Tuesday, February 8, 2011

2010-11 Mid-Season NBA Center Rankings

The top of the mid-season NBA center rankings are surprisingly close - at least to me. Dwight Howard finished solidly in first in the 2009-10 NBA center rankings. But Al Horford is very close to Howard at mid-season.

For additional details on my ranking process for the 2010-11 season take a look at my mid-season small forward rankings.  Through February 7 here are my center rankings:

.
PLAYERPERRankEWARankSimpleRankO. RatRankD. RatRankTotalsFinal
.
Dwight Howard, ORL25.68112.8111.1111122951261
.
Al Horford, ATL22.4529.728.23122510316282
.
Tyson Chandler, DAL19.0675.374.610134110113383
.
Tim Duncan, SA21.537.638.7210927997424
.
Andrew Bynum, LAL20.6152.9166.54122510420505
.
Nene, DEN21.4547.3466128210735516
.
Joakim Noah, CHI19.5463.91402211512962567
.
Emeka Okafor, NO16.65184.8103.513113161009668
.
Shaquille O'Neal, BOS17.31132.5195.2811122985679
.
Andrew Bogut, MIL17.86105.186.15101439857110
.
Jeff Foster, IND16.25201.3265.67118910097111
.
Marc Gasol, MEM16.7174.995911219104207412
.
JaVale McGee, WSH17.58124.2134.61011219105308413
.
Marcin Gortat, PHX16.72162.718-3.53711710103169714
.
Brook Lopez, NJ18.7486.954.610106331094610215
.
Brad Miller, HOU17.59112.3210.51912071094610416
.
DeAndre Jordan, LAC14.68242.5191.417114151063210717
.
Ronny Turiaf, NY14.33251.4231.71512731084210818
.
Al Jefferson, UTAH18.3296.76-3.235109271073511219
.
Chuck Hayes, HOU16.14212.916-2.53012441084211320
.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, MIA13.09321300.51910829100911921
.
Roy Hibbert, IND15.522231502297471021512122
.
Kurt Thomas, CHI11.26410.2400221121997312523
.
David Lee, GS17144.4121.616108291115612724
.
Nazr Mohammed, CHA16.99152.222-3.336102391042013225
.
Kwame Brown, CHA13.98271.326-2.733115121073513326
.
Anthony Tolliver, MIN13.27300.8332.714116111115614427
.
Marreese Speights, PHI14.88231.128-126104381053014528
.
Chris Andersen, DEN14.03260.538-3.638115121063214629
.
Jason Thompson, SAC13.96281.423-0.425106331084215130
.
Samuel Dalembert, SAC12.69350.9310.42196501042015731
.
Andris Biedrins, GS12.9341.128-5.244113161073515732
.
Andrea Bargnani, TOR16.34194.511-2.631102391136016033
.
Omer Asik, CHI10.6943042-2.8341014397316534
.
Ben Wallace, DET12.48360.931-5.244102391042017035
.
Nenad Krstic, OKC12.37370.833-2.428110251105317636
.
Darko Milicic, MIN13.14311.423-2.63192571073517737
.
Semih Erden, BOS10.7442042-12.5581082999717838
.
Trevor Booker, WSH13330.637-4.641110251094618239
.
Zaza Pachulia, ATL10.4644042-543105361042018540
.
Joel Anthony, MIA7.5556-1.461-64711981031618841
.
Channing Frye, PHX11.66380.833-4.742106331094619242
.
Robin Lopez, PHX13.34290.833-4.139107321125919243
.
Erick Dampier, MIA7.4957-0.555-2.428100451011319844
.
Spencer Hawes, PHI11.58390.538-6.34893551042020045
.
Brendan Haywood, DAL10.1447-0.248-955102391031620546
.
Solomon Jones, IND9.5950-0.248-7.55098461042021447
.
Francisco Elson, UTAH10.0748-0.146-4.139105361094621548
.
Ryan Hollins, CLE11.46400.240-8.353111221136021549
.
Jermaine O'Neal, BOS9.0953-0.248-9.5569551100921750
.
Melvin Ely, DEN8.0754-0.454-5.244113161105322151
.
Johan Petro, NJ9.6149-0.248-8.95495511042022252
.
Jason Collins, ATL5.3960-1.160-22797471073522953
.
Kyrylo Fesenko, UTAH5.7259-0.8580.91889611094624254
.
Dan Gadzuric, GS10.3345042-10.65794531094624355
.
Hilton Armstrong, WSH7.9655-0.555-7.55093551063224756
.
Nikola Pekovic, MIN10.1546-0.146-8.25297471115624757
.
Josh Powell, ATL9.5151-0.353-13.96094531084225958
.
Louis Amundson, GS9.4652-0.248-6.54992571105325959
.
Hasheem Thabeet, MEM4.8461-159-18.56191591042026060
.
Timofey Mozgov, NY7.4258-0.555-13.55991591073526661

