Three Suns in FOX Sports' Top 50 NBA Players List

[Nash]

FOX Sports ranked the top 50 NBA players - LeBron, Wade, Bryant were the top 3 (in that order).
There were three Suns:

6. Steve Nash
19. Shawn Marion
21. Amare

 

[nowagimp]

Elton Brand and Steve Nash are better players than Dirk Nowitski, sorry mavs fans. Nash lost Amare and KT, suns still made it to the WCF. Nowitski loses Josh Howard, its over for the Mavs, they are out in the first round. And I'll take Gilbert Arenas(19?) over Carmelo(no D) Anthony(10) anyday. The best players should be the ones who lead to wins, Melo has virtually no wins in the postseason. Arenas has delivered in a major way in the crunch.

 

[nathan]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6077438

Too High:
10) Carmelo Anthony
25) Ben Wallace
33) Al Harrington
34) Chris Webber

Too Low:
32) Chris Bosh
42) Josh Howard
50) Pau Gasol
NR) Boris Diaw

 

[elindholm]

Too High:
9) Shaquille O'Neal
21) Amare Stoudemire*
23) Joe Johnson
26) Ron Artest
33) Al Harrington WAYYYYYYYYY too high!!!
44) Brad Miller
46) Kirk Hinrich

Too Low:
22) Dwight Howard
28) Tony Parker
32) Chris Bosh
43) Mike Bibby
47) Jason Richardson
50) Pau Gasol

*I know, I know. But the rankings punish Gasol for his broken foot, when there's no reason to doubt that he'll come back strong. Why does Stoudemire get a free pass? Physically he seems fine, but he clearly isn't the player who put up those gaudy numbers two years ago -- at least not yet. Based on the best available information, there's no way he's a top-25 player right now.

 

[Mulli]

What justification could there be in the whole wide world to justify Carmelo at 10?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Elton Brand and Steve Nash are better players than Dirk Nowitski, sorry mavs fans. Nash lost Amare and KT, suns still made it to the WCF. Nowitski loses Josh Howard, its over for the Mavs, they are out in the first round. And I'll take Gilbert Arenas(19?) over Carmelo(no D) Anthony(10) anyday. The best players should be the ones who lead to wins, Melo has virtually no wins in the postseason. Arenas has delivered in a major way in the crunch.

As much as I like Elton Brand, he is not better than Dirk. I could explain why if I need to, or if there is a big difference in opinion.

Brand however is my prototypical PF, not Dirk.

 

[JS22]

Too High:
9) Shaquille O'Neal
21) Amare Stoudemire*
23) Joe Johnson
26) Ron Artest
33) Al Harrington WAYYYYYYYYY too high!!!
44) Brad Miller
46) Kirk Hinrich

Too Low:
22) Dwight Howard
28) Tony Parker
32) Chris Bosh
43) Mike Bibby
47) Jason Richardson
50) Pau Gasol

*I know, I know. But the rankings punish Gasol for his broken foot, when there's no reason to doubt that he'll come back strong. Why does Stoudemire get a free pass? Physically he seems fine, but he clearly isn't the player who put up those gaudy numbers two years ago -- at least not yet. Based on the best available information, there's no way he's a top-25 player right now.

I was thinking the same. Amare at #10? At this point he probably wouldn't sniff the top 30-40.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Elton Brand and Steve Nash are better players than Dirk Nowitski, sorry mavs fans. Nash lost Amare and KT, suns still made it to the WCF. Nowitski loses Josh Howard, its over for the Mavs, they are out in the first round. And I'll take Gilbert Arenas(19?) over Carmelo(no D) Anthony(10) anyday. The best players should be the ones who lead to wins, Melo has virtually no wins in the postseason. Arenas has delivered in a major way in the crunch.

can't agree with Elton Brand being better than Dirk. Take away Sam Cassel and Elton Brand and the Clippers are the same Elton and Clippers as they were before - a talented team, with no leadership who come snowhere neaqr the playoffs.

 

[elindholm]

What justification could there be in the whole wide world to justify Carmelo at 10?

