Allanon
09-22-2008, 04:35 PM
Manu at #4 sounds about right, I think he'd be higher if he hadn't hurt himself. It's always funny to see the 6th man being ranked so high.
I know alot of you were interested in JR Smith, he does make the list at the bottom. He has skills but still too much immaturity (from what I've read)
Position rankings: Easy to see Kobe is top SG
Sep. 22, 2008
By Matt Steinmetz
The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/basketball/nba/img10990450.jpgIs there really any doubt who the best shooting guard in the NBA is?
Assuming, of course, you're calling LeBron James a small forward. Which we are.
The Dwyane Wade we saw in Beijing is the choice for No. 2 behind Kobe Bryant at shooting guard. (Getty Images)
The Dwyane Wade we saw in Beijing is the choice for No. 2 behind Kobe Bryant at shooting guard. (Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant is often the NBA's best offensive player, sometimes its best defensive player and always its most feared. Bryant's ability to make big shots is obvious.
But he can shut down the opposing team's shooting guard, help out on the boards and always draws a double-team on offense.
In reality, the shooting guard list begins at No. 2.
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers: He has mastered virtually every aspect of the game except how exactly to fit most effectively into the Lakers' offense. The question isn't whether he's the best two guard in the league. It's where he'll go down among the greats.
2. Dwyane Wade, Miami: He ranks second on this list for one reason and one reason only: He appears to be getting healthier while Manu Ginobili and Tracy McGrady appear to be wearing down.
3. Tracy McGrady, Houston: His inability to reach the second round of the playoffs is a significant blemish. But when he's healthy and at his best, few can play on his level. Facts are facts, though, and time is running out.
4. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio: This, of course, assumes Ginobili can return to form after his left ankle surgery. The Spurs' window seems to have two more years, tops. Or in other words, as many years as Ginobili, now 31, has left in his prime.
5. Joe Johnson, Atlanta: He has the versatility to play three positions, and his size precludes other teams from matching up against him with smallish guards. Johnson was a big-time scorer two years ago, averaging 25 points per game, and last year he reined it in some because he had more weapons around him.
6. Brandon Roy, Portland: Many on the East Coast are already late to the party when it comes to Roy. He's tough, strong, has size and is as fundamentally sound as they come. Roy had knee surgery in mid-August but is expected to be fine by the start of training camp.
7. Richard Hamilton, Detroit: Hamilton isn't as flashy or athletic as most of the other shooting guards on this list, but he defends and he's a winner. Hamilton has the reputation as one of the game's best midrange shooters -- and rightfully so. But how about Hamilton shooting 44 percent on 3-pointers last season?
8. Michael Redd, Milwaukee: There are no questions about Redd's ability to score, and particularly his accuracy from the perimeter. But his defense is so-so, he has never made it out of the first round of the playoffs and he hasn't proved he can make teammates better.
9. Allen Iverson, Denver: The only number that really matters with Iverson is shooting percentage. Surprisingly, he shot .458 from the field last season, his highest figure in the past 10 seasons. That's good on the one hand, not good on the other.
10. Ray Allen, Boston: Earning a championship ring put the exclamation point on a nice career. Only thing is, Allen still has a few years left. He's still pretty good, but nothing like he used to be.
11. Stephen Jackson, Golden State: Jackson can be erratic. He's prone to trying to do too much and turning the ball over. He's also not afraid to take the rushed 3-pointer. But when he's playing well, he defends, makes big shots and is the Warriors' emotional leader.
12. Kevin Martin, Sacramento: His unorthodox game is not easy to defend, and Martin is a master at drawing contact and getting to the line. But he had more turnovers than assists last season, sometimes is taken advantage of defensively and has yet to prove he can lead a team.
13. Jason Richardson, Charlotte: Over the course of his career, Richardson has become one of the better 3-point shooters. Last season he shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc. He also played in all 82 games after suffering a knee injury the season before. When he left the Warriors, toughness went with him.
14. Vince Carter, New Jersey: Once the league's most dynamic finisher, Carter is more perimeter-oriented these days, to say the least. He has taken just under 1,400 3-pointers in the past four seasons. He's not far from sixth-man territory.
15. Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans: There are legitimate concerns about Stojakovic's health, and he's never going to win any toughness awards. But give him any more than a split-second and he'll consistently hurt you from downtown.
16. Mike Dunleavy, Indiana: Dunleavy is no more a power forward than shooting guard, but he plays plenty of two with the Pacers. He benefited from leaving the Bay Area, finally shot the ball well from the field and averaged 19 points per game. Now, he has to put up nice numbers on a winner.
17. Jason Terry, Dallas: Terry is a knock-down perimeter shooter, and he has become a better defender since going to Dallas. Quietly, he has a nice little assist-to-turnover ratio, bordering on 3-to-1.
18. Ben Gordon, Chicago: He's undersized and he doesn't do much other than score. But score Gordon does, and there are times during the course of the season when he can carry you home in the fourth quarter.
19. Randy Foye, Minnesota: We're calling Foye a shooting guard because he plays alongside Sebastian Telfair. Foye needs to improve his shooting, but he takes on defensive challenges and finds ways to score.
