Here's how the players have changed from last year to this summer: We're currently at #54. The ranking of Nicolas Batum has shown very slight improvement from last year. ------- LaMarcus Aldridge: 2012=20, 2013=x, improvement = ?Damian Lillard: 2012=211, 2013=x, improvement = ?Nicolas Batum: 2012=63, 2013=57, improvement = +6Robin Lopez: 2012=169, 2013=128, improvement = +41Wesley Matthews: 2012=109, 2013=130, improvement = -21Mo Williams: 2012=125, 2013=169, improvement = -44Dorrell Wright: 2012=182, 2013=200, improvement = -18 Thomas Robinson: 2012=215, 2013=204, improvement = +11Meyers Leonard: 2012=330, 2013=255, improvement = +75
ESPN projects Nicolas Batum as better than the best overall 3rd man in the league. Starter Average: +0.0/position (they average to the league average) Bench Average: +.74/position 3rd Stringers Average: -.98/position Update (To 54): Blazer's 3rd man: 1.9, Average 3rd man: 2.5 >>>>> Net: +0.6 Blazer's 4th man: 4.3, Average 4th man: 3.5 >>>>> Net: -0.8 Blazer's 5th man: 4.3, Average 5th man: 4.5 >>>>> Net: +0.2 ------- Blazer's 6th man: 5.6, Average 6th man: 5.5 >>>>> Net: -0.1 Blazer's 7th man: 6.2, Average 7th man: 6.5 >>>>> Net: +0.3 Blazer's 8th man: 6.7, Average 8th man: 7.5 >>>>> Net: +0.8 Blazer's 9th man: 6.8, Average 9th man: 8.5 >>>>> Net: +1.7 Blazer's 10th man: 8.5, Average 10th man: 9.5 >>>>> Net: +1.0 ------- Blazer's 11th man: 12.3, Average 11th man: 10.5 >>>>> Net: -1.8 Blazer's 12th man: 12.6, Average 12th man: 11.5 >>>>> Net: -1.1 Blazer's 13th man: 13.7, Average 13th man: 12.5 >>>>> Net: -1.2 Blazer's 14th man: 14.1, Average 14th man: 13.5 >>>>> Net: -0.6 Blazer's 15th man: 14.7, Average 15th man: 14.5 >>>>> Net: -0.2 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 3rd man Nicolas Batum (57) is ranked as 1.9th man 4th man Robin Lopez (128) is ranked as 4.3rd man 5th man Wes Matthews (130) is ranked as 4.3rd man ------- 6th man Mo Williams (169) is ranked as a 5.6th man 7th man C. J. McCollum (185) is ranked as 6.2th man 8th man Dorrell Wright (200) is ranked as 6.7th man 9th man Thomas Robinson (204) is ranked as 6.8th man 10th man Leonard (255) is ranked as 8.5th man ------- 11th man Watson (370) is ranked as a 12.3rd man 12th man Barton (379) is ranked as a 12.6th man 13th man Crabbe (412) is ranked as a 13.7th man 14th man Claver (422) is ranked as a 14.1st man 15th man Freeland (441) is ranked as a 14.7th man
Basically, here's what the data says to me so far: 1) The 212 member ESPN community doesn't think we have a "Core Four", but we do have a "Big 3" with our 3rd man Batum better all of the other 3rd men in the league. Put another way, ESPN thinks Matthews and RoLo are simple role players. 2) The 212 member ESPN community thinks we have a very strong bench, much better than average.
I don't get the "we have the best 3rd man" when there are still several teams that have 3 or more players left? Or the entire Nets starting five. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank-mia-2013/2013-nba-player-rankings-miami-heat http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank-bkn-2013/2013-nba-player-rankings-brooklyn-nets http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank-chi-2013/2013-nba-player-rankings-chicago-bulls http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank-ind-2013/2013-nba-player-rankings-indiana-pacers http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank-mem-2013/2013-nba-player-rankings-memphis-grizzlies http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank-lac-2013/2013-nba-player-rankings-los-angeles-clippers
Where is that thread that had future rankings in 3 or so years? I think it was ESPN too. It had Lillard as something like the #55th best player which many of us laughed at and now he is ranked at least the same for his ability today. I don't see how the rookie of the year can be expected to have zero improvement in the next three years.
It is confusing, I'll try to explain it. I am using the simple definition that the top 30 players in the league are "league average" 1st men. The second 30 are the second men, and the 3rd 30 are the 3rd men. Of course a particularly talented team (e.g. the Heat) may have their three top players all be "1st men" by that definition. Since our 3rd best player, Batum is a "2nd man" (is in the top 60) it means that our 3rd best player slot is quite good.
Rubio CP3 Westbrook Williams Iriving Lawson Curry Lillard Wall Holiday Conley Rose Rondo Parker Dunno if i missed anyone so 14 lol
Its by far the deepest position in the league. Backup like Mo could easily start on many teams 15years ago. Half the starting SG in today league would be backups back then. Its so different now... I always remember PG and C being the two very difficult positions for all teams to find a starter at.
