top 500 is back

[Mindlessness]

Stars have been known to leave their hometown to go elsewhere.

I see no reason why one might leave elsewhere to go home.


Not speculating or thinking it is likely, just saying. Nothing is guaranteed.

I agree, but DeRozan has given us a lot of reason to think that he won't leave unless something drastic happens.

[white men can't jump]

^should we be worried in 2 years when demars contract expires and Kobe retires.
How does a Compton kid turn down being the guy he grew up idolizing

The guy he grew up idolizing was all about winning though. So unless LA is much better within 2 years, or Toronto is a lot worse, I don't think the "hometown" angle really matters to him.

[mcHAPPY]

The guy he grew up idolizing was all about winning though. So unless LA is much better within 2 years, or Toronto is a lot worse, I don't think the "hometown" angle really matters to him.

I can't remember where I read it but it was talking about the idea of a lot of players NOT wanting to play in their hometown. Understandable really - separation of work life and home life.

[magoon]

The guy he grew up idolizing was all about winning though. So unless LA is much better within 2 years, or Toronto is a lot worse, I don't think the "hometown" angle really matters to him.

If DeMar continues to excel and improve, he'll be in All-NBA contention, and at that point LA will open up the money chest - right as Kobe is about to retire. "Hometown" isn't always a big deal, but "hometown" PLUS the Lakers - that is.

[white men can't jump]

If DeMar continues to excel and improve, he'll be in All-NBA contention, and at that point LA will open up the money chest - right as Kobe is about to retire. "Hometown" isn't always a big deal, but "hometown" PLUS the Lakers - that is.

Well, we'll see. It's not like LA-born guys have always flocked to the Lakers. And I also have seen the kind of stories mcHappy alluded to, where some guys don't like going home because it actually complicates things for them.

I really don't think it's much of a factor. Again, I think situation of the team will matter more to DeMar than location.

[007]

By this ranking we might have one of the best backcourts in the league.

[ball4life]

By this ranking we might have one of the best backcourts in the league.

And we have the second best SG in the entire league

[Fanchie]

I tried to put a list of the 35 guys not yet listed. I think this is it (in no particular order).

Irving
James
Anthony
Bosh
Millsap
Wall
DeRozan
Lowry
Curry
Durant
Griffin
Love
Howard
Aldridge
Paul
Harden
Parker
Lillard
Davis
M. Gasol
Rose
Duncan
Horford
Nowitzki
Conley
Leonard
Randolph
Ibaka
Cousins
Jefferson
Drummond
Batum
Westbrook
Jordan
Dragic

Batum is already gone. But you missed Noah.

I want Kyle to be #1 among non-All Star players. Not many left : Conley, Dragic, Leonard, Drummond, Cousins and Lowry (I might be wrong...).

Will be tough but not impossible...

[planetmars]

DeMar is in at 35

#NBArank 35: DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan). http://t.co/ke6V5lGSTp pic.twitter.com/oMym8o0ubx

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 17, 2014

[KeonClark]

Kyle guaranteed a spot in the top 30. 30 team league, which means he is seen as a legitimate #1 guy on a team. Some people think you are what you are in this league after a few seasons, but to look at how far this guy has come in 12 months is nothing short of amazing.

[Joey]

Demar in above DWade, Kobe & Klay Thompson? Love it!

[rocwell]

Demar in above DWade, Kobe & Klay Thompson? Love it!

lol kobe must be pissed

[Kuh]

I was thinking we should redo the earlier ranking slightly. Our goal should really be to be a top 5 team in the league, not 15th in the league. So let's see how we rank relative to a 'top 5':

Our starting lineup averages middle of the pack, about 10 spots below our aspired top 5.
5: Kyle Lowry 29 (- 24)
35: Demar Derozan 35 (+0)
65: Jonas Valanciunas 91 (-26)
95: Amir Johnson 106 (-11)
125: Terrence Ross 135 (-10)

Our bench is unusually strong, averaging around 25 spots higher than one expects.
155: Patrick Patterson 134 (+21)
185: Greivis Vasquez 147 (+38)
215: Lou Williams 177 (+38)
245: James Johnson 248 (-3)
275: Hansbrough 252 (+23)

Our guys in suits look better than your guys in suits.
305: Hayes 278 (+37)
335: Fields 293 (+52)
365: Stiemsma 355 (+20)
395: Nogueira 384 (+21)
425: Caboclo 455 (-20)

[Kuh]

P.S. Note also the one slight imbalance in our lineup. Our bench is stacked in PFs, but has no true centers. Our stiffs in suits, on the other hand, are stacked in centers who should never see the floor, and is missing a developmental PG.

[Bandit]

I don't think it really matters what you set as the baseline to determine a score from.

What I would be interested in seeing is a comparison between the actual top teams in the league all ranked against a hypothetical average team. See how they all come out if measured 2 deep at each position.

Be interesting to see the results