Ashy Larry
08-28-2010, 08:28 PM
32. Erick Dampier (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3117/;_ylt=AmAGa.Dou7GGNmIcMiXWCL_YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3117/news;_ylt=AkfBd7zclzDxuoBE..Td4cLYrYZ4), Charlotte Bobcats (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/cha/;_ylt=As.XUh71Sz0F1D5DTBoDKMrYrYZ4) (last year: 27th) Damp has been a sort of punchline over the last few seasons, but he's also a stout rebounding center who can catch passes, set terrific (if not altogether legal) screens and finish with two hands. He's in limbo in Charlotte right now, the team is desperate to trade him before his contract becomes guaranteed for 2010-11, and though he's not worth the eight figures he'll make, this is still a guy worth seeking out.
31. Kendrick Perkins (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3730/;_ylt=AhFsfZOt_E0KPUwmwJKfvMDYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3730/news;_ylt=AtgTLY19peXN2w8DHg4bTjbYrYZ4), Boston Celtics (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/bos/;_ylt=AjeyaWXlWiIPy_ZvsG7P86zYrYZ4) (last year: 25th)
If Perk were healthy to start the season - if we thought we'd see him at full strength at any time between now and the end of the 2010 calendar year - he'd be way up this list. As it stands, though we assume he's a dogged rehab freak, burly centers have the hardest time recovering from ACL tears. So while Perkins might be back by late December, it'll take a little while after that for him to round into shape. Thus, the low ranking.
30. Mehmet Okur (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/;_ylt=Av.64WUPFg7i9coc4V8Y2UfYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/news;_ylt=AjqbppFjn1KZUxxSG_cV46TYrYZ4), Utah Jazz (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/uth/;_ylt=ArzWJ13J6E4aeM0sny0.Mf3YrYZ4) (last year: 16th)
The same flies for Mehmet, though both he and Kendrick have never been accused of flying around the court much.
Okur's major injury occurred over a month before Kendrick's. Though his Achilles tear might prove to be more damaging, he's still a better player than Perk at this point, which is why he gets the slight nod. That said, if the Jazz can get 30 Okur-ish games this year, they should be pretty happy.
29. Jermaine O'Neal (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3120/;_ylt=AkrW3F1AX.os5iWWtQyXbNvYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3120/news;_ylt=AoPDehJOO015xcuvVEtH2W7YrYZ4), Boston Celtics (last year: 21st)
After tailing off for years and bouncing back for a spell during 2009-10, all signs seem to point to it being a fluky run for the former All-Star. So this is what we have in mind as we rank him 27th, even if he was better than the 27th-best center in the NBA last season. Hopefully he continues the renaissance and proves this ranking wrong while subbing for Perkins in Boston.
28. Brad Miller (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3305/;_ylt=AnUPlUFA8Tc97EIFbu9Sj2XYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3305/news;_ylt=AiDLpieMYfQpKe_rOm.zniDYrYZ4), Houston Rockets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/hou/;_ylt=AoMzOWOSmikrzX0AL5sjzOnYrYZ4) (last year: 19th)
Miller's superb package of offensive gifts is finding it harder and harder to make up for the other side of his game. The Purdue product has turned into one of this league's poorest defensive rebounders at his position and his help defense leaves a lot to be desired. He's still a terrific passer from both the high and low post and he's perfect to spell Yao Ming (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/;_ylt=AlDFrV5wJkD.q6.zjMeEpK3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/news;_ylt=AiiJ54vn3bfwe6P73X0VctbYrYZ4) as the Rockets try to guard Yao's minutes this season.
27. DeMarcus Cousins (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4720/;_ylt=AjVZa2jSppnWG01LN8O0MxfYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4720/news;_ylt=AvD37w8WavQyGn3xgCjo2ZfYrYZ4), Sacramento Kings (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/sac/;_ylt=AmK1zDV1UeUMhv1fQ_SzMJDYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
DeMarcus is a curious case. He's a rookie and hasn't proven anything, and the Kings might play him at power forward more than they do center. Even if they do run him in the pivot, Samuel Dalembert (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3534/;_ylt=ArLhLE4bKhZHO.oi97obBpbYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3534/news;_ylt=At.DqX4aBgkJNTicSOQx4DLYrYZ4) is around as the likely starter, sopping up minutes. Plus, Cousins is a raw rookie. Nothing to rely upon.
But on this list, he's ahead of a backup, someone who might not have a job in a month's time, two guys who might combine to play 45 good games and a former All-Star who could be done by December. Cousins at his best should be better than them, even this early. Especially if Dalembert (who has a massive expiring contract) gets sent out midway through 2010-11.
26. Tyson Chandler (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3512/;_ylt=AiUjzBrPH5spVQjB85bnRW3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3512/news;_ylt=Aoi4Aej660_0HbUVjfstT0vYrYZ4), Dallas Mavericks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/dal/;_ylt=AiCPPE5SOumxty_2NeMTHNHYrYZ4) (last year: 26th)
Tyson's a backup, we know, and it's hard to even pencil him in for 65 games this season. But at his peak he can change a game defensively without having to even block a shot, he can run the floor and he has a knack for finding his way toward the rim when a great lob-tossing point guard (say, a Jason Kidd (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/;_ylt=Argk1S2ReqoZu0qxBbE.PuTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/news;_ylt=AuoQqSaZwhWthV_rBUIMtAnYrYZ4)-type) is involved in the play.
25. Samuel Dalembert, Sacramento Kings (last year: unranked)
Sam has had his detractors, and he still makes enough poorly conceived plays on either end of the floor to leave him off the court in clutch situations and off last year's list. But he can finish in the paint, nail that high-arcing jumper and block shots with the best of them. On top of that, he's never hurt, a real oddity in a league that regularly carts 7-footers to the hospital.
24. Robin Lopez (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4477/;_ylt=Au9viHOgKrAv_sLth4IIEynYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4477/news;_ylt=AkoCFBH7k1A_9SJNB6tY_QrYrYZ4), Phoenix Suns (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/pho/;_ylt=Akvj0OvYGCAfu3bUkU4mzvDYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Finally figuring out how to rebound, Lopez improved in his second season with the Suns with only a scary back injury holding him back. He's learned a nifty little line-drive jumper, he moves his feet while defending well and he took to the defensive glass with abandon last season after looking terrible in that regard during his rookie year.
