Rank the Nets starting lineup by position

[sisibilio]

Paul IS the best PG in the game, without question... but his flopping IS disgusting and made me start disliking him as a player.

Deron is the 2nd best PG in the league.

Brook... I think he can be a top 5 center, but I feel more comfortable ranking him in the top 10 right now because of the missed year.

Wallace is a borderline top 10 SF. It's arguable at this point.

Humphries isn't even a top 20 PF.

Joe is a borderline top 5 SG. Below Wade and Kobe, right up there with Harden, Gordon and Manu.

Ellis >> Gordon & Harden
And anyone not putting Gasol ahead of Lopez is delusional, Brook might be a better volume scorer but Gaasol is the better passer, defender and rebounder, and more efficient when he's not asked to carry the load of the offense like last season after Randolph went down.

[ecuhus1981]

Clearly the guy that's not top 10. Love, LMA, Dirk, Griffin, Lee, Smith, Bosh, Pau, Millsap, Garnett, Duncan, Scola, Boozer, Harrington, Nene, Ilyasova, Young, West, Bass, Randolph, Brand, Faried, and Favors are all obviously better imo.

Wow. I'm no Hump fan, but a double-double machine deserves a modicum of respect. If you knock his defense, then I can't see how you would rank the bolded players ahead of him. Even Griffin and Lee are worse on D than Kris. I have him at #18 in my rankings, but I include Horford and Ibaka as PFs, as this is their true position IMO.

The rest of your rankings are pretty accurate: Deron is the #2 PG, but he's going to have a half-dozen guys gunning for him, so he'd better play like he's #1.

JJ is the least efficient of the semi-elite SGs, so I have him #4, behind Iggy, Kobe and Wade. I know, I know, "b-b-b-b-b-but what about the amazing James Harden?" While I think his self-sacrifice for the sake of the team is honorable, like Manu he is doing alot of his damage against 2nd units and doesn't command 1st-option attention. Whenever I've seen teams zero in on him as most people's ranking of him would suggest, he flounders. But I digress...

Crash is a fluid #10 in my book. Here's hoping he has enough in the tank to stay there for a few years.

Brook is my #6, but I wouldn't argue with someone that ranks him #16. There is a steeeeeeeeep dropoff after Dwight, and different people will value skill sets differently. Also, if he wasn't a Net, I might also feel that this ranking is too steep for a guy who didn't defend his ranking last year. But he has it in him to EASILY become the 3rd-best C in the league, maybe #2. He's got to embrace the last-line-of-defense enforcer mentality, and obviously his rebounding is a concern until he can at least replicate '09 numbers.

[jerseyjac]

Avery states the Nets starting lineup is top 15 one through five...

[624]

Blatche: #3 center

[N Ireland Nets]

Blatche: #3 center

If Teletovic finds his range and Avery stops using him as solely a 3 point shooter we could have a bench which drastically improves our team to the point that the sky could be the limit.

CJ Watson looks really good backing up D Will and playing PG with D Will moving to the 2. Blatche is looking great as backup centre, it seems like losing all that weight and having a vet locker room is really getting him to focus on playing hard and so far he's looking good.

Hopefully Brooks stops being a ball stopper in the 2nd unit when he's fit with Teletovic being allowed to post up and play in other spots rather than stick behind the 3 point line. Then we have a top notch bench who should give us some great minutes.

If Blatche works out as our backup Center it's huge because it'll let Lopez stay aggressive on defence and not worry about the possibility of picking up fouls.

This is going to be a hugely exciting season for us guys, I can't wait for it!!!

[iserp]

Knicks fans here, not trying to troll. I mostly agree with your rankings except for Brook Lopez

Deron: #2. He was my favorite PG a couple of years ago, but has slipped quite a bit (being worse than D-Rose and Russ last year, you could even argue for Tony Parker or Nash). But i think this year he will be more motivated and be the best or second bes PG in the league.

