RealGM Top 25 Player Poll-#17 2019-20

[Crunch 99]

Vote Kemba Walker. Nominate Aldridge.

[iggymcfrack]

Nominate Siakam

[SK21209]

Maybe it's because Griffin winning is a foregone conclusion at this point, but there's no way Doncic should be getting more votes than Beal or Walker

[chokingmav]

Nominate: CP3

[RaptorPride]

Nominate Siakam

[Kampuchea]

Not sure I would want Blake over Durant.

[Pelly24]

Why are people so in love with Blake here? He’s 30 years old, he hasn’t been healthy for more than half of his team’s postseason games since 2015, and he hasn’t been top 20 in RPM since 2014. People talk about Chris Paul being washed up and injury prone; even at his worst last season, he was more valuable than Griffin’s been in 5-7 years.

I think it’s pretty clear why Blake is getting a lot of votes: he was a top 15 player last year. Can’t check stats now, but he had what was probably his best raw numbers season of his career and he’s become an average/above average shooter. He’s still a very skilled passer and I think at least an average player. Taking that putrid pistons team to the playoffs is now easy feat. He’s injury prone but he’s got some juice in him for a few more All-nba seasons. Don’t sleep ok blake. I’d love to see him on the blazers

[bran muffin]

Maybe it's because Griffin winning is a foregone conclusion at this point, but there's no way Doncic should be getting more votes than Beal or Walker

If this was a poll about the 2018-19 season, sure. But it's about the 2019-20 season. Rookies frequently take a big step forward when they go into their 2nd season.

Luka's PER36 after Feb 1 last season was already impressive ( 25/11/8 ). That compares well with Bradley Beal ( 27/5/6 ) and Kemba Walker ( 28/5/6 ). Of course Luka had the worst scoring efficiency out of the three, but then again he was just a rookie.

If Luka shows improvement expected for a 2nd year player, he'll leapfrog Beal/Kemba in 2019.

[SK21209]

Maybe it's because Griffin winning is a foregone conclusion at this point, but there's no way Doncic should be getting more votes than Beal or Walker

If this was a poll about the 2018-19 season, sure. But it's about the 2019-20 season. Rookies frequently take a big step forward when they go into their 2nd season.

Luka's PER36 after Feb 1 last season was already impressive ( 25/11/8 ). That compares well with Bradley Beal ( 27/5/6 ) and Kemba Walker ( 28/5/6 ). Of course Luka had the worst scoring efficiency out of the three, but then again he was just a rookie.

If Luka shows improvement expected for a 2nd year player, he'll leapfrog Beal/Kemba in 2019.

To the contrary, a lot of standout rookies stagnate their second year. Simmons, Tatum, and to a lesser degree Mitchell all stayed about the same this last season alone.

[bran muffin]

If this was a poll about the 2018-19 season, sure. But it's about the 2019-20 season. Rookies frequently take a big step forward when they go into their 2nd season.

To the contrary, a lot of standout rookies stagnate their second year. Simmons, Tatum, and to a lesser degree Mitchell all stayed about the same this last season alone.

Nobody said all rookies improve in their second season. But you still cherry-picked the few exceptions and then you're pretending like stagnation is normal.

Look back at the careers of the Top 16 players who have already won on this poll. You'll find that the majority of them showed notable improvements in both efficiency and total production immediately after their rookie year. Hardly any of them stagnated. People like Simmons and Tatum are outliers.

[Hroz]

Nominate Aldridge

[iggymcfrack]

Why are people so in love with Blake here? He’s 30 years old, he hasn’t been healthy for more than half of his team’s postseason games since 2015, and he hasn’t been top 20 in RPM since 2014. People talk about Chris Paul being washed up and injury prone; even at his worst last season, he was more valuable than Griffin’s been in 5-7 years.

