NBA: Player Rankings – Preseason Edition

Welcome to the HoopsHabit edition of NBA Player Rankings! Throughout the exciting 2013-14 season, I will be your host of this illustrious topic that always brings out the most debate among basketball fans. Each week I will be ranking the NBA’s 20 best players and moving them up and down on the list based on their performance. While the preseason serves as a chance for a team’s reserve players to make the roster, the stars do get a bit of shine.

*As a note, I will not be including injured players for obvious reason (sorry Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook fans). Enjoy the preseason edition and expect many more to come!

20. Chris Bosh (PF/C, Miami Heat) 

With Dwyane Wade and LeBron James playing about half of each preseason game, Chris Bosh has been given the chance to shine. During the preseason he has averaged 17 points and five rebounds per game. While this is just the preseason, the Heat will need Bosh to produce consistently if they want to have a chance at a three-peat. With consistent play, he will distract defenses from both James and Wade and spread the floor for the rest of the team. Bosh stands at No. 2o.

19. Paul George (SF, Indiana Pacers) 

Last season Paul George proved that he is the real deal and that he can and will lead the Pacers to heights unseen since the days of Reggie Miller. Going into this season, George, along with the Pacers have very high expectations and are expected to give the defending champion Miami Heat problems in addition to competing for the Eastern Conference crown with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls. The success of the team rests of the shoulders of their superstar, who has more than proven his worth in the league. Last season George averaged 17.4 points per game and upped this averaged during the playoffs to 19.2 and tacking on 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game during the postseason. This season many, including myself, expect him to solidify his status as a superstar and lead the Pacers deep into the playoffs. Paul George is a special player; he gets to No. 19 spot.

18. Dwight Howard (C, Houston Rockets) 

I swear this has absolutely nothing to do with my strong distaste of Dwight Howard (and it is a very strong distaste), but after the first six games of the preseason, quite frankly he looks awkward trying to share the court with James Harden and the rest of the Rockets cast. During the fourth game of the preseason against his former team, the Orlando Magic, Howard was held to just eight points and all the while collecting only four rebounds (ironic, huh?). His counterpart, James Harden, who took double the shots of Howard, finished with a game-high 21 points. Howard was heard saying after the game saying that he is looking forward to playing with this collection of players because it resembles that of what his team looked like in Orlando and that James Harden was the equivalent of Courtney Lee. WHAT? (For those of you who are not familiar with the bonafide superstar that is Courtney Lee *sarcasm intended*, he was drafted in 2008 and has a career average of 12.8 points per game). This inconspicuous back-handed slap is just the type of nonsense that Howard is known for across the league. The chemistry on this team certainly needs work and the attitude of Howard will be the main reason this team sinks or swims. Dwight has some work to do before he moves up this list. He stands at No. 18.

17. DeMarcus Cousins (C, Sacramento Kings) 

Yes, the preseason means very little in terms of measuring a team’s success for the upcoming season, but it definitely can have an effect on a player’s confidence heading into the season. After the way DeMarcus Cousins performed in four preseason games, his confidence should be through the roof. In just four games, Cousins has averaged 21.3 points and nine rebounds per game while only averaging 26 minutes per contest. His preseason was highlighted by a 31-point and 11-rebound effort against the Clippers. Granted, this is the preseason, a time where the scrubs get their “five minutes of fame,” but that kind of effort is spectacular no matter what time of the year it is. Cousins still has a lot of work to do on the mental side of the game, but I’m sure working with the future Hall of Fame center and minority owner, Shaquille O’Neal, will help things get going in the right direction. I expect a big season out of Cousins; right now he comes in at No. 19.

16. Roy Hibbert (C, Indiana Pacers) 

Since being selected with the 17th overall pick of the 2008 draft, Roy Hibbert has accomplished something that many big men in the league and many men his size can’t pull off. Even though the big man sports a behemoth 7’2”, 290-pound frame, Hibbert has managed to stay healthy over the five seasons that he’s been in the league. Having said that, the Pacers have looked to continue this run of good fortune by not risking Hibbert’s health and had him sit the entire preseason. Even though Hibbert has not spent a minute on the floor during the preseason, one cannot forget his skills in the post, which almost resulted in the demise of the champion Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Hibbert has the strongest post game of any center in the league, and combined with incredible touch around the basket, the sky in the limit for this 26 year-old phenom.

15. Marc Gasol (C, Memphis Grizzlies) 

In a guard dominated league, it’s surprising to have as many centers in the top 20 as we do, yet here we are. Grizzlies center, Marc Gasol (the better of the Gasol brothers … that’s right I said it), has been a seriously underrated talent through out his five seasons in the league. His perimeter shooting ability allows for the Grizzlies to stretch the floor and allow for guards Mike Conley and Tony Allen to drive and/or pass to open shooters on the floor. Gasol’s proficient post game also gives the Grizzlies another offensive weapon in their arsenal. His defense has improved each year and has shown that he is one of the most defensively talented big men in the league. Gasol’s production is a huge factor in the Grizzlies’ success. Marc Gasol earns the No. 15 spot.

