nolas top 10 player rankings

[jonathanlambert33]

After we finish our list of top 10 players at every position I will list my own top 10, starting with the PG's of course.

Before I get to the listing, I will say I value guys who play both ends and not just the offensive end.


1) Chris Paul- Prototypical PG, elite at both ends
2) Tony Parker- Excellent offensive PG with variety of moves, solid defender
3) Russell Westbrook- Shot happy PG, good but overrated defender
4) Stephen Curry- Most lethal offensive PG in the league, developing defender
5) Kyrie Irving- Young up and coming score first PG, elite scorer, poor defender
6) Jrue Holiday- Above average offensive PG, great defender
7) Rajon Rondo- Creative PG, overrated defender, cancer?
8) Deron Williams- Shell of his former self, good offensive player, horrific defender, poor effort
9) Mike Conley- Average offensive PG with potential to get better, elite defender
10) Ty Lawson- Effective in transition and halfcourt, quick defender who can stay in front of his man




1) Kobe Bryant- Had most efficient season in nearly half a decade, still an above average defender
2) Dwyane Wade- Still an excellent offensive player, 21 pts on 52% shooting, slightly above average defender
3) James Harden- Great but somewhat inefficient offensive player, but his ft rate helps that, awful defender
4) Andre Iguodala- Below average offensive player, but is the elite of the elite defensively
5) Manu Ginobli- Had a down year efficiency wise, but is still an offensive player that can do it all, surprisingly good defender
6) JR Smith- fantastic offensive player, but makes questionable decisions, slightly below average and inconsistent defender
7) Eric Gordon- great offensive player, really good defender, but unreliable, would be higher on this list if healthy
8) Joe Johnson- Declining offensive player, below average player, doesn't have a well rounded offensive game
9) Tyreke Evans- One of the best wings at getting to the rim and finishing in the league, struggles to make jumpers, plus defender
10) Jamal Crawford- Excellent offensive player, but doesn't play defense

 

[elcheato]

Stats wont back it up but I would argue that Kyrie has a larger arsenal of offensive moves and is just straight up more talented offensively than Steph.

 

[youngguru]

... what in the hell? did you guys even watch deron in the 2nd half of the season

 

[bosoxlover12]

If it's overall PGs
 
 
1. Chris Paul
2. Derrick Rose (stop taking him off these lists)
3. Tony Parker
4&5. Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo. They're equals in my book
6. Russell Westbrook
7&8. Mike Conley Jr. and Ty Lawson. Again, equals.
9. Kyrie Irving
10. Steph Curry
11. Jrue Holiday

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I can't put Rose on these lists with nothing to go on from last season. Just can't.

 

[bosoxlover12]

... what in the hell? did you guys even watch deron in the 2nd half of the season

I know I've bashed on Deron alot in the past, but just wait till next year when the Top 3 is CP3, DRose, & Deron. Its amazing how you do so much better when you have supporting talents.
 
 
Deron will feel a lot less pressure, as if Joe was off, it was on him only, and his APG and his defensive metrics should rise dramatically.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I have no problem pushing Deron up the list if he deserves it. But I'm not going to rate these guys off half a season.

My biggest problem with Deron remains the fact that he goes through phases where he plays zero defense.

This list is also kind of who I would want, not who is the best overall player.

 

[bosoxlover12]

I can't put Rose on these lists with nothing to go on from last season. Just can't.

Nothing to go off of? How about the Chicago Bulls- sans Rose? That should be proof enough.
 
 
The Bulls had the best record in basketball when DRose was playing for his past two seasons. Take him out, and substitute Nate Robinson, who averaged 18.5ppg/36, which is a great replacement stat. And yet, their winning percentage goes from .756 to .758, to .549.
 
