The small forward position is the most diverse position in the NBA, mainly because the job descriptions of small forwards vary with each of the NBA’s 30 franchises.
Peja Stojakovic and Jason Kapono are three-point marksmen with no other appreciable skills. Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier, and James Posey are premier defensive specialists with little appreciable offensive talent. Gerald Wallace and Andrei Kirilenko are athletic high flyers on offense, and especially, on defense.
Paul Pierce, Brandon Roy, Hedo Turkoglu, and Caron Butler are asked to do everything for their teams, and they do it well. Carmelo Anthony needs the ball to be explosive, Matt Harpring does all his work without the ball, and Boris Diaw is at his best when he’s delivering the ball to someone else.
This list does not take into account a player’s future prospects or past salad days. The criteria is simple, and framed as a question it is: Which NBA small forward is best suited to being an integral part of a championship team this year?
Due to the way some NBA lineups are presently constructed, a handful of potential small forwards will be asked to play different positions this year. For that reason, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, and Rashard Lewis are listed as power forwards.
No rookies made the list. We haven't seen them play in meaningful games against meaningful competition, so we can't know where they should be ranked.
With the formalities taken care of, the list.
1. LeBron James—Cleveland Cavaliers
Spectacularly athletic, James is easily the best small forward in the NBA, and has a chance to be one of the best ever. James is exceptionally quick with an explosive first step, but it’s his linebacker strength that allows him to discard contact and finish in hostile crowds and enables him to be the premier finisher in the league.
James is also blessed with tremendous court vision which allows him to spot open teammates when defenses are converging on him. His defense has improved considerably from his first years in the league, as he is no longer a defensive liability, and he has actually become a well above-average defender.
James’ jumper tends to abandon him, and he rarely plays off the ball, two characteristics that hold him below Kobe Bryant as the best player in the game. Nonetheless, given James' talent and the fact that he’s steadily improved each year in the league, it's clear that there is every possibility that James will someday be mentioned among the basketball immortals.
2. Paul Pierce—Boston Celtics
Pierce was Mr. Everything in Boston’s most important games last season. He was the one with the ball in his hands in crunch time, when the Celtics needed somebody to deliver a key score or a key pass. He was the one who defended opposing teams’ best players, often shutting them down.
Aggressive enough to finish in contact, unselfish enough to defer to teammates with better matchups, and clutch enough to always come through when it matters, Pierce is a complete and total basketball player.
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2 months ago
Gerald wallace is better than lamar odom because odom looked scared in the finals. I agree with Pierce at 2nd right behind Lebron i feel that he's been overlooked for a while until this year
from 2 months ago
In fairness, Carmelo Anthony's been clueless in every NBA playoff game he's ever played in, and I'm sure everybody will think that my placing him at number 4 is a stretch. Wallace hasn't even had a meaningful role on a playoff team yet, and I'm not sure he's a better individual defender or offensive player that Odom is.
from 2 months ago
Erick didnt catch the 06-07 playoffs where Melo lit up the Spurs at a 30+ppg clip and Iverson choked away the series..... obviously.
2 months ago
Where's Stephen Jackson or do you have him as shooting guard?
from 2 months ago
With Maggette at the 3 and Ellis/Williams at the point, Jackson is Golden State's 2-guard.
2 months ago
roy's a combo guard and not a small foreward, but thanks for writing so positively about our future superstar!!!
from 2 months ago
He's a small forward in name only...he guards opposing small forwards most of the time, and he plays inside the arc, while Martell Webster often guards 2-guards and drifts behind the three-point line on offense.
Maybe I just have a vendetta against the league for declaring Roy a shooting guard.
from 2 months ago
haha nice,
i actually think this is the year that Outlaw starts over Webster
2 months ago
I like a lot of this list but Bowen and Turkoglu over guys like AK47, tayshaun, smith, odom, gay, and andre Ig??? Don't fall into the trap of believing that Bowen is still an elite defender. He has lost more than one step over the past several seasons. Remember, Tim Duncan is sitting right there behind Bowen, waiting to block or change the shot of any man who tries to get past Bowen. Also, he can only hit threes from the corner. He is the classic "system player." If this list is meant to judge who, if you could choose you would most want on your team (meaning any team in the league), it is hard for me to believe that anyone would rather have Bruce Bowen than Josh Smith.
