Earlier this week I watched the Portland Trail Blazers (25-7, one of the premier teams in the NBA) lose a tight one to the New Orleans Pelicans (14-15, but on the rise), and one thing jumped out at me during that victory: Anthony Davis is already one of the top-10 players in the game.
I watched Davis completely outplay LaMarcus Aldridge, who is one of my favorite players and a legitimate MVP candidate for the Blazers. Aldridge is the most well-rounded post player in the league right now, and yet Davis was able to smother him down the stretch in one-on-one situations.
While the basic stats may have suggested an even battle -- Davis went for 27 points and 12 rebounds, Aldridge for 28 and eight -- the reality was that Davis blocked Aldridge on four different possessions, while also forcing a number of ugly misses in the second half. Head coach Terry Stotts likes to isolate Aldridge when the going gets tough, but that strategy simply didn't work against Davis' length, athleticism, timing and pure defensive skill.
Davis had five total blocks to Aldridge's two. In addition, Aldridge needed 25 shot attempts to create his 28 points, while Davis needed only 19 attempts for his 27. Both players posted efficient stat lines, but Davis was the best of the best in this case.
Davis is likely the top defensive big in the NBA right now; he's leading the league with 3.2 blocks per game and is second only to DeMarcus Cousins in PF/C steals per game (1.5 per game). He's the best on-ball post defender I've seen in quite some time, and he's already an intelligent help defender.
Offensively, he's a tremendous finisher with a very soft touch. His short-to-mid-range jumper is already excellent, but he does need to improve his back-to-the-basket repertoire. That's really the only weakness in his game right now. Sky's the limit for this kid, an incredibly impressive young player.
Moving on to John Wall, an explosive point guard who has always been known for his fastbreak and slashing ability. I've always viewed Wall as a solid player, but never considered him a superstar because of his perimeter shooting issues.
However, having watched many Washington Wizards games on NBA League Pass this season, I must say that Wall has turned the corner. I have seen drastic improvement in his mid-range, three-point and even free throw shooting. His stroke is smoother and less clunky, and the positive results of his mechanical adjustments are undeniable.
In addition, Wall's halfcourt decision-making has improved, making him one of the premier all-around guards in the game. With Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza, Nene, Marcin Gortat and Martell Webster all playing well, I think the Wizards may be the third-best team in the Eastern Conference (obviously behind the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers).
So where does this put Davis and Wall in the grand scheme? Well, here's my latest NBA player rankings (Russell Westbrook excluded due to injury):
1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Kevin Love
4. Chris Paul
5. James Harden
6. LaMarcus Aldridge
7. Carmelo Anthony
8. Paul George
9. Stephen Curry
10. Anthony Davis
11. John Wall
12. Dwight Howard
13. Tony Parker
14. Kyrie Irving
15. DeMarcus Cousins
16. Damian Lillard
17. Blake Griffin
18. Tim Duncan
19. Ty Lawson
20. Monta Ellis
Honorable mention: Jrue Holiday, Mike Conley, Andre Drummond, Zach Randolph, David Lee, Nikola Pekovic, Dirk Nowitzki, Klay Thompson and Kemba Walker.
So, as you can see, I have Davis and Wall in the top 11 and climbing. We'll see where they end up by the end of the season. They've been a pleasure to watch thus far.
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