SI's Top 100 NBA Players

[Ranma]

Per Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney (9/17/13): Nos. 100-51

97. Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Clippers (F, 33)
2012-13 stats: 25.7 MPG, 10.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 46.2 FG%, 34.2 3FG%
2012-13 advanced stats: 15.5 PER, 6.3 Win Shares, +0.9 RAPM

How many players come off as detestable as Barnes while also achieving “He can play for my team any day” status? Not a lot. His bad-boy persona and off-court drama might have cost him real money as a free agent in 2012, but he played his way into a nice three-year, $10.2 million payday this summer. The Clippers had some choices to make about who stays and who goes after their first-round exit, and retaining Barnes appears to have been a top priority. One of the league’s most notorious instigators, Barnes is a pesky defender who can contribute offensively without needing the ball. He posted a healthy +6.8 net rating and his 2012-13 PER and Win Shares both represented career highs. Nothing he does is pretty, and not much of what he says is fit to print, but he’s the type of nuisance role player who makes sense for a veteran-dominated team looking to win now. — B.G.

82. J.J. Redick, Los Angeles Clippers (G, 29)
2012-13 stats: 30.5 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.2 RPG, 43.4 FG%, 36.6 3FG%
2012-13 advanced stats: 14.7 PER, 4.5 Win Shares, -1.3 RAPM

Redick’s midseason trade from Orlando to Milwaukee turned out to be a disappointing mess. His numbers dropped across the board with the Bucks and he even admitted to reporters during the playoffs that he wasn’t really on speaking terms with interim coach Jim Boylan. What kind of playoff team trades for a veteran shooter who does all the little things but then decides to bury him in the rotation? Redick was on the first thing smoking out of Wisconsin; he looks like a great fit with the Clippers, even if their perimeter ranks are fairly crowded. A career 39 percent three-point shooter, Redick will enjoy all the open looks created when Chris Paul and Blake Griffin strain defenses. In L.A., Redick should get the chance to buff up a playoff résumé that is decidedly lacking (6.8 points, 39.5 percent shooting and 33.6 percent three-point shooting in 48 games). — B.G.

76. Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers (G, 33)
2012-13 stats: 29.3 MPG, 16.5 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 43.8 FG%, 37.6 3FG%
2012-13 advanced: 16.8 PER, 5.4 Win Shares, -0.9 RAPM

Nobody breaks ankles, nutmegs opponents and dominates the summer pro-am circuit quite like Crawford, a natural showman who hails from a simpler time when it was OK to miss frequently as long as you looked incredibly awesome while doing it. After a dreadful 2011-12 season in Portland, Crawford re-emerged as a Sixth Man Award candidate during his first year with Lob City. His net rating was among the Clippers’ best last season, but his unconscientious defense and the arrivals of J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley raise questions about the size and scope of his role under new coach Doc Rivers. It’s worth keeping a careful eye on how L.A.’s perimeter rotation shakes out — and how Crawford handles things if his minutes or shots are cut. — B.G.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpSrP0y9NHI[/youtube]

Note: No Clippers in 50-31 rankings nor 30-21. Griffin and Paul possibly in upcoming top 10 but at least in top 20, however, Jordan not in top 100.

[Ranma]

Nos. 20-11

19. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (F, 24)
2012-13 stats: 32.5 MPG, 18.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 53.8 FG%
2012-13 advanced stats: 22.4 PER, 10.6 Win Shares, +4.5 RAPM

Griffin is so often discussed as if he’s a simple, solvable player, and yet he finished the 2012-13 season as one of only five players to average 20 points per 36 minutes while shooting 52 percent or better from the floor. The other members of that group (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker and Brook Lopez) define its illustrious air, setting Griffin apart as a model of scoring efficiency.

Opponents can try to force Griffin to shoot jumpers by giving him space on the perimeter, but he’s clearly capable of working his way into the lane in despite the defense’s intentions. That jumper is coming along, too; it hasn’t yet translated to a significant bump in shooting percentage, but Griffin is noticeably more comfortable in taking those shots and converts them at a roughly league-average rate.

