I'm the kind of guy who would sometimes rather look at a box score than watch a game. I don't know what it is, but the numbers of sports are just as fascinating to me as the sports themselves. From memorizing shot percentages to scratching my head at how Iverson can shoot 8-34 from the field and not think he needs practice--all I can say is I'm a sports nerd to the core and if I wasn't typing these very words, I'd probably sitting at the end of a bench somewhere compiling stats for the Warriors.
I guess that's why I'm so addicted to looking at how individual players are rated in the various videogames. Does Gilbert Arenas deserve the same rating as Steve Nash? Is Chris Paul really better than Deron Williams? Who is the best player in the game?
All these answers and more in the latest By the Numbers…
Top 25 Point Guards
1. Steve Nash: 96
2. Gilbert Arenas: 96
3. Allen Iverson: 93
4. Baron Davis: 93
5. Jason Kidd: 92
6. Chris Paul: 91
7. Deron Williams: 90
8. Tony Parker: 90
9. Chauncey Billups: 89
10. Kirk Hinrich: 85
11. Leandro Barbosa: 85
12. Mike Bibby: 84
13. T.J. Ford: 84
14. Jason Terry: 83
15. Andre Miller: 82
16. Raymond Felton: 82
17. Mo Williams: 82
18. Sam Cassell: 80
19. Stephon Marbury: 80
20. Jamaal Tinsley: 80
21. Steve Francis: 80
22. Mike James: 80
23. Brevin Knight: 79
24. Devin Harris: 79
25. Rafer Alston: 79
Overrated/Underrated: Didn't Tony Parker just win the Finals MVP? Isn't he running the point for the best team in the world right now? Then how is he a point below Chris Paul? I know CP3 is on the cover, but Parker, like the Spurs in general, always seem to get overlooked on these lists. I'd complain about Rafer Alston being in the Top 25, but he might hit me.
Top 25 Shooting Guards
1. Kobe Bryant: 98
2. Dwyane Wade: 97
3. Tracy McGrady: 93
4. Ray Allen: 92
5. Joe Johnson: 89
6. Michael Redd: 88
7. Caron Butler: 88
8. Rip Hamilton: 87
9. Manu Ginoblili: 87
10. Jason Richardson: 84
11. Monta Ellis: 84
12. Brandon Roy: 82
13. Ben Gordon: 82
14. Kevin Martin: 82
15. Larry Hughes: 81
16. Mike Miller: 80
17. Richard Jefferson: 80
18. Jose Calderon: 80
19. Jamal Crawford: 79
20. Jerry Stackhouse: 79
21. Raja Bell: 79
22. Cuttino Mobley: 78
23. Juan Carlos Navarro: 78
24. Anthony Parker: 78
25. Marco Belinelli: 78
Overrated/Underrated: If anyone doubted the fun of running an Association with the Warriors, check out Monta's 84 and Marco Belinelli's 78. Add that to Baron's 93 and solid numbers for Stephen Jackson (they need to add a rating for crazy), and Biedrins and Golden State might be one of the most used teams online this year. Ray Allen at 92 after all these years also makes the Celtics one of the deadlier teams in the game.
T-Mac needs to win a playoff series if he wants to move up the list.
The only way to see Oden play this year.
Top 25 Small Forwards
1. LeBron James: 97
2. Carmelo Anthony: 94
3. Paul Pierce: 91
4. Vince Carter: 90
5. Rashard Lewis: 89
6. Lamar Odom: 87
7. Ron Artest: 86
8. Josh Howard: 86
9. Gerald Wallace: 84
10. Luol Deng: 84
11. Josh Smith: 84
12. Andre Iguodala: 83
13. Peja Stojakovic: 83
14. Rudy Gay: 82
15. Ricky Davis: 82
16. Stephen Jackson: 82
17. Tayshaun Prince: 81
18. Corey Maggette: 80
19. Bonzi Wells: 80
20. Kevin Durant: 80
21. Grant Hill: 80
22. Danny Granger: 79
23. Bruce Bowen: 79
24. James Posey: 78
25. Shane Battier: 78
Overrated/Underrated: Gerald Wallace told me he gets no respect in the ratings, and I'm starting to believe him. 84 is a decent number, but if you watch the man play, especially on defense, you know he's one of the most valuable small forwards in the game today. The Bobcats could be fun this year with the addition of J-Rich.
Top 25 Power Forwards
1. Tim Duncan: 98
2. Kevin Garnett: 97
3. Dirk Nowitzki: 95
4. Elton Brand: 92
5. Chris Bosh: 92
6. Shawn Marion: 92
7. Pau Gasol: 91
8. Carlos Boozer: 90
9. Jermaine O'Neal: 90
10. Al Jefferson: 89
11. Zach Randolph: 87
12. Lamar Odom: 87
13. Rasheed Wallace: 86
14. Antawn Jamison: 86
15. Andres Nocioni: 82
16. David West: 82
17. Al Horford: 81
18. David Lee: 81
19. Udonis Haslem: 79
20. Nene: 79
21. Nick Collison: 79
22. Al Harrington: 79
23. Andrea Bargnani: 78
24. Boris Diaw: 78
25. Charlie Villanueva: 77
Overrated/Underrated: I know it's just one point, but Pau Gasol being rated higher than Carlos Boozer is terrible. Gasol disappears in the clutch, and if you need to be reminded of this (it's not like the Grizzlies have played any big games lately), watch the tape of Spain losing to Russia this week. Another name that pops out to me is David Lee at 81. Is it me or are the Knicks infinitely better every time that kid gets in the game?
Top 25 Centers
1. Amare Stoudemire: 95
2. Yao Ming: 92
3. Dwight Howard: 91
4. Marcus Camby: 88
5. Shaquille O'Neal: 87
6. Emeka Okafor: 86
7. Mehmet Okur: 85
8. Ben Wallace: 84
9. Tyson Chandler: 83
10. Alonzo Mourning: 82
11. Greg Oden: 80
12. Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 80
13. Eddy Curry: 80
14. Andris Biedrins: 80
15. Chris Kaman: 78
16. Samuel Dalmbert: 77
17. Brad Miller: 77
18. Andrew Bogut: 76
19. Chris Wilcox: 76
20. LaMarcus Aldridge: 75
21. Nenad Krstic: 75
22. Jorge Garbajosa: 75
23. Etan Thomas: 75
24. Joel Przybilla: 73
25. Michael Doleac: 73
Overrated/Underrated: You know the big man situation in the league is a farce when you need to find names like Przybilla and Doleac to fill out your Top 25. Greg Oden at 80 breaks my heart. Seems like such a good kid to already be labeled Sam Bowie 2. Oh well, at least you can still play as him in the game. Funny how Bulls fans were so happy to rid themselves of Tyson Chandler, who is basically a younger, cheaper version of Ben Wallace (and only a single point separates them in the game).