FanHouse's Tom Ziller argues his ranking of the top 50 players in the NBA.
Through most of this series, I have been focusing on building up the players I discuss, advocating for their placement. Unfortunately, for the next couple players on the list, that will impossible. I'm sure most of you think Tracy McGrady belongs higher than #29, and I have to tell you why he doesn't.
Two versions of Mac have circulated over the past decade: best scorer alive, and most versatile dude ever. Sadly, McGrady's neither, and hasn't been a shade of either for a time. McGrady remains a hugely valuable player, as someone who rebounds well for his position, plays solid defense, sets up his teammates, limits turnovers, and can get a clean look at the basket against any defender in the league with a wide assortment of ball skills. Despite this versatility, supremely flexible talents like LeBron and Wade have basically made a mockery of the stars of years past.
McGrady is no longer an elite scorer, nor is he the coda for a generation of multi-talented stars.
(I need to note I really like McGrady, and watching him play is tons of fun. And he is in the top 30 still. He's a great player. Just not "All-Star great." Or "MVP contender great." Or "All-NBA great.")
McGrady used to top every scorer's ranking imaginable. I vividly remember the bitter Kobe vs. T-Mac Wars. Now, in his prime? McGrady was 18th last season in per-minute scoring, despite taking more shots per minute than anyone but LeBron. And among those top 18 per-minute scorers in the NBA, McGrady was the least efficient shooter ... by far. Behind even Kevin Durant.
This was Mac's age 28 season -- he is in the middle of his prime.
Look at Mac's shooting efficiency, as measured by True Shooting percentage, over the years. The red line is McGrady. The blue line is a general estimate of league average.
When McGrady floats around league average -- as he did between 2000-01 and 2004-05 -- his extreme level of shot-taking works. You can afford to soak up so many shots in the scorer with below-average efficiency is a) he's going to do it every night, and b) you have limited options. But now, below .500 in TS%? That doesn't work. It's a big part of Houston's offensive trouble: they have a guy with a worse shooting clip than Willie Green taking most of their shots.
It's not McGrady's fault -- he hasn't had much offensive help outside of Yao Ming. To Mac's credit, he has gotten his teammates shots they can work with; McGrady's assist numbers are sky-high for the type of player he is. Rafer Alston benefits, Shane Battier benefits, Brent Barry will benefit. And this is to say nothing of the immeasurable impact of the near-constant double-teams McGrady (for some reason) still draws: no perimeter player in the league sees more early help defense, save for LeBron.
I think Daryl Morey gets it: he traded for Luis Scola (a good offensive weapon), he signed Barry (a gunner by birth) and he traded for Ron Artest when he already had the #2 defense in the league. Morey understands McGrady has been spread too thin for his capabilities on offense in Houston. Adding weapons is a beautiful start to offensive renaissance ... for the Rockets and possibly for McGrady.
Let's hope so, because when he's on, there isn't a more entertaining scorer in the game.
NBA Top 50
No. 50, Andris Biedrins, Warriors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-11-2008 @ 10:42AM
ManofSteelo said...
First Baron Davis at #30, then T-Mac at 29? Ridiculous. I could understand if this was the Top 10 you were talking about, and deciding to put these guys just short of that list, but putting these guys as barely making the Top 30 players in the NBA (and not on some NBA-game on XBox, PS3 or some other gaming system) is, in a word, retarded. Your picks have been absolutely ridiculous the past five days or so; you should be ashamed (and committed).
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9-11-2008 @ 10:43AM
Ziller said...
Once you're out spittle, feel free to, you know, explain why you think McGrady deserves to be higher. I have explained why he's lower than expected on my list.
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9-11-2008 @ 10:48AM
ecash94 said...
I thought it was bad that you had Baron Davis at 30, but T-Mac at 29? You've lost all credibility. I understand they've both had injury issues, but it is absolutely retarded to say that there are 28 players in the league better than T-Mac. Maybe his efficiency would be improved if: he had a legit pg who could keep defenses honest as well as consistently hit when Yao or T-Mac are doubled; Yao also wasn't injury-prone; He hadn't played for a control freak like Van Gundy, who also lacks offensive creativity in his play calls/designs; or if they played at a faster pace (allowing more easy shot opportunities) like some of the guys I'm sure you have ahead of him - Nash, Arenas, Carmelo, Iverson, etc.