14. LaMarcus Aldridge (PF, Portland Trail Blazers)

With the Western Conference having as much talent as it does this season, the Blazers are in the discussion of the teams attempting to squeeze into the playoffs this year. Their postseason hopes hinge on LaMarcus Aldridge. 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. 14 spot.

13. Stephen Curry (PG, Golden State Warriors) 

Stephen Curry gets buckets. Nobody looked better (outside of this guy named LeBron) than Curry in the playoffs. Nobody made more 3-pointers in a season than Curry … ever. What’s even more outstanding is that he shot those 3s at 45 percent; take a moment to really consider that. Curry made nearly half of his attempts from long-range, even though he was routinely given no space to operate and did most of the work on his own, off the dribble. Sure, he is a sub-par defender with slow feet. But the man can flat-out play basketball and nobody has a prettier shot. Has he reached his peak? I say no because he can improve his driving and passing a bit more. Either way, if Curry ups his scoring and assists even more from last season (22.9 points, 6.9 assists), he could be a legitimate top five MVP candidate. Remember this outbreak against the Knicks where he scored 54 in the GARDEN?

12. Kyrie Irving (PG, Cleveland Cavaliers) 

Kyrie Irving also gets buckets. Irving gets the nod over Curry because he of his superior driving ability and while Irving is not the shooter that Curry is, his outside range is cannot be discounted. What they have in common is a potent one-on-one game and an atrocious defender acumen. In his second year, Irving was named an All-Star (averaging 22.5 points and 5.9 assists) while being the first, second and third scoring option in Cleveland. He already has proved his worth as a scorer from range and now apparently has his sights on becoming one of the better finishers as well. Oh, he also grabs nearly four rebounds to boot. He can finish and shoot. He has a vast array of floaters and twisting finishes. With the addition of Andrew Bynum (cross your fingers, Cleveland), Irving might have found his pick-and-roll partner in crime. If he ever learns to be league average on defense, he could overtake a few spots and move into the top five. With an improved supporting cast in Cleveland, Irving is behind the wheel of the metaphorical car driving towards the playoffs. “Uncle Drew” earns the No. 12 spot.

11. Blake Griffin (PF, Los Angeles Clippers) 

Blake Griffin is simply a freak athlete and one of the game’s most talented big men. As this amazing athlete, he is the perfect partner for star point guard Chris Paul as he and Griffin run the pick-and-roll to perfection, to which the result is a monstrous posterization on the unfortunate soul who chooses to attempt to take the ball from the game’s highest flyer.  Once he steps outside of the paint, however, he struggles greatly with his shooting, averaging near or severely less than the league average in shooting percentage. Griffin’s inability to shoot has a direct effect on the Clippers lack of ability to establish a half court offense. If Griffin can become a more effective and consistent shooter, we can see his game evolve to resemble that of Hall of Famer Karl Malone. Griffin, who is more athletically gifted than Malone, does not hold his shooting prowess. Griffin’s ability to shoot well will add another weapon in the Clippers’ arsenal and make them incredibly difficult to beat, and maybe even a title contender. If Blake can combine his athleticism with consistent shooting, he will be the best power forward in the league. For now, though, Blake Griffin gets the No. 11 spot.

10. Tony Parker (PG, San Antonio Spurs) 

Maybe the resurgence of Tim Duncan sparked a resurrection in more than one Spurs player, because Tony Parker sure had one heck of a season last year. The five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA player has become the reason they continue winning as Duncan’s career comes to an end (and Manu Ginobili as well, if the playoffs are any indication). Parker has averaged in the area of 20 points and seven assists a night the past two years (19.1 points, 5.3 assists for his career) and has morphed into a dark horse candidate for MVP votes for parts of the last two seasons. Is he a product of the Spurs’ system or simply a master technician, capable of running the system to near perfection? Either way, a healthy Parker means a high rating on this list for at least another year. Parker has proved that he can compete with the league’s best night after night with amazing consistency. Tony Parker comes in at No. 10.

9. Tim Duncan (PF/C, San Antonio Spurs) 

Can Tim Duncan continue to laugh in the face of Father Time and have another great season? Last season for Duncan was simply incredible and it was proof that he can hang around in the league for however long he wants. Year after year we all think that Duncan’s skills and stats will decline but he continues to show us all why he is called The Big Fundamental. Duncan is simply ageless and his resurrection of last season was inspirational while leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals. Can he continue to amaze or will father time finally catch up to him? With history on Duncan’s side, I’d bet on the Spurs being as good and intimidating as ever. Very little has changed with the Spurs roster since last season, so why should it be out of the question that they could return to the Finals? If Tim Duncan has anything to say about it, I wouldn’t count them out. The best power forward to ever play earns the No. 9 spot.

