Players on the Rise and on the Decline

[NNpF]

With so many teams changing this season and getting better. My question is: Which players are beginning to rise in talent to help their teams, and which are begining to decline in talent and hurt their teams?

None of these are in order.

On the Rise:

1. Tony Parker: His performances in the playoffs had some onlooker's calling him the best PG in the league. That's pretty amazing for a guy entering his fourth season. Tim Duncan makes a lot of his teammates look good, and Tony Parker should get better as he continues to improve.

2. Tayshaun Prince: He needs to work on his consistency -- It's not unusual for him to score 4 points one game, then 14 the next -- But Prince will get better as his minutes go up. And His defense? Just ask Reggie Miller or Kobe what they think of it.

3. Richard Jefferson: Few players have improved as steadily over the past three seasons. Jefferson is one of the leagues most effecient shooters, a career high that helped him average 18.5 PPG last season, a career high. With Martin gone, he should have even more opportunities to shine.

4. Mike Bibby: Bibby averaged 18.4 PPG and 5.4 RPG last season, one of the best years of his career. It's easy to get overlooked on a team that consists of Peja Stojakovic and Chris Webber, but Bibby will get his chances.

5. LeBron James: He scored 20.9 PPG as a rookie, and that is while adjusting to the NBA and an extra-large dose of hype, expectations, and scrutincy. As the best player on a mediocre team, his numbers should only increase this season.

On the Decline:

1. Allen Iverson: Those years of throwing his slight frame into traffic are beginning to take their toll on Iverson. He finished with the worst shooting percentage of his career last season. For someone who jacks up 24 shots a game, thats not good.

2. Chris Webber: Last season was not a good one for Webber, who was sidelined for most of the regular season with a knee injury. After he came back, Kings fans booed him wondering if the team was better off without him. And his performance in the playoffs didn't help either.

3. Steve Nash: Why Nash? His performance has dropped a level since his prime two seasons ago. A scary fact for a 30-year old who just signed a five year deal worth 65 million.

4. Antoine Walker: (just kidding, I'm just tired of writing)

5. Vince Carter / Jalen Rose: Bad news for Raptors fans.

I would like to hear what you guys think.

Others (decline): Dikembe Mutumbo, Gary Payton, Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel, Sam Cassell, Jamaal Mashburn, Allan Houston

Other (rise): Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carlos Arroyo, Andrei Kirilenko, Raul Lopez, Gilbert Arenas, Kirk Hinrich, Rip Hamilton, Yao Ming

[interpol83]

i said wade is on the rise because he really contribute to the heat last season

[LouisvilleLip]

On The Rise:

Jonathan Bender - Often known for being a stick boy and injury prone, this off season Bender has gone from 7'0" 219, to 7'1" 240. This extra weight/muscle, and a healthy non rehab off season is huge for his improvement. Since Harrington was traded Bender will be given the huge task of 6th man at the sf, and pf posistion. He has 3pt range, huge hops, great speed and quickness for his size. He has all the skills in the world he just needs to translate them in the nba game. He has shown some great glimpses so far in his short career of how good he can be and I think this season could easily be the breakout year.

Ps: Some may say that Stephen Jackson will be the prominent 6th man for the pacers but I believe even with Reggie starting the game at Sg, Jax will come of the bench at the sg and still play more minutes than Reggie.

[Andrew]

I don't think Antoine Walker's on a sharp decline. He is getting older and his athleticism will decline as it does for all players as time and the NBA grind take they toll, but his numbers from last year are a little misleading. Across the board his numbers weren't shabby when compared to his last few seasons in Boston, though sharing the ball with Nowitzki, Nash and Finley resulted in a dip in his points per game average.

I think the reasons for the changes in his statistical output are environmental - the team's offense, his teammates etc - rather than being a question of whether he has the skills and ability to maintain the same performance on the stats sheet.

Having said that, he's certainly not on the way up. He's one of those veterans that has basically peaked and comes out and posts pretty much the same numbers every year.

[NNpF]

Haha...I know, he definitley will get better stats with Atlanta seeing as he will probably be the go-to-guy.

I personally don't hate him that much, but the rest of the world does.

He is a pretty good passer as we all saw when he played point-forward for the Mavs from time to time. He just has to cut down his threes to maybe taking 2-3 a game and maybe more if he makes those. When he played down low that is where he was successful.

So I could have picked other players other than Walker, just wanted to make other happy .

[Jowe]

Rise:
joe johnson- had the 2nd most minutes last year, might start this year.

carlos arroyo- played great last year in the nba, and player out of this world during the olympics.

Grant hill- he'll be back


Posey- had a great season, and playoff.

Jason Williams- getting better and better every season. No more jacking up 3's early in the clockshot, more patience on offence.


decline-

Allan Houston - off in the carribean spending his paycheck

Sprewell- Best years are behind him.

Shaq - 33 years old, usually the brickwall for centres.

[Rens]

Look at Carter and Rose's numbers after their injuries, and tell me who's in decline. Back it up when you state it.

[J@3]

Vince's numbers did fall after 01-02, but he seems to have got them back up again a little bit... statistically it's fairly obvious Jalen Rose is on the decline.

