Grading the NBA Part I: Name Recognition

I'm providing some NBA posts instead of the standard SPI-based baseball posts today. (How 'bout those Dodgers, huh?)

In keeping with the power metric theme of this blog, I wanted to come up with some number-based methods of ranking all the NBA teams. The only trouble is that the method I use to rate MLB teams is essentially a modified version of an already existing method for NBA teams. Using the method for the NBA and then claiming it as my own would be pretty scummy, so I took some time and thought of other possibilities. I came up with four metrics, which I'll be posting over the next few days, starting with the simplest and moving from there.

The first factor is also the least objective: name recognition. Simply put, the better your team is, the more of your players I'll have heard of. I consider myself to be a little more invested than the average casual basketball fan, so if I haven't heard of one of your starters, chances are they don't merit any media attention, and so they probably aren't good. (If I can't think of your team's name, that doesn't bode well for you, either.) Let's run through the list and see how many starters I can come up with for each team.

LA Clippers. 3/5 (PG Davis, SG Gordon, PF Randolph) I thought Chris Kaman was the center instead of Marcus Camby and completely blanked on Al Thornton. Still, 3/5 isn't bad for a team like the Clippers.
LA Lakers. 5/5 (PG Fisher, SG Bryant, SF Ariza, PF Gasol, C Bynum) Easy one. Moving on.
Golden State Warriors. 1/5 (SG Ellis) Hard to fault me for forgetting that Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike started for this team. Yikes.
Phoenix Suns. 4/5 (PG Nash, SG Richardson, PF Stoudemire, C O'Neal) For whatever reason, I thought Grant Hill was a PF, but there's no way I would have thought of Matt Barnes.
Sacramento Kings. 2/5 (PG Udrih, C Hawes) This is even worse when you consider that the only reason I know these two players is because they're known for being among the worst in the league at their position.
Denver Nuggets. 3/5 (PG Billups, SF Anthony, C Nene) Not sure how I whiffed on Kenyon Martin at PF. Stupid.
Minnesota Timberwolves. 2/5 (PF Love, C Jefferson) You're telling me Randy Foye doesn't start anymore? Things are not looking good for this team.
Oklahoma City "Thunder". 4/5 (PG Westbrook, SG Sefolosha, SF Durant, PF Green) Hard to fault me for forgetting about Nenad Krstic, really.
Portland Trail Blazers. 5/5 (PG Blake, SG Roy, SF Batum, PF Aldridge, C Przybilla) Admittedly, I'm a huge Blazers fan. If I weren't, I probably would have had 3 here (Roy, Aldridge, and either Batum or Oden instead of Przybilla).
Utah Jazz. 4/5 (PG Williams, SG Brewer, PF Boozer, C Okur) Not sure how I missed Kirilenko, but there you have it.
Dallas Mavericks. 3/5 (PG Kidd, PF Nowitzki, C Dampier) Again, not sure how I forgot about Josh Howard. Good grief.
Houston Rockets. 5/5 (PG Brooks, SG Artest, SF Battier, PF Scola, C Yao) The Rockets just got done toasting my Blazers, which is probably why I know all of their players. Without that advantage, I probably miss Brooks and Scola.
Memphis Grizzlies. 4/5 (PG Conley, SG Mayo, SF Gay, C Gasol) I think that's pretty good. No way you can expect me to know Darrell Arthur at PF.
New Orleans Hornets. 4/5 (PG Paul, SG Butler, PF West, C Chandler) Seriously?? I got Rasual Butler and forgot about Peja Stojakovic???
San Antonio Spurs. 3/5 (PG Parker, SG Ginobili, "PF" Duncan) I'm giving myself credit for Ginobili despite his injury removing him from starter status (even though he's technically a backup, he plays 36 minutes a game).
Atlanta Hawks. 4/5 (PG Bibby, SG Johnson, PF Smith, C Horford) Thought Marvin Williams still started. Oh well.
Charlotte Bobcats. 3/5 (SG Bell, SF Wallace, C Okafor) Didn't think Boris Diaw started, and completely forgot about Ray Felton.
Miami Heat. 4/5 (PG Chalmers, SG Wade, PF Haslem, C O'Neal) I don't think anyone outside of Miami or Toronto could have named Jamario Moon for that SF spot.
Orlando Magic. 5/5 (PG Alston, SG Lee, SF Turkoglu, PF Lewis, C Howard) Most of this is because they're still in the playoffs. Minus that, I bet I miss Lee. (Yes, I know J.J. Redick technically starts over Lee right now, but I'm still counting him.)
Washington Wizards. 4/5 (PG Arenas, SF Butler, PF Jamison, C Hayward) I know Arenas isn't starting now because of his knee, but he totally counts here.
Chicago Bulls. 3/5 (PG Rose, SG Gordon, C Noah) I guess I just assumed that Luol Deng would start over John Salmons. The fact that I blanked on Ty Thomas doesn't bode well for this team.
Cleveland Cavaliers. 5/5 (PG Williams, SG West, SF James, PF Varejao, C Ilgauskas) Obviously.
Detroit Pistons. 5/5 (PG Stuckey, SG Hamilton, SF Prince, PF McDyess, C Wallace) I nearly forgot about Tayshaun Prince?
Indiana Pacers. 2/5 (SG Ford, SF Granger) I think I'm going to give myself credit for Danny Granger, but wow, what a team of nobodies here. Just wow.
Milwaukee Bucks. 4/5 (PG Sessions, SG Redd, PF Villanueva, C Bogut) Probably should have had Richard Jefferson, too. Ah well.
Boston Celtics. 5/5 (PG Rondo, SG Allen, SF Pierce, PF Garnett, C Perkins) I'm counting Garnett because I know Big Baby Davis backs him up.
New Jersey Nets. 2/5 (PG Harris, C Lopez) The fact that I remembered Brook Lopez but forgot about VINCE CARTER (?!?!?) sums up everything you need to know about this team.
New York Knicks. 1/5 (C Lee) Uh-oh, guys.
Philadelphia 76ers. 4/5 (PG Miller, SF Iguodala, PF Young, C Dalembert) I think I can be excused for forgetting about Willie Green.
Toronto Raptors. 4/5 (PG Calderon, SF Marion, PF Bosh, C Bargnani) Not bad, but it took me forever to come up with Bosh. Not a good sign, my Canadian friends.

So there you have it. You can chalk some of those omissions up to pure forgetfulness on my part, but if I'm not coming up with your superstar, that doesn't bode well for your team. I won't order these up today, but you can get an idea of where your team stands based on how well I know them here. A rough idea, anyway. We'll get a little more specific tomorrow with Top Ten Players.