Atlanta Hawks - Better or Worse

Photo source: Zevotron

The Hawks took another step forward last season, increasing their win total from 47 to 53.  But they fell flat in the playoffs and were widely criticized.  It was the fifth regular season in a row in which they increased their number of wins over the previous season.  Will the streak continue?

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Mike Bibby (#32 PG, Level 6), Jeff Teague (#56 PG, Level 10)
2010 - Mike Bibby (#32 PG, Level 6), Jeff Teague (#56 PG, Level 10)

The Hawks got average play at best at the point guard position last year but did nothing to change it.  They will be relying on the ascension of Teague for improvement.

Shooting Guard
2009 - Joe Johnson (#7 PG, Level 3), Jamal Crawford (#10 PG, Level 3)
2010 - Joe Johnson (#7 PG, Level 3), Jamal Crawford (#10 PG, Level 3)

The biggest offseason move by the Hawks has been to retain Johnson by signing him to a huge contract.  Their quality at the shooting guard position is definitely a strength.

Small Forward
2009 - Marvin Williams (#22 SF, Level 5), Maurice Evans (#37 SF, Level 8)
2010 - Marvin Williams (#22 SF, Level 5), Maurice Evans (#37 SF, Level 8)

Williams has not yet developed into the player the Hawks thought he would become when they selected him with the second pick in the draft.  Heading into his sixth year, it's hard to believe he'll get any better.

Power Forward
2009 - Josh Smith (#4 PF, Level 2)
2010 - Josh Smith (#4 PF, Level 2)

Smith was spectacular last season finishing fourth in my cumulative rankings for power forwards, just behind Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki.

Center
2009 - Al Horford (#5 C, Level 2), Zaza Pachulia (#38 C, Level 8)
2010 - Al Horford (#5 C, Level 2), Zaza Pachulia (#38 C, Level 8)

Horford has steadily improved every year since entering the NBA.  He was excellent last season.  Pachulia is a serviceable backup.

Overall
The Hawks head into the 2010-2011 season with basically the same team.  Unless first round pick Jordan Crawford can sneak his way in, the rotation will not change.  Atlanta needs Teague to assert himself in his second year and start taking playing time away from Bibby.  Because they made no changes at the rotation level I have to base my projections on development and regression.  At point guard I think Bibby's continued fall will be equaled out by Teague's gain.  I think they'll lose a game at shooting guard and small forward, stay even at power forward and gain a half game at center.

In the final verdict the Hawks are WORSE.  As they are currently constructed I predict their record to be 51-31.

Orlando Magic - Better or Worse

Photo source: Sreejith K

The Magic followed up their 59-23 season and NBA Finals loss to the Lakers with an identical record in 2009-2010, but with an earlier playoff exit.  Orlando was beaten and frustrated by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing in six games.  Now, after playing the role of the hunted over the past couple of seasons the Magic will be one of the hunters looking to take down the new goliath, the Miami Heat.  How close are they to the Heat?

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Jameer Nelson (#17 PG, Level 4), Jason Williams (#21 PG, Level 5)
2010 - Jameer Nelson (#17 PG, Level 4), Jason Williams (#21 PG, Level 5)

The Magic also signed Chris Duhon. I'm not sure why it took them so long to re-sign Williams.  He had a really solid season.

Shooting Guard
2009 - Vince Carter (#5 SG, Level 2), J.J. Redick (#19 PG, Level 4)
2010 - Vince Carter (#5 SG, Level 2), J.J. Redick (#19 PG, Level 4)

Another position with the same two deep as last season.  Statistically Carter had a good regular season but he looked old and unproductive when the Magic needed him in the playoffs.  On the other hand, Redick was steadily effective.  Expect the distribution of playing time to change in '10-'11.

Small Forward
2009 - Matt Barnes (#9 SF, Level 3), Mickael Pietrus (#36 SF, Level 8)
2010 - Quentin Richardson (#18 SG, Level 4), Mickael Pietrus (#36 SF, Level 8)

Richardson, while not providing the defense that Barnes offers, is a stellar three point shooter who knocked down nearly 40% of his shots behind the arc last season.  He's an excellent addition to the Magic's spread everybody out around the three point line offense.

