NBArank 2022: Ranking the best players for 2022-23

[SlyPokerDog]

No. 14: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers | PG

2021 NBArank: No. 8

Why he could exceed his ranking in 2022-23: Lillard was six spots higher a year ago before being limited to 29 underwhelming games by a core muscle injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery. Lillard's numbers dropped across the board in 2021-22, most notably his 32% accuracy from 3-point range after hitting better than 39% the previous two seasons. Lillard had been playing through pain for years until the injury worsened after the Tokyo Olympics. But he should be healthy now.

One huge question for 2022-23: How will Anfernee Simons fit with Lillard? During his absence, Lillard saw a changing of the guard next to him. Portland traded longtime backcourt mate CJ McCollum and re-signed Simons to a four-year, $100 million deal that confirms him as McCollum's replacement. Lillard and Simons played together just 377 minutes last season, per NBA Advanced Stats, and Simons was more deferential in those pairings. The Blazers need Simons to be the scoring and playmaking complement to Lillard that McCollum long was.

-- Pelton

 

[SlyPokerDog]

No. 91: Anfernee Simons
Portland Trail Blazers | SG

2021 NBArank: NR

Why he could exceed his ranking in 2022-23: Simons finally got a chance to show what he can do last season, averaging a career-high 17.3 points as Damian Lillard missed 53 games and CJ McCollum and Norm Powell were traded away. Simons took off in January, averaging 23.1 points and 6.7 assists per game.

-- Ohm Youngmisuk

 

[SlyPokerDog]

No. 88: Jusuf Nurkic

Portland Trail Blazers | C

2021 NBArank: 74

One huge question for 2022-23: Can Nurkic stay healthy? He was shut down with a foot injury after 56 games last season, although the Blazers were more interested in the lottery than wins. Still, Nurkic has not played in more than 70 games since 2018-19, and Portland will need him to battle the bigs in the West such as Nikola Jokic and the tandem of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

-- Youngmisuk

 

[SlyPokerDog]

No. 64: Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers | SF

2021 NBArank: 53

New face in a new place: While he might not get the 17.3 shots per game he averaged in 2020-21 with Detroit, Grant's skill set makes him a valuable contributor for a playoff contender and someone who should have no problem fitting in alongside Lillard. He can hit open shots and gives Portland a long defender and experience in the frontcourt.

-- Youngmisuk

 

[SlyPokerDog]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34552302/nbarank-2022-ranking-best-players-2022-23-100-26

 

[Shaboid]

CJ at 45. Interesting.

 

[SIeepwalker]

The real joke isn't that they put Lillard at 14, it's that they put Towns at 13

 

[SIeepwalker]

I like Blazers Uprise's list better.

 

[wizenheimer]

CJ at 45. Interesting.

seems about right. I don't see anybody ranked above him that you can flat say is worse than CJ. On the other hand, I see a few guys ranked below CJ that are just as good, if not better, considering there are 2 ends of the court

this season will be a good test of CJ. If Zion, Brandon Ingram, and Valunciunas are all healthy but CJ is leading the team in FGA, he's failing in his role

 

[Chris Craig]

seems about right. I don't see anybody ranked above him that you can flat say is worse than CJ. On the other hand, I see a few guys ranked below CJ that are just as good, if not better, considering there are 2 ends of the court

this season will be a good test of CJ. If Zion, Brandon Ingram, and Valunciunas are all healthy but CJ is leading the team in FGA, he's failing in his role

That could be one hell of a team if Zion can stay healthy.

 

[THE HCP]

The real joke isn't that they put Lillard at 14, it's that they put Towns at 13

You not a fan of Towns. I consider him one of the best players in the game right now. He's a beast.

 

[THE HCP]

I like Blazers Uprise's list better.

What is Blazer uprise?

 

[THE HCP]

seems about right. I don't see anybody ranked above him that you can flat say is worse than CJ. On the other hand, I see a few guys ranked below CJ that are just as good, if not better, considering there are 2 ends of the court

this season will be a good test of CJ. If Zion, Brandon Ingram, and Valunciunas are all healthy but CJ is leading the team in FGA, he's failing in his role

Unless that coach is running the offense through him.

 

[THE HCP]

That could be one hell of a team if Zion can stay healthy.

 

[THE HCP]

There have actually been people on here that think that our Blazers have a better team than the Pels.

 

[Pinwheel1]

There have actually been people on here that think that our Blazers have a better team than the Pels.

Zion is a HUGE part of that and I think many are questioning if he can stay healthy. Much like others here who question if Little, Winslow, and Nurk can stay healthy.

 

[wizenheimer]

Unless that coach is running the offense through him.

what does that mean? I can't tell

Teams run the offense thru Chris Paul, but he never leads the team in FGA. Portland runs the offense thru Dame and he leads them in FGA, but he's a hell of a lot more efficient than CJ

 

[THE HCP]

what does that mean? I can't tell

Teams run the offense thru Chris Paul, but he never leads the team in FGA. Portland runs the offense thru Dame and he leads them in FGA, but he's a hell of a lot more efficient than CJ

If their coach wants him to be option #1.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

You not a fan of Towns. I consider him one of the best players in the game right now. He's a beast.

He’s not better than Dame. And he’s won like 3 playoff games in his whole career. Dame’s won 4 series, 2 of them with a buzzer beating series winning three point shot. Dame’s top 76 all time. KAT isn’t.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I only see 1 All Star and a bunch of people with a lot to prove.

 

[blazerkor]

He’s not better than Dame. And he’s won like 3 playoff games in his whole career. Dame’s won 4 series, 2 of them with a buzzer beating series winning three point shot. Dame’s top 76 all time. KAT isn’t.

Yeah, Dame is better but KAT is coming off of an all NBA season and is younger by 5 important years. Dame was out of sight and thus out of mind so the lower ranking makes sense from a media perspective.

 

[wizenheimer]

If their coach wants him to be option #1.

lol...yeah, right, when he has Zion and Ingram, not to mention Valunciunas

 

[THE HCP]

I only see 1 All Star and a bunch of people with a lot to prove.

Sigh

 

[THE HCP]

He’s not better than Dame. And he’s won like 3 playoff games in his whole career. Dame’s won 4 series, 2 of them with a buzzer beating series winning three point shot. Dame’s top 76 all time. KAT isn’t.

Oh I apologize. I forgot they were taking in to account the players playoff history when making this list….. sigh