Leaders in +- on all 30 teams…

PLAYERS NEEDED AT LEAST 15 GAMES PLAYED TO QUALIFY.

Atlanta Hawks

Isaiah Taylor, +2.5

Isaiah Taylor is one of two qualifying Hawk’s players to have a positive +-.  The 23-year-old guard has been relatively efficient in his his limited minutes, he’s hitting 46% from the field and 38% from three in 16 minutes per game.

Boston Celtics

Al Horford, +9.2

Boston Herald

Al Horford, the unsung hero of the Celts, is quietly having an extremely productive year.  He is averaging a career high 5.3 assists for game and has looked excellent next to Kyrie as both a passer and pick and pop big.

Al does all the little things on defense, even if he isn’t an elite rim protector.

Brooklyn Nets

Spencer Dinwiddie, +1.9

Spencer has carried an extra scoring load with starting guard D’Angelo Russell hurt.

Aside from his late-game heroics against the Cavs, Dinwiddie has been solid all year, shooting a career best 39% from three.  At 6’6″ SD has above average size for a point guard and could be a key piece for the rebuilding Nets.

Charlotte Hornets

Kemba Walker, +4.0

No surprises here.  Kemba has been great in the young season, despite Charlotte’s woeful 9-16 record. The Hornetts need to turn things around if they want to make the playoffs in a suddenly-competitive Eastern Conference.

Walker is on one of the best contracts in the league, his 4 year/$48 million dollar deal is a bargain for one of the better point guards in the game.

Teams in need of a point guard should be calling early and often to pry the UConn product from Charlotte.

Chicago Bulls

Robin Lopez, -2.2

Mirotic, Nwaba, and Blakeney all have higher +- but have not played in 15 games so far…

Lopez is actually having the best year of his career, putting up personal best’s 13.4 points per game and 2.0 assists.  Robin is a trusted veteran presence on a squad with young, raw talent still trying to figure it out.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Kyle Korver, +7.3

Deadeye shooter, Kyle Korver has been a large part of Cleveland’s recent success including his clutch performance in a win over New York.  Korver provides floor spacing for a revitalized second unit featuring fellow veterans Dwyane Wade, Jeff Green, and Channing Frye.

Korver is shooting 43% from three for his career, so his 43% this year is not surprising.

Dallas Mavericks

Devin Harris, +5.9

Getty Images

Rick Carlisle has to find ways to insert Harris into his lineups because he’s been playing great basketball this year.  Harris is playing only 19 minutes a night in a crowded backcourt but he’s still scoring close to 9 points.

The Mavericks are all-in on their impressive rookie Dennis Smith, but for now it’s their bench unit that leads their +- numbers.

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic, +3.6

I’m not surprised to find Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, and Jamal Murray all at the top of Denver’s +-.  These three players, featured in our Emerging Stars  series, are all young and have extremely bright futures.

The “Joker” recently went down with an ankle injury, but he’s expected to return in the next couple games and should return to his unicorn ways...

Detroit Pistons

Langston Galloway, +4.2

Galloway is a capable outside shooter and solid backup guard off the bench for the Pistons.  Right now lineups with him and fellow marksmen Anthony Tolliver have been extremely effective because they provide Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson with room to operate.

Galloway is only playing 13.7 minutes per game, but if he can keep is efficiency up he may earn himself more minutes.

Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry, +11.5

3-point God Steph Curry is leading the entire NBA in +- for the second year in a row.

Steph’s ankles are the only things capable of stopping him from doing unanimous MVP things.  The Warriors have been a bit inconsistent out of the gate and they need Steph back sooner rather than later if they want to lock down the one-seed in the West.

Houston Rockets

Eric Gordon, +11.4

FanRag Spors

EG is playing some of the best basketball of his career, attacking the basket at elite levels.  Although his shooting numbers are a bit down, Houston is clearly a more dynamic team with him on the court.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe put it best when he wrote Eric Gordon, shot out of a canyon.  Gordon is getting to the free throw line 4.9 times per game which is equally as important as his three point stroke.

