[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I know that the NBA already announced its MVP, Defensive player of the year, and other awards, but I decided to rank my top 30 NBA players, including my 3 all NBA teams.

I think that Rose should have won the MVP award, but it should have been a closer race.  I would have given Rose 30% of the vote, Howard 25% of the vote, LeBron 20%, Dirk 10%, Wade 5%, Durant 5% and Amare 5%.

My top 30:

1.  Derrick Rose 

2.  Dwight Howard

3.  LeBron James

4.  Dirk

5.  Wade

6.  Durant

7.  Amare

8.  Kobe

9.  Pau Gasol

10.  Chris Paul

11. Manu Ginobili

12. Russell Westbrook

13. Zach Randolph

14. Rajon Rondo

15. Lamarcus Aldridge

16. Kevin Garnett

17. Lamar Odom

18. Tony Parker

19. Blake Griffin

20. Kevin Love

21. Al Horford

22. Carmelo Anthony

23. Steve Nash

24. Nene

25. Kyle Lowry

26. Deron Williams

27. Jason Kidd

28. Joe Johnson

29. Monta Ellis

30. Andre Iguodala

 

Honorable mention: Luis Scola, Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan, Roy Hibbert, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Serge Ibaka, Luol Deng, Brook Lopez, Marc Gasol.

 

1st team all-NBA:   Rose, Wade, LeBron, Dirk, and Howard.

2nd Team All-NBA:  Kobe, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Amare, Pau Gasol

3rd Team All-NBA: Manu Ginobili, Russell Westbrook, Zach Randolph, Lamar Odom, LaMarcus Aldridge

All-Rookie Team: Blake Griffin (ROY), John Wall, Greg Monroe, DeMarcus Cousins, Landry Fields.

Defensive 1st Team: Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, LeBron, Ibaka, Dwight Howard (DPOY)

Defensive 2nd Team: Russell Westbrook, Keith Bogans, Thabo Sefolosha, Shane Battier, Javale McGhee.

New Categories:

Best All-Around: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Jason Kidd, LeBron James (wins award), Lamar Odom

Cinderella Team (a group of guys who aren’t stars but play great, are fundamentally sound, and a team that could make a deep, deep run in the post-season.)

Starters: PG Kyle Lowry, SG Aaron Afflalo, SF Shane Battier, PF Luis Scola, C Marcin Gortat.  Bench: PG/SG JJ Barea, SG Tony Allen, SG Gary Neal, SF/PF Shawne Williams, PF Psycho T, PF/C Matt Bonner, C Joel Anthony

Most Improved: Tie: Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley

Comeback Player of the Year: Shawne Williams

Bizarro MVP (Player who makes a team better after they trade him, and the new team worse once they get him): Carmelo Anthony

Most Underrated: Shane Battier, a guy who started off his career being slightly overrated based on his college career, underrated for his first few years, then very overrated by some Memphis fans, fairly rated in Houston, then overrated as he lost a half step, back to underrated after coming back to Memphis in THE  most underrated trades of the year.

2nd Most Underrated Trade: The Grizzlies traded the historically overrated, but at times severally underrated OJ Mayo to the Pacers for Josh McRoberts but they didn’t get the trade done in time.  Pissed of, OJ comes back and plays underrated basketball.  McRoberts also comes back to Indiana and plays underrated ball the rest of the way and throwing down some underrated dunks.  This is the 2nd best non-trade ever behind the Scottie Pippen for Shawn Kemp trade, thus making it the most underrated non-trade of all time (or at least this year).

Most Underrated Lopez twin: Brook

Most Overrated Lopez twin: Robin.

(Interestingly enough, Robin was the most underrated Lopez twin, with Brook being the most Overrated Lopez twin.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they switch places AGAIN next year.)

Most Underrated Morris twin: Markieff

Most Overrated Morris twin: Marcus

Most Underrated Crawford: Jamal (based on the playoffs.  started off his career switching places between underrated and overrated, severely overrated a few years ago, but then came back to the underrated side this year with Atlanta, if he stays hot though he might turn into a guy that is so underrated that he becomes overrated again).

Most Overrated Crawford: Jordan.  Was underrated, then he dunked on LeBron and was overrated for a while, then was underrated heading into the draft, continued to be underrated as he got traded to the Wizards and put up some nice numbers, but he is now underrated in that people think that he could be the long-term option at 2 guard although he might be better as a 6th man.  Could be so overrated that the Wizards pass on Brandon Knight (who may fit in well with John Wall) with Wall, Knight, and Crawford being an AWESOME 3 guard rotation.

Most Underrated of the Flying Plumlee Brothers: Marshall.  Great athelete, should have won the high school dunk contest.  

Most Overrated Bosh: Big 3 with the media including Bosh in that Big 3.

