Top Small Forwards - FOX SPORTS

[Ashy Larry]

Small forwards, large games

Three small forwards stand above the rest at their position, but their playing styles and skills are as disparate as their circumstances and demeanors. One made enemies by changing teams (LeBron James), one is unhappy because he hasn't been traded (Carmelo Anthony) and the third is perfectly content after re-signing with his current club (Kevin Durant). But where do they rank in John Galinsky's top 10?




10. Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers

It's tempting to leave Ron-Ron out of the top 10 based on his pedestrian numbers (11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg) and his corrosive effect on the triangle offense during his first season in L.A. Then again, Artest did fulfill his defensive duties, especially against Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce in the playoffs. And he saved Kobe's legacy in Game 7 of the FInals, earning a championship ring that he'll auction off for a mental health charity (we love that too). Overall, Artest's quirks are more endearing than destructive.




http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom//img/2010/09/29/092910-NBA-Top10-Small-Forwards-Gallery10-JW_20100929202607_600_400.JPG

9. Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls wanted LeBron James, then they coveted Carmelo Anthony. Who can blame them? But another season with Deng at small forward isn't such a bad proposition. Indeed, after a few injury-plagued years, he averaged 17.6 points last season with the same lethal midrange game and quick first step he flashed early in his career. His scoring may dip with Carlos Boozer demanding the ball down low, but Deng should be a nice complement to Boozer and Derrick Rose as a dependable wing who can run and shoot.







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8. Caron Butler, Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs reeled off 13 straight wins shortly after trading for Butler in February, suggesting he might be the player to make them a contender again. But no. Butler never meshed easily with his new teammates and followed 25-point outings with four-point duds. Though he had a strong playoff series, Dallas fell in the first round to San Antonio. We think he'll be more consistent this season for two reasons. First, he should be more comfortable playing with Dirk, J-Kidd and Jason Terry after a full training camp and preseason. More importantly, he arrived at camp in great shape, having shed the extra weight he carried last season. If he's explosive, the Mavs may not be done yet.





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7. Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies

Who had a better summer than Rudy Gay? He got a max contract from the Grizzlies and a gold medal at the world championships. Did he really earn either? That's debatable, but let the man be happy. Maybe a successful summer with Coach K helped Gay become a better competitor and defender, two questionable aspects of his game. He's always been able to run and score and shoot a little bit -- make that shoot a lot -- but he hasn't improved as much as you'd like for a player just entering his prime. For $80 million, Memphis needs him to be a leader and a winner.



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6. Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers

For a player who averaged nearly 26 points two seasons ago, and 24 last year, Granger still has a lot to prove. We know he can score. We know he can shoot threes -- but at seven attempts per game, maybe too frequently. We don't know whether he can rebound and defend and share the ball, partly because he's surrounded by such poor talent in Indiana. Unfortunately, with talented teammates on Team USA, Granger fell out of the playing rotation because of his defensive shortcomings. Until his game gets more well-rounded, he won't belong among the league's elite.



http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom//img/2010/09/29/092910-NBA-Top10-Small-Forwards-Gallery6-JW_20100929185447_600_400.JPG

5. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Nearing his 33rd birthday and entering his 13th season in Boston, Pierce is slowing down. No doubt about it. On the other hand, his game has never been based on explosive athleticism. He can still overpower most small forwards and hit that step-back jumper. In fact, he can shoot it better than ever, setting career highs in FG% (47.2), 3PT% (41.4) and FT% (85.2) last season. His defense and transition game have suffered the most, but he can still talk and compete with the best. And on the Celtics, he doesn't even seem old compared to KG, Ray Allen and Shaq.



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4. Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats

If you think Wallace is too high on this list, you don't know jack about the NBA. Well, maybe you just don't follow the Bobcats, which is understandable. If you did, you'd know that the 6-7, 220-pound hybrid forward emerged as a major impact player last season in leading Charlotte to its first playoff appearance. He averaged 18.2 points despite a shaky jumper, but he really excelled on the other end of the court. A voracious rebounder (10.0 rpg) and outstanding on-ball defender, he finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting (behind Dwight Howard and Josh Smith). If he played for a marquee team, everyone would know about Gerald Wallace.



http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom//img/2010/09/29/092910-NBA-Top10-Small-Forwards-Gallery4-JW_20100929185446_600_400.JPG




3. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

For now, Anthony is a Nugget. Who knows about next week, next February at the trading deadline or next season? No matter what uniform he's wearing, 'Melo will be the same player. A pure scorer with perhaps the most complete offensive arsenal in the game. He can post up, shoot the 3, pull up in transition and finish on the break. In recent years he's shown signs of developing his overall game, defending and rebounding and passing with some proficiency. He doesn't do anything consistently, however, except produce points. And if he's unhappy in Denver, he may produce a toxic situation there.


