This is part two of my series evaluating Sports Illustrated’s top 100 NBA players of 2014. If you did not see my first installment, please click here and enjoy.
Now…let’s continue.
SI.com list Revised List
75. Kenneth Faried 75. Tiago Splitter
74. Tiago Splitter 74. Andre Drummond
73. Kevin Martin 73. Ryan Anderson
72. Danny Granger 72. Omer Asik
71. Carlos Boozer 71. Carlos Boozer
70. Jose Calderon 70. Gordon Hayward
69. Omer Asik 69. Nick Young
68. Monta Ellis 68. Ersan Ilyasova
67. Gordon Hayward 67. Thaddeus Young
66. Anderson Varejao 66. Nene
65. Tyreke Evans 65. Jose Calderon
64. Rudy Gay 64. Steve Nash
63. Andre Drummond 63. Kevin Martin
62. Thaddeus Young 62. Luol Deng
61. Ersan Ilyasova 61. Manu Ginobili
60. Andrew Bynum 60. Tyson Chandler
59. Joe Johnson 59. Joe Johnson
58. Nene 58. Larry Sanders
57. Ryan Anderson 57. Nikola Pekovic
56. Manu Ginobili 56. Nicolas Batum
55. Luol Deng 55. Greg Monroe
54. Steve Nash 54. Kenneth Faried
53. DeMarcus Cousins 53. Monta Ellis
52. Greg Monroe 52. DeMarcus Cousins
51. Nicolas Batum 51. Anderson Varejao
75. Tiago Splitter (C, San Antonio Spurs)
Tiago Splitter is coming off of the best season of his career. Last season he averaged 10.3 points (his first season in double figures) and 6.4 rebounds (almost a full rebound better than last year). Most remember him as the victim of a vicious LeBron James rejection during the Finals, but Splitter is much more than that. As a center, he runs the pick-and-roll consistently well and allows for guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili along with forward Tim Duncan to get open looks. Although he does have his upside, he rebounds very poorly for a center. His 6.4 boards a game ranks him tied for 41st in the league. He gets the No. 75 spot.
74. Andre Drummond (C, Detroit Pistons)
As an undersized center, (6’10”) Drummond had a fairly solid rookie season. He averaged eight points and 7.6 rebounds per game while only participating in 60 games and starting only 10 of them. While these numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, the future is bright for this 20-year-old. With very raw talent coming out of Connecticut, Drummond’s low post moves have a lot of room to grow. The Pistons did a relatively good job of exposing him to NBA ball by playing him a little more than 20 minutes per game. In his second year we should see all of his numbers improve, along with his post moves. He earns the No. 74 spot.
73. Ryan Anderson (PF, New Orleans Pelicans)
Ryan Anderson’s 16.2 points per game ranked third in the league among bench players. As the main 3-point threat on the Pelicans, Anderson provides a huge spark off the bench and his shooting ability will allow for dynamic guards Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday to have better looks at the basket next season. With a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 18.1, he ranks 14th among power forwards (league average is 15). Although Anderson is a fantastic 3-point shooter, his rebounding skills are very poor. As a PF, he ranks tied for 41st in rebounds per game with 6.4. He remains a one-dimensional player.
72. Omer Asik (C, Houston Rockets)
Omer Asik had a pretty solid 2012-13 campaign, averaging 10.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, we will not see these same numbers from him this year. With the arrival of Dwight Howard, Asik will be pushed to the bench and his minutes will be significantly reduced and as a result, his numbers will suffer. This says nothing about the talent of Asik, who, although at most times is an offensively challenged center, performs his duties fairly well. The severity of how hard his numbers take a hit will depend solely on the health of Howard. If Dwight stays healthy, expect to see little of Asik, who will likely only appear when Howard gets in foul trouble. However, if Dwight takes another fall, the Rockets will be forced to call his number.
71. Carlos Boozer (PF, Chicago Bulls)
I’m sure the Bulls expected to get much more out of Carlos Boozer when they signed him to a five-year, $75 million contract, I know I would. It has been five years since Boozer has hit the 20-point per game mark. Last year he averaged 16.2 and, while not terrible, it certainly was not his best. He shot a career-low 47 percent from the field and finished the year with a PER outside the top 20 for power forwards. At one time considered one of the premier forwards in the league, Boozer is now just seen as overrated by most. The guys at SI got this one right. Boozer is No. 71.
70. Gordon Hayward (SF, Utah Jazz)
I must admit, I had my doubts about Gordon Hayward when he came into the league three years ago. He has definitely proved me wrong. Last season, Hayward put up a very respectable 17.1 points per game, while shooting better than 40 percent from both the field and 3-point land. He increased by points per game average by more than three points and continues to improve every year. Next year very well could be a breakout year for him as we could see him hit the 20-point-per-game mark. As a very young player (23) the future looks bright for Hayward. He earns the No. 70 spot.