Power Forward
2009 - Rashard Lewis (#35 PF, Level 6), Ryan Anderson (#15 PF, Level 4)
2010 - Rashard Lewis (#35 PF, Level 6), Ryan Anderson (#15 PF, Level 4)

No real changes at the power forward position for the Magic.  There's been talk that Brandon Bass will get more playing time, but we'll leave it like this for now.

Center
2009 - Dwight Howard (#1 C, Level 1), Marcin Gortat (#26 C, Level 5)
2010 - Dwight Howard (#1 C, Level 1), Marcin Gortat (#26 C, Level 5)

Howard and Tim Duncan were a dominating one and two in the center rankings.  Gortat is a quality backup with a big contract.

Overall
The Magic were not in a position to make any major changes to their lineup in the offseason.  The only move that they made that will really affect the rotation is the signing of Richardson to replace Barnes.  In large part they will be banking on Howard to take another step toward domination.  To do so he'll have to develop his low post moves to enhance his ability to score.  The Magic will also need another solid effort from their bench, a rebound year from Lewis and more production from Carter when it counts.  Orlando has been mentioned as a potential destination for Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, but it seems unlikely that either of those players will end up there this season.  So, based on their projected lineup I've got them staying even at point guard, shooting guard and power forward, while losing a win at small forward and gaining a win (based on Howard's development) at center.

In the final verdict the Magic are THE SAME.  As they are currently constructed I predict their record to be 59-23 for the third season in a row.  That record would put them three games behind my predicted finish for the Heat.

What are your thoughts on Orlando?  Do you think they'll have more wins or fewer?

Miami Heat - Better or Worse

I think the answer to that question is clear.  The Heat made the big splash over the summer, persuading LeBron to "take [his] talents to South Beach," along with Chris Bosh.  Dwayne Wade returned to form the Miami Three or Evil Empire or some other clever nickname.  There is much debate about whether the "Super Team" concept is good for the NBA.  I fall strongly on the positive side of that debate.

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Miami Beach Photo: humbertomoreno

Back to our main premise - the Heat are better, but by how much?

Point Guard
2009 - Carlos Arroyo (#32 PG, Level 6), Mario Chalmers (#48 PG, Level 9)
2009 - Mario Chalmers (#48 PG, Level 9), Carlos Arroyo (#32 PG, Level 6)

Rafer Alston was also a contributor to the Heat at point guard last year.  After a solid rookie season Chalmers was a disappointment last season.  He'll have two options - step up his game or sit on the bench.  It's very likely that LeBron will play point forward, especially in the clutch

Shooting Guard
2009 - Dwayne Wade (#2 SG, Level 1), Daequan Cook (#69 SG, below level)
2010 - Dwayne Wade (#2 SG, Level 1), Mike Miller (#23 SG, Level 5)

You can't get much better than Wade, who finished just behind Manu Ginobili in the shooting guard rankings.  Miller could be considered for shooting guard or small forward.  I put him in as a guard because he played that role predominantly last season.  This year he'll be more like the backup wing.

Small Forward
2009 - Quentin Richardson (#18 SG, Level 4), Dorell Wright (#10 SF, Level 4)
2010 - LeBron James (#1 SF, Level 1)

The Heat actually got some pretty good production from the small forward position in 2009-2010.  Of course, LeBron takes that to a whole new level.  The win difference here is hard to predict because he is so far and away better than every other small forward.

Power Forward
2009 - Michael Beasley (#38 PF, Level 6), Udonis Haslem (#30 PF, Level 6)
2010 - Chris Bosh (#8 PF, Level 3), Udonis Haslem (#30 PF, Level 6)

Bosh led all NBA power forwards in PER but his cumulative ranking was dragged down by his Defensive Rating.  That rating can be greatly influenced by the team.  If Haslem can put the spliffs down for long enough he'll be an excellent backup.

Center
2009 - Jermaine O'Neal (#15 C, Level 4), Joel Anthony (#36 C, Level 8)
2010 - Zydrunas Ilgauskas (#46 C, Level 8), Joel Anthony (#36 C, Level 8)

It will be interesting to see what the Heat do at the center position.  They have a number of players (Ilgauskas, Anthony, Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire) who can play the position for short periods of time.  It's certainly possible that Bosh and Haslem get some playing time at the five as well.

