POINT GUARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | Stephen Curry | GSW | 4 | You can’t keep a good man down, especially when that man is the best shooter in the NBA and reigning MVP. |
2 | Russell Westbrook | OKC | 4 | Westbrook and Kevin Durant have both been productive when on the court together. Neither hinders the other. |
3 | Kyle Lowry | TOR | 4 | Lowry has been utilizing his pull-up jumper heavily and is often left open because of his quickness on offense. |
4 | Chris Paul | LAC | 3 | With Blake Griffin (Knee) hurt, the Clippers have been playing smaller thus giving Paul more shot opportunities. |
5 | John Wall | WSH | 3 | The Wizards front-court has been hurt all year and with Bradley Beal still out, Wall is forced to play at the key and rely on the pick and pop for him to get open. |
6 | Mike Conley | MEM | 4 | It is great seeing Conley drive the lane more. He is good at fooling his competition into thinking he will drive and then pass off, but instead takes it to the hole. |
7 | Rajon Rondo | SAC | 4 | Rondo’s shot selection has been better and has been focusing on being a true point guard and is always in line for a big assist game. |
8 | Damian Lillard | POR | 4 | MINOR INJURY CONCERN (Foot): When Lillard is on the court he is a very reliable scoring option. His foot still is not 100 percent so there is a chance he may miss a game or two this week. |
9 | Kemba Walker | CHA | 4 | Just like the Clippers, the Hornets have had to resort to small ball and Walker has taken full advantage of the situation. Some possessions don’t involve any passes. |
10 | Isaiah Thomas | BOS | 4 | The Celtics offense moves a lot quicker with Thomas on the floor and Thomas is good a making the first entry pass and then bolting to an open part of the court in which he is able to get an open jumper. |
11 | Reggie Jackson | DET | 3 | Jackson continues to be a solid combo-guard and with the Pistons' mid-range game and forward production inconsistent, Jackson has had to become a primary scoring weapon. |
12 | Ricky Rubio | MIN | 4 | Rubio is an excellent passer, but when he can shoot over 43 percent, he is very effective and will take shots out of Kevin Martin’s hands. |
13 | Jeff Teague | ATL | 3 | Teague has one of the most effective tear drop’s in the league and is not afraid to draw contact. Teague has shown how good his leading bounce pass has been as he is able to connect with Paul Millsap or Al Horford as they cut. |
14 | Elfrid Payton | ORL | 4 | Any double digit scoring effort from Payton should be considered a bonus as he is committed to keeping the Magic’s offense up-tempo and being a true pass-first point guard. |
15 | Michael Carter-Williams | MIL | 4 | With the Bucks healthy again, Carter-Williams might be seeing less shots. In order to get more plays on offense that end with him, he will need to more aggressively drive and/or shoot over 40 percent. |
16 | Derrick Rose | CHI | 3 | The Bulls have been giving Rose a bit of a longer leash because he has been able to stay on the court and when he is on the court, the Bulls offense runs primarily through him even with Jimmy Butler on the court with him. |
17 | George Hill | IND | 4 | The blonde hairdo has seemed to add a bit more aggressiveness to Hill’s game as he is excellent at working his way inside and he has been a reliable spot-up shooter. |
18 | Mo Williams | CLE | 4 | New week, same story; when LeBron James draws the double-team, Williams is often left with an open shot and surprisingly a wide-open lane. |
19 | Deron Williams | DAL | 3 | MINOR INJURY RISK (Hamstring): Williams is a good shooter when he is 100 percent healthy, but will play more tentatively as he continues to heal from his hammy injury. |
20 | Emmanuel Mudiay | DEN | 3 | The Nuggets need that secondary offensive spark, and Mudiay is excellent at running the floor, but has not been able to shoot consistently. If he can develop a pull up jumper when on the break, he will develop nicely. |
SHOOTING GUARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | James Harden | HOU | 3 | Coach Harden will continue to fill up the stat-sheet and be involved in every single play. |
2 | C.J. McCollum | POR | 4 | This is most likely McCollum’s last week as the primary scoring weapon on the Blazers as Lillard should be 100 percent in a week. |
3 | Gordon Hayward | UT | 5 | The Jazz are hurting up front and Hayward has five chances this week to prove whether or not he can be a No. 1 scoring option. |
4 | DeMar DeRozan | TOR | 4 | DeRozan drives the lane with tenacity, but that sometimes leads to him getting caught in traffic and loss of possession. His mid-range jumper has been on point. |
5 | Jimmy Butler | CHI | 3 | Playing time will never be an issue for Butler, but shot opportunities will be with Rose getting more playing time. |
