Post by Los Angeles Lakers on Jan 13, 2007 19:21:35 GMT -5
If I were to pick the best players 25 and under; here is what my team would look like....
Starters
Center: Amare Stoudemire
Amare Stoudemire is a flat out stud. This kid is the league's manchild and he is probably one of the most explosive and exciting players to see. He finishes at the basket like no other player in the league right now and can handle the ball well for a guy who is 6'10, 265 lbs. Amare is one of the most agile big men that the league has seen. He's only 23 years old and we have yet to see the best of what this guy can offer.
Power Forward: Pau Gasol
I would've said Chris Bosh but how can I ignore what Pau Gasol has done since arriving in the Big Apple? Talk about pressure for this young man. He has everyone in New York looking at him as the guy and has delivered. The Knicks made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last year primarily because of this guy. He's improved his defense and his rebounding ability much more this year to add onto his scary scoring prowess. Pau is the dude that I want on my team first and foremost if I'm looking for a power forward.
Small Forward: Boris Diaw
Boris Diaw looks poised to become the best player in the league right now. There aren't many players who have the ability to score, handle the ball, and defend the way Diaw can. He's a rare player that has all the the tools one needs to be a great player. There's not much more I can say about this guy except that he is just a General Manager's dream.
Shooting Guard: Lebron James
If anyone is going to come close to rivaling the ability that Boris Diaw has...it's going to be Lebron James. He is the most talented player ever to enter a draft. He's already improved one of his major weaknesses coming into this game - his defense. He handles the ball well and has tremendous court vision. He drives and scores at will. And lastly, King James has a 6'8 frame and a 240 lbs. body. He is yet to make his debut but I still take him over any other young SG at this point just because we all know the kind of impact he is going to make. The 76ers should upgrade his outside to B+ with the points they have and expect a monster rookie year from LBJ.
Point Guard: Tony Parker
Tony Parker could just be unquestionably ready to take on the crown of best point guard in the league this year. He doesn't have any weaknesses in his game as a point guard. He's got a terrific outside game along with a great combination of hands and quickness. Tony can do whatever he wants with the ball and perhaps is one of the better defensive players at the point guard position today.
Reserves
Yao Ming
Chris Bosh
Carmelo Anthony
Ben Gordon
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Kirk Hinrich
Emeka Okafor
Devin Harris
Dwayne Wade
Yao is still a little bit of a disappointment to me which is why I put him as my reserve but there still aren't many big men as tall and as skilled as him. He may have a breakout year now that he's not playing behind KG and Webber.
Chris Bosh is my guy though I am not sure what he's going to give me just yet this year. He's going to have to establish himself as the man in Los Angeles and then he can probably be the best power forward under 25 next year.
Carmelo Anthony out of all these guys on the bench is the only one with a championship ring. Don't get me wrong, I love Melo's game. There's still no way that I put him over Diaw at SF though.
Ben Gordon is going to make a huge impact for the Nets this year simply because he is their best player. He's also one of the best combo guards in the league.
Chris Paul is a stud point guard and was one of the reason's why last year the Nuggets broke their playoff drought last season.
Deron Williams is a flat out stud at point guard as well. Size and strength are reasons why Deron is going to have a long career in this league.
Hinrich is in a quandry right now in Seattle but as soon has he finds a new home where he can flourish - expect Kirk to be up there with some of the best yount point guards in the league.
I almost forgot about Emeka Okafor who had a monster training camp this year. Emeka is a complete beast and is going to rise because of his great basketball IQ.
There seems to be so many great young point guards in this league and Devin Harris is one of them. Devin has plenty of talent to have a long successful career because he is one of the quickest guards in the league.
Dwayne Wade just barely made the team and the former number one overall pick from 2003 is still yet to make as big of an impact as guys like Diaw, Melo, and Stoudemire. However, expect this year to be the year that Dwayne Wade puts his name on the map.
