Top 10 NBA Small Forwards

Top 10 NBA Small Forwards 
As we keep going with our Top 10 by position we now get to small forward. Lets take a look at the Top 10s.

Spinzz

10.) Shawn Marion 
    This one might be a shocker but Marion has really evolved as a player. He went from being an all around threat on the offensive end to being one of the best defensive players in the NBA. Marion still shows off his scoring skills at times and he will be need while Dallas starts off the season without Dirk

9.) Danilo Gallinari 
  Gallinari is a very underrated player. His size and scoring ability makes him a real tough cover for anyone. His three point ability is one of the best at his position. The only question with him is health. If he stays healthy he can be an all star.

8.) Andre Igoudala 
  Iggy really showed his skills in the Olympics. He is a great defender and leader. He is a type of player that makes the guys around him better. He is a player that every team wants.He will be a big time weapon for the Nuggets.

7.) Rudy Gay 
  Gay is a player who to me is right under that superstar level. He is in my mind the go to guy in Memphis for the Grizzles. Hes another guy that for the teams sake needs to be healthy. I think he has what it takes to carry them to the next level. 

6.) Luol Deng 
  I have seen Deng really improve his game the last few seasons. He in my mind is the best defender at the position not named LeBron James. He is a guy who plays every second of every game. Can create his own shot and a good three point shooter. I think with Rose out Deng will shock a lot of people. 

5.) Danny Granger 
  Granger is a guy who can be as good a scorer as anyone. To his credit he doesn't do that and has worked on his game enough to be a better player for the team. That has been a big part in making the Pacers a legit threat. 

4.) Paul Peirce 
  The Truth is still playing at a high level. When the Celtics won the championship he was the best player in the league. Some night that player still shows up even thought he is getting older. He is still one of the most clutch players in the game and is a guy that you want taking the last shot.

3.) Carmelo Anthony 
  One of the best pure scorers in basketball. Melo can put 50 up any given night. He is another guy you want taking the last shot. This is a big year for Melo he has to win a playoff series this year and carry his team farther then only one win in the first round. He has the talent to do it.

2.) Kevin Durant 
  The bets scorer in the league, the most clutch player in the league,and the number 2 player in the league. Not bad for guy in his early 20s. Durant can get his shot when ever he wants hes cold blooded at the end of the game there isn't enough good things I can say about this guy. The only question is can he get over the hump and get back to the finals and get past LeBron

1.) LeBron James 
  LeBron is the best player in the game and he proved it last year. Hes the best defender, passer,and when hes in the paint none can stop him. He can guard 4 positions on the floor and play at any spot on the floor. Most importantly he is  champion. The one question I had about LeBron is his ability to close games and win the big game as well as a championship. Now that he did that it is scary to think what this guy can do.

 Raff

10. Nic Batum- 
Batum just got himself a nice deal from Portland after they matches the Wolves offer sheet and I think he's well worth it. His offense has gotten better and better over the past few seasons and hes always been a great defender. This season is big for him because he has shown flashes of becoming a star but hasn't been consistent enough on offense. I hope Portland opens the playbook and gets him involved more this season.

9. Luol Deng- 
Deng is just a really solid player he's the type of guy who can be a piece on a championship team. He didn't shoot that good last year because of his wrist and while I don't think he's a all star level player like he was last season he's a really good player regardless. He plays a lot better with Rose in the lineup obviously but for the first few months of the season he will have to do everything for the Bulls and we'll see if he can carry them. 

8. Danilo Gallinari-
 I think Gallo has an all star skillset. People just think he's a soft euro who can shoot the ball and that's it but he is actually a good play maker. I think his shot selection could improve but to me he's on the way to becoming an elite SF.

7. Danny Granger- 
People forget this guy was a 25 ppg scorer for a couple of seasons. He is a dead eye shooter and the Pacers have emerged as a power in the eastern conference even though his scoring has gone down. To me he hasn't improved his game a whole lot over the past few seasons which is something he needed to do if he wanted to jump to the elite category at his position  Even so, he's the feature player on a good playoff team so I put him at 7.

6. Andre Igoudala-  
AI is on his way to Denver and probably on his way to the SG position but he's played most of his time at SF so I'm throwing him on the list. His scoring has gone down the past few seasons but his overall impact on the game has gone up. He's a good defender and a good slasher. He can make plays for his teammates and is somebody who's more valuable then his numbers say. If he's going to move to the SG position his shooting has to improve so it will be interesting to see what his minutes and numbers look like in Denver. 

