After examing the offseason's five biggest losers yesterday, today I take a look at five teams that won the winter.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves brought in some much-needed righthanded pop in the form of the Upton brothers, who will team with Jason Heyward to form the National League's most exciting outfield. Though they failed to acquire a strong replacement for Chipper Jones (Chris Johnson is replacement level at best) and lack catching depth behind Brian McCann (Gerald Laird? pass), the Braves are primed for another playoff run in 2013.
Boston Red Sox
Boston began the offseason by firing Bobby Valentine, the man responsible for so much of the controversy and dysfunction that plagued the Red Sox last season. Ben Cherington found a good replacement in John Farrell, a former Red Sox pitching coach whom many members of the team (Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Dustin Pedroia) respect. He satisfied David Ortiz with a contract extension, then went about reshaping the roster with cheap, productive character guys. Cherington signed Mike Napoli to replace Adrian Gonzalez, Shane Victorino to man right field (then slide over to center when/if Jacoby Ellsbury leaves) and Ryan Dempster to fill Josh Beckett's void in the rotation. He also added David Ross to complement Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the plate, imported lefty-masher Jonny Gomes and traded for All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan, thus relegating Andrew Bailey to eighth inning duties. The Sox needed a new shortstop after trading Mike Aviles and found a decent one in Stephen Drew, younger brother of J.D. Drew, who played the last five years of his career in Boston and collected $70 million for his services. All winter long Cherington preached patience and discipline, and the mantra seems to have paid off. There's no question the Red Sox will be a better team in 2013--the only question is will they be good enough to reach the postseason for the first time in four years?
Cleveland Indians
The Tribe lost 94 games last year but got significantly better this winter. They upgraded their outfield outfield by signing Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, signed slugging corner infielder Mark Reynolds to a cheap one-year deal and traded for Trevor Bauer, who projects to be a future ace. With veteran skipper Terry Francona at the helm, Cleveland now has one of the best managers of the past decade at the reins. The Indians aren't talented enough to surpass the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central but have the pieces to move above .500 for the first time since 2007.
Seattle Mariners
Besides locking up their staff ace/face of the franchise for the rest of the decade, the M's brought in plenty of offensive firepower in the way of Michael Morse, Jason Bay, Kendrys Morales, Raul Ibanez, and Kelly Shoppach, all of whom will be the first Mariners to benefit from Safeco Field's closer fences. The starting rotation could use more depth, but King Felix is an ideal hurler to build around. The Mariners will have their hands full with the Rangers, Angels, and A's this year, but they could be sneaky-good and post a winning record in baseball's toughest division.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jaybirds look like World Series favorites (on paper, at least) after completing two blockbuster trades to bring in Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, and reigning NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey. Not to mention, Melky Cabrera could turn out to be a massive steal for a two-year, $16 million commitment.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
MLB Hot Stove Losers
With spring training here at last, it's time to reflect on another busy baseball offseason. Here's a look at the five biggest losers of the winter (in no particular order).
Miami Marlins
Traded away most of their established talent (Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson) and pissed off their franchise player, Giancarlo Stanton, in the process. Considering the Fish lost 93 games with that crew last year (plus Hanley Ramirez, Heath Bell, Omar Infante, and Anibal Sanchez), the Marlins are a lock to lose at least 100 games in 2013.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals haven't won in so long that they clearly have a misconception about what it means to "win now." It definitely doesn't mean signing innings-eaters Ervin Santana (5.16 ERA in 2012) and Jeremy Guthrie. It also doesn't mean trading away Wil Myers, the best hitter in the minor leagues last year, for a number two pitcher disguised as an ace (James Shields). Even with continued growth from young stars Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, KC is a .500 team at best with almost no chance at contending for the second wild card. Don't be surprised if GM Dayton Moore is out of a job by this time next year.
