arthurracoon
The Cardinal Smiles
From The Key: Forward Rankings (Part 1)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=fanball-fromthekeyforwardran&prov=fanball&type=fantasy
by Rick Kamla - Senior Editor, Fanball.com
Friday, September 12, 2003
If you hadn’t noticed, the footballs are flying through the air and John Madden’s stuttering is dominating the airwaves. However, there’s a little thing called the NBA that still needs attention from time to time. To that end, I am back with my top 30 forwards for the upcoming season.
Two weeks ago we ranked the centers. And other than a few homers from Milwaukee chiming in with befuddling love for Dan Gadzuric, I’d say everything went pretty well. (Sorry, freaks, but I just don’t see anything from a Milwaukee center…ever.)
In a couple weeks I’ll return with forwards 31 through 60. Until then, as Bob Weir used to say at the end of the first set, everybody hang loose…
30. Richard Jefferson, Nets: Okay, RJ, we’re waiting…
29. Corey Maggette, Clippers: As the No. 2 scoring option in Little L.A., Maggette will blow past 16.8 points per game.
28. Juwan Howard, Magic: No way Juwan averages 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in Orlando.
27. Al Harrington, Pacers: If Rick Carlisle doesn’t give Baby Al at least 35 minutes a night, I’m flying to Indiana to…
26. Drew Gooden, Magic: Following his trade from Memphis, Gooden was a double-double machine. Here’s hoping that was a trend, not a mirage.
25. Darius Miles, Cavaliers: D Miles had a wonderful offseason; he actually worked on his body and game. I think we were all a year early on this dude.
24. Lamar Odom, Heat: One of the all-time head-cases could make or break your team. Literally.
23. Keith Van Horn, Knicks: Count me among the few who think KVH is going to get along just fine in the Big Apple.
22. Troy Murphy, Warriors: In his first season as starter and second year as a pro, Murphy averaged a double-double. He gets even better this year, especially on the offensive end.
21. Andrei Kirilenko, Jazz: You are going to see AK47’s game take off this year. He’s the best player Utah has right now.
20. Tyson Chandler, Bulls: Chandler averaged roughly 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal in February and March.
19. Antawn Jamison, Mavericks: On a team with Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, and Steve Nash, Jamo’s scoring will plummet from 22.2 points per game.
18. Caron Butler, Heat: The Odom signing wasn’t good news for Butler, who might have been a point forward this season. Still, I love his game and all those steals.
17. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets: I’ll be shocked if Melo doesn’t average at least 20 points as a rookie.
16. Rashard Lewis, SuperSonics: Lewis and Glenn Robinson have very similar numbers, but Dog is a little bit better.
15. Glenn Robinson, 76ers: There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Dog will peacefully co-exist with Ivy. Okay, there’s a little doubt.
14. Peja Stojakovic, Kings: No one is better in the shooting cats than Peja: 48 percent on field goals; 88 percent on free throws; 2.2 threes per game. Money.
13. Rasheed Wallace, Trail Blazers: Sheed is known for all the 20-10s, but he averaged 1.5 threes as well as a block and a steal last year.
12. Amare Stoudemire, Suns: The bet here is that The Seed emerges as a 15-10 power forward who chips in a block and a steal every night.
11. Karl Malone, Lakers: Everyone was worried about Jerry Rice when he signed with the Raiders, but his numbers have been fabulous in the Silver and Black. Don’t worry about Karl; he’ll get his—or damn close.
10. Antoine Walker, Celtics: If Toine’s knee is right and his body is fit (huge IF), we are not doing him justice with this ranking.
9. Kenyon Martin, Nets: If K-Mart shot 80 percent from the line, instead of 65, he would shoot up this list.
8. Jamal Mashburn, Hornets: Mash quietly averaged over 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists last season.
7. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Hawks: SAR helps you in six of eight cats, and his scoring and rebounding should increase now that Dog is in Philly.
6. Chris Webber, Kings: I’m worried about C-Webb’s surgically repaired knee, which may linger into the season. He would be No. 2 if I knew he’d play even 70 games.
5. Pau Gasol, Grizzlies: PG-20-10 doesn’t stack up with C-Webb statistically, but who played 82 games last year?
4. Elton Brand, Clippers: Last year, Brand averaged 18.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals on one leg. As great as he is, Brand is still underrated.
3. Shawn Marion, Suns: If you don’t like this ranking, you’ve never owned Marion. He’s a first-rounder.
2. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks: The only question mark about Dirk is the health of those oft-tweaked ankles.
1. Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves: Don’t worry about all the new talent, as everything runs through KG in Minnesota.