5. Rudy Gay-  
Rudy Gay is always a potential 20ppg scorer and to me that's scary because he has so much more room for improvement. He's a great shooter and is crazy athletic. He can get his shot off on anybody but I think he needs to improve his finishing and get to the free throw line more. He still has a ton of potential even though he's been in the league for a while and I think he will take a step forward this year. 

4. Paul Pierce- 
Pierce is getting up there in age but he's still an elite player. He was never a guy who relied on a lot of athletiscim so him losing a step isn't as bad at it would be for other players. He's a great 1 on 1 scorer and can still hit some of the toughest shots you will see. The Celtics might have one or two more runs in them with their current core and if they do any damage it will be Pierce leading them. 

3. Carmelo Anthony-  
Melo is another guy who can score at will and that alone makes him an easy top 3 SF but he really doesn't make a huge impact on other areas of his game on a daily basis like a great player should. He has times where he slacks on defense and other times where he shuts his man down. We all know he can put up points but I want to see him become a better teammate and be a do it all player because that's what the Knicks need. Melo doesn't have a good playoff track record and he's not entirely to blame but a star like Melo should be leading his team to playoff wins not first round exits. 

2. Kevin Durant-  
Kevin Durant is an assassin of a scorer. He has the size of some PF's and C's and moves and shoots like a guard. We know he's a guy who can win scoring titles but can he come more of a play maker like LeBron? I think that's the key with him. He needs to work on all the other areas of his game and become a more complete player because he can't get much better on the offensive end when it comes to his shooting and scoring abilities. 

1. LeBron James-  
LeBron is the best player on the planet and honestly it's not close. He's one of the best to ever play the game. Physically there's nothing he can't do and no position he can't play or defend. He matches his physical tools with his overall skills which is scary for someone his size. His passing ability is up there with the some of the best PG's in the game. He can also score at will and do it a lot more efficiently then other big time stars. Any non LeBron hater knows this guy is amazing to watch and is close to Jordan and has a chance to be better if he continues playing like he is and wins some more rings.

Top 10 NBA Power Forwards

Top 10 NBA Power Forwards
As we keep going with our Top 10 players by position we go to power forward. This is a position that is going through a change at the top where the younger talent is moving to the top and the older talent is moving to the bottom. Lets take a look at our list.
Spinzz

10.)Amare Stoudemire 
   Stoudemire is becoming one of those players that's hard to figure out. He went from being an MVP candidate 2 years ago to now people asking if he still has it. When hes healthy and hes right he can be as good as anyone. Two big questions with him are can him and Carmelo Anthony finally click and can he stay healthy. This is a make or break year for him this year.

9.) Josh Smith 
   Smith has crazy talent and looks like hes starting to put it together. He is scoring, rebounding and has shot blocking ability. Hes just gotta play inside the three point arch he has a chance to be an all star hes that talented.

8.) Tim Duncan 
  To me he Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time and I will admit it is weird to see him this low on the list. Duncan to me with his age isn't the go to guy anymore and he is a guy that will be resting up for the playoffs so in the regular season I see his number going down.

7.) Kevin Garnett 
  Garnett is in the same situation as Duncan. One of the all time greats getting older and seeing the bigger picture of winning a championship. I do think he will play more and he is still a big part in what the Celtics do on defense. You know Garnett is going to be motivated to win and beat Miami.

6.) Blake Griffin  
  This is a tough one to explain so bare with me. I feel Blake is overrated because of how people just love his dunking ability and lob city this and that. People are now gonna say how can you say a player that goes 20 and 10 how is he overrated? If you do the eye test and watch the tape you see he can be held down like he was in the playoffs. Does he have the talent? Yes but does he have the drive to become a great all around player.

5.) Pau Gasol 
  One of the most well rounded out of all the players on the list and in my mind one of the mentally strongest players in the game because all that hes gone though. Pau has befitted greatly by playing in LA and with Kobe it has brought him to another level. The scary thing for the league is with Kobe, Dwight, and Nash Pau can be the number 4 option some nights. With someone with his talent that's scary.

4.) Chris Bosh 
  The X-factor of the Miami Heat Bosh really shut a lot of people up last season. People said that he wasn't a big part of the Heat but when he got hurt in the playoffs it was seen how much he was needed. People forget how good he was with the Raptors and he is still talented the thing that hurts him is he has 2 of the top 10 players in the league. Which also helps him as well.

3.) Lamarcus Aldridge  

   One of the most underrated players in the game. If Aldirdge was in a bigger market he would be promoted all over as he should be. He is a big time player who puts up big time numbers he has all the tools to be great. He is really starting to put it together. Don't be surprised if next year we are saying he is number one.