Also, I would take Ryan Gomes over Grant Hill and Boris Diaw 8 days a week.
from 2 months ago
Bowen still disrupts everything a player tries to do along the perimeter. He shut down Nash and Stojakovic, and forced Kobe into difficult shot after difficult shot. He's also shown a pull-up jumper when defenders close out too hard. AK47 and Prince can be pushed aside by any player with strength. Odom can't focus, Gay has no idea how to defend one-on-one or succeed in a halfcourt offense. Iguodala's jumper leaves much to be desired and I don't think he's as fast as many people claim he is.
Turkoglu, meanwhile, can do just about anything except not turn the ball over. Plus, he's remarkably clutch.
The criteria for my lists is who would I want on my team assuming I have a collection of random teammates at the other positions. With random teammates, I want somebody who can either score and make plays, or somebody who can shut down that playmaker. Since I assume that Bowen can neutralize virtually any other small forward in the league, I want him as an early pick.
2 months ago
Good read. But I think Brandon Roy & Andre Iguodala should be considered shooting guards. They may play the small forward spot from time to time, but that's not their primary position.
Just my two cents..
from 2 months ago
Someone on another site mentioned how Roy actually plays 35% more at the shooting guard than at the small forward position. I see both him and Webster as swingmen, and Roy fills most traditional small forward duties, while Webster lounges around behind the three-point line and defends two-guards.
With Iguodala, he almost exclusively played the three last year, and since I'm unsure as to whether or not Willie Green or Thaddeus Young will be the starter, I have to give AI at the small forward spot, the benefit of the doubt.
2 months ago
Putting "Catch-and-Shoot" Anthony at #4 is definitely a stretch. He is an amazing offensive player at times, when he's not trying to hit a 3 every time he touches the ball. When he learns to choose his shots and put the slightest amount of effort into defense, he'll deserve the praise he gets. I'm glad to see Battier getting some respect, though. I'm not even a Rockets fan, but that guy has always been a great player and never gets the attention he deserves.
2 months ago
Oh...and Matt Harpring is actually a quarterback disguised as a basketball player...he played QB in high school.
from 2 months ago
Cool, I didn't know what position he played. In the NBA though, he does all the hitting.
2 months ago
Nice read but Tayshaun Prince, that low?
I would have put him way ahead of Maggette and Jefferson for sure. Actually, he would have been 6th or 7th on my list.
But all in all, nice read and depth analysis.
from 2 months ago
I definitely agree. Maggette is no where near at the defensive, or even offensive for that matter, level that Tayshaun Prince is at.
from 2 months ago
Prince is a monster. Very underrated. DPOY-level shutdown defender and could easily average 18-20ppg if he was on a different team that needed a bigger/expanded role from him on offense (EASILY). Plus he can create for others, he can do it all. and he's a champion, very clutch and lots of heart. Great teammate and leader too.
I wouldnt take many over Prince. I would LOVE to see him play alongside a guy like Dwyane Wade and be that number 2 guy on the perimeter (number 3 guy if you count the main-man inside and number 2 option Beasley).
Thats my dream lineup anyways. LoL.
2 months ago
wheres ron artest?
2 months ago
I have ALL kinds of problems with this list starting with 'Melo at 4. Shane Battier is a terrific team player, a great defender and a clutch shooter (when left wide open), but he could never carry a team either offensively the way Carmelo or Caron Butler can, or defensively the way Gerald Wallace or AK47 could.
On the other hand Carmelo Anthony is one of the most unstoppable scorers in the league, a more complete offensive player than is Lebron James who has a vastly inferior post game to Carmelo.
Brandon Roy doesn't belong on this list even a little so putting him above Caron Butler is just ridiculous as are the unfairly low rankings of Rudy Gay and Al Thornton.
Perhaps at the outside you should have specified criterion for this analysis rather than just spouting off players and numbers. On what basis are these rankings? WIthout that, this list is essentially useless
from 2 months ago
The criteria is simple: Which NBA small forward is best suited to being an integral part of a championship team this year? That's outlined early in the article.
What exactly have Carmelo, Caron Butler, Gerald Wallace, or AK47 "carried" their teams to? What is this obsession with fans putting more credit into individuals who "carry" teams to mediocrity?
If you were presented with a team of random players at each position, and you needed to draft a small forward, if you draft Battier you're set with a counter to your opponent's best scorer. Carmelo, on the other hand, allows opponents to score at will, plus disciplined defensive players and teams shut him down easily.