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2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

He led the league in scoring last season. He dominated the world championships in Turkey. He low-keyed his contract extension with Oklahoma City. He comes across as genuinely humble and unassuming, unlike the guy who took his talents to South Beach. No wonder everyone is in love with Kevin Durant right now, but let's not get carried away. He just turned 22. He's still skinny and can get knocked off his game by rugged defenders. He's still far behind LeBron as a passer and defender. Durant may be the NBA's best player in several years -- heck, he may win the MVP this season -- but he's not the best quite yet. Give him time. And give LeBron his due.



http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom//img/2010/09/29/092910-NBA-Top10-Small-Forwards-Gallery2-JW_20100929202606_600_400.JPG

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat

There's no question LeBron tarnished his image and diminished his brand with "The Decision" this summer. Fans will never look at him the same way again. But many folks also feel the need to diminish LeBron's accomplishments and talents as a player. He's a quitter, he's a loser, he's a ballhog! Really? Yes, he hasn't won a championship, and he certainly came up short against the Celtics in the playoffs. (Whether it was because of a bum elbow or lack of heart, who knows?) But he consistently dominates basketball games like no one else in the league. And at 25, he's only getting better, not worse. His monstrous stats may go down a bit in Miami, but it doesn't make sense to think his impact on games will be any less just because you like him less.



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http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/lists/2010-11-NBA-preview-Top-10-small-forwards#sport=NBA&photo=12300866

[Lars]

Iggy should be 7th.

[duhoh]

I don't think deng belongs, but otherwise, not too bad of a list.

[Ashy Larry]

Iggy's listed number 6 under two guards ......

[HarlemHeat37]

The SF position is pretty weak after the first 3..

Gerald Wallace is very good, but he's a questionable shooter, and his style of play doesn't translate well in the playoffs, from an offensive standpoint..his entire offensive game is based on contact and drawing cheap fouls, which doesn't usually translate to the playoffs..

The order is fine, although I'd probably put Gay ahead of Granger right now, without looking too much into it..

Butler/Deng/Artest is a relatively shitty last 3 in a top 10..they're all just slightly above average players at this point..all 3 of them are only able to focus on one side of the ball at this point..

All 3 of them are asked to be spot-up shooters in their current system, because they can no longer be consistently relied on to create their own offense..all 3 of them are relatively poor at spot-up shooting..they're all in a tough position, and Butler is the only one I can see bouncing back(I doubt he will, but I can see it)..

[#2!]

Butler/Deng/Artest is a relatively shitty last 3 in a top 10..they're all just slightly above average players at this point..all 3 of them are only able to focus on one side of the ball at this point..

All 3 of them are asked to be spot-up shooters in their current system, because they can no longer be consistently relied on to create their own offense..all 3 of them are relatively poor at spot-up shooting..they're all in a tough position, and Butler is the only one I can see bouncing back(I doubt he will, but I can see it)..

I know you said he could bounce back, but I don't think he deteriorated. I think last year's system for the Mavericks just wasn't a good fit for Butler. (I say last year's b/c they could adjust for him this season, which is still different than "bouncing back.")

Both Butler and Dirk are players who are at their best when isolated in the midrange (midrange post for Dirk, midrange wing area for Caron), which is perfectly fine but starts to be a problem when you throw in a PG who's practically useless on offense if he's not passing to open shooters. So I agree they were asking Butler to be a jumpshooter at times, but only for the sake of Jason Kidd.

