NBA Star Player Rankings: Who's Soaring, Who's Sinking Early in 2012-13?

Small sample sizes are dangerous things in the NBA, even when dealing with these top 20 stars. A few games at a blazing pace can suddenly make a player all the rage, although that type of tear isn't necessarily sustainable.

For proof, look no further than what James Harden and Kyle Lowry were able to do in the first few games of the 2012-13 season. While we have yet to find out whether or not Lowry can maintain that level of play when he's fully healthy again (he can't), we've already seen Harden fall back down to earth.

So, which stars are experiencing similar falls, although not always from that same height?

And because we aren't all about the negatives here, which players are on the rise? 

Read on to find out, and don't hesitate to check out last week's edition here.

Injured Players

As a quick housekeeping note, injured players are not considered for the player power rankings. If a player is out for a prolonged period of time, he's automatically ineligible for the next 20 slides.

Therefore, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Andrew Bynum and Dirk Nowitzki will not be appearing, although they certainly would if healthy.

20. Josh Smith (Previous Ranking: No. 18)

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Position: SF/PF

Age: 26

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.0 steals, 13.87 PER*

As an Atlanta Hawks fan, I'm now even more frustrated than normal with Josh Smith. And in the interest of full disclosure, I love Smoove, enough so that a throwback version of his No. 5 jersey hangs in my closet. 

But if he's going to remain in the top 20—and he's teetering on the edge of it right now, barely beating out DeMarcus Cousins for the final spot—he has got to start playing to his strengths. Against the Miami Heat, Smith wouldn't stop lofting up long two-pointers, and they'd inevitably clang off the side of the rim or the backboard. 

Smith has enough talent to hold the final spot for one more week, but he must truly become the leader of the Hawks and live up to his potential in the next few weeks, or else he risks losing his tenuous hold on the ranking. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

19. Pau Gasol (Previous Ranking: No. 17)

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: PF

Age: 32

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 14.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 blocks, 0.9 steals, 15.55 PER*

Pau Gasol has been one of the most disappointing players on the Los Angeles Lakers' roster through the first seven games of the season. And that's saying a lot for a title favorite who is now sitting low in the Western Conference standings at 3-4. 

Even boosted by Sunday night's 7-of-14 performance against the DeMarcus Cousins-less Sacramento Kings, the Spaniard is only shooting 41.4 percent from the field and has often looked rather listless on the offensive end of the court. 

He hasn't been as active as the Lakers would both like and need, but that will likely change in the post-Mike Brown era. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

18. Andre Iguodala (Previous Ranking: No. 20)

Team: Denver Nuggets

Position: SG/SF

Age: 28

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.9 blocks, 1.3 steals, 15.14 PER

Even though his triple-double attempt against the Golden State Warriors was filled with bricks, Andre Iguodala still looks like he's continuing to grow more and more comfortable operating in the Denver Nuggets' system. 

While Iggy shot only 7-of-24 from the field in that game, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, he involved himself in innumerable ways over the course of the six-point, double-overtime victory. 

He has been a major part of the Nuggets' early-eason turnaround, spurring the team on to a 4-0 record during the past week with his well-rounded contributions. 

17. Marc Gasol (Previous Ranking: No. 19)

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Position: C

Age: 27

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, 0.3 steals, 16.89 PER*

Even though Marc Gasol struggled with his shot on back-to-back nights—first against Omer Asik and the Houston Rockets, then against Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat—his versatility has spurred the Memphis Grizzlies on to a five-game winning streak.

The younger Gasol brother's scoring has dropped off, but his passing skills are now on a level that no seven-footer has ever hit. He's flirting with triple-doubles and racking up half a dollar's worth of dimes on a nightly basis.

Gasol, much like the team he plays for, doesn't make the game look glamorous, but he's undeniably effective. Even more so than his older brother.   

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

16. James Harden (Previous Ranking: No. 12)

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: SG

Age: 23

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 26.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.7 blocks, 1.7 steals, 19.94 PER

So moving up James Harden to No. 12 in last week's installment of the player power rankings might have been a bit presumptuous. My bad. 