Caron Butler isn't nearly the defender Battier is, isn't a great jump shooter, and doesn't have great handles. Plus, he can't set screens nearly as well as Battier can, and he's not as good at rebounding in a crowd as Battier is.
Rudy Gay has no clue how to defend one-on-one without gambling, and has no idea how to score in the halfcourt. Thornton likewise is a player who mostly succeeds in transition, in isolations, and can't play defense.
If you have a random team and need to select a small forward to win you a seven game series, please tell me you'd pick Rudy Gay or Al Thornton as an early pick.
from 2 months ago
Erick that is where youre wrong. Were the 07 spurs a disciplined defensive team? The MOST disciplined: correct?
Then how did Melo light them up for 30+ ppg on 50+ FG%? Because he CARRIED the teams offense while Iverson struggled and made it a VERY competitive game in 4 of the 5 games of the series as the FOCAL POINT of the nugget offense.
When Melo is on: NO ONE is shutting him down. A TEAM could. But not one man. THAT is what I dont think you understand about basketball. Indivudual brilliant offense OVERCOMES individual defense no matter how great it is in basketball.
TEAM defense is much more important. And why you can see a team like the Celtics with two guys who were known as weak defenders for most of their careers (Ray and Pierce) on the wing, a guy who was said to be too weak in the post defending at times prior (KG), a guy who fouls way too much and cant stay on the floor plus loses his temper and couldnt keep his head in the game(perkins) and an undisciplined ALWAYS GAMBLING young defender that cant keep his man in front of hiim (Rondo) make up one of the BEST defenses of all-time and shut down the greatest offensive player (arguably) in basketball. COMPLETELY.
You dont understand that. Good offense beats good defense every time when its an individual matchup. Team defense is where its at. TEAM defense can be built with ANYONE as long as they have the physical ability (meaning Peja need not apply now that he cant move anymore) and put in the effort.
But offense? Battier could NEVER do what Melo or Butler could do for a team offensively, no matter WHAT. That is why you got this thing ALL WRONG. Completely.
from 2 months ago
Caron Butler has good handles, was a MUCH improved jumpshooter this past year (shot 40% from 3point range and 48% from the field, 90% from the FT line...... 22ppg/7.5rpg/4.9apg........ thats ALL his numbers before he got injured at the 50-game mark)
Caron is also a MUCH better rebounder than Battier. In traffic or not. So you obviously just didnt know what you were talking about there.
And Caron is a good defender that could easily be a key component in a great team defense. Plug him in for Pierce in last years Celtics and their defense doesnt fall off an inch as long as he puts in the effort (which Caron obviously DOES and WOULD. Especially like Pierce when he has Ray and KG taking so much offensive slack so he can have so much more energy for that end).
You could plug in Battier and their defense would be just as good too. But their offense would be nowhere NEAR as good.
Plug in Caron to last years Rockets and their defense is nearly just as good as well. And their offense is MUCH better.
Think about that.
2 months ago
good list better than youre other lists but andre ig and roy aren't sf's igudala played more sg than sf and u cant list brandon roy as a sf he drives to bucket like a guard(he actully played pg in his rookie season for a while)he does shoot outside the perimiter at times and if he was a sf he would be crushed because hes 6"5 which is a little under height for small forwards
from 2 months ago
@Erick - But if you look at your criteria, what has Battier carried his team to (in the pros)? And he's had a more talented cast (at least in Houston) than Butler, Melo and Wallace.
from 2 months ago
Neither Battier nor anybody below him on the list have "carried" their teams to anything. Since I don't trust Carmelo's decision making, since I have no faith in him in a playoff setting, since I abhor his lack of defensive intensity, and his mental disregard to playing defense. While I know he's certainly the second most athletic small forward in the game, a talented scorer and a smart post passer, he doesn't have the mentality to succeed in the playoffs offensively the same way Battier can shut a player down defensively.
2 months ago
I know you tried to justify having Brandon Roy on this list but you're wrong. Brandon Roy is a SG / PG. He would occasionally guard the 3 due to his good defense but for the most part guarded the best player between the 2 & 3.
I have been watching him since his dawg days and I've never even seen him listed as a 3?
2 months ago
I think before you make an article like this, you should really take some time to establish who is playing what position. I don't recall a single game last year when Brandon Roy played small forward. Also, Tayshaun Prince is light years better than Shane Battier, hence Coach K (his old college coach) leaving Battier off the team.