In the next couple of days I'll follow up with my observations.  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

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.

Monday, January 31, 2011

2010-11 Mid-Season NBA Power Forward Rankings

Through the first half of the 2010-11 NBA season Pau Gasol is the leader in production among power forwards. The top three, with Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett joining Gasol, are the same top three from the 2009-10 season. But, the order has changed and the gaps have changed.

Gasol finished first in the 2009-10 NBA power forward rankings by a wide margin.  Garnett was second and Nowitzki third.

To see the additional details on my ranking process for the 2010-11 season check out my mid-season small forward rankings.  Through January 31 here are the power forward rankings: 

.
PLAYERPERRankEWARankSimpleRankO Rat.RankD Rat.RankTotalsFinal
.
Pau Gasol, LAL23.43410.4212.12122710320351
.
Dirk Nowitzki, DAL23.5527.7713.611151510424492
.
Kevin Garnett, BOS21.6695.81410.9311224941513
.
Ryan Anderson, ORL21.982.82610.1412441019513
.
Kevin Love, MIN24.93111.518.95124410851625
.
David West, NO20.98107.777.69111281019636
.
Chris Bosh, MIA20.03146.3118.661141610216636
.
Lamar Odom, LAL20.51117.19613122710424648
.
Zach Randolph, MEM22.2168.657.691122410424689
.
Carlos Boozer, CHI22.1774.9167.211109339726910
.
Blake Griffin, LAC22.9159.848811224107458611
.
LaMarcus Aldridge, POR20.34128.168.4711029106358912
.
Elton Brand, PHI18.6185.5152.22511416103209413
.
Amare Stoudemire, NY23.55210.235.21510933107459814
.
Paul Millsap, UTAH20.28136.8101.128114161063510215
.
Thaddeus Young, PHI17.96204.2173.718113211052910516
.
Josh Smith, ATL18.82176.11361310259100710917
.
Kris Humphries, NJ17.85223.9191.128114161042410917
.
Brandon Bass, ORL16.91243.1242.522113211032011119
.
Tyrus Thomas, CHA19.73153256.21210353100711220
.
Amir Johnson, TOR18.1194183.91712521106211821
.
Serge Ibaka, OKC17.93213.820-0.53712271063512022
.
Marcus Camby, POR16.27282.7281.9261064399513023
.
Luis Scola, HOU19.31166.3113.619108391095614124
.
Matt Bonner, SA14.05451462.42313011063515025
.
Anderson Varejao, CLE15.23371.8344.416113211085115926
.
Ersan Ilyasova, MIL14.27441.5382.32410550101916527
.
DeJuan Blair, SA16.42272.826-5.9611045199517028
.
Chris Wilcox, DET16.13290.9491.827114161085117229
.
Danilo Gallinari, NY15.56343.323-1.24212521127117229
.
Josh McRoberts, IND14.78401.243-1.847110291021617531
.
Tyler Hansbrough, IND15.96311.144-1.242109331052917932
.
Hakim Warrick, PHX17.02232.330-141116141127117932
.
Darrell Arthur, MEM15.41361.834-2.150109331052918234
.
Craig Smith, LAC15.46350.7500.332117121106219135
.
Charlie Villanueva, DET15.97302.529-0.638108391095619236
.
Taj Gibson, CHI13.48491.440-1.3441006497219937
.
Drew Gooden, MIL15.88321.342-4.35710259101919937
.
Jon Brockman, MIL9.4570-0.2670.630117121032019937
.
Antawn Jamison, CLE16.81253.6220.630103531116919937
.
Greg Monroe, DET14.62411.637-3.554112241074520141
.
Ed Davis, TOR15.68331.440-66212441106220141
.
Udonis Haslem, MIA12.88530.261-2.45111029101920343
.
Joey Dorsey, TOR14.58420.653-0.234106431063520744
.
Carl Landry, SAC15.2382.330-1.445109331106220845
.
Glen Davis, BOS13.13501.144-24910259101921146
.
Rashard Lewis, WAS12.8554146033106431063521146
.
Michael Beasley, MIN16.73263.721-0.740103531127121146
.
Boris Diaw, CHA13.67481.736-0.234106431085121249
.
Tiago Splitter, SA13.72470.653-768109331021621750
.
Kenyon Martin, DEN12.61600.2613.120106431063521951
.
Derrick Favors, NJ13.7846146-1.847110291085121951
.
Derrick Brown, CHA12.42620.4562.721106431074522753
.
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC14.8639232-5.65995691052922854
.
Andray Blatche, WSH14.443232-1.44595691074523455
.
Antonio McDyess, SA12.52610.456-4.15610353101923556
.
Brian Cook, LAC13.08510.261-0.436107421074523556
.
Reggie Evans, TOR12.99520.358-455106431052923758
.
Nick Collison, OKC10.7767-0.369-0.638118111095624159
.
Brian Cardinal, DAL10.169-0.267-8.772120101052924760
.
Larry Sanders, MIL12.68590.358-4.658947298425161
.
Jeff Green, OKC12.8561.538-6.264108391106225962
.
Al Harrington, DEN12.82550.750-3.353103531095626763
.
Shelden Williams, DEN12.22630.261-662104511063527264
.
Jason Smith, NO10.5168-0.470-2.85296671021627365
.
Andres Nocioni, PHI11.22650.261-6.866102591063528666
.
J.J. Hickson, CLE12.73570.750-5.86090731095629667
.
Gary Forbes, DEN12.73570.555-8.671103531106229868
.
Juwan Howard, MIA7.4873-0.871-9.37498651042430769
.
Dante Cunningham, POR9.0871-0.871-8.36998651063531170
.
Jordan Hill, HOU11.49640.358-8.369102591106231271
.
Yi Jianlian, WSH11.1366-0.166-6.66595691095632272
.
Jason Maxiell, DET8.2472-0.973-9.27396671116935473
.
Jawad Williams, CLE4.7974-1.274-6.86681741147436274

