Author: John Paulsen (Page 12 of 937)

      2010-11 NBA Efficiency Per Game Leaders

      July 27, 2011 /
      Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love drives against Dallas Mavericks forward Brian Cardinal (L) during the first half of their NBA basketball game in the Target Center in Minneapolis, March 7, 2011. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      While we muddle through another lockout, it’s not a bad time to take a look back at the top performers at each position in terms of Efficiency Per Game (EPG) and Efficiency Per Minute (EPM). Here are the top 10 in EPG at each position; only players who played 41+ games qualify.

      The point guard list looks pretty solid; Ray Felton chimes in at #10 after a strong start with the Knicks…Westbrook’s efficiency stats look great because he’s really an off guard who is playing point guard. It’s important to consider assists and turnovers when evaluating point guards…John Wall makes the list in his rookie season — not bad considering how tough it is to learn to play the position in the NBA…At SG, it’s interesting to note how thin the position is these days — just look at Stephen Jackson making the list with 15.0 EPG and a very mediocre EPM…Andre Iguodala is very solid all-around off guard and these numbers don’t even reflect how good of a defender he is.

      No surprise at 1/2 with LeBron James and Kevin Durant at small forward…No surprises really until #9 and #10 with Dorell Wright (who had a nice season for a bad Warriors team) and Wilson Chandler (whose numbers were boosted by his start with the Knicks)…Considering the Bobcats pretty much gave him away, Gerald Wallace comes in strong at #6…The power forward list is solid with Kevin Love surprisingly dominating both categories. In fact, he had the highest EPM in the league, which makes the fact that he came off the bench earlier in his career all the more unbelievable…How good can Blake Griffin be?

      Howard dominates the position but still can’t shoot free throws or convert in the post in crunch time…This list is a good snapshot of the position…The Nuggets need to re-sign Nene Hilario to stabilize the frontcourt and build on the team’s good play at the end of last season. He is a quality big man when healthy…Andrew Bynum’s EPM is the third-highest at his position, but the big question with him are those knees…Andrew Bogut posted the 5th-best EPG despite dealing with a recovering elbow.

      External Sports, NBA

      Who is the best point guard in the NBA?

      July 25, 2011 /
      New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams prepares for the third quarter of their NBA basketball game against Toronto Raptors in London March 4, 2011. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (BRITAIN – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      Welcome to the latest chapter in “John Pretends He Writes for ESPN.” The Worldwide Leader asked its network of blog writers to answer a few questions about the point guard position, so I thought I’d chime in with my (totally unsolicited) take.

      Who’s the best point guard in the NBA today?

      Today? As in right this very second? I had some questions about CP3’s knee, but after the way he torched the Lakers in the playoffs, I have to go with Paul. No other guard combines a pass-first mentality with an ability to take over when needed quite as well Paul does.

      Here are my top 10: 1. Paul, 2. Rose, 3. D. Williams, 4. Nash, 5. Curry, 6. Rondo, 7. Westbrook, 8. Parker, 9. Wall, 10. Kidd

      Who’s the most underrated point guard in the NBA?

      Williams jumps out, only because people forget him during “best point guard” discussions. I also like Ty Lawson and Kyle Lowry as two up-and-coming PGs who will eventually break into the top 10.

      Who’s the most overrated point guard in the NBA?

      I have them ranked #6 and #7, but I would not want Rondo or Westbrook running my team. I prefer Rondo (that’s why I have him ranked higher), but he’s too moody to lead a team with any consistency. Westbrook is talented, but he shoots too much and turns the ball over WAY too much. (By the way, once we have a new CBA, I think the Thunder should offer Westbrook for Paul straight up and see if the Hornets bite.)

      Who’s the most promising point guard in the NBA?

      I have to go with Wall given all the upside. I’m really interested to see what kind of player he turns into. I like Lawson as well. The most interesting young point guard is probably Ricky Rubio — is he going to pan out? If not, David Kahn will finally be without a job.

      Who’s the best point guard of all time?

      Magic. He could take over when he needed too, but got more joy out of getting his teammates involved with easy buckets.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      There’s a war of words going on between Nate Jackson and Chris Kluwe

      July 22, 2011 /
      Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell (C) celebrates his 35-yard winning fieldgoal in overtime with teammates holder Chris Kluwe (5) and tight end Visanthe Shianco (81) in overtime of their NFC,NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Minneapolis November 7, 2010. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Deadspin is enjoying the fruits of Nate Jackson’s labor. You see, punter Chris Kluwe took to Twitter to slam four players (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Vincent Jackson, Logan Mankins) for being greedy “#douchebags” and Jackson responded with a long, hilarious diatribe about Kluwe and the punter position in general.

      The entire thing is worth a read, but this part was particularly funny.

      During practice, while the rest of the team does football things, the punter stands off in space with his only two friends, the kicker and the snapper, reciting movie quotes and practicing his golf swing. When his moment finally arrives, and the coach yells, “Punt team!” he takes his place 15 yards behind the snapper and, in the span of 10 minutes, executes five or 10 punts.

      After punt team is done, the punter mope-jogs to the sideline where he disappears once more into the protoplasm of his irrelevance. No one knows he’s there. No one would know if he left. And no one would care.

      Now the reason Jackson spoke up is because he doesn’t think Kluwe, a punter, has the right to say anything negative about the NFLPA or its players during the CBA negotiations. Kluwe responded in kind.

      You talk about me like I’m some kind of disease, like punters are some kind of infection that should be excised for the good of the game and how dare we raise our voices when our betters are talking. According to you, punters should be happy to sit in the corner and be treated like shit because we do something different, something that the other 54 members of the team can’t do.

      Wait, let’s parse that last clause for just a second — “something that the other 54 members of the team can’t do.” Huh. Would you look at that. Tell me, Nate, how well can you punt a football? What’s that you say? You CAN’T punt a football?

      Then why in fuck would you think that, just because I can punt, my opinion is somehow less valid?

      Nate Jackson vs. Chris Kluwe…does it end here?

      External Sports, Humor, NFL

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