When the Thunder lost James Harden, they lost tons of production. Kevin Martin was useless. But their .732 win percentage this year was the highest sine they moved to OKC. They could have used him in the playoffs, especially when Russy went down, but he that didnt affect the team nearly as much. Obviously when you still have KD and Russy, you'd still expect to do well, but you'd expect a drop when losing your star. And the Thunder didn't, despite a drop in ppg/36 by 5.3 from Harden to Martin. But a 3.8 difference from Rose to Robinson, which is more significant knowing that Rose was the top option, not #3, caused the Bulls to win less games in this 82 game season than they did in the 66 game season the year before.
 
 
You know how good Derrick Rose is. You can see by how well the Bulls did this year that Derrick Rose is special. You take a talented player off a Finals contender, give them as good as of an in-house replacement as possible, and they are average. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

In no way, shape, or form does the Bulls without Rose tell me how good he will be when he does come back.

 

[RipCity32]

Where is Jrue if he wasn't just traded to the Pelicans? lol.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Right where he is, I've already talked openly about my statements in January regarding Jrue and Rondo.

It's kind of stupid though. I'm not about to say Eric Gordon is a top 5 SG just because he plays for my team. Why would I do the same for someone else?

 

[bosoxlover12]

Remember, this is based on who is currently the best player, not who has the potential to be the best.

 

[RipCity32]

Well, I'm fairly certain you are the only one on the site who would place Jrue that highly. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Well, I'm fairly certain you are the only one on the site who would place Jrue that highly.

That's fine. I was also the only person who was talking about Parker being the 2nd best PG months ago, where were you then criticizing me?

Heck, I'm probably the only person who heavily considered Kemba Walker as a top 10 PG as well. Care to share your thoughts on that?

 

[RipCity32]

Tony basically is #2 (though I don't think he is) by default. Westbrook would've been there if the Thunder made the Finals again, but the injury obviously prevented that. Rose if healthy could be there. Deron had an off year. Rondo had the injury. I think all 4 of them could arguably be put higher, but the circumstances give Parker the nod. The fact he didn't crack the top 5 last year wasn't a fluke. But like I said, hard not to go with anyone but Parker at #2 because of the circumstances. That's not a slight on his game, he is certainly a great player.
 
And well, you certainly are the only one that high on Kemba. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Tony basically is #2 (though I don't think he is) by default. Westbrook would've been there if the Thunder made the Finals again, but the injury obviously prevented that. Rose if healthy could be there. Deron had an off year. Rondo had the injury. I think all 3 of them could arguably be put higher, but the circumstances give Parker the nod. The fact he didn't crack the top 5 last year wasn't a fluke. 
 
And well, you certainly are the only one that high on Kemba.

It's great that he was voted there, but like I said, I'm talking months and months ago. Is that because I'm a Spurs fan?

Or do I just call things like I see them?

 

[jonathanlambert33]

And to go even further, it's not like I'm putting Jrue on that list and then laughing to myself about how big of a troll I am. I have my reasoning.

 

[RipCity32]

But you are wrong in both cases. So if that means you are "calling it how you see it" then good for you lol.
 
And 90% of the board would say the same thing. At least about Jrue for sure. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

But you are wrong in both cases. So if that means you are "calling it how you see it" then good for you lol.
 
And 90% of the board would say the same thing. At least about Jrue for sure.

Wrong that Parker is the #2 PG? I doubt Westbrook getting hurt in the playoffs had much to do with that. Atleast I would hope not.

And it seems like I've said this a hundred times to you, but I value guys who play two sides of the ball. I know your all about offense and couldn't give two shits about defense, but I do. Deron is a horrible defender while Jrue is a great one, and Jrue may be a step below Deron offensively. Give me the two way player over the one way player 10/10 times. I hold the same philosophy with football. Give me the guy who can play the run and get to the QB 10/10 times over the guy who is just a pass rush specialist and has to come off the field on short yardage situations.

 

[RipCity32]

I just told you why Parker is #2.
I guarantee when we do this again next season, at least Rondo, Westbrook, Williams, or Rose will be ranked higher than Parker.