Every one loves them some power rankings. Here’s a look at the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets rosters from 27 down to one.
By Chip Murphy
Maybe it’s because the Nets don’t have any fans or any success since moving into the city. Either way, it’s impossible to compare the two franchises. One is in a league of its own while the other is struggling to get by. That’s why we are going to look at the rosters.
Neither squad should be bragging about the pieces that they’ve put together. Both are far from any championship hopes, the Knicks further than they thought and the Nets further than perhaps any team in league history.
As much as Phil Jackson would like you to think differently, these two teams are actually in similar situations. Neither team knows who their coach will be next year, and without first round picks both will heavily depend on free agency. With the possible exit of Carmelo Anthony, these teams could be more even than we think come next season.
For now, let’s look at what both teams are throwing out there every night. Everybody loves some power rankings. This is a ranking of every player from the two New York City NBA teams, using real plus-minus, win shares, and various other statistics.
Enjoy.
27. Sergey Karasev, Nets
Let’s get the guys nobody has ever heard of out of the way first. Karasev is last because I couldn’t find a single positive thing to write about him.
26. Lou Amundson, Knicks
Lou finally cut off the man bun, but despite that difficult choice he hasn’t played since Feb. 7 and has only made 22 appearances all season.
25. Cleanthony Early, Knicks
Early showed a lot of guts battling back from being shot to earning a spot on the main team again. Like his rookie year, Early’s second season has also been marked with multiple stints in the D-league. He’s currently on the main roster, after being called up to help a team in desperate need of a spark.
He’s this low on the list for a reason though, Early has shown flashes of potential but he still has never done anything concrete enough to prove he belongs in the rotation.
24. Chris McCullough, Nets
Chris McCullough‘s long-awaited NBA debut came on Feb. 8, 2016. The Nets knew when they drafted him that his ACL injury would keep him out for a majority of the season, but it looks like they could be getting a steal.
He hasn’t gotten into the swing of things yet, but for the a guy who hasn’t played organized ball in over a year McCullough looks good. His minutes are obviously still restricted but once he gets more accustomed to the NBA game next season he will be a vital part of the Nets’ gameplan.
In three years, McCullough could be one of the best players in New York but he’s this low on the list right now because the rookie has only appeared in seven games. He did look good in his 12 minutes (6 pts, 3-3 fgs, 2 blks) against the Nuggets on Friday, Mar. 4, though.
23. Kevin Seraphin, Knicks
Seraphin signed a one-year deal with the Knicks because he wanted more playing time, but he’s been a terrible disappointment falling out of the rotation and appearing in just 35 games.
Seraphin is last on the Knicks in ORtg (84) and Win Shares (-0.3), and second to last in true shooting percentage (41.3%), while coming in last among qualified centers in offensive real plus-minus (-4.12).
According to NBA Stats, the Knicks have a Net Rtg of minus-11.9 in the 363 minutes Seraphin’s on the court, and a Net Rtg of minus-1.8 in the 2,686 minutes he’s off the court, meaning that in total Seraphin constitutes a minus-10.1 points per 100 possessions difference when on the floor.
22. Sasha Vujacic, Knicks
Sasha spent the 2014-15 season overseas, but Phil Jackson decided to sign him for the 2015-16 campaign due to his knowledge of the triangle from his days with Jackson’s Lakers. It hasn’t panned out.
Sasha was supposed to be a three-point shooter on a team that actually needed one, but he’s failed in a colossal way. Vujacic is shooting 28.2 percent from downtown with an effective field goal percentage of 38.3 percent. The 31-year-old from Slovenia is second to Seraphin in ORtg (89), PER (7.6), and win shares (-0.1) ; plus he’s 90th out of 95 shooting guards in offensive real plus-minus.
21. Thomas Robinson, Nets
If Thomas Robinson had any semblance of an offensive game he’d be a very effective player. He’s great at guarding the pick and roll, and has good instincts on the boards, as noted by his averaging 4.2 rebounds in just 10.7 minutes.
The 24-year-old former No. 5 pick is on his fifth team in four seasons, still struggling to find his way.
20. Willie Reed, Nets
Willie Reed‘s per-36 stats are off the charts. His PER (17.8), true shooting percentage(57.4%), and ORtg (110) are all something to be proud of. However, he isn’t higher on this list because he’s a rookie who’s only played in 32 games. Keep in mind, the per-36 argument used to be thrown around in favor of Kevin Seraphin. Yikes. It can be misleading. Reed has definitely passed the eye test in his limited time though.
19. Jerian Grant, Knicks
If Grant were given the proper playing time, wait no let’s not even go there. That’s a different article. Unfortunately Grant hasn’t done enough to be higher on this list. He’s clearly a better player than Seraphin or Vujacic.
18. Kyle O’Quinn, Knicks
Kyle O’Quinn signing with the Knicks this past offseason was a homecoming, as the Queens native was looking forward to an expanded role beyond what he had during his time with the Orlando Magic.