He was still decently reliable when going one on one last year. In regards to the Spurs-Mavs series, he consistently beat RJ and Bogans in the iso, but had less success against George Hill, iirc. (nothing surprising there though:lol)

[Koolaid_Man]

Small forwards, large games

Three small forwards stand above the rest at their position, but their playing styles and skills are as disparate as their circumstances and demeanors. One made enemies by changing teams (LeBron James), one is unhappy because he hasn't been traded (Carmelo Anthony) and the third is perfectly content after re-signing with his current club (Kevin Durant). But where do they rank in John Galinsky's top 10?



http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/lists/2010-11-NBA-preview-Top-10-small-forwards#sport=NBA&photo=12300866


Fail by Galinsky IMO. Artest #10 but is hands down the best defensive player on this list and he's sitting at #10? ok whateva...Clear this guy focused his rating on the offensive side of the ball only. Artest is the best all around player on this list. and yes he plays defense way better than Lebron and Pierce. Defense wins titles just ask my man Ron again about his. :toast

[pookenstein]

Artest is the best all around player on this list. :toast

Quit drinking.
Quit doing drugs.
Quit bashing your head aginst a wall until you see:elephant before you post.
Belive me, it's for your own good.

[Koolaid_Man]

Quit drinking.
Quit doing drugs.
Quit bashing your head aginst a wall until you see:elephant before you post.
Belive me, it's for your own good.


I stand by those words. Lebron can't lock anyone up defensively like Artest. In fact...no one on the list can play defense even remotely close to Artest. This is the very reason the Lakers will 3 peat. Because either Artest locks up Pierce or he renders Lebuns a 20 and 5 guy. He has the physicality and skill to do it, and can still take the shovel pass from Kobe for the 3. :lol

Just ask Phil Jackson who he takes on this list from a defensive perspective. Ron is a top 3 IMO...

[Ace]

Fail by Galinsky IMO. Artest #10 but is hands down the best defensive player on this list and he's sitting at #10? ok whateva...Clear this guy focused his rating on the offensive side of the ball only. Artest is the best all around player on this list. and yes he plays defense way better than Lebron and Pierce. Defense wins titles just ask my man Ron again about his. :toast

Are you really trying to say that Artest is better than Lebron?

[Koolaid_Man]

Are you really trying to say that Artest is better than Lebron?


It's as simple as this...Lebron is better on offense and Artest is better on defense. Lebron looks like he plays D..by running down players and blocking then from behind...he has decent off the ball D. But man to man when it's time for the title. LeSissy fails and Ron Ron comes up big...Lebron has decent size but he's a clown no one is intimidated by this clown..

[Muser]

Would love G-Force on the Spurs..Larry Brown owes Pop a favor

[Giuseppe]

[It's tempting to leave Ron-Ron out of the top 10 based on his pedestrian numbers (11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg) and his corrosive effect on the triangle offense during his first season in L.A. Then again, Artest did fulfill his defensive duties, especially against Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce in the playoffs. And he saved Kobe's legacy in Game 7 of the FInals, earning a championship ring that he'll auction off for a mental health charity (we love that too). Overall, Artest's quirks are more endearing than destructive.]

It's a hit piece, damning with faint praise, borne of frustration. This guy had already written this story flying out of Boston, on the way to 6 & 7. He musta been skinnin' & grinnin' to beat the band. That didn't quite work out as we all found out on the night of June 17th. It wasn't the 16th that goads him. The 15th already quelled that fire, setting Bryant free in the due process. It's that Artest went along for the entire ride. Never got off nary a single time to loiter, or bicker. Just soldiered for 100 straight games, and took every single soul with him.

Now, almost 4 months later this hump cuts & pastes it from the article that never saw light on the 17th, but, sits foldered in his Vaio.

Always good to see Media made to eat the shit sandwich.

[elemento]

fair list i guess

[Giuseppe]

Lebron has decent size but he's a clown

Yep, yep.

[Koolaid_Man]

[It's tempting to leave Ron-Ron out of the top 10 based on his pedestrian numbers (11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg) and his corrosive effect on the triangle offense during his first season in L.A. Then again, Artest did fulfill his defensive duties, especially against Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce in the playoffs. And he saved Kobe's legacy in Game 7 of the FInals, earning a championship ring that he'll auction off for a mental health charity (we love that too). Overall, Artest's quirks are more endearing than destructive.]

