FanPost

Name Does Not Equal Game: Part One


Summer is the perfect time to reassess the NBA player community. The lull in activity provides chance to rank, argue, and speculate wildly about the value of each member of the Association. With that in mind, I've decided to create a tiny mini-series of posts about how the general fan's perceptions of some players may be out of touch with their actual value. In this segment, I'll find basketball's most underrated contributors at each position, whether they be unappreciated stars or reserves that deserve playing time. Spoiler alert: multiple Celtics cracked this list! Read on for some opening of eyes, and tell me in the comments if you like the direction of the article!

In no particular order, the NBA All-Underrated Team- 2018-2019 Edition:

Point Guard: Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors- Each year I am surprised to find Kyle Lowry in the upper tier of NBA point guard rankings, but his stats have proven his worth time and time again. While he's not a highlight-reel player (two career dunks), Lowry rebounds well for a point guard, gets plenty of assists and shoots effectively (40%) from three. In the playoffs, he was a bright spot in an otherwise comical Raptors collapse. DeMar DeRozan got the attention in Toronto, but Lowry was quietly a much better player, and Kawhi's entrance will help him to continue flying under the radar. It's time to recognize Lowry for what he is: a top 5 NBA point guard.

Shooting Guard: David Nwaba, Cleveland Cavaliers: Shooting guard was a difficult position to fill, as most of the two-way threats are rightfully appreciated. However, David Nwaba was one of the few lesser-known names to make an impact defensively. On an awful Bulls team, Nwaba posted a positive Defensive Box Plus/Minus and averaged nearly five rebounds from the shooting guard position. He is a poor offensive player but shot a passable 34.6% from beyond the arc. Nwaba only played 23 minutes per game and was used on just 15.6% of plays (an average usage rate should be around 20%). Now likely getting more playing time on the Cavs, Nwaba can become a quality starter if he can improve offensively.

Small Forward: Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz- Last year, only six qualifying players shot above 40% from three and had an effective field goal percentage of at least 60%. Of the six, Joe ingles had the best defensive rating, and was second in points, assists and rebounds per game (behind Stephen Curry). Ingles shot a blistering 44% behind the arc while having a usage rate of only 15.9% (an average usage rate should be around 20% for a starter). He also has played in 324 of a possible 328 games in his four-year career, which is a testament to durability. Ingles is not going to ever be a lead option, but he is one of the best off-ball role players in the game.

Power Forward: Marcus Morris, Boston Celtics: I had long thought the Marcus Morris hype was a product of Celtics bias and one strong defensive game against Lebron in the playoffs. But upon closer examination, Morris is a much more consistent, well-rounded player that deserves heavy minutes on the Celtics' bench and a starting spot on most other teams. In just 26.8 minutes per game, Morris averaged 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and just 1.2 turnovers. Per 36 minutes, this equates to 18.3 PPG, 7.2 boards and only 1.6 turnovers. He shot well from deep, mid-range and at the rim (61.2% from within 3 feet). Morris also was a superb defender all season, and his lockdown of James was just a showcase of his defensive abilities. He's a spectacular bargain at $5 million a year.

Center: Al Horford, Boston Celtics- Celtics fans already know this, but the rest of the nation seems to have trouble grasping the greatness of Al Horford. Sure, he doesn't score or rebound much, but Horford has evolved to become a modern big while still retaining old-school tough defense. His 3P% skyrocketed to nearly 43% last season and his accuracy has improved each of the past three years. Only three players averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds while shooting over 40% from three: Horford, Kevin Love, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Of the three, Horford is the far superior defender, posting a defensive rating of just 103. Horford also ranked 9th in the League in Defensive BPM. He'll never be an offensive focal point, but Horford is as important to a Celtics championship run as any other player.

Bonus Round: Dwight Powell, PF, Dallas Mavericks- As I scrolled through statistics and lists looking for tidbits on the above players, Dwight Powell's name continually popped up on random leaderboards. I finally gave in and needed to check this player out, and what I found was not only a hidden gem but also a cheap, good trade candidate for the Celtics. Did you know Dwight Powell had the best offensive rating in basketball last year? How about that he shot better on two pointers then the league leader, Clint Capela, but didn't meet Basketball Reference's qualifications? Powell has the potential to be a three-point shooter, and he averaged 14 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes. Oh, and he's 27 years old, which still makes him fit the C's youth timeline.

The Celtics actually had Dwight Powell four years ago, and now is the time to get him back. Powell likely isn't worth more than Daniel Theis and a protected second round pick, or even just an unprotected second rounder. He gives the Celtics more frontcourt depth and a capable rebounder, both of which are part of the few team needs. You heard it here first: Dwight Powell is out there for the Celtics to take.

Did you like this post? If so, a second installment is coming, this time on basketball's most overrated names (we all see you, Carmelo).

I am an incoming college freshman at Boston University, looking to major in journalism. So tell me about my writing! What was good or bad? What am I missing? Any feedback is gladly appreciated. Thank you and see you at TD Garden!

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