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BALL IN …
How has it come to this?
Another season nearly in the books …
It seems like it was only yesterday that we celebrated one of the best All-Star weekends in recent memory, with Dwight Howard stealing the show with his Superman dunk. To be sure, we’ve come a long way from referee scandals, the new ball, a commissioner on the precipice, thug life, and a general apathy for the beautiful game of NBA basketball.
Today, nary an NBA fan anywhere isn’t counting down the days until the first jump ball of the post season. And if the battle for the eighth and final playoffs spots in the West is any indication of what we can expect, what a post season we’re going to have!
Unfortunately, this also signals the end of MeanD’s Regular Season Big Board for the 2007-08 campaign. And while I’ll miss the games and the fierce jockeying for position, I’ll not miss the weekly tracking, the incessant games watching (30 teams x’s 82 games per), the injuries that took players in and out of competition, and/or the heartbreak of a player not quite making the cut after seeing him come ever so close. But that’s the nature of this competition, for their can only be one winner, save MeanD’s Regular Season Big Board where there are 51 winners — one with immunity — with the top eight from each category (41 total) moving on to post season competition.
In preparation for the playoffs, how ’bout we bring this season to a close by announcing the top 5 players who consistently got it done in 2007-08.
Although the season started with Steve Nash ruling the roost, there were signs as early as mid-season last year that the two-time MVP was slowing down. Newcomers Chris Paul and Deron Williams were quickly establishing themselves as the point guards of the future, with seemingly little reverence for Steve Nash’s consecutive MVP accomplishment only two years earlier. Whereas many have argued that Nash’s season last year was statistically better than both his MVP seasons, there was no denying that the motor that makes the Phoenix Suns go could not hold off the youthful charge of talanted floor generals, Paul and Williams.
This year, MVP finalist Chris Paul won the PPG ranks; thus, he will enter the post season in gold print. And although I am on record as saying I believe Deron Williams is the best PG in today’s game, he didn’t prove me right as he only managed a close second to Paul’s MVP-caliber season, with Nash falling to third, and Detroit’s Chauncey Billups ranking a distant fourth. Nonetheless, I’d like to note the great seasons of Baron Davis, Andre Miller, Jason Kidd, Rajon Rondo, Rafer Alston, and Jose Calderon. All had fantastic seasons but only eight can make the post season board, so Rafer Alston and Jose Calderon will not make the post season cut. By missing the cut, with both players’ teams being playoffs bound, this suggests neither Houston nor Toronto has a real chance to win this year’s NBA title.
As talented as the PPG ranks were this year, it is a top to middle- heavy category, but solid depth 1-10. The point guard ranks, however, become dangerously thin after the top eight. Jason Terry and Devin Harris showed promise, but never quite managed to stick, with no other guards ever making it into the top ten. Factor in the aging Nash, Billups, Davis, Kidd, and Miller, and the PPG ranks are in dire need of an infusion of new and capable talent. Thus, the future bodes well for the likes of Raymond Felton, Mike Conley, and Memphis’ Derrick Rose should he decide to turn pro this year.
Kobe Bryant is hands down the best among the Best Damn Guard ranks. Surviving the otherworldly charge of Tracy McGrady on the strength of the Houston Rockets 22-game win streak, Kobe quickly regained the top spot after only one week at No. 2. As for McGrady, injuries once again were a factor in his inability to land the top spot and hold it, which was further diminished by the stellar play of Manu Ginobili who literally carried the Spurs during reigning BDG, Tony Parker’s absence. For approximately six weeks, Ginobili played like the best two-guard in the game. But it was not to last as once Parker returned, Ginobili was again relegated to a sixth man role.
Surprisingly, Allen Iverson ends the season ranked as the No. 2 BDG, which says a lot about the growth and maturity of his game. Iverson of course took over primary ball handling responsibilities after Steve Blake was traded to Portland in the off season. He is now the team’s floor leader and assists man, with J.R. Smith sliding into Iverson’s two-guard spot, logging significant minutes and production.
Tracy McGrady placed a distant fourth, which would have been even further down had it not been for Houston’s 22-game run. Although T-Mac was hardly as consistent as the three ahead of him, he flashed big time game all season long despite some nagging injures, as well as losing his low post mate, Yao Ming, for a significant portion of the season. The Rocket’s could easily have collapsed without Yao if not for the big time play of McGrady, along with backcourt partner Rafer Alston.
