With only two games left in the NBA Finals, and with the Heat on the brink of elimination, I thought I would share with you my rankings of each player in the series.
Without further ado, here are my NBA Finals Player Power Rankings.
24. Rashard Lewis –When the Heat signed the former Magic star, many people thought that he would be the icing on the championship cake. That is not the case. Lewis has disappointed the front office as well as the fans, averaging less than 2 points per game in less than 5 minutes per game in the 2013 playoffs. I can see why people would have misjudged Lewis’ potential impact, as he was a pretty solid player at one point in his career, averaging 22 points per game in the 2006-2007 season. Now, he can’t even sniff the court. That drop off is really bad; it has to be the worst for any player in these Finals…
23. Tracy McGrady – Whoops! I spoke too soon. Technically, I have him ranked at 23, but that’s just so I don’t slight any of the other players who are, in fact, better than Mr. McGrady. Rumor has it that T-Mac has been “Lebron” during Spurs practice, and that alone tells you that the guy has still got “it”.
22. Matt Bonner – Like T-Mac, “The Red Mamba”, is way more famous than he is good at basketball. The three point specialist is averaging less than one three pointer per contest , and is absolutely horrific on defense. He also has an ugly release on his jump shot that, coupled with his fame in the Caucasian community, could sabotage young white ballers for years. However, he does have red hair and Kobe likes him, so that counts for something.
21. Joel Anthony – Joel Anthony is the best Canadian player on this list. Cory Joseph is from Canada? Nevermind that. Joel Anthony is the best undersized, scrappy, hustle-oriented center who is in the game for rebounding, defense, and that’s it. DeJaun Blair is on the Spurs?
Joel Anthony is the best player in the NBA who can’t make layups. Whatever. Who am I to talk? The guy hustles and tries his best, what more can you ask for? (Any amount of basketball IQ, the ability to catch passes under the basket, whatever trait you need to stop getting dunked on.)
20. DeJuan Blair – DeJuan Blair is one of the more likeable players in the NBA. He doesn’t have an NBA body (shorter and fatter than most) and he doesn’t have an NBA anatomy (missing his ACL on both legs). What he does have is heart and determination, and he is just a little better than Joel Anthony, so that’s why he finds himself at this point on the list.
19. Cory Joseph – I don’t really know all that much about Cory Joseph. I know that every once in a while he will steal major minutes away from Tony Parker, and will look a lot like Tony Parker, which is saying a LOT. I also know he doesn’t play a lot and hasn’t done enough to be higher on this list.
18. Shane Battier – I’m pretty sure Shane Battier is the only human being on the planet who could handle what’s been happening to him with so much class, grace, and professionalism. For those who live under a rock, Shane Battier went from averaging 25 minutes a game and being an important piece for the Heat, to being benched and averaging less than 10 minutes a game in the NBA Finals. Battier hasn’t complained and has acted like a real pro through it all. As a hooper, he just isn’t what he used to be. The historically great lockdown defender isn’t quick enough to stay in front of guys and isn’t big enough to bang with the big boys. He can shoot three-pointers, but not at the level of Ray Allen and Mike Miller. Battier has been great, but is on the wrong side of 30 and isn’t going to get any better from here.
17. Udonis Haslem – UD is a fan favorite in Miami and for good reason. He grew up there, went to the University of Florida, and returned to his city. He is scrappy, plays with a chip on his shoulder, and is absolutely automatic with his short to mid-range jumper. He’s tough, smart, and and brings a nice pick-and-pop game to Miami.
16. Boris Diaw – I was struggling with how to rank Diaw/Haslem, but gave Diaw the slight edge. Diaw’s Player Efficiency Rating (PER) was about 2 points better than Haslem’s and his True Shot Percentage was a whopping 7% better. He is a quality shooter who knows his role and does it well.
15. Norris Cole – I absolutely love Norris Cole. How many guys could shoot as much as he does while on the same court as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade? Seriously, that level of confidence and self-righteousness is uncanny. But, guess what? Cole isn’t really wrong in taking the shots. He deserves them, as they often go in. (Side note: Norris Cole is the only good young player on the Heat. That’s kind of scary,)
14. Chris Anderson – The number one player on the “Players Who Your Mom Has the Most Questions About” list is also the single greatest offseason move the Heat have ever made, outside of getting the Big Three together. Birdman has been a game changer for the Heat, shoots at a very nice percentage, plays defense, and can run at essentially any pace. He is a really valuable asset to this squad.