6 | Dwyane Wade | MIA | 4 | Wade has been able to stay healthy and is the Heat’s primary scoring option from the outside. When Chris Bosh rotates outside, Wade utilizes his ball-handling skills and is able to utilize his mid-range game. |
7 | Goran Dragic | MIA | 4 | Dragic has been more effective as he has been shooting less. Dragic has been penetrating more and is surprisingly seeing success driving to the basket more. |
8 | Kobe Bryant | LAL | 4 | As long as Kobe is on the court, he gets as many shots as he wants and the keys to whatever city he is visiting for that game. |
9 | Klay Thompson | GSW | 4 | Thompson looks better than ever as he has resumed his role as the secondary jump-shooting option to Curry. |
10 | Victor Oladipo | ORL | 4 | Oladipo needs to stay out of the corner when he has possession with the ball as he often runs into trouble. Oladipo has amazing hang time when in the air and should utilize his drive game more. |
11 | Brandon Knight | PHX | 2 | With Eric Bledsoe (knee) done for the year, Knight becomes the primary scoring weapon and we will see if Knight can adjust to getting a lot more attention from the opposition. |
12 | Joe Johnson | BKN | 4 | Johnson continues to take two steps inside the key and burn opponents with his mid-range game. |
13 | Nicolas Batum | CHA | 3 | MINOR INJURY RISK (Toe): Batum’s shot was on until he hurt his toe and has been considered a game-time decision in recent games. Even when on the court with this injury, Batum has looked uncomfortable. |
14 | Trevor Ariza | HOU | 3 | It is hard to tell whether or not Ariza will score in double-figures, but he plays excellent perimeter defense and playing time is certainly on his side. |
15 | Eric Gordon | NO | 3 | Gordon has been hanging outside the key a lot and see’s a lot of success when he is open from 4-feet beyond the key. When he is guarded, it is hard from him to drive inside. |
16 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | DET | 3 | Caldwell-Pope works hard for his playing time and is not afraid to drive in and sacrifice his body. He has a very reliable corner jumper as well. |
17 | Tyreke Evans | NO | 3 | Evans is one of the biggest ball-hogs in the league, but should be commended for his driving ability. He takes a ton of contact. |
18 | Monta Ellis | IND | 4 | Ellis has been an excellent change of pace player as he speeds up the Pacers offense. He is golden if his shot is on as his lane-driving ability never should be questioned. |
19 | Kevin Martin | MIN | 4 | Martin is quick and is successful when he is on the opposite side of the court than Ricky Rubio as Rubio can hit Martin in the corner if he can see him with an open area. |
20 | Kyle Korver | ATL | 3 | Korver will always get the shot opportunities but, seems to be more successful right inside the key than outside. The problem is, he is getting paid to shoot from beyond the arc and will continue to be utilized that way. |
SMALL FORWARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | Kevin Durant | OKC | 4 | Looking like his old self and has been getting more aggressive inside grabbing boards. |
2 | Paul George | IND | 4 | Excellent two-way player who has been one of the most reliable scorers this season. George is very dynamic as he has tremendous ball-handling skills. |
3 | LeBron James | CLE | 4 | James has not been putting up the stat-lines that we are used to seeing from him consistently. James has been able to score, but it seems like his rebound and assist numbers are down. |
4 | Carmelo Anthony | NYK | 4 | One of the best isolation players in the game on a team that is trying their best to limit isolation plays. Anthony is an underrated rebounder as well. |
5 | Kawhi Leonard | SAS | 3 | Leonard is the main consistent scoring option on the Spurs and their best defender. He limits his opposition to working their way inside via the post and that is never easy to do because it is easy to double team in the post. |
6 | Thaddeus Young | BKN | 4 | With Jarrett Jack out for the season, Young will have the ball in his hands more and will need to utilize his post and mid-range shooting game. He has been a prominent perimeter defender. |
7 | Tobias Harris | ORL | 4 | When Harris is able to work his way inside he is hard to defend because he has the ability to float the ball in with one hand. He is very patient when he has the ball as he will always look to work inside first before settling. |
8 | Rudy Gay | SAC | 4 | Gay continues to provide consistency from the top of the key. He is the most consistent shooter on the Kings and gets a lot of time with the ball. |
9 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | 4 | The good think about the Greek Freak is that he can play multiple positions and his lanky frame is a desirable feature because it makes it hard for his opposition to get open looks. |