Indiana Pacers

Victor Oladipo, +3.4

Oladipo is having a career year across the board and should be the leading candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.

Vic has been equally impressive on defense as he has on offense blocking an astounding 1.1 shots per game and grabbing 1.8 steals.

Oladipo is putting up numbers when it counts, and is perhaps the best surprise of the young season.

Sorry OKC, no trade-backs.

Los Angeles Clippers

Montrezl Harrell, +0.9

Harrell is only playing 10.9 minutes per game, but on an injury-riddled Clippers team he should be playing more.  Monrtrezl provides LA with a lob threat and another high motor frontcourt player next to DeAndre Jordan.

With Blake out for an extended period, Doc should continue to experiment with lineups featuring Harrell.

Los Angeles Lakers

Julius Randle, +0.9

Randle is finally playing up to his capabilities and showing why he was picked 7th overall in 2014.

After shedding weight in the offseason, Randle is shooting a career high 55% from the field and leading a pretty solid Laker bench unit.  There have been Randle trade talks but the Lakers may actually hold onto the 23-year-old forward given his rebounding ability and offensive upside.

Randle’s 17 PER and 20/10 per 36 numbers make him a valuable asset going forward whether he’s starting or coming off the bench.

Memphis Grizzlies

Chandler Parsons, +3.1

Parsons, after an injury-riddled few years, is starting to earn his money…sort of.

Chandler is coming off the bench but shooting an incredible 53% from the field and 47% from three.  With Conley banged up Memphis has struggled, but Parsons has been doing his part off the bench, showing flashes of the 3-and-D player Memphis paid $94 million for.

Miami Heat

Kelly Olynyk, +1.0

Sun Suntinel

Miami has been underwhelming so far with inconsistent lineups and mercurial shooting.  After signing Waiters, Johnson, Olynyk, and Ellington to multiple year deals in the offseason, Miami hoped to compete for a top spot in the East.

So far, Olynyk has been one of the few plus players on the roster and has improved his shooting  to 52% from the field and 45% from three.

 

Milwaukee Bucks

Eric Bledsoe, +5.4

The Bucks have gone 11-4 since acquiring Bledsoe.  Eric is shooting 45% from the field and 31% from three but his 2.1 steals, 0.7 blocks is what’s been impressive.

Bledsoe is the secondary ball handler and creator that the Bucks needed.  With Giannis, Middleton, and Bledsoe the Bucks have a scary 1-2-3 punch that allows them to match up with most teams.

With Bledsoe in the starting lineup, Brogdon comes off the bench giving Milwaukee added depth and more playmaking from the second unit.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Taj Gibson, +4.7

 

Gibson is part of a Wolves’ starting lineup that plays a combined 175.8 minutes per game, most in the association by far.

Gibson is a good rebounder and smart defender on a team that desperately needs his physicality and motor.  The Timberwolves have had an up-and-down, but I doubt they’d have 15 wins right now without Taj.

33.2 minutes per game for a 32 year old is a dangerous proposition, but the Wolves are in win-now mode and need his production

New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis, +3.0

AD keeps getting banged up, but boy is he good when he plays.

Even with Cousins’ statistical success so far, it’s clear Davis is the best player on that team when healthy.  Davis makes winning plays on both ends of the floor.  His size, length and touch are truly special.

Tune into a Pelican’s game to see why his +3 is more than double any other qualifying player on their squad.

New York Knicks

Kristaps Porzingis, +3.0

nba.com

Porzingis is hitting 39% from deep and blocking 2 shots per game making him one of the truly elite players on both sides of the ball.

The 12-13 Knicks have outperformed expectations but still have a ways to go.  One thing they do know, they go as far as KP goes.

The 7′ 3″ unicorn has brought some life back into New York, carrying the Knicks on his shoulders.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Russell Westbrook, +3.9

Bringing in PG13 and Melo hasn’t exactly gone as planned.

