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[FoxSports] NBA's Fastest Players

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by durvasa, Aug 18, 2009.

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Juggernaut Member

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durvasa said:

FoxSports' John Galinsky gives his list of the top 10 fastest NBA players. Click link for pictures and the honorable mentions. Any glaring omissions?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/pgStory?contentId=9932996#sport=NBA&photo=9930574

10. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

To be accurate, Paul — who led the NBA in assists and steals last season — is more quick than fast. He darts here and there, dashing into passing lanes, and he changes directions as abruptly as anyone in the league. He's also adept at changing speeds, much like Dwyane Wade, which makes him more effective than someone who's 100 mph all the time. But changing speeds doesn't matter if all your speeds are slow. At top speed, Paul is more than fast enough to leave most point guards in his dust. Just ask Jason Kidd, who he scorched in the 2008 playoffs.

9. Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns

He's not called the "Brazilian Blur" for nothing. The 2007 NBA Sixth Man of the Year comes off Phoenix's bench at full speed and doesn't slow down till he returns to the pine. An excellent 3-point shooter (career 40.4%), Barbosa doesn't have much of an in-between game and he struggled in Terry Porter's more deliberate system last season. But with the Suns on the run again under Alvin Gentry, the 26-year-old combo guard should be back in his comfort zone — at warp speed.

8. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

How does a point guard who can't shoot average nearly a triple-double in the playoffs, as Rondo did last season in a pair of seven-game series against the Bulls and Magic? Speed sure helps. Most of the time, Boston's 23-year-old point guard is simply faster to loose balls than the other nine guys on the court. His long arms also aid him on defense, where he finished fifth in steals last season, but it's his legs that should keep the Celtics contending as the Big 3 begins to slow down.

7. T.J. Ford, Indiana Pacers

As a point guard, speed is really the only attribute that sets Ford apart from his peers. At 6 feet and 165 pounds, he's small. He's not a great passer or shooter. He isn't an outstanding defender or leader. But man can he fly! More of a Ferrari than a Ford, he drove a Pacers offense that averaged 105.2 points last season, fifth in the league.

6. Nate Robinson, New York Knicks

In his own way, Robinson is as much of a physical freak as Dwight Howard and LeBron James, just in a smaller package. A 5-9 shooting guard (dare you to name anyone else who fits that description) who averaged 17.2 points last season, he creates all the space he needs with his incredible speed and explosiveness. The 2009 Slam Dunk champ played defensive back at Washington and was reportedly timed at 4.38 in the 40.

5. Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets

How did the Rockets push the Lakers to seven games in the West semifinals without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, and with Ron Artest missing almost every shot? One of the biggest reasons was the smallest player on the court. Brooks, a second-year guard from Oregon, didn't become the Rockets' starter until they traded Rafer Alston in mid-February, but he had his coming-out party against the Lakers. Making Derek Fisher look old (OK, he is old, but not that old), Brooks blew through L.A.'s defense for 79 points in Houston's three wins (but just 47 in the four losses). At 24, he still has a lot to learn about running a team, but his speed gives him a chance to be something special.

4. Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets

On February 18, 2008, the Nets traded away Jason Kidd, one of the greatest fast-breaking point guards of all time, and got someone much faster. That's partly because Kidd, now 36, has lost a step or two. But it's also because Harris, who New Jersey got in return from the Mavericks, looks like a cheetah racing up and down the court. On defense, his prey is the opposing point guard, and Harris is among the best at staying in front of his man. On offense, it's almost impossible to stop him from getting to the rim. He averaged 21.3 points last season despite shooting 29 percent on 3-pointers. Now if only he could see the court and pass like Kidd...but maybe that will come. After all, he's a fast learner.

3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Is it really possible for a 6-8, 260-pound man to be among the fastest players in the NBA? Well, did you see LeBron play last season? How many times did he chase down opponents and swat breakaway layups? How many times per game did he race past everyone for transition dunks? Did you ever see anyone catch him? He may not look like he's flying, but at his size he doesn't need many steps to cover huge amounts of space. (Just think of Usain Bolt in the Olympics.) His power is only half of what makes him such an insane athletic specimen. His speed is the other half. If his basketball IQ and skills ever match his physical ability — and they're getting closer every year — the 24-year-old James truly will be king of the league.

2. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

After all these years, opponents know how to defend Parker. Play off him and dare him to shoot from outside. Swarm him when he drives to the basket and try to make him pass rather than shoot. It doesn't matter. The fast Frenchman is routinely among the league leaders in layups despite his small stature (6-2, 185) because his blinding speed — and his clever use of it — makes him the best penetrating point guard in the league. Last season he averaged 22 points on 50.6-percent shooting despite making a paltry 19 3-pointers. With Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili slowing down, it's now up to the 27-year-old Parker to keep San Antonio in the NBA fast lane.

1. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

There is plenty of room for disagreement here — like we said, no one's timing every NBA player with a stopwatch — but Rose tops this list because of his speed in every situation. From end to end, the 2009 Rookie of the Year can cover the 94 feet as fast as anybody. In close quarters, his burst is unbelievable. He can run the fast break or penetrate through halfcourt defenses with equal velocity. And at 6-3 and 190, he has a strong frame and excellent body control, making him arguably the best athlete of all the league's point guards. Considering he won't be old enough to drink a beer till October, the 20-year-old Rose is on the fast track to NBA stardom.
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i definately dont agree with this list.