Anthony's numbers are comparable to James's, and he's had just as much playoff success.

 

[Mulli]

Anthony's numbers are comparable to James's, and he's had just as much playoff success.

I did not know that thanks Geezer

 

[B-Dogg]

Anthony also was the best player for the US this summer and that includes James and Wade. He still is getting better and other than maybe Rip Hamilton has the best mid range game in basketball... a lost art...

 

[nowagimp]

As much as I like Elton Brand, he is not better than Dirk. I could explain why if I need to, or if there is a big difference in opinion.

Brand however is my prototypical PF, not Dirk.

Defense if very important to winning, and Brand is an excellent defender while the Mavs have poor post defense due to Dirk at the PF position. Boris Diaw will tell you that the Mavs post D is not very good(career high). I really dont think that Dirk will ever be a good defender and since you have to put him out there on D, it kind of limits his impact. Even Anton Walker likes to see Dirk on D.

 

[goldseraph]

It's questionable that Diaw is not on the list, but I can see that perhaps he hasn't proven himself over multiple seasons. I'm pretty sure teams would take him over Sam Cassell.

 

[nowagimp]

can't agree with Elton Brand being better than Dirk. Take away Sam Cassel and Elton Brand and the Clippers are the same Elton and Clippers as they were before - a talented team, with no leadership who come snowhere neaqr the playoffs.

I guess we shall see how livingston works out. I felt Livingston was a more difficult matchup, physically, than cassel for the suns. But youre right, very few teams can win without a PG. The reason that Dallas can is that they do not score many assisted baskets(lowest pct in the NBA), they all play one-on-one matchups with terry,harris,Dirk, stack, etc. The key here is that Howard is needed to cover up for Dirks defensive inefficiencies. Remove Howard, the Mavs cant win a playoff series.

 

[nowagimp]

Anthony's numbers are comparable to James's, and he's had just as much playoff success.

Has anthony ever had a triple double? Can he even pass? Didnt Denver get swept by the clips? And if I recall correctly Melo shot around 40%(?) against the clips. Sure doesnt sound like Lebrons numbers/success.

 

[Ronin]

Has anthony ever had a triple double? Can he even pass? Didnt Denver get swept by the clips? And if I recall correctly Melo shot around 40%(?) against the clips. Sure doesnt sound like Lebrons numbers/success.

I don't know if its his fault that the Nuggets got swept out of the playoffs by the Clips. The main problem is that Denver doesn't have the shooters to space the floor for Carmelo. That may be the reason he shot a a low percentage in the playoffs.

I don't know if Carmelo will ever match Lebrons succes, but he does have the potential to be a top 10 player next year.

 

[basketballfan]

Too High:
9) Shaquille O'Neal
21) Amare Stoudemire*
23) Joe Johnson
26) Ron Artest
33) Al Harrington WAYYYYYYYYY too high!!!
44) Brad Miller
46) Kirk Hinrich

Too Low:
22) Dwight Howard
28) Tony Parker
32) Chris Bosh
43) Mike Bibby
47) Jason Richardson
50) Pau Gasol

*I know, I know. But the rankings punish Gasol for his broken foot, when there's no reason to doubt that he'll come back strong. Why does Stoudemire get a free pass? Physically he seems fine, but he clearly isn't the player who put up those gaudy numbers two years ago -- at least not yet. Based on the best available information, there's no way he's a top-25 player right now.

How in the world is 26 too high for Ron Artest. I mean say what you want about the guy off the court, but on the court, few players have the overall impact on a game that Ron Artest has. When is head is on straight, he is easily one of the 20 best players in the league. Look at what he did with the kings last year. That team was dead in the water til' he showed up, and after he arrived they almost upset the Spurs in a series that nobody picked them to win. He can shut down point guards, 2 guards, small forwards, some power forwards, and he's even willing to guard some team's centers. And unlike other defensive specialists, he can score 20 on any given night. I mean you might not like the guy, but there's no denying what he does on the basketball court.