New York Yankees
After getting wiped out by the Detroit Tigers in last fall's ALCS, the Yanks failed to do much this offseason besides get older. Squeezed by their commitment to getting their payroll below the luxury tax threshold of $189 million by next season, the typically free-spending Yankees restrained from handing out multi-year deals to any notable free agents. Brian Cashman was forced to pinch every penny, and what resulted was perhaps the quietest Yankee winter in recent memory. They picked up Kevin Youkilis to fill in for Alex Rodriguez at third, but Youk brings an injury-checkered past and eroding skills to the Big Apple. Instead of ponying up for Nick Swisher, they brought back a 39 year-old Ichiro Suzuki to man right field. Gone too is Rafael Soriano, an elite closer who stepped up when Mariano Rivera went down (though the 43 year-old Mo will be back, as will 40 year-old Andy Pettitte and 38 year-old Hiroki Kuroda). Russell Martin departed via free agency, leaving New York without an everyday backstop. Key role players Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez--who combined for 49 home runs last year--are gone as well. Travis Hafner is an intriguing addition with that ballpark, but I'm not as enthusiastic about Dan Johnson, Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera. The Bronx Bombers enter 2013 loaded with question marks and will probably miss the playoffs for just the second time in the past 20 seasons.
Baltimore Orioles
If the O's think they can repeat last year's fluky success (93 wins with a +7 run differential), then they are sorely mistaken. After sitting on their hands this winter, they're doomed to crash and burn in 2013 when their good fortune runs out.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Made the biggest blunder of the offseason by trading Justin Upton, a potential MVP-in-the-making whom they still controlled for another three years, and Chris Johnson for Randall Delgado and Martin Prado. They gave up on B.J. Upton's little brother too early and should have been able to get a whole lot more in return than a pair of complementary players and three so-so prospects.
Miami Marlins
Traded away most of their established talent (Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson) and pissed off their franchise player, Giancarlo Stanton, in the process. Considering the Fish lost 93 games with that crew last year (plus Hanley Ramirez, Heath Bell, Omar Infante, and Anibal Sanchez), the Marlins are a lock to lose at least 100 games in 2013.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals haven't won in so long that they clearly have a misconception about what it means to "win now." It definitely doesn't mean signing innings-eaters Ervin Santana (5.16 ERA in 2012) and Jeremy Guthrie. It also doesn't mean trading away Wil Myers, the best hitter in the minor leagues last year, for a number two pitcher disguised as an ace (James Shields). Even with continued growth from young stars Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, KC is a .500 team at best with almost no chance at contending for the second wild card. Don't be surprised if GM Dayton Moore is out of a job by this time next year.
New York Yankees
After getting wiped out by the Detroit Tigers in last fall's ALCS, the Yanks failed to do much this offseason besides get older. Squeezed by their commitment to getting their payroll below the luxury tax threshold of $189 million by next season, the typically free-spending Yankees restrained from handing out multi-year deals to any notable free agents. Brian Cashman was forced to pinch every penny, and what resulted was perhaps the quietest Yankee winter in recent memory. They picked up Kevin Youkilis to fill in for Alex Rodriguez at third, but Youk brings an injury-checkered past and eroding skills to the Big Apple. Instead of ponying up for Nick Swisher, they brought back a 39 year-old Ichiro Suzuki to man right field. Gone too is Rafael Soriano, an elite closer who stepped up when Mariano Rivera went down (though the 43 year-old Mo will be back, as will 40 year-old Andy Pettitte and 38 year-old Hiroki Kuroda). Russell Martin departed via free agency, leaving New York without an everyday backstop. Key role players Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez--who combined for 49 home runs last year--are gone as well. Travis Hafner is an intriguing addition with that ballpark, but I'm not as enthusiastic about Dan Johnson, Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera. The Bronx Bombers enter 2013 loaded with question marks and will probably miss the playoffs for just the second time in the past 20 seasons.
Baltimore Orioles
If the O's think they can repeat last year's fluky success (93 wins with a +7 run differential), then they are sorely mistaken. After sitting on their hands this winter, they're doomed to crash and burn in 2013 when their good fortune runs out.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Made the biggest blunder of the offseason by trading Justin Upton, a potential MVP-in-the-making whom they still controlled for another three years, and Chris Johnson for Randall Delgado and Martin Prado. They gave up on B.J. Upton's little brother too early and should have been able to get a whole lot more in return than a pair of complementary players and three so-so prospects.
2013 NBA West All-Star Roster
The starters
PG Chris Paul (26.8 PER)
Still the best point guard in the game, CP3 leads the NBA in steals and assist/turnover ratio. He also ranks second behind the fallen Rajon Rondo in assists per game.
