The 100 Best Players in the NBA: 2015-16

ESPN is counting down its list of the top 400 players in the NBA.  I'm not going to do that.

I do have my ranking of the top 100 players in the NBA for the upcoming 2015-16 season.  It's a projection.  Not a fantasy ranking.  For the first time in years, there's a new #1.

100. JR Smith SG Cle
99. Manu Ginobli SG SA
98. Markieff Morris PF Pho
97. Tobias Harris SF Orl
96. Monte Ellis SG Ind
95. Jared Sullinger PF Bos
94. Al-Farooq Aminu SF Port
93. Michael Carter-Williams PG Mil
92. Gorgui Dieng C Minn
91. Al Jefferson C Charl

90. Thaddeus Young PF Brook
89. Jordan Clarkson PG LAL
88. Jonas Valanciunas C Tor
87. Victor Oladipo SG Orl
86. Lou Williams SG LAL
85. Andrew Bogut C World Champion Golden St. Warriors
84. Kelly Olynyk C Bos
83. Jusuf Nurkic C Den
82. Brandan Wright C Mem
81. Ed Davis PF Port

80. Zach Randolph PF Mem
79. Robin Lopez C NY
78. Mason Plumlee C Port
77. Amir Johnson PF Bos
76. Deron Williams PG Tor
75. Rudy Gay SF Sac
74. Bradley Beal SG Wash
73. Giannis Antetokounmpo SF Mil
72. Reggie Jackson PG Det
71. Dirk Nowitzki PF Dall

70. Elfrid Payton PG Orl
69. Wesley Matthews SG Dall
68. Danilo Gallinari SF Den
67. Trevor Ariza SF Hou
66. Marcin Gortat C Wash
65. Patrick Patterson PF Tor
64. Chris Bosh PF Mia
63. Terrence Jones PF Hou
62. Dwyane Wade SG Mia
61. Khris Middleton SG Mil

60. Goran Dragic PG Mia
59. Nikola Vucevic C Orl
58. Robert Covington SF Phi
57.   DeMarre Carroll SF Tor
56. Nerlens Noel PF Phi
55. LaMarcus Aldridge PF SA
54.  Ty Lawson PG Hou
53. Dwight Howard C Hou
52. Jeff Teague PG Atl
51. Ricky Rubio PG Min

50. Joakim Noah C Chi
49. Kenneth Faried PF Den
48. Brook Lopez C Brook
47.  Jrue Holiday PG NO
46. Chandler Parsons SF Dall
45. Tyreke Evans SG NO
44. Marcus Smart PG Bos
43. Pau Gasol PF Chi
42. Kyle Korver SG Atl
41. Serge Ibaka C OKC

40. George Hill PG Ind
39. Isaiah Thomas PG Bos
38. Nikola Mirotic PF Chi
37. Tyson Chandler C Pho
36. Nicolas Batum SF Char
35.  Kemba Walker PG Char
34. Greg Monroe C Mil
33.  Klay Thompson SG World Champion Golden St. Warriors
32. Al Horford C Atl
31. Gordon Hayward SF Uta

30. Paul George PF Ind
29. Marc Gasol C Mem
28. Derrick Favors PF Utah
27. Tim Duncan C SA
26. Danny Green SG SA
25. Mike Conley PF Mem
24. Carmello Anthony SF NY
23. Hasaan Whiteside C Mia
22. Paul Millsap PF Atl
21. Draymond Green PF World Champion Golden St. Warriors

20. Eric Bledsoe SG Pho
19. Jimmy Butler SG Chi
18. Kyrie Irving PG Cle
17. Kyle Lowry PG Tor
16. Andre Drummond C Det
15. DeAndre Jordan C LAC
14. Rudy Gobert C Uta
13. Blake Griffin PF LAC
12. Kevin Love PF Cle
11.   Damian Lillard PG Por

10. John Wall PG Wash
9.  DeMarcus Cousins PF Sac
8. Kawhi Leonard SF SA
7. Russell Westbrook PG OKC
6. Kevin Durant SF OKC
5.  Chris Paul PG LAC
4. James Harden SG Hou
3. Anthony Davis PF NO
2. Lebron James SF Cle
1. Steph Curry PG GSW World Champion Golden St. Warriors

Top 50 Catching Seasons in Giants History

Through 2019.  Ranked by WAR (baseball-reference+Clay Davenport, the best WAR number that exists) these are the top 50 catching seasons in Giants history.

