What the Experts Are Saying About the NBA's Top 25 Players

There is a ton of young talent in the NBA right now. Maybe more now than at any other point in league history.

But what do the experts around the league think? Does your favorite player has what it takes to take his game and his team to the next level?

Here's a look at the Top 25 players in the NBA and what people are saying about them heading into the 2011-12 NBA season.

25. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

Garnett could be found in the top five of a list like this just a few years ago, but his age may be slowing him down just a bit. Nonetheless, he remains one of the games best.

Given the way the schedule shapes up in the shortened season, the Celtics must keep Garnett's legs fresh for late in the season, which is what head coach Doc Rivers is prepared to do.

From CBSsports.com:

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The Celtics want to change the way they play PF Kevin Garnett this season, reports WEEI.com. Boston wants to give Garnett three five-minute stretches in each half. That is different from last season when Garnett played two eight-minute stretches. However, coach Doc Rivers told reporters after practice on Saturday that Garnett would be used at center this season.

"

Rivers told ESPN's Chris Forsberg:

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"We have a game plan for him," said Rivers. "We are going to have to change his minutes. He’s down to 30 or 29 [per game], I don’t think we can get much less than that. But how we did his minutes will change, at least we’ll try to. That may not work, and then we’ll go back to other way. We want him to play in shorter bursts, no more than five minutes in a row, then sit him. He'll maybe play three times each half. We’re going to try it in the two preseason games and if it doesn’t work, we'll go the other way."

"

Shorter stints may be exactly what Garnett needs to stay fresh the entire season.

24. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Duncan is another one who's getting up there in age, but still among the best in the game, but this is probably the last time you will see his name anywhere on a top 25 list.

His production has slipped of late, but how much does the former MVP have left in the tank?

Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus says:

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On offense, Duncan has dropped off. The key difference is that he no longer gets to the free throw line on a frequent basis. Historically, about 15 percent of Duncan's offense has come from free throws. That dropped to a career-low 11 percent in 2010-11. Without those easy points, Duncan's scoring efficiency has slipped below average. His role in San Antonio's attack -- already smaller than it had ever been -- might need to shrink again next season.

"

ESPN Insider John Hollinger says that while his offensive game isn't what it used to be, Duncan's value on defense is as good as ever:

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Duncan had the worst offensive season of his career as he continues to evolve into more of a secondary offensive option, but it's amazing to see how much defensive value he retains. While he doesn't have the mobility of his younger days, Duncan's length and savvy still make him among the game's best defensive centers. The Spurs gave up 7.00 points per 100 possessions less with Duncan on the floor and he had the best Synergy rating of the team's rotation players. Plus, Duncan finished ninth among centers in blocks per minute, seventh in defensive rebound rate, and had the lowest foul rate of any center. With his knees feeling better, he also was stronger in pick-and-roll coverage than he'd been a year earlier.

"

23. Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors

Some see Ellis as one of the better young 2-guards in the league and his 24.1 points per game would suggest he's on the cusp of big things, but Ellis found his name on the trading block before the NBA lockout.

Warriors general manager Larry Riley finally had to put an end to all the speculation about Ellis. He told Sports Illustrated:

"

"We are not shopping Monta Ellis It is business as usual here. I think you have to look at what just happened in the Finals -- it seemed like Dallas played pretty small guards throughout that series with Miami and did a pretty good job of it. Our problem is not the small backcourt [of Ellis and Stephen Curry. Our problem is defense."

"

Not everyone is sold on the talented Ellis though as the general opinion through an ESPN round table is that Ellis is one of the more overrated shooting guards in the league; including that from Reece Whittaker, who said, "He averaged 24 points per game, but by taking 1,611 shots from the field. The offense he plays in helps pad his offensive stats and he does not play any defense."

22. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

There is no denying that Johnson is one of the better players in the game. He's one of only a handful of players that has made the All-Star game in the past five seasons and he's taken his team to the playoffs on a yearly basis.

But that's also his criticism, because as the Hawks' franchise player, he's yet to lead them passed the second round of the playoffs.

Common opinion tells you that is something Johnson will never do in a Hawks uniform.

Ryan Christiansen from the Philadelphia 76ers Examiner says:

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Johnson is a really good NBA player. However, he is not a GREAT player, as he is incapable of leading the Hawks to an NBA Championship. The Hawks have an immensely talented roster, but as long as their Eastern Conference counterparts are being led by the likes of LeBron/Wade, Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, and Carmelo Anthony, the Hawks will continue to fall short of their ultimate goal of winning a championship.

"

Johnson himself expects to bounce back from a down season.