10 | DeMarre Carroll | TOR | 4 | Carroll’s defense is always strong but it is hard to tell how involved offensively he will be per night. When Lowry and DeRozan are doubled he is often left open and can knock down the open jumper. |
11 | Andrew Wiggins | MIN | 4 | Wiggins is a fantastic scorer for the Wolves, but that is all he does. Wiggins needs to follow his shots more and try to get rebounds. |
12 | Danilo Gallinari | DEN | 3 | We all know that Gallinari has a smooth jumper, but he also has the frame and skills to drive inside. He needs to drive the lane more and draw contact. |
13 | Khris Middleton | MIL | 4 | Middleton has been an excellent mid-range option and with the Bucks forwards in and out of the lineup, Middleton has been getting more playing time. |
14 | Al-Farouq Aminu | POR | 4 | Aminu’s offensive ability maybe a bit on the raw side, but his fundamentals and ability to play bigger than he is keeps in on the court. |
15 | Wes Matthews | DAL | 4 | Matthews has a very reliable corner jumper and he will work his way into the post. The Mavs have a lot of shooters, but he is a starter and gets more playing time. |
16 | Jae Crowder | BOS | 4 | Excellent defender and lane driver. Crowder has definitely improved his high post play and if he has the mis-match he is not afraid to shoot a turnaround jumper. |
17 | Marcus Morris | DET | 3 | Morris is good at setting the first screen and then setting up in the post. It is hard to tell whether or not he will have a big game because his jumper is not as consistent. |
18 | Ersan Ilyasova | DET | 3 | He has the ability to draw the bigger defenders outside because of his long-range shooting. He does not play as much inside as he used to. |
19 | Jeff Green | MEM | 4 | Green’s defense alone keeps him in games. When his jumper is on and gets the open lane, Conley will keep feeding him the ball. |
20 | Chandler Parsons | DAL | 4 | Very hard to gage how much playing time Parsons will get. His jumpers MUST be falling or else he will play under 25 minutes per night. |
POWER FORWARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | Anthony Davis | NO | 3 | Davis has finally started playing more inside and his stats reflect that. He is needed much more inside than outside |
2 | Draymond Green | GSW | 4 | Green has been one of the most dynamic Forward’s this season as he can burn his opposition, inside, outside, in the post, from distance and has played great defense. |
3 | Paul Millsap | ATL | 3 | Millsap continues to cut well inside and has been a terrific post player and gives the Hawks second-chance scoring opportunities. |
4 | LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS | 3 | Aldridge has been working in the post more rather than setting up outside and has the ability to his the pull up jumper. |
5 | Kevin Love | CLE | 4 | Love has been reliable on both sides of the ball. He has been shooting more from downtown, but is able to follow his own shots and grab a ton of rebounds. |
6 | Derrick Favors | UT | 5 | INJURY CONCERN (Back): This whole situation is tough to gage because, Favors back is really bothering, but he is the only Forward on this list with five games this week. We don’t know how many games he will play. |
7 | Chris Bosh | MIA | 4 | Bosh has transitioned to more of a jump shooter since joining the Heat five years ago and some still have not received the memo to guard him outside. |
8 | Pau Gasol | CHI | 3 | Ever since Gasol started playing in the post again, he has seen a ton of success and it is hard to stop him once he has a step in the paint after receiving the ball in the post. |
9 | Greg Monroe | MIL | 4 | Monroe is back and healthy and has been a reliable double-double machine this year and the Bucks are a bit weak in their frontcourt. |
10 | Serge Ibaka | OKC | 4 | Ibaka has been an excellent mid-range player and plays stifling defense. He can always be counted on to get multiple blocks. |
11 | Dirk Nowitzki | DAL | 4 | Nowtizki’s shot form still looks the same and it is hard to guard because he often releases the ball as he is coming down. His opposition needs to time their jumps just right to contest his shots. |
12 | Kristaps Porzingis | NYK | 4 | Dirk 2.0 has been killing his opposition from long range and even though he needs to bulk up, he has been aggressive inside. |
13 | Zach Randolph | MEM | 4 | Randolph is a very consistent rebounder and great at scoring from right under the basket. It is hard to box him out of the low post. |
14 | Tim Duncan | SAS | 3 | Duncan can still play the low-post very well and is constantly in line to get a lot of rebounds. Scoring is a lot harder for him these days. |
15 | Robert Covington | PHI | 4 | Covington is a good combo-forward and is good at running the floor on transition. The Sixers need to feed him inside more. |
