April 16th, 2007

The most underrated players in the NBA

Number 5.
Jason Kidd

Everyone knows Jason Kidd, and that he is a great player,
but I think his greatness is underappreciated. He is the
Nets leading rebounder, 8.2 a game, remarkable for a 6-4
point guard. All those rebounds he gets sparks the fast
breaks that egnite the Nets offense, all thanks to Kidd’s
rebounding and playmaking prowess. His scoring ability is
also underrated, he doesn’t shoot well at all but he can
go to the hoop and score much better than people give him
credit for. His on the ball defense is also still good,
and the 2 steals a game he normally gives you sparks yet
more fast breaks for the running Nets. Jason Kidd is a top
5 player in the NBA, and I don’t think people realize that.

Number 4.
Andre Iguodala

The other A.I. has led the 76ers to a respectable record
since Webber and Iverson left. Starting on January 23rd
against the Hornets(when Iguodala got 20 points and 6
assists), the 76ers are 23-16, remarkable considering
they were 11-30 before. Andre Miller did help out,
considering he came in the Iverson trade so he wasnt
there through a lot of the 11-30, but Iguodala has been
the star of the 76ers who got them to 34-46, and only a
couple games out of the playoffs after they had been
doomed to possibly the worst record in the NBA. In those
39 games(4 of which he missed), hes put up 20.5 points
a game, 6.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds, while playing the
lock down defense he was known for even while Iverson was
still there. Considering hes doing this at age 23,
Iguodala has super star potential and has made the Sixers
have hope for the future when no hope was anywhere near
Phili when Iverson left.

Number 3.
Marcus Camby

Camby, the most underrated center in the NBA. He pulls
down a massive 11.7 rebounds a game in only 33.8 minutes,
blocks 3.3 shots a game (NBA leading), a defensive force,
and even gets 1.2 steals a game at center! He’s not
anything remarkable offensively (11.2 points in 33.8
minutes), but thats still solid on 47% shooting from the
field, and has shooting range out to 18 feet. He even
makes his teammates better with his 3 assists a game.
If you need him to, he can score 15-20 as he proved
last year before he went down with an injury and wasn’t
the same when he came back. All this makes you think he
should be all-star material, but with centers you hear
names like Eddy Curry who is no where the player that
Camby is.

Number 2.
Shawn Marion

Marion, the man who can do everything. Tremendous
rebounder for his size, a man who blocks shots and gets
steals constantly yet still plays great man to man
defense. He pulls down 10 boards, gets 1.5 blocks, and
2.2 steals, at 6 foot 7. Add to that his scoring
ability (career 18.6 points a game) and you have a
top 15 NBA player, yet he never will be put up there
like he rightfully should.

Number 1.
Gerald Wallace

The Charlotte star, averaging 21.8 points, 8.5 boards,
3.2 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 2.12 steals on an
outstanding 52 percent shooting since he came back from
injury problems in January. That’s his numbers when
healthy basically, at small forward for god’s sake!
He is the eastern conference’s Marion, providing the
same type of numbers at the same size, and the same
great defense. The thing is, this guy is only 24 years
old, and has a good 3-4 years to still improve his game,
which he has done every year hes been in the league. In
three years on the Kings, he hit one three pointer, and
the highest percentage he shot at the line was 53
percent. This year he has hit 38 threes on 32 percent
shooting, nothing special from downtown, but drastically
better and it lets defenses be honest since they know he
is an average shooter now, and improving fast. It makes
his terrific slashing abililty that much better due to
the defenses being honest now, and when he gets to the
line he actually can make free throws now, 69 percent,
compared to the high 40/low 50 percentage he put up with
the Kings. The only problem with Wallace, is that he
plays so hard and recklessley, that he injures himself
constantly, so he is injury prone. But this kid is
capable of putting up 25 points, 10 boards, and 5 assists
someday, along with the great defense, and if Charlotte
doesn’t resign this guy this offseason, they are doomed
for failure.