2.) Dirk Nowitzki 
  Dirk is the best all around scorer on our list. His shooting skills while isn't the way you learn to shoot growing up it gets the job done. He is one of the best free throw shooters in the game as well as one of the most clutch players as well. Dirk is big time in every sense in the word.

1.) Kevin Love 
  Love to me represents the new wave of big men. Solid all over. He can shoot grab a bunch of rebounds as well as being a great passer. I still find it funny when people try saying Blake is better. Kevin Love is hands down the best power forward in the game and will be like that for a while.

  Raff

10. Josh Smith-
Smith is one of the most athletic PF in the league and continues to elevate his game. He was quietly a 19-10 player last season and while he has improved his jumper I think he needs to remove the 3 point shot from his game and work more on his post moves. 

9. Amare Stoudemire- 
Since Melo arrived in NY Amare has fallen off big time. If there is one person in the league who should have a chip on his shoulder and have something to prove it's Amare. He didn't look good at all last year. He forgot how to defend and rebound. I'm putting him in the top 10 because of his track record but he needs to step up this season.

8. Blake Griffin- 
A casual NBA fan might think Blake Griffin should go 1-2 on the list but anyone who's seen him play outside the ESPN top 10 knows he has a ton of flaws in his game. He's a bad defender and needs a lot of work on his free throws. The stats are there for Blake but at his age and with his skill set there's no reason why he can't elevate his game. 

7. Kevin Garnett-
Another guy who you think can't get it done anymore and he proves his critics wrong. Garnett is still active around the basket and is still an all around great player. He is showing no signs of slowing down and the Celtics just gave him a fat new deal so opponents are gonna have to be annoyed by KG for a couple more years. 

6. Tim Duncan-
Everyone year your here the Spurs are old and that their franchise player Tim Duncan can't get it done anymore. While he does need to have his minutes limited and sometimes take a night off, he puts up elite numbers. Without even cracking 30 minutes a game he put up 15ppg and 9 rebounds. Duncan is one of the best PF to ever play this game, and even on the brink of retirement he is still elite at his position. 

5. Chris Bosh- 
You play with guys like Lebron James and Dwayne Wade and that obviously brings your numbers down. Bosh gets a lot of heat(no pun intended) because of the way he looks and acts while playing but he's still a dangerous player. He hit a lot of big shots for the Heat in the playoffs and as a first option on another team he probably scores 25, 26 ppg. 

4. Pau Gasol- 
Pau is very skilled and while people call him soft he is still a big time player. Last few seasons he's played second and third fiddle to Kobe and Bynum and I think that brought his numbers down. Regardless of that I'd still take Pau to start on my team in a heartbeat. His numbers will once again fall but his elite post game and soft touch outside probably makes him the best 3rd or 4th option in the league. 

3. Dirk Nowitzki-
Dirk is the best scorer at the PF position. He has an unorthodox style of play but he makes it work. He's getting up their in age but make no mistake about it he's still a top 3 PF. 

2. LaMarcus Aldridge- 
I watched LaMarcus Aldridge transform into the player he is today and he's made so many improvements over the past few seasons. He's elevated his post game and he has an automatic mid range jump shot. He would probably average 30 points a game with somebody like Steve Nash as his PG but he is one of the best players running the pick and roll. The Blazers go as Aldridge goes. 

1. Kevin Love-  
Love is a beast in every sense of the world. He's the leagues best rebounder and one of the best shooters in the game. He's not as athletic as the other big time power forwards and that makes his play on the court that much more impressive. Hopefully he can come back off his injury soon and lead the Wolves to the playoffs.

Top 10 NBA Centers

TOP 10 NBA CENTERS
 
With the NBA season coming upon us every day we are gonna do a Top 10 for each position then give our final prediction for the end of the season. First we are gonna start with the centers.

SPINZZ

10.) Nikola Pekovic 
   A surprising entry in the Top 10 here in Pekovic. If you watch him you see how talented this guy is. He is a monster on the boards and is a problem for most guys who defend him. He does this with one of the best rebounders  in the game of basketball   Kevin Love on his team. If he keeps improving he can be higher up in the next few seasons.

9.) Brook Lopez 
  One of the top scoring centers in the game and according to Shaq the number 2 center in the game Brook Lopez. Lopez is a old school back to the basket scorer who averages almost 20 points a game. The only thing that hurts Lopez is as good a scorer he is he struggles on the glass. With all the new parts around Lopez in Brooklyn it will be interesting to see what it does to Lopez game.