I'll be following up in the next couple of days with my observations on the rankings.  Feel free to post your thoughts below in the comments section.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Observations on the Mid-Season NBA Shooting Guard Rankings

I recently posted my mid-season NBA shooting guard rankings.  Here are my observations on those rankings:

    Photo source: Tiago Hammil
  • Manu Ginobili and Dwyane Wade tied for the top spot.  That's no surprise - they were one and two in the 2009-10 Final Shooting Guard Rankings.  Wade is first in the PER and Estimated Wins Added categories while Ginobili leads the Simple Rating category.
  • Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant are on the second level.  Allen moved up three spots from the 09-10 rankings while Bryant dropped one.
  • Interestingly, Eric Gordon and Kevin Martin are both really hurt by their Defensive Rating.  Gordon tied for 51st and Martin tied for 60th. 
  • Jason Richardson and Vince Carter, who were essentially swapped for each other by the Magic and Suns, come in 11th and 12th.
  • The biggest positive surprises to me are Andre Iguodala, Landry Fields, J.R. Smith and Ronnie Brewer.
  • The biggest negative surprises to me are Jason Terry, Stephen Jackson, O.J. Mayo and John Salmons. 
  • The biggest jumpers from the final 09-10 rankings are DeShawn Stevenson (up 52), Nick Young (up 43) and Tracy McGrady (up 28).  Those are three very different cases.
  • Stevenson boosted his PER from 3.3 last season to a career best 13.3 this season and his Simple Rating from -10 to 3.3. 
  • The biggest droppers from 2009-10 are John Salmons (down 37), Quentin Richardson (down 31) and Randy Foye (down 26).
  • Salmons really surprises me.  I expected him to be excellent for the Bucks this season after serving as such a uniter when he came over from Chicago during the middle of last season.  The most noticeable difference - his Simple Rating crashed from 7.9 in 09-10 to -4.2 this season.
  • Fields is the highest ranking rookie at number 10.  Evan Turner is next at 59.
  • The two teams getting the least production from the shooting guard position are Utah and Cleveland.  The Jazz have Raja Bell at 60.  The Cavaliers have Anthony Parker at 61, Alonzo Gee at 62, Manny Harris at 66 and Joey Graham at 68.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

