by BD, Staff Writer
Ranking The Superstars
Yesterday when I was talking about Danny Granger and how he may be the next under the radar superstar I was wondering where Danny and the rest of the "superstars" rank. Today I've decided to separate them into tiers and I ask you the reader to let me know where I'm completely off base. The tiers are simple, you have your no questions about it global sensations, the on-deck superstars in waitings, and everything in between. First up are the global icons, the unquestionable top tier of NBA superstars.
Tier One: The Can't Miss Slam Dunk Global Icons
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Dwayne Wade
Kevin Garnett
I could limit this to three guys and drop KG from the conversation altogether, but I feel like KG is still one of the league's can't miss superstars. Kobe, LeBron and Wade don't need a whole lot of clarification. All three guys can do-it-all and are arguably the top three players in the league. Keep in mind these are not in a specific order, the only thing separating players will be the tiers.
Tier Two: The Once Were and Still Could Be's
Tracy McGrady
Vince Carter
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Dirk Nowitzki
Jason Richardson
Each of the above guys at one point or another was considered one of the leagues premier talents. The most arguable of the group is J-Rich, but at one point in his second year many thought he was the next Vince Carter. Something he may now become as the go-to guy in Charlotte.
Tier TwoA: Almost, But No
Steve Nash
Ray Allen
Chauncey Billups
Ton Parker
Probably the toughest four guys to distinguish. All four have had big moments during their career and been considered among the leagues elite at their positions. But, at no time has anyone ever entertained the possibility any of them are one of the leagues top icons.
Tier Three: Future Top Tier Members
Carmelo Anthony
Joe Johnson
Amare Stoudamire
Dwight Howard
Gilbert Arenas
Josh Howard
Kevin Martin
Kevin Durant
Andre Iguodala
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Brandon Roy
Leandro Barbosa
Each of these guys has the tools to get to the top of the NBA ladder, but they also have something holding them back. Be it team success, location, the weight of expectations, or playing time. Do you think any of these guys have already surpassed tier three?
Tier Four: The Over-Hyped and Never Have Been
Pau Gasol
Baron Davis
Jermaine O'Neal
Micheal Redd
Ben Gordon
Mike Bibby
Each of these guys has received a lot of media attention at one time or another despite a lack of superstar qualities. Ben Gordon falls into this tier because he thinks he's the superstar in Chicago and he's definitely not.
Tier Five: The Should Have Been By Now
Rashard Lewis
Antawn Jamison
Shawn Marion
Ricky Davis
Lamar Odom
Each of these guys should have reached the top level at some point by now, but just hasn't been able to break through. All were expected to be superstars coming into the league, but to this point none of them have been able to live up to their potential.
Tier Six: The Tough Call Bigmen
Yao Ming
Tim Duncan
Carlos Boozer
Elton Brand
Rasheed Wallace
It's hard to place a big man who lacks the explosiveness of a swingman into any of the top tiers. Yao, Duncan and Boozer especially. All are great players, but none have even been considered an icon of the game. Duncan can be argued as one of the top players, but his off the court status pushes him down the list.
Tier Seven: Fading Fast
Shaq O'Neal
Stephon Marbury
Jason Kidd
Steve Francis
Each of the above guys was at one time a superstar caliber players. Whether they cashed in on that potential or not (Marbury) their careers are almost over.
Tier Eight: Next In Line
Josh Smith
J.R. Smith
Loul Deng
Al Jefferson
Danny Granger
Kelenna Azubuike
Rudy Gay
Tyrus Thomas
Each of these guys has the talent to be the go-to guy on their team going forward. All of them have shown the ability to dominate a game already, but have failed to consistently do so. Some have been dominant in one facet of their game, but have failed to get it done in other spots. Be it shooting, defense, or something else.
So that's where I have the leagues premier players ranked. Agree? Disagree? Think I'm a moron and shouldn't have tried to rank them in the first place? Let me know in the comments.
Yesterday In Sports...
The Battle For Texas Wages On
The Rockets knocked off the Spurs a day after losing to Dallas.
Good Thing Their's 78 Games Left
The Bulls drop to 0-4 after losing to the Clippers at home.
Big Lead Blown
Durant still can't get his first NBA win as his team blows a 20-point lead to the Kings.
Hard Sting
The Hornets move to 4-0 after rolling through the Lakers 118-104. Chris Paul racked up 21 dimes and Peja hit from deep 10 times.
Early Struggle, Late Run
Memphis moves to 2-0 after knocking off Richmond.
The Final Four Picks
I've been flip-flopping quite a bit on who I want to pencil in as my final four. This is what I've settled on:
Memphis
UCLA
Louisville
USC
The theme? Point guard play. I like Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, Collison and Edgar Sosa. I fully expect this to be the year of the point guard in the NCAA after Durant and Oden dominated last year. The only pick here I'm a little iffy on is USC, but I think by midseason OJ Mayo will quit punching his teammates and they'll come together.
Others considered:
Kansas
UNC
Georgetown
Regardless of who manages to cut down the nets come April it's going to another great season of college hoops.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
THROWING KNIVES: RANKING THE SUPERSTARS
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9 comment(s):
Probably the most retarded thing I have ever read. Tim Duncan, tier 6? I think that puts you on tier stupid. Probably.
I don't <3 E.C.
yet you read anyway...hmmm
Although anonymous is a ball-lacking sack of shit of the worst order, IT does have a point on the whole Duncan thing. He's a top 50 guy EVER. I disagree on some of the others too, but Duncan was the one that really stood out as an incorrect assessment.
That being said fuck you anonymous.
Well, he did say, 'I ask you the reader to let me know where I'm completely off base.' So Mrs. Anonymous has the right to do so. Even if she is afraid to put a name with her comment.
Ummm ... Gilbert Arenas not there at all? Having television ads everywhere and being one of the most explosive scorers in the game isn't enough to make the list?
Dirk Diggler not there at all?
Duncan at Tier 6 but Rashard Lewis in Tier Five and Ben fucking Gordon in Tier 4? Duncan's off-court status? As one of the greatest players of all time?
J-Rich in Tier 2? Justified becuase people once thought he was the 'ish? People thought Harold Minor was the 'ish because he could jump too. What about Antawn Jamison when he was first in the league and scoring 30 a game?
Kelenna Azubuike has four good games and he's in "Next In Line" but Gerald Wallace isn't? J.R. Smith?
You might need some edits on this one, buddy.
Well, good thing to know I don't need to come back to this "Epic Turd" of a website. No mention of Nowitzki = FAIL. Not to mention you've got J.R. Smith and NO JOSH HOWARD. Very stupid omissions from a poorly thought out piece by a minimally educated wannabe.
Mom, I told you not to comment on my site.
Arenas and Nowtizki I kept moving around and I didn't realize I hadn't reinserted them both. That wasn't intentional.
I'll stick by the Gerald Wallace omission because he'll never be anywhere near a superstar discussion. He's the best player in Charlotte outside of J-Rich, but he won't be getting much better than he is now.
I just flat forgot Josh Howard, but he'd have been in the third tier.
I'll admit I should have re-worked and better explained a few things. Mainly the order meant less than the name of the tier. Thus Ben Gordon in tier 4 means nothing, it's the "never will be" portion of it that fits him.
Those Anonymous posters have valid points. Also, the writers on this site get their ides after molesting Pony's.
Pony's: A possessive, proper noun. hmmmmm?
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