I think it’s pretty clear why Blake is getting a lot of votes: he was a top 15 player last year. Can’t check stats now, but he had what was probably his best raw numbers season of his career and he’s become an average/above average shooter. He’s still a very skilled passer and I think at least an average player. Taking that putrid pistons team to the playoffs is now easy feat. He’s injury prone but he’s got some juice in him for a few more All-nba seasons. Don’t sleep ok blake. I’d love to see him on the blazers

Definitely not. Lower PER and WS/48 than in any of his first 7 seasons including his rookie year. He bounced back some, but he was still only 32nd in RPM, and while it was far and away his healthiest season in the last 5 years, he was still hurt when the playoffs came around.

The Pistons were +0.4 with him on the floor and -1.8 with him on the bench. They won 37 games the year before they traded for him, 39 games when he came over midseason, and 41 games with him healthier than you can expect him to ever be again. Just because the Pistons made he playoffs doesn’t mean they were any good. What’s the difference between Blake leading Detroit to 41 wins in the East and De’Aaron Fox leading the Kings to 39 wins in the West? I’d say Griffin was borderline top 30 last year and it was a fluke that he was that good. I don’t think he’d be on my radar to nominate at any point, let alone vote for.

[Asif16]

Nominate Siakam

[iggymcfrack]

Not sure I would want Blake over Durant.

I’d take him over Durant, but definitely not over Siakam, Paul, Jrue, Lowry, Simmons, Conley, Doncic, Oladipo, Mitchell, Gallo, Kemba, Vucevic, Horford, or Covington. Not sure I’d take him over guys like Love, Gasol, Ball, McCollum, Gordon, Ingles, Beal, or Bledsoe either. He’s going crazy high.

[Tim Kempton]

Vote: Kemba
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD REMOVE: Durant
Nominate: CJ McCollum

[Tim Kempton]

Not sure I would want Blake over Durant.

I’d take him over Durant, but definitely not over Siakam, Paul, Jrue, Lowry, Simmons, Conley, Doncic, Oladipo, Mitchell, Gallo, Kemba, Vucevic, Horford, or Covington. Not sure I’d take him over guys like Love, Gasol, Ball, McCollum, Gordon, Ingles, Beal, or Bledsoe either. He’s going crazy high.

Most of your list is crazy, but the bolded especially so. Blake has vastly improved his game to the point where he can score from anywhere on the court, be featured as a secondary ball-handler and passer, and still be a reliable rebounder (numbers are down because of Drummond and because he doesn't camp out in the paint like he did his first few seasons). I can't believe you have him ranked in the 30-38 area is ridiculous.

[iggymcfrack]

Not sure I would want Blake over Durant.

I’d take him over Durant, but definitely not over Siakam, Paul, Jrue, Lowry, Simmons, Conley, Doncic, Oladipo, Mitchell, Gallo, Kemba, Vucevic, Horford, or Covington. Not sure I’d take him over guys like Love, Gasol, Ball, McCollum, Gordon, Ingles, Beal, or Bledsoe either. He’s going crazy high.

Most of your list is crazy, but the bolded especially so. Blake has vastly improved his game to the point where he can score from anywhere on the court, be featured as a secondary ball-handler and passer, and still be a reliable rebounder (numbers are down because of Drummond and because he doesn't camp out in the paint like he did his first few seasons). I can't believe you have him ranked in the 30-38 area is ridiculous.

Blake hasn’t been healthy for the playoffs since 2015. What do you think the chances are that he performs at his outlier level from last season again at 30 and then somehow manages to finally be healthy too?

[Metallikid]

Maybe it's because Griffin winning is a foregone conclusion at this point, but there's no way Doncic should be getting more votes than Beal or Walker

If this was a poll about the 2018-19 season, sure. But it's about the 2019-20 season. Rookies frequently take a big step forward when they go into their 2nd season.

Luka's PER36 after Feb 1 last season was already impressive ( 25/11/8 ). That compares well with Bradley Beal ( 27/5/6 ) and Kemba Walker ( 28/5/6 ). Of course Luka had the worst scoring efficiency out of the three, but then again he was just a rookie.