SG Kobe Bryant (22.5 PER)
With his star-studded Lakers floundering, Bryant has continued to do what he's always done best in times of crisis; take lots of shots and score lots of points. No one has jacked up more shots than Kobe this season, but to be fair he's posting the best Effective Field Goal percentage of his career and highest True Shooting percentage since his MVP campaign. The Black Mamba hasn't completed ignored his teammates either, as his 5.6 assists per game would be his highest average since 2004-2005. Incredibly, the 34 year-old has yet to miss a game and clocked more minutes than anyone else this season. The Lakers have been a massive disappointment this year, but it's not Bryant's fault.
SF Kevin Durant (29.2 PER)
The NBA's top scorer is eyeing his fourth straight scoring title while enjoying a historic season in terms of efficiency. He's shooting 51.9 percent from the floor, 42.7 percent from downtown and a league best 90.7 percent from the charity stripe (Steve Nash is the only other player averaging 50-40-90, but is doing so in far fewer attempts). A lethal combination of volume and accuracy, Durant is the sport's most dangerous scorer. He's also turned himself into a good defender, solid rebounder and better passer. If anyone's going to deny LeBron James his fourth MVP award this year, it's KD.
PF Blake Griffin (23.4 PER)
BG's made subtle improvements in his game this season to put some polish on his raw athletic ability. The third-year power forward has become a more complete player by making strides in his defense, passing, and free-throw shooting. His midrange game still needs some work, though.
C Dwight Howard (19.2 PER)
Though Howard's season has been a disappointment by his standards, he's still pacing the Association in boards per game and providing strong defense. It's troubling that his free throw percentage, which used to hover around 60 percent, has dipped below 50 percent this year (and last). The Shaquille O'Neal comparisons don't seem so far off base.
The reserves
PG Tony Parker (24.5 PER)
Parker seems to fly under the radar despite his status as one of the top point guards in the game. He's averaging 20.8 points per game with phenomenal percentages--53.6 from the field, 39.3 from downtown and 83 from the charity stripe--while guiding the San Antonio Spurs to the best record at the break (without much help from Manu Ginobili).
PG Russell Westbrook (23.0 PER)
Though Westbrook takes a lot of heat for being a shoot-first, pass-later point guard, he's piled up more assists than any player besides Greivis Vasquez while bumping his assist percentage from 29.8 percent last year to an even 40 percent this season. However, Westbrook still takes too many dumb shots and there is no reasonable explanation to justify why he jacks up more shots than teammate Kevin Durant. In fact, Westbrook pulls the trigger more often than almost everyone else; Bryant is the only player with more field goal attempts.
SG James Harden (23.3 PER)
No longer the third wheel to Durant and Westbrook, Harden has been unleashed in Houston where he's the focal point of the Rockets' offense. A fearless attacker, the first time All-Star leads the NBA in fast break points as well as free throws made and attempted. He also leads the league in turnovers, but I think that he's handled the ball more than anticipated with Jeremy Lin struggles.
PF David Lee (19.3 PER)
Lee might not be the most exciting player around, but he puts up great numbers with remarkable consistency. A nightly double-double threat (33 on the year), Lee's averaging 19 points and 10.8 rebounds per game while shooting better than 51 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free throw line. Players like Lee who flourish on offense but don't add much on the other end are perfect fits for the All-Star Game's style.
PF Zach Randolph (18.3 PER)
Z-Bo is a double-double machine (30 so far this year) with his averages of 15.6 points and 11.5 boards per game. He's grabbed more offensive rebounds than any player not named Tyson Chandler, and Omer Asik and Nikola Vucevic are the only players with more total rebounds. He also leads the league in second chance points. That being said, I think Marc Gasol--Randolph's partner-in-crime in the Grizzlies' frontcourt--is a better player and more worthy of this All-Star spot.
PF LaMarcus Aldridge (20.2 PER)
Another terrific season for the always underrated Aldridge, who's fashioned himself as one of the best midrange shooters in the game. His game/skill set reminds me of Chris Bosh before Bosh joined forces with James and Dwyane Wade in Miami.
C Tim Duncan (24.9 PER)
The Big Fundamental has turned back the clock this season, re-establishing himself as one of the NBA's top defenders in addition to providing his steady consistency and efficiency.
My Prediction; the West will beat the East by 8. Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference and NBA.com's HangTime Blog
PG Chris Paul (26.8 PER)
Still the best point guard in the game, CP3 leads the NBA in steals and assist/turnover ratio. He also ranks second behind the fallen Rajon Rondo in assists per game.