That said, Griffin only takes the bait every so often — a balance that allows him to maintain high efficiency while noodling around with his improving jumper. It’s important to the Clippers’ future that he take those mid-range shots, as the broadening of Griffin’s game stands to be a huge development. But it’s crucial for the Clippers’ present that he continues to storm into the paint for close-range scores, which he does with great frequency and terrifying success. Griffin’s instincts and athleticism make him one of the most feared finishers in the league, and over the past few seasons he’s found an assortment of ways to gain momentum en route to the rim.

The pick-and-roll is the most obvious, but even Griffin’s work in that area is often oversimplified by the citizens of “Lob City.” The ability to dunk is not at all the same as the ability to create dunks. While many players are able to finish open looks around the basket with authority, Griffin’s unique strength lies in his navigation of the paint and the flexibility of his launch point. Griffin does a great job of lingering when an opportunity isn’t immediately available. Big men are often tempted to roll hard to the rim off a screen, even when doing so compromises passing angles and allows the ball handler to be smothered. Griffin has a keen sense of when to roll straight into the paint and when to hang back — in some cases literally standing in place as he waits for Chris Paul to find him. Griffin’s explosive leaping ability gives him that luxury, as he can drive harder out of a standstill than many bigs can with a running start. — Rob Mahoney

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpNdYpTwpU[/youtube]

[Ranma]

Nos. 10-1

3. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers (G, 28)
2012-13 stats: 33.4 MPG, 16.9 PPG, 9.7 APG, 3.7 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 48.1 FG%, 32.8 3FG%
2012-13 advanced stats: 26.4 PER, 13.9 Win Shares, +8.2 RAPM

This spot isn’t quite as iron-clad as the two that follow, but Paul has nonetheless made a rather firm claim to NBA bronze. He’s truly a master of his craft; Paul plays with his finger on the pulse of the game, and does an impeccable job of walking the line between scorer and facilitator. He always has a firm grasp of what it is that his team needs, and unlike other, elite guards with high basketball IQ, Paul has both the quickness and skill to provide.

Even the most basic passes are elevated by Paul’s touch, as every kick-out or drop-off is delivered with perfect placement and timing. Yet beyond that, he manages the seemingly impossible by way of his command off the dribble. While Paul benefits from an almost supernatural court vision, he’s also able to eke passes through tight quarters by firing them off quickly with one hand. By the saving the time it would otherwise take to put two hands on the ball, Paul is able to capitalize on tiny, closing windows without much risk of defensive intrusion. Other great point guards have employed the same technique, but Paul’s one-armed feeds can be absurdly zippy considering the microsecond release and nonexistent wind-up involved.

Though such passing efforts are surely aided by Paul’s outstanding shooting from everywhere inside the arc — a universal effectiveness that causes defenses to crumble from the inside. Once Paul begins to penetrate off the dribble — a frequent occurrence given his incredible one-on-one game — several defenders are often at his whim. From there, he does an amazing job of refusing to allow his man to recover; after beating his defender (or shedding him in the pick-and-roll), Paul essentially boxes him out the rest of the way — never letting him resume front-side position, and thus requiring the help of other defenders at virtually all times. That approach opens up all kinds of fascinating avenues for Paul to explore, particularly with the Clippers. Playing with consistent lob threats is a perfect canvas to showcase Paul’s creativity, as he manages to pull the attention of opposing bigs for just long enough to fire up a clean shot to a hovering Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEd8fCgwMJU[/youtube]

[Ranma]

Durant: Harden should replace Wade in SI.com’s ‘Top 10 Players of 2014′ list

[mkwest]

Nice write-ups on each player. I had to trim the Blake and Paul entries down a little bit, but each are worth the read to anyone that hasn't done so yet.

ESPN Top 500 Player Rankings

492. Maalik Wayns
462. Lamar Odom
426. Ryan Hollins
308. Willie Green
304. Reggie Bullock
299. Byron Mullens
266. Antawn Jamison

[Ranma]

Thanks and sorry, mkwest.

[mkwest]

Thanks and sorry, mkwest.

