First Team:
PG- T.J. Ford/Jose Calderon: Its kinda hard to mention one without the other. Toronto has two of the most high-energy and efficient point guards in the entire league. Both aren't great shooters, but can fill it up on occasion. They are excellent free throw shooters and both are in the top twelve in Asstist/PG.
SG- Josh Howard: Howard is the only Sg in the top ten in scoring with a FG% above 50. The next best, Paul Pierce, is 33 percentage points behind. His defense, efficiency and athleticism make him one of the tougher defensive assignments in the league.
SF- Caron Butler: Another efficient offensive machine. He logs a ton of minutes and doesn't take all that many shots, yet he puts up 22 per. Steals are a very misleading defensive stat, but he still grabs 2+ per and grabs 7 boards per as well.
PF- Al Jefferson: Although the Celtics are doing great, i cant help but wonder if it ws worth getting rid of Jefferson. This kid is a beast. He's only 22 and is already putting up All Star numbers. He and Carolos Boozer, another vastly underrated player, are going to alternate as starters in the All Star game for the next decade.
C- Chris Kaman: His goofy face and ADD make him easy to disregard and poke fun at, but he has developed into a really strong center. When his head is in the game, which it is a lot more often than not, he is a monster on the glass. When Elton Brand returns, his numbers might suffer a bit, or with less of the responsibility in the blocks, they might improve.
Second Team:
PG- Raymond Felton: he's turning into a really solid player, but his shooting touch really needs some work.
SG- Marvin Williams: He still isn't scoring enough points, but it's not from a lack of skill or work. He just needs to start to shoot a little more. His FG% warrants a few more ATT/pg.
SF- Rashard Lewis: The Magic were laughed at when they gave him a massive extension in the offseason, but he has been excellent. There really is nothing he doesn't do at a high level.
PF- Chris Wilcox: He is more of an athlete than basketball player, but is still a hell of a force on the court. Nobody goes at it harder than him.
C- Tyson Chandler: He still doesnt have any offenive game, but he is a double-double machine that plays some decent defense as well.
Amen on your analysis on Chris Kaman. I would have to say though, that I don't think the Clippers thought he should have ever been regarded as "over-rated" but rather that he was going to play at the level he is currently playing at.
Great skills on the inside, and improvement in rebounding, make him a key component to the Clippers. And having a center that can shoot from the free throw line doesn't hurt at all. I hope he keeps it up. I am sort of partial to the Clippers.
How can you say these guys are underrated, when some have made the all star team? I still think Rashard Lewis is overrated. He can score inside and out, but that's where his talents end. He plays absolutely no defense and is a pathetic rebounder, considering that he's 6'10". If Dwight Howard gets injured, Lewis's weaknesses will be exposed like they were in Seattle when Ray Allen was injured.
I think Ray Felton and Al Jefferson are going to be great.
PF- I know a few have made the team, but they are still relatively underrated. The Magic really took some heat after siging Lewis, but i think the signing has put the Magic near the top of the East.
TakesHeart: Martin has been putting up nice Per Game numbers, but his percentages and efficiency are not all that good.
chitownsfinest, Kevin Martin is shooting 43% from the field, 40% from 3point range and 85% from the line. Those are good percentages. The fg could be better but I wouldnt call those numbers bad. The guys got game and he plays decent defense.
Pepsi- Granger and Millsap are both good, but they dont get enough tick to get on this list.
Derek- This is not the all-underpaid team. the Magic were scolded for paying what was said to be too much money for Lewis, but he has been a very good addition for them. I think he is underrated.
Pump- Skinner is more of a decent role player than anything. If i were to make an "All Lunchpail" team like Moose does, he might make it on.
TakesHeart- I think that both Vince and AI are a bit overrated, the latter much less than the former.
Kash- It was hard leaving him off. Not only has he been a stud for the Nets, but he has been a fantasy beast for my squad this year.
underrated? how about Lebron James? As much attention as he gets, he deserves more. Oscar, magic, Larry, and MJ never played against a zone. Today's D's would shut those guys down. But Lebron is improving every day. You are all Witness!! Lebron is the greatest player in nba history.
bassda1, Sorry but Paul Pierce is not the best small forward in the game. Don't get me wrong he puts up solid numbers, but Lebron James puts up better numbers. Lebron is the king. Over the last couple of years he's been the best of all small forwards.
I know your first response would be: Well, Pierce has to share the ball with Allen and Garnett, so that makes his averages go down, but last year Lebron still put up better #'s, Pierce didn't really have to share the ball, because they're wasn't a whole lot of talent on his team. He was the only talent.
Also, CLE23, I agree that Lebron is the best Player in NBA history, but he's not underrated. He also is not overrated. Lebron is very good and gets a lot of attention. Which makes him Neutral, Neither overrated nor underrated.
Last edited by Celtics08 on November 26th at 6:38 PM.
Wow, did i just read that Lebron is the best in NBA history? Are we all talking about the same Lebron? I see a very good young player that is supremely capable of dominating on offense but still doesn't shoot well consistently from outside. Not to mention that he has a long way to go on defense, and i mean a LOONNGG way. To be the greatest player in NBA history, you have to play a complete game. Lebron doesn't do, but if he ever does, you guys may have a case.
