NBA: Player Rankings – Week 3

Another week, another set of player rankings from HoopsHabit! Week 3 in the NBA has been far from disappointing, bringing many buzzer-beaters and countless exciting games from the world’s best players. Although it seems very early to rank teams’ playoff position, who doesn’t love a good player ranking?

With that said, let the player ranking continue…

20. Paul Millsap (PF, Atlanta Hawks) 

Paul Millsap may fly under the radar, but he is still one of the top players the NBA has to offer. Now in Atlanta, Millsap has become the first option on offense and has taken advantage of his new opportunity. In six games played this season, Millsap has averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. All of these marks are leaps and bounds above his career averages. Millsap has proven that he can flourish as the go-to target on offense and still get his teammates involved while leading the Hawks to a 3-3 record. Paul Millsap cracks the top 20 and gets the No. 20 spot.

19. Tony Parker (PG, San Antonio Spurs) 

How is it that Tony Parker always flies under the radar? Whatever the answer to that mysterious questions is, Parker continues to dazzle as he remains one of the best point guards in the league. So far this season, Parker has averaged 18 points and eight assists per game. While Tim Duncan battles injury (and old age) Parker has been carrying the offensive load for the team. Parker will surely have another fantastic season as the Spurs will likely earn a high seed in a very talented Western Conference but yet fall under the radar as they do every year. Tony Parker is what makes the Spurs menacing. His ability to get past almost any defender in the league but yet stop on a dime and hit a jumper in their face is something he’s been doing for years and will continue to do as long as he is in the league. His numbers are not what they used to be, but he’s still one of the best at his position in the league. Tony Parker comes in at No. 19.

18. John Wall (PG, Washington Wizards) 

John Wall has definitely been solid in this first three weeks of the season. In nine games, he has averaged 16.1 points, 9.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. Although Wall’s accomplishments seem fantastic, it has all been for naught as the Wizards have just two wins on the season, but it is still early and many still expect them to contend for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Regardless of what the Wizards record is, Wall is playing fantastically and definitely deserves a spot on this list. Few point guards in the league have the ability to score almost 20 points and dish out more than eight assists night in and night out. If the Wizards aren’t careful and get some solid talent around Wall, they could lose him to a contending team. All that aside, John Wall ranks No. 18 on the top players list.

17. Michael Carter-Williams (PG, Philadelphia 76ers)

The enigma that is Michael Carter-Williams continues to impress in his three short weeks in the NBA. MC-Dubs has taken the NBA by storm in his rookie year and is the early pick for Rookie of the Year. Barring injury or someone miraculous coming out of the woodwork, Carter-Williams should hoist the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy (Rookie of the Year) at the end of the season. So far this season, Carter-Williams is averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game … as a rookie. He has come very close to a triple-double three times this season and came one steal and three boards short of a quadruple-double against the Miami Heat on opening night. Yes, this kid is the real deal and expect to see great things coming from him in the future. Michael Carter-Williams earns the No. 18 spot.

16. Dwyane Wade (SG, Miami Heat) 

We saw the effects of Dwyane Wade’s bad knees early in the season. He sat out the second game to rest but all in all has proved to be very effective in his time on the court. In his first two games played so far, Wade has averaged 17 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest. Now back playing with the team consistently, Wade upped his averages to 20.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. Considering he’s sharing shots with LeBron James and Mr. Bosh, these numbers are not bad at all. We should not expect to see Wade play anything close to a full season as coach Erik Spoelstra will likely intend to use Wade at full force during the playoffs. Wade, despite his knee problems, still remains one of the league’s best players who possesses one of the highest basketball IQs. He will be an invaluable asset for the Heat during the playoffs even if he’s not at 100 percent health. Dwyane Wade gets bumped down to the No. 16 spot.

15. Damian Lillard (PG, Portland Trail Blazers) 

Damian Lillard gets back on the list after a stellar week and season. So far, he has averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. This mark is incredibly impressive for the start of the season and has propelled Portland to a very impressive 8-2 start. Many have counted Portland out of the playoff hunt in the very strong Western Conference, but Lillard has other plans. Along with fellow bash brother LaMarcus Aldridge, Lillard is showing that he is in no sophomore slump as he enters his second season, but is here to stay and plans on being part of the elite players group. Damian Lilliard comes in at No. 15.

14. Stephen Curry (PG, Golden State Warriors) 

Stephen Curry gets buckets, period, and it is nothing short of incredible what he’s done so far this season. In three contests, Curry has averaged 19.7 points while dishing out 8.8assists per game. He’s shot 45 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point land. Just another week at the office for Steph, though. He has earned the title of the league’s best shooter and is a deadly threat to any and every defender in the league. With the addition of Andre Iguodala and his defense-first mindset, the Warriors are poised to have a franchise-best season. Whatever success comes from this year, it will be in large part of Curry. Stephen Curry earns the No. 14 spot.

