Last summer, I decided to do my NBA top 50 players. It was a spur of the moment thing, and yes, very flawed ( took me 6 months to realize I left Dirk off the list) but during the season, I’ve been taking my time and actually writing ideas and making up different lists to make this year’s top 50. This offseason, I actually have a system to rate players and the new faces in new places.
The way I decided to rank my players are using 6 criterias:
- Contract: Overpaid, Underpaid (older players)
- Offense: The offensive ability
- Defense: The defensive ability
- 5 years: A players progression within the next 5 years
- Intangibles: What separates this player from the rest
- Overall: The Overall player (younger players)
The toughest one is the Contract. Why? Because players like Blake Griffin, Stephen Curry and others are still under their rookie contracts, thus getting a huge bump from that. Instead, older players will be rated on their contracts and younger players will be rated with their overall game and what they can provide down the road.
Now, let’s talk new players
Last season, I only had 2 rookies in my top 50. This season? We might have 4. DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Greg Monroe and Blake Griffin. Cousins and Monroe are on the cusp of the top 50. Cousins provides that classic 1980’s back to the basket game that I love in post players. Yes, he’s a headcase, but I love his game and he’s gonna be a great player. Greg Monroe is just a different player. Monroe has touch on his jumper and he’s a good defensive player, capable of defending from positions 2 through 5. John Wall has cooled off from his hot start, but is still one of the top lead guards in the NBA. However, Wall must cut down on the turnovers (3.6 per game).
Blake Griffin is a monster, we know the highlights and monster dunks, but it’s his secondary abilities that makes him great. At 21, Griffin is already a great rebounder plus he’s quietly averaging 3.5 assists per game. On offense, Griffin’s mid range game is decent for his age and has the Tim Duncan bank shot already on deck. If Griffin decides to increase his 3 point shot, it’s over. On defense, let’s just leave it at this: Griffin can’t play defense.
Current Players
Some of the players that jump out to me are: Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, Stephen Curry and Al Horford
Derrick Rose is clearly jumping into that next level for me. I’m arguing that he might be a top 5 NBA player in the league today and he’s clearly leading this Bulls team, that has missed Boozer and Noah alot this season, to potentially 55 wins and don’t count out the #1 seed for them either.
While everyone is loving Blake Griffin, has anyone seen Eric Gordon play this season? Man is out of this world. Coming out of Indiana, Gordon has always been a relentless attacker and nothing has change. His body just forces big men to bounce right off him and he has the control to get to the basket.
Stephen Curry is overrated by me from what my friends say, but I believe Curry has the game as a great point guard. The issue is he’s playing next to Monta Ellis, who’s exactly like him and he doesn’t have a ideal shooting guard next to him. At times, the Lee/Curry pick and roll was fantastic for Golden State but Ellis works with the ball more, thus effecting his game. If Golden State decides on Curry or Ellis, both players will be better off, but I would want Curry.
Al Horford is just a man child. Let’s not even touch the fact he’s one of the more efficient players, Horford is playing out of position and still getting 18-10 a night. Also, I consider him to be the most valuable player on the Atlanta Hawks.