Totally agree on Gallinari, had him on a fantasy team last year so I saw his production throughout the season. Wishing he had stayed in NY, but the guy has a dead-on shot, he'll be a productive player for a long time.
42. KEVIN MARTIN SG, Houston Rockets Age: 28 2010-11 Stats: 23.5 PPG, 43.6 FG%, 38.3 3PT%, 2.5 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.0 STL Remember when I said that any player who contributes on only one side of the ball better be tremendous at doing so in order to crack the top half of this list? That statement applies to Martin more than anyone else. There is really no way to argue Martin is anything but a liability on defense. In the right setting — on a good defensive team with an elite big man — Martin might be able to blend in as a neutral defender. Houston and Sacramento have not provided him that context. Martin can get bullied in the post, has problems sticking with guys running around off-ball screens and falls behind pick-and-roll plays. Again, the right system and personnel could mitigate this, but that is an alternate reality for now. But that aside, Martin has developed into an amazing offensive player. He cracked the league’s top 20 in PER last season, thanks largely to an insanely efficient game that involves lots of three-pointers, shrewd shot selection inside the arc and more made free throws than anyone else in the NBA, save for Kevin Durant. (The two Kevins tied for the league lead in made free throws, with 594 each.) His turnover rate was low (2.3 per game) as always, and in former Rockets coach Rick Adelman’s system, Martin showed he’s a decent passer, on pick-and-rolls and otherwise. Synergy has him ranked as the 26th most efficient scorer in the league, in terms of points per possession, and he finished within the top 75 on every type of play — pick-and-rolls, spot-up chances, catch-and-shoot attempts off screens and even fast break. http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/08/08/top-100-nba-players-nos-41-50/
No way Chuck Hayes makes it now so there'd be no question that Patrick Patterson has no shot at it either. 3 players in the top 60 isn't too bad right? I couldn't imagine any other Rockets players to be placed higher than Martins #42
I hadn't read through all of his rankings, but I see a lot of people ranked where I wouldn't rank them. But then again I don't get paid by SI. I don't think there are 83 NBA players better than Deandre Jordan. I don't think there are 79 NBA players better than Gallinari John Wall should be a lot higher than 72 Andre Miller should not be ranked right above Wall, and should barely have cracked the list at all Varejao is way too high at 68 (or is it too low? either way he should be ranked in the 80's at best) Prince will have a huge drop, the guy it seems still feeds off of the player he was 7 years ago Harris is better than 60 Kidd should not be 58 at this stage in his career Lee is better than 57 Brand is nowhere near the best 50 players today I like Martin's spot and like it even more than Curry is one rank above him
David West at 31... really? Scola puts up just about the same stat line and hustles harder, plus makes less. Is West really that good to be ranked 21 spots ahead of Scola or is he that overrated? I'm thinking the latter.
Oh yes, it can. Gag. Here's the full list if anyone's interested. http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/08/16/top-100-nba-players-nos-1-10/?sct=nba_t11_a0
Holy cow is that top horrible. Gasol at 10??? Durant all the way down at 8?? Kobe at 5? WADE AT 3??????? Are we talking about 4 or 5 years ago, or are we talking late summer 2011??
I don't even want to talk about Rondo being 27. His shot isn't something to be envied, but he does what you want a point guard to do, and he does it very well.
Tony allen is a defensive specialst no? so guys like shane battier, maybe even bruce bowen, would make the top 100 list for impact defensive players. if you mention chuck you can add that they were able to score from behind the arc which was beneficial for their teams and their position. chuck on the other hand has just recently been able to prove him as formidable scorer who can benefit at the pf, not c position. and to clarify, i love chuck and think he is a great defensive player, and i have not even looked at the list to see who are ranked, but he needs one more year of proving he can score. lowry was able to score the previous season, just not behind the arc, the only thing i feel he has added since joining his his 3 pointer (magically), still think he needs work passing effectively, but he's on good pace..just my opinion
All this Lebron love on these so-called rankings is getting out of hand. Lebron is a top 3 player probably but shouldn't take the top spot for all the reasons mentioned by the author. It's interesting how he acknowledged them and yet still said screw it, he has the highest PER, so give him the honor. Yet ranking after ranking, these sports writers put Lebron as No. 1 despite his underwhelming consecutive playoff exits. He has his strengths and moments of brilliance,no doubt. But so does a lot of other really good players. He's just not that clutch when it really matters. Pressure and media will get to him, and it shows. Unless he can overcome that mental factor, he shouldn't be No. 1.
The rankings are about right, maybe switch Paul and Kobe, and that's about it. As for James, yeah he's the best player in the league, he probably deserves a tragic magic pass on one final series, but if he doesn't work on what caused it, it'll be hard pressed to keep calling him that.
LeBron as the number one guy....hell he wasn't even the best player on his team when it mattered most. As of right now, when the games really really matter(NBA Finals)....they go as far a #3 can carry them. I agree Kobe probably isn't top 5 anymore, but he is still top 10. Father time is catching up with him. Elton Brand is better than Luis "The Ice Cream Man" Scola......maybe I'm a homer but there is no way in hell I would trade Scola for Brand.
That was one series, it may have been personal, it may have been mental, but even so, he was still the best defender on that court and by a very long way (in all honesty Wade is probably the best offensive player in the nba, but those 2 guys above him in the rankings are on a whole other level for defensive ability).