JJ: #5. He's always been pretty solid. He is a good shooter and still has his athleticism, and i think this team will let him pick his spots more often. I would take Kobe, Wade, Harden and Ginobili ahead of him, but that's it. I'd rather have him than Iguodala.

Wallace: #8. One of the most difficult to rank, he is really good but has slipped recently and i am a bit wary of him, since he depends so much on his athleticism. LBJ, Durant and Melo are obviously above anyone else. Then i would still take Paul Pierce, Danny Granger, Rudy Gay and Gallinari above him. However, he could be much worse than this... and the lack of quality at SF means that even he is #8, he is not that great.

Humphries: #20+. Let's see the other way round. Which starting PF are worse than him? Not many...

Brook Lopez: around #13. Here is where i disagree the most. I don't think Brook Lopez has proven he is worthy of that contract. He is above average offensively, but that's it. Defensively he is bad, and he needs the offense to revolve around him. I'd rather have some of the more defensive-minded centers, even if their numbers don't look as good as him. All in all, i'd rather have Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, Tyson Chandler, Andrew Bogut, Marcin Gortat, DeMarcus Cousins, Tim Duncan and Al Jefferson. I would have doubts about DeAndre Jordan, Emeka Okafor and Omer Asik. And then, there are the newcomers Anthony Davis (if you consider him a C) and Jonas Valanciunas.

[HelloBrooklyn]

Knicks fans here, not trying to troll. I mostly agree with your rankings except for Brook Lopez

Deron: #2. He was my favorite PG a couple of years ago, but has slipped quite a bit (being worse than D-Rose and Russ last year, you could even argue for Tony Parker or Nash). But i think this year he will be more motivated and be the best or second bes PG in the league.

JJ: #5. He's always been pretty solid. He is a good shooter and still has his athleticism, and i think this team will let him pick his spots more often. I would take Kobe, Wade, Harden and Ginobili ahead of him, but that's it. I'd rather have him than Iguodala.

Wallace: #8. One of the most difficult to rank, he is really good but has slipped recently and i am a bit wary of him, since he depends so much on his athleticism. LBJ, Durant and Melo are obviously above anyone else. Then i would still take Paul Pierce, Danny Granger, Rudy Gay and Gallinari above him. However, he could be much worse than this... and the lack of quality at SF means that even he is #8, he is not that great.

Humphries: #20+. Let's see the other way round. Which starting PF are worse than him? Not many...

Brook Lopez: around #13. Here is where i disagree the most. I don't think Brook Lopez has proven he is worthy of that contract. He is above average offensively, but that's it. Defensively he is bad, and he needs the offense to revolve around him. I'd rather have some of the more defensive-minded centers, even if their numbers don't look as good as him. All in all, i'd rather have Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, Tyson Chandler, Andrew Bogut, Marcin Gortat, DeMarcus Cousins, Tim Duncan and Al Jefferson. I would have doubts about DeAndre Jordan, Emeka Okafor and Omer Asik. And then, there are the newcomers Anthony Davis (if you consider him a C) and Jonas Valanciunas.

I'm sorry are you really trying not to troll or are you just another bias knick fan?

The reasons why you believe Lopez is around 13 pick is not even iegitimate. Just think about the things you said subjectively he is only an above average offensive player? Yet, if you look at the list of names your mentioned who is better than him?? Who are better scorers than Lopez out of all of that list the only who can compete against him is Bynum and Howard. So out of all the 30 starting centers, being #2 or #3 makes you above average??

It's so funny how you can criticize a player because of his skillset yet I bet if we turn this around to your team using your philosophy you would disagree.

For example, I believe Melo is the 9th best player at his position. I don't think he proved he is a player you can account to because he is only a first round exit player. Defensively he doesn't play defense, and needs the offense to revolve around him. I'd rather have an all-around player in this position so they can score and slow down the Lebron and Durant. Even if their numbers don't look as good as him. All in all i'd rather have Lebron, Durant, Iggy, Granger, Deng, Pierce, Gay, and Wallace. You would actually need to consider the newcomers MKD and Terrance Ross so he might be potentially the 11th best player at his position.