That said, Harden is still an elite shooting guard, a standout player at a position in dire need of some more stars. The bearded one may have fallen off his unsustainable pace from the beginning of his first season in Houston Rockets' garb, but he's still capable of putting up 30 points per night once he rediscovers his shooting stroke. 

Harden has been mired in a slump for the past few games, making only 20 of his last 71 shots. Defenses have started to adjust to his play next to Jeremy Lin, but the ultra-efficient guard will rebound in the near future. 

15. Chris Bosh (Previous Ranking: No. 16)

Team: Miami Heat

Position: PF/C

Age: 28

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 20.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.1 steals, 21.57 PER*

Chris Bosh has been incredibly important for the Miami Heat during the early portion of the 2012-13 season. Even though he's clearly the third-best player for the defending champions, he's playing like so much more than just a third wheel. 

Between his photobombs and lack of SportsCenter highlights, Bosh might come across as someone who's just along for the ride. That is most assuredly not the case. 

He hasn't come close to matching his 40-point masterpiece against the Denver Nuggets, but he has put together other virtuoso performances. Take his well-rounded line of 24 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block and three steals against the Atlanta Hawks, for example. 

As is often the case, Bosh didn't blow anyone away, but he systematically dismantled the other team from the opening tip to the closing buzzer. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

14. Blake Griffin (Previous Ranking: No. 14)

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Position: PF

Age: 23

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.7 blocks, 1.4 steals, 18.39 PER*

Blake Griffin might be playing with a burst bursa sac in his elbow, but he's still a highly effective player for the Los Angeles Clippers. Blake's burst bursa—try saying that 10 times in a row—hinders his explosiveness at moments during the game, but he's still developing as a player. 

The power forward is hitting free throws at a higher clip than ever before, for example. His 64.9 percent shooting from the foul stripe might not be great for many players in the league, but it represents a massive step forward for this big man. 

Griffin has also shown an improving array of moves in the post. Against the Atlanta Hawks, Griffin showed off his trademark spin move, but also went up and under quite a few times against the opposing team's frontline, finishing with an efficient 16 points. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

13. Kyrie Irving (Previous Ranking: No. 15)

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: PG

Age: 20

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 22.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.3 blocks, 1.0 steals, 20.31 PER*

While it wasn't exactly a changing of the guard situation, Kyrie Irving did outplay Chris Paul during the Cleveland Cavaliers' 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Dion Waiters who drew the headlines for the upstart Cavs, but Irving definitely sent a message. 

There's no longer any doubt that this kid is for real. He has done nothing but impress ever since he first put on a Cleveland uniform. 

Irving has the rare ability to knock down shots from behind the three-point arc with remarkable consistency while still showing off superb handles and an uncanny knack for finishing at the rim. 

The sky is the limit for this 20-year-old point guard. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

12. Tony Parker (Previous Ranking: No. 11)

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: PG

Age: 30

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 0.0 blocks, 0.5 steals, 16.26 PER

Plagued by the flu and a cold shooting spell, Tony Parker's effectiveness waned tremendously during the second week of the 2012-13 season. 

With more limited playing time than normal, the San Antonio Spurs point guard has taken a backseat for the other players on his squad, enabling guys like Danny Green to just light it up. He has needed to, because the shots have definitely not been falling for the Frenchman. 

Parker needs a little bit of R&R, and he'll be just fine. 

For now, though, I can't help but drop the floor general with the 24 percent shooting from the field over the last week just a little bit. 

11. LaMarcus Aldridge (Previous Ranking: No. 13)

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: PF

Age: 27

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 21.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 blocks, 0.8 steals, 20.16 PER

If there were any doubts that LaMarcus Aldridge was an elite power forward, those should be permanently erased at this point. He has gone up against a murderer's row of shot-blockers and defensively oriented big men during the Portland Trail Blazers' opening stretch, and still emerged with a plus-20 PER. 

Aldridge closed the second week of the season with a 29-point performance against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs, but it wasn't just his scoring that stood out. The best healthy power forward has improved his facilitating skills for the 2012-13 season, and that improvement has manifested itself in some gaudy assist totals. 