I understand the value of an opinion, but even the most respected opinions are based on an individuals knowledge of facts, and apparently when it comes to NBA basketball, you have very little. I count 5 players on this list who don't play small forward. It almost looks like you went with players that you knew by name or something.
from 2 months ago
Takeover, I want you to describe to me the general responsibilities of a shooting guard and the general responsibilities of a small forward. After that, ask me, who is playing a true small forward position and who is playing a true shooting guard position, Brandon Roy or Martell Webster, especially when Webster is primarily defending 2-guards and is primarily doing very little inside the three-point line on offense.
Tayshaun Prince has trouble defending physical forwards. Players who attack Prince with strength can blow by him and create open looks for themselves. Battier can't be pushed aside on defense, and uses his strength to push aside offensive players taking away power drives and power moves. Battier's strength allows him to be a better off-ball defender.
On offense, Prince has a better post game because he's longer, and has a little bit more of a mid-range game. He doesn't have Battier's range, nor is he as prolific a three-point shooter.
Battier was left off the Olympic team because power basketball doesn't translate to the Olympic game, and needing strength isn't as important in international competition as it is in domestic basketball. Plus, since Team USA's defense was based more on trapping and pressing the international community's slower, less talented point guards, having long athletic wings suited the team more than a strong disciplined wing like Battier.
But thank you for pointing out the 5 players on the list who weren't small forwards. I gave my reason for why I feel Roy is a small forward, why Iguodala is Philly's small forward, why I listed Josh Smith as a small forward. I don't know what two other mystery players you're referring to that you saw.
I also appreciate how you simply ignored the justification given to each player's ranking. If you aren't going to bother to read the justifications, don't bother making worthless comments.
2 months ago
WOW. this list is horrible. Shane Battier is not even a top 15 SF. and Brandon Roy is not a SF.
2 months ago
What is Carmelo upset about? I'd say he is LUCKY to be #4 on the list. When it comes to winning a tough game he is absolutely clueless and at this point in his career, one has to fear that he always will be. He is not NEARLY the long range shooter that he thinks he is and shows only sporadic interest in defending his man. To date, he has shifted over in the name of help defense exactly four times in his career. Without AI, Denver would be in the running for the top draft pick next year.
2 months ago
If I were to make a top 30 list, it would look a lot different than this.
Prince is way too low. He's arguably a better defensive player than Bowen at this point and his offensive game is light years ahead, but you have him almost 10 spots behind. He just won a gold medal after all. I'd have him in my top 7 at the very lowest, and if we're going by your criteria of a player's ability to play "championship basketball", he's probably top 3.
Posey wasn't even a starter in Boston last year and despite his value in the playoffs, I don't think you can say he's a better player than Kirilenko, Deng, Josh Smith, Howard, Granger, or Rudy Gay.
2 months ago
Brandon Roy is the small forward for the Trail Blazers.
PG Steve Blake
SG Martell Webster
SF Brandon Roy
PF Lamarcus Aldridge
C Greg Oden/Joel Przybilla
from 2 months ago
lol wow, your proof is overwhelming!
2 months ago
He's not a better defender though. Bowen shut down Steve Nash, Peja Stojakovic, and did a great job defending Kobe in last year's playoffs. He's lost a half a step, but he's much better at staying with stronger wings than Prince is. Any strong wing can attack Prince and go through him. It's why LeBron is very successful against him. It's why Paul Pierce is very successful against him.
Prince was also the 12th man on the Olympic team and had very little to do with Team USA's Gold Medal outcome. I'm not going to give Scott Pollard a gushing round of applause for winning a championship with last year's Celtics.
There are two other much better defenders than Prince, plus some of the other players above Prince are almost as talented defensively.
Not being a starter isn't always an indicator of a player's talent. Ask Manu Ginobili. And Posey was almost always on the court making shots and coming up with defensive plays when the pressure was on. Ask yourself, if you had random players at the other four positions and needed a small forward to win a seven game series, do you want any of those you guys listed above [two are versatile but not dynamic offensive players (Granger and Deng), one lacks maturity (Smith), one is still learning how to play basketball the right way (Gay), one is a notorious choker (Howard), and one lacks the physicality to be a truly exceptional defender (Kirilenko)]?
from 2 months ago
Wow, you didnt watch the olympics either. Shocking.
2 months ago
Battier should not be listed that high, top 10 yes but #3 in the league? Wheres Shawn Marion and Ron Artest? They're better than Ryan Gomes and Jason Kapono without a doubt. Josh Smith at #18 is way too low on the list, the guy fills up stat lines every night.
from 2 months ago
Read the article man!