8. Dwyane Wade (SG, Miami Heat) 

Wade is one of the league’s elite, but has shown serious signs of age over the past few years. Since his miraculous year of 2008-09 where he averaged 30.8 points, five rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, Wade’s averages have dropped to a 21.2 points and five assists per game. While these are still more than above average numbers, Wade is simply not the player we once saw with unlimited amounts of explosiveness. These days, he has been plagued by knee injuries and who knows what else. During the Heat’s run during the playoffs last year, Wade’s performance became even worse due to injury. During the postseason, Wade averaged 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists while averaging a PER almost six points lower than his regular season numbers. This has absolutely nothing to do with a depleting of skills, though. If Wade can remain healthy, the Heat will be very difficult to beat. If he does not remain healthy, this may be the end of the big-3 as we know it.

7. Kevin Love (PF, Minnesota Timberwolves) 

The only thing holding Kevin Love back is injury. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the most uniquely talented players in the NBA, capable of drilling 3-pointers while competing for the league lead in rebounds per game and is a double-double machine. In fact, now that Dwight Howard and Omer Asik will be competing with each other for boards in Houston, Love should be the prohibitive favorite for the rebounding crown. Love doesn’t have any excuses this year. Not with the level of talent that surrounds him in Minnesota.  Secondly, he has to start playing better defense. Love is by no means a liability, but he must prove that the porosity of his play last season was an effect of the injuries he suffered. Given his limitations as an athlete and his below-the-rim game, it’s remarkable that Love could surpass the high fliers and all-time greats at his position. Yet he’s done so with a unique skill set. Not only is he the best rebounding power forward in the league, he’s the best 3-point shooting forward in the league (sorry, Dirk).With an improved supporting cast in Minnesota, Love now must prove he can lead a playoff team. Kevin Love comes in 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? Either way, James Harden comes in at No. 7.

5. Carmelo Anthony (SF, New York Knicks) 

Can you imagine what would happen if Carmelo Anthony suddenly started playing good defense and passing the ball to his teammates with more frequency? But, that thought is much to fragile to fathom, kind of like Brandon Roy‘s knees (sorry Portland fans). It won’t be a positive for New York if ‘Melo wins a second scoring title in a row. The Knicks need for him to become more of a facilitator and stop taking bad looks. He’s fully capable of making those changes, but I’m a bit more hesitant to predict a similar improvement on the less glamorous end of the court. Anthony is still one of the premier scorers in basketball and he’s an underrated rebounder for his position as well. With the Eastern Conference having many teams who could be front-runners for the Eastern Conference crown. Will this be the year that Melo can pull the Knicks up to Eastern Conference glory? We will see. For now, Carmelo Anthony comes in at No. 5.

4. Derrick Rose (PG, Chicago Bulls) 

He’s baaaaaaaack!!!  Derrick Rose is back and he is better than ever. Yes, I know it’s preseason; yes, I know he’s playing against sub-par players and will see better competition during the regular season, but there is no defense for Rose. He is simply too quick, too strong and too relentless to stop. Apparently he has gotten quicker and his vertical has increased five inches (so he says). Whether that be true or not, defenders should be terrified when given the assignment to guard this man, because that is impossible. Now back at full health, he is physically and mentally ready to dominate every single night this season. He will come back with a vengeance and is my early pick for MVP. Derrick Rose earns the No. 4 spot. Ooooooo kill ’em D-Rose!!

3. Chris Paul (PG, Los Angeles Clippers) 

Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league, period and the standard that all point guards are judged by. The reason Doc Rivers is in L.A., heck, the reason the Clippers are relevant in L.A., is because of CP3. For his career, Paul has averaged 18.6 points, 9.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals. The six-time All-Star nearly won the MVP award in 2007-08. 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. Oh yeah, about a week ago he had 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in an overtime victory against the Nuggets, that’s not too bad. Right now, there is no better point guard in the NBA than Chris Paul. That is why he is the No. 4 player on this list.

2. Kevin Durant (SF, Oklahoma City Thunder) 

Is this the year that Kevin Durant takes over for LeBron James as the No. 1 player in the world? Probably not, but it is possible. We aren’t going to see a decline from the incumbent, but Durant is still only 24 years old and there’s the potential for another massive leap in production and it would have to come in two areas. Durant is already established as the best scorer in basketball. Only he and Larry Bird  have ever truly competed for a scoring crown while shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from downtown and 90 percent from behind the 3-point arc. It’s his defense and facilitating that could still use some work. Durant took strides in both areas last year, but he’s still too turnover prone when passing the ball and his defense doesn’t blow anyone away. He must establish himself as a true stopper in order to challenge LeBron. Again, it’s highly unlikely, but it’s possible that we see that type of improvement over the course of just one season from this MVP candidate. Plus, why not add to Durant’s list of second place finishes.

1. LeBron James (SF, Miami Heat)

Uh oh … he’s ready to go.