Chris Paul has come in as the fourth best player in the ESPN’s NBA Rank, finishing as the top point guard. His overall rating was 9.68/10, securing 72/91 possible perfect 10 ratings. Dirk finished fifth with a final ranking of 9.67 (sucker!).
Rounding out the top five will be Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Dwight Howard. As I reminded you yesterday, Paul finished higher than last year’s MVP Derrick Rose, and also ahead of former rival Deron Williams. That makes him the highest rated point guard in the league.
The ranking is not without debate. ESPN did a roundtable and all five writers questioned said that they thought Paul’s rank was too high, and that although he’s a great player, he’s not number four in the entire NBA. I respectfully disagree, and think that when he’s healthy and playing his game, there is nobody that plays at a higher level. One day hopefully he gets some more talent around him in New Orleans so that can be made more clear.
In the end, here are the final rankings of last year’s Hornets team.
4. Chris Paul45. David West 71. Emeka Okafor
113. Trevor Ariza
116. Carl Landry
214. Jarrett Jack 228. Marco Belinelli 281. Aaron Gray
381. DJ Mbenga 385. Quincy Pondexter
477. Marcus Banks
485. Patrick Ewing jr. NR- David Anderson, who will not be returning to the NBA
20 responses to “Chris Paul Winds up as ESPN’s Fourth Ranked Player”
What I’d like to know is, in his 5 on 5 debate, the only people that commented (Abbott, Adande, Haubner, Hollinger, Stein) are saying he’s too high. Why no comments from at least 1 or 2 of the 72/91 that thinks he’s at least just right?
How in the world would that make us talk about whohat they want us talking about?
They set the agenda, Queen! Get with the program! Toe the party line!
Can you imagine the questions associated with number 5’s team beating two of the top 3’s in a series and number 4 ‘s team splitting the regular season series with the same team?
That would be chaos. Can’t have that
Control the message. Control the agenda. Control the narrative.
Ooooh, look at the dunks! Sorry, I thought I was a voter…
LOL 42! Yeah, i should’ve known. I gotta get my act together. 😉
I was at where all of the Hornets ranked and it got me thinking about David West. Has anybody heard anything? Do we think there’s still a chance he’ll sign with us?
No news.
My take: If the owner+CBA allows for a shot at Chris, then 2/3 chance he stays if we have a season. Less if this year’s contracts expire due to a larger market on both sides. If we just give up on Chris, we offer a hometown-style deal.
I love CP but putting him over Kobe and Durant is pure lunacy.
Tell us in your opininon why. Because Durant is the scoring champ? Because Kobe is Kobe?
I mean I could see you maybe saying putting him above Dirk is lunacy because Dirk just won a championship but above Kobe? Kobe is still really good but he’s not THAT guy anymore. And Durant to me is a really good scorer.
If you asked me if I wanted Durant or CP to start a franchise with today, I take Durant. But I did have to think about it…
Hello old friends.
Bout that time of year again, aint it? I’m back! Hopefully this whole CBA gets resolved today so we can start talkin Hornet roster again.
And it’s a great way to start, seeing CP as the 4th ranked player in the league!
Honestly, I’ve said for awhile now CP is the 4th best player in the league. I’ve always said I go:
1. Kobe
2. Lebron
3. Wade
4. CP3
5. Durant
6. Howard
I dont hesitate with that. He’s top 5, no question to me. Hopefully we see a healthy CP this year to prove it. Cuz when he’s healthy, there is no other player in the world like him other then Kobe.
Had a talk with former New Orleans Coach Dave Miller about this. He has nicknamed CP “Mini Kobe”, and I think he’s right. And it’s because of that I gotta keep Kobe at the top of my list.
Hey there AgentZiko! Long time no see! So far they’ve been in there with the mediator for 13 hours, the longest meeting they’ve had since this lockout began. Hopefully that means that at least SOME type of progress is being made. At least.
Hey QueenBee! How ya been? Way too long!
Who knew this would go this long with a mediator though, right?
Wanna know what I’m most excited about though? The FLOOD of activity that will go on as soon as this gets done.
Teams are going to sign players as quickly as possible to get things ready for the season.
Can’t wait to see who we go after.
long time since we’ve had some form of comment activity here. Yes, I agree CP3 is top 5 even without his former explosiveness(as long as his healthy though). He’s wit, savvy, on court awareness and wizardry is enough to make him the best player on the court on most games. I could maybe see Dirk and Durant switching at 5/6 but i can’t see the top 4 moving(Lebron, Howard, Wade). Kobe’s not been that elite-elite-elite level in a while. He’s competitiveness will always shine, but his level of play has gone down a notch.( but not by much)
Sorry Nikko. Have to disagree with you bout Kobe. Dudes game hasn’t diminished. If anything, I think the Lakers group as a whole was focused on other things (Ron Artest with the name change and selling his ring, Odom with his new TV show, Gasol with GF breaking up with him, Bynum focused on becoming a boxer rather then an NBA player, Phil Jackson wishing he retired 1 year sooner)
It was the perfect storm for failure. Kobe was the only guy who was focused. If your team aint focused, you wont win. Dallas was focused and ready to win, thats why they got the title. They weren’t better then the Lakers (earlier in the season, the Lakers beat the same Dallas team 4 straight times, and badly because they were FOCUSED and a better team).
What Kobe does on the court, only 1 other player matches. Chris Paul. These 2 guys have the highest IQ in the game of basketball. Kobe’s older, and he still dominates games. CP’s injured and he’s still the best PG in the league.
What you see from Lebron, and Wade are 2 guys who have a POWER game. They play by using athleticism and force to dominate.
But what happens when that athleticism diminishes? When they get older and it goes away. I can tell you exactly what happens:
Lebron = Vince Carter
Wade = Tracy McGrady
They are 2 guys who’s games will die off when they hit 30. Mark my words. I called it.
I give Howard a small exception because he will always be able to play defense due to his LENGTH. He reminds me of David Robinson. But unless he learns how to be a threat in the post without dunking, he will slowly fade away too.
Kobe and CP3 are guys who’s careers will go on forever because they don’t dominate through athleticism. They dominate by reading and reacting to the offense and defense, and by MAKING high and low percentage shots. I really feel that Durant will fall into this category.
That’s why I HATE when people tout guys like Lebron, Wade, and Rose as the best players in the league, and will go down as all time greats.
B.S.
Those guys numbers will drop so much as they get older, and they start missing games and seasons due to injuries.
Wait and see.
And remember, I called it.
I cosign on ziko right here, mark me down for everything he just posted………….. Kobe 4 ever
I don’t even like Colin Cowherd but I just listened to his 5 minute podcast on ESPN about these rankings and what he said, I agree with.
I actually LOVE Colin Cowherd. He speaks the truth, and i heard exactly what you’re talking about.
Dude knows his shit. See what he said about Rose vs CP? How much did I say that all season? LoL.
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7123363
http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2011/10/20/chris-paul-deep-purple-and-writing/
Do people in the Jersey Shore even care about D-Willy?