Who's our best player?

[sofutomygaha]

I posted a thread claiming that all three of those guys are currently top ten in the NBA at their respective positions.  Naturally, that claim was met with quite a bit of dismay and dismissal.  I still hold that this is a true statement, and it led me to wonder which one of these guys do folks generally feel is our best player right now.

I'm very interested to see the results.

I don't think it's at all ridiculous to put Rondo in the NBA's top 10 point guards, but the others are a harder sell.

The 3 is enjoying a little bit of an efficiency renaissance. Who would you put Green above out of, for example, Durant, James, Carmelo, Butler, Leonard, Gay, Batum, Ariza, Deng, Parsons, Iguodala... not to mention Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, and Gordon Hayward who are all having break-out seasons so far?

At the 4, there are just too many great players. Sullinger is looking awesome, but he'd still be a backup for almost every team in the West right now, and in the East he's a fringe all-star at best.

[Celtics18]

I posted a thread claiming that all three of those guys are currently top ten in the NBA at their respective positions.  Naturally, that claim was met with quite a bit of dismay and dismissal.  I still hold that this is a true statement, and it led me to wonder which one of these guys do folks generally feel is our best player right now.

I'm very interested to see the results.

I don't think it's at all ridiculous to put Rondo in the NBA's top 10 point guards, but the others are a harder sell.

The 3 is enjoying a little bit of an efficiency renaissance. Who would you put Green above out of, for example, Durant, James, Carmelo, Butler, Leonard, Gay, Batum, Ariza, Deng, Parsons, Iguodala... not to mention Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, and Gordon Hayward who are all having break-out seasons so far?

At the 4, there are just too many great players. Sullinger is looking awesome, but he'd still be a backup for almost every team in the West right now, and in the East he's a fringe all-star at best.

I would put him ahead of Iggy, Parsons, Deng, Ariza, Batum, and Harry Barnes. 

[greece66]

The poll even gives us the correct ranking! In terms of overall effectiveness, and accounting for position, I would rank them

1. Rondo
2. Green
3. Sullinger
4. Bass
5. Bradley
6. Zeller
7. Turner
8. Olynyk
9. Thornton
10. Wallace
11. Smart
12. Pressey

I'd put Bass a couple of positions lower and Wallace at the bottom, and really between positions 6-10 we are splitting hair (how better is Turner than Smart?) but I roughly agree. TP

[Roy H.]

Still is Rondo IMHO

I agree.  Rondo -> Green -> Sully

I would put him ahead of Iggy, Parsons, Deng, Ariza, Batum, and Harry Barnes. 

I think it depends on how your team is structured.  If you've already got a top scorer, I would take Iggy, Deng and Ariza over Green. 

[TheFlex]

As someone said earlier, many of us are answering the question differently. If we're just talking about this season in a vacuum, my answer is Sully. On reputation, probably Rondo, Green, Sully, though Bradley might sneak in ahead of Sully.

For anyone answering Green over Rondo or Sully based on this season alone, can you explain to me why he is your answer?

[sofutomygaha]

The poll even gives us the correct ranking! In terms of overall effectiveness, and accounting for position, I would rank them

1. Rondo
2. Green
3. Sullinger
4. Bass
5. Bradley
6. Zeller
7. Turner
8. Olynyk
9. Thornton
10. Wallace
11. Smart
12. Pressey

I'd put Bass a couple of positions lower and Wallace at the bottom, and really between positions 6-10 we are splitting hair (how better is Turner than Smart?) but I roughly agree. TP

Fair to say that there is some hair splitting. I think that if you are just looking at what they can contribute right now, Turner  is presently a much more effective player than Smart. Both of those guys are making a lot of mistakes on both sides of the ball (Turner should be smarter by now, though. If we're right about Smart, he'll learn from his mistakes in ways that Turner has failed to).

[Celtics18]

Still is Rondo IMHO

I agree.  Rondo -> Green -> Sully

I would put him ahead of Iggy, Parsons, Deng, Ariza, Batum, and Harry Barnes. 

I think it depends on how your team is structured.  If you've already got a top scorer, I would take Iggy, Deng and Ariza over Green.

I wouldn't necessarily argue with that, but the 19 points per game and the offensive aggressiveness that Jeff is giving us so far this season has been huge.

[greece66]

The poll even gives us the correct ranking! In terms of overall effectiveness, and accounting for position, I would rank them

1. Rondo
2. Green
3. Sullinger
4. Bass
5. Bradley
6. Zeller
7. Turner
8. Olynyk
9. Thornton
10. Wallace
11. Smart
12. Pressey

I'd put Bass a couple of positions lower and Wallace at the bottom, and really between positions 6-10 we are splitting hair (how better is Turner than Smart?) but I roughly agree. TP

Fair to say that there is some hair splitting. I think that if you are just looking at what they can contribute right now, Turner  is presently a much more effective player than Smart. Both of those guys are making a lot of mistakes on both sides of the ball (Turner should be smarter by now, though. If we're right about Smart, he'll learn from his mistakes in ways that Turner has failed to).