SG Kobe Bryant (22.5 PER)
With his star-studded Lakers floundering, Bryant has continued to do what he's always done best in times of crisis; take lots of shots and score lots of points. No one has jacked up more shots than Kobe this season, but to be fair he's posting the best Effective Field Goal percentage of his career and highest True Shooting percentage since his MVP campaign. The Black Mamba hasn't completed ignored his teammates either, as his 5.6 assists per game would be his highest average since 2004-2005. Incredibly, the 34 year-old has yet to miss a game and clocked more minutes than anyone else this season. The Lakers have been a massive disappointment this year, but it's not Bryant's fault.
SF Kevin Durant (29.2 PER)
The NBA's top scorer is eyeing his fourth straight scoring title while enjoying a historic season in terms of efficiency. He's shooting 51.9 percent from the floor, 42.7 percent from downtown and a league best 90.7 percent from the charity stripe (Steve Nash is the only other player averaging 50-40-90, but is doing so in far fewer attempts). A lethal combination of volume and accuracy, Durant is the sport's most dangerous scorer. He's also turned himself into a good defender, solid rebounder and better passer. If anyone's going to deny LeBron James his fourth MVP award this year, it's KD.
PF Blake Griffin (23.4 PER)
BG's made subtle improvements in his game this season to put some polish on his raw athletic ability. The third-year power forward has become a more complete player by making strides in his defense, passing, and free-throw shooting. His midrange game still needs some work, though.
C Dwight Howard (19.2 PER)
Though Howard's season has been a disappointment by his standards, he's still pacing the Association in boards per game and providing strong defense. It's troubling that his free throw percentage, which used to hover around 60 percent, has dipped below 50 percent this year (and last). The Shaquille O'Neal comparisons don't seem so far off base.
The reserves
PG Tony Parker (24.5 PER)
Parker seems to fly under the radar despite his status as one of the top point guards in the game. He's averaging 20.8 points per game with phenomenal percentages--53.6 from the field, 39.3 from downtown and 83 from the charity stripe--while guiding the San Antonio Spurs to the best record at the break (without much help from Manu Ginobili).
PG Russell Westbrook (23.0 PER)
Though Westbrook takes a lot of heat for being a shoot-first, pass-later point guard, he's piled up more assists than any player besides Greivis Vasquez while bumping his assist percentage from 29.8 percent last year to an even 40 percent this season. However, Westbrook still takes too many dumb shots and there is no reasonable explanation to justify why he jacks up more shots than teammate Kevin Durant. In fact, Westbrook pulls the trigger more often than almost everyone else; Bryant is the only player with more field goal attempts.
SG James Harden (23.3 PER)
No longer the third wheel to Durant and Westbrook, Harden has been unleashed in Houston where he's the focal point of the Rockets' offense. A fearless attacker, the first time All-Star leads the NBA in fast break points as well as free throws made and attempted. He also leads the league in turnovers, but I think that he's handled the ball more than anticipated with Jeremy Lin struggles.
PF David Lee (19.3 PER)
Lee might not be the most exciting player around, but he puts up great numbers with remarkable consistency. A nightly double-double threat (33 on the year), Lee's averaging 19 points and 10.8 rebounds per game while shooting better than 51 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free throw line. Players like Lee who flourish on offense but don't add much on the other end are perfect fits for the All-Star Game's style.
PF Zach Randolph (18.3 PER)
Z-Bo is a double-double machine (30 so far this year) with his averages of 15.6 points and 11.5 boards per game. He's grabbed more offensive rebounds than any player not named Tyson Chandler, and Omer Asik and Nikola Vucevic are the only players with more total rebounds. He also leads the league in second chance points. That being said, I think Marc Gasol--Randolph's partner-in-crime in the Grizzlies' frontcourt--is a better player and more worthy of this All-Star spot.
PF LaMarcus Aldridge (20.2 PER)
Another terrific season for the always underrated Aldridge, who's fashioned himself as one of the best midrange shooters in the game. His game/skill set reminds me of Chris Bosh before Bosh joined forces with James and Dwyane Wade in Miami.
C Tim Duncan (24.9 PER)
The Big Fundamental has turned back the clock this season, re-establishing himself as one of the NBA's top defenders in addition to providing his steady consistency and efficiency.
