We're officially in the dog days of the lockout. Negotiations between the players and owners have stalled, and seemingly every day there's talk of another star jumping overseas. But not even the lockout is cause to stop evaluating the best players in the game and seeing how they stack up against their peers based on talent, skill and productivity. This week, I'll be ranking the top five players at each position and breaking down what makes them so special. Each day, I'll look at a different position, starting with point guards and finishing with centers. Today, we'll look at small forwards. We're tossing out postseason awards and career accomplishments and just finding out who's the best of the best.
POINT GUARDS | SHOOTING GUARDS | SMALL FORWARDS
1. LeBron James, Miami Heat
James is simply the game's best player and on his way to being considered the best small forward of all time. He's the most versatile player to come along in this era, possessing nearly every physical tool and mental attribute that can be desired in a basketball player. Although James is fresh off a series in which he was lambasted for his lack of aggression and apparent indecision, it doesn't change the fact that he's the best player on the planet.
James is revolutionizing the small forward position with his approach as a pure passer, and is comfortable handling the ball like a point guard in any situation. He initiates his offense off the dribble or triple threat with equally effective results. In transition, his ballhandling, decision-making and floor vision make him one of the game's most capable fast-break facilitators. On the receiving end, his ability to finish with the dunk ranks him as one of the best finishers ever. His imposing physical attributes -- strength, length, quick feet -- make him a smothering defender and allow him to guard any position.
But James' best attribute may be adjusting to his Miami Heat teammates (specifically Dwyane Wade) and tailoring his game so that D-Wade's high-octane game not only wouldn't suffer, but that it would flourish.
2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Durant is the purest scorer in the league and one of its most versatile shooters. He uses an extensive repertoire of shots to score in every conceivable fashion. Just by looking at him, it's easy to see his best attribute: those long arms. His wiry length allows him to get off that silky jumper with little fear of having it blocked. Even with a casual jump on his pull-up he can release the ball above rim height.
That length also gives him leverage when shooting the ball from deep, so he can preserve his natural shooting motion. And Durant doesn't dilly-dally -- if he's got a look, he'll let it fly. Durant converted almost 70 percent of his shots in the lane in part because he runs the floor extremely well and finishes with gusto while going full speed. Transition is yet another phase of the game in which Durant uses his length -- taking off farther out then most and soaring so high that a block attempt becomes an unattractive proposition to backpedaling defenders.
On defense he's learning to use that length by opening up his wingspan to crowd his man, and working to add muscle to be more physical. But right now Durant's true value is as a scorer, and it could be a long time before he surrenders a scoring title.
3. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Melo is right up there with Durant in his pure ability to score the basketball. Anthony has made a living operating in between, and as a result his pull-up jumper is the best at the position. Melo loves to crouch down in the triple threat on the elbow or wing and put down two hard dribbles in either direction before rising straight up to release his perfect follow-through. He feels very comfortable launching the shot from the baseline as well. He's got a lightning-quick first step that gets him by even the best defenders, and allows him to slash to the basket and release one of his silky finger rolls.
But Anthony isn't all finesse. His strength is quite deceptive (and formidable by all counts), and he can be extremely aggressive on the boards, sometimes jumping two and three times to grab an offensive rebound. The big challenge is getting Anthony to commit himself on defense. He's shown his best effort in that department since being traded to New York, but needs to develop a consistent defensive mindset. Not that it will move him up this list, but the Knicks will be much better for it.
4. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
"The Truth" is one of the most respected and cagiest veterans in the league. For all Pierce's skill, his biggest contributions could be in the intangibles department, specifically his devotion to team chemistry. He's one of the best leaders to wear Celtics green and, despite his All-Star pedigree, he excels in the dirty-work phases of the game like taking charges and setting picks. Pierce plays through injuries, coaches on the floor and encourages teammates to self-police in the locker room.
Oh, yeah: He can shoot, too. Pierce has consistently been a threat from behind the arc for years, but he loves to take full advantage of the decidedly unglamorous 6-to-10 foot jump shots that so many players simply don't have in their game. Paul has never dominated with raw athletic ability but has been effective by outsmarting defenders with quick cuts to the rim and disorienting up-and-unders. Around the basket he frees himself up with convincing pump fakes and expertly leans in to give the illusion that he's falling off-balance to get the call. His savvy in the lane is one reason Pierce has managed to stay relevant for so many years.
5. Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies
Is it possible to be this underrated if you've been in the league for five years? Well, that's just what Rudy Gay is. He missed a golden opportunity to shed that tag by sitting out of the Grizzlies' fantastic playoff run after season-ending shoulder surgery. But Gay is an underappreciated force who hasn't been seen up close nearly enough by NBA fans.
Gay has a ton of (fellow Baltimore native) Carmelo in his game, in that the meat and potatoes of his attack is the pull-up jump shot from pretty much anywhere around the perimeter. And like Melo, Gay won't win any awards for his ballhandling, but that doesn't stop him from slashing to the rim and effectively finishing around the basket. Gay is one of the game's best finishers -- a must for a top-level small forward -- and his thunderous tomahawk jams send the Memphis faithful into a frenzy.
With Rudy's exemplary fundamentals -- he always squares his feet -- and a coachable demeanor, Memphis doesn't have to worry about the small forward position for years to come if they keep him around. And by all accounts, Gay is a great teammate and known to be very fan-friendly. That might not help him guard LeBron James, but it's certainly not a knock in my book.
Chris Palmer has been a frequent contributor to ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com's NBA coverage since 1999. Follow him on Twitter.