"I've never been a guy to make excuses," Johnson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I had a down year and I'm looking forward to bouncing back."

21. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat

After watching Bosh in his first year in Miami, one could say that he isn’t a superstar-level player or the frontcourt force who consistently demands double teams. He also didn't look like the type of run-and-gun mate that could find instant success with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Having said that, though, he's still a really good player that could be in for a big 2011-12 season.

Hollinger cautions that he needs to have a better season for the Heat to win:

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Bosh had a disappointing first season in Miami. While it was unrealistic to expect him to repeat the heights of a career year in Toronto in 2009-10, his vertiginous drop of 6.0 points from his 40-minute scoring average was all the more shocking because it came with no gains in efficiency. Additionally, he disappeared on the glass, with his 9.2 boards per 40 minutes being his worst since his rookie year.

"

Some of those numbers should increase with Bosh playing center and according to The Sun Sentinel writer Ira Winderman on Twitter: "Bosh said he's beyond fighting it. Putting Bosh at center allows the Heat to use either LeBron James or Udonis Haslem at power forward and gives the team more roster flexibility."

20. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Curry is one of the best and brightest young stars in the league, but can he take the step into the NBA's elite?

Henry Abbott from ESPN.com thinks this season will be a big challenge for Curry and the Warriors:

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Around the NBA, people are rooting for him to enter the pantheon of great, young players, and rightly so. To make the case convincing, though, the Warriors will have to win some games, which won't be easy without vastly improved defense.

"

One item that was a cause for concern was Curry's ankle, which he injured late in the season, but CSN Bay Area reports is fully healed:

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Golden State G Stephen Curry said he added 10 pounds of muscle to his wiry frame to help improve his strength for the upcoming season, according to CSN Bay Area. Curry, who averaged 18.6 points per game last season, weighed only 185 pounds during the 2010-11 campaign. He managed 74 games as an ankle injury abruptly halted his second year in the NBA, however, Curry said the issue is completely healed.

"

19. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

It's been an interesting offseason for Rondo, who's been in trade rumors and had his outbursts revealed to the public.

Now he has an injured ankle but, CBS sports says there are no injury concerns for Rondo who started for the Celtics in their preseason opener vs. Toronto. The piece reads: "Rondo is fully healthy after dislocating his left elbow during the Celtics' playoff run last season and the ankle issue won't prevent him from the regular-season opener."

With all the the drama surrounding Rondo, his teammates have his back. Garnett said to weei.com:

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"Shorty’s very smart but he’s also very stubborn. Nonetheless, with all that said and done, talking to him, I see the maturity, I hear the maturity in him wanting to be better. That’s what you want from your young guy. You want your young guy growing. You want your guy to always be in a sense to where he’s understanding that he’s the future. I think him understanding that, him being confident in that. You hear your name in talks, that’s not what you want to be. Things like that come on for a reason. Just understanding growth and understanding being young. But I love Shorty. I wouldn’t want to play with anybody else."

"

Teammate Paul Pierce also chimed in on Twitter by saying, "I can see Rajon Rondo having a break out year. He's our best player. He's going to be an MVP candidate"

18. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Pierce has a bruised Achilles heel and while he wanted to be back by Boston's first exhibition game, it looks like his status for the opener on Christmas Day is now in jeopardy.

ESPN's Chris Forsberg says the Celtics just can't afford for Pierce, or anyone else for that matter, to be hurt.

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The 2011-12 Celtics absolutely need good health. Cap-strapped and already dealing with a heart ailment that will sideline top reserve Jeff Green all season, Boston has been limited in its ability to supplement its aging core. Extended absences, particularly to a member of their starting five, could be downright catastrophic to the Celtics in a condensed season.

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Head coach Doc Rivers told the Boston Globe that Pierce won't play in Boston's final preseason game:

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“I’m concerned not long-term, I’m concerned short-term. We have those two games right off the bat and really he’s had one practice, that’s it."

“It’s a heel bruise - he went real hard [Monday] and it just really got real sore so we just want him to rest. The problem with that is it will be a lot of rest and he may be ready but with no play, that’s scary."

"

17. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns

Some say Steve Nash is getting old and some say the Suns should pursue a trade for him, but despite his age he's still one of the more effective point guards in the NBA.

Pelton has this take:

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His 3-point shooting slipped under 40 percent., but everything else held strong. Nash's assist rate was tops in the NBA and the best of his career. He remains as dangerous off the pick-and-roll as anyone in the league.

"

But Yahoo! Sports says that if the Suns get out of the gate slow this year that Nash should be in a new uniform before long.

