NBA Number Rankings: No Pistons the best at their number

In a different type of Power Ranking, SportingNews.com decided to rank all active NBA players by their jersey numbers. There is no need to go over the entire list as the Pistons only have 15 players, but here is where each of the Pistons ranked. Some might surprise you, others not really.

#0 - Andre Drummond

1. Russell Westbrook
2. Damian Lillard
3. Kevin Love
4. Andre Drummond

I can agree with Russell Westbrook being number one. I could possibly agree with Damian Lillard being number two. However, I think an argument could be made, either way, for Drummond or Kevin Love being number three. At least they did have this to say about this group:

This is one of the most star-studded numbers in the league right now...

#1 - Reggie Jackson

1. Chris Bosh
2. Derrick Rose
3. Reggie Jackson
4. Tyreke Evans

People must be living in the past or going based on team record. I can accept Chris Bosh, as much as I dislike him, as being better than Reggie Jackson. And if you look at career numbers, then yes, Derrick Rose is better than Reggie. But the article says "But who is the best at every number?" Reggie beats Derrick at nearly every category.

#3 - Stanley Johnson

1. Chris Paul
2. Dwayne Wade
3. Bradley Beal
4. Ty Lawson

Let's revisit this list in a couple of years. Thanks.

#5 - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

1. Nicolas Batum
2. DeMarre Carroll
3. Victor Oladipo
4. Michael Carter-Williams?

W.T.F.F.F.F! KCP is better (this year) than Carroll, easy. Possibly neck-and-neck with Oladipo and Carter-Williams. How, on God's green Earth, was KCP not on this list? That's not me trying to be a homer either, which I admittedly am. Numbers, and even records, say KCP is better than at least two or three of those listed.

#6 - Darrun Hilliard

1. DeAndre Jordan
2. Kristaps Porzingis
3. Terrance Jones
4. Mario Chalmers

Meh, not sure how I feel about Hilliard yet, but he's barely gotten a chance to do anything.

#7 - Brandon Jennings

1. Carmelo Anthony
2. Kyle Lowry
3. Goran Dragic
4. Joe Johnson

As much as I love $wag and dislike some of the others on this list, I can't argue with it.

#8 - Spencer Dinwiddie

1. Danilo Gallinari
2. Rudy Gay
3. Al-Farouq Aminu
4. Jahlil Okafor

Again, can't argue with that list. Still have hopes for Dinwiddie, but they are fading.

#12 - Aron Baynes

1. Dwight Howard
2. LaMarcus Aldridge
3. Andre Bogut
4. Tobias Harris

Lobster claws stood as much of a chance as he did getting rebounds.

#13 - Marcus Morris

1. James Harden
2. Paul George
3. Tristan Thompson
4. Marcus Morris

Ok, so now I see how they do most of this list. Some kind of name recognition along with past awards (or missed awards) and a lot of opinion.

Harden was the runner-up for MVP last season and has been labeled as the best shooting guard in the NBA over the past couple of years, so we gave him a slight edge over a guy who might be having a better season, in Paul George.

#20 - Jodie Meeks

1. Gordon Hayward
2. Timofey Mozgov
3. Tony Snell
4. Manu Ginobili

Can't be ranked if you can't play.

#22 - Steve Blake

1. Andrew Wiggins
2. Khris Middleton
3. Otto Porter
4. Taj Gibson

Anyone missing Khris Middleton? Also, Taj should be higher I think. But yeah, Blake never stood a chance.

#23 - Ersan Ilyasova

1. LeBron James
2. Anthony Davis
3. Draymond Green
4. Ersan Ilyasova

I'm not saying I disagree with this list, but I do find it kind of surprising. At least that Ersan is on the list. With his role being more pronounced, you might expect Wesley Matthews on this list. Or since his numbers are more gaudy, Lou Williams. I'm curious as to Ersan's addition.

#25 - Reggie Bullock

1. Chandler Parsons
2. Al Jefferson
3. Raul Neto
4. Austin Rivers

Even though Bullock has only made one of his 19 baskets this year, it still hurts to see Austin Rivers on this list over him. Ugh!

#43 - Anthony Tolliver

1. Kris Humphries
2. Anthony Tolliver

One word: Ouch!

#50 - Joel Anthony

1. Zach Randolph
2. Tyler Hansbrough
3. Robert Sacre

Huh? For most other lists where there were enough players to fill a best and three runners up, they did. In this instance, they did not. After the three mentioned, two other players have played who wear the number 50: Joel Anthony and Salah Mejri. My only guess would be that there was a minutes qualification. Sacre has played in 13 games but played 189 minutes. Anthony has played in 10 games, but only 47 minutes. Meh, doesn't matter anyways.

*****

Well, there you have it. Not one Pistons player is ranked as the best of their jersey number, and some were even left off the list entirely. What can I say...

Detroit vs. E'rybody!