 

[elindholm]

Artest is quite erratic, particularly offensively. He'll put together a couple of brilliant months and then coast for an equally long time. If he energizes the Kings for an entire season, that will be a different story. Combine with that the fact that you're never sure whether he'll be available, and I don't think he warrants top-30 consideration.

 

[nowagimp]

I don't know if its his fault that the Nuggets got swept out of the playoffs by the Clips. The main problem is that Denver doesn't have the shooters to space the floor for Carmelo. That may be the reason he shot a a low percentage in the playoffs.

I don't know if Carmelo will ever match Lebrons success, but he does have the potential to be a top 10 player next year.

The clippers were one of the best defensive teams FG % allowed in the NBA. That explains part of the low FG%.

Carmelo 26.5 ppg, ripped down 4.9 rebounds, dished 2.7 asst, 2.7 TO, one steal, and 0.5 blocks a game. His rebounding and defense are weak for an all star. It may be he is using all his energy on offense. For team USA, he ripped down 3.7 rebs a game. He's definitely no Lebron, he's more a one dimensional scorer. He will probably improve on these numbers and when he does, he'll prove he's an all star.

 

[Nash]

too low:

Pat Burke (NR)

 

[CardNots]

too low:

Pat Burke (NR)

When he showed up to be rated, he forgot his "I'm in the NBA card". Without that card no one would believe he was really in the NBA. They did suggest he might have a shot at a position in the sideshow at the circus.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Defense if very important to winning, and Brand is an excellent defender while the Mavs have poor post defense due to Dirk at the PF position. Boris Diaw will tell you that the Mavs post D is not very good(career high). I really dont think that Dirk will ever be a good defender and since you have to put him out there on D, it kind of limits his impact. Even Anton Walker likes to see Dirk on D.

If Defense is important to winning, explain Steve Nash. We both agree that he is better than Dirk, (as of last year) but this argument doesn't bode well for you.

Again, don't get me wrong, I have been pimping Brand for years. He brings 20/10/2 almost every night. The major problem with Brand (when compared to Dirk) is that he cannot take over a game offensively. (unless it is against the Suns)

If you were to ask me who I would rather have on my team, it would be Brand. He just isn't the better player, not right now, probably not ever.

 

[mathbzh]

Too High:
9) Shaquille O'Neal

I am not a Shaq fan but without him the Heat would not be the reigning champ and Wade would not be #2 on that list. Shaq is still dominating and I think it is fair to rank him #9.

I don't understand Duncan ranking. If you refeer to the last season, he can't be the #4 (He could almost be considered the #2 spurs for the last season). If this ranking is for his career, then TD is #1.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I am not a Shaq fan but without him the Heat would not be the reigning champ and Wade would not be #2 on that list. Shaq is still dominating and I think it is fair to rank him #9.

I don't understand Duncan ranking. If you refeer to the last season, he can't be the #4 (He could almost be considered the #2 spurs for the last season). If this ranking is for his career, then TD is #1.

It has to be: "In the game today" If it were not, how could the 2 time MVP only get a #6 vote?

 

[elindholm]

The difference between a top-20 player and nobody is huge, so saying that the Heat would not be champs without O'Neal doesn't prove anything. Of course if you take away a major talent, the team, generally speaking, will suffer. But O'Neal is the second most important player on his team, by a fairly large margin. If you replace Wade with a comparable player like Bryant, O'Neal doesn't get far; but replace O'Neal with any other elite big man, and Wade will do just fine.

I can't consider someone a top-ten player when he's so easily neutralized. In their two regular-season games last year, the Suns simply ran O'Neal off the floor, and the Heat probably would have been better off had he not played at all. Combine that with his unacceptable free-throw shooting in close games, and it's just too many weaknesses to be in the top tier.

I questioned Duncan's ranking as well, and I might have put him a notch or two lower, but (a) the Spurs are a much better team when he is on the floor (which can't be said for the Heat and O'Neal), and (b) the things that Parker and Ginobili do wouldn't be possible without Duncan's presence (whereas Wade has huge games even when O'Neal sits).