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If the Suns get off to a slow start, Grant Hill and Steve Nash are prime trade targets for teams looking to add a missing piece. The Suns have to close the book on a run of four Western Conference finals appearances in the last decade, and this should be the year.

"

16. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook is the point guard for one of the up-and-coming teams in the league in the Oklahoma City Thunder. While his stats suggests things are going well, not everyone agrees.

Hollinger says:

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Westbrook leaves a lot more to be desired. The end result may be the same, but Westbrook's mistakes are more visibly frustrating -- his shot selection is questionable, he has no in-between game (he was the third-worst shooter in the league from 3 to 9 feet, at just 26.6 percent), and his game comes across as more selfish. If he fixes these shortcomings he's first-team all-world, but last May was pretty rough on the eyes.

"

Brian Phillips of Grantland offers a similar take when he wrote, "Westbrook thinks he's a better player than Durant."

15. Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies

In Memphis, Randolph has shown the maturity he lacked throughout his career and along with that, his game has evolved to a new level.

Hollinger wrote:

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Randolph passed another phase in his increasing maturity by showing strong improvement as a passer. Formerly a black hole in the post, he constantly hit cutters in Memphis and ranked just above the average for power forwards in assist rate.

"

Now that Randolph is signed long-term, can he keep things up or will he turn disruptive again? J.M. Poulard on ESPN.com has his doubts:

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Zach Randolph has always been a terrific player, but the fear with him has always been whether he could show up and play without disrupting team chemistry with his off-the-court problems. These concerns will increase with Randolph now signed for the long term to guaranteed money.

"

14. Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love had a fantastic 2011 season, especially crashing the glass where he averaged over 20 rebounds per game.

He's shown up to camp 25 pounds lighter and is prepared to cash in on a big contract, but will Minnesota shell out the necessary money to keep him in the twin cities?

Team president David Kahn doesn't sound worried, as he told ESPN, "I expect Kevin to be a big part of our franchise for a number of years."

NBA.com's Sekou Smith says the slimmer Love looks in great shape and committed to Minnesota having a good 2011-12 season. "He looks like he’s in All-Star form heading into the start of training camp," Smith wrote.

13. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

Gasol almost ended up in a Houston Rockets uniform, but ultimately will end up being a key piece in determining exactly what type of season the Los Angeles Lakers will have.

Former Lakers great Magic Johnson said that if Gasol (along with Andrew Bynum) doesn't have a huge season, it could be a long year in Los Angeles. "If they don't dominate, it's going to be a long season not only for the Lakers but Lakers fans as well," Magic said.

Gasol took a ton of heat for his performance in last season's playoffs, but Sherron Shabazz feels not all the blame should be thrown his way and that his game speaks for itself:

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At 7 feet tall and weighing 250 lbs. Gasol is virtually impossible to guard. Gasol’s offensive repertoire include jump hooks, turn around’s, and a mid-range jump shot. How do you defend a 7 foot jump shooter? Pau Gasol is also a solid passer from the post that averages 3.2 assists for his entire career.

"

12. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

Griffin took the NBA world by storm a season ago and this season he may be taking a backseat on the new-look Clippers team, but that seems fine by him.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne wrote:

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A week ago, Griffin was the unquestioned face of the franchise. He was prepared to lead them, too. Now he seems all too happy to let Billups and Paul help show him the way and soak up everything they can teach him.

"

Hollinger feels that the sky is the limit for Griffin, with or without Chris Paul:

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He physically overwhelms most opposition. Griffin was third among power forwards in free throw rate, fifth in rebound rate, and was second only to Dwight Howard in dunks. Stardom already is assured; the only question is how high he ascends.

"

11. Deron Wiliiams, New Jersey Nets

Williams name has been in the news and will be until he signs an extension somewhere before next season.

With the Nets roster somewhat in flux, success may not come right off the bat for Williams and the New Jersey Nets. How will that effect what the Nets try to do in an attempt to keep him in New Jersey?

Nets head coach Avery Johnson told ESPN:

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"I know [GM] Billy [King's] still working and he’s got a couple irons in the fire, but right now, what I am expecting, until something changes, is to start opening night with this team. And that’s what my focus is on. Because I can’t try to put something in, or plan for somebody who’s not here.”

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His chances of staying in New Jersey hinge on one thing, as Williams told the Newark Star-Ledger:

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"New Jersey G Deron Williams said Monday he would be willing to stay with the Nets on one condition -- if they acquire capable players. "In a perfect world, we'd get the players for me to stay. We have to get some pieces.'' Williams added there was a way he would be assured of staying with New Jersey: land C Dwight Howard. "That would be enough to convince me,'' he said.

