1. Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Credentials: 26.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 37.2 percent 3-point shooting, 8.4 free-throws per game.
The skinny: Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman really uncorked Love as a scorer last year, and the result was somewhat less efficient shooting but 26.0 points per game. It is likely that Love will regain his efficiency this year—nearly everyone was a little off last year in the wake of the lockout—and in the process, Love will go from breakout star to legitimate MVP candidate.
Scouting view: “He has earned the top spot among power forwards. He needs to get his team to take that next step, but if they’re healthy, he is on the verge of that. For a guy who is 24, he is going to a lot of fun to watch in the next five-to-10 years.”
2. LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers
Credentials: 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 51.2 percent shooting.
The skinny: As of now, it seems the only concern about Aldridge’s future is his hips. He had one surgery to repair a right labial tear and another on the cartilage in his left hip in 2005. Assuming he comes back healthy, Aldridge seems primed for a big year with the rebuilding Blazers.
Scouting view: “They’re bringing in a whole lot of young pieces, but I don’t think it would be fair to ask Aldridge to do a whole lot more. Scoring 21, 22 points, that is his comfort zone. He can maybe average 23. He does not dominate the ball and he is a good passer. But he is so good in the high pick-and-roll and has expanded his post game.”
3. Blake Griffin, Clippers
Credentials: 20.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 54.9 percent shooting.
The skinny: His talent pushes him to this level, but still, Year 2 was something of a disappointment for Griffin. The dip in his numbers was predictable, as the Clippers added Chris Paul and other scoring options, but Griffin didn’t seem to get much better individually in other areas, particularly his free-throw shooting (52.1 percent), his defense and midrange shooting.
Scouting view: “You have to remember how young he is. He came in with so much hype, had the knee injury, and then just went through the roof. It was not surprising to see him come back down to earth a little. It would have been great for him to play with Team USA, but he had the injury (meniscus tear in his left knee). Hopefully, he comes back and is able to fix up some of those holes that showed themselves last year.”
4. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Credentials: 21.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 45.7 percent shooting, 36.8 percent 3-point shooting, 89.6 percent free-throw shooting.
The skinny: Nowitzki’s production was weighed down by a horrible January (15.1 ppg, 21.2 percent 3-point shooting), during which Nowitzki admitted he was not in good shape. By the end of the year, he was back in top form, and even at 34, should still be among the best at his position.
Scouting view: “He definitely has two years left. He is still very crafty at getting his shot off and with his accuracy and balance, as long as he can get that little window of opportunity, he is going to be an All-Star level scorer.”
5. Pau Gasol, Lakers
Credentials: 17.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, 50.1 percent shooting.
The skinny: Gasol gets criticized for his penchant for passivity, but he has always been a solid team player and a willing passer from the high post. When all facets of his game are working, he is a smooth and effective all-around offensive player.
Scouting view: “They had Bynum and now they have Dwight Howard, and that forces Pau out of the low post. He is a good jump-shooter from there, though, and he is still a weapon offensively. His scoring is going to come down, but he is a good bet to stay at about 50 percent shooting.”
6. Tim Duncan, Spurs
Credentials: 15.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 49.2 percent shooting.
The skinny: Duncan is 36, and coach Gregg Popovich has reduced his minutes (28.8 per game), but even in limited playing time, he is outstanding on both ends of the floor. The Spurs have put more of an emphasis on Tony Parker, but Duncan’s bank shot is still reliable as ever.
Scouting view: “They move him around a lot more now and he is not the low-post player he used to be. But he has had success working from 12-17 feet and as long as he keeps that up, he is going to be a big boost for them.”
7. Josh Smith, Hawks
Credentials: 18.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.7 blocks, 1.4 steals.
The skinny: To an extent, Smith’s bad rap is earned—he takes bad shots, he overrates himself, he frustrates coaches. That overshadows the fact that Smith is an excellent athlete, a talented scorer, a good defender and an able passer.
Scouting view: “It’s all about the jumper with him. You have got to convince him that getting down in the post, working to get a shot in the paint, that is the way to go. He falls in love with the jumper, and he becomes only so-so. But when he is attacking, he is much better.”
8. Paul Millsap, Jazz
Credentials: 16.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 49.5 percent shooting.
The skinny: Millsap is widely known as one of the most underrated players in the league, which probably means he is not underrated anymore. The Jazz are still toying with the notion of Millsap as a small forward, but he is better suited to power forward—his long arms and hustle make him a good rebounder and his funky off-the-dribble game and midrange shooting make him an ideal high-post big man.
Scouting view: “He’s been a great player off the bench and he had the kind of numbers you’d expect when he was a starter last year. But he had a harder time when defenses keyed on him more, and he is going to have to adjust for that.”
9. Zach Randolph, Grizzlies
Credentials: 11.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 46.3 percent shooting.
The skinny: Randolph tore a ligament in his knee early in January and missed more than two months. He came back late in the year, but had trouble establishing his footing with the team. He is 31 and has not always been a bastion of conditioning, so there are concerns about how strong he'll come back.
Scouting view: “When his post-up game is working, he is maybe the best power forward in the league in the low block. He has a pretty good midrange jumper and that keeps defenses honest, but he probably shoots it a little too much.”
10. Amare Stoudemire, Knicks
Credentials: 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 48.3 percent shooting. The skinny: Stoudemire had a down year and suffered a handful of persistent injuries, but the big question is whether he has begun to lose a step because of his surgically repaired knees. If so, he is in for a sharp decline. If not, he could bounce back to All-Star level this season.
Scouting view: “Everyone in New York pretty much wants to forget last year and I would think Amare is at the top of the list. I know his numbers went off the cliff, but I am not ready to say that is because he is washed up. Let’s see how he comes out this year.” |
發表於 2012-9-21 01:06 PM
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