USA Today Player rankings

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

More from USA Today.
They've ranked each player by position from last years statistics.
The ranking system is pretty simplistic so their conclusions are arguable.
Still interesting to see where each of the Celtics show up when compared to
their opponents in each category.
<A
HREF="http://usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2002-10-22-player-rankings-st
ory_x.htm">
USA Today Player rankings story</A>

Numbers tell another story of NBA stars

By David DuPree USA TODAY

When any conversation about who is the best player in the NBA gets going, it
usually is confined to the same handful of players b Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe
Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd and Tim
Duncan.
 However, looking at it strictly from a statistical point of view, none of
those players was even the best at his position last season.

By Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Based on a ratings system using nine statistical categories and the team
winning percentage, the top players at their positions last season were San
Antonio's David Robinson at center, Boston's Paul Pierce at small forward,
Sacramento's Chris Webber at power forward, Seattle's Gary Payton at point
guard and Seattle's Brent Barry at shooting guard.

This is the second consecutive year in which Robinson has outpointed O'Neal,
who is unchallenged as the league's most dominant player. Robinson is the
only player to repeat as the best at his position.

Though all of their selections will raise a few eyebrows, Barry is likely the
biggest surprise. He wasn't even a starter before last season.

Not only did he beat out McGrady, Bryant, Iverson and Ray Allen, but he did
it handily. Barry had the best total score of any player at any position, and
his margin over second-place finisher McGrady was the largest margin between
first and second at any position.

Barry, a former NBA dunk champion was consistent and versatile. He was one of
only eight players in the league to average at least five rebounds and five
assists a game (Garnett, Kidd, McGrady, Bryant, Michael Jordan, Antoine
Walker and Steve Francis were the others) and one of only two players (Wally
Szczerbiak was the other) who shot at least 50% from the field, 40% from
three-point range and 80% from the foul line.

"It's kind of cool," Barry says of his top ranking, but he's careful not to
lay claim to being the best of the best. "I guess it shows consistency and
efficiency ... and it proves that you can do anything with numbers if you
twist them around right."

How the numbers were derived: Starters (or the player who played the most
minutes) at each position last season were compared to other starters at the
same position. The players were ranked 1-29 in 10 categories, from best to
worst. No category carried more weight than another.

The categories: Team winning percentage, turnovers, three-point shots made
per game, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebound average,
assists average, steals average, blocked shots average and scoring average.

If a player was the highest-scoring power forward, for instance, he got one
point. The power forward with the lowest scoring average got 29 points. The
player with the fewest total points is, theoretically, the best at his
position.

<A
HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2002-10-23-player-ranking
s.htm#sg">USA Today rankings by position</A>

For those that don't want to take the time to look.

PG-Non of the current Celtics are ranked.
      Kenny Anderson came in 17th.

SG- Eric Williams was dead last in the rankings at 29th.

SF- Paul Pierce was 1st

PF- Antoine Walker was tied for 8th
      Vin Baker was 25th

C-  Tony Battie was 15th