SI TOP 100 ACTIVE NBA Players Today by Zach Lowe

[Kane3387]

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/08/08/top-100-nba-players-nos-41-50/#more-10759

All of the Big 4 is in the top 50.

Ray is the first to come in at 48. There is a little reasoning and analysis behind each selection.

Clearly this a takeoff of the NFL's Top 100 players of 2011.

48. RAY ALLEN
SG, Boston Celtics
Age: 36
2010-11 Stats: 16.5 PPG, 49.1 FG%, 44.4 3PT%, 2.7 APG, 3.4 RPG

This ranking may feel low for Allen, especially considering how important his shooting range is to a Boston offense that often struggles to produce good looks. And Allen doesn’t just have range; he has varied range, which is even better. He can catch-and-shoot off screens in the half court. He can spot up in transition. He can shoot off the dribble. He can shoot off the bounce at the end of a pick-and-roll. And he requires very little space or time to do any of this. Defenses tilt in his direction when he doesn’t have the ball, creating space for others. Boston’s offense is almost lost without him, and he is one of the great late-game options in the league.

Allen has turned into a solid defender in Boston, making him perhaps the best living argument for the notion that individual defense is as much the product of team system and teammate quality as any one player’s skill level. How would Allen’s defense be regarded today had he not been gifted a chance to play his final seasons alongside one of the greatest defenders ever (Kevin Garnett) under a string of elite defensive coaches?

That’s the tricky thing with Allen: It’s hard to separate his late-career success from the context of Boston’s Big Four. What is certain is that Allen is smart and hard-working on both ends, and that the mere threat of his shooting is like WD-40 for an offense. His placement here reflects the trouble he has now, in his NBA old age, at creating his own shot under pressure. Review all his late-game shots over his Boston years, and those that don’t involve a stumbling Sasha Vujacic include picks, passes and creative play-calling from coach Doc Rivers.

That’s not a knock on Allen, by the way. The guy is 36 and still one of the league’s 50 best players. Holy cow, what a career.

I would like to see where he puts the other guys as well for the Celtics. Also interested to see if James is number one and if Kobe is top 5.

Remember this is presently and not based on career achievements.

[action781]

Pretty solid list he's got there.  Everybody's got their opinions, but nothing really jumped out at me as being crazy.  Those are pretty solid rankings for how a player who fit into any average team.

[action781]

p.s.  Are we going to have FOUR Pawnee Pacers in the top 40?? 

[Roy H.]

I've got to think that John Wall is way too low at #72.  

[indeedproceed]

David west at 31 seemed almost absurdly high to me. He was the one I really disagreed with, and I think Lowe is bending to popular opinion a bit with where Tyson Chandler is ranked.

[Roy H.]

David west at 31 seemed almost absurdly high to me. He was the one I really disagreed with, and I think Lowe is bending to popular opinion a bit with where Tyson Chandler is ranked.

Yeah, West seemed a little high, due to his injury.  However, it's about as mild an ACL tear as you can have, and it's likely he'll be fully healthy for most of the season.  West has been extremely consistent in his career; he's basically a guaranteed 18/8 guy.  How many guys ranked lower than him can say that, while also playing solid defense in the post and being a good character guy?

[indeedproceed]

Also it looks like Shawn Marion is gonna be a top 30 guy, and that's ridiculous as well. He's not even top 50 in my book.

[Roy H.]

Also it looks like Shawn Marion is gonna be a top 30 guy, and that's ridiculous as well. He's not even top 50 in my book.

If it falls out that way, I'll agree; Marion doesn't belong anywhere near the top 30.

[Fafnir]

Also it looks like Shawn Marion is gonna be a top 30 guy, and that's ridiculous as well. He's not even top 50 in my book.

If it falls out that way, I'll agree; Marion doesn't belong anywhere near the top 30.

Defensive role player for a title team getting overrated, oh my!

If only we'd seen that coming! 

[Roy H.]

"Tyson Chandler might be the second best defensive player in the league right now"?

No way in heck.  Dwight Howard and Lebron James are clearly better, among big name stars.  I think there are plenty of other guys you could argue are better, as well.  Josh Smith and Andrew Bogut are at the top of that list, but others are right there, as well.

[Fafnir]

"Tyson Chandler might be the second best defensive player in the league right now"?

No way in heck.  Dwight Howard and Lebron James are clearly better, among big name stars.  I think there are plenty of other guys you could argue are better, as well.  Josh Smith and Andrew Bogut are at the top of that list, but others are right there, as well.

KG is better defensively as well.

[fairweatherfan]

Also it looks like Shawn Marion is gonna be a top 30 guy, and that's ridiculous as well. He's not even top 50 in my book.

Marion's at 62, which still feels a tad high. 

Interesting list, good lockout fodder.

[Fafnir]

Also it looks like Shawn Marion is gonna be a top 30 guy, and that's ridiculous as well. He's not even top 50 in my book.

Marion's at 62, which still feels a tad high. 

Interesting list, good lockout fodder.

I can handle him being in the top 75 he was one of the best defensive SFs in the league and a solid PF small ball option.

[indeedproceed]

Also it looks like Shawn Marion is gonna be a top 30 guy, and that's ridiculous as well. He's not even top 50 in my book.

Marion's at 62, which still feels a tad high. 

Interesting list, good lockout fodder.

Agree, 62 sounds maybe a touch high, but not too much.

[KCattheStripe]

"Tyson Chandler might be the second best defensive player in the league right now"?

No way in heck.  Dwight Howard and Lebron James are clearly better, among big name stars.  I think there are plenty of other guys you could argue are better, as well.  Josh Smith and Andrew Bogut are at the top of that list, but others are right there, as well.

Tony Allen.