ESPN's top 500

[fullcourtpress]

They're down to 121 and we still have 6 players yet to be ranked. Could it be we land 6 in the top 100???

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank-no-2014/





If so, it's kind of ironic to have six in the top 100 and none ranked up120-300

that kind of 'top-heavy'-ness is what made us so susceptible to injuries like last year.

300
Austin Rivers
New Orleans Pelicans
SG | Age: 22 | Stats
2013 rank: #286
@AustinRivers25

3.24

338
John Salmons
New Orleans Pelicans
SF | Age: 34 | Stats
2013 rank: #289
@PelicansNBA
2.96

360
Jimmer Fredette
New Orleans Pelicans
PG | Age: 25 | Stats
2013 rank: #287
@jimmerfredette

2.77

362
Jeff Withey
New Orleans Pelicans
C | Age: 24 | Stats
2013 rank: #387
@JeffWithey

2.74

363
Alexis Ajinca
New Orleans Pelicans
C | Age: 26 | Stats
2013 rank: NR
@AjincaAlexis42
2.73

374
Darius Miller
New Orleans Pelicans
SF | Age: 24 | Stats
2013 rank: #380
@uknum1
2.64

401
Patric Young
PF | Age: 22 | Stats
2013 rank: NR
@BigPatYoung4
2.42

403
Luke Babbitt
New Orleans Pelicans
SF | Age: 25 | Stats
2013 rank: #NR
@PelicansNBA
2.38

409
Russ Smith
PG | Age: 23 | Stats
2013 rank: NR
@Im_Russdiculous
2.34

I know it won't be popular, SO FEEL FREE NOT TO RESPOND but I would diluted the talent by trading one of our best assets cause teams want him and his contract- Ryan Anderson. Hell, for Anderson we could get a starting SF and a quality big.

Then I'd back that up with trading Gordon after early season success.

[MichaelMcNamara]

I mean, guys like Trey Burke are 118. I am guessing our lowest guy of the 6 is Asik. He is far better than Burke, so yes, we SHOULD have 6 in the top 100.

[MMEmbreno]

I mean, guys like Trey Burke are 118. I am guessing our lowest guy of the 6 is Asik. He is far better than Burke, so yes, we SHOULD have 6 in the top 100.

I guess they based their ranking off his tournament run at Michigan and not on his performance in the NBA.

[fullcourtpress]

austin rivers and jeff whitey for harrison barnes? lol. would be great


Ryan Anderson
Jeff Whitey

for

Ersan Ilyasova
Kris Middleton
Damien Ingles

[PelsFan2313]

How in the world is Burke 118? He should be way lower.

[MichaelMcNamara]

How in the world is Burke 118? He should be way lower.

I think they meant that to be his PG rank.

Seriously, though. I don't get the world where he is 118 and Rivers is 300. I think those two guys are a toss up. When you factor in defense, I rate them the same.

[UNO Gracias]

This thread has an extra helping of bitter.

To be fair, Burke is pegged between two guys that are solid bench players.

[MichaelMcNamara]

Burke is ahead of Draymond Green and Jeff Green. I can't imagine a world in which he is more valuable than either of those guys.

[UNO Gracias]

Burk is behind Channing Frye and McBob. I can't imagine a world in which they are more valuable than Burke.

I don't see a problem with the ranking. He was a rookie last year playing for a bad coach. He is in a system now that should showcase his and Exum more. Will be a fun season for Utah.

[MichaelMcNamara]

Burk is behind Channing Frye and McBob. I can't imagine a world in which they are more valuable than Burke.

That world existed last season. You don't have to imagine it

[UNO Gracias]

Seriously, when I saw the list, and I saw Burke was rated so high my mind shot to you and how you would be upset. I wasn't aware that you thought he and Rivers should be in different positions (do you want them to be ranked closer together/switch spots/Rivers should be ranked higher). Why don't you like Burke? I like Burke because I am a Michigan homer, so lets be clear on that, but I also think given my understanding of how bad Ty Corbin was, and what Burke did to close out his season, there is reason to show optimism for his game going forward.