[jeff1624]

I actually get offended whenever someone has the audacity to say that Deandre Jordan and Brook Lopez are close as basketball players. It literally makes me mad despite me knowing that we're just talking about basketball. I'm not even gonna argue about those two... if you can't see why Lopez is EASILY the better player, than that's on you.

As for Demarcus Cousins... he's the better player because he rebounds better? Despite shooting an even worse TS% than Rajon Rondo (one of the worst scorers at the PG position). Despite leading the league is fouls which hurts your team even more than bad defense IMO (an area he isn't even all that good at either). Despite being an absolute headcase and can blow up the team from the inside on any given night? Really...

Andrew Bogut, who can't even play more than 10 games a year...

Emeka Okafor, OMAR ASIK?!?! WTF?

I think Lopez is at least on the same tier as Noah, Hibbert, Jefferson, Chandler and Gortat... though I have no problems ranking those guys ahead of him at this point considering the wasted 2011-2012 season Lopez just endured.

[HelloBrooklyn]

I actually get offended whenever someone has the audacity to say that Deandre Jordan and Brook Lopez are close as basketball players. It literally makes me mad despite me knowing that we're just talking about basketball. I'm not even gonna argue about those two... if you can't see why Lopez is EASILY the better player, than that's on you.

As for Demarcus Cousins... he's the better player because he rebounds better? Despite shooting an even worse TS% than Rajon Rondo (one of the worst scorers at the PG position). Despite leading the league is fouls which hurts your team even more than bad defense IMO (an area he isn't even all that good at either). Despite being an absolute headcase and can blow up the team from the inside on any given night? Really...

Andrew Bogut, who can't even play more than 10 games a year...

Emeka Okafor, OMAR ASIK?!?! WTF?

I think Lopez is at least on the same tier as Noah, Hibbert, Jefferson, Chandler and Gortat... though I have no problems ranking those guys ahead of him at this point considering the wasted 2011-2012 season Lopez just endured.

IMO Lopez has the potential to be the 2nd or 3rd best center in the league but as of now, he is behind Dwight, Bynum, Garnett, Duncan. He is in the same limbo in Gasol, Chandler, Noah, Hibberts. All of those players are in the second tier of centers where Brook right now should be in. However, I do think has the potential to move up the tier list. As for the third tier it is Bogut, Gortat, Cousins, Monroe, Jefferson. Where Cousins and Monroe also has the potential to move up.

[DarkXaero]

I actually get offended whenever someone has the audacity to say that Deandre Jordan and Brook Lopez are close as basketball players. It literally makes me mad despite me knowing that we're just talking about basketball. I'm not even gonna argue about those two... if you can't see why Lopez is EASILY the better player, than that's on you.

As for Demarcus Cousins... he's the better player because he rebounds better? Despite shooting an even worse TS% than Rajon Rondo (one of the worst scorers at the PG position). Despite leading the league is fouls which hurts your team even more than bad defense IMO (an area he isn't even all that good at either). Despite being an absolute headcase and can blow up the team from the inside on any given night? Really...

Andrew Bogut, who can't even play more than 10 games a year...

Emeka Okafor, OMAR ASIK?!?! WTF?

I think Lopez is at least on the same tier as Noah, Hibbert, Jefferson, Chandler and Gortat... though I have no problems ranking those guys ahead of him at this point considering the wasted 2011-2012 season Lopez just endured.

Bogut is comfortably the second best center in the league for me when he's healthy. Agree about Cousins, Okafor, and Asik. Although I guess if you want to consider KG a center, then he's the second best when its playoffs time.

[iserp]

Knicks fans here, not trying to troll. I mostly agree with your rankings except for Brook Lopez

Deron: #2. He was my favorite PG a couple of years ago, but has slipped quite a bit (being worse than D-Rose and Russ last year, you could even argue for Tony Parker or Nash). But i think this year he will be more motivated and be the best or second bes PG in the league.

