The Sports Page: CD2's Top Ten NBA Players

For whatever reason, we men love lists. It doesn't matter. It could be a list of the top ten breakfast cereals (had that battle before), the top rappers (had that battle before), or something idiotic and mundane as ranking the best looking celebrity females who's first name starts with "J" (haven't had that battle...yet).

This particular list, my fourth published list, is of the best NBA players to this day. My top players are based on the criteria I favor. I hear people's arguments about who the top player is and it is usually lame and downright lazy. Many just say Dirk [Nowitzki] because he and his team are the defending NBA champs. "It's gotta be Dirk!" they exclaim. "He won the title. He beat LeBron!" So lazy.

In team sports, there are always many factors that determine wins and losses, so I won't make that easy argument. I do acknowledge, however, that basketball more that any other team sport can be heavily influenced by one player. Ask Cleveland, Ohio or any team that got rid of Stephon Marbury. I like to take into consideration certain intangibles, such as leadership, basketball IQ, and mental and physical toughness in addition to all the easily quantifiable talents, such as scoring or shot blocking.

This should be fun, and I expect that people are going to kill my list, but that is what makes it fun. Here it is, my top ten...


10. Carmelo Kiyan Anthony

Strengths

• Elite scorer  
• Can score in every way
• Good rebounder
• Great strenth and quickness

Weaknesses

• Occasionally shows immaturity
• Sporadic defensive intensity
• Doesn't set up teammates well

I've said this before, but I'd really have a hard time arguing against the claim that Melo is the best pure scorer in the league. He can do anything. He can drive, eat up the paint, launch threes, and has an actual mid-range game. He has one of the best jab-steps I've ever seen. If he ever learns how to use this ability to set up teammates when necessary too, look out. At times, he can come off as immature or sullen, but I don't think he is a bad guy. I previously labeled him as overrated, but that doesn't mean I think he is a bad player.

9. Derrick Martell Rose

Strengths

• Best penetrator in the league
• Elite finisher at the rim
• Relentless offensive aggressor 
• He's only 23

Weaknesses

• Average [at best] mid-range and long range shooter
• Shoots a low percentage
• People pleaser

I should start by explaining "people pleaser." D. Rose, along with another player in this top ten, appears to be one of those guys that wants everyone to be happy and to be pleased. After loses, he's always saying "I let the team down," or "I didn't do enough..." Nonsense! You are the man of the team. They live and die with you! As a leader, there has to be times when you just have to be an asshole. There's no other way to put it. Did Magic care about making everyone happy? Bird? MJ? Kobe? Timmy? Nope! They weren't afraid to get in people's faces or make people uncomfortable and accountable if it meant getting everyone on board with winning.  By trying to keep everyone happy, his teammates may not feel as accountable and may just say, "eh, D. Rose got us. I'm not worried." Naw. They need to be just as accountable. Other than that, he's a freak. I saw him live and it's absolutely inexplicable how he gets to the rim AT WILL even when all five defenders are aiming specifically to stop him. It defies all logic and physics.  

8. Deron Michael Williams

Strengths

• Great basketball IQ
• Floor generalship
• Great passer
• Great relative strength as a PG

Weaknesses

• Tends to disappear at times down the stretch
• Besides passing, its not great at anything

I know I will be killed for both having Rose at 9 and having Williams ahead of him (or maybe for having Williams on this list at all). I'm honestly more biased towards true floor generals than small players that shoot mostly. Deron doesn't have any glaring weaknesses, but he doesn't do anything great, except for passing, as far as offensive abilities go. Rather, he is good at most things. Nonetheless, he is a top five floor general and he knows how to make the right play and make his teammates better. He struggles at times to take over games late, but you can pretty much count on him to make the right play when needed, whether it's knocking down the mid-range jumper or making the pass to an open teammate for a score. He's the Generation-Y version of Jason Kidd, only a better scorer and not as great a passer.