#21 Juggernaut, Aug 18, 2009

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y'all have to remember this is the fastest, not the fastest with the ball, not the fastest cross over or fast breaking player...that's why Lebron and Rose are so high. They take into consideration their first step, their speed without the ball, etc. Lebron isn't as fast with the ball like Tony or brooks or others, but he's up there when just sprinting down court. Rose's first step is mind blowing and that gives him a big boost...he's also one of the best in exploding to another gear on his way to the rim

#22 RV6, Aug 18, 2009
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I'll disagree with most of you - LeBron is insanely quick.

HOWEVER - most of those guys are quicker than him - with the notable exception of Harris. There's probably 60 guys in the league quicker than Harris... he's a high end athlete, but so are a LOT of guys who make NBA rosters. Harris can control the ball at speed, and can finish at the rim, which makes him stand out - however his speed isn't in the Paul/ Robinson/ Brooks/ Barbosa league...

#23 DrNuegebauer, Aug 18, 2009
durvasa Member

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DrNuegebauer said:

I'll disagree with most of you - LeBron is insanely quick.

HOWEVER - most of those guys are quicker than him - with the notable exception of Harris. There's probably 60 guys in the league quicker than Harris... he's a high end athlete, but so are a LOT of guys who make NBA rosters. Harris can control the ball at speed, and can finish at the rim, which makes him stand out - however his speed isn't in the Paul/ Robinson/ Brooks/ Barbosa league...
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There's a difference between quick and fast too. End to end, I'm not sure there's many players that can beat LeBron in a foot race. You don't have to be short to be really, really fast -- Usain Bolt is 6'5 afterall.

#24 durvasa, Aug 18, 2009
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durvasa said:

.... End to end, I'm not sure there's many players that can beat LeBron in a foot race. You don't have to be short to be really, really fast -- Usain Bolt is 6'5 afterall.
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Barbosa can easitly beat LBJ in a foot race.

#25 adoo, Aug 18, 2009
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DrNuegebauer said:

I'll disagree with most of you - LeBron is insanely quick.

HOWEVER - most of those guys are quicker than him - with the notable exception of Harris. There's probably 60 guys in the league quicker than Harris... he's a high end athlete, but so are a LOT of guys who make NBA rosters. Harris can control the ball at speed, and can finish at the rim, which makes him stand out - however his speed isn't in the Paul/ Robinson/ Brooks/ Barbosa league...
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I remember reading that Harris went baseline to baseline dribbling a ball in about 3-4 seconds. It was ricockulously quick whatever it was.

#26 aussie rocket, Aug 18, 2009
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I know a guy faster than all of them. That person is Tracy McGrady when he was young.

#27 whatevar93, Aug 18, 2009

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aussie rocket said:

I remember reading that Harris went baseline to baseline dribbling a ball in about 3-4 seconds. It was ricockulously quick whatever it was.
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Harris world record

#28 whatevar93, Aug 18, 2009
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I was almost gona to say "good read" until I saw Rose as #1

Fail

#29 dragonz, Aug 18, 2009
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I bet most of the guards listed are much more faster than LeBron James. He's just so big and powerful makes it look amazing when he's on a fastbreak.

#30 StevieFlight3, Aug 18, 2009
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People say they get tired of the media slurping LeBron.

Well I get tired of people hating on LeBron because of the respect he gets. It's not insane to consider him one of the fastest guys in the NBA.

#31 Shaud, Aug 19, 2009
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I would include Rafer in there too, he has quick feet when dribbling the ball down the court.

#32 Aggiester, Aug 19, 2009
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Lebron was a 2 time all state wide receiver in high school. He's at least in the NBA top 15 in speed.

#33 Shroopy2, Aug 19, 2009

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Eliminate the top 3 guys and you have a pretty defensible list.

#34 Spacemoth, Aug 19, 2009
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didnt dj augustin outdo rose in the nba workouts in speed tests?

#35 khimmatramka16, Aug 19, 2009
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what's so absurd about rose? maybe he's not the fastest, but he's definetely one of the fastest players in the league.

#36 stillillmatic, Aug 19, 2009
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Shaud said:

People say they get tired of the media slurping LeBron.

Well I get tired of people hating on LeBron because of the respect he gets. It's not insane to consider him one of the fastest guys in the NBA.
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I'm not hating on Lebron, I just dont think he is one of the top ten fastest players in the NBA. I think Lebron is the best basketball player in the league but that doesn't mean anything and everything he does deserves to be on a list because his name is Lebron James. It really is ridiculous when you see top dunks of the year and Lebron is the number one not because he actually had the best dunk of the year, but because he is Lebron James.

#37 dtowninyourtown, Aug 19, 2009
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dtowninyourtown said:

I'm not hating on Lebron, I just dont think he is one of the top ten fastest players in the NBA. I think Lebron is the best basketball player in the league but that doesn't mean anything and everything he does deserves to be on a list because his name is Lebron James. It really is ridiculous when you see top dunks of the year and Lebron is the number one not because he actually had the best dunk of the year, but because he is Lebron James.
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While I agree that he there were better dunks him making a list for fastest players in the NBA is not something that should be surprising.

#38 Shaud, Aug 19, 2009

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Shaud said:

While I agree that he there were better dunks him making a list for fastest players in the NBA is not something that should be surprising.
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He is fast, don't get me wrong. And maybe him being an honorable mention or, at best, number 10 shouldn't be completely surprising. But him being listed at number 3 is definitely surprising to me.

#39 dtowninyourtown, Aug 19, 2009
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^ His the only forward on the list. He does deserve to be on the list however not that high. Those point guards under him are absolutely faster then him. Well, Being the MVP has its perks.

#40 Rocket86, Aug 19, 2009

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