JJ: #5. He's always been pretty solid. He is a good shooter and still has his athleticism, and i think this team will let him pick his spots more often. I would take Kobe, Wade, Harden and Ginobili ahead of him, but that's it. I'd rather have him than Iguodala.

Wallace: #8. One of the most difficult to rank, he is really good but has slipped recently and i am a bit wary of him, since he depends so much on his athleticism. LBJ, Durant and Melo are obviously above anyone else. Then i would still take Paul Pierce, Danny Granger, Rudy Gay and Gallinari above him. However, he could be much worse than this... and the lack of quality at SF means that even he is #8, he is not that great.

Humphries: #20+. Let's see the other way round. Which starting PF are worse than him? Not many...

Brook Lopez: around #13. Here is where i disagree the most. I don't think Brook Lopez has proven he is worthy of that contract. He is above average offensively, but that's it. Defensively he is bad, and he needs the offense to revolve around him. I'd rather have some of the more defensive-minded centers, even if their numbers don't look as good as him. All in all, i'd rather have Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, Tyson Chandler, Andrew Bogut, Marcin Gortat, DeMarcus Cousins, Tim Duncan and Al Jefferson. I would have doubts about DeAndre Jordan, Emeka Okafor and Omer Asik. And then, there are the newcomers Anthony Davis (if you consider him a C) and Jonas Valanciunas.

I'm sorry are you really trying not to troll or are you just another bias knick fan?

The reasons why you believe Lopez is around 13 pick is not even iegitimate. Just think about the things you said subjectively he is only an above average offensive player? Yet, if you look at the list of names your mentioned who is better than him?? Who are better scorers than Lopez out of all of that list the only who can compete against him is Bynum and Howard. So out of all the 30 starting centers, being #2 or #3 makes you above average??

It's so funny how you can criticize a player because of his skillset yet I bet if we turn this around to your team using your philosophy you would disagree.

For example, I believe Melo is the 9th best player at his position. I don't think he proved he is a player you can account to because he is only a first round exit player. Defensively he doesn't play defense, and needs the offense to revolve around him. I'd rather have an all-around player in this position so they can score and slow down the Lebron and Durant. Even if their numbers don't look as good as him. All in all i'd rather have Lebron, Durant, Iggy, Granger, Deng, Pierce, Gay, and Wallace. You would actually need to consider the newcomers MKD and Terrance Ross so he might be potentially the 11th best player at his position.

Hummm

In the end, although i named Okafor, Asik, DeAndre Jordan, Davis and Valanciunas, i only set back Brook Lopez one position (mostly because of Davis).

It's OK if you disagree with me. But, well, Brook Lopez has led really BAD teams. I don't want to underrate Brook because other superstars (Durant, Love) have been in really bad teams in his first years. But center is the most irreplaceable position in basketball. I hope that any team, no matter how bad is it, with a good C, to do OK (not playoffs, but OK at least). Centers have more responsibility defensively than any other position, and well, he certainly lacks in that aspect. You can hide a defensively challenged PG, but you can't hide your C.

Besides, he is not terribly efficient offensively . Some of you guys have him ahead of Marc Gasol !!!, who is more efficient, grabs more rebounds and passes much more. He scores less, yes, but that's about it.

I didn't count some players that can play PF and C, like Pau Gasol, Al Horford or Greg Monroe (i expect him to play PF much more this year). I guess i could keep those at PF and consider him above Davis, and also above DeMarcus Cousins (who personally i think is gonna be a beast going forward), and rank Brook Lopez #11.

Well, i guess i have biases; but you.... well, you ave biases, too.

[therealbig3]

Centers have more responsibility defensively than any other position, and well, he certainly lacks in that aspect. You can hide a defensively challenged PG, but you can't hide your C.

I don't see how you can talk about his defense and how it hurts his value, and then say you'd take Monroe or Cousins over him...they're worse defensively than he is.

