#NBARank: Are the Sixers Properly Ranked?
by yosoysean on Oct 17, 2011 7:54 PM PDT
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About two months ago Jordan wrote an article about ESPN's player ranks and his projection of where Sixers would fall in those rankings. ESPN is now nearly done with these rankings (they're at #6 as I type this) but clearly every Sixer has been listed already. I figured some may be interested in where they ended up. I'll start with the "worst".
500 - Lavoy Allen
Already mentioned in Jordan's article. Allen has never played in the NBA and there's a chance that he rarely will so I don't see how they could possibly rank him or any other rookie. That said, I have no problem with the ranking. I wouldn't be surprised if he never steps foot on an NBA floor in a regular season game.
400 - Antonio Daniels
Hardly a Sixer and hardly matters.
391 - Nikola Vucevic
I still question rookie rankings. As much as I disliked the Vucevic pick at the draft I doubt he's any worse than Brackins. Rookies ranked ahead of Vucevic who were drafted later than him: Donatas Motiejunas (386), Chris Singleton (360), Marshon Brooks (347), Kenneth Faried (331).
362 - Tony Battie
"The Closer" is apparently better than Vucevic. What a bad draft pick! (note: that last sentence was rich in sarcasm)
354 - Craig Brackins
I have no problem with this ranking. I think you'll find that I have no real problems with any of the rankings. Only a few minor quibbles.
339 - Jason Kapono
Fitting spot for a bench player who hardly played for a .500 team. One might argue that he's ranked too high.
274 - Jodie Meeks
Jordan predicted he'd be ranked about 180. 274 seems incredibly low for a starter on a playoff team. I tend to think he's a bit overrated here at Liberty Ballers but do not think he should be ranked behind the likes of Jimmer, Earl Boykins, Greivis Vazquez, Jonny Flynn, Jordan Farmar, and several people ranked ahead of him.
236 - Marreese Speights
He's ranked among the likes of Reggie Evans, Jason Maxiell, and Jeff Foster. Seems about right to me. Jordan predicted 287. Close enough.
219 - Spencer Hawes
Not a terrible player. Not a good player. He's ranked ahead of such big men as Brad Miller and Anthony Randolph, behind Zaza Pachulia, Antonio McDyess, and Jason Thompson. Jordan was spot on with his "200-ish" guess.
197 - Andres Nocioni
I think this would have been a fair ranking a couple of seasons ago. Based off of his last two seasons I'd say this is a bit too high.
173 - Lou Williams
As much hate as he gets from here I think this ranking is a tad low. Similar players like Leandro Barbosa (150), Nick Young (146), JJ Redick (143), Marcus Thornton (136), Ben Gordon (111), JR Smith (110), JJ Barea (92), George Hill (91), and Jamal Crawford (76) are all ranked ahead of him. Jordan likely agrees with me since he projected he'd be ranked in the 105-115 range.
171 - Evan Turner
Not surprisingly ranked behind Derrick Favors (138) and DeMarcus Cousins (82). The twitter comment they chose to post with his rankings says " If Doug Collins lets Evan Turner play next season, he may win the Most Improved Player award." He definitely has the ability of a higher ranked player but has yet to really show it. Jordan was pretty close with his prediction of a 150-160 range.
84 - Thaddeus Young
No problem with this ranking. Very good bench player. Not yet a complete player. Jordan guessed 90-100. Very close once again.
83 - Jrue Holiday
If this list was based on potential I'd argue higher. Since it's based off of how good the players currently are this ranking seems right. The only player 21-or-under ranked ahead of Jrue is John Wall. Jordan was oh so close with his 85-95 prediction.
62 - Elton Brand
At first glance I thought this ranking was a bit high but then I looked at the players ranked immediately behind him. Shawn Marion (too high also imo), Ty Lawson, Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, Grant Hill. As always, Jordan was extremely close at 65-75
34 - Andre Iguodala
Ahead of Danny Granger (36), Monta Ellis (41), Kevin Martin (42), Lamar Odom (44), Gerald Wallace (48), Stephen Jackson (77), Jason Richardson (79), and Trevor Ariza (113). Clearly these rankers don't know what they are talking about.
I'd argue that he's currently better than Joe Johnson (32), Andrew Bynum (a ridiculous 30), Tony Parker (28), Rudy Gay (27), and a 35-year old Tim Duncan who had 13 ppg and 9 rpg (19). Jordan once again was just off at 35-45.
