http://www.si.com/nba/2016/09/12/nba-top-100-player-rankings Cliff notes from 100-31 89. Ryan Anderson, PF, Rockets SHARE Rob Mahoney ROB MAHONEY Monday September 12th, 2016 Anderson is perhaps the NBA’s purest form of the stretch-four archetype, both in value and complication. Much of his contributions are rooted in where he stands on the floor and how that changes the geometry of an opposing defense. Opponents that elect to guard him closely wind up pulling one of their defenders out of the rotational mix, cinching whatever room for error they might have had. Leave him unattended and Anderson, a career 37.7% three-point shooter, will burn you from the perimeter or spring inside for offensive rebounds. Stationing him on the outside is a simple way to force an opponent into compromise. Defenses, however, have a better understanding than ever of how to manage players like Anderson. Some choose to play off of Anderson and rely on a late close-out, particularly now that his three-point shooting has drifted down from the 39-40% range. Many will task a wing to guard Anderson, particularly when one of his non-shooting teammates can provide a hiding spot for an opposing big. Anderson has a decent enough post game to punish some smaller defenders, but even pulling him into that space—and away from the arc—is a mitigation of his value. Under the best of circumstances, Anderson can still tug at the defense and clear out the lane for his teammates. Under the worst, his offense dwindles to the point that his slow-footed defense eclipses his positive contributions. There’s a delicate balance to Anderson’s game that has never been more difficult to keep at equilibrium. (Last year: No. 72) + Put up 20.2 points per 36 minutes last year despite evolution of defense against him + Nudges opponents into adjustments that might not always be familiar or comfortable – Value on offense is too often counterbalanced by what he gives up defensively – Has only once in his career played 67 games over a full, 82-game season 81. Trevor Ariza, SF, Rockets SHARE Rob Mahoney ROB MAHONEY Monday September 12th, 2016 The basketball world has a way of glossing over the Trevor Arizas—those players who fill a specific role on offense and take on thankless defensive assignments in a huge portion of minutes. Any superstar would have his life made easier by having Ariza around to anchor the rotation. Nearly 3,000 regular season minutes would be filled with strong perimeter shooting and versatile defense. Drives to the hoop are made easier by the fact that Ariza shoots 42.1% from the corners. New lineup possibilities are created by his willingness to wrestle with bigger opponents at the 4. Ariza isn’t quite as athletic as he once was, but through length and persistence alone he makes for a solid defender across three positions. Any healthy team ecosystem needs contributors like him in order to function fully. (Last year: No. 65) + Has abandoned delusions of grandeur in favor of a more controlled, efficient game + Excellent at using length to generate turnovers – Useful as a stretch–four but can be pushed around and worked over on the glass – Declining speed makes him less viable against quicker guards 79. Clint Capela, C, Rockets SHARE Rob Mahoney ROB MAHONEY Monday September 12th, 2016 At just 22, Capela has the profile of an emerging two-way force. Last season he was a per-minute wonder for the Rockets, churning out 13.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.4 steals over 36. Some of that production is bound to wither as his minutes scale up. What’s likely to remain is still a valuable, important player—particularly within the context of what a modern center is asked to do. Capela has shown no interest in calling for the ball in the post. He screens and he rolls, over and over, to keep the offense flowing. When the ball comes his way, Capela has the hands to make catches on the move and finish strong at the rim. When it doesn’t, he stays active with cuts and pursues potential rebounds. All of this from a big with real defensive promise. At minimum, Capela is a big-time rebounder and capable finisher who will bring energy to a defense. That’s a hell of a place to start. (Last year: Not ranked) + Quick, lanky shot-blocker who can wreak havoc through activity. + Committed rebounder who punishes opponents for failing to box him out. – Strictly a catch-and-finish player. Doesn’t yet have the footwork or ball skills to do much else on the move. – Slight enough that he gets pushed around by opposing centers. 7. James Harden, SG, Rockets SHARE Ben Golliver BEN GOLLIVER Thursday September 15th, 2016 Houston might have endured a disappointing and demoralizing 2015–16 season that opened with a quick coaching change and ended with a quick postseason exit, but James Harden made sure he got his. Did he ever. The 27-year-old Harden (29 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.5 APG) posted career-highs in minutes, shots, usage rate, points, rebounds, assists and free throw attempts, pushing his all-around production to historic levels and raising the age-old “How much is too much?” question that often dogs one-man offenses. There were obvious costs to Harden’s insane workload: his defensive numbers fell dramatically, Houston’s attack was too predictable and stood no chance against Golden State’s defense in the playoffs, and neglected center Dwight Howard bounced out of town as soon as possible in free agency. Still, his elite one-on-one feel, his league-leading ability to get to the line, his reliable three-point range and his strong finishing ability make him able to carry an efficient offense in a way matched by only the league’s brightest stars. So it came as no great surprise, then, when the Rockets spent this summer building out an offensive-minded roster in his image before inking him to a lucrative renegotiated extension that will carry him through July 2019 at minimum. He’s the whole show, and a damn good one despite his faults. (Last year: No. 5) + Since 1970, only two players have matched his 2015–16 production (29 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.5 APG) in all three categories: LeBron James (2008, 2010) and Michael Jordan (1989) + Career-high 837 free throw attempts were the most by a guard since Michael Jordan attempted 860 in 1988 – He slipped from the 79th percentile in overall defense in 2014–15 to the 18th percentile last season (per Synergy Sports) – Heavy miles: In the four seasons since his 2012 arrival in Houston, he ranks first in total minutes played, second in field goal attempts and eighth in usage rate league-wide
Capela ranked higher than Nerlins Noel at #84 How many still want to trade Ariza and a pick for Noel, when we already have a better player in Capela?
