Post by aar on Aug 30, 2009 14:47:39 GMT -5
This article will rank each team's most valuable player based on their individual performance and team performance
Boston Celtics
Wes Unseld SF 22 6'7'' 245 B- C- C A A- A
13.7 ppg 10.6 rpg 2.8 apg 1.2 spg 0.4 bpg 41% FG%
Unseld, the team's 4th overall pick in this past draft has excellent defensive and rebounding ratings, but cannot yet handle the workload of a true superstar. Right now, he is the best player on a really bad team. His post defense rating must be absolutely staggering because his shot blocking is inadequate.
If you look at his two matchups against Desean Foster, the league leader in FG% - he has held him to 10 of 29 shooting (about 35%) - simply incredible.
Grade: C+
He hasn't helped win any games, but one can expect ratings of B+ C C A+ A C in the future, which will make him a legit superstar.
Miami Heat
Kenyon Guyton SG 26 6'7'' 213 B- A C+ B+ C- B
23.4 ppg 4.9 rpg 2.7 apg 2.2 spg 1.8 topg .485 FG% .838 FT% .503 3P%
The Heat's current roster likely has the least upside of any team in the league and Guyton is simply overachieving.
It is interesting to see what he can do as a key option. He is a top-5 three point shooter in the league based on percentages, handles the ball well and is a ball-hawk on defense.
He is not the future of this team, but he has helped them get more wins than one would expect with their current roster.
Grade: B-
A career year for Guyton, but he is not a legit superstar with his current ratings.
New Jersey Nets
Rory Davis PF 29 6'10'' 250 A C C A- A- C
24.3 ppg 11.5 rpg 1.2 spg 2.9 bpg .451 FG% .839 FT%
Davis is like a fine wine that gets better with age. He will be a free agent and someone will pay through the nose to have him on their team into his mid-to-late 30s.
His only detriment is his middle-of-the-road field goal percentage, which should be higher based on his inside scoring rating.
Other than that, he is having a career year defensively and the stripe.
Grade A
Davis is helping the Nets towards finishing with the best record in the league and much of that is due in part to a stellar supporting cast. Davis himself is a true superstar, but he will be 30 when free agency hits and someone will have to overpay for his services.
New York Knicks
Willis Reed C 26 6'9'' 235 A- C C+ A A C
27.0 ppg 12.2 rpg 4.6 apg 1.7 bpg .439 fg%
The Knicks have been hoping to find good value for Reed since the beginning of the season, but many wonder if he is worth it.
The biggest question mark is his low FG%, which shouldn't really matter based on his incredible output.
Reed is one of the most versatile players in the league with his huge numbers in points, rebounding and assists.
His rebounding and blocking output has gone down this season, but his scoring is way up.
The Knicks have a stellar home record and an incredible defensive team anchored by Reed.
He was declared a Knick for life when drafted - but if someone offers enough value, I expect that will not be the case.
Grade: A
Reed is a winner - plain and simple.
Orlando Magic
Oscar Robertson SF 29 6'5'' 210 A- B- A B+ A- C
23.4 ppg 8.6 rpg 10.1 apg 1.5 spg 3.1 topg .497 fg% .902 ft%
47 games into this season, Robertson had 44 career triple doubles in 205 games. That means he has a triple double more than 1 in every 5 games. That's just sick and as he gets better, that percentage will rise.
Robertson has an average supporting cast and a team record higher than .600 - he just dominates.
Grade: A+
There are few superstars that have the same impact as The Big O.
Philadelphia 76ers
Salvatore Moretti PG 31 6'5'' 188 C+ A+ A B C D
22.0 ppg 5.4 rpg 10.3 apg 2.2 spg 2.0 topg .492 fg% .915 ft% .447 3p%
The 76ers have surpassed their tipping point and have peaked. A team that has always been dictated by the sum of their parts have a starting lineup of players aged 30+.
Moretti is the highlight of those parts, but all five players are stars.
A one-time MVP, Moretti proves that he is still a superstar, but the 76ers are barely over .500 and that hurts the stock of every player on the team.
Grade: B
Washington Wizards
Jim Barnett SG 24 6'4'' 175 B- A B- A+ C A
27.6 ppg 5.1 rpg 9.0 apg 1.6 topg .472 fg% .431 3p%
A breakout year for Barnett has lead the Wizards to their best record in a long time.
Barnett is the ultimate two-way player: Great offensively, exceptionally efficient and a top-end defender.
Barnett will be the face of the Wizards for his entire career if he re-signs because everyone knows that JAH has no intentions of trading him any time soon.
Don Chaney will be the Robin to his Batman as he improves and the team has a decent supporting cast that JAH will work towards improving.
