I have ranked the 29 starting small forwards here, #1-#29. Why? Because I get tired of hearing people making outrageous statements like "Vin Baker is going to be the third-best center in the Eastern Conference"--I think that, if confronted with a list like the one below, it's pretty tough to back such ridiculous statements up! And, for the past few days, I was debating with some guys in the Celtics forum about Eric Williams--they were both arguing that Eric Williams is better than Keith Van Horn! GOOD GRIEF!
And, YES, this is supposed to generate a debate! But NOT "Kevin Garnett is a PF, not a SF"! Instead of debating whether or not so-and-so is a SF or a PF, why not just give me the benefit of the doubt here? Besides, HOW BORING is the "Is Kevin Garnett a SF or a PF" debate, anyway? Why not just call him a SF for the sake of argument?
The sort of debate that is WAY MORE INTERESTING will assume that all 29 dudes listed below ARE what I say they are (i.e., starting small forwards in the NBA) and will INSTEAD focus on who is better than who on the list below. For example, do you think that Eric Williams is the best starting SF in the NBA? If so, let's hear why!
If I have somebody listed as a starter who WON'T be a starter, please let me know.
So, without further ado, here's the list:
1 Kevin Garnett, Minnesota (Joe Smith starts at PF)
2 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (LaFrentz is the PF, Bradley/Eschmeyer the C)
3 Michael Jordan, Washington (he DOES start at SF now, right?)
4 Shawn Marion, Phoenix (what a player)
5 Lamar Odom, L.A. Clippers (will have a HUGE season)
6 Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento (would've made the difference vs. the Lakers in the playoffs)
7 Grant Hill, Orlando (I'm assuming that he stays healthy)
8 Jamal Mashburn, New Orleans (needs to get and stay healthy for a change)
9 Rashard Lewis, Seattle (he'll probably re-sign with Seattle)
10 Glenn Robinson, Atlanta (HE wasn't the problem in Milwaukee)
11 Donyell Marshall, Chicago (will start, Jalen Rose moves over to SG)
12 Ron Artest, Indiana (unless Al Harrington starts)
13 Scottie Pippen, Portland (still a lot more productive than people think)
14 Keith Van Horn, Philadelphia (a change of scenery could work wonders)
15 Richard Jefferson, New Jersey (don't expect stardom, at least not yet)
16 Latrell Sprewell, New York (plays SF for the Knicks)
17 Lamond Murray, Cleveland (I say Darius Miles is a PF, not a SF)
18 Caron Butler (probably more NBA-ready than Dunleavy, don't you think?)
19 Andrei Kirilenko (THE best player under the age of 39 on this team)
20 Mike Dunleavy (hard to know what to expect)
21 Shane Battier, Memphis (played a lot of minutes last season)
22 Rick Fox, L.A. Lakers (a solid role player)
23 Morris Peterson, Toronto (is this guy going to get better or what?)
24 Tim Thomas, Milwaukee (finally gets 30+ minutes)
25 Eddie Griffin, Houston (or does Glen Rice start?)
26 Bruce Bowen, San Antonio (has worked very hard to become a solid NBA player)
27 Eric Williams, Boston (although the Celtics would LOVE for Kedrick Brown to take over)
28 Michael Curry, Detroit (uh, good defender, but a STARTER?)
29 Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Denver (very, VERY raw)
AGAIN, I don't want to hear any of this "Kevin Garnett is a PF, not a SF" crap--but if, say, Glen Rice is expected to be the starter at SF for Houston instead of Eddie Griffin (whose future is obviously at PF, but who was starting at SF for Houston last season, I'm pretty sure), PLEASE TELL ME, because I want to know.
DEBATE, PEOPLE! Re-ranking is ENCOURAGED! I want to get a feel for what you people think! GO GO GO!
And, YES, this is supposed to generate a debate! But NOT "Kevin Garnett is a PF, not a SF"! Instead of debating whether or not so-and-so is a SF or a PF, why not just give me the benefit of the doubt here? Besides, HOW BORING is the "Is Kevin Garnett a SF or a PF" debate, anyway? Why not just call him a SF for the sake of argument?
The sort of debate that is WAY MORE INTERESTING will assume that all 29 dudes listed below ARE what I say they are (i.e., starting small forwards in the NBA) and will INSTEAD focus on who is better than who on the list below. For example, do you think that Eric Williams is the best starting SF in the NBA? If so, let's hear why!
If I have somebody listed as a starter who WON'T be a starter, please let me know.
So, without further ado, here's the list:
1 Kevin Garnett, Minnesota (Joe Smith starts at PF)
2 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (LaFrentz is the PF, Bradley/Eschmeyer the C)
3 Michael Jordan, Washington (he DOES start at SF now, right?)
4 Shawn Marion, Phoenix (what a player)
5 Lamar Odom, L.A. Clippers (will have a HUGE season)
6 Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento (would've made the difference vs. the Lakers in the playoffs)
7 Grant Hill, Orlando (I'm assuming that he stays healthy)
8 Jamal Mashburn, New Orleans (needs to get and stay healthy for a change)
9 Rashard Lewis, Seattle (he'll probably re-sign with Seattle)
10 Glenn Robinson, Atlanta (HE wasn't the problem in Milwaukee)
11 Donyell Marshall, Chicago (will start, Jalen Rose moves over to SG)
12 Ron Artest, Indiana (unless Al Harrington starts)
13 Scottie Pippen, Portland (still a lot more productive than people think)
14 Keith Van Horn, Philadelphia (a change of scenery could work wonders)
15 Richard Jefferson, New Jersey (don't expect stardom, at least not yet)
16 Latrell Sprewell, New York (plays SF for the Knicks)
17 Lamond Murray, Cleveland (I say Darius Miles is a PF, not a SF)
18 Caron Butler (probably more NBA-ready than Dunleavy, don't you think?)
19 Andrei Kirilenko (THE best player under the age of 39 on this team)
20 Mike Dunleavy (hard to know what to expect)
21 Shane Battier, Memphis (played a lot of minutes last season)
22 Rick Fox, L.A. Lakers (a solid role player)
23 Morris Peterson, Toronto (is this guy going to get better or what?)
24 Tim Thomas, Milwaukee (finally gets 30+ minutes)
25 Eddie Griffin, Houston (or does Glen Rice start?)
26 Bruce Bowen, San Antonio (has worked very hard to become a solid NBA player)
27 Eric Williams, Boston (although the Celtics would LOVE for Kedrick Brown to take over)
28 Michael Curry, Detroit (uh, good defender, but a STARTER?)
29 Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Denver (very, VERY raw)
AGAIN, I don't want to hear any of this "Kevin Garnett is a PF, not a SF" crap--but if, say, Glen Rice is expected to be the starter at SF for Houston instead of Eddie Griffin (whose future is obviously at PF, but who was starting at SF for Houston last season, I'm pretty sure), PLEASE TELL ME, because I want to know.
DEBATE, PEOPLE! Re-ranking is ENCOURAGED! I want to get a feel for what you people think! GO GO GO!