"Due to the way some NBA lineups are presently constructed, a handful of potential small forwards will be asked to play different positions this year. For that reason, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, and Rashard Lewis are listed as power forwards."
It's the fifth paragraph!
2 months ago
Well I don't know what to say, other than I disagree.
Prince's stats drawf Bowen's in virtually every category, with the exception of maybe perimiter defense. Comparing his role on the dream team to Pollar on the Celt's is laughable.
The dream team is the most elite team in the world and Prince was handpicked to compete, opposed to Pollard who was merely signed to fill out a roster. Prince was not their 12th man either , and I'd like to point out that Bowen was cut from that squad.
Posey is a role player (7 ppg and 4rpg)who does his job well, but he's not a better player than the guys I mentioned. Their respective GM's would not trade them for Posey in a million years, which I consider to be a pretty good guage for these type of lists.
from 2 months ago
Statistics are a terrible way to measure a player's value. Watch basketball games, not box scores. Plus, perimeter defense isn't a quality that can be quantified, only qualified.
And with Bowen, the same reasons he was cut and Prince remained are the same reasons why Battier was cut and Prince remained. International Basketball is completely different than the NBA, and Prince is better suited to international competition than Bowen is. I'm more concerned with winning NBA championships than with Gold Medals. And other than Carlos Boozer, nobody played fewer minutes per game than Tayshaun Prince did. Being an 11th man isn't that much more glorious than being a 12th man.
Of course those GM's won't make those trades, with the exception oh Kirilenko's Jazz, and Howard's Mavs, all of the teams listed above are bad teams. Gay is a third-year player on a team with no present. Of course his team won't trade him. Indiana's clueless (they actually expect another team to simply add Jamaal Tinsely without dealing back an awful contract in return), Atlanta can use a better shooter and defender than Smith, Chicago thinks Deng is a "franchise player," Dallas would trade Howard for Posey in a heartbeat, and Jerry Sloan would trade Kirilenko for Posey in a heartbeat.
Besides those teams all have circumstances and situations surrounding them. Throw that out the window. You have a seven-game series to win a championship. Your point guard, shooting guard, power forward and center are all selected at random (assume they're all Top 30 players and not complete garbage). Which player do you want on your team to win a championship this year.
Again, do you want the players you listed above, or Posey?
from 2 months ago
I would easily pick those players before James Posey. like Brett said, Posey is a good role player but he's not as good as those players he listed and you listed him far too high on your list.
Perhaps if you didnt want to confuse people about your article you shouldnt name it the "Top 30 NBA Small Forwards"
but instead opt for, "list of top 30 small forwards Erick Blasco would choose if You have a seven-game series to win a championship. Your point guard, shooting guard, power forward and center are all selected at random (assume they're all Top 30 players and not complete garbage). Which player do you want on your team to win a championship this year"
because those are two totally different lists.
from 2 months ago
Is not the object of an NBA team to win a championship? What is the point of selecting lesser players who aren't as equipped to help your team win a championship? Or do you posit that there are other higher goals for NBA teams and players to have?
from 2 months ago
I think Adam is making the argument that when you have the chance to get a star, you generally should take it over a role player. Chemistry doesn't necessarily mean everyone is friends with each other. A team of 5 perenial allstars will probably beat a team with one all star and a bunch of awesome role players, don't you agree?
from 2 months ago
Haven't the 2004 Lakers, the late 90's, early 00's Blazers, the current Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns proved that theory false?
A team with 5 perrenial All-Stars will no doubt be successful, but if they are All-Stars simply because they are great scorers and don't have any players who'll do dirty work, the team will probably give up a lot of points, and the offense will probably be simple. The team will probably cruise over the regular season, but the first chance they meet a team that can put up a challenge, the All-Stars probably wouldn't know how to dig deep within themselves and find another level.
Obviously this is simplistic and depends a lot on which all-stars are on the team. I'll take a team of Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and three other role players any day of the week.
But if I had guys like, say, Marcus Camby, Jermaine O'Neal, Baron Davis, Melo, and Monta Ellis...there's nothing I can do with that offense except isolate, and I'm going to give up 120 points a game. The first disciplined team I face, I'm losing. That's one of the reasons Utah was able to dominate the Warriors in the 2007 playoffs.