Just Missed The Cut
Eddy Curry
Andre Iguodala
Jameer Nelson
Leandro Barbosa
Zaza Pachulia
Raymond Felton
Dajuan Wagner
Starters
Center: Amare Stoudemire
Amare Stoudemire is a flat out stud. This kid is the league's manchild and he is probably one of the most explosive and exciting players to see. He finishes at the basket like no other player in the league right now and can handle the ball well for a guy who is 6'10, 265 lbs. Amare is one of the most agile big men that the league has seen. He's only 23 years old and we have yet to see the best of what this guy can offer.
Power Forward: Pau Gasol
I would've said Chris Bosh but how can I ignore what Pau Gasol has done since arriving in the Big Apple? Talk about pressure for this young man. He has everyone in New York looking at him as the guy and has delivered. The Knicks made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last year primarily because of this guy. He's improved his defense and his rebounding ability much more this year to add onto his scary scoring prowess. Pau is the dude that I want on my team first and foremost if I'm looking for a power forward.
Small Forward: Boris Diaw
Boris Diaw looks poised to become the best player in the league right now. There aren't many players who have the ability to score, handle the ball, and defend the way Diaw can. He's a rare player that has all the the tools one needs to be a great player. There's not much more I can say about this guy except that he is just a General Manager's dream.
Shooting Guard: Lebron James
If anyone is going to come close to rivaling the ability that Boris Diaw has...it's going to be Lebron James. He is the most talented player ever to enter a draft. He's already improved one of his major weaknesses coming into this game - his defense. He handles the ball well and has tremendous court vision. He drives and scores at will. And lastly, King James has a 6'8 frame and a 240 lbs. body. He is yet to make his debut but I still take him over any other young SG at this point just because we all know the kind of impact he is going to make. The 76ers should upgrade his outside to B+ with the points they have and expect a monster rookie year from LBJ.
Point Guard: Tony Parker
Tony Parker could just be unquestionably ready to take on the crown of best point guard in the league this year. He doesn't have any weaknesses in his game as a point guard. He's got a terrific outside game along with a great combination of hands and quickness. Tony can do whatever he wants with the ball and perhaps is one of the better defensive players at the point guard position today.
Reserves
Yao Ming
Chris Bosh
Carmelo Anthony
Ben Gordon
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Kirk Hinrich
Emeka Okafor
Devin Harris
Dwayne Wade
Yao is still a little bit of a disappointment to me which is why I put him as my reserve but there still aren't many big men as tall and as skilled as him. He may have a breakout year now that he's not playing behind KG and Webber.
Chris Bosh is my guy though I am not sure what he's going to give me just yet this year. He's going to have to establish himself as the man in Los Angeles and then he can probably be the best power forward under 25 next year.
Carmelo Anthony out of all these guys on the bench is the only one with a championship ring. Don't get me wrong, I love Melo's game. There's still no way that I put him over Diaw at SF though.
Ben Gordon is going to make a huge impact for the Nets this year simply because he is their best player. He's also one of the best combo guards in the league.
Chris Paul is a stud point guard and was one of the reason's why last year the Nuggets broke their playoff drought last season.
Deron Williams is a flat out stud at point guard as well. Size and strength are reasons why Deron is going to have a long career in this league.
Hinrich is in a quandry right now in Seattle but as soon has he finds a new home where he can flourish - expect Kirk to be up there with some of the best yount point guards in the league.
I almost forgot about Emeka Okafor who had a monster training camp this year. Emeka is a complete beast and is going to rise because of his great basketball IQ.
There seems to be so many great young point guards in this league and Devin Harris is one of them. Devin has plenty of talent to have a long successful career because he is one of the quickest guards in the league.
Dwayne Wade just barely made the team and the former number one overall pick from 2003 is still yet to make as big of an impact as guys like Diaw, Melo, and Stoudemire. However, expect this year to be the year that Dwayne Wade puts his name on the map.
Just Missed The Cut
Eddy Curry
Andre Iguodala
Jameer Nelson
Leandro Barbosa
Zaza Pachulia
Raymond Felton
Dajuan Wagner