Agreed.
In the long run, IMO chances are Smart will be way better than ET. I ve watched him last year with Philly, he is much improved this year (thx Brad!) but still he does get overexcited and makes easy TOs. Moreover, he is a defensive liability and what he does in the offense barely makes up for this. To be specific, his offensive repertoire is way too limited IMO: he takes the ball in the paint and either finishes with a jam shot or makes a risky pass on the outside. Unless he upgrades significantly his 3pt% and in general add more weapons to his offensive arsenal, he will never be more than a bench player for mediocre teams.
IMO Smart is already a decent defender, has a great body and seems to be the kind of down to earth guy who works hard and listens to other ppl's advice. Time works on his favour.
PS If I were ET I would go to the Euroleague to win some championships!
In a nutshell he is an upgraded version of Vassilis Spanoulis, and Spanoulis is a big time star here. ET would be scoring 30 points every night, be the star of the team and given a free hand by his coaches to do whatever he fancies (a situation which fits much better his character). Moreover, given that euroleague players are way less explosive and athletic than the NBA studs his defensive weaknesses would be much less exposed.

[mgent]

Still is Rondo IMHO

I agree.  Rondo -> Green -> Sully

I would put him ahead of Iggy, Parsons, Deng, Ariza, Batum, and Harry Barnes. 

I think it depends on how your team is structured.  If you've already got a top scorer, I would take Iggy, Deng and Ariza over Green.

I wouldn't necessarily argue with that, but the 19 points per game and the offensive aggressiveness that Jeff is giving us so far this season has been huge.

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd take Ariza over Jeff in those circumstances.  Jeff's more efficient.

[LB3533]

I will answer this question in more than one way.....

Rondo is the best player to attract other "star caliber talent" players. I love a PG that can rebound, but that is not that position's primary job. Rondo's primary job, to help his team get the best available shot and hopeful score, that is a PG's primary job (secondary job is to take care of the ball so his team doesn't turn it over...which Rondo has had troubles with this season and can do a better job so I am not concerned.)

Sully is our best "inside-out" player, the guy can score down low and he can drain the long distant shot. More and more teams have players with bigs that can shoot the long jumper, and for some reason or another, the inside post player is or has been rare. (I do not count Shaq and Dwight dunking over people, as "post players". Sorry, just my opinion.)

Jeff Green is our best player, overall (decent defender, good scorer - which includes getting to the line and making a high % of FTs), also in the sense that "today's" game is much more "tailored made" for the athletic wing or the off guard. I'm not sure why the league changed this way, maybe it was the "Jordan effect" or maybe the NBA knows its younger fanbase really digs the athletic "star" player.

15 to 20 years ago, the big man and the point guards were all the rage. When the game was just starting, the big man dominated the court. (I wasn't born yet so was not watching so correct me if I am wrong).

Last main highlight I want to leave this thread -  *The Rock's voice: "It doesn't matter who the best player is......"

Each player on the team NEEDS each other. Rondo will record ZERO assists if his mates fail to take/make shots. Green's game will suffer if his mindframe isn't focused, Rondo's duties as a PG can help settle all Celts not just Green. Sully's game helps Green's game and vice versa. Defenses will have to gameplan who to focus on defending more, Sully in the paint or on the perimeter or Green in transition, on the break, cutting for an opp or posting a smaller guard....etc. etc. etc.

[obnoxiousmime]

I posted a thread claiming that all three of those guys are currently top ten in the NBA at their respective positions.  Naturally, that claim was met with quite a bit of dismay and dismissal.  I still hold that this is a true statement, and it led me to wonder which one of these guys do folks generally feel is our best player right now.

I'm very interested to see the results.

I don't think it's at all ridiculous to put Rondo in the NBA's top 10 point guards, but the others are a harder sell.

The 3 is enjoying a little bit of an efficiency renaissance. Who would you put Green above out of, for example, Durant, James, Carmelo, Butler, Leonard, Gay, Batum, Ariza, Deng, Parsons, Iguodala... not to mention Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, and Gordon Hayward who are all having break-out seasons so far?

At the 4, there are just too many great players. Sullinger is looking awesome, but he'd still be a backup for almost every team in the West right now, and in the East he's a fringe all-star at best.

I would put him ahead of Iggy, Parsons, Deng, Ariza, Batum, and Harry Barnes.

Oops I misread. How do I delete this?

[Celtics4ever]

I will answer this question in more than one way.....

That was a good post    TP

Pretty sure that Stevens does not think Sully is our best big though given last night's benching.   Humphries owned him.  Complete lack of trust down the stretch in the game last night.   Maybe the benching was to motivate him.   But I doubt it will work.

[BballTim]

I posted a thread claiming that all three of those guys are currently top ten in the NBA at their respective positions.  Naturally, that claim was met with quite a bit of dismay and dismissal.  I still hold that this is a true statement, and it led me to wonder which one of these guys do folks generally feel is our best player right now.

I'm very interested to see the results.

I don't think it's at all ridiculous to put Rondo in the NBA's top 10 point guards, but the others are a harder sell.

The 3 is enjoying a little bit of an efficiency renaissance. Who would you put Green above out of, for example, Durant, James, Carmelo, Butler, Leonard, Gay, Batum, Ariza, Deng, Parsons, Iguodala... not to mention Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, and Gordon Hayward who are all having break-out seasons so far?

At the 4, there are just too many great players. Sullinger is looking awesome, but he'd still be a backup for almost every team in the West right now, and in the East he's a fringe all-star at best.

I would put him ahead of Iggy, Parsons, Deng, Ariza, Batum, and Harry Barnes.

Oops I misread. How do I delete this?

  You can't, it's on the internet.