This is the last list in the series and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as I’ve enjoyed putting them together.If you haven’t already, make sure you check out the rest of my blog(because it’s the best). I plan on adding more content in the coming weeks and months. Let’s go!!!
Young Riser – John Wall 16 ppg, 8.3 apg, 3PT 30%, FG 41%…1st overall pick in 2010 NBA Draft…Led all rookies in steals and assists…2nd in minutes per game amongst PG
Honorable Mention - Jrue Holiday 14 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3PT 36%, FG 45%…17th overall pick in 2009 NBA Draft…Top ten in steals amongst PG…Recorded 1st career triple-double this season
#10 – Mike Conley 13.7 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3PT 37%, FG 44%…Top 10 in steals amongst PG…Top 10 in Assist-to-Turnover ratio amongst PG…Has increased scoring and assist per game averages in each season…4th overall pick in 2007 NBA Draft
#9 – Steph Curry 18.6 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3PT 44%, FG 48%…Led the NBA in Free Throw percentage…3rd in the NBA in 3PT%…Top 5 in scoring amongst PG…7th overall pick in 2009 NBA Draft
#8 – Chauncey Billups 16.8 ppg, 5.4 apg, 3PT 40%, FG 43%…Top 5 scoring PG…Top 3 amongst PG in 3 pointers made…2nd in NBA in Free Throw percentage…3rd overall pick in 1997 NBA Draft
#7 – Tony Parker 17.5 ppg, 6.6 apg, 3PT 36%, FG 52%…Led all PG in FG%…Top 5 scoring PG…Increased his scoring average in the playoffs to 19.7 ppg…28th overall selection in 2001 NBA Draft
#6 – Steve Nash 14.7 ppg, 11.4 apg, 3PT 39%, FG 49%…Led all PG in doubles-doubles…Led the NBA in assists per game…Top 5 amongst PG in FG%…15th overall selection in 1996 NBA Draft
#5 - Rajon Rondo 10.6 ppg, 11.2 apg, 3PT 23%, FG 47%…1st team All-Defense…2nd overall in the NBA in steals per game…Recorded 3 triple-doubles during the regular season…21st overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft
#4 - Deron Williams 20.1 ppg, 10.3 apg, 3PT 33%, FG 44%…Top 3 in assists in the NBA…Led all PG in minutes per game…2nd in doubles-doubles amongst PG…3rd overall pick in 2005 NBA Draft
#3 – Russell Westbrook 21.9 ppg, 8.2 apg, 3PT 33%, FG 44%…All-NBA 2nd team…Top 5 in the NBA in steals…Led all PG in rebounds per game…Recorded 3 triple-doubles during the regular season…4th overall pick in 2008 NBA Draft
#2 – Chris Paul 15.8 ppg, 9.8 apg, 3PT 39%, FG 46%…3rd team All-NBA…2nd team All-Defense…Led NBA in steals per game…Led the league in assist to turnover ratio…4th overall pick in 2005 NBA Draft
#1 - Derrick Rose 25 ppg, 7.7 apg, 3PT 33%, FG 44%…Regular season Most Valuable Player…1st team All-NBA…Led all PG in scoring…Top 5 amongst PG in rpg…Top 10 amongst PG in 3 pointers made…1st overall selection in 2008
D. Rose was the best player in the league this season. The scary thing about him is that he’s got so much room for improvement. Some of the younger point guards are breathing down his neck, but he should be right back at the top next season.
Regular season stats follow each player’s names. Let’s go!!!
Young Riser - DeMar DeRozan 17.2 ppg, 1.8 apg, 3PT 10%, FG 47%…Increased his scoring by 9 points per game from the previous season… Top 5 amongst shooting guards in field goal percentage… Top 10 amongst SG in rebounding per game
Honorable Mention - Wesley Matthews 15.9 ppg, 2 apg, 3PT 41%, FG 45%… Top 10 amongst all SG in points per game…Top 10 in FG% amongst SG…Top 10 in 3PT% amongst SG
#10 - Andre Iguodala 14.1 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3PT 34%, FG 44%… NBA Second-team All Defense…Top 5 in steals per game…Led all SG in assists per game…Recorded 3 triple doubles during the regular season
#9 – Eric Gordon 22.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3PT 36%, FG 45%… Top 5 amongst SG in scoring…Top 10 amongst SG in assists per game…Career high in points per game average…Career high in assists per game average
#7 – Ray Allen 16.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 3PT 44%, FG 49%…Led all SG in 3PT%…Top 3 amongst SG in FG%…Top 5 amongst SG in FT%…Top 10 in scoring amongst SG
#6 -Manu Ginobili 17.4 ppg, 4.9 apg, 3PT 35%, FG 43%…3rd Team All-NBA…Top 3 amongst SG in steals…Top 5 in apg amongst SG…Top 5 in scoring amongst SG
#5 - Kevin Martin 23.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3PT 38%, FG 44%…2nd in 3 pointers made amongst SG…Top ten in scoring in the NBA…Top 3 in FT% amongst SG… Top 5 amongst SG in field goals made
#4 – Joe Johnson 18.2 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3PT 30%, FG 44%…Top 5 in scoring amongst SG…Top 5 in apg amongst SG…Top 10 amongst SG in rebounds per game…Top 10 amongst SG in minutes per game
#3 – Monta Ellis 24.1 ppg, 5.6 apg, 3PT 36%, FG 45%…Top 10 in scoring in the NBA…3rd in NBA in steals per game…Led NBA in minutes per game…2nd amongst SG in apg
#2 – Kobe Bryant 25.3 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3PT 32%, FG 45%…1st team All-NBA …Top 5 in NBA in scoring…3rd amongst SG in rebounds per game…Top 5 amongst SG in assists per game
#1 – Dwayne Wade 25.5 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3PT 31%, FG 50%…2nd team All-NBA(they got it wrong)…Led all SG in ppg…Led all SG in blocks per game…Led all SG in FG%…Led all SG in rebounds per game
It was a close call between Kobe and DWade, but I went with Wade because his team went further in the playoffs.