Brandon Roy got out of the gates early and initially looked to be every bit as talented as inaugural BDG winner Dwyane Wade, who began the year ranked a close second behind Kobe Bryant but ultimately succumbed to injuries and poor play by the Heat. Conversely, Roy had Portland positioned to make the playoffs well into the season, but could not close the deal, as injuries and a stacked Western Conference took a heavy toll on the young Blazers squad. As such, Roy fell to a disappointing 9th, suggesting that he isn’t quite world-class yet.
Rounding out the BDG ranks is last year’s Most Improved Player, Monta Ellis, who used to come off the bench but, with the departure of Jason Richardson, was thrust into the starting lineup alongside Baron Davis. Ray Allen didn’t have a breakout season for Boston but he was steady and consistent and remained the deadly deep threat that has become his trademark. Closely behind Allen is Rip Hamilton who, like Ray, always gets it done on a consistent basis. Injuries and age also slowed Rip this year, allowing Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, and Sacramento’s Kevin Martin to close the gap significantly.
Although the two-guard ranks remained strong this year, the absence of 2005-06 Finals MVP Dwyane Wade, as well as Wizard’s guard Gilbert Arenas definitely shifted some of this category’s usual glamor to other positions, most notably the MP3 and PFC ranks.
Speaking of the MP3 ranks, there is definitely something lacking in Cleveland. Although Lebron James sat on the throne all season, he did not close the season in impressive fashion. As last year’s Eastern Conference finals representative, and clearly the best small forward in the game, LBJ and the Cavs did not take the next evolutionary step toward becoming NBA champs. In fact, it can be argued that they regressed, which unfortunately put even more pressure on the King’s All-World game. This is not what many predicted entering the season, leaving many to speculate on how much longer James will be a member of the Cavaliers. It would have been great to leave the city with a championship but it looks like Lebron will be headed for many party-hearty and sleepless nights in the city that never sleeps, New York? The only question is, will he be a member of the Knicks, or the Brooklyn-bound, New Jersey Nets?
Paul Pierce followed James at a not-too-distant second, with Hedo Turkoglu finishing a surprising third, ahead of All-World small forward, Carmelo Anthony. Tayshaun Prince, Rashard Lewis, Josh Howard, Peja Stojakovic, Caron Butler, and Rudy Gay round out the top ten, with Butler and Gay not making the post season board. For Butler, this is extremely disappointing as he was easily a top-five small forward until injuries unraveled his season. And, whereas he has been coming on since his return from injury, he hasn’t quite brought the game necessary to regain his lost spot. Nonetheless, Butler will figure prominently for the Wizards who, with Caron in the lineup, and with the return of Arenas, are more than capable of upsetting any first round foe.
There is a new king of the PFC ranks: Amare Stoudemire! Primarily on the strength of his post All-Star game production, as well as the blockbuster trade that brought Shaquille O’Neal to the Suns, Amare is the new face of the NBA’s newly-emerging glamor position. Having successfully battled back from microfracture surgery, his ascension is long overdue.
As the league is currently constructed, the power forward ranks are easily the deepest in the NBA, with the likes of former league MVPs Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan sandwiched around last year’s league MVP Dirk Nowtizki and big-time gamer, Carlos Boozer. David West is nipping at Duncan’s heels, with Lamar Odom chasing West. Rounding out the top-ten are Antawn Jamison, Antonio McDyess, and Chris Bosh. Bosh, due to injury, never managed to climb back into the top eight and will therefore miss the post season competition, which suggests that Toronto like Cleveland did not evolve this year. As a result, the Raptors will not be much of a factor in the East.
If the PFC ranks continue to develop at its current pace, look for more and more Lord of the League winners, and ultimately NBA champions, to come from this category.
It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that the 5-spot was the premier position on the floor. Unfortunately, in today’s game this is far from the case. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. With a foot injury shelving Yao Ming, Dwight Howard won this category handily, which isn’t saying much considering how far the development of his game still has to go. Nonetheless, Howard acquitted the position nicely. Look for Howard’s game to take the next evolutionary step toward superstardom over the summer, easily making he and Yao Ming the centers of record for the forseeable future.