Oh, and as much as i dont like using rings as a big factor in seperating the greats from the very goods in baseball and football, i feel that basketball players must be measured by championships. A baskteball player has much more of an effect on his team's success. In basketball, a player plays offense and defense and can (almost)single handedly get his team a championship. For Lebron to go down as the greatest ever, he would have to get at least three rings.
AI over rated? thats crazy!! AI is probably the best little man to ever play the game asides from Isiah Thomas. Vince, I can somewhat agree with but I think Vince has more athleticism then anyone in the league but he just chokes under pressure and is soft.
I WAS JOKING WHEN I SAID P.P WAS THE BEST SMALL FORWARD. I KNEW SOMEONE WOULD SAY KING JAMES IS THE BEST. BUT SOME ONE SAID HE IS THE BEST PLAYER THE NBA HAS EVER HAD IS NUTS. OH YEAH, I DONT JUDGE PLAYERS BY THEIR STATS, I JUGDE THEM ON PERFORMANCES AGAINST THE OTHER OPPONENTS.
NOW LEBRON PLAYS AGAINST THE CELTS THIS WEEK I THINK TOMORROW, AND KING JAMES STATS MIGHT LOOK BETTER BUT P.P PERFORMANCE WILL HELP HIS TEAM WIN. P.P IS ALMOST PAST HIS PRIME BUT MELO IS A BETTER PLAYER THEN KING JAMES. KING JAMES STATS LOOK GREAT AND HE IS HAVEING A GREAT SEASON, BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO PLAYING AT A HIGH LEVEL WHEN ITS NEEDED KING JAMES MIGHT NOT SHOW UP EVERY NIGHT.
AND MELO RECORD AGAINST KNG JAMES PROVES HE IS THE BETTER PLAYER. I THINK LEBRON BEAT MELO ONCE OR TWICE. MELO HAS THE REST (THATS BEFORE A.I CAME)
GREATEST PLAYER THE NBA HAS EVER HAD. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE 10 YEARS OLD AND JUST STARTED WATCHING THE GAME FIVE YEARS AGO.
NOW WHAT SEPARATES PAUL PIERCE, AND MELO FROM LEBRON, IS WHEN LEBRON PLAYS AGAINST ANOTHER PLAYER OF HIS STATUS HE DOESNT ALWAYS SHOW UP. MELO AND PAUL PIERCE USUALLY ELEVATE THEIR GAME AGAINST GREAT PLAYERS.
ANYBODY (WELL NOT EVERYBODY BUT ANY STAR PLAYER) COULD GO THE WHOLE SEASON SCORING A BUNCH OF POINTS AND TRIPLE DOUBLES BUT WHEN THEY FACE A TEAM THATS HUNGRY IN THE PLAYOFFS, THATS WHEN` IT COUNTS.
NBA IS BUILT ON MATCH UPS, AND DETRIOT COULDNT MATCH UP WITH LEBRON, THE SPURS SERIES PROVES HE ISNT READY YET. MELO HAD A GREAT SERIES AGAINST THE SPURS. MELO IS BRUCE BOWENS NIGHTMARE. PAUL PIERCE HAD A BIG LOAD ON HIS SHOULDER BUT HE DOESNT TAKE ALOT OF SHOT LIKE MOST WING MEN DO. EVEN WITH A TERRIBLE TEAM.
you cant mention paul pierce in the same sentence as lebron. its blasphemy. Lebrons game 5 performance against the pistons is the single greatest rise up moment in nba history. sorry but walt only played two minutes and mj had lots of help in his title years. You are all witness.
Takesheart- Saying that AI is one of the best little men of all time doesn't make him great. Does being the tallest midget make you tall? AI is a wonderful player, but i think he is overrated. His defense is pretty poor and he has never been all that efficient on offense. Would i love to have him, of course, but he is still overrated.
CLE23- True, Mj did have some help in his title years, but the point is he did have title years. Personally, i feel that if Jordan played in today's NBA, he would be the most dominating force the league has ever seen, if he isn't aready.
chitowns'
It's hard to opine against any of the players you've mentioned. As you make a credible case for each of them. So far this early part of the season it's been all about the Celtics and what their 'big three' will be capable of doing. So far we've seen that they're good but that they're also beatable. And they've yet to face any real adversity. When they do meet that head on then we'll know how good they really are.
I like the Al Jefferson inclusion. He certainly won't get the pub this year being on one of the worst (the worst?) team in the NBA, but he seems to be the guy to build around. Too bad McHale is the one doing the building.
chitowns'
What's up with the Bulls at the moment ? It seems as if they can't find a consistency to their game ? And as for Ben Wallace is he stealin' money from this team or what ? He's given them nothin' so far and it looks as if he's over the hill.
See my latest post titled What's A Yard Sale Or Even A Fire Sale Between Friends ? Let me know what you think as to the merits of the piece ? I'll look forward to reading your comments.
I am college kid out of chicago and love Chicago sports aka a huge homer. My writing may contradict this, but i do care and know about sports outside of Chicago, although I may never blog about it.
