On the first full week of each month this season, I’m going to rank the top 10 NBA players at each position based on how I expect them to perform in the coming month. If a player is injured and is expected to miss most of the month, then they probably won’t make the list regardless of his value when healthy. I’ll rank the point guards on Monday, the shooting guards on Tuesday… you get the picture. Your feedback is welcome, even if you want to tell me how incredibly, irredeemably clueless I am.
You’ll notice that neither Andrea Bargnani nor Brook Lopez are in these rankings even though they’re respectively second and fourth in scoring at the position. It’s my philosophy that scoring ability is less important than defense and rebounding at this position, and it’s fairly well-established how poorly those two have performed in those areas this season.
10. (New entry) Nene, Denver Nuggets — 2010-11 stats: 18 GP, 30.8 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 2.3 APG, 7.0 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, .621 FG%, 1.000 3P%, .784 FT%, 20.0 PER
The Nuggets are a respectable 13-8 right now in spite of the trade rumors circulating around Carmelo Anthony and the steep decline of Chauncey Billups. Nene deserves a lot of the credit for Denver still having a top-10 Offensive Rating (points scored per 100 possessions) as he’s scoring 14 points per game while leading the league in field goal percentage. It’s weird that someone as athletic as him doesn’t rebound better or block more shots, though.
9. (9.) Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies — 2010-11 stats: 22 GP, 33.0 MPG, 11.8 PPG, 2.7 APG, 7.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.3 BPG, .615 FG%, .000 3P%, .756 FT%, 18.3 PER
As I noted last month, it’s criminal that the Grizzlies don’t involve him in the offense more. He takes fewer field goal attempts per game than any of the other Grizzlies’ starters even though none of those four guys (Randolph, Gay, Mayo and Conley) are even shooting 50 percent from the field while Gasol easily converts 60 percent of his scoring attempts. Memphis will have a tough decision to make about how much they value Gasol when he becomes a restricted free agent this off-season.
8. (New entry) Tyson Chandler, Dallas Mavericks — 2010-11 stats: 21 GP, 26.4 MPG, 8.5 PPG, 0.4 APG, 9.0 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, .631 FG%, .000 3P%, .802 FT%, 17.7 PER
Can you be considered the second-best player on a team with an 18-4 record when you only attempt four field goals per game? The Mavericks have improved from 12th in the league in Defensive Rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) in 2009-10 to fifth overall this season and Chandler deserves a lot of the credit for that. If he can stay healthy, he deserves consideration (along with Kevin Garnett) for Defensive Player of the Year.
7. (6.) Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks — 2010-11 stats: 15 GP, 34.7 MPG, 13.2 PPG, 1.3 APG, 11.5 RPG, 0.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG, .480 FG%, .000 3P%, .479 FT%, 18.1 PER
Bogut may not be long for Milwaukee with the Bucks underachieving and with rumors circulating that he’s not exactly the most popular guy in the locker room. He’s still a great rebounder and a good defender and playmaker, but he really needs to do something about his putrid free throw shooting.
6. (4.) Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls — 2010-11 stats: 20 GP, 37.8 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 2.9 APG, 12.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG, .519 FG%, .000 3P%, .724 FT%, 19.8 PER
It will be very interesting to see how Noah and Carlos Boozer mesh together in the Bulls frontcourt now that Boozer is finally back in the lineup. How many NBA teams can boast a frontcourt where both starters average a double-double? Right now, the Lakers are the only team (Gasol has 19.8/11.6 while Odom has 15.4 and 10.0) but I expect the Bulls to join them shortly.
5. (7.) Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers — 2010-11 stats: 20 GP, 29.8 MPG, 15.4 PPG, 3.1 APG, 8.5 RPG, 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG, .512 FG%, .000 3P%, .750 FT%, 20.4 PER
Hibbert says that his nickname at Georgetown was BMW — meaning “‘Body Made Wrong.” He dropped 30 pounds this off-season, practiced his passing out of the post with Bill Walton and trained with MMA fighters. Now you could call him “VW” because he’s playing Very Well. His 3.1 assists per game trails only Al Horford among NBA centers, but Pacers coach Jim O’Brien says, “He’ll average, I believe within a year or two, seven assists a game.”
4. (5.) Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks — 2010-11 stats: 23 GP, 32.8 MPG, 17.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 9.5 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG, .590 FG%, .000 3P%, .851 FT%, 25.0 PER
Who knew Al Horford was going to be this good? He’s improved every year since his 2007-08 rookie season and he’s now both a defensive anchor and a legitimate, highly-efficient second option on offense. Thanks to him, the Hawks’ offense should continue to operate just fine while they wait for Joe Johnson to return from elbow surgery.