So this is how it’ll work- I’ll give you one young riser and one honorable mention, which will then be followed by my top ten. (Regular season stats are after each player’s names) Let’s go!!!
Young Riser – Tyler Hansbrough 11ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.2 bpg
Honorable Mention – Tim Duncan 13.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.9 bpg
#10 – Josh Smith 16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.3 bpg
#9 - Kevin Love 20.4 ppg, 15.3 rpg, 0.4 bpg
#8 – Chris Bosh 18.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 0.6 bpg
#7 - Kevin Garnett 14.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 0.8 bpg
#6 – Lamarcus Aldridge 21.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg
#5 – Pau Gasol 18.8 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.6 b
#4 -Blake Griffin 22.5 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 0.5 bpg
#3 – Amare Stoudemire 25.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg
#2 -Zach Randolph 20.1 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 0.3 bpg
#1 – Dirk Nowitzki 23 ppg, 7 rpg, 0.6 bpg…..Playoffs 27.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, .941 FT%….. Arguably the best player on the planet right now. Destroyed everyone in the playoffs on the way to the title. He was clutch and his defense was above average. He unquestionably deserves the top spot.
So this is how it’ll work- I’ll give you one young riser and one honorable mention, which will then be followed by my top ten. (Regular season stats are after each player’s names) Let’s go!!!
Young Riser – Wilson Chandler 15.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 apg
Honorable Mention – Shawn Marion 12.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 apg
#10 – Michael Beasley 19.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg
#9 – Grant Hill 13.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 apg
#8 – Gerald Wallace 15.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.4 apg
#7 – Rudy Gay 19.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.8 apg
#6 – Luol Deng 17.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.8 apg
#5 - Danny Granger 20.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.6 apg
#4 – Paul Pierce 18.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg
#3 – Carmelo Anthony 25.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.9 apg
#2 – Kevin Durant 27.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.7 apg
#1 – Lebron James 26.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7 apg…..Playoffs 23.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 5.9 apg….. Arguably still one of the best players on the planet . He had a tough time in the NBA Finals, but overall he was really good in the postseason. He wasn’t always clutch but his defense was outstanding.
Here we go with my first list of the best players in the NBA. Finishing this list was easier than all of the other positions because there aren’t that many good centers in the league. So this is how it’ll work- I’ll give you one young riser and one honorable mention, which will then be followed by my top ten.
Young Riser – Javale McGee 10.1 ppg,8 rpg, 2.4 bpg
Drafted in 2008 out of the University of Nevada, McGee posted career highs in every major statistical category. Plays way above the rim and should have won this years slam dunk contest at the All-Star break. Has a chance to be a top 5 center next year with a solid off season.
Honorable Mention – Emeka Okafor 10.3 ppg,9.5 rpg, 1.8bpg
A really good defender and rebounder for this smallish center. He’s been able to develop a reliable mid-range jumper since entering the league. He lacks a go to move in the post, but he’s a winner and a great team player. I chose him over Roy Hibbert by a small margin because he’s a better athlete than Hibbert.
#10 – Nene 14.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1 bpg
Reliable, athletic big man with a solid offensive game. He doesn’t rebound as well as a guy with his athleticism should, but he’s decent on the boards. He is what he is at this point in his career, which happens to be a very solid NBA center.
#9 – Brook Lopez 20.4 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Really good scorer in the low post on a bad team. His lack of athleticism should keep him from becoming a top 3 center, but if he continues to improve his overall skills he has a shot.
#8 – Tyson Chandler 10.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg
World champ, great defender and rebounder. Winning the championship pushed him into this spot, but his lack of offense keeps him from going any higher.
#7 – Al Jefferson 18.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.9 bpg
Great post player on offense, terrific rebounder and an average defender. He’s had injury problems in the past but when healthy he’s a beast.
#6 – Andrew Bogut 12.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Tremendous rebounder and shot blocker. Former number 1 pick overall hasn’t lived up to being picked that high. Not quite dominant enough to be a top 5 guy this season, but he’s capable of cracking the top 3 next year.
#5 – Andrew Bynum 11.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2 bpg
He’s had problems staying healthy his entire career. He managed to put up good numbers on a winning team this season in the games he was able to play.
#4 – Marc Gasol 11.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.7 bpg
Very skilled big body who enjoys being in the paint. He increased his points and rebounds to 15 and 11 in the playoffs, which was huge for the Grizzlies.
#3 – Al Horford 15.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1 bpg
Undersized at the center position but consistently rebounds the ball well. Really good shooter, very good ball handler, good passer.
#2 – Joakim Noah 11.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Energy,energy, energy. Great defender with very little offense. If he stays healthy he can be great.
#1 – Dwight Howard 22.9 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 2.4 rpg
3-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Just a beast on the glass. He improved his low post game this season which explains his career high scoring average. The only sure-fire Hall of Famer on this list.
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