Overall
Last year the Heat finished 47-35 and had the five seed in the Eastern Conference.  While their record was good, it was clear in the playoffs that Wade needed a lot more help.  He definitely has help now.  Based on their projected lineup for the 2010-2011 season I've got them adding one win at point guard (with LeBron and Chalmers' improvement), three wins at shooting guard, nine wins at small forward and four wins at power forward, while losing two wins at center.

In the final verdict the Heat are BETTER.  As they are currently constructed I predict their record to be 62-20.  Man, that seems low, but that's what I've got.

What do you think?  Is my prediction too low or realistic?  Let me know in the comments section below.

Toronto Raptors - Better or Worse

Photo source: luked

After a wildly up and down season the Toronto Raptors lost their franchise player to free agency during the summer.  They are now trying to build their team up with an odd mix of new players.  What will be the result?

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Jarrett Jack (#26 PG, Level 6), Jose Calderon (#28 PG, Level 6)
2010 - Jarrett Jack (#26 PG, Level 6), Jose Calderon (#28 PG, Level 6)

The Raptors got okay production from their two point guards who basically split time.  The depth chart remains the same for now, but Calderon continues to be mentioned in trade rumors so he may be gone before the season starts.

Shooting Guard
2009 - DeMar DeRozan (#60 SG, Level 10), Sonny Weems (#53 SG, Level 9)
2010 - Leandro Barbosa (#34 SG, Level 7), DeMar DeRozan (#60 SG, Level 10)

Like the Raptors as a team, DeRozan was inconsistent in his first year in the NBA.  The addition of Barbosa should take the pressure off of DeRozan and enable him to have a better chance to grow into his role at a more deliberate pace.

Small Forward
2009 - Hedo Turkoglu (#32 SF, Level 7)
2010 - Linas Kleiza (not in NBA last year)

Turkoglu was a colossal disappointment in his one season in Toronto.  Kleiza was mostly a tall three point shooter with the Nuggets before he left for Europe.  As poorly as Turkoglu played I expect some drop off at this position with his departure.

Power Forward
2009 - Chris Bosh (#8 PF, Level 3), Amir Johnson (#21 PF, Level 5)
2010 - Amir Johnson (#21 PF, Level 5), Ed Davis (rookie)

It will certainly be difficult to replace Bosh, but the drop off to Johnson may not be as bad as one might expect.  He's actually coming off a productive season.  Davis is a very raw rookie who could contribute on the defensive end but is not likely to bring much to the table offensively.

Center
2009 - Andrea Bargnani (#37 C, Level 8)
2010 - Andrea Bargnani (#37 C, Level 8)

Bargnani has grown nicely in his four years in the NBA.  If the Raptors are going to challenge for the playoffs he'll need to take a big step up and certainly improve his rebounding.

Overall
The Raptors just missed the playoffs at 40-42 last year.  They lost their best player while adding a decent guard in Barbosa and a couple of unknowns in Kleiza and Davis.  To finish where they were last year they will need a lot of growth from the up-and-coming players like DeRozan, Johnson and Bargnani.  Based on their projected lineup for the 2010-2011 season I've got them picking up three wins at shooting guard and one win at center, staying even at point guard, and losing two wins at small forward and four wins at power forward.

In the final verdict the Raptors are WORSE.  As they are now I predict their record to be 38-44.

New Jersey Nets - Better or Worse

Photo source: Marianne O'Leary

After a 12-70 season it appears that the only place for the New Jersey Nets to go is up.  While they had their shot to speak to many of the premier free agents over the summer, they were unable to bring any of them into the fold.  However, with new owner Mikhail Prokhorov and new head coach Avery Johnson I think it's a safe bet that the Nets (or whatever they will soon be called) won't be down for long.

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Devin Harris (#38 PG, Level 7)
2010 - Devin Harris (#38 PG, Level 7), Jordan Farmar (#42 PG, Level 8)

Harris is definitely an asset for the Nets.  While his overall ranking isn't pretty, his PER was a respectable 22nd among point guards.  With some better talent around him I think his numbers improve.  Farmar is a solid backup.

Shooting Guard
2009 - Courtney Lee (#42 SG, Level 7)
2010 - Anthony Morrow (#27 SG, Level 6)

Morrow is a nice little upgrade over Lee, who never seemed to fit in with the Nets.  The addition of Farmar may give Harris an opportunity to play off the ball a little more as well.