My Prediction; the West will beat the East by 8. Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference and NBA.com's HangTime Blog
Friday, February 15, 2013
2013 NBA East All-Star Roster
The starters
PG Rajon Rondo (18.2 PER)
Rondo just underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. At the time he went down the mercurial point guard was enjoying a stellar season running Doc Rivers' offense. He led the NBA in assists and had already picked up five triple-doubles in the first half. His midrange shot was much improved too. The Celtics haven't skipped a beat without him despite losing Jared Sullinger and Leonard Barbosa as well, but they will miss him dearly come playoff time. One thing's for sure; Sunday's game will be a lot less interesting without Rondo's flashy passes.
SG Dwyane Wade (23.8 PER)
D-Wade got banged up early and started the season slow, leading some to wonder whether his days of performing at an elite level were over. Wade didn't take long to round into form and dispel such talk as premature. While his defense has taken a step back and he hasn't recovered the terrifying explosiveness he displayed so often in his prime, his offense has rebounded to typical Wade numbers: 21-5-5 with a field goal percentage north of 50 percent. Wade's always a risk to miss time, but when he's healthy (and he's only missed four games so far) it's hard to argue with that kind of production from your second best player.
SF Carmelo Anthony (23.8 PER)
Following a down season last year, 'Melo has rebounded with what is shaping up to be the finest season of his career while leading the Knicks to the second best record in the Eastern Conference. Granted, his scoring numbers are somewhat inflated by the fact that has the NBA's highest usage rate at 34.1 percent, but he's still pouring in 28.6 points per game (second only to Kevin Durant) while turning himself into one of the best three point shooters in the NBA.
PF LeBron James (31.4 PER)
The three-time MVP is at it again. Last Tuesday he became the first player in NBA history to score at least 30 points and shoot better than 60 percent in six straight games and narrowly missed extending that streak to seven games in Thursday's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder (39 points on 58.3 percent shooting). On the season he's shooting a staggering 56.5 percent from the floor on 18.4 field goal attempts per game, a lethal combination of volume and efficiency. Traditionally an average three-point shooter at best, King James has been lights-out from beyond the arc so far by canning 42.4 percent of his treys. He's also the best finisher in the league and leads the Association in FG% from inside the restricted area at 77.2 percent.
C Kevin Garnett (19.5 PER)
KG will make his 15th and final All-Star appearance this weekend in Houston. The 36 year-old's numbers are down a bit so far this season, but he's still averaging a rock solid 15.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting better than 50 percent. His defense, while no longer elite, is still top-notch. Boston allows 95.3 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court but slips to 104.8 points/100 when he's on the bench.
The reserves
PG Jrue Holiday (18.2 PER)
With Andrew Bynum out, Holiday has taken the leap from average point guard to borderline elite. The 22 year-old breakout is averaging 19 points per game and ranks fourth in assists per game (8.9) behind Rondo, Chris Paul and Greivis Vasquez. He's still developing and prone to making mistakes--Russell Wesbtrook is the only point guard with more turnovers--but the future looks bright for the young 76er.
PG Kyrie Irving (22.3 PER)
No sophomore slump for last season's Rookie of the Year, who's established himself as the sport's best scoring point guard at the tender age of 20.
SF Paul George (17.3 PER)
George has stepped up in Danny Granger's absence to become Indiana's top offensive weapon. His 42.2 field goal percentage is on the low side, but he's knocking down nearly 39 percent of his three point attempts. Terribly underrated, George does everything well. He even leads the NBA in Defensive Win Shares.
SF Luol Deng (14.9 PER)
Not sure what I'm missing here. Deng didn't deserve to be an All-Star last year, when he shot 41 percent from the field and boasted a league average PER, and he hasn't been much better this year. I can think of a bunch of players (Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Greg Monroe) that deserved to make the squad over him. His counting numbers look good because he clocks just under 40 minutes per game--most in the league--but he's struggled with his outside shot and hasn't been the same force on defense that he was during the previous two seasons. His 45.5 eFG% is the lowest among All-Stars.
PF Chris Bosh (21.4 PER)
Bosh's rebounding numbers continue to plummet, but he's compensated by improving his offensive efficiency. While his 7.4 boards per game would tie a career low, he's shooting a career-best 55.5 percent from the floor and leads the league in midrange field goal percentage. He's been deadly in the clutch too, going 18-for-21 from the field in crunch time situations.
