Top 5 NBA Players by Position

Everyone’s been talking about how disappointed they are about the All-Star game. And for good reason. When you have players like Allen Iverson and Pau Gasol making the All-Star team, you know they need to put some type of limitation on this fan voting thing. So instead of what everyone else is doing by creating their own All-Star rosters, I’m going to make a slight change, and go ahead and give you my top 5 at every position. Starting with the centers.

Top 5 Centers -

1. Dwight Howard – the most proficient NBA center since he won the dunk contest in 2008. Excellent rebounder and shot-blocker.

2.  Andrew Bynum – quiet but extremely competitive. Good rebounder as well as defender. Could easily replace any center on the All-Star team.

3.  Chris Kaman – not really talked about, but an extremely good inside scoring center. Definitely deserves a spot on the All-Star squad.

4.  Kendrick Perkins – maybe the most underrated player in the league, Perkins is an excellent defender. Possibly an All-Star player next season, the Celtics’ center should be watched.

5.  Shaquille O’Neal – probably should be included in this list until he leaves the league, O’Neal will always be a premier center. Abnormally large (even for an NBA center) and strong enough to handle any other player in the league.

Top 5 Power Forwards –

1.  Tim Duncan - an obvious pick, but debatable for the #1 spot. But overall, Duncan’s triple-threat effectiveness got him onto this list. Maybe an All-Star for the rest of his career.

2. A’mare Stoudemire – very good offensive forward, and can shoot from almost anywhere on the floor. Similar to the likes of Kevin Garnett, Stoudemire can put the ball on the floor, and pass like a point guard.

3.  Dirk Nowitzki – tough to put him behind Stoudemire, but A’mare is playing well at the moment. Nowitzki can hit threes, freethrows, mid-range jumpers, and any shot inside. The only reason he plays the post is because he’s so big.

4.  Chris Bosh – easily Toronto’s best player, Bosh is very similar to Stoudemire in his ability to work outside the post. He’s a definite All-Star this season, and is superb all-around.

5. Kevin Garnett – another shooting-power-forward, Garnett is the most guard-like forward in the game. He can lead the team in points one night, rebounds another night, and even assists another night. A very  knowledgeable and experienced player, Garnett could last many more years than expected.

Top 5 Small Forwards  -

1.  Lebron James - very easy pick for number one, Lebron will become the best player that ever set foot on a basketball court. James has speed, size, defense, rebounding ability, and scoring. He can’t be matched.

2.  Kevin Durant - Durant has only recently blown up. His numbers are staggering, averaging legendary-like numbers every game. He’s not muscular, just skillful, and is just as much a triple-threat as Lebron.

3.  Carmelo Anthony – an excellent scorer, Carmelo can score from anywhere he wants, at any time he wants to. He has excellent penetration effectiveness, and can hit a shot from anywhere. He can rebound, and plays good – not great – defense.

4.  Paul Pierce – Pierce is an excellent scorer and clutch player. When he has it going, all he has to do is let go of the ball. He’s an underrated defender, and will steal the ball many times a day.

5.  Josh Smith – along with Smith’s amazing athletic ability, he’s a great defender. He blocks shots (often), strips the ball, and can take players down one-on-one. If he can develop a perimeter shot, he’ll be one of the more premier players in this league.

Top 5 Shooting Guards –

1.  Kobe Bryant – obviously one of the top three players in the league, Kobe has it all. He can shoot, play defense, he’s incredibly smart, and has even developed a post game at his guard position.

2.  Dwyane Wade – has slowed down a bit this season, but still the best player on Miami by far. He’s a great three-point shooter, and is extremely strong and athletic.

3.  Joe Johnson – Johnson could probably play small forward at his size, but he definitely needs to stay at the more offensive position. Johnson is the quietest scorer in the NBA, and he can shoot the mid-range floater, drive, and go on a long three-point streak.

4.  Andre Iguodala – very underrated, Iguodala is absolutely the strongest shooting guard in the league. He’s an amazing defender, and can guard almost any position in the league. He can block shots, steal the ball, and put pressure all over players.

5. Manu Ginobli – very tough to put Ginobli behind Iguodala, but Iggy’s defense is much more distinguished. With that aside, let it be known that Manu is the best scorer on the Spurs’ team. He can score from anywhere, and can get open very well.

Top 5 Point Guards –

1.  Rajon Rondo – although I am extremely biased, and this is an extremely hard decision, Rondo is one of the greatest players in the NBA. I’m glad he got his position on the All-Star team, and believe he should start over Derrick Rose. Rondo is the modern day point guard; he can score inside (although he’s not a great shooter), pass very accurately, and can even rack up some rebound totals. He plays extremely good defense as well.

2.  Derrick Rose - the reason I took Rondo over Rose is because I believe Rajon is a more complete player. Even with that said, Rose is one of the greatest scorers in the game right now. He can pass just as well as he can shoot, and he’ll make the highlight reel every night when he drives. He’s a decent defender, and he plays like a small forward.

3.  Steve Nash – I don’t really enjoy including this guy in my top five every season, but you have to give him his props. As we all know, Nash can pass extremely well, and his assists totals sometimes turn out monstrous. He can score just as well as anyone, and has a deadly three-point shot.

4.  Chris Paul – although Paul is injured at the moment, most of his know how well he plays. He’s a very typical – yet very athletic – point guard. He’s about 5′10 I believe, and is incredibly fast. He can shoot from just about anywhere, and is a very smart guard, which makes for very good passes to teammates.

5.  Jameer Nelson – probably the strongest point guard in the league, Nelson plays higher than his size. He’s fast, very strong, and plays good defense, similiar to Deron Williams. He’s smart, and makes good passes, and is an excellent mid-range shooter.

Tagged as: Andrew Bynum, chris kaman, Dwight Howard, Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, NBA, Rajon Rondo, Tim Duncan