Small Forward
2009 - Chris Douglas-Roberts (#54 SF, Below level), Terrence Williams (#48 SF, Level 10)
2010 - Terrence Williams (#48 SF, Level 10), Travis Outlaw (#33 SF, Level 7)

Williams really started to turn it on last year as the season came to a close.  The Nets are counting on his continued growth and would like to use him in a point forward type role more in his second year.  Outlaw is a good addition that should provide offensive firepower.

Power Forward
2009 - Yi Jianlian (#61 PF, Below level), Kris Humphries (#48 PF, Level 7)
2010 - Troy Murphy (#16 PF, Level 4), Derrick Favors (rookie), Kris Humphries (#48 PF, Level 7)

The Nets have certainly upgraded the power forward position.  While some experts are concerned that the addition of Murphy will take developmental minutes away from Favors, the last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference should be up for grabs and who knows what could happen.

Center
2009 - Brook Lopez (#16 C, Level 4), Josh Boone (#41 C, Level 8)
2010 - Brook Lopez (#16 C, Level 4), Johan Petro (unranked)

Like Harris, Lopez was frequently mentioned as one of the positives that New Jersey has that makes it an attractive destination for free agents.  His continued development will be a key to the future success of the Nets.

Overall
Having two players that started the majority of the games at their position finish below level in the overall rankings is an embarrassment.  The Nets have clearly improved, but by how much?  Based on their projected 2010 lineup they will gain two wins at point guard, one at shooting guard, three and a half at small forward, eight at power forward and one at center. Of course I had to factor some development points into the total.

In the final verdict the Nets are BETTER.  As they are now I predict their record to be 28-54.

Philadelphia 76ers - Better or Worse?

Photo source: JoongDal

After a solid 2008-2009 season where they took the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Magic to six games in a first round matchup, the 76ers had a miserable 2009-2010.  With new head coach Doug Collins, Philadelphia will be hoping to fight for a playoff spot in the upcoming season.

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Jrue Holliday (#53 PG, Level 10), Lou Williams (#12 PG, Level 3)
2010 - Jrue Holliday (#53 PG, Level 10), Lou Williams (#12 PG, Level 3)

The Sixers are likely to put much more trust in Holliday in his second year in the NBA.  Williams started at times last season, is very dangerous off the bench, and put up some excellent numbers.

Shooting Guard
2009 - Allen Iverson (#46 SG, Level 8), Willie Green (#52 SG, Level 9)
2010 - Evan Turner (Rookie), Jason Kapono (#56 SF, Below level)

Heading into the draft there were a lot of people talking about Turner as the second most prepared NBA prospect.  But after he struggled in the summer league there have been more doubts expressed.  My guess is that over the course of the season he'll give the 76ers slightly more than Iverson did.

Small Forward
2009 - Andre Iguodala (#13 SG, Level 4)
2010 - Andre Iguodala (#13 SG, Level 4)

Like he did last year, Iguodala will play a majority of the minutes at the three. 

Power Forward
2009 - Elton Brand (#39 PF, Level 6), Thaddeus Young (#57 PF, Level 10)
2010 - Elton Brand (#39 PF, Level 6), Thaddeus Young (#57 PF, Level 10)

No change is expected in the depth chart at power forward.  This is a critical year for Young.  He really needs to take a step up.

Center
2009 - Samuel Dalembert (#17 C, Level 4), Marreese Speights (#40 C, Level 8)
2010 - Spencer Hawes (#48 C, Level 8), Marreese Speights (#40 C, Level 8)

While Dalembert has been on the trading block for seemingly years, he's still turned in some respectable seasons.  Replacing him with Hawes appears to be a downgrade.

Overall
The 76ers put up a 27-55 record last year.  They will be relying on the development of youth to help them contend for a playoff spot this season.  Holliday and Hawes must really develop their game for the Sixers to be successful.  Turner and Young will have to contribute productive minutes.  Based on their projected 2010 lineup I've got them picking up two wins at point guard and one win at shooting guard, staying even at the two forward positions and losing four at center.

In the final verdict the 76ers are WORSE.  As they are now I predict their record to be 25-57.

Boston Celtics - Better or Worse?