Most Underrated Bosh: the third wheel. it is kind of working in the playoffs.  Might be the most underrated underrated power forward in the playoffs.  Z Bo is the most overrated underrated power forward still playing in the playoffs.

Most Underrated Rose: last summer’s Rose where the was flying under the radar and tweeted for LeBron to come to Chicago.

Most Overrated Rose: MVP

Most Underrated Dwight Howard: several weeks ago when Coach Van Jeremy said that there was no way that Howard was getting MVP .

Most Overrated Dwight Howard: 46 and 19. First round loss.

Most underrated big man freak athlete: Javale McGhee.  throws down some nasty dunks.  Insane blocks.

Most overrated big man freak athlete: Blake Griffin: overrated in the dunk contest, better season dunks were earlier in the year.  doesn’t give you the awesome blocks that McGhee does.

Most overrated Grizzlies dunker: Rudy Gay (he set the bar really high for himself).

Most underrated Grizzlies dunker: Sam Young, Darrell Arthur

Most overrated underrated overrated veteran super star: Tim Duncan

Most underrated big man rookie: Greg Monroe

Most overrated big man rookie: Derrick Favors

Most underrated Wizards rookie guard: Jordan Crawford

Most overrated Wizards rookie guard: John Wall

Most underrated, then overrated, then back to underrated rookie: DeMarcus Cousins

Most overrated All-NBA Second Year Team: Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Jonny Flynn, Dejuan Blair, Harden

Yinka Dare Award (goes to the player who most resembles Yinka’s stat line and bust status): Hasheem Thabeet.  Yinka’s career stats: 2.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, and 4 assists in 110 career NBA games, with ZERO assists his first two years (59 games).  57.0% from the line.

Hasheem’s career stats: 2.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, and 15 assists in 115 games but only 4 this year (47 games).  57.0% from the line.

Most overrated back-up power forward on the Bulls: Taj Gibson

Most underrated back-up power forward on the Bulls: Kurt Thomas

Most underrated Raymond Felton: on the Knicks

Most overrated Raymond Felton: on the Nuggets

All-Most overrated players in 2011 who were members of the 2004 Pistons championship team: Chauncey Billups, Prince, Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace’s comeback rumors

Most underrated player in 20011 who was a member of the 2004 Pistons championship team: Darko

Most overrated Kentucky Wildcat rookie guard: John Wall

Most underrated Kentucky Wildcat rookie guard: Eric Bledsoe

Most overrated reserve player who was a member of the 2008 Kansas championship team: Mario Chalmers.  Runner-up: Brandon Rush

Most underrated reserve player who was a member of the 2008 Kansas championship team: Darrell Arthur.  Runner-up: Brandon Rush

Most overrated NBA player on the 2008 Memphis Tigers Final Four team (not named Derrick Rose): Chris Douglas-Roberts

Most underrated NBA player on the 2008 Memphis Tigers Final Four team (not named after a flower): Joey Dorsey

Best NBA players on a recent NCAA Final Four team: 2008 UCLA with Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Daniel Collison, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, a somewhat stunning collection of basketball talent given that they didn’t even win the title that year.

Most underrated poor man’s Terrence Jones: Marvin Williams

Most overrated poor man’s Terrence Jones: Jeff Green

Most overrated JJ: Reddick

Most underrated JJ: Barea

Most Overrated Player of the Year: Kevin Love (might have made the Empty Stats Hall of Fame this year), Carmelo Anthony (Lifetime Achievement Award), Blake Griffin’s car dunk, Ricky Rubio

All-Clutch Team (guys you want in there to take a last shot): Kobe, Ray Allen, Durant, Dirk, Z-Bo/Rudy Gay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sammybuckeye13Participant]

Kyle Lowry had a better season than Deron Williams?

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Deron Williams drama killed the Jazz’ season, and forced Jerry Sloan to quit.  Then he got traded to the Nets, put up some great stats and then got hurt. 

Kyle Lowry played great and helped lead his team to a furious run for the last playoff spot out West (even though they were unsuccessful). 

I gave preference to players on playoff teams or contenders.  I put Carmelo low on my list because he didn’t really help either team he was on this year. 

[Jlv2011]

Smh

[topotamolderParticipant]

Most Improved = Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley ?  WTF?

 

Kevin Love or Aldridge improved much more this year than Conley or Lowry

[goneParticipant]

“Could be so overrated that the Wizards pass on Brandon Knight (who may fit in well with John Wall)”

Lolz /

[RickyRubio9Participant]

Rankings are not good.. 
Kyle Lowry should be on All-Defensive as Chuck Hayes.

I honestly stopped reading aroundt he Howard underrated ’cause it wasn’t making sense anymore.. 