C Tyson Chandler (20.4 PER)
Last season's Defensive Player of the Year owns the best field goal percentage and effective-field goal percentage in the league again, which probably has something to do with the fact that he attempts more than 90 percent of his shots from the restricted area. But the Knicks aren't paying him to score, so the 11.4 points per game he provides are pure gravy. He's piled up the most offensive rebounds in the league and is one of the best rim protectors around.
C Joakim Noah (17.0 PER)
With Derrick Rose still recovering from his ACL torn, Tom Thibodeau has leaned heavily on Noah. The rugged center is averaging 38.3 minutes per game, 26 percent more than last year, while helping keep the Bulls competitive without their star point guard. In addition to his trademark defense and hustle, Noah has also improved his passing game. More than one-fifth of his possessions end with an assist, the highest rate among All-Star forwards and centers.
C Brook Lopez (24.8 PER)
A last minute addition to replace the injured Rondo, Lopez is in the midst of his best season as a pro and has picked up the slack for slumping teammates Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson. The seven-footer has made a full recovery from the foot and ankle injuries that limited him to just five games last year. In addition to providing his typical stellar offensive production--19 points per game on 52 percent shooting--he's also become a much better defender. Lopez's 2.2 blocks per game rank him sixth, ahead of Noah, Josh Smith, and Marcin Gortat, while his 104 DRating represents a five point improvement over his career average.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference and NBA.com's HangTime blog
PG Rajon Rondo (18.2 PER)
Rondo just underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. At the time he went down the mercurial point guard was enjoying a stellar season running Doc Rivers' offense. He led the NBA in assists and had already picked up five triple-doubles in the first half. His midrange shot was much improved too. The Celtics haven't skipped a beat without him despite losing Jared Sullinger and Leonard Barbosa as well, but they will miss him dearly come playoff time. One thing's for sure; Sunday's game will be a lot less interesting without Rondo's flashy passes.
SG Dwyane Wade (23.8 PER)
D-Wade got banged up early and started the season slow, leading some to wonder whether his days of performing at an elite level were over. Wade didn't take long to round into form and dispel such talk as premature. While his defense has taken a step back and he hasn't recovered the terrifying explosiveness he displayed so often in his prime, his offense has rebounded to typical Wade numbers: 21-5-5 with a field goal percentage north of 50 percent. Wade's always a risk to miss time, but when he's healthy (and he's only missed four games so far) it's hard to argue with that kind of production from your second best player.
SF Carmelo Anthony (23.8 PER)
Following a down season last year, 'Melo has rebounded with what is shaping up to be the finest season of his career while leading the Knicks to the second best record in the Eastern Conference. Granted, his scoring numbers are somewhat inflated by the fact that has the NBA's highest usage rate at 34.1 percent, but he's still pouring in 28.6 points per game (second only to Kevin Durant) while turning himself into one of the best three point shooters in the NBA.
PF LeBron James (31.4 PER)
The three-time MVP is at it again. Last Tuesday he became the first player in NBA history to score at least 30 points and shoot better than 60 percent in six straight games and narrowly missed extending that streak to seven games in Thursday's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder (39 points on 58.3 percent shooting). On the season he's shooting a staggering 56.5 percent from the floor on 18.4 field goal attempts per game, a lethal combination of volume and efficiency. Traditionally an average three-point shooter at best, King James has been lights-out from beyond the arc so far by canning 42.4 percent of his treys. He's also the best finisher in the league and leads the Association in FG% from inside the restricted area at 77.2 percent.
C Kevin Garnett (19.5 PER)
KG will make his 15th and final All-Star appearance this weekend in Houston. The 36 year-old's numbers are down a bit so far this season, but he's still averaging a rock solid 15.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting better than 50 percent. His defense, while no longer elite, is still top-notch. Boston allows 95.3 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court but slips to 104.8 points/100 when he's on the bench.
The reserves
PG Jrue Holiday (18.2 PER)
With Andrew Bynum out, Holiday has taken the leap from average point guard to borderline elite. The 22 year-old breakout is averaging 19 points per game and ranks fourth in assists per game (8.9) behind Rondo, Chris Paul and Greivis Vasquez. He's still developing and prone to making mistakes--Russell Wesbtrook is the only point guard with more turnovers--but the future looks bright for the young 76er.