3. (New entry) Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks — 2010-11 stats: 23 GP, 37.1 MPG, 25.7 PPG, 2.3 APG, 9.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.9 BPG, .531 FG%, .556 3P%, .781 FT%, 23.6 PER
One word for how Stoudemire has played over his last six games: beastly. He scored at least 30 points in all six games, averaging 34.2 points and 11.5 rebounds over the stretch. It’s no wonder Madison Square Garden has been ringing with “MVP! MVP!” chants lately. For Knicks fans starving for success after a decade of futility, Amar’e has been a sumptuous feast of nasty dunks, silky jumpers and sweet, sweet victory.
2. (2.) Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers — 2010-11 stats: 22 GP, 39.0 MPG, 19.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 11.6 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 2.1 BPG, .519 FG%, .000 3P%, .832 FT%, 24.0 PER
With reports that Andrew Bynum might work his way back into the Lakers’ lineup as soon as Sunday’s game against the Nets, Gasol might return to playing most of his minutes at his “natural” four-spot. I would have said “no way” a few weeks ago, but their recent four-game losing streak indicates some tweaks might be in order.
1. (1.) Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic — 2010-11 stats: 20 GP, 35.4 MPG, 21.9 PPG, 1.1 APG, 12.3 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.5 BPG, .585 FG%, .000 3P%, .554 FT%, 25.1 PER
In his seventh NBA season, Dwight is finally the number-one option in Orlando’s offense and it appears to suit him just fine. This is the first season he’s led the team in field goal attempts per game and he’s still scoring with high efficiency — at least until he gets to the free throw line. The next thing he needs to work on — aside from the free throws, of course — is passing out of double teams. Maybe he needs to hook up with Bill Walton this off-season and see if he can discover what Hibbert learned.
Nene and Chandler over Camby???
CRIMINAL! SOMEONE ARREST THIS MAN.
I only just realized until checking after reading this that during that Knicks latest run, they’ve been starting Amare at center. Since when did they start doing that? But two people I might put over Nene at this point (and I’m guessing once Amare and Pau go back to playing the 4, they might get added to the list) are Okafor and Shaq. Okafor just for the defensive presence he brings, and Shaq for, despite the lack of minutes, the real quality he’s playing at. Extremely high PER (inflated due to his high usage in low minutes), and that he’s the “true” leader in FG% (he currently doesn’t qualify because of some missed games, be I think that’ll change eventually).
Garron: I considered Shaq but he’s only playing 22 minutes per game and he’s going to occasionally sit out games with various old man ailments. I typically try to set a minimum 25 MPG filter for anyone on these lists.
Travis: Portland is 15th in the league in Defensive Rating. Camby’s a good rebounder, an OK defender and a void on offense. For what it’s worth, SI.com’s Ian Thomsen wrote today that he thinks Chandler deserves to be a Western Conference All-Star reserve.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ian_thomsen/12/10/sixth.man.dec.10/2.html
Whither Al Jefferson?
I don’t really want you arrested, Scott.
MC Welk: Jefferson was borderline, then I saw that the Jazz allow 10 more points per 100 possessions when he’s on the court compared to when he’s on the bench.
http://www.82games.com/1011/10UTA11.HTM#onoff
Scott can you elaborate on the Bogut rumors? That’s the first I had heard about chemistry issues with him..
“It’s my philosophy that scoring ability is less important than defense and rebounding at this position…. #3 Amar’e Stou_emire.”
LOL. I couldn’t resist.
CrazyH: Bogut chose not to travel with the team when he hurt his back recently, and that reportedly didn’t go over well with his teammates who expect him to show more leadership.
Alex: Fair burn considering Stoudemire’s defense, but the Knicks are unstoppable lately and there’s no denying that Amar’e is the main reason why. If Bargnani and/or Lopez start averaging 30 and 10 over any period, they’ll make this list, too.
I actually think Chandler should be the all-star STARTER. Unless Gasol or Duncan count as centers, it looks like he’s the best candidate. Although Yao will probably get the votes.
Man, I remember when it was so easy to watch Tas and Skeets on thebasketballjones.net. Now I have to wade through all these dang posts to find them. Note to blog-masters, I’m sure all these sports bloggers are wonderful fellas, but you’re diluting the good stuff. Bring back Skeets and Tas. Give me a page of just those guys so I don’t have to screw around and wade through blog after blog. Please…..
andy: Bookmark this link to only see the Tas/Skeets video posts:
http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/author/jeskeets/
Scott,
Thanks for the post. Keep up the good work. and I am with MC Welk on Jefferson… He will be on your list next week though.
Randy: These power rankings are monthly, and thankfully so because I would barely be able to get any other work done if I did these every week. I probably put way too much research and thought into these posts. Regardless, I’m going to watch tonight’s Jazz-Mavs game to see if I’m underrating his defense.