The Celtics are coming off an excellent season where they took the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink during a thrilling, but odd, NBA Finals.  Heading into the offseason they were at a fork in the road.  The two options were to either make one more run or start to tear down and rebuild.  The Celtics chose to make another run and brought back coach Doc Rivers along with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.  How do they look for 2010?

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Rajon Rondo (#2 PG, Level 1), Nate Robinson (#34 PG, Level 6)
2010 - Rajon Rondo (#2 PG, Level 1), Nate Robinson (#34 PG, Level 6)

There will be no changes at the point guard position for the Celtics.  Rondo was a huge contributor in the playoffs and I think he can be expected to bear a bigger load for Boston.  Having Robinson from the beginning of the season will help as well.

Photo source: walknboston

Shooting Guard
2009 - Ray Allen (#6 SG, Level 3), Tony Allen (#25 SG, Level 6)
2010 - Ray Allen (#6 SG, Level 3), Delonte West (#21 SG, Level 5)

Ray Allen is back at shooting guard for the Celtics, but Tony Allen has taken the money and moved on to the Memphis Grizzlies.  Boston made a good move in bringing West in as the backup.  He can't be expected to be the stellar defender that Tony Allen was but he should add something on the offensive end, especially if he can get his three point percentage back up into the high 30s. 

Small Forward
2009 - Paul Pierce (#5 SF, Level 3)
2010 - Paul Pierce (#5 SF, Level 3)

Never was there a doubt that Pierce would resign with Boston. 

Power Forward
2009 - Kevin Garnett (#2 PF, Level 2), Glen Davis (#59 PF, Level 10)
2010 - Kevin Garnett (#2 PF, Level 2), Glen Davis (#59 PF, Level 10)

The Celtics head into 2010 with the same two-deep plan at power forward.  Davis had some excellent flashes of skill during the Finals.

Center
2009 - Kendrick Perkins (#19 C, Level 5), Rasheed Wallace (#35 C, Level 7)
2010 - Kendrick Perkins (#19 C, Level 5, Shaquille O'Neal (#21 C, Level 5), Jermaine O'Neal (#15, Level 4)

Because of the Perkins injury the Celtics had some work to do to solidify the center position.  They did so by adding the two O'Neals.  I was quite surprised when I did the calculations and saw Jermaine's numbers.  His regular season last year was much more respectable than I thought.

Overall
After winning the Atlantic division with a 50-32 record the Celtics really started to excel in the playoffs, exactly how Doc Rivers planned it.  I expect them to approach the regular season in a similar way in 2010.  They'll have a lot of continuity, but with aging players I expect some of the skill to fade.  However, a consistent jump in Rondo's play could make up for it.  According to my formula, they stay the same at point guard, small forward and power forward.  They'll pick up a win at center and lose one at shooting guard.  I think Rondo's evolution and a bad division will be good for an additional win.

In the final verdict the Celtics are BETTER.  As they are now I predict their record to be 51-31.

New York Knicks - Better or Worse?

This post is the first of a series where I will be looking at the moves made by each NBA team during the offseason and comparing their current roster to their 2009 roster and using the cumulative rankings system I developed to judge whether the team is better or worse.

Photo source: jhartney

The New York Knicks will be the first team I will be evaluating.  The Knicks went into the offseason with a lot of cap room and high hopes.  They had been playing all of their cards the last couple of seasons in a way that would enable them to make a big splash in the summer of 2010.  Of course, their main target was LeBron James.  They didn't get LeBron, but they certainly made some additions that should help them improve.

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Chris Duhon (#59 PG, Unranked), Sergio Rodriguez (#40 PG, Level 8)
2010 - Raymond Felton (#10 PG, Level 3), Toney Douglas (#30 SG, Level 6)

The signing of Felton was a huge upgrade for the Knicks at the point guard position.  The player that had the most minutes as the position last year, Duhon, was the 59th ranked point guard in the league.  Felton was an impressive 10th, putting him at the top of the third level.  Douglas is also an upgrade in the backup role and he can be expected to improve on his rookie season.

Shooting Guard
2009 - Tracy McGrady (#56 SG, Level 9), Toney Douglas (#30 SG, Level 6)
2010 - Wilson Chandler (#34 SF, Level 8), Kelenna Azubuike (injured)

While not a big upgrade, Chandler did outperform McGrady last year and should continue to develop. 