23. JaVale McGee (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4480/;_ylt=AlXfFEVboRT2YhIfYnmjk2vYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4480/news;_ylt=Am5KN_ZPTkc8iHePhGflFfzYrYZ4), Washington Wizards (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/was/;_ylt=AsrNXuIESfcYpCEwhzfmbzLYrYZ4) (last year: 30th)
An athletic marvel, JaVale has the gifts in place needed to shoot up another 10 spots on this list during 2010-11, but we'd rather go conservative with his placement and look like a fool once he starts pouring on the double-doubles and high block totals. Still a project, but one that could change a few games for Washington this season.
22. Nenad Krstic (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3622/;_ylt=ApZ4yEKjODqvZEMhbYNgxrbYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3622/news;_ylt=AjqbppFjn1KZUxxSG_cV46TYrYZ4), Oklahoma City Thunder (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/okc/;_ylt=AvUCyWY0h5spjpKb3LLwj1bYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)Nenad has been revealed, more or less, as someone you really don't want on your side when stuff is about to get real (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Serbia-and-Greece-brawl-in-pre-World-Championshi;_ylt=Ap0wQIrG6adX5q8LnqdJCzHYrYZ4?urn= nba-263872), son. But he's a versatile pivot with touch out to 19 feet that plays good help defense, sets great screens, makes the extra pass and sees shirtless guys that we don't see (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=As3Yu0WP3r0qpiVKC1AiPp3YrYZ4/SIG=12jo0lv3n/**http%3A//www.dailythunder.com/2010/08/nenad-krstic-fights-like-a-little-brother/) all around him all the time. It was nice to see him make a full, if extended, comeback from the torn ACL that ruined his New Jersey career.
21. Nick Collison (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3715/;_ylt=AhMwZ90Cky23rAaSpjScEWrYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3715/news;_ylt=AiDLpieMYfQpKe_rOm.zniDYrYZ4), Oklahoma City Thunder (last year: 29th)
Collison's presence on this list, the entire list, will no doubt set a few people off. But those people must have missed the way this guy played defense last season. How he was able to stay with just about any driving point guard in the NBA, how he got out on shooters, how he hung with his own man and all those legitimate charges that he took. Collison won't ever lead the NBA in blocks, and he might not start a game this season, but his stifling all-around defense demands his inclusion in the top 20.
20. Brendan Haywood (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3532/;_ylt=AnXASIzgnZSqN3qCQElZLjHYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3532/news;_ylt=AoXAMe8QBP.mdVnpEyIamHrYrYZ4), Dallas Mavericks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/dal/;_ylt=Aij11FcJPHYzq.ItK42TFavYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Unranked last year as he was coming off of a major injury that nearly wiped out all of his 2008-09 turn, Haywood's ranking actually seems a little low to me upon first glance. He's a steady near-double-double guy, though, that can catch passes well, block shots, hang with driving guards off the screen-and-roll -- which is badly needed with Jason Kidd (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/;_ylt=ArP.xJnN2jVunqDxuoLLgqfYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/news;_ylt=AvD37w8WavQyGn3xgCjo2ZfYrYZ4) and Jose Juan Barea (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4203/;_ylt=An.Om9kItIU9E0oxB1pRfuTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4203/news;_ylt=AjjDo09GPXovuWz5GMabr0bYrYZ4) up top -- and he rebounds quite well defensively.
19. Andrea Bargnani (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4129/;_ylt=AkPrzWu8_r8oiR_Pmkj4nNTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4129/news;_ylt=AmnjAjLU7UQpGT.UxtVE_SnYrYZ4), Toronto Raptors (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/tor/;_ylt=AjPIo52BbaJhZRcPIBIgLYnYrYZ4) (last year: 22nd, but as a power forward)
Bargs is really a small forward, if anything, but you get the drift. Bouncing between the four and the five for him really doesn't matter, because he's a terrible rebounder at either position and his scoring (17.2 points per game last season) isn't really worth that awful, awful defense. Advanced statistical gurus much smarter than me will be scoffing at nearly putting him in the middle of the pack, I'm sure.
18. Shaquille O'Neal (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/847/;_ylt=Aj0qocZAoGqDYNWMunhuohPYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/847/news;_ylt=ApUNJjTKsFN_taPurj7JuJ7YrYZ4), Boston Celtics (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/bos/;_ylt=Apgf9O8XME66sUPOZw9pGS7YrYZ4) (last year: fourth)
Here's another tough one. For the last few years, whenever Shaquille O'Neal plays extended minutes, his team doesn't do all that well. Does pretty terribly, actually, relative to how the same team plays with Shaq on the bench. Now, O'Neal does well -- still putting up good scoring and rebounding numbers per minute, shooting a high percentage -- but for some reason, the overall picture isn't as pretty. Maybe it's his inability to properly defend a screen-and-roll, but it should be noted that upon watching O'Neal attempt it, he doesn't stick that far out as some hopeless defender.
And yet, knowing what we know, you have to rank him this low. The evidence is stacked too high, at this point.
17. Roy Hibbert (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4479/;_ylt=AqpigyXVKbvr_q.LN6XmUk3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4479/news;_ylt=AkoCFBH7k1A_9SJNB6tY_QrYrYZ4), Indiana Pacers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/ind/;_ylt=AvNe9jVvbiTM94G3r.VMPLvYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Hibbert has had his growing pains, for sure. From fouling too much in his rookie year to serving as Pacer coach Jim O'Brien's go-to screaming post in his second. But the Georgetown product has significant skills in the pivot, and don't be surprised if Roy comes out of nowhere in 2010-11 to act as one of the better passing big men in the NBA. His growing ease with the high post, combined with his already potent low-post play gives Indiana a real up-and-comer.
16. Marcus Camby (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3084/;_ylt=AsPji3LgzJwDGBldtA9xtFHYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3084/news;_ylt=Am5KN_ZPTkc8iHePhGflFfzYrYZ4), Portland Trail Blazers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/por/;_ylt=AqA5tCsVoIy5V_rSjnZEMtTYrYZ4) (last year: 10th)
We keep waiting for Camby's eventual drop-off, which may have informed his middle-of-the-road ranking a little too much as we enter 2010-11. His overall stats, adjusted for pace and minutes, were right in line with his career averages last year, even at age 35, and he seems to be growing more and more comfortable hanging with the screen-and-roll defensively, even as he gets older.
15. Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/cle/;_ylt=AnLLeblWrzklx8hvgHqT_ZXYrYZ4) (last year: 23rd)
It's possible that no NBA big man is as comfortable hanging with the screen-and-roll as Anderson Varejao. And though the Cleveland big man still has a pretty awful offensive game despite the occasional catch and finish, his ability to help his guards and slink back to cover his opponent makes him a very passable starting pivot (though you would still prefer the luxury of having him come off the bench).
With Hibbert still a little untested and Camby possibly coming off the pine, I'm going with Varejao at 14.
14. Emeka Okafor (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3819/;_ylt=AgNqR_FVxyjuSZTMaUs3zjXYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3819/news;_ylt=AtIix71i2tCftO_OB7inq9HYrYZ4), New Orleans Hornets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/nor/;_ylt=AsxGkN.GFBXeJ_iqdbprnybYrYZ4) (last year: 13th)
We're 4 1/2 positions into these rankings, and I think Okafor is the first non-MVP candidate that we've seen actually retain his ranking from last summer to this summer. Emeka doesn't send many shots back around the rim like you see above, but he does defend well in the post and tries on the perimeter. His offensive game isn't going to put him in the All-Star game, but it doesn't make him a liability either.
13. David Lee (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3956/;_ylt=Ana1oRBYcOAOXUKl8r1122HYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3956/news;_ylt=AqL4qxjnSukLYmsNZ_TTRO_YrYZ4), Golden State Warriors (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/gsw/;_ylt=AtBOQsPOCS_LelI7I94SpO7YrYZ4) (last year: 10th, but at power forward)
He's 6-foot-9-ish and can't even guard power forwards, so it's pretty wacky that Lee will suit up his heaviest minutes at the pivot once again. As long as Don Nelson is coaching the Warriors -- and sorry to say for Golden State fans, but it looks like that will be the case for the foreseeable future -- Lee will be best suited as a pick-and-roll demon in a small lineup. Oh, and he'll probably give Golden State over 20 points and 10 rebounds.
It's his defense that has him this low. Some of it isn't his fault, having to play out of position. But a good portion of it ... yeah, that's his fault.
12. Yao Ming (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/;_ylt=AkiowLcOyjjRC7zPVcYlPtXYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/news;_ylt=AmolD8mcYk3RV_HVXCzmp8_YrYZ4), Houston Rockets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/hou/;_ylt=AoQWqyZeIsSqjZtG3OnuxPfYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Unranked last season because we knew he'd be out for all of 2009-10, Yao fans will have to make the slow approach this season, too. His minutes (hopefully) will be limited, he'll take a while to catch up to NBA speed (which means heaps of foul trouble) and he'll be playing in a league that is moving further and further away from your typical plodding pivotman.
But he'll be back, and that's joyous news. On some nights, for some stretches, he'll be the best center in basketball. So give him a year to get his bearings straight and then it's right back in the top five (or higher) next year.
11. Greg Oden (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4243/;_ylt=AomInuLVcMcNrrcPmD7hRY3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4243/news;_ylt=AhfW_a.nsnZPwSq3DJ2vH_zYrYZ4), Portland Trail Blazers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/por/;_ylt=AsyME.vexnxzN.N8oNSjERzYrYZ4): (last year: 11th)
A broken wrist. Microfracture surgery. A sprained foot, hurt when Andrew Bynum (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3936/;_ylt=AqzKQNDzGiMSirfEFAywYc7YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3936/news;_ylt=AtcIXbZA1mbmMNIqmmqSPh7YrYZ4) grabbed him from behind and forced him to stay on the floor instead of allowing him to jump at the rim. A chipped kneecap, struck by Corey Maggette (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3336/;_ylt=AsykE0CPTPE6nYgABzjVlLDYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3336/news;_ylt=AoPDehJOO015xcuvVEtH2W7YrYZ4) on accident. A fractured left patella tendon, hurt as he landed awkwardly after contesting a shot against Houston. These are quite a few injuries, for someone who has been playing on the NCAA or NBA level since 2006.
But they're different injuries. Freak injuries. Not like Yao Ming (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/;_ylt=At61b5aSzefBZNkqgKFfzn_YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/news;_ylt=AiDLpieMYfQpKe_rOm.zniDYrYZ4) or Zydrunas Ilgauskas (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3121/;_ylt=AqiMqgFr.u13aU.lyLxmRRvYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3121/news;_ylt=AoXAMe8QBP.mdVnpEyIamHrYrYZ4) or Bill Walton turning their feet into dust with repeated stress fractures. These are just things that have gone incredibly wrong.
So, I'd like to rank Oden higher. I really would. And while some might want to see him paired with Yao Ming around the same spot, it needs to be shouted that Greg Oden is not Yao Ming. He hasn't had the same repeated injuries in the same spot. He's injury-prone, yes, but only in the most literal sense of the phrase. If Oden stays healthy and can limit his fouls? He's top five. Maybe top three.
10. Al Jefferson, Utah Jazz (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/uth/;_ylt=AveQfF1nAGGlK66c8k71diDYrYZ4) (last year: third)
It might be another year in waiting for Al, which is bumming me out.
Last season, he had to deal with working through a post-rehab left knee that was clearly not as strong as it could be. The year before, a sure All-Star season was cut short with an ACL tear. And this season? Well, he's healthy, but there's concern that he could need a little while to figure out Utah's flex offense and that could limit his contributions while players like Paul Millsap (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4175/;_ylt=ArjJjbCqmc3LN25Bh221wUzYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4175/news;_ylt=AvD37w8WavQyGn3xgCjo2ZfYrYZ4) streak to the correct place on the court.
Of course, he's Al Jefferson, so it's not as if he's falling off the face of the earth. It just might be a little while until he's comfortable, and by then Mehmet Okur (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/;_ylt=AoLMFA4jvpLQjWP7MDO_NwTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/news;_ylt=AjjDo09GPXovuWz5GMabr0bYrYZ4) might be ready to slide Al back to power forward.
9. Marc Gasol (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4325/;_ylt=AviQWL56DusP9b35Ms4ZMjXYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4325/news;_ylt=AmnjAjLU7UQpGT.UxtVE_SnYrYZ4), Memphis Grizzlies (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mem/;_ylt=AsIDA8DRd.2eL2eEn0SsgsPYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Because he doesn't stand out in any one area, Gasol is continually overlooked as one of the league's finer centers. He's just all-around great, and at age 25, still has room to get better. A sound passer, like his brother, Gasol can score in the post effectively because he can hold position, something that's lost sometimes in a league full of defensive-minded six-foul guys. He does well enough on screen-and-roll defense and remains a tough rebounder.
