The LIST - The Definitive Best Players in the NBA

[FedEx227]

3 time DPOY award winner, should have won the last 2 years as well if the media didn't want someone else to win it (LeBron has a strong case as well). Along with LeBron, Paul, and Durant, he can single handily change a game.

That's simply not true. Dwight should not have won the past 2 years. I'd argue he didn't even deserve all 3 of the ones he won. Blocks =/= great defense. Like Gold Gloves in baseball, the NBA has a lot of trouble picking the best defenders for DPOY and instead default to the guy who has the most blocks or steals. The most flashy or the narrative.

Last year, Larry Sanders stood above all others in in terms of rim protection and wasn't seriously considered for the award. Gasol was great in his own right, but they just aren't awards that IMO are worth anything.

[JimLeavy59]

That's simply not true. Dwight should not have won the past 2 years. I'd argue he didn't even deserve all 3 of the ones he won. Blocks =/= great defense. Like Gold Gloves in baseball, the NBA has a lot of trouble picking the best defenders for DPOY and instead default to the guy who has the most blocks or steals. The most flashy or the narrative.

Last year, Larry Sanders stood above all others in in terms of rim protection and wasn't seriously considered for the award. Gasol was great in his own right, but they just aren't awards that IMO are worth anything.

I'll say this Larry Sanders is a better rim protector than Dwight.

[JimLeavy59]

Kobe was the only reason they somehow made the playoffs.

The NBA referees and David Stern disagree.

[FedEx227]

I'll say this Larry Sanders is a better rim protector than Dwight.

You would be correct.

[JimLeavy59]

You would be correct.

Only if he could stop doing this though.

[Hasselbeck]

The NBA referees and David Stern disagree.

Okay Mr. Bill

[Xixak]

1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Chris Paul
4. Russell Westbrook
5. Kobe Bryant
6. James Harden
7. Dwayne Wade
8. Derrick Rose
9. Steph Curry
10. Tim Duncan
11. Tony Parker
12. Marc Gasol
13. Paul George
14. Deron Williams
15. Carmelo Anthony
16. Dwight Howard
17. Kevin Love
18. Rajon Rondo
19. Al Horford
20. Roy Hibbert

Just missed dat cut...

Kyrie Irving, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Bosh, Brook Lopez, Joakim Noah.

You're Welcome.

I like who's ON this list but I don't like the way it's arranged.

1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Chris Paul
4. Dwight Howard
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Tony Parker
7. Dwayne Wade
8. Carmelo Anthony
9a. Derrick Rose
10. Russell Westbrook
11. Tim Duncan
12. James Harden
13. Paul George
14. Deron Williams
15. Steph Curry
16. Kevin Love
17. Marc Gasol
18. Rajon Rondo
19. Al Horford
20. Roy Hibbert

[Xixak]

1. Dwight Howard
2. Tyson Chandler
3. Larry Sanders
4. Joakim Noah
5. Roy Hibbert
6. Serge Ibaka
7. Tim Duncan

The fact that you put Ibaka on here really lowers your credibility, he is an average defender. Blocks shots but doesn't defend the post or pick & rolls well at all. Sanders is also in the same boat.

[FedEx227]

The fact that you put Ibaka on here really lowers your credibility, he is an average defender. Blocks shots but doesn't defend the post or pick & rolls well at all. Sanders is also in the same boat.

That may be true but Sanders is still a top-tier defender by guarding the rim better than anyone in the league, and it wasn't even THAT close.

[JimLeavy59]

Sanders has pretty good post defense.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I like who's ON this list but I don't like the way it's arranged.

1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Chris Paul
4. Dwight Howard
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Tony Parker
7. Dwayne Wade
8. Carmelo Anthony
9a. Derrick Rose
10. Russell Westbrook
11. Tim Duncan
12. James Harden
13. Paul George
14. Deron Williams
15. Steph Curry
16. Kevin Love
17. Marc Gasol
18. Rajon Rondo
19. Al Horford
20. Roy Hibbert

If you aren't putting Harden in your Top 10, just don't make a Top 10.

He proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that he is a legitimate star in this league. He took a team otherwise contending for the #1 pick to the playoffs in the Western Conference. That's a real man right there.

You will never win with Carmelo...ever. If he is your star on your team you simply will never win. For that fact alone, he will never be in my top 10. He's a good player, very talented. But he's not a winning player. It is why Dwight Howard gets knocked down...he WAS a winning, foundation player, but the past three years extinguished that notion. It is why I can't give a token rub to DeMarcus Cousins, who, as insanely talented as he is, isn't a foundation player yet and with his attitude, may never be. It is also why I give Roy Hibbert a bit of a bump...he's a guy you go into the playoffs with and he's instantly a difference maker. He's not as talented as say a LaMarcus Aldridge, and he's as good as Brook Lopez, just in a different way...but when you get to the playoffs, he's a rock and over the course of seven games, a difference maker.

Also all things equal, the big always gets the bump over the guard...thats why you should always have Duncan over Parker.

[Hasselbeck]

If you aren't putting Harden in your Top 10, just don't make a Top 10.

He proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that he is a legitimate star in this league. He took a team otherwise contending for the #1 pick to the playoffs in the Western Conference. That's a real man right there.

You will never win with Carmelo...ever. If he is your star on your team you simply will never win. For that fact alone, he will never be in my top 10. He's a good player, very talented. But he's not a winning player. It is why Dwight Howard gets knocked down...he WAS a winning, foundation player, but the past three years extinguished that notion. It is why I can't give a token rub to DeMarcus Cousins, who, as insanely talented as he is, isn't a foundation player yet and with his attitude, may never be. It is also why I give Roy Hibbert a bit of a bump...he's a guy you go into the playoffs with and he's instantly a difference maker. He's not as talented as say a LaMarcus Aldridge, and he's as good as Brook Lopez, just in a different way...but when you get to the playoffs, he's a rock and over the course of seven games, a difference maker.

Also all things equal, the big always gets the bump over the guard...thats why you should always have Duncan over Parker.

Agree with everything but Duncan over Parker. Maybe 3 years ago.. not now.

But the Melo thing.. 110% agreed.

[Villain]

Are you referring to this past season?

Kobe shot at a better percentage this year than he did in 9 of the last 10 years (only his 2008 season was better) and had the most assists per game in his career.. all this while playing a ton of minutes on a horribly coached team with a whole lot of problems.

I'd say given the situation and the fact he's 34, it was a pretty impressive season actually. And I'm not stevsta.

Thanked you for not being stevsta.

1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Russell Westbrook
4. Derrick Rose
5. Chris Paul
6. James Harden
7. Kobe Bryant
8. Dwayne Wade
9. Dwight Howard
10. Tony Parker
11. Paul George
12. Tim Duncan
13. Deron Williams
14. Steph Curry
15. Andrew Bynum
16. Carmelo Anthony
17. Kyrie Irving
18. Kevin Love
19. Marc Gasol
20. Rajon Rondo

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Agree with everything but Duncan over Parker. Maybe 3 years ago.. not now.

But the Melo thing.. 110% agreed.

Parker isn't necessarily my favorite point guard, but I respect him. He just had a career year, which will skew some opinions of him. I think he's very good, but Duncan is the rock. Duncan had his best season since 08-09 and when it was playoff time, I thought he really stepped up. Parker had a really strong playoff, but when it counted, he kind of wilted...the most important games of the series 6 and 7...didn't step up like he should have. We're comparing guys on the same team, and its the hairs that split them.

[ralaw]

Thanked you for not being stevsta.

LOL, good gif.

I figured since everyone was placing Westrbrook, Rose and Wade high on the list that we were not accounting for injury and/or age. Injuries not withstanding Bynum is at minimum the second best center in the league and a top 20 player.