Small Forward
2009 - Wilson Chandler (#34 SF, Level 8)
2010 - Danilo Gallinari (#37 PF, Level 6)

While their overall rankings look close, Gallinari actually outperformed Chandler by a pretty good margin last year.  Gallinari's ratings are: PER - 14.89, Offense - 113, Defense - 112, WARP - 3.2, and Simple -1.3.  Chandler's ratings are: PER - 13.76, Offense - 106, Defense - 113, WARP - 0, and Simple 0.9.

Power Forward
2009 - Danilo Gallinari (#37 PF, Level 6), Al Harrington (#47 PF, Level 7)
2010 - Amare Stoudamire (#10 PF, Level 3), Anthony Randolph (#32 PF, Level 6)

Stoudamire is a big upgrade at the power forward position, taking the spot up three levels for the Knicks.  Randolph is a nice little improvement in the backup role.

Center
2009 - David Lee (#12 C, Level 3)
2010 - Ronny Turiaf (#45 C, Level 8)

Lee had an excellent season in New York last year.  Turiaf can't hope to match it but the Knicks will surely mix up their lineups and Turiaf will play nowhere near the amount of minutes that Lee did.

Overall
The Knicks finished 29-53 last year.  My rough estimate is that each level difference in a starter is worth a win while each level difference in a backup is worth half a win.  According to that formula the Knicks gain eight wins at point guard, one win at shooting guard, two wins at small forward and three and a half wins at power forward.  They lose five wins at center.  The net total is nine and a half.  I like this mix of players and think it's a good group for Mike D'Antoni's system so I'm going to bump that up to 11.

In the final verdict the Knicks are BETTER.  As they are now I predict their record to be 40-42.

Top 100 NBA Players Rankings Analysis

On Sunday I posted the top 100 NBA players by cumulative rankings based on their performance during the 2009-2010 season.  There certainly were some surprises and interesting tidbits in the list.  Here are my thoughts on the results:

Photo source: howieluvzus

• The first thing that jumps out at me is that a player that finishes ahead of another player in the position rankings is not guaranteed to finish ahead of them in the overall rankings.  For example, Dwight Howard beats out Tim Duncan by five points to top the NBA centers list.  But, in the overall rankings Duncan finishes second, beating Howard, who finishes fifth, by 16 points.
• LeBron James rules the top of the charts, besting Duncan by 30 points.
• Kevin Durant, Pau Gasol and Howard are not too far behind Duncan.
• Due to the much bigger pool of players the disparities between the total ranking points are much more pronounced than in the individual position rankings.
• The top 100 includes 28 power forwards, 25 centers, 17 point guards, 16 shooting guards and 14 small forwards.  So small forwards (LeBron and Durant) claim two out of the first three slots, but then only represent 12 of the remaining 97. 
• Power forward is clearly the impact position in the top 100.  It's certainly surprising to see guys like DeJuan Blair, Nick Collison and Brandon Bass make the list.
• Centers dominate the top 25 placing nine in that group.
• The first point guard on the list is Deron Williams at 18.
• LeBron is first in PER, WARP and Simple Rating.  Nicolas Batum tops Offensive Rating while Dwight Howard leads the Defensive Rating category.
• There are a lot of surprises to me, but the ones that rank the highest are - Greg Oden (aided by small number of minutes), Al Horford, Gerald Wallace, Andrei Kirilenko and Anderson Varejao.
• Really is hard for me to believe that Kobe Bryant doesn't appear until the 23rd spot.
• Rookies appearing in the top 100 - DeJuan Blair (66), Rodrigue Beaubois (75), Ty Lawson (83) and James Harden (99).  Tyreke Evans comes in at 107 while Stephen Curry is at 129.

Anything surprise you about the list?

In the next couple of months I plan to analyze the offseason moves of each NBA team based on the rankings.  Subscribe to the blog to make sure you don't miss your favorite team(s).

Top 100 NBA Players from 2009-2010 Season

Photo source: dfornal

I've combined the cumulative rankings for all five positions to create a master list of all the NBA players that logged more than 500 minutes during the 2009-2010 season.  To see my ranking system check out my first post that features the cumulative rankings for NBA point guards.

