Before I get to the All-NBA list, let me update my article on Win Shares. When I weighted players by position, I only considered three positions: Center, Forward, and Guard. Since then, though, I’ve updated my classification to differentiate between shooting guards and point guards, and between small guys and power forwards. Here are the different weights for each position:
GP 1.34
SG 1.43
SF1.04
PM0.78
C0.71
At first I was just going to announce this solution and be done with it, but that wouldn’t be interesting enough for me. Instead, I decided to put together my personal All-NBA teams, using the new data. Without further ado, these are the teams:
…….First Team – Second Team – Third Team
PG – Jason Kidd – Chris Paul – Steve Nash
SG – Manu Ginobili – Dwyane Wade – Mike Miller
SF – LeBron James – Kevin Durant – Andrei Kirilenko
PF – Marcus Camby – Kevin Love – Tim Duncan
C-Dwight Howard-David Lee-Joakim Noah
Notes: The average age of the first team is 30.4 years; for the second team, it’s 24… Each team has at least one member of the New Heat… Where are those champion Lakers? Pau Gasol narrowly lost being power forward of the third team; Tim Duncan was 0.45 Win Score points better by 48 minutes.
Something that is always interesting is to try to project the “Stars of the Future”. Here’s a list of players who may not be able to drink yet, but have a bright future in the NBA:
1. Kevin Love, 21, PF (MIN): Love didn’t have a breakout rookie season (he received just 12 Rookie of the Year votes), but he did have a breakout season this year, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds per game. . His real strength is that he hangs on to the ball, averaging less than 2 turnovers per game. Grade: A+
2. Kevin Durant, 21, SF (OKC): The leading scorer last year, Durant is a durable scorer who led his team to its first playoff berth since moving from Seattle. As LeBronomania consumed the media, Durant quietly signed a two-year extension, so Thunder fans can expect to see more of Durantula. The star’s one weakness: He averaged 3.3 turnovers per game, second-most at the position. Grade: A+
3. Ty Lawson, 22, PG (DEN). The 18th pick in 2009, Lawson instantly settled into the Denver system and proved he could compete with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups; the rookie shot 52% from the field and 41% from 3-point range. Unfortunately, when Carmelo Anthony becomes a free agent next year, Lawson could lose his main target. Grade A-
4. Tyreke Evans, 20, PG (SAC). The 2009-10 Rookie of the Year instantly became the best player on his team, averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Turnovers and fouls seem to be a problem, but this young star has a career to deal with. Grade: B+
5. DeJuan Blair, 20, C (AS). It’s not David Robinson, but the Spurs may have found the perfect fit for Tim Duncan. The second-round pick played in all 82 games last year, averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds per game, and just 1.37 turnovers. Grade A-
(Note: Ratings are based on position; Tyreke Evans is a better player, but DeJuan Blair ranks higher among centers.)
Now, let’s expand this category from 22 to 25+. Here are the best players in that age group; Players who can drive to the basket, even if they can’t rent a car:
PG – Chris Paul. Derrick Rose is the sexy option at this position, but Paul always does it with lower-mid teammates. The leader in assists and steals also averaged 18.69 points per game.
SG – Brandon Roy. Everything you are looking for in a guard. He can score (21.5 ppg), he can shoot (4.7 apg), he can rebound (4.4 rpg) and even steal (0.9 spg). On top of that, he averages fewer than two turnovers per game.
SF – LeBron James. If I have to explain this choice, then you must make a career of living under rocks. LeBron and CP3 are the brightest stars of the future; they will shine for at least 10 more years, probably more.
PF-Kevin Love. (see above)
C – Dwight Howard. Every time I look at him, I see a young Shaq. That’s a big responsibility to shoulder, but that’s exactly what Howard has done, leading the NBA in blocks and rebounds while putting up a respectable 18.3 points per game. Turnovers and foul trouble are still a problem, but hey, he’s 24 years old.