20. J.R. Smith, Denver: Smith just edged out New York's Jamal Crawford for No. 20 on the list. Of course, Crawford's numbers are better than Smith's. Crawford is a big-minute starter and Smith comes off the bench. But if you give Smith a longer leash and some playing time, would he be any less effective than Crawford?
cpQwZC_ChcM
I know alot of you were interested in JR Smith, he does make the list at the bottom. He has skills but still too much immaturity (from what I've read)
Position rankings: Easy to see Kobe is top SG
Sep. 22, 2008
By Matt Steinmetz
The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/basketball/nba/img10990450.jpgIs there really any doubt who the best shooting guard in the NBA is?
Assuming, of course, you're calling LeBron James a small forward. Which we are.
The Dwyane Wade we saw in Beijing is the choice for No. 2 behind Kobe Bryant at shooting guard. (Getty Images)
The Dwyane Wade we saw in Beijing is the choice for No. 2 behind Kobe Bryant at shooting guard. (Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant is often the NBA's best offensive player, sometimes its best defensive player and always its most feared. Bryant's ability to make big shots is obvious.
But he can shut down the opposing team's shooting guard, help out on the boards and always draws a double-team on offense.
In reality, the shooting guard list begins at No. 2.
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers: He has mastered virtually every aspect of the game except how exactly to fit most effectively into the Lakers' offense. The question isn't whether he's the best two guard in the league. It's where he'll go down among the greats.
2. Dwyane Wade, Miami: He ranks second on this list for one reason and one reason only: He appears to be getting healthier while Manu Ginobili and Tracy McGrady appear to be wearing down.
3. Tracy McGrady, Houston: His inability to reach the second round of the playoffs is a significant blemish. But when he's healthy and at his best, few can play on his level. Facts are facts, though, and time is running out.
4. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio: This, of course, assumes Ginobili can return to form after his left ankle surgery. The Spurs' window seems to have two more years, tops. Or in other words, as many years as Ginobili, now 31, has left in his prime.
5. Joe Johnson, Atlanta: He has the versatility to play three positions, and his size precludes other teams from matching up against him with smallish guards. Johnson was a big-time scorer two years ago, averaging 25 points per game, and last year he reined it in some because he had more weapons around him.
6. Brandon Roy, Portland: Many on the East Coast are already late to the party when it comes to Roy. He's tough, strong, has size and is as fundamentally sound as they come. Roy had knee surgery in mid-August but is expected to be fine by the start of training camp.
7. Richard Hamilton, Detroit: Hamilton isn't as flashy or athletic as most of the other shooting guards on this list, but he defends and he's a winner. Hamilton has the reputation as one of the game's best midrange shooters -- and rightfully so. But how about Hamilton shooting 44 percent on 3-pointers last season?
8. Michael Redd, Milwaukee: There are no questions about Redd's ability to score, and particularly his accuracy from the perimeter. But his defense is so-so, he has never made it out of the first round of the playoffs and he hasn't proved he can make teammates better.
9. Allen Iverson, Denver: The only number that really matters with Iverson is shooting percentage. Surprisingly, he shot .458 from the field last season, his highest figure in the past 10 seasons. That's good on the one hand, not good on the other.
10. Ray Allen, Boston: Earning a championship ring put the exclamation point on a nice career. Only thing is, Allen still has a few years left. He's still pretty good, but nothing like he used to be.
11. Stephen Jackson, Golden State: Jackson can be erratic. He's prone to trying to do too much and turning the ball over. He's also not afraid to take the rushed 3-pointer. But when he's playing well, he defends, makes big shots and is the Warriors' emotional leader.
12. Kevin Martin, Sacramento: His unorthodox game is not easy to defend, and Martin is a master at drawing contact and getting to the line. But he had more turnovers than assists last season, sometimes is taken advantage of defensively and has yet to prove he can lead a team.
13. Jason Richardson, Charlotte: Over the course of his career, Richardson has become one of the better 3-point shooters. Last season he shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc. He also played in all 82 games after suffering a knee injury the season before. When he left the Warriors, toughness went with him.
14. Vince Carter, New Jersey: Once the league's most dynamic finisher, Carter is more perimeter-oriented these days, to say the least. He has taken just under 1,400 3-pointers in the past four seasons. He's not far from sixth-man territory.
15. Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans: There are legitimate concerns about Stojakovic's health, and he's never going to win any toughness awards. But give him any more than a split-second and he'll consistently hurt you from downtown.
16. Mike Dunleavy, Indiana: Dunleavy is no more a power forward than shooting guard, but he plays plenty of two with the Pacers. He benefited from leaving the Bay Area, finally shot the ball well from the field and averaged 19 points per game. Now, he has to put up nice numbers on a winner.
17. Jason Terry, Dallas: Terry is a knock-down perimeter shooter, and he has become a better defender since going to Dallas. Quietly, he has a nice little assist-to-turnover ratio, bordering on 3-to-1.
18. Ben Gordon, Chicago: He's undersized and he doesn't do much other than score. But score Gordon does, and there are times during the course of the season when he can carry you home in the fourth quarter.
19. Randy Foye, Minnesota: We're calling Foye a shooting guard because he plays alongside Sebastian Telfair. Foye needs to improve his shooting, but he takes on defensive challenges and finds ways to score.
20. J.R. Smith, Denver: Smith just edged out New York's Jamal Crawford for No. 20 on the list. Of course, Crawford's numbers are better than Smith's. Crawford is a big-minute starter and Smith comes off the bench. But if you give Smith a longer leash and some playing time, would he be any less effective than Crawford?
cpQwZC_ChcM