13. Kyrie Irving (PG, Cleveland Cavaliers) 

After a rough start to Kyrie, he’s definitely picked it up in the last two weeks. In 11 games played so far he has averaged 21.3 points, 7 assists and 4 boards per game. He has posted a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 17.73 which earns him top 20 honors among point guards (league average is 15). Irving is a versatile guard who can drop a ridiculous amount of points any given night. This is proven by his 41 point game against the Wizards in OT Saturday night. The Cavs have a serious chance at making the playoffs this season, and if Irving continues to perform well their chances get even better. Kyrie shooting better means more points, which means more wins for the Cavs. “Uncle Drew” comes in at No. 13.

11. Dwight Howard (C, Houston Rockets) 

Dwight Howard has been dominant on the glass with Houston this season, collecting an average of 14.2 rebounds per game, which leads the league; now that’s the Dwight Howard we’re used to seeing. This rebound mark is even more impressive when you factor in that Howard has to share floor time with fellow center Omir Asik, who has been averaging 11.7 boards per game. If Asik were not on the floor Howard could very likely be averaging rebounds into the mid-20s. But where Howard still has deficiencies in his offensive game. Granted, James Harden remains the No. 1 offensive option, but Dwight is only averaging 15 points per game. Yes, it’s only been three games. Do I think he will begin to score more? Probably. But that does not mean he has magically gained proficient post moves. He still lacks solid footwork and a go-to move on the block. He will not be the best center in the league until he gains those things in his arsenal.

10. Carmelo Anthony (SF, New York Knicks) 

Melo has come out of the gates struggling. Although he has been getting his due points (25.8 ppg), he has struggled greatly shooting the ball while posting a mark of just barely over 40 percent  from the field. Like Derrick Rose and the Bulls, the Knicks rely on Melo to produce a majority of their offense and when he consistently shoots the ball at such a low percentage, it slows down the pace and overall flow of the offense. Carmelo has been notorious for not passing the ball and being lazy on defense and it does not look like those will be changing any time soon. While posting a three assists per game mark, Melo continues to make the choice to keep the ball and attempt to score on his own. Anthony needs to improve his shooting percentage and dish out the ball a bit more if the Knicks even want to entertain a title hope. Carmelo Anthony comes in at No. 1o.

10. LaMarcus Aldridge (PF, Portland Trail Blazers) 

Another season, another very solid start for LaMarcus Aldridge. In his six games played, Aldridge has averaged 23.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. His scoring mark puts him fifth in the league and second among power forwards. Combined with Damian Lillard, the Blazers could make a serious run at the playoffs with these two manning the offensive front.  If the Blazers hope to make a playoff run, Aldridge must get consistent shots in the paint and avoid the temptation to take jump shots; this team needs more high percentage shots from him as they already have enough players more than willing to hoist up long-range shots. As a great all-around scorer, LaMarcus Aldridge gets the No. 10 spot.

9. Blake Griffin (PF, Los Angeles Clippers) 

I’m gonna cut Blake some slack this week and actually give him some praise. Although his post game is not where I personally would like it to be, it doesn’t seem to be bothering Doc Rivers or the Clippers much as they improve to 7-3. Griffin’s numbers have been nothing but stellar this season. So far he’s averaging 22.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting an astounding 57% from the field! As the Clippers work him more and more into their offense, they become that more dangerous as Blake is by far the most impressive athlete the NBA has to offer. With improvement on his post game, the sky is the limit for Blake Griffin. Right now, however, the limit is the sky. Blake Griffin gets the short bump up to No. 9.

8. Anthony Davis (PF, New Orleans Pelicans)

What a monster start to the season Anthony Davis is having! In six games, he has averaged 20.9 points, 11 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game. Oh yeah, and he leads the league in PER with an astounding 31.01. As one of the league’s most versatile players, Davis uses his size, speed and long wingspan to both score points around the paint, gather rebounds and protect the rim with ferocious blocks. With a very young core group of players, Davis leads the forefront as this group hopes to make a playoff run. It will take all they have, but with Davis leading the way, just about anything could happen. Expect great things coming from him all season as we find Anthony Davis at No. 8.