Can't argue with any of that outside of the fact that Ariza was most certainly not a solid defender across 3 positions last year. Hopefully he bounces back.
Harden 4 Gordon is out of the 100 since this article says so... http://www.si.com/nba/2016/09/12/derrick-rose-tony-parker-snubs-nba-top-100-players
I'm assuming this is trolling. But in the off chance it isn't, the SI article suggests we only have 4 of the top 100 players in the league with three of them very, very low on the list. But you think Capela has made the need for a solid 7 ft player who can play at the 4 and 5 and stretch the floor obsolete? You know we have 96 front court minutes right?
That's a provocative list of snubs. Harrison Barnes doesn't make the top 100 as a newly signed Max player. haha
I've always thought NBARank is a much better representation of the top players in the league, simply due to the fact that hundreds of people contribute to it. SI's list always has some really weird omissions and unusually high rankings at times which makes me think only a few editors are involved.
Agreed. I wonder where Motiejunas and Gordon will fall? Regardless, I find it disconcerting that three out of our top 5 guys after Harden (Anderson, Gordon and Motiejunas) have all been missing a significant amount of games to injury. Incidentally, those guys are likely our three best scoring options after Harden.
There should be two categories of max players: True Max and Mavs Max (Barnes and Wesley Matthews) <BR>
Capela could be 79 or even 50, but judged on last year alone he probably shouldnt crack the top 100. But I'm pumped and hope he lives up to his ranking.
7. James Harden, SG, Rockets SHARE Ben Golliver BEN GOLLIVER Thursday September 15th, 2016 Houston might have endured a disappointing and demoralizing 2015–16 season that opened with a quick coaching change and ended with a quick postseason exit, but James Harden made sure he got his. Did he ever. The 27-year-old Harden (29 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.5 APG) posted career-highs in minutes, shots, usage rate, points, rebounds, assists and free throw attempts, pushing his all-around production to historic levels and raising the age-old “How much is too much?” question that often dogs one-man offenses. There were obvious costs to Harden’s insane workload: his defensive numbers fell dramatically, Houston’s attack was too predictable and stood no chance against Golden State’s defense in the playoffs, and neglected center Dwight Howard bounced out of town as soon as possible in free agency. Still, his elite one-on-one feel, his league-leading ability to get to the line, his reliable three-point range and his strong finishing ability make him able to carry an efficient offense in a way matched by only the league’s brightest stars. So it came as no great surprise, then, when the Rockets spent this summer building out an offensive-minded roster in his image before inking him to a lucrative renegotiated extension that will carry him through July 2019 at minimum. He’s the whole show, and a damn good one despite his faults. (Last year: No. 5) + Since 1970, only two players have matched his 2015–16 production (29 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.5 APG) in all three categories: LeBron James (2008, 2010) and Michael Jordan (1989) + Career-high 837 free throw attempts were the most by a guard since Michael Jordan attempted 860 in 1988 – He slipped from the 79th percentile in overall defense in 2014–15 to the 18th percentile last season (per Synergy Sports) – Heavy miles: In the four seasons since his 2012 arrival in Houston, he ranks first in total minutes played, second in field goal attempts and eighth in usage rate league-wide
Those ranking use a combination of advanced metrics, right It really shows how the All-NBA voting last year was heavily skewed to rewarding wins, no matter if you're best player on a team or not: Harden is top ranked SG by a big margin, with only three PGs ranked higher Btw: what's up with SI calling Kawhi a SG?
That list is bad. So bad. Dont see how anyone can take it seriously unless they only care about their own players.
Yeah... ****ing all-nba voting and even MVP voting is a joke. Harden was robbed last year of All-NBA , not even 3rd team, Wtf??? Also... people seem to forget a lot of star players get a lot of FTAs (even MJ did 8-10 a game per season each year... 7 was low during good years), these sports press guys/new fans are crazy (acting like FTMs shouldn't count as points, wth???) Defensive lapses are only real issue, but looking at per and averages he was insane. They want him to do more than most of those other ALL-NBA guards that made it... I mean Curry is an incredible defensive presence, right??? Haha, no knocks on curry on O, but defensivly?? Come on.