Notable recent former Sixers: Rodney Carney (354), Jason Smith (292), Willie Green (276), Reggie Evans (244), Kyle Korver (192), Samuel Dalembert (112).
Notably missing (unless I overlooked him): The Donger.
Another user-created commentary provided by a Liberty Ballers reader.
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Not sure how Lou ranked behind Ben Gordan and Barbosa. I would put him in the lower 100’s.
Also disagree with the Iguodala ranking. He’s not s hooter/slasher in half-court situations so he shcould be behind Lavoy Allen.
"I admire his competitiveness. As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard."- Eddie Jordan
by jefu on Oct 17, 2011 5:31 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
still overrated
Also disagree with the Iguodala ranking. He’s not s hooter/slasher in half-court situations so he shcould be behind Lavoy Allen.
by Jordan Sams on Oct 17, 2011 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I could see him probably starting for a YMCA team…
"I admire his competitiveness. As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard."- Eddie Jordan
by jefu on Oct 17, 2011 8:52 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
For no apparent reason I am posting a comparison between:
- Ray Allan
- Jodie Meeks
If they are so different why don’t I think the Sixers would have won that many more games with Ray Allen in the place of Meeks last year? Maybe would have got them 5 more wins but still a 1st round out. I’d expect a bigger difference when comparing top 35 with #274.
I am NOT saying Meeks is as good as ageless Ray-Ray. Just that those ratings seem a bit absurd.
Yeah but Meeks lost to Denzel Washington in a 1-on-1 game.
"I admire his competitiveness. As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard."- Eddie Jordan
by jefu on Oct 17, 2011 8:56 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
How the hell is Tim Duncan #19? And why is Marc Gasol #26?
I don’t even need to say anything about TD… But Gasol? Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good center, but do people honestly think he’s better than Iguodala, JJ, and Rudy Gay? I’m not even sure he’s better than Joakim Noah…
It seems like some players were ranked for past performance (Duncan, perhaps Ray Allen), while some were ranked for future potential (which is why I think Blake Griffin is in the top 10).
True but they were also ranked very low. Many of them were ranked to be 9th or 10th bench players. It’s why Jordan Hamilton is behind Johan Petro, why Tristan Thompson is below Luke Walton or why Kyrie Irving is below Kirk Hinrich, for example.
Rookies got zero credit, which is fine, but then why did Griffin get #10 after only one season? It just seems like the methodology of voters is a bit fuzzy.
It is supposed to be ‘current quality of the player’ but it doesn’t always seem to be that way, in my opinion.
Don't think Blake Griffin is very good?
He seemed to be one of the best big men in the league this year offensively, but I didn’t watch many Clippers games, so I can’t speak to his overall ranking
I think Blake Griffin is very good. I think his rank at #10 shows the flaw in the system. All the rookies were ranked very low because they have not yet played in the NBA, which is fine. However, why do they then rank Griffin #10 after only one season? He is ranked ahead of several players who have done it for several years.
If you want to play the prove it to me game with the rookies, why did Griffin get anoited top 10 after only season?
For these rasons and more, I give the SI ranking more credibility.
"I admire his competitiveness. As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard."- Eddie Jordan
I trust Zach Lowe over basically everyone at ESPN
by Jordan Sams on Oct 18, 2011 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
but, but they’re experts!!
"I admire his competitiveness. As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard."- Eddie Jordan
Ha, I think its funny how they call all their writers experts. Seems to devalue the term, in my opinion.
I am experts.
The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Michael Bourn
by Michael Levin on Oct 18, 2011 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t really look much into these rankings but I think Gasol probably got a nice ranking because of the lack of good centers. I think that kind of adds to his value, plus the dude is pretty good.
He’s not better than Noah, Nene, and Bogut. He’s probably not better than Chandler either.
The worst rank had to be Bynum at 30 though. He’s averaged 51 games played in the past four seasons. You can’t be one of the 30 best players in the league if you can’t stay on the court.
Yeah I’m guessing he must be ranked higher than those guys then. I don’t know, that’s debatable. I’d take Noah over him just because of his insane tenacity and great defense and rebounding. Plus he runs the floor really well and can pass the ball well for a big, he is not much of a threat on offense though. I’m not so sure about Nene. I like his game but he’s pretty injury prone as well. I really like Bogut’s game gotta agree there, but he is also pretty injury prone. None as injury prone as Bynum though, almost a sure thing he’s going down come Spring. Overall I guess that’s pretty well said. Definitely a Gasol fan though..
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