Let's make a top 50 list, part A
by clarkpojo
on Sep 25, 2008 11:00 PM MDT
Alright guys, there has been a whole bunch of hubbub on this site about Sactown Royalty's own Ziller and his top 50 players. The controversy lies with where he placed Deron Williams. No Jazz fan agrees with how low Williams went and I was even more aghast to see Steve Nash go 7 places higher than D-Will. Making a top 50 player list is difficult. It is so objective. What do you value? Big men? guards? stats? intangibles? It also requires that you have a good understanding of what every player brings to the NBA without just looking at stat sheets. I watched a lot of NBA basketball games this last season with NBA league pass. I saw at least 15 games by every team not including the playoffs. It is what I did while I studied all fall. This doesn't automatically qualify me to make a 50 best NBA players list, but it's a start. And I am soliciting all of you for your help. Here's the deal: I have put together a list and I will present it in 3 segments: 50-31, 30-11, and a top 10. My values are stats, measured with ability to perform in tight situations (end of game or playoffs), and the ability to play both offense and defense. But I am not going to claim that this list is perfect. That's where you come in. Let me know if I am crazy or I just missed a placement. We will debate about it for a couple days and see if we can't come up with the world's greatest top 50 players list. Afterall a) we are a community and we do it together, just like the dinosaurs on Land Before TIme and b) we need something to talk about NBA related until training camp starts. So here goes the first list. Also this list is measuring the players as of right now and how good they will be this upcoming season. No free passes for great careers. Sorry Shaq and J-Kidd.
50. Rajon Rondo- The guy is one of the best defensive point guards in the game. His offense needs work, but he fits really well with the Celtics.
49. Andre Igoudala- He went from future of the franchise to role player in one season. He is good, but doesn't have the sweet shot or drives to make him elite.
48. Andris Biedrins- Biedrins is a player who gets his points and rebounds of pure effort. There aren't any plays run for him, cause honestly they probably wouldn't work. But you have to love his hustle and his 12-10 averages are nothing to sneeze at.
47. Michael Redd- Redd is one of the sweetest shooters in the NBA, but you just wonder if he really makes his team a lot better night in and night out. And a higher rating would be warranted if he played better defense.
46. Zydrunas Ilgauskas- He isn't flashy, but he gets the job done. And you have to believe he will put up about 15 and 9 as long as Lebron is in Cleveland.
45. Gerald Wallace- The guy has an all around game that resembles a top 20 player in the league. But he needs to learn his role and how to put it together.
44. Corey Maggette- Great offensive player. Will fill the stat sheets in G State, but probably won't help them win tons of games.
43. Hedo Turkoglu- He has turned into one of the most clutch players in the NBA and is probably the second best player on the Magic.
42. Jose Calderon- Calderon is one of the purest point guards in the game for the way he manages the game. Great assist turnover ratio, but doesn't do anything flashy.
41. Antawn Jamison- He's an all-star and a great player. He put up great numbers last year (21 and 10), but he is only the 3rd best player on his team.
40. Richard Jefferson- Solid small forward who is now at the downside of his career.
39. Josh Smith- The guy is a tweener, but you can't question his versatility and defensive presence. He would shoot up this list if he could develop an offensive game from midrange.
38. Josh Howard- Up until 6 months ago, Howard was moving up this list. His game is sharp, but he needs to focus in order to get better at this point.
37. Chris Kaman- One of the better defensive big men in the game. Rebounds well and guards the rim. And has good touch around the basket.
36. Marcus Camby- Great shot blocker and rebounder and ugly jump shooter. I believe he makes the Clippers a top 10 defensive team with Kaman.
35. Ron Artest- Great competitor. Great defender. Rocket fans and Artest fans won't like #38, but he doesn't take over games consistently for how talented he is. And he single-handedly loses games with his bad attitude and antics.
34. Kevin Martin- He has become one of the most versatile scorers in the NBA. Needs to add toughness and tenacity on defense to become elite.
33. Brandon Roy- Steady. That is how I sum up his game. He is consistent and makes great decisions. After a year or two and a couple playoff performances, he will be a top 20 player at least.
32. Caron Butler- He is one of the toughest players in the league and not just because of his nickname. Has one of the best all-around games in the league.
31. Shawn Marion- He is such a versatile player, but this is the year we will find out how much his skills were magnified by the ball they played in Phoenix.
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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I need more info.
I should have mentioned that you should include comments on where players should be.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on Sep 26, 2008 2:56 PM MDT 0 recs
MIchael Redd
I think I’d have Redd higher, but I haven’t seen the rest of your list. I also have to say that right now I might rather have Kaman on my team than Boozer (better D, competent O) as long as I can still have Memo to play pick ‘n’ roll. But that gets into the inherent subjectivity of this kind of game.
Can’t wait to see your top ten.
Leave the ball, will you George?
by MTN on Sep 26, 2008 9:07 PM MDT 0 recs
I concur...
Redd should probably be ahead of Maggette.
Looking forward to the rest of the list as well.
Cuba Si! Yanqi No!
by Patrick517 on
Sep 28, 2008 6:00 PM MDT
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CBSSports.com has Williams 5th
CBS has Williams 5th on their list of the top 50 players in the NBA:
by ballerblogger on Sep 27, 2008 5:37 PM MDT 0 recs
That list has other serious flaws (or lifetime achievement bonuses)
Who takes a Shaq who moves like he is showering in cement these days over Boozer, Oden, Gasol, Bynum, West, Brand, Jefferson, Smith, etc.?
Yao Ming over younger and better guys like Howard and Bosh? What?
St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.
by Norsktroll on
Sep 28, 2008 5:20 AM MDT
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I think...
That Brandon Roy should be somewhere in the 20’s. He pretty much led Portland to there impressive December run last year.
Also, D. Will better be higher on your list than CP3. I’m just sayin…
And, could you please put KK on, just for fun! (Then, maybe I’ll make a list of the 50 hottest players in the NBA. I’m sure y’all would enjoy that!)
by DaniellelovesKK on Sep 27, 2008 11:45 PM MDT 0 recs
Bad poll...
……………….. do you mean “incorrect – UNDERRATED” or “incorrect – OVERRATED.”
Some people will interpret this each way, offsetting one another…
"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."
by timbo on Sep 28, 2008 2:35 PM MDT 0 recs
The poll is just to measure who is out of place.
Then you should add comments on where that player should be.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on
Sep 28, 2008 5:36 PM MDT
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