Although he hasn't been able to carry his team to wins, Aldridge has done all he can in the early goings of the latest campaign. 

10. Deron Williams (Previous Ranking: No. 10)

Team: Brooklyn Nets

Position: PG

Age: 28

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 16.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 0.4 blocks, 0.6 steals, 14.07 PER*

Deron Williams has not lived up to the expectations during the first string of games of the 2012-13 season. His scoring has consistently hovered in the mid-to-upper teens, and his assist numbers are buoyed by a 13-dime outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

As dynamic a point guard as he is, D-Will has struggled to lead the new-look Brooklyn Nets during the first foray into the Barclays Center era. 

The Nets might be on a two-game winning streak, but both victories have come against the Orlando Magic. Therefore, we'll be thinking of it as a 1.5-game winning streak. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

9. Russell Westbrook (Previous Ranking: No. 7)

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder 

Position: PG

Age: 23

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 19.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 0.1 blocks, 1.0 steals, 18.22 PER*

Russell Westbrook has struggled with his shot throughout the 2012-13 season thus far, and he ended the second week of the season with an eight-turnover performance that helped to partially negate his efficient 27 points and 10 assists. 

However, as is always the case with the dynamic Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, the positives still outweigh the negatives. 

So far this year, Westbrook has been showing off his new and improved passing skills. He's finding cutters with more success and making the right decisions when distributing the ball, leading to an increase in his assist numbers. 

He already has four games with eight or more assists after just 12 during the entirety of the lockout-shortened campaign. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

8. Rajon Rondo (Previous Ranking: No. 8)

Team: Boston Celtics

Position: PG

Age: 26

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 0.0 blocks, 1.8 steals, 16.16 PER

After Rajon Rondo's 10-point, 10-assist performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in a 96-92 victory, the talented floor general has racked up double-digit assists in each of his last 30 games. That's absolutely insane. 

Seriously though, no matter how many superlatives I use here, I won't be praising Rondo enough for that accomplishment. 

As a point of reference, Chris Paul has the second-longest such streak since Rondo entered the league in 2006. He recorded 10 or more assists in, wait for it, 12 consecutive games. 

7. Carmelo Anthony (Previous Ranking: No. 9)

Team: New York Knicks

Position: SF

Age: 28

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 27.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, 0.8 steals, 24.31 PER

The New York Knicks have come out blazing during the 2012-13 season, and Carmelo Anthony has been the driving force behind that success. Perhaps more impressive than the 4-0 mark to begin the latest campaign is the fact that the Knicks have won each and every game by at least 10 points. 

From a scoring and rebounding perspective, Melo has been absolutely brilliant. He's hitting the easy shots and the hard ones alike, although he's still a bit trigger-happy. The small forward could stand to involve his teammates just a little more. 

However, I'm not going to truly complain about that here. With his scoring skills working and his defensive play better than it has been in the past, the old adage applies: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

6. Dwyane Wade (Previous Ranking: No. 6)

Team: Miami Heat

Position: SG

Age: 30

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.3 steals, 20.03 PER*

I'm willing to give Dwyane Wade a bit of a pass for his putrid shooting performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. It was his first game back from the illness that kept him out of the lineup during a closely contested victory over the Atlanta Hawks, and he was matched up with Tony Allen. 

His 3-of-15 shooting from the field isn't exactly the norm for the league's second-best shooting guard. 

And even still, Wade managed to contribute in other ways. He pulled down eight rebounds and dished out three assists while playing solid defense. 

When healthy, Wade has looked superb for the Heat, and he's taking excellent care of the ball lately. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

5. Dwight Howard (Previous Ranking: No. 5)

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: C

Age: 26

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 20.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.4 blocks, 1.0 steals, 17.54 PER*

Dwight Howard's most impressive line of the season came in the seventh game of the year, a contest with the Sacramento Kings. However, his 23 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals come with a caveat. 