69. Nick Young (SG, Los Angeles Lakers)
It’s hard to believe that the SI writers omitted Nick Young from this list. Although he has had a tough place finding a home in the NBA, Young is still one of the leagues most prolific scorers. Nick Young is not afraid to shoot. Better yet, he makes some of the shots he takes, which is more than can be said for most of the Lakers bench. Now in L.A., he will definitely see more minutes as the Lakers will need him to do what he does best, score. The only downside to Young’s game is that he forces shots and does not hit the open man for a better look. He averages one assist per game in his career and the Lakers should not expect much more. Despite his flaws, leaving him off of the list is just wrong. Swaggy P earns the No. 69 spot.
68. Ersan Ilyasova (PF, Milwaukee Bucks)
This man can shoot the ball … period. His 44 percent 3-point field goal percentage earned him fourth-best in the league. Having a 6’9” big man who can roam beyond the arc and knock down shots with consistency is an incredibly undermined asset. Ilyasova’s big drawback as a player is his defense … or lack of defense to be more specific. While on the defensive end, he resembles a matador more than an athlete. His ability to shoot alone, however, earns him a spot on this list.
67. Thaddeus Young (PF, Philadelphia 76ers)
The 76ers gave Thaddeus Young a boost in responsibility when they assigned him as the starting power forward and he definitely answered the call. Last season he averaged 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 53 percent from the field, good for seventh-best among power forwards and 16th in the league. He also finished with a PER of 18.2, good for 14th among power forwards. Every year this young man’s game continues to develop even further and with many years ahead of him, we can expect even greater improvement.
66. Nene (PF, Washington Wizards)
It’s unfortunate Nene falls this low on the list. Once a prolific and energetic player on the Nuggets, he has aged, become slower and his skills have diminished. Last year, he averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, all below his career averages. In addition to that, he has been chronically injured for the past three years, playing a big part in his lowered production. Although he remains productive in the league, he is a shell of his former self. He falls at No. 66.
65. Jose Calderon (SG, Dallas Mavericks)
This is not the player I would have picked to lead the league in 3-point percentage … but that’s exactly what happened. Calderon shot an incredible 46 percent from downtown last season. Along with that, he averaged 11.5 points and seven assists and finished with a PER of 18.8, good for ninth best among point guards. Calderon is a very exceptional offensive player whose major drawback is his defense. At 32 years old, his does not have the quickness to contain the Russell Westbrooks and Derrick Roses of the NBA. He falls in at No. 65.
64. Steve Nash (PG, Los Angeles Lakers)
This is not the two-time MVP Steve Nash we’re talking about; that Steve Nash is long gone. This is the 39-, soon-to-be 40-year-old, Steve Nash, who moves slower than a three-legged turtle and has the defensive intimidation of a two-legged matador. Last season he averaged 12.5 points and 6.7 assists, both marks his lowest since the 1999-2000 season. His 49 percent field goal percentage, while good, was still his lowest since 2003-04. This is not the Steve Nash we’re used to seeing and with him turning 40 at the midway point of the season, his number are not likely to improve. He falls in at No. 64.
63. Kevin Martin (SG, Minnesota Timberwolves)
As Kevin Martin’s time in the NBA has gone on, his role on every team has diminished. Now, going into his 10th season, he takes on a bench role that he has noticeably been uncomfortable with. He is no longer the go-to scorer he was in Sacramento; no, he is far from that. Last season he averaged 14.3 points and 2.3 rebounds, both his lowest marks since his rookie year. He finished last season with a PER of 16, one above the league average and good for 112th best among all players. He is deserving of the No. 63 spot.
62. Luol Deng (SF, Chicago Bulls)
It’s sad to say, but the injury to Luol Deng in the playoffs and the play of Jimmy Butler proved that Deng is expendable. Last season, Deng averaged 16.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, both respectable and within his career averages. However, with the improved play of Jimmy Butler, we should expect to see Deng’s minutes fall a bit. Butler will receive more minutes off the bench and depending how well he plays, could take Deng’s starting position. Luol earns the No. 62 spot.
61. Manu Ginobili (SG, San Antonio Spurs)
Originally, the SI writers had Manu Ginobili at No. 56; I simply cannot place him that high. Ginobili is old (36) and considerably slower than his earlier years with the Spurs. He averaged a mere 11.8 points per game last season, his lowest since his rookie year. To further enhance his declining play, his production during the playoffs fell off considerably. His regular-season PER (19) looked MVP-like compared to his 16.1 PER total during the playoffs. This is simply not the Ginobili of old; he gets the No. 61 spot. On a completely unrelated note … isn’t it just great to watch and hear Charles Barkley yell “GINOBILI!!!!”
60. Tyson Chandler (C, New York Knicks)
Let’s just cut right to the chase … it is fundamentally irresponsible for the SI writers to rank Tyson Chandler at No. 27. Chandler is an offensive liability. He has never averaged more than 11 points per game in his career. His ability to produce consistent scoring from the post has always been a question and the points he does score (10.4 last season) are collected from offensive rebound putbacks and dunks. His only purpose he serves is to protect the basket from slashing guards who penetrate the Knicks defense. In addition, he is a sub-par rebounder for a center. He has only averaged double figures in rebounding twice in his career. He is in no way a stat filler. Yes, Chandler won Defensive Player of the Year (I still don’t understand how), but all other parts of his game are in desperate need of work. He belongs at Np. 60.