[Da1potParticipant]

 Why would the Wizards draft Brandon Knight? And how is Crawford overrated just for you to say later in the post he is actually underrated? lol……. He barely makes over 1 mil and he was putting up 16 ppg in his rookie season after he was traded to Washington. Also, I guarantee you John Wall and Blake Griffin are not overrated either. Understand how difficult it is to average the numbers they did in their rookie campaigns. Of course they are going to be on losing teams- Rarely does a team with the #1 overall pick make a complete turnaround in its following season.

[sbealer22Participant]

 I might get negatives for this, but I think Howard was the MVP this season. You take Rose off the Bulls, you have the 8th seed in the East, you take Howard off the Magic, they are with Minny and Cleveland for #1. Just my opinion, but it should have been a lot closer then it was.

[goneParticipant]

/ ???? Boozer and Noah didnt even play the whole year a starting line up minus Rose of

Watson
Bogans
Deng
Gibson
Thomas

would definitely be the worst team in the nba

[sbealer22Participant]

 At least they could play some defense, and with Boozer and Noah playing 59 and 48 games respectively, they would win, I would say 35-38 games. Which would get them to the #8 seed (since the #1 seed is gone). If you take Howard out of Orlando, you have a team that would barely play defense, give up a ton of points. And it would be tough for them to outscore teams. They win around 22 games, which puts them in the bottom 4. 

Just my opinion. Defense is very important to me.

[JJeff6Participant]

 Kobe at 8!? thats messed up man hes at least top 2 or 3.  I hate the guy but I respect his game enough to give him that.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Topotamolder,

I think Lowry and Conley turned themselves from below-average, mediocre floor generals at best into very steady and effective starting point guards, who at times, played very, very well.  Both turned into great floor generals.  Conley guided a team into the playoffs who had a lot of different pieces, then lost a significant player (Rudy Gay) before the stetch run.  Conley is now an effective 3rd option in the playoffs so far.  They have a legit chance to contend this year (especially if they win game 3) and will be a force to be reckoned with next year.  This is more impressive given that Conley didn’t really have a decent backup until GV emerged late in the year.  The 2 guard spot has been influx all year with OJ, Xavier Henry, Sam Young, and Tony Allen all getting starts in the backcourt. 

Kyle Lowry really put it together.  He led the team to a great stretch to close out the year, and almost made the playoffs. 

LaMarcus Aldridge had a great year and emerged as a go-to guy for the Blazers, but I think he was a top 30 or 40 player last year.  Lowry and Conley weren’t even on the radar last year.  LA turned himself into a legit weapon on offense which is why I ranked him 15th and also had him on my NBA 3rd team.  I could have even had him a little higher.  But he was always good and on the radar (probably a top 30 or 40 guy last year).  This year, LA had 21.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals a game.  He shot 50% from the field and 79.1% from the line.  Last year he averaged 17.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.9 steals a game.  Last year he shot 49.5% from the floor and 75.7% from the line.  So he raised his averages over the previous season but maybe not as much as some might think.  I would consider him more of a sleeper MVP pick than a Most Improved Player pick.  He asserted himself as a guy you can build around and turned himself into the Pau Gasol in the Pacific Northwest.  While Andre Miller and the recently acquired Gerald Wallace deserve some credit for getting that Blazers team, the bulk of it goes to LaMarcus Aldridge. 

Serge Ibaka went from a good backup on a lower seeded playoff team into a very good starter on a legit contender, and a great defensive anchor.  He also turned himself into a legit 3rd guy on the Thunder (if only an overall player, and not a classic 3rd option on offense). 

Two years ago Kevin Love put up great stats on a bad team.  This year he put up great stats on a bad team that won one fewer game.  He just played more minutes.  His defense is still mediocre at best.  His 2010-2011 stats are very comparable to David Lee’s 2009-2010 stats. 

I should probably have added Ty Lawson to the list of Most Improved Player candidates.  I consider an MIP candidate a guy who had a real breakout who wasn’t really on the radar as far as a top NBA player and turned himself into a real force in the league.  

… about Jordan Crawford: good player, but he might be better as a sixth man.  I really like 3 guard rotations so if the Wizards can get a guy they like in the draft (even if he plays guard) then they should draft him.  If they fall to around 6 or 7 and Irving, Williams, Kanter, Motie, and Knight are gone then they should take a look at a guy like Alec Burks who can play the 2 (with Crawford coming off the bench) or the 3 if they decide to go small.  The Wiz have a point guard and center.  Blatche has upside at the 4.  They really need a small forward, but I am not sure there’s a guy that would fit with them.  I think they might want to go after a real core player and legit offensive weapon like Burks (or maybe Brandon Knight) than a projected role player like Jan Vesely who might not have a true position in the league. 

 

 

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

Were you doing the top 30 rankings by how they did THIS season? Or just overall skill and talent?

Hope you were doing by this season because if not that list is TERRIBLE lol

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