8.) Roy Hibbert 
  Hibbert is a player who is just starting to find his potential. A legit skilled 7 footer who has all the tools to be a top center. Hibbert has a talented group with the Pacers to work with. He is a solid defender who can control the paint. Hibbert has the tools to be one of the elite centers in the game it should be interesting to see if he can keep improving.

7.) Demarcus Cousins 
  There is never a question on this guys talent. He has as much talent as anyone. He has the game of a Derrick Coleman. The one thing is his attitude and maturity which is like Derrick Coleman as well. No other player in the game needs to grow up to become a superstar like he does. If he grows up the sky really is the limit for Cousins.

6.) Tyson Chandler 
  Maybe the best off season move the Knicks have made in years Tyson Chandler brought back defense to the Knicks. The defending NBA defensive player of the year Chandler was the defensive back bone of the Knicks. The one weakness in his game is on the offensive part of the floor he is gonna need to develop that part of his game but no question how great he is on the defensive part of the floor.

5.) Marc Gasol 
  Gasol is a player who  can score and rebound. He also has a mean streak, but the one thing that gives him the edge that don't get talked about is the stability that he gives Memphis. It seems every year either Zach Randolph or Rudy Gay get hurt. The one thing that is always for sure for them is Gasol is gonna be there to get his rebounds and score his points and that is big for Memphis. 
4.) Joakim Noah 
  The best play maker at the center position. Noah can do it all at the center position. He is a great defender and rebounder. Everyone knows that about Noah. The one thing people don't give Noah credit for is his game on the other side of the court. Noah is a great play maker as far as passer he has a decent jump shot and shockingly enough he is a good free throw shooter Noah is as well rounded a center as we have in the game of basketball. 
3.) Al Jefferson 

  Its crazy how a player so good has been on 3 different teams in 8 years. That being said Al Jefferson is big time. He is the new face of the Jazz and the new go to guy for the Jazz. He is a good scorer and a rebounder. He has number that are around 20 and 10 which all great big men should have. If Al Jefferson played in a bigger market he would be talked about a lot more.
2.) Andrew Bynum 
   Not many players last year took the leap Andrew Bynum did. Talks started that last year thatBynum was the best center in the game and he at times played like it. When healthy he is as dominate as any center. He is the best offensive center in the game. His defense gets better by the years but the thing that makes Bynum great is his offensive skills. Like Cousins Bynums growing up is a big thing for him to be as good as anyone the thing with Bynum unlike Cousins it might be to late time will tell.

1.) Dwight Howard 
   I don't see how anyone can argue against this one. Not only when healthy he is the top center he is a Top 10 player.  The three time defensive player of the year and would of been a 4 time if he din't get hurt. Dwight is a guy who can do it all on the court he can be as dominate as anyone any given night hes not the best free throw shooter but no center is.He went to the NBA finals with the Magic with a decent supporting cast. He finally has help with guys like Nash, Gasol, World Peace and Kobe on the Lakers. He is gonna have one of the best passers of all time in Steve Nash giving him the ball. A talented 7 footer to help him in Gasol One thing people have said bad about Dwight was he has no killer instinct he will learn to get that with being teamed with Kobe. I think we are gonna see the best Dwight Howard with the Lakers and that is a scary thing for the NBA. 

 

RAFF

10. Nikola Pekovic- I plug this guy into every basketball conversation because he is a beast. He is probably worthy of being higher on this list but I'll stick him at 9. He outplayed a lot of big name games last season and was one of the best centers in the game for the second half of the season. With Kevin Love out the wolves will rely heavily on him in the paint and he won't disappoint. He has some of the best footwork I've seen from a center and can bully anyone he wants to. Look for 19-10 type numbers out of him.

9. Greg Monroe- I'm putting Monroe on this list because he's played center up until now and with Andre Drummond as their future center(who is an absolute beast just throwing that out there) he probably will be a PF sometime in the near future. I think he's a future all star and one of the more underrated players out there. He can score pass and rebound and I think he has 20-10 potential. 

8. Roy Hibbert- Hibbert is just solid. He does everything well and while I think a max deal is overpaying for him he deserved a new big time deal. He's always improving and should be the Pacers center for a long time to come. Rik Smits would be proud. 

7. Al Horford- Al Horford was limited last year by an injury but anyone who watched him play before he got hurt knows he was a really good player. With Joe Johnson in Brooklyn, Horford will have to stay healthy and put up great numbers for the Hawks to stay relevant. 

6. Al Jefferson- I think Big Al is the best scoring center in the game. He has nice post moves and while he lacks the big time rebounding and defense he's still a great center and a tough one to stop. 