Now it's up to the Grizzlies to understand what they have and feature him in their offense more often.
8. Nene, Denver Nuggets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/den/;_ylt=AgKVYaPWc5CgeJe.Ab3FiOnYrYZ4) (last year: sixth)
Consider Nene more of a defensive-minded version of Gasol. Far beyond adequate in every area, Nene excels at disrupting screen-and-rolls. He won't pin shots to the glass with regularity like a Dwight Howard (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/;_ylt=AuZle3wUS3PtXDG9baXaGT3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/news;_ylt=AuoQqSaZwhWthV_rBUIMtAnYrYZ4)-type, but he changes more looks than your average bear. And he continues to get in that passing lane.
He averaged nearly 14 points a game in just below 33 minutes a contest, he tossed in just under 59 percent of his field-goal attempts and he just works that all-around game expertly. Truly one of the game's more underrated players.
7. Joakim Noah (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4287/;_ylt=Ai9X.YCoclD.9EHyhaPUKYTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4287/news;_ylt=AkoCFBH7k1A_9SJNB6tY_QrYrYZ4), Chicago Bulls (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/chi/;_ylt=AgJL4e3rN.FhFiYkuSd0C6nYrYZ4) (last year: 15th)
Though his fiery personality and, um, unconventional offseason habits are the Houston forward's polar opposite, Noah almost reminds of a 7-foot version of Shane Battier (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3516/;_ylt=Aqr7d1I7Wxd.YYrQ6hI.xcjYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3516/news;_ylt=Am5KN_ZPTkc8iHePhGflFfzYrYZ4). The ultimate teammate, Noah is constantly barking out the opposing team's play, his position on the help defense side and he's the first to meet a teammate when things go perfectly, terribly awry, or somewhere in the middle.
He also put together a double-double last season while playing just 30 minutes per game, a fantastic accomplishment. And he's made huge strides in his rebounding since entering the league as a rookie in 2007, topping out with a rebound rate that flew past the 20 percent mark last season.
6. Chris Kaman (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3709/;_ylt=AmrB6j7Lqaq833zcyFN9X.HYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3709/news;_ylt=Aghsev9wixzamGNQrmNjSFrYrYZ4), Los Angeles Clippers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/lac/;_ylt=Ap2v4vScNgcVhc3ONOCxlKXYrYZ4) (last year: 22nd)
I understand Kaman might not have the rep or respect of some of the players listed below him, but the man averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds last season, and it's time for some of us to get our act together in recognition of his talents. Was last year's big uptick a fluke? Well, he's 28 and has skills. You tell me.
Entering his prime, there aren't many big men I would rather involve in a screen-and-roll offensively in a last-second situation than Kaman. His ability to create open spaces and offensive versatility once he gets the ball goes a long way.
5. Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/lal/;_ylt=AqmHdQy1jsfz5qLbHKEVFx3YrYZ4) (last year: fifth)
Bynum's stats aren't as compelling as his Staples Center contemporary, and there is the nagging issue of those nagging injuries that have naggingly never, ever gone away.
But he turns 23 just before this season starts, he's healthy by all accounts he and managed 15 points and eight rebounds in just 30 minutes a game while dragging one leg for a good chunk of the season.
This man -- this kid -- has all-world potential. If he could just give you a healthy 35 minutes a game, you'll see. You'll see. He'll need the ball, too.
4. Al Horford (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4245/;_ylt=Alh3W1xox3OkQzr7ysenF__YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4245/news;_ylt=AoO94p_wU4fLsC_g7B3fRuTYrYZ4), Atlanta Hawks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/atl/;_ylt=AvgAskfxyxJHvxmPfuupv9fYrYZ4) (last year: 17th)
Al Horford can defend. The Hawks don't really stand out amongst this league's best defensive teams, not with those point guards, but Horford just tends to cover all angles and save his team's bacon time and again.
He averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds with a block, too, last season. While shooting 55 percent and not having many plays run for him. The idea that Al Horford might be a top-five center in this league might feel a little off, but he is all over the place defensively and a smooth scorer offensively. And he's nowhere near as injury-prone as, seemingly, everyone on this list.
3. Brook Lopez (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4472/;_ylt=AqWsdUwh6LrQf.Y4nGT4p8jYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4472/news;_ylt=Ak.q6NPXezQ.UVSCXvucERvYrYZ4), New Jersey Nets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/njn/;_ylt=AvFWkJAEOrMrG5mR.S44vfDYrYZ4) (last year: seventh)
How can the best player on a 70-loss team be ranked in the top three at his position? Well, the team stunk. Last year's Nets were really, truly awful.
Lopez was not. He still remains really, truly underrated. He's not a stat hound, he doesn't do anything at the expense of winning and he just piles up the points and rebounds. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds last season with 1.7 blocks and 2.3 assists, and I'd really like the Nets to add 30 wins to last season's totals so people would stop looking at this 22-year-old with such a jaundiced eye.
2. Andrew Bogut (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3927/;_ylt=AvWWDNEri4c2wFc2y_7jZZvYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3927/news;_ylt=AlRiWdJQyly7nRiWwxpGI8XYrYZ4), Milwaukee Bucks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mil/;_ylt=AuBO9hl.iA8mNR3zNdXCCF7YrYZ4) (last year: 12th)
That's right. The man who I think is the second-best center in the NBA didn't even make the All-Star team last season.
This isn't me trying to be obscure -- Bogut was a No. 1 overall pick fercryin'outloud. It's just the end result of seeing this guy work expertly on either end of the court last season. Bogut was an at-times dominant defender on par with Dwight Howard, especially when Howard started 2009-10 slow. And Bogut's versatile offensive game still isn't being taken advantage enough by his Bucks teammates.
All he does is do everything well, save for the odd trip to the free-throw line. And because he turns 26 just a month into the season and so many other bigs are either playing out of position, coming back from injury or starting to put it all together, I think Bogut establishes himself as a clear No. 2 in 2010-11. To those that pay attention to defense, at least.
1. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/orl/;_ylt=AtmsF1LLv75W6Yx8cCanrP7YrYZ4) (last year: first)
Dwight Howard pays attention to defense. He runs with a smile on his face and won't remind you of Elvin Hayes in the low post, but he is a dominant force, an MVP candidate and the best player at his position.
He also doesn't turn 25 years until December. Which just doesn't seem fair, if we're honest.
31. Kendrick Perkins (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3730/;_ylt=AhFsfZOt_E0KPUwmwJKfvMDYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3730/news;_ylt=AtgTLY19peXN2w8DHg4bTjbYrYZ4), Boston Celtics (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/bos/;_ylt=AjeyaWXlWiIPy_ZvsG7P86zYrYZ4) (last year: 25th)
If Perk were healthy to start the season - if we thought we'd see him at full strength at any time between now and the end of the 2010 calendar year - he'd be way up this list. As it stands, though we assume he's a dogged rehab freak, burly centers have the hardest time recovering from ACL tears. So while Perkins might be back by late December, it'll take a little while after that for him to round into shape. Thus, the low ranking.
30. Mehmet Okur (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/;_ylt=Av.64WUPFg7i9coc4V8Y2UfYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/news;_ylt=AjqbppFjn1KZUxxSG_cV46TYrYZ4), Utah Jazz (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/uth/;_ylt=ArzWJ13J6E4aeM0sny0.Mf3YrYZ4) (last year: 16th)
The same flies for Mehmet, though both he and Kendrick have never been accused of flying around the court much.
Okur's major injury occurred over a month before Kendrick's. Though his Achilles tear might prove to be more damaging, he's still a better player than Perk at this point, which is why he gets the slight nod. That said, if the Jazz can get 30 Okur-ish games this year, they should be pretty happy.
29. Jermaine O'Neal (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3120/;_ylt=AkrW3F1AX.os5iWWtQyXbNvYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3120/news;_ylt=AoPDehJOO015xcuvVEtH2W7YrYZ4), Boston Celtics (last year: 21st)
After tailing off for years and bouncing back for a spell during 2009-10, all signs seem to point to it being a fluky run for the former All-Star. So this is what we have in mind as we rank him 27th, even if he was better than the 27th-best center in the NBA last season. Hopefully he continues the renaissance and proves this ranking wrong while subbing for Perkins in Boston.
28. Brad Miller (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3305/;_ylt=AnUPlUFA8Tc97EIFbu9Sj2XYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3305/news;_ylt=AiDLpieMYfQpKe_rOm.zniDYrYZ4), Houston Rockets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/hou/;_ylt=AoMzOWOSmikrzX0AL5sjzOnYrYZ4) (last year: 19th)
Miller's superb package of offensive gifts is finding it harder and harder to make up for the other side of his game. The Purdue product has turned into one of this league's poorest defensive rebounders at his position and his help defense leaves a lot to be desired. He's still a terrific passer from both the high and low post and he's perfect to spell Yao Ming (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/;_ylt=AlDFrV5wJkD.q6.zjMeEpK3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/news;_ylt=AiiJ54vn3bfwe6P73X0VctbYrYZ4) as the Rockets try to guard Yao's minutes this season.
27. DeMarcus Cousins (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4720/;_ylt=AjVZa2jSppnWG01LN8O0MxfYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4720/news;_ylt=AvD37w8WavQyGn3xgCjo2ZfYrYZ4), Sacramento Kings (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/sac/;_ylt=AmK1zDV1UeUMhv1fQ_SzMJDYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
DeMarcus is a curious case. He's a rookie and hasn't proven anything, and the Kings might play him at power forward more than they do center. Even if they do run him in the pivot, Samuel Dalembert (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3534/;_ylt=ArLhLE4bKhZHO.oi97obBpbYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3534/news;_ylt=At.DqX4aBgkJNTicSOQx4DLYrYZ4) is around as the likely starter, sopping up minutes. Plus, Cousins is a raw rookie. Nothing to rely upon.
But on this list, he's ahead of a backup, someone who might not have a job in a month's time, two guys who might combine to play 45 good games and a former All-Star who could be done by December. Cousins at his best should be better than them, even this early. Especially if Dalembert (who has a massive expiring contract) gets sent out midway through 2010-11.
26. Tyson Chandler (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3512/;_ylt=AiUjzBrPH5spVQjB85bnRW3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3512/news;_ylt=Aoi4Aej660_0HbUVjfstT0vYrYZ4), Dallas Mavericks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/dal/;_ylt=AiCPPE5SOumxty_2NeMTHNHYrYZ4) (last year: 26th)
Tyson's a backup, we know, and it's hard to even pencil him in for 65 games this season. But at his peak he can change a game defensively without having to even block a shot, he can run the floor and he has a knack for finding his way toward the rim when a great lob-tossing point guard (say, a Jason Kidd (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/;_ylt=Argk1S2ReqoZu0qxBbE.PuTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/news;_ylt=AuoQqSaZwhWthV_rBUIMtAnYrYZ4)-type) is involved in the play.
25. Samuel Dalembert, Sacramento Kings (last year: unranked)
Sam has had his detractors, and he still makes enough poorly conceived plays on either end of the floor to leave him off the court in clutch situations and off last year's list. But he can finish in the paint, nail that high-arcing jumper and block shots with the best of them. On top of that, he's never hurt, a real oddity in a league that regularly carts 7-footers to the hospital.
24. Robin Lopez (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4477/;_ylt=Au9viHOgKrAv_sLth4IIEynYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4477/news;_ylt=AkoCFBH7k1A_9SJNB6tY_QrYrYZ4), Phoenix Suns (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/pho/;_ylt=Akvj0OvYGCAfu3bUkU4mzvDYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Finally figuring out how to rebound, Lopez improved in his second season with the Suns with only a scary back injury holding him back. He's learned a nifty little line-drive jumper, he moves his feet while defending well and he took to the defensive glass with abandon last season after looking terrible in that regard during his rookie year.
23. JaVale McGee (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4480/;_ylt=AlXfFEVboRT2YhIfYnmjk2vYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4480/news;_ylt=Am5KN_ZPTkc8iHePhGflFfzYrYZ4), Washington Wizards (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/was/;_ylt=AsrNXuIESfcYpCEwhzfmbzLYrYZ4) (last year: 30th)
An athletic marvel, JaVale has the gifts in place needed to shoot up another 10 spots on this list during 2010-11, but we'd rather go conservative with his placement and look like a fool once he starts pouring on the double-doubles and high block totals. Still a project, but one that could change a few games for Washington this season.