Tim Duncan should be in this category, but he’s not. I’ll leave it at that. And so should Andrew Bynum, who continues to struggle to get back on the floor since dislocating his left kneecap months ago. This created an opportunity for Timberwolves center Al Jefferson to claim the number two spot of the year. Unfortunately, Big Al won’t be banging down low in the post season. Still, he had a tremendous 2007-08 campaign.
Close on Jefferson’s heels is Lakers F-C, Pau Gasol, and Hornets big man, Tyson Chandler. Both centers had great seasons, with the out-of-position Gasol gaining the edge via style points via his solid low post and mid-range games, as well as superior passing skills. Rasheed Wallace held off the furious charge of oft-injured Shaquille O’Neal, while Mehmet Okur more than held his own as a deep threat with a burgeoning interior game. Former Defensive Player for the Year, Marcus Camby grabbed the final post season spot, with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Andris Biedrins rounding out the top ten. However, Biedrins along with Al Jefferson will miss the post season cut.
And with that, we’re ready for the post season, save a bit of house cleaning (seedings) still to be determined.
It has been a long, but thrilling challenge bringing you this year’s rankings. Done in the spirit of developing, growing, and selling the game both domestically and abroad, all indicators are that the NBA is indeed adopting a more International flavor. As such, the game is replete with hybrid specialists, with many players now having the skill-set to play two, if not three positions. In this regard, I am both encouraged and saddened.
I am encouraged because all indicators suggest the game is once again headed in the right direction as a growing and thriving professional sport. However, I am discouraged by the evolution of the NBA’s once sacred specialized nature, which is now being overtaken by hybrids and isolationism on the perimeter. Nonetheless, I am happy to report that a healthy 20% of my Big Board is comprised of talented International players who are restoring the skills of shooting and ball movement to a game that was severely lacking in both areas. Combine this with the resurgence of white, home grown players in the league and on the NCAA’s horizon, and I am even more excited about the prospects for next year’s MeanD’s Regular Season Big Board. For, without question, the NBA is whole again, and moving in the right direction.
What a difference a year makes!
And with that …
GAME, my partner deuces!
Look for MeanD’s 2007-08 PLAYOFF PREVIEW this Friday.
Click below to reveal this week’s BIG BOARD.TM
ERRORS & OMISSIONS:
As with any list, there will be those who are left off. For these deserving few, all is not lost. With a little determination, and elbow grease, a spot on MeanD’s Big Board is but one crucial rebound, one big-time block, one clutch jumper, or one sweet dish away. Keep at it fellas, MeanD is watching.
HONORABLE MENTION
(MADE BIG BOARD BUT COULDN’T STICK)
Jason Terry (Dal) - Gotta hit big shots
Devin Harris (NJ) - Traded
Dwyane Wade (Mia) - Injuries and franchise fiasco
Michael Redd (Mil) - Injuries and poor team performance
Jamal Crawford (NY) - Franchise fiasco
Joe Johnson (Atl) - Too inconsistent
Jason Richardson (Cha) - Made the difference for Warriors
Vince Carter (NJ) - The beginning of the end?
Richard Jefferson (NJ) - In search of new surroundings?
Stephen Jackson (GS) - Shot faltered down the stretch
Grant Hill (Phx) - What might have been …
Ron Artest (Sac) - Still got game, still a head case
Gerald Wallace (Cha) - Must discipline game
Andrei Kirilenko (Uth) - Solid role player
Shawn Marion (Mia) - Traded
Yao Ming (Hou) – Injured
Chris Kaman (LAC) - Injuries and inconsistency
Andrew Bynum (LAL) - Injured, but so much promise!
Erick Dampier (Tor) - Too much of a non-factor
Andrew Bogut (Mil) - Finally coming into his own
Emeka Okafor (Cha) - Bigger production all the way around
Josh Smith (Atl) - Flying into relevancy
Brad Miller (Sac) - Once upon a time …
Teases are done for the season.
LOTL Postseason Edition posts Monday & Friday mornings.
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Photos: NBAE
The League, Lord of the League, LOTL, THE ‘L’ © 2007-08.
All Rights Reserved.
Good job Mean!!! Looking forward to your playoff preview when the seeds are set!!!
Left by Spidey on April 14th, 2008