1. 2012 Buster Posey 7.95
2. 2015 Buster Posey 7.15
3. 1884 Buck Ewing 6.3
4. 1883 Buck Ewing 6.05
5. 1888 Buck Ewing 5.85
6. 2016 Buster Posey 5.6
7. 2014 Buster Posey 5.6
8. 1885 Buck Ewing 5.6
9. 1908 Roger Bresnahan 5.55
10. 1906 Roger Bresnahan 5.55
11. 1889 Buck Ewing 5.55
12. 1939 Harry Danning 5.35
13. 2013 Buster Posey 5.05
14. 1940 Harry Danning 4.8
15. 1913 Chief Meyers 4.8
16. 2017 Buster Posey 4.75
17. 1970 Dick Dietz 4.7
18. 2010 Buster Posey 4.45
19. 1950 Wes Westrum 4.45
20. 1947 Walker Cooper 4.4
21. 1912 Chief Meyers 4.4
22. 1984 Bob Brenly 4.35
23. 1967 Tom Haller 3.95

24. 1987 Bob Brenly 3.9

25. 1905 Roger Bresnahan 3.9

26. 1886 Buck Ewing 3.8

27. 1936 Gus Mancuso 3.75
28. 1971 Dick Dietz 3.7

29. 1951 Wes Westrum 3.65

30. 1962 Tom Haller 3.6

31. 1945 Ernie Lombardi 3.6

32. 1911 Chief Meyers 3.45

33. 1986 Bob Brenly 3.4

34. 1928 Shanty Hogan 3.35

35. 1963 Ed Bailey 3.2

36. 1992 Kurt Manwaring 3.15

37. 1964 Tom Haller 3.1
38. 2008 Bengie Molina 3.05

39. 2002 Benito Santiago 3.05

40. 1921 Frank Snyder 3.05

41. 1907 Roger Bresnahan 3.05

42. 1931 Shanty Hogan 3
43. 2018 Buster Posey 2.95

44. 1993 Kurt Manwaring 2.9

45. 1914 Chief Meyers  2.9

46. 1966 Tom Haller 2.85

47. 1910 Chief Meyers 2.75

48. 1965 Tom Haller 2.7

49. 1921 Earl Smith 2.7

50. 1963 Tom Haller 2.65

and the worst...1892 Jack Doyle -2.2

Forever Giants: 2015 San Francisco Giants Year 58 (Franchise Year 133)

2014 is here.

My WAR calculation is a combination of Baseball-reference and Clay Davenport; I believe it to be the "best" WAR number available for historical comparison. 8 WAR is an MVP quality season.  The record is pythagorean adjusted for 162 games.

2015 89-73
C Buster Posey 7.15
1B Brandon Belt 4.2 
2B Joe Panik 3.55 

SS Brandon Crawford 5.85 

3B Matt Duffy 4.45 

LF Nori Aoki 1.55

CF Angel Pagan -1.55 

RF Hunter Pence 1.7

CF Gregor Blanco 1.8 

RF Justin Maxwell .1

2B Kelby Tomlinson 1.05

RF Marlon Byrd .7

C Andrew Susac -.1 

3B Casey McGehee -.45

Uti Ehire Adrianza .2

SP Madison Bumgarner 6.25 

SP Chris Heston 1.4

SP Ryan Vogelsong -.9 

SP Jake Peavy 1.85

RP Santiago Casilla 1.9

RP George Kontos 1.95

RP Hunter Strickland 1.5

RP Javier Lopez 1.2

-An 89 win pythag makes this the 17th best SFG team in 58 seasons; rookie Chris Heston throws a no hitter, heavy WAR totals from the infield make it one of the best (maybe the best) in franchise history.  A lot of movement in the all time 100, Crawford and Belt crack the list, Bumgarner moves into the top 50.  This ends Lincecum's run. Posey's season is the second best for a catcher in 133 years of Giants baseball, behind Posey's 2012 season.  Pagan's season is the worst for any center fielder in San Francisco history.  

Tendown. October 11, 2015

194 is here.  This is Tendown 195.

1. Inner Lives of Animals. Who have them. Unlike fetuses.

2. Government can work.

3. Every SFG team ranked, 1-58.

4. Every Week Until He Stops - Vote for Bernie Sanders

5. Good guys with guns.  And here.

6. First, let's kill all the managers.

7. We bombed a hospital.

8. The history of modern gun rights.

9. Don't look so hard for cancer.

10.

Rupert Murdoch Verified account‏@rupertmurdoch

Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else.

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8:59 PM - 7 Oct 2015

 
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And one more...

That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time.  If there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

2015 NFL Supercontest, Week 5

Week 4 is here. I went 3-2 and am 10-10 overall.

Det +2.5 Ari loss
Tenn +2.5 Buf win
Chi +9 KC win
Wash +7 Atl win
StL +9 GB loss

3-2
13-12


Not part of my official picks - but while we're here..
Jax +3 TB
Pit +3 SD