13. Ray Allen – Ray Allen’s release is remarkably quick and his shooting is on point. I cringe every single time he steps inside the three-point line, but he often proves me wrong and makes a little runner or leaning pull up jumper. All in all, Jesus Shuttlesworth is still a quality baller and an ideal sixth man for Miami.
12. Mario Chalmers – Mario Chalmers could be the most underrated player in the series. He can quietly go off for 20+ points in one game and silently help the Heat win in the next. He is insanely clutch, (see his last college basketball game), and is a great defender. When Mario Chalmers goes to play for another team, don’t be surprised to see him breaking out as a quality NBA player.
11. Mike Miller – Mike Miller’s new role has been a game changer. He is a high-energy player with the purest jump shot in Miami (Ray Allen is quicker with his release but isn’t as pure as Miller). He’s been contributing at a level that is pretty remarkable for a guy with a broken back.
10. Gary Neal – Who is Gary Neal and why is he the best shooter in the NBA?
9. Danny Green – Who is Danny Green and why is he the best player in the NBA? I don’t understand where Danny Green or Gary Neal came from, but they are making it rain. Danny Green is shooting 54% from the floor and 66% from beyond-the-arch in the last 5 games. Neal is shooting 46% from the field and 52% from deep in the same stretch. When you have role players producing the way these two guys have been, the Spurs are going to be tough to beat.
8. Kawhi Leonard – Leonard has done a spectacular job when faced with the single hardest task in the NBA: guarding LeBron James. No one can stop LeBron, except for LeBron himself, but Leonard has certainly slowed him down. Leonard’s freakish wingspan, hand size, athleticism, and upside make him the best young player in this series. The Green/Leonard/Neal threesome could be pretty formidable in the future.
7. Tiago Splitter – Yeah, he got blocked really badly by Lebron. Yeah, Steven A Smith would laugh and call me names if he saw me putting Splitter this high on the list. Splitter is actually really good. He has a great PER and is a quality low-post center. He catches the ball and finishes well at the rim. I know that putting Splitter above Leonard may be controversial, but I gave him the nod due to the fact that he is a center and quality center’s are more rare, and therefore more valuable, in the NBA. Defense and three wings like Leonard are a dime a dozen, (granted Leonard is a good one).
6. Manu Ginobli – Here’s a secret about Manu that most people don’t notice. He is a great ball-handler and passer, as the backup point guard for the Spurs. That’s why he can’t start. He is still killing it at his old age. Also, if you have some free time, watch a YouTube video of Manu’s best passes. They are phenomenal and fun to watch.
5. Chris Bosh – I’m going to hold off on the dinosaur jokes and go straight to the “Chris Bosh isn’t the type of player I would want on my team” jokes. He is a power forward who doesn’t bang and, as a result, kills the Heat with his lack of rebounding. He is really good, even though I don’t see why, so we can call it a push.
4. Tim Duncan – Timmy Duncan is incredible and doesn’t get near the praise he deserves. He won an NBA Finals MVP 14 years ago. Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joeseph probably didn’t see it because they were 7 and had to go to bed. His game is the ultimate “old-man game” and I’m pretty sure that he could play for another 20 years. A real basketball fan has to love Timmy.
3. Dwayne Wade – I was one of those people who said Dwayne Wade had lost his edge. Too many years of banging and recklessly throwing his body around finally caught up to him. A player who had, for so long, relied on his athleticism to get to the basket and score had lost that athletic edge. Due to age and injury, he was no longer the elite basketball player he once was. I was very wrong.
2. Tony Parker – Parker is the best point guard in the NBA and there is a lot you can say about him. I will focus on the fact that he got hit by a bottle thrown by Drake at Chris Brown. Imagine if Parker’s injury had been worse. That could have been a top 10 craziest sports story of all time.
1. LeBron James – Its Lebron. He’s the best player in NBA history. He scores at will. He is unstoppable. He will win the NBA Finals. And be Finals MVP.
Tell me your thoughts on my list!
Do I have someone ranked too low? Too high? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @Tiboofy!
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