[MichaelMcNamara]

Upset?

If an NBA Rank list ever got me upset, I should reevaluate my life.

[UNO Gracias]

Answer the real question...did Burke take some money from you and never pay you back?

I don't recall you spitting this much vitriol at any non-Pelican player before (or maybe thats just me seeing what I want to see mixed with not following all of your posts).

I am not knocking your opinion, I just don't know how you got to your opinion.

[tthier2]

yeah I wouldnt say Burke is that bad. i love rivers but I would still give the edge to burke

[MichaelMcNamara]

Answer the real question...did Burke take some money from you and never pay you back?

I don't recall you spitting this much vitriol at any non-Pelican player before (or maybe thats just me seeing what I want to see mixed with not following all of your posts).

I am not knocking your opinion, I just don't know how you got to your opinion.

Vitriol? I said he and Rivers are about on the same level. So, do I hate Rivers too?

Or am I just an analyst using his eyes and the data to draw a conclusion?

[Kibner]

Burke was a bad player last season. Better than Tinsley, but still bad. He started off hot, iirc, but quickly and sharply faded. Still young, though.

Frye was an actually good player last season. His defense was ok, but he was a huge part of the Sun's run last season because of his ability to pull bigs away from the basket and convert 3s at a high level.

[UNO Gracias]

It's time we had an intervention Miguel. You have been criticizing Trey Burke since the NCAA Finals 2 years ago. It has gone on for a while now. When he is mentioned, you always fall back to negative criticism of him. What gives man. What happened? Your in the company of friends and people who care about you.

[MichaelMcNamara]

TS%, eFG%, defense, FT rate, spot up 3pt%, steal % - advantage Rivers

Assist %, FT% - advantage Burke

Everything else - eerily similar

There is not a 180 player gap between these two

[Caffeinedisastr]

Burke is ahead of Draymond Green and Jeff Green. I can't imagine a world in which he is more valuable than either of those guys.

Burke > Green/Green?

Yet Burke is the one who is "green"?

I'm sorry.
Ready for 5 o'clock.

[MichaelMcNamara]

It's time we had an intervention Miguel. You have been criticizing Trey Burke since the NCAA Finals 2 years ago. It has gone on for a while now. When he is mentioned, you always fall back to negative criticism of him. What gives man. What happened? Your in the company of friends and people who care about you.

Some just can't read. Never thought he would be terrible. He won't be an All-Star or even close. Just like Rivers.

Fine player. Not a good one. Wont be a great one. He's fine.

[Caffeinedisastr]

Upset?

If an NBA Rank list ever got me upset, I should reevaluate my life.

This.

[UNO Gracias]

Seems like Rivers and Burke were also facing different competition. One was putting up 32 min a game (meaning the bulk of his time was among starters), while the others was putting in 19 (meaning the bulk of his pt came against backups). I am not saying Rivers numbers aren't impressive considering how far he has come from that guy who played like a mix of dumpster fire and chicken with his head cut off his rookie year, but I am also not going to say his numbers are more impressive than Burke's because one was playing against guys who are on the fringe of an NBA career, while the other was logging most of his minuets against guys who are established in the league.

JMHO.

[UNO Gracias]

This list is about to take an interesting turn coming up in the next 50 slots. I would say of our 6 remaining the shakeout will be something like the following:

Top 10 - AD
Top 50- Jrue
Top 60- Ryno
Top 75- Evans
Top 100- Aisk
Top 110- Gordon

Obviosuly opinions will differ, but people are going to go from "No, this list doesn't bother me." to " This list is ludicrous. How is _____ ranked higher than _____(Pelicans player)."

[fullcourtpress]

Trey Burke's last game of the season he had 32 points 9 assists 7 rebounds

and during his last month he averaged 15.6 ppg and 9 assists

not too bad for a rookie. Given, his shooting percentages are dirt poor but then again Austin grew a lot after year 1


He's still ranked too high though

[fullcourtpress]

lmao burke is rated higher than tobias harris, gerald green and the soon to be great john henson. to me, those are crazy-