We know LeBron is No. 1, but who belongs behind him on this mythical list?
FLANNERY: There are times when we tackle big important issues in these little chats and times when we try to make 1,200 words out of something so arbitrary that it may only amuse ourselves. I’m pretty sure that this is the latter because I want to ask you a question that's been rolling around in my brain for the last few weeks, and I'm honestly not sure if anyone else cares.
So, here goes. I think Jimmy Butler is moving past Paul George for the title of second-best player in the East. Jimmy's averaging 25-6-4 with a .619 True Shooting Percentage, and his defense hasn't slipped despite guarding up a position in some situations. I've always been on the dude's bandwagon, but this is surpassing even my high expectations.
Two questions. 1) Do you agree with the assessment and 2) does it matter even a little bit?
ZILLER: Second question first: Does anything REALLY matter?
Is Jimmy beyond Paul George? I mean, he's been marginally better than Paul George this season. But they were about even over the course of last season, both with questionable supporting casts. George is a year younger and has two inches on Jimmy. I'm taking Paul in the long view. It's close.
It's damn close. Butler is fantastic, and this equation changes if Jimmy is really a 25-point scorer. But Paul's still ahead on my ledger.
I feel like DeMar DeRozan needs to be a part of this conversation.
FLANNERY: You're right. Nothing matters. We are living in a postmodern age and all arguments are abstractions. The only thing we know for sure is that LeBron James is still the King, and he hasn't lost an Eastern Conference playoff series in six freaking years. Everything else is arbitrary content.
But anyway, I'm with you that PG is still ahead. If you made me choose George or Butler right now I'd still take George. (Don't make me choose, man.) The point we're having here is not that PG has slipped — he has, a little, but it's early — it's that a bunch of dudes led by Butler and DeMar DeRozan are having monster starts to their season and causing us to reevaluate them a bit. And right now, Jimmy Butler is playing like a superstar.
We're in agreement that Butler is on another level at the moment. DeRozan has been there all month long with his absurd shotmaking. Both Butler and George are more accomplished defenders and that matters a great deal in this conversation. You have a further case to make in defense of DeRozan?
ZILLER: You're right about the defense of George and Butler putting them over the top, but I do want to scream that DeRozan doesn't look like a fluke. Some folks are pointing out his outrageous shooting percentages from the midrange. Fair! But DeRozan's overall shooting efficiency isn't far off his norm, he's just been able to keep it above-average while taking an enormous number of shots. His ability to get a shot he wants (or free throws) is pretty spectacular and he IS scoring way more than the other guys we're discussing. (And now he's done with the defensive stalwart Kings.)
Speaking of defense, is Hassan Whiteside the best big man in the East right now? Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard are the competitors, but Whiteside is living up to the contract so far. He's definitely on track to be an All-Star and if the Heat were better we might sneak him into our central question here.
You know who should be in the conversation but clearly isn't? John Wall. And it's not entirely his fault.
FLANNERY: Hold on, that's a lot to process here. I think we have a pretty good idea of where DeRozan stacks up with the competition. He's a very good player and on some nights he's a ridiculously good player. It's not like that aspect is new. He's just doing it night in and night out, unless he draws that defensive juggernaut in Sacramento.
So, the big men. Millsap is kind of an outlier in this whole conversation. He's not really a big man in the traditional sense, and he's definitely not a wing for the modern era. He's just really damn good, and I'm glad that he's getting his due after all these years. He's one of my favorite kind of players in that you can learn an awful lot about the game just by watching him play.
Howard and Whiteside are the two best bigs in the East. There's no one else in the conversation (waiting on you, Andre Drummond.) Whiteside has been a monster this season and Howard has made a lot of us look bad for slamming that move (waves hand.) I'd just like to see a bit more from Whiteside before anointing him in this company, Say what you will about Dwight, and lord knows we've all said bad things, but this isn't new for him. The bounce-back has been incredible.
Can we talk about Giannis Antetokounmpo yet? We're witnessing the dawn of something very special here.
ZILLER: I said before the season that Giannis is the only guy other than LeBron who is his team's best player at five positions. I feel as though both Giannis and his teammates have been intent on proving that true this season. He's five to six years younger than these other guys we’re talking about, too. He is a titan in the future of the East, but he's also increasingly a giant in the present.
Who is the best point guard in the East, and why is it Kemba Walker?
FLANNERY: You know that I've always tempered my enthusiasm on Giannis. I thought the hype was getting too far ahead of the reality. The hell with that. Dude is the truth and the light, and he's going to run this league in five years or less.
Funny that you mentioned Kemba Walker. I love Kemba Walker. He's my kind of point guard: tough, fearless and with a strong eff-you sense about him. Isaiah Thomas is like that, too. Love both those guys, but Kyrie Irving is the best point guard in the East and if it's not Kyrie it's Kyle Lowry or John Wall.
ZILLER: Kyrie is a victim of LeBron hegemony: we forget sometimes that the King has real help. John Wall is a victim of acute Wizarddom. Free John Wall! (Why yes, this is payback for Wizards fans' open lust for DeMarcus Cousins.)
Let's wrap this up with our top five players in the East. I'll go LeBron No. 1., Paul George No. 2, Jimmy Butler No. 3, DeMar No. 4 and Giannis No. 5. You?
FLANNERY: LeBron, PG, Butler, Trillsap, Giannis. Then the point guards and DeMar.