It's a hit piece, damning with faint praise, borne of frustration. This guy had already written this story flying out of Boston, on the way to 6 & 7. He musta been skinnin' & grinnin' to beat the band. That didn't quite work out as we all found out on the night of June 17th. It wasn't the 16th that goads him. The 15th already quelled that fire, setting Bryant free in the due process. It's that Artest went along for the entire ride. Never got off nary a single time to loiter, or bicker. Just soldiered for 100 straight games, and took every single soul with him.

Now, almost 4 months later this hump cuts & pastes it from the article that never saw light on the 17th, but, sits foldered in his Vaio.

Always good to see Media made to eat the shit sandwich.


Hit piece indeed. Game 7 - despite an overall bad shooting night Kobe still led all scorers with 23 points and 15 rebounds...but what the writers should have penned is why in the biggest game of his life. Garnett gets out rebounded by Gasol 18 > Garnett 3. now that's some legacy ruining shit. :lol

[Will Hunting]

It's as simple as this...Lebron is better on offense and Artest is better on defense. Lebron looks like he plays D..by running down players and blocking then from behind...he has decent off the ball D. But man to man when it's time for the title. LeSissy fails and Ron Ron comes up big...Lebron has decent size but he's a clown no one is intimidated by this clown..
ovMN-eGUn_A

[ohmwrecker]

Would love G-Force on the Spurs..Larry Brown owes Pop a favor

That a pretty big favor.

[Forthekids23]

Koo-laid is obviously a fucking cunt who eats chili fritos for breakfast .

[pookenstein]

I stand by those words. Lebron can't lock anyone up defensively like Artest. In fact...no one on the list can play defense even remotely close to Artest.

Defensely you might have a point, but you said:


Artest is the best all around player on this list.

Doesn't that imply offense?

[Leetonidas]

lol at koolaids man trying to say Artest is the best defender. Gerald Wallace destroys him.

[Giuseppe]

Hit piece indeed. Game 7 - despite an overall bad shooting night Kobe still led all scorers with 23 points and 15 rebounds...but what the writers should have penned is why in the biggest game of his life. Garnett gets out rebounded by Gasol 18 > Garnett 3. now that's some legacy ruining shit. :lol

Hey, all we got was the NBA World Championship. & if that's good enough for Artest, that's good enough for us.

[Ace]

It's as simple as this...Lebron is better on offense and Artest is better on defense. Lebron looks like he plays D..by running down players and blocking then from behind...he has decent off the ball D. But man to man when it's time for the title. LeSissy fails and Ron Ron comes up big...Lebron has decent size but he's a clown no one is intimidated by this clown..
Lebron is a better rebounder, much better passer and miles above in offense. Artest isn't even close to Lebron stop fooling yourself.

[Giuseppe]

All LeBron needs to do now is prove it, like Artest has done.

Just do it.

[picc84]

If the Cavs had Artest instead of Lebron that one year, who knows. They mighta gone down 4-1, instead of the skunker, before the skunker. We've all seen he can win you one game by himself. Pierce was right there, up close and personal, he'll tell ya.

[Giuseppe]

Also interesting is substitute LeBron for Artest for the Lakers this past season. No way, absolutely no f'in' way do we ring from sea to shining sea with LeBron in '10. It would take that silly son of a bitch like 3 years to find his mojo, sit on it, mold it, and make it work.

Can ya imagine it?

[monosylab1k]

Also interesting is substitute LeBron for Artest for the Lakers this past season. No way, absolutely no f'in' way do we ring from sea to shining sea with LeBron in '10. It would take that silly son of a bitch like 3 years to find his mojo, sit on it, mold it, and make it work.

Can ya imagine it?

That's almost as stupid as waiting at the Chuckbox for someone you only know from the internet.

[Nathan89]

If the Cavs had Artest instead of Lebron that one year, who knows. They mighta gone down 4-1, instead of the skunker, before the skunker. We've all seen he can win you one game by himself. Pierce was right there, up close and personal, he'll tell ya.

Is this guy serious?

[Giuseppe]

That's almost as stupid as waiting at the Chuckbox for someone you only know from the internet.

He's out, and he's staying out.

& yer O & Forever!

[Ace]

If the Cavs had Artest instead of Lebron that one year, who knows. They mighta gone down 4-1, instead of the skunker, before the skunker. We've all seen he can win you one game by himself. Pierce was right there, up close and personal, he'll tell ya.

Lol talk about reaching.