Similar to Seraphin, he wasn’t able to take advantage of his opportunities. He has occasionally been a solid contributor on the defensive end, but the offensive skills Knicks’ fans heard about upon his signing have yet to be fully displayed.
According to NBA Stats, O’Quinn is in just the eighth percentile as the roll man in the pick and roll play, and in the thirty-third percentile on post-up plays. O’Quinn’s struggled down low on both ends, flailing down in the twenty-fourth percentile defensively on post-ups.
O’Quinn was brought in for his offense, and he’s only averaging 4.6 points in 11.3 minutes.
17. Wayne Ellington, Nets
Ellington is a three-point shooter, plain and simple. 46.5 percent of his field goal attempts are from downtown, so it’s never really a secret what he’s going to do. The 28-year-old shooting guard is averaging an impressive 43.8 percent on corner threes, but a much less stellar 33.9 percent on above the break threes.
On the season, Ellington is averaging 36.1 percent from downtown, a respectable percentage but not earth shattering.
16. Shane Larkin, Nets
Shane Larkin and his famously tiny hands were booted right out of Manhattan, only to be picked up by the Nets on a two-year deal. After the injury to starting point guard Jarrett Jack, the opportunity to audition for the spot opened up, but Larkin couldn’t take advantage.
Larkin’s hope for redemption — and let’s face it the opportunity to shove Phil Jackson’s words back in his smug face — hasn’t gone to plan. The point guard has an ORtg of just 98, brutal especially in comparison to his DRtg of 108. He’s averaging 6.7 points, 4.0 assists, 1.2 steals, on a slash line of .431/.357/.785. Larkin has the speed to be an effective offensive player, but he doesn’t finish well enough at the rim.
15. Markel Brown, Nets
Markel Brown‘s season overall has been difficult (4.6 points, 1.3 assists, 38 percent shooting) but over the past month he’s really upped his game. Brown averaged 8.9 points, 1.7 assists, on 50 percent shooting from the field and 48.1 percent shooting from downtown.
With Joe Johnson gone, more playing time has opened up for Brown as he netted 21 points in 33 minutes on Friday against the Denver Nuggets. The Nets hope it’s a sign of things to come for the 24-year-old out of Oklahoma State.
14. Bojan Bogdanovic, Nets
A couple weeks ago Bojan Bogdanovic would’ve been ten spots further down, maybe more. But in the five games since the Nets released Joe Johnson, Bogdanovic has been on fire, averaging 17.2 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent from downtown.
The move to the starting lineup has lit a fire under the second-year small forward who may finally live up to the potential that the Nets are hoping for.
13. Derrick Williams, Knicks
The erratic offense of Derrick Williams is eerily reminiscent of former Knick, J.R. Smith. Thankfully, Williams isn’t a selfish idiot. Unfortunately, he does have a high usage rate (22.1) and he doesn’t play defense (95th out of 97 power forwards in defensive real plus-minus).
Despite Williams’ defensive problems he’s still one of his team’s most productive offensive players, ranking fifth in scoring (8.6), fourth in ORtg (109), fifth in PER (17.2), and third in win shares per 48 minutes (.114).
Where Williams really thrives is on the play most NBA players turn to, the isolation. He’s ranked in the 83rd percentile on isos, showing that he’s one of the few Knicks that can make things happen for himself.
12. Jose Calderon, Knicks
It says a lot about the state of these two teams that Jose Calderon is ranked this high. As much as I would’ve loved to rank him 27th and rant on his defense, the other numbers can’t be ignored. Unfortunately.
To be fair, let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of Jose Calderon’s season.
The good: He’s second on the team in ORtg (113) and true shooting percentage (57.4), and he’s tied with Lance Thomas for the team lead in three point shooting (41.1%). He’s in the 96th percentile in points scored per possession on spot on jumpers, as he’s averaging 45.2 percent from the field on those attempts.
The bad: He has a minus-2.6 net rating per 100 possessions, and the team is minus-4 points when he plays meaning they are minus-1.4 points (per 100). The Knicks’ starting point guard not only has a negative net rating, but his team is plus 1.4 points per 100 poss. when he’s out of the game. How is this not the ugly? Well he plays defense remember.
The ugly: With Calderon on the court, the Knicks have a defensive rating of 107.1, and that dips down all the way to 103.0 when he sits. He has a DRtg of 110, and according to NBA stats is in the 53rd percentile on defense against ball handlers in pick and roll plays. Jerian Grant‘s in the 82nd percentile by the way.
11. Langston Galloway, Knicks
After Langston Galloway‘s red hot start in which he led the league in three-point shooting, his numbers have decreased dramatically, including a couple of recent games where he didn’t score a single point.
It’s okay for Knicks’ fans to now admit that he is just a backup combo guard that probably won’t be on the team next season. Galloway’s barely holding the line at 40 percent from the field and he’s at just the league average now of 35 percent from downtown. According to NBA Savant, Galloway should stick to corner threes because he’s shooting 50 percent on them.
10. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Nets
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson only played in 19 games before going down with an ankle injury, but before he did he was one of the best defensive players in the league.