"

10. Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

The big question on Stoudemire coming into the season concerns his knees and how many of the 66 regular season games he can play in.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News sees a scenario where Stoudemire will be held out of certain games:

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Stoudemire even admitted on Wednesday that he could envision a scenario in which he sits out certain games for the Knicks at various points of the season to preserve his troublesome knees for the playoffs.

"

If healthy, Stoudemire could have a big year, since he will be primarily playing the 4 for the first time in his career. This season, though, he won't have to carry the club on his back for most of the season, writes George Willis:

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A year ago, Amar’e Stoudemire was a one-man marketing campaign, using his broad shoulders and confident attitude to convince anyone who would listen that “the Knicks are back” long before anyone really believed they were. Yesterday, he sat at a table at the Knicks’ practice facility, flanked by NBA champion Tyson Chandler and NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, forming the Knicks’ latest version of their own “Big Three.” No one needs convincing “the Knicks are back” now.

"

9. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

Anthony gets to spend his first full season in New York and big things are expected. while the Knicks have added talent around Anthony and Stoudemire, the plan is the same. They want the ball in Anthony's hands as much as possible, as Kevin Clark writes:

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Even with the addition of star center Tyson Chandler and the promotion of point guard, Toney Douglas, the Knicks don't expect many offensive tweaks. Coach Mike D'Antoni joked Tuesday that with Douglas playing point guard, Stoudemire and Anthony's shot totals are unlikely to drop because Douglas "might get killed if they do."

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The concerns over Anthony's hyperextended knee are minimal head coach Mike D'Antoni told CBS Sports, "I think he’s fine...He’s just day to day. We’re just making sure he’s OK."

8. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Paul has been the talk of the NBA of late after his trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Yahoo! Sports debates what exactly Paul brings to his new team:

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Chris Paul showed that he will provide the Clippers a creative aspect they have lacked in the past. Combining Paul with Chauncey Billups and Blake Griffin could prove a formidable combination.

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Grantland's Robert Mays also feels the excitement:

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In the eight or so minutes Paul spent in front of his locker, the word "fun" came up about a dozen times. There are still plenty of concerns — how will Chauncey Billups settle in as an off guard, whether a lack of frontcourt depth will do them in, just how much Griffin’s game has developed — but the excitement has undoubtedly arrived.

"

7. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Rose recently inked a five-year extension to keep him in a Bulls uniform. Now, can he bring Chicago a championship?

The AP's Andrew Seligman wrote:

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Rose has repeatedly pointed the finger at himself for the Bulls coming up short against the Heat in the playoffs. He worked on his inside game in the offseason after expanding his shooting range in previous years, but it's hard to imagine him accomplishing much more than he did last season.

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Rose is excited about the extension, but has bigger goals in mind, as Bulls writer K.C. Johnson reported on Twitter: "I’ll be able to afford what I want. But not too many things excite me except winning and being around my family."

6. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Thanks to Chris Paul and Dwight Howard dominating the news since the lockout ended, the Miami Heat have flown way under the radar.

That's fine with Wade and the Heat, says FOX Sports Chris Tomasson:

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Last season, the Heat dealt with plenty of controversy, ranging from how the team was assembled to speculation about coach Erik Spoelstra's job to whether players cried in the locker room after a tough loss to Chicago and to James' fourth-quarter struggles. This year, it's pretty simple where Heat players want the attention to be.

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All is not good for Wade, as ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that the NBA has made his famous rip move an emphasis of things to watch this season:

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Wade has been one of the most effective players in the league at using the rip move over the years, creating contact by using his body control to force those shooting fouls. He’s especially effective at doing it in midair when the defender stays on the ground in an attempt to avoid the foul.

"

5. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

What can Nowitzki and the Mavericks do for an encore?

It's going to be an interesting and competitive season for the Mavericks, but ESPN's Jeff Caplan writes that the Mavericks have a strength in their frontcourt:

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Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said Shawn Marion, Lamar Odom and Dirk Nowitzki form the best forward group in the league, and if you look around, it's hard to argue.  Collectively, they own four championships, 14 All-Star appearances, one league MVP, one Finals MVP and one Sixth Man of the Year award. What really stands out and makes the three a lethal combination for the Dallas Mavericks this season is that all three bring vastly different styles and skills.

