In this Position
Battle post, we will focus on the top five small forwards at this point in the
season. We will take into account just the players’ stats for the latest five games of their respective
teams. This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each player’s
production.
After his
61-point effort against the Bobcats, LBJ’s shooting has tapered off
considerably, which means KD is back on top of the heap as the best swingman on
the planet. Unexpectedly, this also means LeBron slides as far back as third on
this list, with a surprising fellow becoming, currently, the second-best SF out
there. And, no, Paul George, Josh Smith, and Chandler Parsons don’t even come close.
Note: All of the following stats are based on each
player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on March
16, 2014 (Manila time).
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| A couple of new faces grace our list of top five SFs in the NBA. (composite image by Enzo Flojo/Hoop Nut) |
5. PJ Tucker (PHX) - 10.8ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.0apg,
2.8spg, .542 FG%, 19.3 EFF
Before the
season started, I couldn’t care less about who PJ Tucker was, but right now he
has been ultra-efficient for the Suns. In his last five games, he’s recorded
three double-doubles, with him missing by just one rebound in the other two
games. He plays just 35 minutes per game, too, which is fewer than the minutes
of guys like Luol Deng and Chandler Parsons. I don’t know where Phoenix will be
by season’s end – they’re still in the running for a postseason spot – and I don't
know if I’ll ever really care about the PJ Tuckers of the NBA, but, man, I have
to admit he’s playing damn well.
4. Nicolas Batum (POR) - 13.4ppg, 11.4rpg, 3.8apg,
1.8 triples per game, 19.6 EFF
Batum’s
Blazers have won just three games this month and they’ve fallen down to fifth
place in the West, but this is still one unit nobody can take lightly. Batum
kinda reminds me of what Tayshaun Prince was for the 2004 Detroit Pistons – the
dirty work small forward who didn’t put up monster numbers, but delivered when
the team needed. Whereas LMA can be likened to Sheed and Lillard can be Portlan’ds
Chauncey Billups, Batum, again, is like a right-handed Tayshaun.
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| Nicolas Batum (L) or Portland guards Tyreke Evans (R) of New Orleans. (image by Scott Trelkheld/Getty Images) |
3. LeBron James (MIA) -
19.8ppg, 7.0rpg, 7.2apg, 2.4spg, 1.0 triples per game, 21.4 EFF
I’m not
dissin’ the self-styled King. The numbers don’t lie. He is not one of the top
two small forwards right now in the NBA. After scoring 61 against Charlotte and
shooting more than 60% from late February to early March, LBJ’s shooting has
gone south. He has shot just 47/104 from the field since that 61-point game,
with his average going down below the 20-point threshold. He has also turned
the ball over 4.2 times in the last 5 Miami outings, which is the highest
number of any SF in the league. Needless to say, he’s not exactly playing like
the reigning MVP.
2. Tyreke Evans (NOP) -
21.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 7.3apg, 1.3spg, .536 FG%, .885 FT%, 25.5 EFF
Yes, that’s
right. Tyreke Evans is the best small forward outside of Kevin Durant. Yes.
Tyreke Evans. The guy who couldn’t follow up his ROY season with another great
one in Sac-town before getting shipped to the Pelicans. He’s shooting really
well from practically everywhere, and he’s finally playing like the all-around
triple-threat we all thought he could be as early as the 2010-2011 season. I
don’t see New Orlenas winning a lot of games even if Evans continues to play
this well, but, hey, they’ve won 3 of their last 5, which is already above par.
1. Kevin Durant (OKC) - 34.8ppg, 7.0rpg, 5.4apg,
1.0bpg, .529 FG%, 3.2 triples per game, .410 3pt%, 33.0 EFF
Even with
Russell Westbrook back in the lineup dominating possessions and taking a big
share of the shots, KD hasn’t really missed a beat. He’s still dropping those
threes, driving for those dunks, and pretty much taking everyone to school.
And, check it out, he’s also blocking shots! He’s playing the kind of awesome
two-way basketball that should make people really think twice before “automatically”
voting for James as the MVP. And if the Thunder remain one of the top three
teams in the NBA, then there’s practically no arguing KD’s being hailed as the
best player this season.
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| Kevin Durant is the best small forward on the planet right now. (image by Alonzo Adams/AP) |
Outside
looking in:
Rudy Gay (SAC) - 18.4 EFF
Gordon Hayward (UTA) - 18.2 EFF
Kawhi Leonard (SAS) - 18.0 EFF
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