If Luka shows improvement expected for a 2nd year player, he'll leapfrog Beal/Kemba in 2019.

That is just not true. It has ALWAYS been called the sophomore slump.

[Tim Kempton]

I’d take him over Durant, but definitely not over Siakam, Paul, Jrue, Lowry, Simmons, Conley, Doncic, Oladipo, Mitchell, Gallo, Kemba, Vucevic, Horford, or Covington. Not sure I’d take him over guys like Love, Gasol, Ball, McCollum, Gordon, Ingles, Beal, or Bledsoe either. He’s going crazy high.

Most of your list is crazy, but the bolded especially so. Blake has vastly improved his game to the point where he can score from anywhere on the court, be featured as a secondary ball-handler and passer, and still be a reliable rebounder (numbers are down because of Drummond and because he doesn't camp out in the paint like he did his first few seasons). I can't believe you have him ranked in the 30-38 area is ridiculous.

Blake hasn’t been healthy for the playoffs since 2015. What do you think the chances are that he performs at his outlier level from last season again at 30 and then somehow manages to finally be healthy too?

I would normally agree with you because health is definitely a factor, however, when it comes to the bolded players specifically, there is little-to-no argument.

Covington just missed 40 games and is a role player. A very good role player, but still a role player.

Gallo is perpetually injured, so your argument for Blake is moot with him.

Vucevic just had his first breakout season. He may repeat it, but he may not. Too early to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Horford is getting up there in age and he will only continue to deteriorate.

Love, Gasol, and Ball... I can't even comprehend how you brought them into the conversation. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but those three aren't even worth arguing. Seriously.

Ingles is a specialist. I LOVE Ingles and personally can't stand Durant, but to put him anywhere near Griffin's tier is ludicrous.

Beal MAY have an argument so maybe I shouldn't have bolded him, but I just find Blake to be more valuable to his team.

Eric Gordon and Eric Bledsoe are both great 3rd option types, but nothing more. In an ideal hierarchy, it would go 1st option-Blake-Bledsoe/Gordon. Even with Blake's injury history, I can't place either of them over Blake. They're both a notch below.

[iggymcfrack]

Most of your list is crazy, but the bolded especially so. Blake has vastly improved his game to the point where he can score from anywhere on the court, be featured as a secondary ball-handler and passer, and still be a reliable rebounder (numbers are down because of Drummond and because he doesn't camp out in the paint like he did his first few seasons). I can't believe you have him ranked in the 30-38 area is ridiculous.

Blake hasn’t been healthy for the playoffs since 2015. What do you think the chances are that he performs at his outlier level from last season again at 30 and then somehow manages to finally be healthy too?

I would normally agree with you because health is definitely a factor, however, when it comes to the bolded players specifically, there is little-to-no argument.

Covington just missed 40 games and is a role player. A very good role player, but still a role player.

Gallo is perpetually injured, so your argument for Blake is moot with him.

Vucevic just had his first breakout season. He may repeat it, but he may not. Too early to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Horford is getting up there in age and he will only continue to deteriorate.

Love, Gasol, and Ball... I can't even comprehend how you brought them into the conversation. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but those three aren't even worth arguing. Seriously.

Ingles is a specialist. I LOVE Ingles and personally can't stand Durant, but to put him anywhere near Griffin's tier is ludicrous.

Beal MAY have an argument so maybe I shouldn't have bolded him, but I just find Blake to be more valuable to his team.

Eric Gordon and Eric Bledsoe are both great 3rd option types, but nothing more. In an ideal hierarchy, it would go 1st option-Blake-Bledsoe/Gordon. Even with Blake's injury history, I can't place either of them over Blake. They're both a notch below.

Eric Gordon sucks. I meant Aaron Gordon. I’d respond to the other stuff but I’m too drunk.