| Top Ten NBA Players Today June 15, 2008 by Keith Dobkowski |
| What has made the 2008 NBA Playoffs so special this year has been the re-emergence of the star player. Not since the Mid-90's when Michael Jordan faced the likes of Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwan, Gary Payton, John Stockton and Karl Malone has the NBA been so filled with star power. It has truly come to light in 2008 Finals as four future Hall of Famers have battled every night. As great as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have been, would they make the list of the Top Ten Players playing today. To make this list, we must first set a few ground rules. First, we are looking at the best players today. Sorry Dwight Howard, you are tomorrow and Kevin Durrant, the day after that. Sorry Shaq, you are yesterday... 10 - Dwyane Wade. Wade is a combo guard whose ability to get to any spot on the floor cannot be denied. He has already won a championship and did so while averaging over 30 points per game. Though many would argue, starting with Mark Cuban, that Wade's success in the finals was ref based, the ball still has to go in the basket. Wade's liabilities today come down to two issues. Can he stay healthy? Will he add a three point shot to his game? 9 - Allen Iverson. AI has won an MVP, led a team to the finals and has been one of the best scorers of the generation. What AI lacks in size, he has made up for in toughness. At a generous six feet tall, AI has never shied away from contact and still continues to drive the hole. He has been a great team defender through the years. The only liabilities AI has shown revolves around his need to have the basketball in his hand. Great players can play well without the ball as well. 8 - Kevin Garnett. KG would easily be in the top five if he would make the paint part of his regular routine. For years, KG has planted himself about 18 feet from hoop on offense. Not a bad place for a jump shooter, not a great place for a seven footer who can jump. As seen in the finals, KG can score every time in the paint, he just needs to get there. As a teammate and a defensive player, KG could be number one on this list. 7 - Steve Nash. Two years removed from back to back MVPs, no one runs an offense like Nash does. His ability to break down a defense and get his teammates open shots is remarkable. Add in that Nash shoots over 50% from the field as a guard is incredible. As you watch Nash play, you will see that he gets a lot of open looks because the defense is so busy trying to cover passing lanes, that they become stuck in a pick your poison battle. The knock on Nash is his defense, which is only getting worse as he ages. 6 - Dirk Nowitzki. Though two years removed from the finals and one year from his MVP season, Dirk offered a new look this year, toughness. For the first time, Dirk called for the ball, made late game shots and asserted himself as a leader. He just did not have the team to make it out of the West. Too many small quick guards that could break down the Dallas Defense, never gave Dirk a chance to shine this post season. 5 - Deron Williams. Many may find this pick too high, but he is the real deal all the way through. Deron is fast, strong, a shooter, a defender and a passer. He is also just a few years into the league and on the doorsteps of leading the Jazz to the finals. There is nothing but upside here and the chance to go down as one of the top five point guards of all time. 4 - Chris Paul. Another with the chance to be a top five PG of all time is Paul. As fast as Williams and Nash are, there is not another player in the game who is able to get to any spot on the floor at any time he wants. Paul should have been the MVP this year as he took a team destined for the lottery and led them to the second best record in the West. 3 - Tim Duncan. Four Championships, two MVPs and the guts to take and hit a three pointer to force OT int he first round of the playoffs. The only question that remains with Duncan is if he is the best four to ever play the game. 2 - LeBron James. James averaged 30 points, 7 boards and 7 assists this year. And he got his 30 without a true jump shot. With everything James does and does so well, he just needs to fix his shot and concentrate on defense to really start the arguments of being one of the best ever. 1 - Kobe Bryant. Kobe is not Michael Jordan, but he is getting awfully close. He is a better shooter than Jordan, but not the passer or the defensive player. As scorers go, they are neck in neck and that is enough to be the top player in the NBA. |