7. DeMarcus Cousins (C, Sacramento Kings) 

So I guess this new DeMarcus Cousins we’re seeing isn’t a fluke. Cousins has come out with a serious bang this season, averaging 228 points and 10 rebounds per game. I don’t know if it is the mentorship of the great Shaquille O’ Neal that has worked magic on Cousins, but something is certainly different about this young man. He has channeled his aggression into grabbing rebounds and he has certainly been working on his offensive game. He actually makes some of those 20 foot jump shots he takes (don’t make that a habit though, DeMarcus). All jokes aside, Cousins’ play so far has him on the watch for the title of best center in the league. Be on the watch for an amazing season. DeMarcus Cousins moves up the list at No. 7.

6. James Harden (SG, Houston Rockets) 

Last season we all saw just exactly what James Harden can do when he is given the ball and permission to shoot where and whenever he wants to. Last season Harden averaged 26 points per game (almost 10 points better than his last season with the Thunder), five rebounds and six assists per game. Harden isn’t far behind the league’s best, though, which is particularly impressive given how successful he was in redeeming points out of unfavorable situations last season. Houston’s offense was so simple that a halted pick-and-roll sequence would often come without contingencies, leaving Harden to create something off the dribble with the shot clock on his back. He managed by drawing fouls on a ridiculous 16 percent of his isolation possessions. Harden is one of the most explosive players in the league and has one of the most intimidating offensive games as he can score from anywhere on the floor. The big question of everyone’s mind is: will the combination of Harden and Dwight lead to the success or demise of the Rockets? So far it looks to be a bit of a struggle when the Rockets face elite teams. They have fallen to the Clippers twice already but still look to be in good form. Either way, James Harden comes in at No. 6.

5. Kevin Durant (SF, Oklahoma City Thunder) 

It’s a bit of a surprise to find KD all the way down here at No. 5, but with the way the four people ahead of him are playing, it actually comes as no surprise at all. Durant has had another great season scoring the ball and this placement on the list does not take away anything from his ability or his place among greats in the NBA today. Durant remains one of the best in the league with his god-given ability to get buckets but it’s highly unlikely that he wins MVP this year, but it’s possible that we see him become even better and seriously contend for one in the future. Kevin Durant comes in at No. 5.

4. Paul George (SF, Indiana Pacers)

No one get in Paul George’s way. You will get hurt. This season, George is averaging 23.3 points (more than 12 points better than his career average), 7 rebounds (almost two rebounds better than his career average) and 3.2 assists per game.  As the leader of an Indiana Pacers team that could go very far in the playoffs, George certainly has come to play this season and it does not look like he has any intentions of slowing down and a 7-0 start proves that. George does not look like he has any intentions of slowing down this season. He is one of the top players in the league and is here to stay. As one of the best young players in the league, Indiana will be privileged to have him wearing their uniform for many years. Watch out, Miami.

3. Chris Paul (PG, Los Angeles Clippers) 

Chris Paul is on a mission. He is here to win a championship. So far this season he has averaged 21.3 points, 12.6 assists and 3 steals per game. He has propelled the Clippers to a 4-3 start and will continue to be their leader for the entire season. He has led the league in assists twice and steals per game five times. He is also a five-time All-Defensive team selection. At the age of 28, Chris Paul is in his prime and it’s evident in his orchestration of the Clippers. Paul can beat you pretty much anyway you can think of: off the dribble, driving to the hoop, from downtown. But what makes him so special is that he uses his offensive threat to get everyone else involved in the offense, evident by the career years players often have once they join his team. Do not be mistaken, Chris Paul and the Clippers will be a serious threat to not only win the West, but to go to the Finals. If you haven’t already entered his name into the MVP discussion, now would be an excellent time.

2. Kevin Love

OK … so Kevin Love is just flat out one of the best players I’ve ever seen. He literally can do it all. He can shoot from the outside, the inside, rebound and defend. He could probably coach if needed be too. So far this season, Love has averaged 26.8 points and 13.6 rebounds a game. These could be numbers that Love finished the season with, given Minnesota’s lack of offensive power. Nonetheless, Love remains not only the best rebounding forward in the league but the best scoring power forward in the league. Love is leading the league is rebounds so far and is poised to finish that way. He is another who is fighting to end LeBron’s streak of MVPs and get one of his own. His ability to shoot from the outside with consistency and have the softest touch inside makes him impossible to guard. With his unprecedented nose for the ball and outside shooting touch, Kevin Love earns the No. 2 spot. He very well could be our MVP at the end of the season. Watch out Bron Bron.

1. LeBron James (SF, Miami Heat) 

All day I struggled with this decision … but alas LeBron stays at No. 1. Maybe next week people … maybe next week.

POSTERIZATION ALERT!!!!!!!!

[slider_pro id=”31″]