2010-11 Mid-Season NBA Shooting Guard Rankings

There's a tie atop the mid-season rankings of NBA shooting guards. Dwyane Wade and Manu Ginobili have outproduced all of the competition at their position.  That is no change from the 2009-10 NBA Shooting Guard Rankings - they were in the top two spots there as well.

To see additional details on my ranking process check out my 2010-11 Mid-Season Small Forward Rankings.  For your viewing pleasure, or displeasure, here are the mid-season shooting guard rankings:


.
PLAYERPERRankEWARankSimpleRankO. RatRankD. RatRankTotalsFinal
.
Dwyane Wade, MIA25.51111.2111.62113111013181
.
Manu Ginobili, SA22.5848.3312.6111751025181
.
Ray Allen, BOS17.8185.676.96119310411353
.
Kobe Bryant, LAL24.73210.628.931121310618384
.
Andre Iguodala, PHI17.293.9105.181092010411585
.
Eric Gordon, LAC21.1858.248.24117511251696
.
Joe Johnson, ATL18.3375.187.951082610830767
.
Kevin Martin, HOU22.7738.246.67120211360767
.
Jamal Crawford, ATL16.77113.6113.8131092010830859
.
Landry Fields, NY14.14232.3194.891167108308810
.
Jason Richardson, ORL17104.691.12411311109379111
.
Vince Carter, PHX15.65162.81541210730107239612
.
J.R. Smith, DEN15.83132.6162.816106321072310013
.
James Harden, OKC14.82212.22002711591083010714
.
Ronnie Brewer, CHI13.42311.5281.8221082698110815
.
Monta Ellis, GS19.7668.162.220108261125110916
.
Wesley Matthews, POR15.77143.611-135112131093711017
.
J.J. Redick, ORL13.52291.528-0.93411931061811218
.
Rudy Fernandez, POR14.48221.8241.623109201072311218
.
Nick Young, WSH15.76153.2134.510111161136011420
.
DeShawn Stevenson, DAL13.28321353.31411671083011821
.
Brandon Roy, POR14.97171.8244.510107301093711821
.
Kyle Korver, CHI12.583813512511116102511923
.
Francisco Garcia, SAC14.01261.43102711591083012324
.
Arron Afflalo, DEN14.02242.616-1.33612411125112825
.
Jason Terry, DAL14.95193.114027101471072313026
.
Leandro Barbosa, TOR16.53122.5182.417108261136013327
.
Tracy McGrady, DET13.89271.6262.318103401093714828
.
Tony Allen, MEM14.96181.232-242966099215429
.
Marquis Daniels, BOS12.03410.738-1.43710437101315630
.
Marcus Thornton, NO14.02240.837-1.5389758102516231
.
Keyon Dooling, MIL11.43470.3452.318104371061816532
.
Kirk Hinrich, WSH13.47301.626-3.447109201114717033
.
Stephen Jackson, CHA13.56282.220-1.84096601072317134
.
Thabo Sefolosha, OKC10.554053-0.732111161061817335
.
Ben Gordon, DET12.94351.528315102461125117536
.
Toney Douglas, NY13.05341.133-1.941104371093718237
.
Marco Belinelli, NO11.31480.542-2.144105351061818738
.
Jodie Meeks, PHI11.21490.251125111161104618738
.
Anthony Morrow, NJ11.19500.345-0.130112131125118940
.
Richard Hamilton, DET14.95191.923-3.447103401136018940
.
Luther Head, SAC11.91420.345-1.639109201125119742
.
O.J. Mayo, MEM12.24401.133-3.951101471083020143
.
Jeff Teague, ATL12.9360.542-6.7639854103820344
.
John Salmons, MIL11.55450.738-4.25398541051420445
.
Courtney Lee, HOU11.69440.542-0.431103401114720445
.
Von Wafer, BOS10.5653053-3.549103401041120647
.
Corey Brewer, MIN11.13510.34522198541093720848
.
Quentin Richardson, ORL9.7657-0.256-3.85010340103821149
.
Brandon Rush, IND10.79520.251-3.346103401072321250
.
Sam Young, MEM11.51460.345-5.75799511051421351
.
Josh Childress, PHX12.6370.640-2.545106321136021452
.
DeMar DeRozan, TOR13.2333222-866106321146621953
.
Bill Walker, NY10.4655053-0.833105351125122754
.
Sasha Vujacic, NJ11.77430.345-4.55599511093723155
.
Sonny Weems, TOR12.27390.640-3.95199511146624756
.
Keith Bogans, CHI6.9369-1.470-5.75710147103825157
.
Willie Green, NO8.7862-0.764-5.95996601051425958
.
Evan Turner, PHI9.2159-0.662-6.26195651051426159
.
Raja Bell, UTAH9.0260-0.968-8.167109201125126660
.
Anthony Parker, CLE9.9956-0.357-242101471146626861
.
Alonzo Gee, CLE961-0.357-4.35496601093726962
.
Gerald Henderson, CHA8.7363-0.560-5.15693681072327063
.
Greivis Vasquez, MEM8.4964-0.662-8.16796601093729064
.
Xavier Henry, MEM7.5566-0.764-6.16098541114729165
.
Manny Harris, CLE9.4658-0.357-13.97092691114730166
.
Rasual Butler, LAC7.3968-169-6.66297581125130867
.
Wayne Ellington, MIN7.8965-0.764-116995651136032368
.
Joey Graham, CLE7.4467-0.560-7.56595651146632368
.
Randy Foye, LAC6.5470-0.764-76492691146633370