22. Nenad Krstic (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3622/;_ylt=ApZ4yEKjODqvZEMhbYNgxrbYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3622/news;_ylt=AjqbppFjn1KZUxxSG_cV46TYrYZ4), Oklahoma City Thunder (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/okc/;_ylt=AvUCyWY0h5spjpKb3LLwj1bYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)Nenad has been revealed, more or less, as someone you really don't want on your side when stuff is about to get real (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Serbia-and-Greece-brawl-in-pre-World-Championshi;_ylt=Ap0wQIrG6adX5q8LnqdJCzHYrYZ4?urn= nba-263872), son. But he's a versatile pivot with touch out to 19 feet that plays good help defense, sets great screens, makes the extra pass and sees shirtless guys that we don't see (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=As3Yu0WP3r0qpiVKC1AiPp3YrYZ4/SIG=12jo0lv3n/**http%3A//www.dailythunder.com/2010/08/nenad-krstic-fights-like-a-little-brother/) all around him all the time. It was nice to see him make a full, if extended, comeback from the torn ACL that ruined his New Jersey career.
21. Nick Collison (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3715/;_ylt=AhMwZ90Cky23rAaSpjScEWrYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3715/news;_ylt=AiDLpieMYfQpKe_rOm.zniDYrYZ4), Oklahoma City Thunder (last year: 29th)
Collison's presence on this list, the entire list, will no doubt set a few people off. But those people must have missed the way this guy played defense last season. How he was able to stay with just about any driving point guard in the NBA, how he got out on shooters, how he hung with his own man and all those legitimate charges that he took. Collison won't ever lead the NBA in blocks, and he might not start a game this season, but his stifling all-around defense demands his inclusion in the top 20.
20. Brendan Haywood (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3532/;_ylt=AnXASIzgnZSqN3qCQElZLjHYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3532/news;_ylt=AoXAMe8QBP.mdVnpEyIamHrYrYZ4), Dallas Mavericks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/dal/;_ylt=Aij11FcJPHYzq.ItK42TFavYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Unranked last year as he was coming off of a major injury that nearly wiped out all of his 2008-09 turn, Haywood's ranking actually seems a little low to me upon first glance. He's a steady near-double-double guy, though, that can catch passes well, block shots, hang with driving guards off the screen-and-roll -- which is badly needed with Jason Kidd (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/;_ylt=ArP.xJnN2jVunqDxuoLLgqfYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2625/news;_ylt=AvD37w8WavQyGn3xgCjo2ZfYrYZ4) and Jose Juan Barea (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4203/;_ylt=An.Om9kItIU9E0oxB1pRfuTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4203/news;_ylt=AjjDo09GPXovuWz5GMabr0bYrYZ4) up top -- and he rebounds quite well defensively.
19. Andrea Bargnani (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4129/;_ylt=AkPrzWu8_r8oiR_Pmkj4nNTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4129/news;_ylt=AmnjAjLU7UQpGT.UxtVE_SnYrYZ4), Toronto Raptors (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/tor/;_ylt=AjPIo52BbaJhZRcPIBIgLYnYrYZ4) (last year: 22nd, but as a power forward)
Bargs is really a small forward, if anything, but you get the drift. Bouncing between the four and the five for him really doesn't matter, because he's a terrible rebounder at either position and his scoring (17.2 points per game last season) isn't really worth that awful, awful defense. Advanced statistical gurus much smarter than me will be scoffing at nearly putting him in the middle of the pack, I'm sure.
18. Shaquille O'Neal (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/847/;_ylt=Aj0qocZAoGqDYNWMunhuohPYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/847/news;_ylt=ApUNJjTKsFN_taPurj7JuJ7YrYZ4), Boston Celtics (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/bos/;_ylt=Apgf9O8XME66sUPOZw9pGS7YrYZ4) (last year: fourth)
Here's another tough one. For the last few years, whenever Shaquille O'Neal plays extended minutes, his team doesn't do all that well. Does pretty terribly, actually, relative to how the same team plays with Shaq on the bench. Now, O'Neal does well -- still putting up good scoring and rebounding numbers per minute, shooting a high percentage -- but for some reason, the overall picture isn't as pretty. Maybe it's his inability to properly defend a screen-and-roll, but it should be noted that upon watching O'Neal attempt it, he doesn't stick that far out as some hopeless defender.
And yet, knowing what we know, you have to rank him this low. The evidence is stacked too high, at this point.
17. Roy Hibbert (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4479/;_ylt=AqpigyXVKbvr_q.LN6XmUk3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4479/news;_ylt=AkoCFBH7k1A_9SJNB6tY_QrYrYZ4), Indiana Pacers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/ind/;_ylt=AvNe9jVvbiTM94G3r.VMPLvYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Hibbert has had his growing pains, for sure. From fouling too much in his rookie year to serving as Pacer coach Jim O'Brien's go-to screaming post in his second. But the Georgetown product has significant skills in the pivot, and don't be surprised if Roy comes out of nowhere in 2010-11 to act as one of the better passing big men in the NBA. His growing ease with the high post, combined with his already potent low-post play gives Indiana a real up-and-comer.
16. Marcus Camby (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3084/;_ylt=AsPji3LgzJwDGBldtA9xtFHYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3084/news;_ylt=Am5KN_ZPTkc8iHePhGflFfzYrYZ4), Portland Trail Blazers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/por/;_ylt=AqA5tCsVoIy5V_rSjnZEMtTYrYZ4) (last year: 10th)
We keep waiting for Camby's eventual drop-off, which may have informed his middle-of-the-road ranking a little too much as we enter 2010-11. His overall stats, adjusted for pace and minutes, were right in line with his career averages last year, even at age 35, and he seems to be growing more and more comfortable hanging with the screen-and-roll defensively, even as he gets older.
15. Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/cle/;_ylt=AnLLeblWrzklx8hvgHqT_ZXYrYZ4) (last year: 23rd)
It's possible that no NBA big man is as comfortable hanging with the screen-and-roll as Anderson Varejao. And though the Cleveland big man still has a pretty awful offensive game despite the occasional catch and finish, his ability to help his guards and slink back to cover his opponent makes him a very passable starting pivot (though you would still prefer the luxury of having him come off the bench).