A team of 5 role players would struggle, but a team of one great two-way superstar and four elite role players would fare better than 5 All-Stars who play the game the wrong way. A lot of the small forwards on my list have their flaws, one of the reasons Battier is so high up. And I'd rather count on his flawless defense, rather than the question marks of the players below.
from 2 months ago
Does anyone here remember the '04 finals?
Lakers - season veteran allstars
Pistons - 1 or 2 allstars (the wallaces), awesome defenders (everyone), and playmakers (billups, hamilton)
Anyone remember how that series turned out?
Here is a thought! Maybe that is a huge part of what made the Celtics so good this season. A playmaker (rondo), role players (davis, posey, pj brown, cassell, powe), superstars (pierce, allen, kg).
Does anyone watch basketball?! Or do we all watch the highlights and look at the box scores?
from 2 months ago
I'm just saying its silly to make a list of top small forwards and then list players that would work best to work into your championship team. The intangibles are too great. you'd have no idea who else is on your team so why would you pick a role player over a star.
this list should be made from the perspective that you're starting a team that you want to win a championship and the very first player you pick for your team must be a small forward and you have no idea who is available to pick from for the other positions.
that's the only perspective in which you could fairly rate the specific position
under those circumstances no man in his right mind will choose bruce bowen above half of the people under him.
from 2 months ago
Erick, didnt the 08 Celtics just prove that right?
The Lakers were too old in 04 and Kobe tried to be the "Man" when it was clearly still shoulda been Shaq. So Kobe shot the series away (WITH TAYSHAUN and detroit SHUTTING HIM DOWN I MIGHT ADD........ remember Kobe is the same guy that LIT UP BOWEN to the 100th degree just two series earlier) at a 38% clip.
Payton was old and Malone wasnt there........... they beat a HELLUVA LOT of GREAT ROLEPLAYERS on their way to the finals before Malone got injured though huh?
2 months ago
These new generation young players brought USA basketball on top of the world: Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Putting Battier on top of Anthony on this list is just RIDICULOUS. C'mon man... Battier is not even near Anthony's caliber. Anthony is far more a dangerous player offensively (inside & outside). Defensively, he ain't that bad either. Battier might have an edge defensively but the way defense is being played, like in international competition, they are more focused on TEAM Defense already. If you put a player like Battier in place of Anthony in the "Redeemed Team", I'd have to say he will just sit on the bench for most of the time because he will definitely find it hard scoring and there are a lot of players in that team who can score and defend like Kobe Bryant. I don't even think Battier can guard taller players in that competition. Anthony is a more talented, flexible and dynamic player who can play multiple positions (can play SF, SG, PF).
James and Pierce absolutely deserves the #1 and #2 positions respectively. I think Anthony should be ranked #3.
from 2 months ago
Why is Carmelo so good in international competition? I can name you 5 players off the top of my head who can frustrate Carmelo defensively in the NBA. Battier, Posey, Prince, Bowen, and Kobe. Can you name any international forward who plays defense as well as those five, besides possibly Kirilenko?
2 months ago
I'll have to disagree with Battier at three...I'll take a Carmelo or a B-Roy at three. And Bruce Bowen should fall in the late teens early 20's. He plays dirty.
2 months ago
Erick,
I see that ***hypocrisy------still RULES!*** when your dumb-brain starts writing obfuscatory-gobbledygook, which you call articles.
You need to retire...real talk:
"...James Posey are premier defensive specialists with little appreciable offensive talent..."
vs.
"...15. James Posey—New Orleans Hornets ...accurate from deep, clutch..."
2 months ago
In a nuttshell *stop contradicting yourself so much!* then your harlequinades won't be so comedic to readers.
2 months ago
I believe that you have some of these players listed out of position. For example, I believe LeBron James & Paul Pierce are both shooting guards for their respective teams; Al Thornton & Josh Smith are power forwards. There are more but I don't have time to list them all!!!
2 months ago
NUMBERS DON'T LIE... IT'S A FACT... Melo is better than Battier! I just don't understand why you keep insisting Battier is better than Melo.