Rick Kamla can be reached at [email protected]
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=fanball-fromthekeyforwardran&prov=fanball&type=fantasy
by Rick Kamla - Senior Editor, Fanball.com
Friday, September 12, 2003
If you hadn’t noticed, the footballs are flying through the air and John Madden’s stuttering is dominating the airwaves. However, there’s a little thing called the NBA that still needs attention from time to time. To that end, I am back with my top 30 forwards for the upcoming season.
Two weeks ago we ranked the centers. And other than a few homers from Milwaukee chiming in with befuddling love for Dan Gadzuric, I’d say everything went pretty well. (Sorry, freaks, but I just don’t see anything from a Milwaukee center…ever.)
In a couple weeks I’ll return with forwards 31 through 60. Until then, as Bob Weir used to say at the end of the first set, everybody hang loose…
30. Richard Jefferson, Nets: Okay, RJ, we’re waiting…
29. Corey Maggette, Clippers: As the No. 2 scoring option in Little L.A., Maggette will blow past 16.8 points per game.
28. Juwan Howard, Magic: No way Juwan averages 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in Orlando.
27. Al Harrington, Pacers: If Rick Carlisle doesn’t give Baby Al at least 35 minutes a night, I’m flying to Indiana to…
26. Drew Gooden, Magic: Following his trade from Memphis, Gooden was a double-double machine. Here’s hoping that was a trend, not a mirage.
25. Darius Miles, Cavaliers: D Miles had a wonderful offseason; he actually worked on his body and game. I think we were all a year early on this dude.
24. Lamar Odom, Heat: One of the all-time head-cases could make or break your team. Literally.
23. Keith Van Horn, Knicks: Count me among the few who think KVH is going to get along just fine in the Big Apple.
22. Troy Murphy, Warriors: In his first season as starter and second year as a pro, Murphy averaged a double-double. He gets even better this year, especially on the offensive end.
21. Andrei Kirilenko, Jazz: You are going to see AK47’s game take off this year. He’s the best player Utah has right now.
20. Tyson Chandler, Bulls: Chandler averaged roughly 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal in February and March.
19. Antawn Jamison, Mavericks: On a team with Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, and Steve Nash, Jamo’s scoring will plummet from 22.2 points per game.
18. Caron Butler, Heat: The Odom signing wasn’t good news for Butler, who might have been a point forward this season. Still, I love his game and all those steals.
17. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets: I’ll be shocked if Melo doesn’t average at least 20 points as a rookie.
16. Rashard Lewis, SuperSonics: Lewis and Glenn Robinson have very similar numbers, but Dog is a little bit better.
15. Glenn Robinson, 76ers: There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Dog will peacefully co-exist with Ivy. Okay, there’s a little doubt.
14. Peja Stojakovic, Kings: No one is better in the shooting cats than Peja: 48 percent on field goals; 88 percent on free throws; 2.2 threes per game. Money.
13. Rasheed Wallace, Trail Blazers: Sheed is known for all the 20-10s, but he averaged 1.5 threes as well as a block and a steal last year.
12. Amare Stoudemire, Suns: The bet here is that The Seed emerges as a 15-10 power forward who chips in a block and a steal every night.
11. Karl Malone, Lakers: Everyone was worried about Jerry Rice when he signed with the Raiders, but his numbers have been fabulous in the Silver and Black. Don’t worry about Karl; he’ll get his—or damn close.
10. Antoine Walker, Celtics: If Toine’s knee is right and his body is fit (huge IF), we are not doing him justice with this ranking.
9. Kenyon Martin, Nets: If K-Mart shot 80 percent from the line, instead of 65, he would shoot up this list.
8. Jamal Mashburn, Hornets: Mash quietly averaged over 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists last season.
7. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Hawks: SAR helps you in six of eight cats, and his scoring and rebounding should increase now that Dog is in Philly.
6. Chris Webber, Kings: I’m worried about C-Webb’s surgically repaired knee, which may linger into the season. He would be No. 2 if I knew he’d play even 70 games.
5. Pau Gasol, Grizzlies: PG-20-10 doesn’t stack up with C-Webb statistically, but who played 82 games last year?
4. Elton Brand, Clippers: Last year, Brand averaged 18.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals on one leg. As great as he is, Brand is still underrated.
3. Shawn Marion, Suns: If you don’t like this ranking, you’ve never owned Marion. He’s a first-rounder.
2. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks: The only question mark about Dirk is the health of those oft-tweaked ankles.
1. Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves: Don’t worry about all the new talent, as everything runs through KG in Minnesota.
Rick Kamla can be reached at [email protected]