If the Wizards want to win their first championship, the Barnett era is the time to do it.
Grade A+
Boston Celtics
Wes Unseld SF 22 6'7'' 245 B- C- C A A- A
13.7 ppg 10.6 rpg 2.8 apg 1.2 spg 0.4 bpg 41% FG%
Unseld, the team's 4th overall pick in this past draft has excellent defensive and rebounding ratings, but cannot yet handle the workload of a true superstar. Right now, he is the best player on a really bad team. His post defense rating must be absolutely staggering because his shot blocking is inadequate.
If you look at his two matchups against Desean Foster, the league leader in FG% - he has held him to 10 of 29 shooting (about 35%) - simply incredible.
Grade: C+
He hasn't helped win any games, but one can expect ratings of B+ C C A+ A C in the future, which will make him a legit superstar.
Miami Heat
Kenyon Guyton SG 26 6'7'' 213 B- A C+ B+ C- B
23.4 ppg 4.9 rpg 2.7 apg 2.2 spg 1.8 topg .485 FG% .838 FT% .503 3P%
The Heat's current roster likely has the least upside of any team in the league and Guyton is simply overachieving.
It is interesting to see what he can do as a key option. He is a top-5 three point shooter in the league based on percentages, handles the ball well and is a ball-hawk on defense.
He is not the future of this team, but he has helped them get more wins than one would expect with their current roster.
Grade: B-
A career year for Guyton, but he is not a legit superstar with his current ratings.
New Jersey Nets
Rory Davis PF 29 6'10'' 250 A C C A- A- C
24.3 ppg 11.5 rpg 1.2 spg 2.9 bpg .451 FG% .839 FT%
Davis is like a fine wine that gets better with age. He will be a free agent and someone will pay through the nose to have him on their team into his mid-to-late 30s.
His only detriment is his middle-of-the-road field goal percentage, which should be higher based on his inside scoring rating.
Other than that, he is having a career year defensively and the stripe.
Grade A
Davis is helping the Nets towards finishing with the best record in the league and much of that is due in part to a stellar supporting cast. Davis himself is a true superstar, but he will be 30 when free agency hits and someone will have to overpay for his services.
New York Knicks
Willis Reed C 26 6'9'' 235 A- C C+ A A C
27.0 ppg 12.2 rpg 4.6 apg 1.7 bpg .439 fg%
The Knicks have been hoping to find good value for Reed since the beginning of the season, but many wonder if he is worth it.
The biggest question mark is his low FG%, which shouldn't really matter based on his incredible output.
Reed is one of the most versatile players in the league with his huge numbers in points, rebounding and assists.
His rebounding and blocking output has gone down this season, but his scoring is way up.
The Knicks have a stellar home record and an incredible defensive team anchored by Reed.
He was declared a Knick for life when drafted - but if someone offers enough value, I expect that will not be the case.
Grade: A
Reed is a winner - plain and simple.
Orlando Magic
Oscar Robertson SF 29 6'5'' 210 A- B- A B+ A- C
23.4 ppg 8.6 rpg 10.1 apg 1.5 spg 3.1 topg .497 fg% .902 ft%
47 games into this season, Robertson had 44 career triple doubles in 205 games. That means he has a triple double more than 1 in every 5 games. That's just sick and as he gets better, that percentage will rise.
Robertson has an average supporting cast and a team record higher than .600 - he just dominates.
Grade: A+
There are few superstars that have the same impact as The Big O.
Philadelphia 76ers
Salvatore Moretti PG 31 6'5'' 188 C+ A+ A B C D
22.0 ppg 5.4 rpg 10.3 apg 2.2 spg 2.0 topg .492 fg% .915 ft% .447 3p%
The 76ers have surpassed their tipping point and have peaked. A team that has always been dictated by the sum of their parts have a starting lineup of players aged 30+.
Moretti is the highlight of those parts, but all five players are stars.
A one-time MVP, Moretti proves that he is still a superstar, but the 76ers are barely over .500 and that hurts the stock of every player on the team.
Grade: B
Washington Wizards
Jim Barnett SG 24 6'4'' 175 B- A B- A+ C A
27.6 ppg 5.1 rpg 9.0 apg 1.6 topg .472 fg% .431 3p%
A breakout year for Barnett has lead the Wizards to their best record in a long time.
Barnett is the ultimate two-way player: Great offensively, exceptionally efficient and a top-end defender.
Barnett will be the face of the Wizards for his entire career if he re-signs because everyone knows that JAH has no intentions of trading him any time soon.
Don Chaney will be the Robin to his Batman as he improves and the team has a decent supporting cast that JAH will work towards improving.
If the Wizards want to win their first championship, the Barnett era is the time to do it.
Grade A+