Carmelo Anthony
Denver Nuggets
Position: F
Height: 6-8 Weight: 230
College: Syracuse
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 25.7
RPG 7.4
APG 3.4
SPG 1.3
BPG 0.5
FG% 0.492
FT% 0.786
3P% 0.354
MPG 36.4
Shane Battier
Houston Rockets
Position: F
Height: 6-8 Weight: 220
College: Duke
Player file | Team stats
2007-08 Statistics
PPG 9.3
RPG 5.1
APG 1.9
SPG 1.0
BPG 1.1
FG% 0.428
FT% 0.743
3P% 0.377
MPG 36.3
2 months ago
Why is Carmelo so good in international competition? Here's why..... [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelo_Anthony]
.....On January 16, 2006, Anthony was chosen as USA Basketball's Male Athlete of the Year after his performance at the FIBA World Championship.[14]
Anthony was also a member of Team USA during the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. The team went undefeated, going 10-0. Anthony ended up as the tournament's second-leading scorer with a 21.2 ppg average (191 points in 9 games), which was behind Leandro Barbosa of Brazil. Anthony also added 5.2 rpg and 1.4 apg. He equalled the previous record of 28 points set by Allen Iverson in a qualifying tournament, which was later broken by James, who scored 31 points in the title-clinching win against Argentina.[66]
Anthony was also named to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, again alongside James and Wade with Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd among others, with the mission of bringing back the Gold Medal to the USA. The team overpowered its opponents with an average winning margin of 32.2 points in five games. The team eliminated Australia in the quarterfinals by 31 then finally went over its final four mishaps in the past by beating Argentina by 20 points. After playing second fiddle to his teammates up to the quarterfinal match, Anthony played his best game against Argentina by topscoring with 21 points, making 3 of 14 field goals and 13-of-13 in free throws, setting USA Olympic game records for made free throws and free throw percentage.[67]
In the gold medal game, Team USA defeated 2006 World Champion Spain and lived up to its "Redeem Team" moniker, with Anthony scoring 13 points.[68] Anthony posted averages of 11.5 ppg (92 points/8 games), 4.3 rpg (34 rebounds/8 games) and 1.0 spg (8 steals/8 games)....
2 months ago
I can name you 5 players off the top of my head who can frustrate Carmelo defensively in the NBA. Battier, Posey, Prince, Bowen, and Kobe. ...............
I can name you a lot of players who can frustrate Battier offensively... Oh he's a defensive player right.. These players can really frustrate Melo offensively but he still averages PPG 25.7 last season.
Can you name any international forward who plays defense as well as those five, besides possibly Kirilenko?..........
International defense is not about individual defense. By now, you should have realized that considering the defeat the 2004 Olympics US Men's Basketball Team encountered at the hands of teams like Greece, Lithuania, and Argentina... Individually, I think the 2004 US Team is more superior offensively and defensively than any guys on the other teams. It's just that these guys found a way to work as a TEAM defensively and offensively. Thus, frustrating the very proud US Team.
But, it was a different story four years after as the 2008 US Redeem Team greatly improved their TEAM defense and they played as one.
2 months ago
most of these players are pretty one dimentional. they are good for one or two particular qualities. versatility plays a huge role because players like kirilenko, marion, and artest fill the gaping holes on offense and defense when offensive players find themselves trying to play defense. those are the kind of badasses i'd want on my team. enjoy having melo on your team but remember that you better cover his ass on every defensive play
2 months ago
Rydelfred is right. Battier's "intangibles" don't make up for Anthony's lack of hustle/skill on the defensive end. As an aside, Anthony is actually stealing the ball more. The true point is that Anthony should have been in MVP consideration two seasons ago if it weren't for his ill advised swing and miss in the MSG incident. Assuming he has learned not to take silly swings at other players, his overall game is much better.
your criteria for choosing players is the assumption that you have to take a guy with no knowledge of who else is on your team. Let's say you have two teams taken completely at random with the exception of the SF.
team one (without putting too much thought into this)
Jameer Nelson
Juan Dixon
Shane Battier/Carmelo
Carlos Boozer
Tony Battie
team 2
Mike Bibby
Cuttino Mobley
Battier/Melo
Amare Stoudamire
Andris Biedrins
which player is more likely to lead either team to a championship? Yes, that's correct, it would be Melo in the Skill takes precedence over virtually everything basketball association.
from 2 months ago
His brain isn't better, gambling for steals isn't a substitute for playing technique defense, he self-destructs under pressure more, he'd be a disgrace to the MVP award.
