For part 1: The top 5 Backcourts in the NBA CLICK HERE
For more info on what PER is CLICK HERE
TIE 5. Los Angeles Clippers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Caron Butler 13.9 PPG 4.0 RPG 1.5 APG 13.35 PER
Blake Griffin 21.7 PPG 11.2 RPG 3.0 APG 23.63 PER
DeAndre Jordan 8.2 PPG 9.2 RPG 2.6 BPG 17.65 PER
Kevin Durant 27.7 PPG 7.9 RPG 3.4 APG 27.49 PER
Serge Ibaka 8.3 PPG 7.7 RPG 3.2 BPG 17.55 PER
Kendrick Perkins 4.4 PPG 6.2 RPG 1.2 BPG 7.11 PER
Both of these teams have great frontcourts, and I couldn't put one in front of the other.
The Clippers are "sexier" on paper with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, but I think the "blue collar" play of Perkins and Ibaka in Oklahoma City gets overlooked with most of the spotlight going to All-Stars Durant and Westbrook.
Kendrick Perkins brings Championship experience from the Boston Celtics, and Serge Ibaka leads the NBA in blocks and has become one of the elite defenders in the league. There is no doubt that the Thunder wouldn't be where they are without their two big men in the middle.
The Clippers are one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the league, living up to their "lob city" nickname. However, I think they will need to be more "fundamental city" if they want to be serious contenders in the West. Griffin and Jordan can jump out of the gym, but one day reality will set in and they will need to replace alley-oops and highlight dunks with lock down defense and execution.
4. New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony 21.5 PPG 5.8 RPG 4.1 APG 19.37 PER
Amare Stoudemire 17.4 PPG 7.9 RPG 1.3 APG 16.12 PER
Tyson Chandler 11.7 PPG 9.7 RPG 1.4 BPG 19.77 PER
Best way to describe the Knicks' frontcourt would be - underachievers. A group of great players that don't live up to their potential because of lack of effort on defense (with exception to Chandler who has anchored the D all season). On paper this trio should be top 2, or even the best in the league, however, on the court when the ball is tipped is a different story.
Carmelo Anthony is the most overrated player in the league. That's a bold statement, but I stand by it. How can Melo be considered an elite player along with Kobe, LeBron, Howard, Paul, etc. when he doesn't put in any effort on the defensive end? Sure he can score in bunches, but it doesn't do his team any good when he gives up just as many due to his lack of effort. To be considered a "superstar" you must play hard on both ends of the floor. Image how good he could be if he didn't have the Randy Moss attitude.
Just like Stockton made Malone, Nash made Amare. He hasn't put up the same numbers since he left Phoenix, but he's still the same great player, just not as good of a point guard feeding him the ball. There was talk about the Knicks trying to acquire Nash, but then that "Linsanity" thing happened. Amare says the right things to the public, but is secretly screaming obscenities inside his head.
Alot of people were critical of Mark Cuban for not re-signing Tyson Chandler, a critical piece to the Mavs Championship run, during the off-season. I'm sure that will stop when he signs Deron Williams and/or Dwight Howard this coming off-season because of the cap space Chandler freed up. Good news for the Knicks, a defensive minded center fell right into their laps. He is limited on the offensive end, but he is the heart and soul of the New York defense and does so many things that don't show up in the box score.
3. Chicago Bulls
Luol Deng 15.6 PPG 7.1 RPG 3.2 APG 15.50 PER
Carlos Boozer 15.5 PPG 8.2 RPG 1.7 APG 20.08 PER
Joakim Noah 9.7 PPG 10.2 RPG 1.3 BPG 19.19 PER
I had to witness Carlos Boozer play basketball for years in Utah. I have nothing good to say about him...he yells "and 1" a lot...lets move on.
Luol Deng made his first All-Star appearance this year, and has become a great complement to Derrick Rose. Deng is a great defender, he can score on the offensive end, and he has range to go along with it.
Who wouldn't want Joakim Noah on their team? Not only that, but who wouldn't want to hang out with Noah for a day? If there was a enter-to-win-a-day-with-Joakim-Noah contest I would enter. I guarantee it would be the craziest, weirdest day of your life. And that pony tail/bun...what a thing of beauty. Noah does the dirty work for Chicago. He plays great D in the low post, rebounds, blocks shots, sets screens to free up his teammates, and brings energy to the team.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Metta World Peace 5.0 PPG 2.8 RPG 2.0 APG 7.49 PER
Pau Gasol 16.9 PPG 10.5 RPG 1.3 BPG 21.18 PER
Andrew Bynum 16.2 PPG 12.8 RPG 2.1 BPG 21.98 PER
Isn't it ironic that Ron Artest, the guy that is famous for going into the stands and laying a beat down on some fans is now called Metta World Peace. With the crappy season he is having that is all we will say about him.
Gasol and Bynum are the best power forward-center combo in the West...when they are healthy. Together they give the Lakers some unbelievable length and size that other teams struggle to match up against.
Bynum has struggled his whole career with injuries, but he seems to be on the upswing as he is having a great season and was named a starter on the All-Star team this season in Orlando.
Pau Gasol looks like he was raised by a pack of Alpacas and like he hasn't showered in weeks. Having said that, he is one of the most skilled big men in the league. His name has been involved in trade rumors all season, first in the Chris Paul deal that was shot down by David Stern, and now in a rumored deal for Orlando's Dwight Howard. I believe Pau will be with the Lakers through the end of the season now that the Nets' Brook Lopez is healthy, who was the original trade target for Orlando.
1. Miami Heat
LeBron James 27.4 PPG 8.1 RPG 6.8 APG 32.41 PER
Chris Bosh 18.4 PPG 8.3 RPG 2.0 APG 19.74 PER
Joel Anthony 3.0 PPG 4.3 RPG 1.2 BPG 8.97 PER
The Heat take the top spot because of LeBron James. It doesn't matter if you love him or hate him, LeBron is the most complete player in the NBA. He can score at will, he is an excellent facilitator when he needs to be, and he consistently rebounds the ball. He is a triple double threat every time he steps onto the floor.
Against Portland on March 1st, LeBron did something that hasn't been done in the history of the NBA. He played 41 minutes, had 38 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, and 0...yes ZERO turnovers. That is downright ridiculous. No one else has done that...not even Michael. (In no way am I saying LeBron is better than Jordan...I'm just saying)
The third Heetle, Chris Bosh, takes a lot of unwarranted criticism in my opinion. He is a "star" on a team with two "superstars" so naturally he has to take a backseat to LeBron and Wade, but I will take Bosh as my 3rd best player any day of the week. It was a sad day when he left the Raptors, because he could be a player and the mascot at the same time. oh well.
The Miami players don't pass to Joel Anthony. As a matter of fact, if they did pass to him I don't think he would know what to do with the ball when he got it. Anthony is the living definition of "blue collar" player. He doesn't get any credit or any of the spotlight, but he works his butt off every night on defense, getting the All-Stars open, which unfortunately for him doesn't show up in a box score. He is a very underrated player in my mind that deserves a lot more credit than he is getting.
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