With Hibbert still a little untested and Camby possibly coming off the pine, I'm going with Varejao at 14.
14. Emeka Okafor (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3819/;_ylt=AgNqR_FVxyjuSZTMaUs3zjXYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3819/news;_ylt=AtIix71i2tCftO_OB7inq9HYrYZ4), New Orleans Hornets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/nor/;_ylt=AsxGkN.GFBXeJ_iqdbprnybYrYZ4) (last year: 13th)
We're 4 1/2 positions into these rankings, and I think Okafor is the first non-MVP candidate that we've seen actually retain his ranking from last summer to this summer. Emeka doesn't send many shots back around the rim like you see above, but he does defend well in the post and tries on the perimeter. His offensive game isn't going to put him in the All-Star game, but it doesn't make him a liability either.
13. David Lee (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3956/;_ylt=Ana1oRBYcOAOXUKl8r1122HYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3956/news;_ylt=AqL4qxjnSukLYmsNZ_TTRO_YrYZ4), Golden State Warriors (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/gsw/;_ylt=AtBOQsPOCS_LelI7I94SpO7YrYZ4) (last year: 10th, but at power forward)
He's 6-foot-9-ish and can't even guard power forwards, so it's pretty wacky that Lee will suit up his heaviest minutes at the pivot once again. As long as Don Nelson is coaching the Warriors -- and sorry to say for Golden State fans, but it looks like that will be the case for the foreseeable future -- Lee will be best suited as a pick-and-roll demon in a small lineup. Oh, and he'll probably give Golden State over 20 points and 10 rebounds.
It's his defense that has him this low. Some of it isn't his fault, having to play out of position. But a good portion of it ... yeah, that's his fault.
12. Yao Ming (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/;_ylt=AkiowLcOyjjRC7zPVcYlPtXYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/news;_ylt=AmolD8mcYk3RV_HVXCzmp8_YrYZ4), Houston Rockets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/hou/;_ylt=AoQWqyZeIsSqjZtG3OnuxPfYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Unranked last season because we knew he'd be out for all of 2009-10, Yao fans will have to make the slow approach this season, too. His minutes (hopefully) will be limited, he'll take a while to catch up to NBA speed (which means heaps of foul trouble) and he'll be playing in a league that is moving further and further away from your typical plodding pivotman.
But he'll be back, and that's joyous news. On some nights, for some stretches, he'll be the best center in basketball. So give him a year to get his bearings straight and then it's right back in the top five (or higher) next year.
11. Greg Oden (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4243/;_ylt=AomInuLVcMcNrrcPmD7hRY3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4243/news;_ylt=AhfW_a.nsnZPwSq3DJ2vH_zYrYZ4), Portland Trail Blazers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/por/;_ylt=AsyME.vexnxzN.N8oNSjERzYrYZ4): (last year: 11th)
A broken wrist. Microfracture surgery. A sprained foot, hurt when Andrew Bynum (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3936/;_ylt=AqzKQNDzGiMSirfEFAywYc7YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3936/news;_ylt=AtcIXbZA1mbmMNIqmmqSPh7YrYZ4) grabbed him from behind and forced him to stay on the floor instead of allowing him to jump at the rim. A chipped kneecap, struck by Corey Maggette (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3336/;_ylt=AsykE0CPTPE6nYgABzjVlLDYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3336/news;_ylt=AoPDehJOO015xcuvVEtH2W7YrYZ4) on accident. A fractured left patella tendon, hurt as he landed awkwardly after contesting a shot against Houston. These are quite a few injuries, for someone who has been playing on the NCAA or NBA level since 2006.
But they're different injuries. Freak injuries. Not like Yao Ming (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/;_ylt=At61b5aSzefBZNkqgKFfzn_YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/news;_ylt=AiDLpieMYfQpKe_rOm.zniDYrYZ4) or Zydrunas Ilgauskas (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3121/;_ylt=AqiMqgFr.u13aU.lyLxmRRvYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3121/news;_ylt=AoXAMe8QBP.mdVnpEyIamHrYrYZ4) or Bill Walton turning their feet into dust with repeated stress fractures. These are just things that have gone incredibly wrong.
So, I'd like to rank Oden higher. I really would. And while some might want to see him paired with Yao Ming around the same spot, it needs to be shouted that Greg Oden is not Yao Ming. He hasn't had the same repeated injuries in the same spot. He's injury-prone, yes, but only in the most literal sense of the phrase. If Oden stays healthy and can limit his fouls? He's top five. Maybe top three.
10. Al Jefferson, Utah Jazz (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/uth/;_ylt=AveQfF1nAGGlK66c8k71diDYrYZ4) (last year: third)
It might be another year in waiting for Al, which is bumming me out.
Last season, he had to deal with working through a post-rehab left knee that was clearly not as strong as it could be. The year before, a sure All-Star season was cut short with an ACL tear. And this season? Well, he's healthy, but there's concern that he could need a little while to figure out Utah's flex offense and that could limit his contributions while players like Paul Millsap (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4175/;_ylt=ArjJjbCqmc3LN25Bh221wUzYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4175/news;_ylt=AvD37w8WavQyGn3xgCjo2ZfYrYZ4) streak to the correct place on the court.
Of course, he's Al Jefferson, so it's not as if he's falling off the face of the earth. It just might be a little while until he's comfortable, and by then Mehmet Okur (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/;_ylt=AoLMFA4jvpLQjWP7MDO_NwTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3547/news;_ylt=AjjDo09GPXovuWz5GMabr0bYrYZ4) might be ready to slide Al back to power forward.
9. Marc Gasol (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4325/;_ylt=AviQWL56DusP9b35Ms4ZMjXYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4325/news;_ylt=AmnjAjLU7UQpGT.UxtVE_SnYrYZ4), Memphis Grizzlies (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mem/;_ylt=AsIDA8DRd.2eL2eEn0SsgsPYrYZ4) (last year: unranked)
Because he doesn't stand out in any one area, Gasol is continually overlooked as one of the league's finer centers. He's just all-around great, and at age 25, still has room to get better. A sound passer, like his brother, Gasol can score in the post effectively because he can hold position, something that's lost sometimes in a league full of defensive-minded six-foul guys. He does well enough on screen-and-roll defense and remains a tough rebounder.
