In last week's ESPN magazine, there was article about NBA fantasy teams which included a ranking of players. NBA.com has it's own rankings as well. The Suns are very highly regarded on the ESPN system in particular
The ESPN rankings have three Suns in their top 10:
1 Kevin Garnett (Celtics)
2. LeBron James (Cavaliers)
3. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
4. Gilbert Arenas (Wizzards)
5. Steve Nash
6. Shanw Marion
7. Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks)
8. Amare Stoudemire
9. Paul Gasol (Grizzlies)
10. Dwayne Wade (Heat)
11. Jason Kidd (Nets)
12. Chris Paul (Hornets)
13. Yao Ming (Rockets)
14. Time Duncan (Spurs)
15. Andre Iguodala (Sixers)
16. Chris Bosh (Raptors)
17. Paul Pierce (Celtics)
18. Josh Smith (Hawks)
19. Allan Iverson (Nuggests)
20. Al Jefferson (Timberwolves)
The only other team with more than one guy in the top 20 is the Celtics.
NBA.com has their own ranking for posslbe fantasy drafts:
http://www.nba.com/media/fantasy/cheatsheets.html
Player - TM [POS]
1. Kevin Garnett - BOS [PF]
2. Gilbert Arenas - WAS [PG]
3. LeBron James - CLE [SF]
4. Kobe Bryant - LAL [SG]
5. Shawn Marion - PHX [SF,PF]
6. Steve Nash - PHX [PG]
7. Jason Kidd - NJN [PG]
8. Dirk Nowitzki - DAL [PF]
9. Amare Stoudemire - PHX [C]
10. Josh Smith - ATL [SF,PF]
11. Chris Paul - NOH [PG]
12. Andre Iguodala - PHI [SG,SF]
13. Dwyane Wade - MIA [SG]
14. Pau Gasol - MEM [C]
15. Yao Ming - HOU [C]
16. Chris Bosh - TOR [PF]
17. Tim Duncan - SAS [PF]
18. Al Jefferson - MIN [PF,C]
19. Vince Carter - NJN [SG]
20. Ray Allen - BOS [SG]
Their ranking substitutes Ray Allen for Paul Pierce as the second Celtic in the top 20.
Obviously fantasy rankings leave out some major stuff like team defense and team play. For example, Arenas is better fantasy player than Nash, but no one if their right mind would give up Nash for Arenas. In any case, from a fantasy standpoint the Suns are projected to be the top team.
In the ESPN fantasy rankings of the top 100 players, the Suns have three other contenders (with NBA.com ranking them just a bit lower except for Diaw)
41. Leandro Barbosa (49 on NBA.com)
90. Raja Bell (97 on NBA.com)
93. Boris Diaw (122 on NBA.com)
NBA.com has their rankings by position, but they are not consistent.
PG: 2. Nash, 10. Barbosa
SG: 16. Barbosa (cheat sheet) 21. Bell (direct listing not on cheat sheet) 32. Hill (he's not on the NBA.com 150 listing)
SF 2. Marion
PF 2. Marion 19. Diaw
C. 1. Stoudemire
Fantasy rankings are based on stats and it is hard for everyone to rank high in categories like scoring, assists, and rebounding because at least some improvement by one guy will come at the expense of another. It is clear that having a high octane offense like the Suns gives more guys an opportunity to shine, but the Warriors are not that highly ranked in fantasy terms and they certainly can score.
Does any of it matter? Probably not. Still, it shows why so many people are high on the Suns chances. This is despite how little regard Hill is given considering his stats were pretty good last year and will be a starter on a very high scoring team.
The ESPN rankings have three Suns in their top 10:
1 Kevin Garnett (Celtics)
2. LeBron James (Cavaliers)
3. Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
4. Gilbert Arenas (Wizzards)
5. Steve Nash
6. Shanw Marion
7. Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks)
8. Amare Stoudemire
9. Paul Gasol (Grizzlies)
10. Dwayne Wade (Heat)
11. Jason Kidd (Nets)
12. Chris Paul (Hornets)
13. Yao Ming (Rockets)
14. Time Duncan (Spurs)
15. Andre Iguodala (Sixers)
16. Chris Bosh (Raptors)
17. Paul Pierce (Celtics)
18. Josh Smith (Hawks)
19. Allan Iverson (Nuggests)
20. Al Jefferson (Timberwolves)
The only other team with more than one guy in the top 20 is the Celtics.
NBA.com has their own ranking for posslbe fantasy drafts:
http://www.nba.com/media/fantasy/cheatsheets.html
Player - TM [POS]
1. Kevin Garnett - BOS [PF]
2. Gilbert Arenas - WAS [PG]
3. LeBron James - CLE [SF]
4. Kobe Bryant - LAL [SG]
5. Shawn Marion - PHX [SF,PF]
6. Steve Nash - PHX [PG]
7. Jason Kidd - NJN [PG]
8. Dirk Nowitzki - DAL [PF]
9. Amare Stoudemire - PHX [C]
10. Josh Smith - ATL [SF,PF]
11. Chris Paul - NOH [PG]
12. Andre Iguodala - PHI [SG,SF]
13. Dwyane Wade - MIA [SG]
14. Pau Gasol - MEM [C]
15. Yao Ming - HOU [C]
16. Chris Bosh - TOR [PF]
17. Tim Duncan - SAS [PF]
18. Al Jefferson - MIN [PF,C]
19. Vince Carter - NJN [SG]
20. Ray Allen - BOS [SG]
Their ranking substitutes Ray Allen for Paul Pierce as the second Celtic in the top 20.
Obviously fantasy rankings leave out some major stuff like team defense and team play. For example, Arenas is better fantasy player than Nash, but no one if their right mind would give up Nash for Arenas. In any case, from a fantasy standpoint the Suns are projected to be the top team.
In the ESPN fantasy rankings of the top 100 players, the Suns have three other contenders (with NBA.com ranking them just a bit lower except for Diaw)
41. Leandro Barbosa (49 on NBA.com)
90. Raja Bell (97 on NBA.com)
93. Boris Diaw (122 on NBA.com)
NBA.com has their rankings by position, but they are not consistent.
PG: 2. Nash, 10. Barbosa
SG: 16. Barbosa (cheat sheet) 21. Bell (direct listing not on cheat sheet) 32. Hill (he's not on the NBA.com 150 listing)
SF 2. Marion
PF 2. Marion 19. Diaw
C. 1. Stoudemire
Fantasy rankings are based on stats and it is hard for everyone to rank high in categories like scoring, assists, and rebounding because at least some improvement by one guy will come at the expense of another. It is clear that having a high octane offense like the Suns gives more guys an opportunity to shine, but the Warriors are not that highly ranked in fantasy terms and they certainly can score.
Does any of it matter? Probably not. Still, it shows why so many people are high on the Suns chances. This is despite how little regard Hill is given considering his stats were pretty good last year and will be a starter on a very high scoring team.
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