[Matt]

and then you have the guys that each year are supposed to be on the rise....eg: Tim Thomas....I've given up on this bum

[Arcane]

Grant hill- he'll be back

grant hill could play 10 games and would be regarded on the rise

[Jowe]

Grant hill- he'll be back

grant hill could play 10 games and would be regarded on the rise

Thats the point

[[Q]]

gary payton??? no way... it was because he had two ballhogs on his team last year and he never got to do anything in that stupid triangle offense...
he didn't get to go down to the blocks and pound the smaller PGs inside. that's his bread and butter right there.
and the year before he was in between teams in SEattle and Milwaukee.
but he IS getting kinda old, though

[fgrep15]

Look at Carter and Rose's numbers after their injuries, and tell me who's in decline. Back it up when you state it.

2nd half of the season:

Vince Carter - 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.40 steals, 0.80 blocks, 42.6% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 81.3% FT, and 6.0 FT attempts per game.

Meh, maybe the decline hasn't started yet....

[NNpF]

Numbers can be misleading, how many of you can honestly say that Carter played well his past two seasons? He keeps getting injured and has lost his drive, he is settling for jump shots and is not as explosive as he used to be.

Payton is definitley not getting any better. Although I think next season with Boston (If he plays for them) should be better.

[Ben-le-ouf]

I think all the players who played for the USA team last summer will be on the rise next year.
They have learnt a lot during those olympic games. Other rules, another type of play, other opponents, humility etc...

[Mikki]

Grant hill- he'll be back

He's dead right?

[Repole]

Rise
Joe Johnson - The celts gave up on him, and it really pisses me off...Talented scorer with the ability to pass and shoot, similar to penny hardaway earlier in his career without the explosive dunks.

Jiri Welsch - Most know i'm a big Jiri Welsch supporter, but if you look at his stats, it tells the whole story. With one of the highest 3pt shot percentages in the league last year, tough d, and a nose for those hustle rebounds, welsch will be a great 6th man (assuming rivers chooses davis as his starter, which we know he will since the celts are looking for any fans they can get, and nothing gets fans like a dunker). Welsch is a much better passer than his stats show, as he also has the ability to play the point at 6'7....

Kwame Brown - Those who have given up on this kid are flat out stupid. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kwame_brown/?nav=page go, look at how his stats have improved year by year, minute by minute. He'll play 35-40 mins this year, grab 9 rebounds, score 15 points, and throw in a block.

Marcus Banks - Still no word on weather payton will play for the celts or not, but if he doesnt marcus banks will get the time, and the chance to prove that he's the real deal. Possibly the fastest player in the league, Banks shows great awareness when driving to the basket, and is one of the better slashers in the league. His main problem is the turnovers, he often just gets lazy and doesnt pay attention to what he's doing with the ball. He was a rookie though, he'll be sure to fix that.

[j.23]

gary payton??? no way... it was because he had two ballhogs on his team last year and he never got to do anything in that stupid triangle offense...
he didn't get to go down to the blocks and pound the smaller PGs inside. that's his bread and butter right there.
and the year before he was in between teams in SEattle and Milwaukee.
but he IS getting kinda old, though

don't get me wrong, i like gp.. he's one of my favourite players but there's no questioning that he's on the decline.. if people are saying allen iverson is on the decline, gp is way ahead of him.. he's not as quick, he's shown lapses on defense and he can't shoot the ball that well.. gp got quite a bit of shots this year but he simply didn't make em (look at the finals) he was left open so much but he averaged what? 4 ppg? ..

[Matt]

Look at Carter and Rose's numbers after their injuries, and tell me who's in decline. Back it up when you state it.

2nd half of the season:

Vince Carter - 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.40 steals, 0.80 blocks, 42.6% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 81.3% FT, and 6.0 FT attempts per game.

Meh, maybe the decline hasn't started yet....

i think his FG% is worrysome. He used to shoot at 46% and now that's dipped

[Donyell]

Another player on the rise is Michael Redd.
3th scorer of the Bucks a few years ago behind Cassel and Allen and pumped up his stats every year after that. He even made it to the all star game last year.
A very good offensive threat with a good 3-point shot and a very quick release.

Stromile Swift:
I believe he's on the rise too. He can be a very solid player for Memphis.
He is a tremendous athlete and is a good rebounder.
He can also run the fast break.

Nene:
A young player but he's got some potential.
I believe he will get quite some minutes behind Kenyon Martin and will use them well.
He's a pretty descent rebounder and can play the post.
He's also a pretty fast player.

Marquis Daniels:
Often overlooked but a descent player. Undrafted last year, but he kind of surprised me.
Got quite some minutes by the end of the season.
He was pretty good in the playoffs too.
15.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3 apg, 2spg in 36.8 minutes

Mickael Pietrus:
His stats weren't all that good last year (although they weren't that bad: 5.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg in just 14 mpg), but I believe he can be a spark from the bench.
He's an athletic young player and will come in handy when your team starts to slow down.
He can only improve imo.

[J@3]

Marquis Daniels:
Often overlooked but a descent player. Undrafted last year, but he kind of surprised me.
Got quite some minutes by the end of the season.
He was pretty good in the playoffs too.
15.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3 apg, 2spg in 36.8 minutes

Those numbers are great for an undrafted player

[Rens]

Look at Carter and Rose's numbers after their injuries, and tell me who's in decline. Back it up when you state it.

2nd half of the season:

Vince Carter - 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.40 steals, 0.80 blocks, 42.6% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 81.3% FT, and 6.0 FT attempts per game.

Meh, maybe the decline hasn't started yet....

i think his FG% is worrysome. He used to shoot at 46% and now that's dipped

Dunks and layups tend to go in a bit more often than jumpers.