Instead of including an exhaustive list of all 327 NBA players that qualified, I've listed the top 100 below, with the sum of their rankings in all five categories included:

1. LeBron James, MIA 36
2. Tim Duncan, SAS 66
3. Kevin Durant, OKC 78
4. Pau Gasol, LAL 78
5. Dwight Howard, ORL 82
6. Manu Ginobili, SAS 105
7. Dwyane Wade, MIA 109
8. Greg Oden, POR 141
9. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL 147
10. Al Horford, ATL 155
11. Andrew Bynum, LAL 163
12. Gerald Wallace, CHA 169
13. Nene, DEN 184
14. Kevin Garnett, BOS 188
15. Andrei Kirilenko, UTH 192
16. Josh Smith, ATL 203
17. Marcus Camby, POR 210
18. Deron Williams, Utah 216
19. Anderson Varejao, CLE 216
20. Andrew Bogut, MIL 221
21. Rajon Rondo, BOS 224
22. Carlos Boozer, UTA 227
23. Kobe Bryant, LAL 237
24. Chris Paul, NOR 242
25. Marc Gasol, MEM 253
26. Chris Andersen, DEN 257
27. Jason Kidd, DAL 259
28. Paul Pierce, BOS 270
29. Nazr Mohammed, CHA 274
30. Brandon Roy, POR 276
31. Amare Stoudemire, PHO 279
32. Zach Randolph, MEM 290
33. Chris Bosh, TOR 292
34. Joakim Noah, CHI 317
35. David Lee, NYK 325
36. Chauncey Billups, DEN 332
37. Paul Millsap, UTH 340
38. Danny Granger, IND 342
39. Brendan Haywood, DAL 344
40. Kevin Love, MIN 351
41. Nicolas Batum, POR 357
42. Lamar Odom, LAL 358
43. Vince Carter, ORL 359
44. Steve Nash, PHO 360
45. Ben Wallace, DET 360
46. Ryan Anderson, ORL 363
47. LaMarcus Aldridge, POR 363
48. Carmelo Anthony, DEN 375
49. Joe Johnson, ATL 383
50. Andre Miller, POR 395
51. Jermaine O'Neal, MIA 397
52. Troy Murphy, IND 400
53. Luke Ridnour, MIL 402
54. Matt Bonner, SAS 437
55. Jamal Crawford, ATL 440
56. Samuel Dalembert, PHI 445
57. Russell Westbrook, OKC 448
58. Ray Allen, BOS 455
59. Antawn Jamison, CLE 462
60. Ersan Ilyasova, MIL 463
61. Brook Lopez, NJN 465
62. Amir Johnson, TOR 471
63. John Salmons, MIL 474
64. Carl Landry, SAC 474
65. Raymond Felton, CHA 478
66. DeJuan Blair, SAS 480
67. Lou Williams, PHI 482
68. Erick Dampier, DAL 482
69. Andre Iguodala, PHI 490
70. Kendrick Perkins, BOS 491
71. David West, NOR 497
72. Robin Lopez, PHO 498
73. Jason Richardson, PHO 501
74. Luol Deng, CHI 503
75. Rodrigue Beaubois, DAL 506
76. Matt Barnes, ORL 511
77. Derrick Rose, CHI 515
78. Dorell Wright, MIA 515
79. Tyrus Thomas, CHA 516
80. Jason Terry, DAL 522
81. Corey Maggette, GSW 528
82. Nick Collison, OKC 529
83. Ty Lawson, DEN 535
84. Kyle Lowry, HOU 542
85. Shaquille O'Neal, CLE 543
86. Al Jefferson, MIN 549
87. Channing Frye, PHO 550
88. Baron Davis, LAC 551
89. Brandon Bass, ORL 555
90. Mehmet Okur, UTH 555
91. George Hill, SAS 566
92. Emeka Okafor, NOR 570
93. Mo Williams, CLE 573
94. Kevin Martin, HOU 577
95. Stephen Jackson, CHA 579
96. Craig Smith, LAC 583
97. Udonis Haslem, MIA 584
98. Shawn Marion, DAL 588
99. James Harden, OKC 588
100. Rudy Gay, MEM 590

I think it's fascinating how the rankings shook out and I'll be posting my analysis in the next few days.  Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments section below.