Now it's up to the Grizzlies to understand what they have and feature him in their offense more often.
8. Nene, Denver Nuggets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/den/;_ylt=AgKVYaPWc5CgeJe.Ab3FiOnYrYZ4) (last year: sixth)
Consider Nene more of a defensive-minded version of Gasol. Far beyond adequate in every area, Nene excels at disrupting screen-and-rolls. He won't pin shots to the glass with regularity like a Dwight Howard (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/;_ylt=AuZle3wUS3PtXDG9baXaGT3YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/news;_ylt=AuoQqSaZwhWthV_rBUIMtAnYrYZ4)-type, but he changes more looks than your average bear. And he continues to get in that passing lane.
He averaged nearly 14 points a game in just below 33 minutes a contest, he tossed in just under 59 percent of his field-goal attempts and he just works that all-around game expertly. Truly one of the game's more underrated players.
7. Joakim Noah (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4287/;_ylt=Ai9X.YCoclD.9EHyhaPUKYTYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4287/news;_ylt=AkoCFBH7k1A_9SJNB6tY_QrYrYZ4), Chicago Bulls (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/chi/;_ylt=AgJL4e3rN.FhFiYkuSd0C6nYrYZ4) (last year: 15th)
Though his fiery personality and, um, unconventional offseason habits are the Houston forward's polar opposite, Noah almost reminds of a 7-foot version of Shane Battier (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3516/;_ylt=Aqr7d1I7Wxd.YYrQ6hI.xcjYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3516/news;_ylt=Am5KN_ZPTkc8iHePhGflFfzYrYZ4). The ultimate teammate, Noah is constantly barking out the opposing team's play, his position on the help defense side and he's the first to meet a teammate when things go perfectly, terribly awry, or somewhere in the middle.
He also put together a double-double last season while playing just 30 minutes per game, a fantastic accomplishment. And he's made huge strides in his rebounding since entering the league as a rookie in 2007, topping out with a rebound rate that flew past the 20 percent mark last season.
6. Chris Kaman (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3709/;_ylt=AmrB6j7Lqaq833zcyFN9X.HYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3709/news;_ylt=Aghsev9wixzamGNQrmNjSFrYrYZ4), Los Angeles Clippers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/lac/;_ylt=Ap2v4vScNgcVhc3ONOCxlKXYrYZ4) (last year: 22nd)
I understand Kaman might not have the rep or respect of some of the players listed below him, but the man averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds last season, and it's time for some of us to get our act together in recognition of his talents. Was last year's big uptick a fluke? Well, he's 28 and has skills. You tell me.
Entering his prime, there aren't many big men I would rather involve in a screen-and-roll offensively in a last-second situation than Kaman. His ability to create open spaces and offensive versatility once he gets the ball goes a long way.
5. Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/lal/;_ylt=AqmHdQy1jsfz5qLbHKEVFx3YrYZ4) (last year: fifth)
Bynum's stats aren't as compelling as his Staples Center contemporary, and there is the nagging issue of those nagging injuries that have naggingly never, ever gone away.
But he turns 23 just before this season starts, he's healthy by all accounts he and managed 15 points and eight rebounds in just 30 minutes a game while dragging one leg for a good chunk of the season.
This man -- this kid -- has all-world potential. If he could just give you a healthy 35 minutes a game, you'll see. You'll see. He'll need the ball, too.
4. Al Horford (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4245/;_ylt=Alh3W1xox3OkQzr7ysenF__YrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4245/news;_ylt=AoO94p_wU4fLsC_g7B3fRuTYrYZ4), Atlanta Hawks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/atl/;_ylt=AvgAskfxyxJHvxmPfuupv9fYrYZ4) (last year: 17th)
Al Horford can defend. The Hawks don't really stand out amongst this league's best defensive teams, not with those point guards, but Horford just tends to cover all angles and save his team's bacon time and again.
He averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds with a block, too, last season. While shooting 55 percent and not having many plays run for him. The idea that Al Horford might be a top-five center in this league might feel a little off, but he is all over the place defensively and a smooth scorer offensively. And he's nowhere near as injury-prone as, seemingly, everyone on this list.
3. Brook Lopez (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4472/;_ylt=AqWsdUwh6LrQf.Y4nGT4p8jYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4472/news;_ylt=Ak.q6NPXezQ.UVSCXvucERvYrYZ4), New Jersey Nets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/njn/;_ylt=AvFWkJAEOrMrG5mR.S44vfDYrYZ4) (last year: seventh)
How can the best player on a 70-loss team be ranked in the top three at his position? Well, the team stunk. Last year's Nets were really, truly awful.
Lopez was not. He still remains really, truly underrated. He's not a stat hound, he doesn't do anything at the expense of winning and he just piles up the points and rebounds. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds last season with 1.7 blocks and 2.3 assists, and I'd really like the Nets to add 30 wins to last season's totals so people would stop looking at this 22-year-old with such a jaundiced eye.
2. Andrew Bogut (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3927/;_ylt=AvWWDNEri4c2wFc2y_7jZZvYrYZ4)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3927/news;_ylt=AlRiWdJQyly7nRiWwxpGI8XYrYZ4), Milwaukee Bucks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mil/;_ylt=AuBO9hl.iA8mNR3zNdXCCF7YrYZ4) (last year: 12th)
That's right. The man who I think is the second-best center in the NBA didn't even make the All-Star team last season.
This isn't me trying to be obscure -- Bogut was a No. 1 overall pick fercryin'outloud. It's just the end result of seeing this guy work expertly on either end of the court last season. Bogut was an at-times dominant defender on par with Dwight Howard, especially when Howard started 2009-10 slow. And Bogut's versatile offensive game still isn't being taken advantage enough by his Bucks teammates.
All he does is do everything well, save for the odd trip to the free-throw line. And because he turns 26 just a month into the season and so many other bigs are either playing out of position, coming back from injury or starting to put it all together, I think Bogut establishes himself as a clear No. 2 in 2010-11. To those that pay attention to defense, at least.
1. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/orl/;_ylt=AtmsF1LLv75W6Yx8cCanrP7YrYZ4) (last year: first)
Dwight Howard pays attention to defense. He runs with a smile on his face and won't remind you of Elvin Hayes in the low post, but he is a dominant force, an MVP candidate and the best player at his position.
He also doesn't turn 25 years until December. Which just doesn't seem fair, if we're honest.