[iserp]

Centers have more responsibility defensively than any other position, and well, he certainly lacks in that aspect. You can hide a defensively challenged PG, but you can't hide your C.

I don't see how you can talk about his defense and how it hurts his value, and then say you'd take Monroe or Cousins over him...they're worse defensively than he is.

Monroe is undersized as a C and i actually counted him as a PF (I think this year he'll play that position more). And yeah, probably i am banking too much on Cousins maturing and take advantage 100% of his athleticism; i think he is not a lost case (a-la-Javale McGee). I can give you that, but then, still #11 in my book.

[deepblueday]

But center is the most irreplaceable position in basketball. I hope that any team, no matter how bad is it, with a good C, to do OK (not playoffs, but OK at least). Centers have more responsibility defensively than any other position, and well, he certainly lacks in that aspect. You can hide a defensively challenged PG, but you can't hide your C.

yep, because we all know guys like chandler, noah, hibbert, gasol, and gortat would've led those nets teams to the 8th seed.

[DarkXaero]

But center is the most irreplaceable position in basketball. I hope that any team, no matter how bad is it, with a good C, to do OK (not playoffs, but OK at least). Centers have more responsibility defensively than any other position, and well, he certainly lacks in that aspect. You can hide a defensively challenged PG, but you can't hide your C.

yep, because we all know guys like chandler, noah, hibbert, gasol, and gortat would've led those nets teams to the 8th seed.

This. I laugh whenever I hear how Lopez led Nets to horrible records and how other centers would have fared better in his situation. As if players like Chandler, Noah, Hibbert, Gasol and Gortat would have gotten us more wins. Brook has played on some truly hopelessly horrible teams. People also conveniently forget that this also happened in Brook's second and third years in the league, when he wasn't ready to take on so much responsibility.

[HelloBrooklyn]

But center is the most irreplaceable position in basketball. I hope that any team, no matter how bad is it, with a good C, to do OK (not playoffs, but OK at least). Centers have more responsibility defensively than any other position, and well, he certainly lacks in that aspect. You can hide a defensively challenged PG, but you can't hide your C.

yep, because we all know guys like chandler, noah, hibbert, gasol, and gortat would've led those nets teams to the 8th seed.

This. I laugh whenever I hear how Lopez led Nets to horrible records and how other centers would have fared better in his situation. As if players like Chandler, Noah, Hibbert, Gasol and Gortat would have gotten us more wins. Brook has played on some truly hopelessly horrible teams. People also conveniently forget that this also happened in Brook's second and third years in the league, when he wasn't ready to take on so much responsibility.

are you kidding me??? Chandler would've average 20 PPG 15 RPG and 4 BPG if he played with the Nets

[HelloBrooklyn]

Your making it sound like Lopez is a complete liability on defense to the point where he can be replace with a chair BTW.

[PetroNet]

You can certainly point to some flaws in Lopez' game. but it is an act of idiocy to point to him leading teams with bad records to diminish him in any way, shape, or form. I'm sorry but can you really knock a 2nd year player for not leading a team that was intentionally gutted for purposes of tanking to get john wall to the playoffs?

as a sophmore lopez played in a lineup of:

Devin Harris
Chris Douglass Roberts(yes THAT CDR)
Trenton Hassell(yes! trenton flipping hassell!)
Yi Jian Lian (The Chairman himself!)
Brook Lopez

and worst of all, that lineup wasnt even healthy! the following players STARTED at least 25 games that year:

Jarvia Hayes, Courtney Lee, Josh Boone and then raefer allston started like 15 games.

im sorry but gortat, hibbert, hell even bynum arent getting that team anywhere near the playoffs. let alone as second year guys.

ranking Lopez 13th is just flat haterade or trolling at its finest order. i can see putting him 6 or so if you want to throw duncan, KG, and horford in as centers. but there is no way hibbert, cousins, gortat and a giant hell to the no for marc gasol are better.