subject: Nba Tickets - The All-underrated Team [print this page] Here are the most underrated players in the NBA at their respective positions, as well as some other players that deserve mention. (Note: All statistics are as of Dec. 10, 2009.)
Point Guard - Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets: Brooks is underrated for a few reasons. He is still young and improving, he plays for a team that doesn't get a ton of press and he wasn't a high draft pick. But this kid can play. He's lightning-quick and is showing better playmaking skills this season. He could be a star point guard in the making.
Shooting Guard - Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings: Martin is hurt right now, but when healthy he could be the most underrated player in the league. He gets to the free throw line with ease and can kill teams with his deep shots. He's one of the best scorers in the league, which is hard to believe when one thinks about how little media attention he gets. Hopefully his injuries won't keep him from having an illustrious career.
Small Forward - Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats: If I asked you who was leading the league in rebounds per game me this season, who would you say? Dwight Howard? Wrong. Chris Bosh? Wrong. Gerald Wallace is pulling down more than 12 boards per contest this season. He may not have the flashy perimeter skills of some of the more popular small forwards in the NBA, but he lacks nothing in the grit, effort and hustle departments. It also doesn't help that he plays in Charlotte, where the team doesn't get a ton of attention.
Power Forward - Troy Murphy, Indiana Pacers: I don't know if people will ever clue in to how good Murphy is. He's a double-double machine and is one of the more versatile fours in the league. He can post up, rebound, hit the midrange and is an excellent three-point shooter.
Center - Nene Hilario, Denver Nuggets: Nene gets overshadowed by some of his teammates, and he's not a terrific rebounder, but he's a fantastic defender who disrupts plays with regularity. He's also a solid offensive threat and keeps his turnovers down to a minimum.
Others:
Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks: He's probably the best player on this list. Johnson goes underappreciated due to his style of play, which is silky smooth and makes everything he does look easy. He's not flashy, but he's a 20-5-5 guy every season.
Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons: In his early days in Detroit, Wallace was underrated. After winning a couple of Defensive Player of the Year awards, he became overrated. After some tough seasons in Chicago and Cleveland, he once again became underrated and is proving it this season in Detroit, where he's rebounding and playing defense very well again.
Luis Scola, Houston Rockets: Part of the reason that Scola is underrated is that he's taken a back seat to Yao Ming. With Yao out this season, though, Scola has shown the player that he really is. He's averaging 14 points and nine rebounds on 50 percent shooting.
Carl Landry, Houston Rockets: I bet some NBA fans don't even know who Landry is. Well, folks, he's averaging 16 points per game this season for Houston, so take notice.
Shane Battier, Houston Rockets: Maybe we should just rename the Rockets "The Houston Underrateds."
Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers: Gasol gets overshadowed by several of the Lakers' other players, but one could argue that he's as important to their success as any other. Kobe sells the NBA tickets, and I'm not denying his importance to the club, but Pau makes the triangle offense work.
