It’s Wednesday and today the small forward rankings are what I am covering. If you haven’t read the last two blogs. My ranking system is based on tiers of players not numerical rankings. Here is the break down of the tiers and the rankings.
Elite: These are the best players at their respective positions. The players you can build a franchise around
Stars: Great players but haven’t reached that best of position. Franchise guys but need some good compliments around them
Good Starter: A player who you’re not going to trade unless you’re packaging him to get an elite or star at their position.
Serviceable Starter: Not bad but looking to upgrade.
Role Player- Idealy should becoming off the bench
I’m not going to include any rookies in these rankings. With no NBA experience or summer league it’s too hard to judge them versus their new peers. Let’s start with the Point Guards and work our way to the Centers. I am only going to do starters. If there is a backup I feel should be starting I will mention it in the player’s blurb
Small Forward- The position has many different play styles. A SF/SG or SF/PF or just as SF. 15 of the 30 teams have a good or serviceable starter so half the league is looking to upgrade. And there 7 Stars and elite players at the SF position. There is a lot of talent at the position it just seems most of the players are inconsistent.
Elite
LeBron James- Duh. He is the most talented player in the NBA, but talent doesn’t always mean best player. The fact he doesn’t have a post up game is the biggest shame in basketball. If he were to play out of the high post he would be the most unstoppable player, maybe ever. But yet he doesn’t.
Carmelo Anthony- Some will say he doesn’t play enough defense. Did you watch the year Denver went to the Western Conference Finals? He played defense that year. And let’s not forget Carmelo is the best scorer of the basketball in the entire league. He does it all. He has a midrange jumper, can hit the three, take you off the dribble, spot up shoot and he has a marvelous post up game.
Kevin Durant- He’s amazing on offense and he plays better defense than most think. Lets not forget his passion for the game and how great of a teammate he is.
Stars
Paul Pierce- He’s the heart and sole of the celtics. He’s never been an elite guy but always a high quality star. He plays tough defense and makes tough shots. Even since he’s gotten older he still gets to his spots and makes his shots.
Rudy Gay- Even though Memphis made that playoff run without him (acquiring Battier helped a ton) Gay is still a star. Not to mention he is still only 25. He can flat out play. He’ll be like Pierce, always at the star level but a good one.
Danny Granger- I like Granger. He is on the lower end of this tier though. He’s better than just being a good starter but he isn’t quite a complete star. I don’t know what it is about his game, it just seems like there is something missing.
Gerald Wallace- He is the do it all man. When he was younger he was just a high flyer and good defender. Now he is that and he is decent on offense and he is a great rebounder at the SF position. Portland fleeced Charlotte for him. There had to be a better deal for him out there but some how Cho pulled it off and Portland fired Cho and he’s in Charlotte. Thats what I call irony.
Good Starters
Thaddeus Young- He turned it on in last years playoffs. He showed how good he can be and he can be damn good.
Loul Deng- He finally stayed healthy and had a career year. He is one of the better defensive SF out there.
Shawn Marion- With Butler a FA, I wouldn’t be shocked if Marion stays the starter. He had a good playoffs and fits the team well. His game fits the up tempo style perfectly.
Wilson Chandler- Can we give this guy his due? Seriously he was good in NY and when he got traded for Anthony, he was good in Denver. He’s an all around player. Good at everything not elite in any one area but that is fine.
Dorell Wright- If He continues from he left off last year, yes he is a good starter. Wright had a great year in GS. But since it was the Warriors no one really noticed.
Grant Hill- I don’t care if he is 39 years old. He has resurrected his career in Phoenix. Before his injuries in Orlando he was LeBron before LeBron. He averaged 22 ppg 7.5 rpg and 6 apg. Now he is the ultimate “I don’t make a mistake because I’m a crafty veteran guy”.
Serviceable Starters
Corey Maggette- He’s just there. He is a capable starter but if he is your starter, you are usually looking for a guy to replace him.
Carlos Delfino- Milwaukee has a few guys who rotate here but Delfino is usually the starter when healthy. Tobias Harris is a nice prospect and CDR shows flashes of being a good starter but isn’t consistent. Delfino is a glue guy and that makes him serviceable but there are other glue guys that are better, Shane Battier for example.
Al-Farouq Aminu- He’s young at this point I think he can be a Thaddeus Young type player but he has to get better to get there. His shooting %’s are terrible.
Trevor Ariza- A starter on a title team. That makes him valuable. I like his game but he isn’t a good starter but he’s the perfect 4th/5th guy.
Metta World Peace aka Ron Artest- He is good in limited action. But his contract is terrible for LA. I like Artest a lot but he has his weaknesses like the ability to kill a run with horrendous shots for example
Hedo Turkoglu- Can we just say he had one good year, that year Orlando went to the finals and that netted him a 55 million dollar contract… I just threw up.
Tayshaun Prince- He would be a good starter if he got out of Detroit. He still has plenty to offer a contending team.
Terrence Williams- Can someone just give the kid a legit shot to be a starter? I know he is out there personality wise but I think he can be a good starter.
Michael Beasley- B- Easy is a complete enigma. He has the talent to be elite but the head of a role player.
Role Players
Joey Graham- looking at Cleveland’s roster he has the best shot at landing the starting spot. That’s not a good thing
Marvin Williams- When he came off the bench he was perfect. With Crawford most likely out the door Marvin will probably start. He isn’t suited to start
CJ Miles/ Gordon Hayward- All sorts of no here.
Kings SF spot- I could see them starting Tyreke here and Marcus Thornton at the two. thats what I would do. if thats the case they have a good starter here.
Travis Outlaw- there are 35 million reasons why he is starting.
Linus Kleiza- Remember when he was in Denver and he scored 40 off the bench… He should still come off the bench
Richard Jefferson- Yikes this list keeps getting uglier. The Kawhi Leonard trade was nice. He could start by the end of the year. Popovich doesn’t usually start rooks though
Rashard Lewis- since the busted HGH test he has been terrible. Coincidence? nope.
Tomorrow I tackle the Power Forwards. Like I said before, agree or disagree leave a comment and let me know.
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NBA Dish 'N Swish 
December 3, 2011 at 10:21 am |
I’m only going to disagree with the spot Trevor Ariza is in. I think he is definitely a good starter given his youth and his “behind-the-scenes” production. He’s made himself a good three point shooter, he’s a devastating finisher on the break and a good slasher in the half court game. He’s one of the best perimeter defender’s in the league. He was a major part to a championship team and helped the Hornets through all their injuries to get 2 games in the first round of this year’s playoffs.