With less than a quarter of the season in the books, a lot is still up in the air in the NBA.
Here’s what we think we know:
The Celtics are much better than last year. The Bulls are much worse. The Magic have matured and are a real threat in the East, while the rebuilding campaigns in the Pacific Northwest are chugging along a little slower than anticipated.
Given the small sample size, large-scale, team-oriented conclusions are precarious at this point. Instead, I'd prefer to take a look at some of the individuals who've clearly turned the page from their 2006-07 campaigns.
While some of these guys are rather obvious (see: Howard, Dwight), others are more obscure.
Here are my ten gems of the young NBA season (in no particular order)...
1. Chris Kaman, L.A. Clippers
Last season, fans in Clipper-ville expected this giant to earn his $8.6 million dollar salary and carry an improving Clippers team to the playoffs.
So what happened?
Kaman was injured and awful in '06-'07, averaging just eight boards and 10 points while looking slow and vulnerable on the defensive end.
This year, however, Kaman has upped his numbers considerably, contributing 14 boards and nearly 19 points per contest. In his last game, Kaman dropped a dominant 22 points and 22 boards.
For a seven-footer making almost $9 million, that's more like it.
2. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
I know I know—Dwight Howard was a beast last year...so how can he be on this list?
The answer is simple: Dwight Howard might be the most complete, most athletic forward in the game right now.
Howard's numbers are up across the board, and his leadership ability has been impressive for a 22-year-old. Simply stated, Howard has emerged as a game-changing superstar that Magic opponents must scheme around.
If Howard continues to improve at this sort of pace, we might be looking at the best power forward ever by the time 2015 rolls around.
3. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Rondo's upgraded supporting cast certainly has a lot to do with his improvement—but the youngster has been the Mr. Everything floor general Boston desperately needed at the 1.
Rondo is averaging nine points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals per game—all improvements over last year. And although Rondo has virtually no perimeter game, his shooting percentage is up to 54 percent from last year's 41 percent.
Steady with the ball and an asset on defense, Rondo has been crucial to Boston’s rise.
4. Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz
The second-year swingman out of Arkansas has made huge strides following a promising rookie year.
A great pick by Jerry Sloan, Brewer is averaging nearly 10 more points per game since seeing his minutes increase. What's more, his defense has helped the Jazz become a tougher perimeter unit.
18 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago
Andruw Bynum should be at least number 2 on your list.
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Will Norton about 1 year ago
Sorry Michael, the list was in no particular order, which I just edited in there. I was just listing my top 10. If it WAS in order, it would probably go Granger, Bynum, Gay, Howard, Rondo, Blatche, Kaman, Brewer, Wright, and Gibson.
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Jux Berg about 1 year ago
Good article... this has nothing to do with it, but as far as dunkers go, Rudy Gay is nasty.. he can do so many dunks with those long arms and big hops... he kinda has a little Clyde Drexler in him with his sweeping cuffers and windmills.... fun to watch
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Will Norton about 1 year ago
I hear ya Jux....that Gay for Battier trade is looking quite nice for Memphis I feel. In fact, I kind of feel like Gay would help Houston more than Battier does. Battier is the ultimate intangibles guy though, and he does a lot of things NOT on the stat sheet that help you win. Gay left UConn a year early though and I feel like once he fully matures, he is going to explode.
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jay Michaels about 1 year ago
Dwight Howard is not a damn power foward. He is a CENTER!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I find it difficult to believe that Dwight could go down as the best power foward ever, when he doesn't even play the position.
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Will Norton about 1 year ago
Well aren't we picky? Howard is a power forward in both body and game, but a center by position. If the Magic had a true center, Howard would be the 4 on that team. He will never be the best center of all-time given the legends that came before him, but he COULD be the best power forward of all time if you will allow him to be classified as such. Think you can let it slide?
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Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago
Sorry he can't be the best PF off all-time either.Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Tim Duncan are probably the three best ever and are definitely better than Howard. Howard is like a young Moses Malone with those numbers he's putting up so far.
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Michael Thomas about 1 year ago
Howard's 21 moron and he isn't a power foward. For the guy who wrote this blog to say he is a power foward in body and game is completely ridiculous. Howard is one of the biggest guys in the league and physically one of the strongest. There is no one player in the NBA that can contend with his size, athleticism, and brute strength. It makes no sense to say he is a power foward in his game. He always guards the opposing centers and he is always in the low post. If you have seen him play this year you would know that he has developed some very reliable moves, including a right hand and left hand hook. By your description of Howard I can tell that you haven't seen him play much and probably don't know much about basketball. He is definitely one of the purest centers in the league.
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Chris James about 1 year ago
I completely agree with the last guy. If you have seen Howard, there is no doubt that he is absolutely a pure center. There isn't a center in this league that Howard can't dominate. Shaq might be the only player in this league with more pure strength and muscle mass. Howard can definitely be one of the greatest centers of all time. He has improved every year that he has played and he hasn't even turned 22 yet. His offensive game continues to improve by leaps and bounds. Considering he is shooting over 61% from the field and averaging more than 23 points, it is unbelievable for him to be able to do that at this age. He is also already the most dominant rebounder in the league and has developed into an intimidating defensive presence. It makes absolutely no sense to say he is not a pure center. He is as pure as they come.
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Mark Andrews about 1 year ago
It looks as though the author of this article has no idea what he is talking about. Howard is the best PURE center in the NBA. There is nothing about him that doesn't scream out center. He is physically bigger than everyone in the league, besides shaq, but is much more chiseled than Shaq. He is also in the post the entire game and guards Shaq, Yao, Kaman, Curry, and all the other centers. What the hell are you basing that on when you say he isn't a center? Have you ever seen Howard play, or have you just seen highlight of him?
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Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago
Check this out, I wrote it last month and it relates to this article.http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/3617-NBA-Rising_Stars_Six_NBA_Players_to_Watch_in_07-_08-111107
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Ryan Smith about 1 year ago
everybody who thinks that DH is a Center is a MORON and should be locked up in a loony bin and never set free he's a god damn PF So Shut up
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Ryan Smith about 1 year ago
everybody who thinks that DH is a Center is a MORON and should be locked up in a loony bin and never set free he's a god damn PF So Shut up
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Ryan Smith about 1 year ago
everybody who thinks that DH is a Center is a MORON and should be locked up in a loony bin and never set free he's a god damn PF So Shut up
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Will Norton about 1 year ago
I have seen Howard play and I played basketball in high school as well as college, so I would respectfully contend that I DO in fact know the game of basketball. To be perfectly honest, the point of the article had NOTHING to do with whether DH should be classified as a center or a power forward. My point was that he has elevated his game to frightening heights this year and is an absolute force on the low block and on the boards. He is an exceptional player with a lot of the effective moves that encompass both the power forward AND center positions. That is part of what makes him so complete of a player and so fun to watch.
You guys can sit around and bitch and moan about position technicalities, I really don't think it's a worthwhile discussion.
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Stephane Morneau about 1 year ago
Didn't DH start at PF with Orlando? When Darko was taking center duty, DH was 4 on the floor, if I remember correctly.
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Will Norton about 1 year ago
That is my point. IF DH played with Chris Kaman, Illgauskas, Dalembert, or Diop, he would be a 4, as I remember him first being. I do not think of him as a center simply because I feel like the modern day center in todays NBA is an over sized rebound grabber with limited other skills (obviously there are exceptions to this). Kendrik Perkins would be a good example of a "center" who really isn't much of one, as much as I love my Celtics.
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