Russ is still carrying the bulk of the load but their mediocre 12-13 record is far cry from the amount of talent they possess.

Russ may have to go back to scoring 30 a night, or perhaps Donavon needs to find better ways of incorporating Melo and George.

Orlando Magic

Nikola Vucevic, +1.4

Vuc is polarizing amongst NBA circles.  His improved three point stroke(35%) and solid low post scoring is promising.  However, his inconsistent play and mediocre-at-best defending keeps him from achieving his full potential.

Orlando has had a rough stretch of games, and with no clear identity, or consistent go-to player(paging Aaron Gordon), they may continue to struggle.

Philadelphia 76ers

Robert Covington, +5.0

ESPN

RoCo is hitting 43% from deep and getting 1.6 steals proving his 3-and-D stripes.  As a floor spacer, lineups with Covington, Embiid, and Simmons are Philly’s most dangerous squads(figures they are 1,2,3 in +-).

Philadelphia has one of the most promising young cores in the league, but solid play from veterans like Covington, Reddick, and Johnson has everything to do with their recent success.

Pheonix Suns

Marquese Chriss, -0.1

Among qualifying players,  Chriss leads the team despite some statistical regression from last year.  Marquese is playing in fewer minutes, scoring 3 less points per game, and shooting worse percentages from the floor.

Perhaps him leading the Suns in +- is a fluke, or maybe he’s found other ways to contribute outside of the boxscore.

Portland Trailblazers

Damian Lillard, +3.3

Dame is having a solid year by his standards but the ‘Blazers have been inconsistent.  Last night’s game against the Rockets is a perfect example of the highs and lows Portland is capable off…

Individually, Lillard is playing good ball as of late as he’s scored at least 20 points in 10 of the last 11 games.

Sacramento Kings

Frank Mason, +0.8

CBS sports

Backup point guard Frank Mason leads all qualified Kings in true +- in large part because of his consistent play on both ends.  Mason, a 23-year-old rookie, is proving he wasn’t just a good college player.

His 50% shooting from three has been valuable to a Kings team that needs more scoring from its second unit.

San Antonio Spurs

Danny Green/Pau Gasol, +4.0

Green and Pau are tied for the number one spot in San Antonio.

Pau is having a resurgence after signing a surprising $48 million dollar contract in the offseason.  Gasol is showing no signs of slowing down shooting 42% from deep and still posting a respectable 11/8/3 line.  Pau is a cerebral player, and the Spurs benefit from him as a locker room presence as much as an on-court player.

Danny is doing Danny-things shooting 38% from deep and once-again getting more than 1 block and 1 steal per game.  He will be a large part of their success as the ultimate 3-and-D guy…

Toronto Raptors

Fred VanVleet, +5.4

VanVleet is no longer just a one-on-one Youtube champ, but actually an integral part of a good Raptors squad.  Fred only plays 16.7 minutes per game, but his poise and decision-making make each of those minutes valuable.

The Raps outscore opponents by 5.4 points in 16.7 minutes when FVV plays which is absolutely ludicrous… The 23-year-old guard is still getting better and if he can keep his efficiency up and his turnovers down he will be playing major minutes in a few years.

Utah Jazz

Raul Neto, +5.1

Raul is out again with concussion-like symptoms which is disappointing for Jazz fans.  Neto, when healthy, has been solid all year and his 46% from deep is nothing to sneeze at.

With Gobert and Mitchell balling, Utah will continue to need production from their bench to make the playoffs in the West.

Even though Neto only plays 13.3 minutes per game, he clearly makes positive contributions for the Jazz with his outside shooting and playmaking.

Washington Wizards

John Wall, +6.2

With Wall to return sometime in the next couple weeks, the Wizards will finally get their superstar back.

In 16 games with Wall the Wizards went 9-7 but outscored teams by 6.2 points per game.  Beal is the next highest with a +4 rating…

These numbers show why Wall is one of the premier guards in the league, and oh by the way maybe the best shot-blocking point guard ever!