How can you say, "It's not McGrady's fault -- he hasn't had much offensive help outside of Yao Ming...no perimeter player in the league sees more early help defense, save for LeBron," and still put him at 29? I'm not even a T-Mac or Rocket fan, but your list is officially worthless.
Just to reiterate please don't tell me you think Carmelo, Pierce, Joe Johnson, Ray Allen (he can't possibly be on the list, can he), Kidd (ditto), Odom (I'm a Laker fan, but I'm not an idiot), Gasol, etc. are bette- wait, you already did. I'm only used to seeing such "astute" analysis on NBA Shootaround and Around the Horn. I guess you must be auditioning for one of those gigs.
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9-11-2008 @ 11:42AM
Prowler420 said...
I agree that T-Mac is overated but he's better then number 29. T-Mac should have been top 20.
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9-11-2008 @ 3:01PM
MoneyM said...
Like i said, he lost all credibility when he put Josh HOward so low, Baron at 30 and now Tmac at 29. That is why I read blog posts with a grain of salt. Blog writers are fans, not students of the game.
But this list is beyond stupid!!!!
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9-11-2008 @ 2:38PM
D.Diaz said...
Agree with the majority of posters, couldn't disagree with this ranking more. The fact that players like AI, Carmello, Arenas, etc, will be ahead on the list render this analysis flawed. No NBA GM or NBA knowledgable individual would tell you they'd rather have any of those guys in a seven game series, or even one game to win. His impact is significantly greater in all facets of an NBA game than a bunch of the names I imagine that will be ranked higher. Not talking about building a franchise and youth here, just who is a better player, which is what I thought this list is about. And please, no mentions of his playoff failings. Go look at McGradys playoff stats and compare them to say...Kobe (or any guard really). Think you will be shocked at what you find.
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9-11-2008 @ 2:54PM
lunatic_fo_ever said...
LOL 29? WTF? hahahahahahahaha wow do you think MELO is better than T-Mac? HAHAHAHA what a freakin joke wow. Who the hell puts T-Mac at 29th? LOL wow i cant believe this even a child would know that T-Mac is still an elite player. omg 22,6,5 and he's 29? note to fanhousetv, please make a basketball insider do these lists not a guy that thinks joe johnson is better than mcgrady... ridiculous
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9-11-2008 @ 3:02PM
David said...
Gotta agree with Ziller on this one, guys. McGrady is just a name at this point. He's no longer the elite scorer that he once was.
The numbers don't lie. He's an inefficient chucker nowadays.
He's still a very good player due to the other things that he does, but he certainly doesn't deserve to be in the top 20.
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9-11-2008 @ 3:37PM
lunatic_fo_ever said...
ok... since i got that out of my system.... T-Mac was regarded this year as the 2nd best SG behind kobe by many analysts including jeff van gundy, mark jackson, magic.... and you put him at 29th? 29th for an elite SG? that plays defense, rebounds, scores and makes plays? for a player that can shoot from the 3, the 2? for a player that despite yao getting injured, was a key factor in the 12 game streak after the injury? for a player that made his teammates better? man ziller i dunno how you can possbly put T-Mac at 29th thats just pure hate. seriously, aside from kobe in the west, what sg/wing player in the west is better than T-Mac? in the east you can make valid points for lebron, wade and pierce but other than the 4 wing players in this league who is better than t-mac? and hes 29th? ridiculous.
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9-11-2008 @ 3:12PM
David said...
Wing players who I would rather have on my team than McGrady at this point -
Wade
LeBron
Ginobili
Brandon Roy
Kobe
Kevin Martin
Pierce
Carmelo
Caron Butler
I'm sure there are others.
All of those guys are better, more efficient wing scorers than T-Mac. Most of them do things like getting assists and rebounds just as well as T-Mac. There is really no reason why T-Mac is better than any of those guys except that he has a well known name on his jersey.
He isn't performing like a superstar anymore.
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9-11-2008 @ 3:15PM
David said...
ALL PLAYERS that I can think of who are better than T-Mac -
Wade
Kobe
LeBron
Caron
Pierce
Kevin Martin
Melo
Ginobili
Brandon Roy
Al Jefferson
Amare
Steve Nash
Deron Williams
Chris Paul
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Gilbert Arenas
Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Bosh
Chauncey Billups
Yao Ming
Dwight Howard
David West
That's 23 guys who I consider better than T-Mac. The only player on that list who I think twice about is Billups.
