Stephen Jackson: Top 5 SG?

[jdsingar]

Rick Bonnell posted an article on Stephen Jackson and his slight All-Star snub. I definitely think Jax deserved some consideration. But he made this seemingly headscratching comment:

If you look at the 2-guards in the league,'' Jackson concludes, "you can't tell me I'm not in the top five.''

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...-all-star.html

Does anyone really believe that? If you look at ESPN's player ratings for SG, you see right off the bat that there are 5 guys (Wade, Bryant, Roy, Ginobili, Johnson) that are ahead of him without much consideration in my mind. There's a slew of guys ahead of him in PER as well. You could also take into account Lebron, Carmelo, and Durant who have similar size and capabilities, but techinically play SF.

Is he justified in this thinking?

[BRNC]

I really like Jax and was all for him coming here...like his all-around game....read this article a bit ago...still scratching my head from the comment also...I like the fact he has confidence...but I found it a "stretch"...

[SWedd523]

I hate ranking guys linearly because I'd much rather group them.

For example:

Group 1 consists of Wade, Bryant, Roy, and Johnson
Group 2 consists of Ellis (if you call him a SG), Jack, and KMart
Group 3 consists of Mayo, Eric Gordon, Rip, and Jamal Crawford


He might be top 5, but he's fringe. And he's also in group 2, so the gap between the top 4 and him is large enough to merit him being pushed down

[ammofan]

Ok I like Jack but come on man......the day after Wallace says in the paper that it was "Team This Team That" when they were winning and now it "I this I that", Jack come out with a "I this" article in the paper. He needs to keep his yap shut because right now the way he and the rest of the team is playing, he isnt even in the top 10 sg's!

[ajbry]

Let's not go by ESPN player rankings and PER, please.

I like what LB said in the article and something I've aligned myself with: coaches know. Coaches - current, former, opposing - say overwhelmingly positive things regarding Jack and I'll take their input over us fans or know-it-all metrics any day.

I probably wouldn't have bothered responding but whenever I see PER reference it infuriates me, lol. It's for nerds who don't actually watch games. And it doesn't even account for literally one-half of basketball, which penalizes good defenders like Jack.

[Fred Williamson]

This is one of the reasons why I don't want him here for the remaining 4 years of his contract.

This guy is still a headcase and it's only a matter of time before he starts the same drama here, he left behind in Golden State. He needs to STFU and let his game speak. Team first, individual awards second.

[BETCATS]

This is Jackson's swagger speaking. He needs to think he is the best so he can play like he is the best. Honestly, Top 5 is all a matter of perspective, everyone can produce a different list and use facts to back their views up. I personally consider Jack top 15 not top 5. But that is just me.

And i love him for it too.

[jdsingar]

Let's not go by ESPN player rankings and PER, please.

I like what LB said in the article and something I've aligned myself with: coaches know. Coaches - current, former, opposing - say overwhelmingly positive things regarding Jack and I'll take their input over us fans or know-it-all metrics any day.

I probably wouldn't have bothered responding but whenever I see PER reference it infuriates me, lol. It's for nerds who don't actually watch games. And it doesn't even account for literally one-half of basketball, which penalizes good defenders like Jack.

I agree on the point concerning defense. PER doesn't measure defense well and it doesn't take into account leadership ability. What it does tell me about Jack, though, is what we already know: He's an inefficient offensive player and relies on volume.

He is a good defender, but not a superior athlete or a shut down type player. I like what he has done for us on the defensive end, and it is worth noting.

I used the ESPN ratings more as a way for me to take a look at the field of players at SG. I'd say that Top 5 is pretty good, and I would definitely take any of them over Jack.

[spectre]

Let's not go by ESPN player rankings and PER, please.

~snip~

I probably wouldn't have bothered responding but whenever I see PER reference it infuriates me, lol. It's for nerds who don't actually watch games. And it doesn't even account for literally one-half of basketball, which penalizes good defenders like Jack.

Boy do I have a thread for you!

Hollinger Preview

[teej]

Boy do I have a thread for you!

Hollinger Preview

If only "nerds who don't watch the games" would admit PER isn't the best stat known to man.

Jeez-usss.