16 | Kenneth Faried | DEN | 3 | It takes a certain amount of toughness to be taken out of the game via stretcher and then play the next night and Faried is tough on the glass. |
17 | Marvin Williams | CHA | 4 | This could very well be the last time Williams makes this list for awhile is he continues to not take the opportunity to produce with Al Jefferson once again out of the lineup. Shame on him! |
18 | Jared Sullinger | BOS | 4 | Sullinger bulldozes his way down the lane and has a decent low post game. Sullinger has been a very reliable rebounder this season. |
19 | Nikola Mirotic | CHI | 3 | Mirotic is beginning to learn that he needs to use his big body in the post and not always set up outside. He has pulled the disappearing act in games when his jumper isn’t falling. |
20 | Markieff Morris | PHX | 2 | One of the biggest “What If’s” in the league because he is constantly at odds with the Suns management. He is tough, has a big body and is an enforcer inside when on the court. |
CENTERS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | DeMarcus Cousins | SAC | 4 | The best center in the league has four games and has no other competition on his team for playing time. |
2 | Andre Drummond | DET | 3 | Drummond continues to dominate the low post and is excellent at timing his jumps for rebounds and put backs. |
3 | Al Horford | ATL | 3 | Like Millsap, Horford has been cutting really well and gets a great entry pass from Teague. Horford has a very reliable long-range jumper. |
4 | Nikola Vucevic | ORL | 4 | Vucevic may be the best post player in the game today. He has excellent moves in the post to work inside, a baby hook and jumper and good at faking out his opponents. |
5 | Marc Gasol | MEM | 4 | Gasol has been a very productive Center this season and his dynamism confuses his opposition because we don’t know whether he will play more inside or outside. |
6 | Hassan Whiteside | MIA | 4 | Whiteside is very raw offensively but one of the most aggressive players in the leagues and pulls down a ton of rebounds consistently. |
7 | Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN | 4 | Towns was absolutely the right pick for the Timberwolves at first overall because of his ability to dribble, drive and shoot from the outside. He has excellent footwork in the post. |
8 | Dwight Howard | HOU | 3 | Howard is starting to realize that he is a huge guy and should be playing more inside. It is hard to box him out from under the rim. |
9 | DeAndre Jordan | LAC | 3 | Jordan’s offensive game is a bit unreliable, but he has tremendous leaping ability and can be counted on for rebounds and blocks. With Blake Griffin out, he will pick up more minutes. |
10 | Jahlil Okafor | PHI | 4 | Excellent in the post and has a mid-range jumper, but the Sixers do not know how to use him when other BIGS are on the floor. He doesn’t know where to set up in the post. |
11 | Brook Lopez | BKN | 4 | Same week, same story; Lopez is an excellent shooter, but he is 7-foot-1 and needs to learn how to rebound inside. It is a constant struggle. |
12 | Nerlens Noel | PHI | 4 | Speaking of constant struggles, where oh where does Noel fit on the court? Where should he post up when Okafor is out there? The world (or at least Philly) may never know. |
13 | Ryan Anderson | NO | 3 | Anderson is being showcased with the trade deadline a little over a month away. He is a very reliable outside shooter and can drive inside. |
14 | Marcin Gortat | WSH | 3 | Gortat’s involvement offensively per game is unknown, but, with the Wizards frontcourt hurt, playing time is at his disposal. |
15 | Zaza Pachulia | DAL | 4 | Pachulia has shown that he has a good mid range and low post game and is still the only member of his team that focuses on rebounding. |
16 | Tristan Thompson | CLE | 4 | Thompson has not been playing in the paint as consistently because of lack of offensive ability in the post. He can and has controlled the paint from a rebounding standpoint. |
17 | Enes Kanter | OKC | 4 | Kanter has an excellent long-range jumper but needs to improve his post play down low. When a hand is near his face he passes off instead of shooting. |
18 | Gorgui Dieng | MIN | 4 | Dieng has been reliable on the low block and has served as the fallback option when Towns drive to the basket is stopped. Dieng is a reliable rebounder. |
19 | Mason Plumlee | POR | 4 | Plumlee is another Center that is in a situation in which he controls his own destiny. The Blazers big man depth is horrible and Plumlee needs to work on his post game. |
20 | Andrew Bogut | GSW | 4 | Bogut is very reliable and hard to box out inside. It is hard to tell how many minutes he will get per game, because when the Warriors speed things up, it’s not good for the slower Bogut. |