I'll be posting my observations on the shooting guard rankings in the next couple of days. Let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Observations on the Mid-Season NBA Point Guard Rankings

On Saturday I posted my mid-season NBA point guard rankings.  Here are my observations from that list:

Photo source: ZanderSt.Pierre
  • Chris Paul takes the top spot impressively, leading in four of the five categories and finishing second in the Simple Rating.  When you look at the totals it is clear that in a year of excellent point guard play Paul is in a class by himself.
  • Derrick Rose, Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo are the second level point guards.  Rose has definitely taken his game to the next level, rising nine spots from the 2009-10 point guard rankings, while Parker has recovered from an injury-plagued 09-10 and jumped 17 spots.
  • Steve Nash leads the Simple Rating category but his overall ranking is really pulled down by his Defensive Rating (64th). 
  • Deron Williams was my top-ranked point guard for the 2009-10 season but he currently stands at sixth, in large part due to a Defensive Rating that's dropped 30 spots to 46th so far in 2010-11.
  • The biggest positive surprises to me are Tony Parker, Andre Miller, Shannon Brown and D.J. Augustin.
  • The biggest negative surprises to me are Chauncey Billups, Raymond Felton and Tyreke Evans.
  • Felton is a curious case to me because when I evaluated the Knicks early season play in November his numbers were excellent.  Since then his PER has dropped almost a full point, his Offensive Rating has fallen five points and his Defensive Rating is down two points.
  • The biggest jumpers from the final 2009-10 season rankings are Earl Boykins (up 35), Shannon Brown (up 33), D.J. Augustin (up 33) and Jrue Holiday (up 33).
  • The biggest droppers from the final 2009-10 season rankings are Mo Williams (down 38), Goran Dragic (down 24) and Baron Davis (down 23).
  • The highest rated rookie is Gary Neal at 34.  John Wall comes in at 37.
  • Interestingly, two of the biggest NBA title contenders, the Lakers and Heat, are among the teams getting the least production from the point guard position.  The caveat there of course is that neither team asks much from the point guard position.  But you have to think they'd like to get a little bit more than they've gotten so far this season.