Jefferson is third behind just the legendary Tony Allen and Danny Green among shooting guards in defensive RPM, and with him on the court the Nets (pathetically bad on defense) had their best defensive rating by far, 98.9.
9. Lance Thomas, Knicks
Lance Thomas is one of those players whose value goes beyond the stats. Both Knicks’ coaches have asked Thomas to guard the best player on the opposing team every night, regardless of the position. The former Duke Blue Devil will undoubtedly earn votes for Most Improved Player as his three-point shooting has been a huge surprise.
Until 2015-16, Thomas had only taken 23 three-pointers in his entire NBA career, and in college he didn’t attempt a single shot from downtown. His game has undergone a complete transformation this year as Thomas has become a mad bomber, taking 109 threes, and making them at a 40 percent clip.
8. Jarrett Jack, Nets
Jarrett Jack is a good scorer, but his flaws are exposed when he plays starters minutes. Unfortunately the Nets, like a lot of teams expect to much from the defensively challenged point guard.
Jack is in the 13th percentile guarding spot up jump shots, and in the 56th percentile of defenders against ball handlers on the pick and roll. His DRtg of 110 is staggering in comparison to his ORtg of 101, and his horrible net rating of plus-0.7 per 100 possessions is an example of how bad the team is no matter whether or not he plays.
7. Donald Sloan, Nets
Donald Sloan took over the starting point guard job from Jack after his injury, and has done a better job than his predecessor. In 43 games, Sloan’s averaging 21.1 minutes, 6.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 0.6 steals on a slash line of .444/.400/.738.
According to NBA Stats, the Nets total a plus-4.6 points per 100 possessions difference when he’s on the floor, in comparison to Jack’s difference of plus-0.2 points per 100 possessions. He has more win shares (1.5) than Jack (1.1), and a better ORtg (109).
6. Arron Afflalo, Knicks
Afflalo was brought in to be Carmelo Anthony‘s number two, but with the unexpected play of Kristaps Porzingis he hasn’t needed to be that guy. Afflalo has furthered his reputation as one of the league’s best role players.
Afflalo has been an excellent shooter for the Knicks, 43.4 percent on corner 3’s and 46.6 percent on mid-range jumpers. Afflalo has been arguably the Knicks most complete offensive player: He’s one of the best guards in the league with his back to the basket, in the 95th percentile on post-up plays, the 91st percentile on isos, and surprisingly as low as the 73rd percentile on spot up jump shots.
5. Thaddeus Young, Nets
Lost in the shuffle on one of the worst teams of the season, is the fact that Young is having one of the best seasons of his career. The ninth-year power forward from Georgia Tech is averaging 33.1 minutes, 15.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 50.9 percent from the field.
If the Nets were smart they’d use that momentum to trade him in the offseason.
4. Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks
The rookie phenom has exceeded all expectations for the New York Knicks. Porzingis is averaging 27.9 minutes, 14.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, on 42.6 percent shooting from the field.
On a per-36 minute basis, the Latvian star’s averages soar to 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. The potential is tremendous on both ends of the floor, as he’s leading the team in block percentage with a PER of 18.4.
3. Robin Lopez, Knicks
When the Knicks give Lopez the ball, good things happen. He’s not a scorer like his brother but he’s still one of the best defensive big men in the league. According to NBA Savant, Lopez is holding defenders to 49.4 percent at the restricted area.
He leads the Knicks in field goal percentage (54.5%), true shooting percentage (58.2%), ORtg (114), and is second in win shares (4.3).
Lopez has been as good as advertised in the post, ranked in the 71st percentile on defense and the 73rd on offense in efficiency.
2. Brook Lopez, Nets
Brook Lopez is having another Brook Lopez season, leading his team in scoring (20.8), blocks (1.8), PER (22.0), and win shares (5.8). Lopez’s reputation as one of the best offensive centers in the league has remained intact.
He’s been his typically dominant self with his back to the basket, in the 75th percentile on post ups.
Brooklyn has a NetRtg of minus-11.4 when Lopes isn’t on the court. His important to the team is unquestioned. For some reason he actually loves being in Brooklyn, but the truth is that the Nets need to trade him too. As good as he is, Lopez is not a championship player.
1. Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Melo’s recent behavior has left little doubt as to whether or not he will return to the Knicks next season. The guy is fed up, and doesn’t want to be there anymore. Understandable, and he’s still a great player who can get the Knicks plenty of assets in a trade. One can argue that this has been Anthony’s best all-around season in New York.
Anthony leads the Knicks in scoring (21.6), rebounding (8.0), assists (4.2), PER (20.3), and win shares (4.7). As good as Porzingis has looked, the fact remains that as Melo goes the Knicks go. His plus-7.0 Net Rtg per 100 possessions is evidence of the Knicks’ desperate need for him, as they are an unfortunate minus-0.1 points with him on the court but without him they are minus-7.1 points (per 100).
It’s unfortunate that Anthony finally learned how to be a team guy, and now some other team is going to enjoy the benefits.