59. Joe Johnson (SG, Brooklyn Nets)
This is a big name that I did not expect to see so low on SI’s list; but when I thought about it and looked at Joe Johnson’s numbers, SI got this one right on the money. Last season, Johnson averaged 16.3 points, three rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. All of these totals from last year are his lowest since 2002. Johnson, now at 32 years old, is in a much different role than his days in Phoenix and Atlanta. Now that Brooklyn is stacked with extremely talented players, Johnson becomes the third, maybe fourth, scoring option behind Deron Williams, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Although he has stayed relatively healthy over the past few years, his game has not been so consistent, in fact it has been depleting. It’s sad to say, but Joe Johnson falls at No. 59.
58. Larry Sanders (C, Milwaukee Bucks)
Even I had to ask myself … who? Very few players had made a name for themselves last year on the Bucks besides Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, but with both of them gone, the Bucks have new faces on the front page of their website. Larry Sanders is a very productive player, even if few know who he is. Last season he averaged 9.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. While those are not solid double-double numbers, Sanders ended last season with a PER of 18.7, good for 17th among centers. Going into his fourth year, Sanders should receive even more playing time and even more touches down low, which will increase his production. Look for a solid year from Larry Sanders. Now, go out and tell everyone about the new NBA player you learned about today, I know I will.
57. Nikola Pekovic (C, Minnesota Timberwolves)
Nikola Pekovic is incredibly underrated. Although he is not the most attractive player in the NBA, his game brings a smile to all those involved in the Timberwolves organization, fans and management alike. Last season, Pekovic averaged 16.3 points and nine rebounds per game. He certainly picked up some of the offensive slack when Kevin Love went down for a majority of the season and continued to pose as a serious defensive threat in the middle. With Love coming back at full strength, the combination of him and Pekovic should be deadly. With all that being said, I do not think he is a top-50 player in this league as SI has ranked him; still, he is a solid player. He earns the No. 57 spot.
56. Nicolas Batum (SF, Portland Trail Blazers)
Nicolas Batum is one of the better young players the league has to offer. Last season he averaged 14.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. His rebounding amount ranks him 13th among the leagues small forwards. As a versatile, young player, his game has many assets while includes having the ability to space the floor due to his shooting ability. This game perfectly complements those of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard and he should continue his improvement as time goes on.
55. Greg Monroe (C, Detroit Pistons)
Greg Monroe had a very solid season last year for the Pistons. He averaged 16 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. While doing this, he served as a force down low in a defense that struggled greatly throughout the year. He also finished last season with a PER of 19.5, which ranks 12th among the centers. Next year definitely has the potential to be better for Monroe as he has continued to improve on his stats with every passing year. He gets the No. 55 spot.
54. Kenneth Faried (PF, Denver Nuggets)
Any team would be thrilled to have Kenneth Faried on their team. As one of the most energetic players in the league, “The Manimal” averaged 11.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. His rebound mark ranks him seventh among power forwards. Farried possesses an energy and a nose for the ball unlike anyone in the league. He is always sniffing out offensive rebounds and put back dunks that energize both his teammates and the hometown crowd. Any team would be lucky to have Faried in their lineup. How SI saw him as the No. 75 player I don’t understand. At 23 years old, he is one of the best young players in the game. He comes in at No. 54.
53. Monta Ellis (SG, Dallas Mavericks)
It’s very hard to believe that Monta Ellis would be ranked at No. 68 by SI. Last season he averaged 19.2 points and six assists per game; I find it hard to believe that a player who averages almost 20 points per game could be ranked at No. 68. Granted, he did have one of the worst shooting percentages of his career last season (41 percent) but that still does not warrant such a low ranking. Ellis is an extremely dynamic guard whose quickness allows him to get to the basket at will. In addition, he possesses an extremely threatening jump shot that makes defending him a living nightmare. No. 53 is where he belongs.
52. DeMarcus Cousins (C, Sacramento Kings)
DeMarcus Cousins has the entire package: the size, the height and the skill … the only thing that has been holding him back is his head. Last season, Cousins averaged 17.1 points and 10 rebounds per game, in only his third year. In addition to this, he finished the year with a PER of 20.2, which ranks ninth among the league’s centers. Now with Shaquille O’Neal as a minority owner of the Kings and in Cousins’ ear as his on- and off-the-court mentor, the sky is the limit for this 23-year-old.
51. Anderson Varejao (PF, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Anderson Varejao has the potential to become the best power forward in the league this year. Had it not been for a devastating injury that limited him to only 25 games last year, he might have held that title. Before getting injured he was an absolute monster while averaging 14.1 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. Now back at full health, he will join Andrew Bynum in the frontcourt and will help the Cavs make a very possible playoff run.
Let the debating continue.
[slider_pro id=”31″]