DeMarcus Cousins was out of the game, leaving D12 to take advantage of a frontcourt led by Jason Thompson and James Johnson. Frankly, the lack of a 20-20 might be considered disappointing by some. 

Howard has been rounding into shape by getting some live action, and his performance has picked up as the season has progressed. He's just now starting to look like the dominant big man we've all come to know and love (and then hate during the Dwightmare). 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10. 

4. Kobe Bryant (Previous Ranking: No. 4)

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: SG

Age: 34

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 26.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.0 blocks, 1.4 steals, 23.06 PER*

Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers are 3-4 after the first two weeks of the latest season in purple and gold. Yes, Mike Brown has been fired and uncertainty reigns supreme until Phil Jackson—or some other coach—takes over the reins. 

It is not Kobe Bryant's fault. 

Kobe has been the unblemished bright spot in the Staples Center this year—not including when Chris Paul plays for the other inhabitants of the arena. He's involving teammates when the need arises and playing with staggering levels of volume and efficiency. 

Through seven games, The Black Mamba is averaging 26.1 points per game, third in the league to Carmelo Anthony and the rapidly declining James Harden, while shooting 53.8 percent from the field, one of the highest marks for guards across The Association.

That type of combination isn't supposed to happen. Then again, 34-year-olds as good as Kobe aren't supposed to happen either.  

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

3. Chris Paul (Previous Ranking: No. 3)

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Position: PG

Age: 27

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 17.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 0.0 blocks, 2.0 steals, 22.09 PER*

It has been a while since I've been as impressed with another point guard to the extent I currently am with Chris Paul. He simply does it all. 

And here, "it" is defined as literally whatever the Los Angeles Clippers need for him to do. 

If the Clippers are looking for him to step up and carry the scoring load, CP3 will start using his shiftiness, ball-handling skills and deadly mid-range game to light up the scoreboard. If he needs to take a backseat and involve his teammates, well, you can bet that the other members of the Clippers are about to start finding that their shot attempts have a much lower degree of difficulty. 

I've been toying with the idea of moving Paul up to No. 2 in the rankings ever since the season started and I was reminded of his sheer brilliance realtime, and he's getting dangerously close to forcing my hand. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

2. Kevin Durant (Previous Ranking: No. 2)

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: SF

Age: 24

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 22.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.6 steals, 21.82 PER*

It appears as though Kevin Durant's improved skills passing the ball during the first few games of the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2012-13 season were more of a mirage than anything else. 

Durant has still gotten better as a facilitator, but he combined for as many assists (eight) last week as he earned in a single game against the Atlanta Hawks when he started to convince everyone that his passing was now nearing a higher level. 

To continue picking on the league's second-best player, Durant must also start asserting himself more on offense. He's too good to be standing by idly as the rest of the Thunder attempt to make the offense work. 

The small forward has yet to attempt 20 shots in a single game, and a little selfishness is allowed when you're the best scorer known to mankind. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.

1. LeBron James (Previous Ranking: No. 1)

Team: Miami Heat

Position: SF

Age: 27

2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 21.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.9 blocks, 0.9 steals, 26.43 PER*

It's funny what winning an NBA Championship has allowed LeBron James to do. 

He doesn't need to worry about proving himself anymore—he has definitely done that. Now, he can take a backseat and let his younger and less experienced teammates step up to the challenge. So far, it has worked wonders with Mario Chalmers, who has looked quite good with the ball in his hands. 

That will pay dividends come playoff time, when the Miami Heat can rely on more players than they did last year. 

And it's not like LeBron has been struggling. 

He's shooting the ball even more efficiently than last year in two of the three categories. His field-goal percentage has climbed from 53.1 percent in 2011-12 to 55.8 percent in 2012-13, while his three-point percentage has risen 13.8 points to 50.0 percent, despite a bump in attempts.

From the charity stripe, LeBron is knocking down just 76 percent of his tries, and he has also spent less time camped at the line. That's also a result of his lack of attacking mentality, which, I repeat, is not a bad thing. 

*While the per-game stats are updated through Sunday, Nov 11, the PER is only updated through Saturday, Nov. 10.