It's all good

[Quake Griffin]

Griffin should be higher.

too bad perception dominates.

lold at aldridge ahead of him

[Woodsanity]

Blake at 19 is a travesty. What the hell has Aldridge ever achieved? Bosh hasn't done crap last season to prove that he is higher than Blake either and Love? Is that some kind of sick joke? He barely played and when he did he was mediocre due to injury.... At least CP3 at 3 is accurate. BG should be top 15.

[og15]

Why is it a travesty? He's being ranked as a top 20 player, all those guys are great. Blake is the same level of player as Bosh and Aldridge, so there's no issue with them being ranked 1-2 spots above him. The rankings aren't bad, I mean no one ever agrees 100% with rankings! but to me as long as you put players in the right ranges! I think it's fine.

Paul at 3 is pretty good for him, he's generally in the 3-5 range. I think his season last year and his individual playoff performance definitely warrant such a ranking.

[Quake Griffin]

He's better than Aldridge man...he's not better than Bosh...but Aldridge.

The fact that ppl are still trying to rate Aldridge into being something that he isn't at Age 27 is pathetic to me.

What difference a jump shot makes.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums mobile app

[og15]

Well I don't think it is a case where one is clearly, no doubt at all better than the other, they are still similar level players and people can make arguments both ways.

Of course my issue has always been that even with the superior jumpshot, 15% better FT shooting and low turnovers, Aldridge at his best (21.5 pts/36, .560 TS%, 113 Ortg) is barely a better regular season scorer than rookie Blake (21.3 pts/36, .549 TS%, 111 Ortg) and in the post-season (17.7 pts/36, .508 TS%, 104 Ortg) has not had a higher scoring rate or efficiency than Blake (18.9 pts/36, .530 TS%, 104 Ortg). Both of Blake's post-seasons individually have had a higher scoring rate and efficiency than all of Aldridge's individually. That's hard to sell as being clearly better, so I say Aldridge isn't clearly better by any means. I always say that skills need to produce superior results unless their value isn't really as good as they are said to be.

Even if we are saying Blake is better, there's no massive gap between them, so someone ranking Aldridge over him isn't some travesty. It isn't like ranking Carlos Boozer over him or something, know what I mean?

[Woodsanity]

Travesty was an exaggeration. However, I don't see much of an argument for Aldridge over BG nor do I see a strong argument for Bosh over BG. Love being ranked in the top 15 was definitely a travesty though.

[og15]

That one was definitely interesting, that was the one that grabbed my attention. Love is good and all, but I don't know about that about myself.

[mkwest]

ESPN Top 500 Player Rankings

190. Darren Collison
136. Matt Barnes
123. Jared Dudley

[Quake Griffin]

yea, i think my main beef is that I don't see the real argument for aldridge over griffin.

fine...theyre the same tier. but where do you get aldridge over griffin?

my side beef is that Griffin has to pay a hater tax...and that's what the #19 and being below all those PFs is about.
Oh all he does is dunk. Oh he's a flopper. Oh we were too quick to say he was that good. Oh Z-bo punked him in the 2013 'offs even though he had a severe ankle sprain and still got out there and played in game's 5 and 6.

THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO HIS TOUGHNESS! WTF!

[mkwest]

ESPN Top 500 Player Rankings
96. Jamal Crawford
92. JJ Redick
77. DeAndre Jordan
14. Blake Griffin

Griffin and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only players in NBA history to average at least 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game while shooting at least 50 percent in each of their first three seasons.

[Ranma]

ESPN Top 500 Player Rankings
96. Jamal Crawford
92. JJ Redick
77. DeAndre Jordan
14. Blake Griffin

Griffin and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only players in NBA history to average at least 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game while shooting at least 50 percent in each of their first three seasons.

Paul George ahead of Griffin at 13? Really?! Yeah, Blake is getting underrated at this point.

[mkwest]

ESPN Top 500 Player Rankings

3. Chris Paul



Paul and John Stockton are the only players in NBA history to average at least 15 points, nine assists and two steals per game in six different seasons. No other player has done it more than three times. Steals became an official stat in 1973-74.
-- ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo)

In 2012, Paul was ranked 4th overall.

[Quake Griffin]

He's better than Kevin Durant to me.

i don't care if I'm the only Clipper fan/ person on the planet who believes so.