"

Nowitzki has struggled through training camp so far and was ice cold in the Mavericks' second preseason game after sitting out the first one. Caplan also says:

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After a few huff-and-puff practices last week, Dirk Nowitzki said that Jason Kidd joked to him that the front office was thinking about using the amnesty provision on the 7-foot NBA Finals MVP. Admittedly, Nowitzki was hurting getting through coach Rick Carlisle's extended practices in this shortened training camp.

"

4. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Howard's on-again, off-again trade demands have kept him in the news all month.

CSN's Dwight James thinks he could be staying in Orlando for a bit:

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Portland Trail Blazer acting general manager Chad Buchanan said Tuesday afternoon his team has not been involved in any trade discussions involving the Nets acquiring Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic.

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Howard chimed in with a response to the Orlando Sentinel to criticism of his effort in Orlando's first preseason game, a loss to Miami:

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“Our job is to continue to get better. People who know me, who know basketball, know I would never do that to my teammates, to my fans and to the game of basketball. So people are going to say whatever they want to say right now because of all the situations that’s going on. And every little thing is going to be magnified times 100. I know that. My teammates know it. And we’re just going to stick together. So there’s no need to go back and forth [and say], ‘He’s mailing it in.'"

"

3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Bryant hasn't been happy with the Lakers offseason and Stephen A. Smith thinks things could get very ugly: “I predicted that Kobe Bryant will demand a trade, and I am not budging from that. He’s livid. I’ve known Kobe too long. He is ticked off."

Smith continued:

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"It’s not just because [the Clippers] got Chris Paul, which is a guy that he expected to have. It’s because Jim Buss seems to be doing the inexplicable,” Smith said. “It makes no sense. It’s one thing for the team not to have improved [after losing to the Mavericks], it’s another thing entirely for them to regress. If you know anything about Kobe, that is the last thing that he wants to do...It will not be pleasant at all."

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New Lakers coach Mike Brown wasn't happy with the effort from the team in their preseason loss to the Clippers, and that included Bryant:

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It took all of one preseason game before new Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown criticized Kobe Bryant to the media, calling Bryant "just as guilty as everybody else at not contesting shots" in the Lakers' 114-95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

"

2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant could be ready to cash in from Oklahoma City and as ESPN.com's Jim Coon says, he could benefit from the new "Derrick Rose Rule."

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Durant meets the eligibility requirements for the Derrick Rose Rule, having been named to the All-NBA first team in 2010 and 2011 (he is also a two-time All-Star, but was voted in as the starter only once). However, it was unclear whether the league would allow the rule to be applied to a player who signed his extension under the previous collective bargaining agreement. The league decided last week that Durant does qualify, making him the first player so designated under the Derrick Rose Rule. He will receive the 30 percent maximum salary (30 percent of the salary cap), which is otherwise available only to players with seven to nine years in the league. His 2011-12 salary will be $15,506,632 and his five-year extension will total $89,163,135.

"

As if Durant's game wasn't already good enough, he's working on perfecting Nowitzki's step-back jumper and buried one against the Mavs in the Thunder's first preseason game.

Durant said of the shot:

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“He's the originator, so I stole that from him a little bit,” a smiling Durant said after Monday's practice. ‘I'm not as good as he is at it, but I've been working on it and it was the perfect time for me to do that with the defender playing the way he was playing. I'm glad I made it. I thought it was going to be an air-ball.”

"

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat

James faced a ton of criticism following Miami's loss to Dallas in last season's NBA Finals, but appears ready to take on a new challenge: dominating the post.

He tells FOX Sports' Chris Tomasson about the idea about playing more on the blocks:

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"I never had to do it," said James, who played his first seven years with the Cavaliers before moving on to Miami in the summer of 2010. "In Cleveland, in the past, I stepped out on the perimeter because I had to. I felt like I had to to handle the ball a lot. But when you have multiple ballhanders here in Norris and (Mario Chalmers), and, of course, D-Wade, I can switch my focus to something else. Once I see that I can be more dominant, I help myself out to help our team even more.''

"

ESPN.com's Michael Wallace writes that James is finally beginning to realize what types of advantages he has over the guys guarding him:

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When you're already the most scrutinized player in the league, it's difficult to do anything on the court without every aspect of your game being over-analyzed. But the truth is there have been some modest strides made in LeBron's post-up game so far. If nothing else, he's been a remarkable passer out of the mid-post position. Riley challenged James to shore up his mid-range game, and he appears to have taken that command seriously. LeBron seems to actually realize when he has a clear advantage on mismatches, which happens almost every time he touches the ball anywhere near the basket. “For me, it's just all about being more comfortable at this point,” James said after he finished with 19 points and six rebounds in Sunday's exhibition. “I'm more calm now.”

"