Observations on the Mid-Season NBA Power Forward Rankings

I posted my mid-season NBA power forward rankings earlier in the week - here are my observations on those rankings:

Photo source: bridgetds

• Pau Gasol continues to stay on top of the power forward rankings.  He was first in my final power forward rankings for the 2009-10 season as well.  However, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett have closed the gap.  Gasol finished 25 points ahead of Garnett and 26 points ahead of Nowitzki in 09-10.  Through mid-season 10-11 he's only 14 ahead of Nowitzki and 16 ahead of Garnett.
• Gasol is in first despite not leading any single category.  Kevin Love has the best PER and Estimated Wins Added.  Nowitzki has the best Simple Rating.  Garnett has the best Defensive Rating.  Oddly, Matt Bonner leads in Offensive Rating.
• There's a large third level with Love, David West, Chris Bosh, Lamar Odom, Zach Randolph and Carlos Boozer all within seven points of each other.
• Ryan Anderson presents an interesting case.  I don't think anyone really believes he's the fourth best power forward in the NBA.  However, he's in the top 10 in all categories except for Estimated Wins Added.  That raises the key point with Anderson - with an average of less than 20 minutes per game his playing time is well below that of everybody in the top 15.
• The biggest positive surprises to me, beyond Anderson, are David West, Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young and Kris Humphries.
• The biggest negative surprises to me are Josh Smith, Jeff Green and Al Harrington.
• The biggest jumpers from the final 09-10 rankings are Thaddeus Young (up 41), Kris Humphries (up 31) and Elton Brand (up 26).
• Young has boosted his PER from 14.08 to 17.96, his Simple Rating from -1.8 to 3.7, his Offensive Rating from 102 to 113 and his Defensive Rating from 111 to 105.
• Those who've fallen the most are Nick Collison (down 33), Dante Cunningham (down 30) and Shelden Williams (down 30).
• Blake Griffin is the highest rated rookie at 11th.  Greg Monroe and Ed Davis, who are tied for 41st, are the next rookies in the rankings.
• The two teams getting the least production from the power forward position are the Wizards and Nuggets.  Washington has Rashard Lewis at 46, Andray Blatche at 55 and Yi Jianlian at 72.  Denver has Kenyon Martin at 51, Al Harrington at 63 and Shelden Williams at 64.

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.