The NBA's Best Left Handed Players

Watching Michael Redd's unique stroke in the Olympic Games got me to thinking about salient a left-handed basketball player's shot truly is.  With that in mind, I decided to rank the top left handed players who played in the NBA last year.  

1.  Manu Ginobili-Manu has shined on the biggest of stages--the NBA Finals and the Olympics, and he seems to step up his game as the stakes are raised.  He can score, defend, pass and is a great closer.

2.  Chris Bosh-Bosh has been fantastic in the Beijing Olympics, but fans in Toronto are used to this sort of excellence from the lean power forward.  Bosh controls the paint with his scoring and rebounding ability, and has showcased his ability to defend out to the perimeter in Beijing.  He might actually be underrated due to lack of exposure or his quiet demeanor.

3. Michael Redd-Quite simply Redd can shoot the lights out.  His range stretches out way beyond the 3-pt line and Redd can drain shots with defenders in his face.  Redd is a scorer who might not have the most well-rounded game, but he is a lethal weapon who can keep a team in a game on any given night.

4.  Lamar Odom-The definition of versatile, Odom is considered by some the player who would be most capable to play any position on the floor.  An ideal fit in the triangle offense, Odom raised his game to a new level this year, although his performance did slide during the NBA Finals.

5.  Josh Smith-A freakish athlete with tons of untapped potential.  Smith really showed signs of excellence in the playoffs this year and has a unique ability to alter the game defensively while also adding an improved shooting stroke.

6. Zach Randolph-ZeBo fills up the box score night in and night out and has a nice touch for a player of his size.  Randolph may lack defensive prowess but remains a legitimate 20 and 10 threat on a rather poor Knicks roster.

7.  Tayshaun Prince-Prince provides length on defense and a streaky shooting stroke on offense.  He has the ability to lock down opposing team's top perimeter player and can play inside when necessary.  

8.  Andris Biedrins-The tall and lean Latvian has a great combination of length and energy that makes him almost a guaranteed double-double every game he steps on the court.  His game is very limited offensively but he has shown the grit necessary to grab tough rebounds in the paint and score on put backs.   

This are the eight that I considered to be in the top tier of left handed players.  A year from now this list may very well be altered with Michael Beasley's pro career only a few months away and other players who might surprise us and improve their game quite a bit.

Opinions/debates welcome...