5. Tyson Chandler- Chandler might be the best defensive center in basketball and while he doesn't scare anyone with his offense he's very efficient and active around the rim. The Knicks offered him big money and got a good return on their investment as he won the defensive player of the year award. 

4. Joakim Noah- Noah lacks the big time scoring numbers but anyone who watches the Bulls play knows the impacts he has on games. He can do everything and is a big time reason the Bulls have had the type of success they've had the past couple of seasons. 

3. Marc Gasol- Gasol is skilled as it gets at the center position. He can score in a bunch of ways and can pass as well as any center. I think he takes another step forward this year and will be considered an elite center. 

2. Andrew Bynum- I think he's going to be a better player with Philly then he was with the Lakers. He will be the focal point of the offense and if he stays healthy he could post similar numbers to Dwight Howard. 

1. Dwight Howard- This is a given. He's the clear cut best center in the league and while I don't really like the guy I can't knock his skills. He's big time at everything and the type of center you win titles with.

How to fix the New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are gonna end yet another season with out reaching the World Series. The Yankees showed in the playoffs what fans of the team saw all year long they cant score with out hitting a home run. Here are some things I think they should do to get back to the World Series in 2013.

Get Rid of Nick Swisher , Keep Ichiro Trade Granderson and Get Another Outfielder 

  This is a complicated situation. First off with Swisher I have said for two years that Nick Swisher should be off the team for two years now. I felt the Yankees should have gotten Hunter Pence last year to replace him. That being said Swisher has show he is a selfish player and he is not a clutch player at all. With him being a free agent the Yankees should not bring him back no matter what. I feel the Yankees should move Ichiro to right field to replace him and take it from there.
   Now as far as Curtis Granderson. I like Granderson I think he is a big part of the team he is a big bat, but he is home run or bust. That is something that the Yankees have to change. The big part the change with the Yankees is to move away from this home run mentality that this team has to move away from. That being said if you move these two you keep Bret Gardner and Ichiro you have a spot open. The Yankees should then go for a player such as Michael Born, Justin Upton or Shin-Soo Choo. I do not go for Josh Hamilton I feel with him you will run into the same problem you have ran into with with Alex Rodriguez.
Let Go of Hitting Coach Kevin Long 
  This goes back to what I said as far as the Yankees having to get out of that home run or bust mind set. I think that goes to the hitting coach Kevin Long. The Yankees need a hitting coach that makes the players realize you have to go with the pitch and to keep the line up moving. While it is not all Kevin Longs fault dealing with a bunch of vets is a very tough thing to do the onuses has to fall on someone.

Don't do to much changing to the pitching staff from the Starters to the Bullpen 
  The Yankee pitching wound up being a strong part of the team. With CC Sabathia showing why he is the ace of the staff. The Yankees will have to keep the bullpen in tac which they will with Mariano Rivera, David Robertson , and Rafael Soriano. Andy Pettite is expected to be back this year as well as young pitcher Michael Pineda if you can get Ivan Nova to his old self the Yankees will have a spot open for another key pick up with Kuroda expected to leave and Phil Hughes maybe getting traded (which we will talk about). The Yankees pitching should be fine.

Trade Phil Hughes and get Billy Butler 
   A move that almost happened last year could very well happen this year. I think Butler will be a good addition to the Yankees. He is a double machine and a guy who can be a solid bat in the middle of the line up. As far as Hughes goes I think the Yankees realized he isnt gonna be the ACE everyone thought he would be and now its time to move on while they could get something back.


Get a younger bench  I got so much respect for guys like Ibanez and Chavez but the Yankees need to get younger on the bench with them having an older team. They need to get guys who can step in and play a good amount of games in case they need to. Bringing back one of the vets would be a good idea but not having a whole bench worth of them.

If you could trade A-Rod if not......   If you are a Yankees fan you cant say no to these two facts. A-Rod was one of the biggest reasons why the Yankees won in 2009 thats one. Second A-Rod has not done anything in his postseason career other then that. While father time has gotten to another all time great player this player has 5 years and a 100 million plus left. It does not look like anyone will come knocking on the Yankees door for A-Rod so if the Yankees keep A-Rod what do they do? They have to lower the expectations on him. He is a lower in the line up hitter and is a piece not the piece.


BOLD PREDICTION THE YANKEES WILL GET JOE MAUER  Going back to what I said about changing the way the Yankees mind set at the plate by having non home run hitting guys. This would be the move I can see them making. Now if they make this move I do not see them getting a Billy Butler because you would need to DH Mauer more times then not and I think Phil Hughes would be a big trading part, and if the Yankees do get rid of A-Rod Mauer could be a replacement.