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9-27-2008 @ 2:09PM
Sim said...
Well. . .that leaves T-mac 24 on the list posted.
T-mac was placed 29: 5 official NBA-players difference.
9-11-2008 @ 3:22PM
Step said...
I don't know about the exact number ranking since I didn't compile my own personal list myself, but the general idea that Tracy's reputation is bigger than his play is something that I agree with. Talentwise, he's obviously much higher but aside from a lot of the positive things he creates, his shot selection is just horrible. Just because he knows he's the only perimeter player on their team who can create his own shot doesn't mean he has to launch so many 20 footers with guys in his face without even trying to look for a better option. This is where I think his back injury or nervousness about suffering another one affects his play, by constricting what areas of the floor he's willing to play on.
I can see him being better with Artest though because their team is not going to exist cohesively if McGrady frequently takes a flurry of bad shots. Artest will get way too frustrated. If McGrady's forced to use more discretion, I think the efficiency will improve a lot.
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9-11-2008 @ 8:55PM
Brarr said...
wow his shooting persentages are horrible... but still he shouldnt be this low. Cmon its tmac. And this year is BIG for him.
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9-11-2008 @ 4:09PM
Nate Jones said...
You guys keep writing Ziller off as "just a blogger". But what makes Ziller any less than ESPN analysts? Seriously, if you read the stuff that he writes you can see the amount of time and analysis that he puts into his work. Not saying you have to agree with what he writes. But you can't tell me that his work isn't more reasoned and more thorough than most so called experts out there. "Blog writers are fans not students of the game". I guess Henry Abbott is just a fan too. And you can't be a fan and a student of the game too? Give him a break!
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9-11-2008 @ 5:20PM
rocketsfan said...
29 is a little bit low, it should be fair to be around 25.
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9-11-2008 @ 5:20PM
Billy said...
nice noob list...similar to what my 3 year old brother had. completely nonsensical.
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9-11-2008 @ 5:51PM
lunatic_fo_ever said...
LOL Melo? Caron? Kevin Martin? Roy? Al Jefferson? Youve gotta be freakin kidding me Arenas? David West? HAHAHAHA Dwight Howard? the guy that can do nothing on the offensive end except dunk? David do you even watch basketball? Your list is retarted considering that more than half of the players you posted couldnt lead a team like T-Mac has. don't be an idiot... you think ginobli could be a better franchise player than T-Mac considering hes played with duncan/parker his whole career? You think that David west can go to houston and have the impact t-mac has? Do you seriously think melo is a superstar? melo cant even play defense for christs sake. That is the stupidest list i've ever seen. david i laugh at your attempt to say that. More than half of the guys on the list wouldnt be effective in the west like T-Mac has been anyways.
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9-11-2008 @ 5:40PM
mookie said...
I'll wait to post my internet-stat-whore-nerd-rage about Ziller's list until AFTER the full list is posted. So far, while I think I may disagree with the order, the analysis has been insightful. Well done Z.
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9-11-2008 @ 5:51PM
lunatic_fo_ever said...
btw, just because T-Mac isnt the scorer he used to be, doesnt mean he deserves to be 29th... people forget to realise that hes been injured this year. He was also in the west, played as a lone soldier most of the season and attracted the most double teams in the west, which I should include was the toughest battle in many years. So I'll ask yall this. Would caron butler or kevin martin or melo have been able to anchor that rockets team? If they switched with mac? lets get something straight here. Caron butler is not the all star T-Mac is. Kevin martin is not an all star. Melo cant even win with iverson, camby, martin. Nuggets were 8th in the league and Melo had a terrible showing in the playoffs missing countless layups and having help from players like smith, camby, iverson,martin. and yall can tell me melo is better than t-mac, a player that lead his team to a 12 game streak, 5th seed and game 6 vs the jazz? a player that plays defense, gets his teammates involved and still puts up 22 a game? Let me say this. Everyone saying T-Mac is not an elite player will sadly have to eat their words come 08-09 when he actually has a core to help him avoid double teams all the time. T-Mac is still an elite player and everyone in the NBA knows that. He had a relatively garbage injury because of his injuries and the injuries of others on his team. I dont hear people pointing out the bad year wade had why? because he had injuries. man i cant believe this T-Mac at 29? wow i think im done commenting on fanhouse if they are gonna let bloggers post this nonsense. I;m out.
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