7. Kevin Wayne Durant

Strengths

• Elite scorer 
• Almost indefensible 
• One of the best at drawing fouls
• He's only 23

Weaknesses

• Gets pushed around by tough physical defenders (a la Metta World Peace)
• Needs to get better at setting up teammates
• Tends to play as if he's a small guard at times
• Non-existent post game

Weird story, but a couple years ago, I was travelling while on vacation. I was in Chicago for a moment before I ended up in San Francisco. In both cities, I ended up watching the Lakers-Thunder playoff series. I cannot remember which game it was or which city I was watching it in, but something caught my attention. In one close game, in which the Thunder won, I saw Durant make it very difficult for Kobe to merely get off a shot against him. Kobe had no answer for Durant's quickness and length. My gosh. If Durant decides to shut someone down, he could absolutely give scorers around the league nightmares. He is quick enough to contain players and too long to actually post up, assuming he wouldn't be guarding thick centers that could post up. He is going to go down as one of the great scorers to ever play the game. He hasn't put it all together yet, but he will get there and make his way towards the top of this list soon enough. 

6. Dirk Werner Nowitzki

Strengths

• Cannot be defended
• Elite scorer
• Most efficient offensive player

Weaknesses

• Average [at best] defender
• Lacks foot speed 
• Doesn't play tall on defense

Perhaps Dirk had a moment of catharsis last year. I don't know, but whatever it was, it caused him to play impeccable basketball during last year's playoffs. I cannot recall seeing a player play so efficiently. Whether it was his shot selection, the rate at which he scored, or just setting up his teammates, he was doing everything as well as it could possibly be done. This is why I have him slightly above the Durantula. Where I differ from everyone else that has him at number one is defense and the fact that basketball is a team sport. I don't think he is as bad on defense as people make him out to be, but he doesn't make much of an impact enough for my taste. I know that being a defensive stopper is not his role, but still. Otherwise, I'd have him much higher right now. Also, people put him at one because Dallas won the title. They won a title while the Lakers and Spurs had nothing left and the Grizzlies and Thunder were too inexperienced. Miami squandered leads in two of the games in last year's finals. Dallas was old, but they didn't have to make four straight title runs, which equates to essentially an extra season of playoff intensity games, as the Lakers did. They had early playoff exits, which helped them last year. Nonetheless, there were the best team last year with Dirk leading the charge.

5. Dwight David Howard

Strengths

• Elite defender
• Elite shot blocker and rebounder
• Most dominant offensive force in the paint
• Rare athletic ability
• Extremely durable big man

Weaknesses

• Not very offensively skilled
• Terrible free throw shooter (late game liability)
• Doesn't take over games enough
• Minimal killer instinct
• Gets in foul trouble often

He is a genetic freak. The same could be said about Blake Griffin. These two are big men, but they are perfectly proportioned as if they were  normal-sized people. Take Andrew Bynum for instance. Just watch Bynum locomote. He doesn't appear to be fluid like Howard. It looks like Bynum will get hurt at any moment. I believe Howard has played in all but seven games his entire career even with the pounding he takes physically from defenders. Truly incredible. At this point, I don't know if he will ever be a very skilled scoring big man since it hasn't happened yet, but he is far more than serviceable offensively, especially since he can score a lot on drop offs or offensive rebounds. He is probably the best defender in the league at any position and is definitely the best rebounder. I wish he will eventually realize that sending a block shot 30 rows into the stands doesn't do a whole lot in basketball terms. The offense still has the ball. He still commits too many silly, useless fouls (including technicals), but hopefully the guile that comes with experience will eliminate that. 

4. Kobe Bean Bryant

Strengths

• All-time great scorer
• No offensive flaws
• High basketball IQ
• Great defender
• Mental and physical toughness

Weaknesses

• Bad shot selection at times
• Lots of mileage and injuries
• Decline in ability to get to the rim

Since there isn't much to say about Kobe, especially since I have already written a manifesto, I will bring up one thing ESPN's Colin Cowherd brought up, and I am mad because I didn't think of it. He claims that Kobe, unlike the rest of the all-time greats, had to put up with nonsensical teammates. Outside of Derek Fisher, who has he been able to trust throughout his career? Shaq was not wired like him and didn't take basketball as serious. Odom shows up to kill maybe once a week and is now a part of Team Kardashian. Pau Gasol, while one of the best combo center-forwards in the league, can be mentally fragile at times. Bynum is either injured or one penetrating guard away from a suspension. Luckily the first title teams had guys like Rick Fox, Ron Harper, Horace Grant, Robert Horry, and Brian Shaw, veteran tough guys to balance it all out. Did Jordan have to worry about Pippen bringing it every night? Did Magic have to worry about Kareem or Worthy bringing it? Did Bird have to worry about McHale, Johnson, or Parish bringing it every night? I thought that was a great thing to think about with Kobe's legacy per Cowherd.

3. Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr.

Strengths

• Elite slashing scorer
• Elite finisher
• Great defender

Weaknesses

• Limited shooting range
• Prone to injury [due to his slashing]
• Bad 3-point shooter

I may be committing blasphemy as an Angeleno, but I do think Wade may be slightly past Kobe at this moment. Wade is in his prime while Kobe is at the back end of his prime, at best. Wade can take over a game at any moment. Also, he can be an absolute lockdown defender when he wants to be, but that is not his main role on the team. He is not as Houdini-like like Rose, but he can get to the rim almost anytime he wants and has a very effective mid-range game [insert lost art cliche]. However, once he gets near the three point line, he is not as effective. Hopefully he will not breakdown so he can continue to be one of the elite players.

2. Christopher Emmanuel  Paul

Strengths

• Elite floor generalship
• Elite passer and ball handler
• High basketball IQ

Weaknesses

• Passive scoring mentality
• Dubious knee condition

Right now, I'd have to say he's my favorite NBA player. He reminds me of my boy growing up, Horace. With Horace, he had no serious flaws and he almost always made the right play. He knew how to set teammates up and execute the pass perfectly. He knew how to get to the rim and use his body in a way that makes up for his lack of height. He was an excellent shooter. He was a great, crafty defender. That is Paul. As far as basketball goes, what are his flaws? There is nothing that stands out. He may not be the greatest at any one thing, but he is great at nearly everything with very little flaws. He is basically a better offensive version of Isiah Thomas. I was scared for him because of his knee problems, but he still managed to dominate the flow of games in many spots last year and was even better as his knee responded better later in the season. I am a huge Kobe defender, but I honestly believe Paul should have won the MVP in 2008 over Kobe, but Kobe was going to get it as sort of a career-achievement award. The Hornets had nothing to work with last year outside of Paul and gave the Lakers fits in the playoffs. With David West lost to injury, I thought they would be an easy out in the playoffs, but Paul absolutely dominated the Lakers' guards and kept them in the series as long as he could. I really hope his knee holds up for him so we can see one of the best (and maybe the best) point guards ever. 

1. LeBron Raymone James

Strengths

• Elite finisher
• Elite scorer
• Elite floor generalship
• Elite passer
• Elite defender

Weaknesses

• Lack of a sufficient mid-range game (mostly 3's or layup/dunks)
• Lack of a sufficient low/high-post game
• Mental toughness

There might be a contract on my life as a result of this, but I believe it. LeBron is number one. Sometimes I wonder if Laker fans hate on LeBron, at least here in L.A., because they are insecure about Kobe's place at the top of the league. I don't know. I think the hatred is absolutely moronic and unjustifiable. Yes, you didn't like the way he left with The Decision, but in the broad scope of things, was it really that bad? Who could be mad at him now after Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has exposed himself on numerous occasions as an ultimate [Richard]?  LeBron is able to take over games in more ways than anyone. He can take over as a facilitator, a scorer, and a defender. You saw him totally take Derrick Rose out of the game during the late stages of last year's Eastern Conference Finals. You saw him score 3,656 straight points to close out game 5 against Detroit in the 2007 playoffs. I wrote about his game and how he gets by without being particularly skilled. He needs to up his offensive arsenal by getting a mid-range game and post game. Once that happens, it's pretty much over.  His random meltdown in the 2011 finals was weird and shocking, but it is within reason that the pressure got to him. That was his first time as a "villain," which is absurd, and having the pressure of being expected to win it all, unlike his horrible, over-achieving Cleveland teams. With all that went on last year, they were two blown games in the finals (game 2 and game 4), in which they blew late game leads, from winning the whole thing with a lackluster supporting cast after Wade and Bosh. LeBron is poised to take over the throne. Be ready.