The first team you propose is very small, and very weak on the perimeter defensively. Carlos Boozer is a terrible help defender, and Battie isn't anything special in his own right. Team one with Carmelo would be scored upon at will, and I'd have to outscore teams to win. Besides Boozer, nobody is a great off the ball player with Carmelo on it. I can't run anything complicated. I'd probably post Carmelo to play two-man games with Boozer at the high post, but defenses can sag off Battie since he won't provide much offense besides the stray mid-range jumper. Dixon and Nelson become spot up shooters only, not their strengths.
With Battier, I can trust Nelson with the ball, run cross-screens with Battier and Boozer to give Boozer premier post position, run Battier off a weak-side Battie screen and have open mid range jumpers going for me. I can screen with Battier for Nelson and Dixon allowing them to slash while still having options in the posts with Battie and Boozer. If defenses converge on the penetrators, Battie and Boozer can pop the jumper, or boozer can power dribble in.
A good defense will shut down the team with Battier, and I don't have any creators at the end of a shot clock. The same defense will probably score more against the team with Carmelo though. Either team isn't going anywhere.
The second team is much more interesting. I have two active help defenders who don't have the sharpest basketball IQ's. With Battier able to hold his man and funnel drivers, Stoudemire and Biedrins can become very useful defenders, whereas with Carmelo, Stoudemire and Biedrins don't have the awareness to help in time. They'll pick up unnecessary fouls and be useless. If Battier forces a bad shot, and biedrins gets a rebound, I have a good decision maker on the break, Stoudemire, who's unstoppable on the break, and Mobely, a useful transition player.
In the halfcourt, I can run simple screen/rolls with Stoudemire and Bibby, and I'll have good spacing with Battier and Mobely on the wings, and Biedrins far on the baseline. I can also screen off the ball for Stoudemire, an unusual situation which will be difficult for defenses to stop. I have a balanced offense, and I can trust Bibby and Battier to set examples for the team, and Stoudemire won't be jealous of another forward.
With Melo, the offense would become a purely isolation offense, Bibby would become a spot up shooter (not his strength), Melo and Stoudemire would be the primary decision makers (not a great thought), and Stoudemire would gripe at a lack of touches. In the clutch, I'd have Bibby and Battier as two clutch shooters, instead of only Bibby. I can win with Battier on the second team, much easier than I can with Melo. The second team with Melo would give up 105 points a game.
from 2 months ago
That's a fun thought though, Nate, I like what you did. I might give Carmelo the edge in the first team, but if you go make lists and circumstances with halfway decent players (complete scrubs like Smush Parker don't start for championship teams), you'll see that you'll come up with a lot of situations where Battier will help the team more than Carmelo.
2 months ago
No shawn marion? Really?
from 2 months ago
He's a power forward on Miami.
from 2 months ago
Shawn Marion IS a small forward! Wow, just because he was used as a power foward in Phoenix to utilize mismatches, doesn't mean he is a power foward. The guy is a rail! So if Marion is a power foward in Miami, that makes Haslem a center, following your logic right? (Because you moved Marion from a 3 to a 4, and well I just think it follow suit to move Haslem from a 4 to a 5).
2 months ago
Shane Battier better then 'Melo... must be a Duke fan to be that stupid.
2 months ago
Great list - good stuff. I do disagree with battier being so high. He is a role player - defend and shoot 3s. He is very good at it, and the type of player I think any team would want. But I'd much rather have 'Melo, or Caron Butler over him.
2 months ago
Erick,
Here's another worthless comment...
If power basketball did not translate to the olympics, Dwight Howard wouldn't have started every game, and LeBron James wouldn't have anchored the team.
Not being ignorant should be a requirement to write on this site.
from 2 months ago
Dwight Howard was probably the most unsuccessful player on the team, and James dominated, not because he needed to stop a strong player's offense, but because he was stronger offensively than his competition. Is it a coincidence that the only teams that have managed to knock the Cavs out of the playoffs the last two years were physical, smart, disciplined, and tough Celtics and Spurs teams?
2 months ago
Oh and also...
You can't jsut justify your wanting a player to play a position, just so it helps your top 30 list. As a "senior writer" you should know that practice is called "dishonest journalism."
And don't defend your garbage by telling other people that they don't watch as much basketball as you, because according to your argument, I can classify Amare Stoudamire as a small forward if I wanted to.
The fact that this is the production of a senior writer makes me lose my faith in this entire website.
from 2 months ago
My question: "I want you to describe to me the general responsibilities of a shooting guard and the general responsibilities of a small forward. After that, ask me, who is playing a true small forward position and who is playing a true shooting guard position, Brandon Roy or Martell Webster, especially