PG Kyrie Irving (22.3 PER)
No sophomore slump for last season's Rookie of the Year, who's established himself as the sport's best scoring point guard at the tender age of 20.
SF Paul George (17.3 PER)
George has stepped up in Danny Granger's absence to become Indiana's top offensive weapon. His 42.2 field goal percentage is on the low side, but he's knocking down nearly 39 percent of his three point attempts. Terribly underrated, George does everything well. He even leads the NBA in Defensive Win Shares.
SF Luol Deng (14.9 PER)
Not sure what I'm missing here. Deng didn't deserve to be an All-Star last year, when he shot 41 percent from the field and boasted a league average PER, and he hasn't been much better this year. I can think of a bunch of players (Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Greg Monroe) that deserved to make the squad over him. His counting numbers look good because he clocks just under 40 minutes per game--most in the league--but he's struggled with his outside shot and hasn't been the same force on defense that he was during the previous two seasons. His 45.5 eFG% is the lowest among All-Stars.
PF Chris Bosh (21.4 PER)
Bosh's rebounding numbers continue to plummet, but he's compensated by improving his offensive efficiency. While his 7.4 boards per game would tie a career low, he's shooting a career-best 55.5 percent from the floor and leads the league in midrange field goal percentage. He's been deadly in the clutch too, going 18-for-21 from the field in crunch time situations.
C Tyson Chandler (20.4 PER)
Last season's Defensive Player of the Year owns the best field goal percentage and effective-field goal percentage in the league again, which probably has something to do with the fact that he attempts more than 90 percent of his shots from the restricted area. But the Knicks aren't paying him to score, so the 11.4 points per game he provides are pure gravy. He's piled up the most offensive rebounds in the league and is one of the best rim protectors around.
C Joakim Noah (17.0 PER)
With Derrick Rose still recovering from his ACL torn, Tom Thibodeau has leaned heavily on Noah. The rugged center is averaging 38.3 minutes per game, 26 percent more than last year, while helping keep the Bulls competitive without their star point guard. In addition to his trademark defense and hustle, Noah has also improved his passing game. More than one-fifth of his possessions end with an assist, the highest rate among All-Star forwards and centers.
C Brook Lopez (24.8 PER)
A last minute addition to replace the injured Rondo, Lopez is in the midst of his best season as a pro and has picked up the slack for slumping teammates Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson. The seven-footer has made a full recovery from the foot and ankle injuries that limited him to just five games last year. In addition to providing his typical stellar offensive production--19 points per game on 52 percent shooting--he's also become a much better defender. Lopez's 2.2 blocks per game rank him sixth, ahead of Noah, Josh Smith, and Marcin Gortat, while his 104 DRating represents a five point improvement over his career average.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference and NBA.com's HangTime blog
Best Pitching Season of the 1900s
Jack Chesbro 1904 (9.9 bWAR)
After winning 70 games in the previous three seasons combined, Chesbro added a spitball (which he learned from Elmer Stricklett, the inventor of the pitch) and "slow ball" (change-up?) to his arsenal and became even more devastating. He got on a roll early, winning 14 straight decisions from May 14th through the Fourth of July, setting a club record that lasted until Roger Clemens strung together 16 consecutive victories in 2001. His 239 strikeouts ranked second behind Rube Waddell's record-setting 349, but stood as a franchise record until Ron Guidry passed him in 1978. In almost any other year, his 1.82 ERA would have been good enough to lead the league, but he had to settle for fourth.
Chesbro's 51 starts, 48 complete games, 41 wins, and 454 and two-thirds innings pitched are still records for the modern era. Manager Clark Griffith deployed his ace so frequently that Chesbro made 28 starts with less than three days' rest. For good measure, Chesbro also topped the league in appearances (55), winning percentage (.774) and lowest hit rate (6.7 H/9).
Unfortunately for the Massachusetts native, he is remembered more for his infamous wild pitch on the final day of the season, a gaffe that allowed the winning run to score and cost his New York Highlanders their bid for an American League pennant. The mistake tormented the Hall of Famer for the rest of his life and nearly caused him to retire that winter, but he developed a new pitch called the "jump ball" and came back strong the following year, though he never again came close to replicating the magic of his 1904 season.
Best offensive season of the 1900s--Nap Lajoie (1901)
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