NEWS » perhaps take some turn, favouring a more old-

For the sixth season in a row, ESPN.com is ranking the top players in the NBA. Who will be the best player this season?To get the final ranking, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players.LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry. Russell Westbrook vs. Kevin Durant. Damian Lillard vs. Chris Paul.We asked, Which player will be better in 2016-17? To decide, voters had to consider both the quality and the quantity of each players contributions to his teams ability to win games.Well roll out the rest of our top 200 players over the next week. If you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along, #NBArank is the Twitter hashtag to use. You also can follow along @ESPNNBA and on Facebook.On to the list ...39. Derrick FavorsJazz | PF?| @dfavors14Last years rank: 482016-17 projected RPM: 1.89Insider profile:?Already a six-year NBA veteran at age 25, Favors has established himself as a solid 16-point, eight-rebound per game contributor who has the ability to play both frontcourt spots effectively. Favors still has two years left on his contract, and since hes making just $23 million over that span, he could be a candidate for a renegotiation and extension that would lock him up past the summer of 2018 at a below-max rate.?Read more ?#NBArank 31-4031: Carmelo Anthony32: Hassan Whiteside33: Kristaps Porzingis34: Gordon Hayward35: Marc Gasol36: Steven Adams37: Rudy Gobert38: Kemba Walker39: Derrick Favors40: Dwyane WadeMiami Marlins Pro Shop . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. 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Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie.Match factsSeptember 25, 2016 Start time 1000 local (0800 GMT)Big PictureAs cricket ventures towards expansion, these are the kinds of games it needs. In the larger context, there may not be any good reason for Ireland to visit South Africa for two one-off ODIs but, as an isolated event, to play the No. 1 and No. 4 ranked sides in the format will be a good, albeit rare, experience for the Associate side.Ireland have played against each of Australia and South Africa only four times before and have not won a match. They have not been to South Africa since Eoin Morgan was still in their side, seven years ago for qualifiers of the 2011 World Cup. Then, too, they played in Benoni. William Porterfield and the OBrien brothers remain from that trip while the rest will all be first-timers in the country, trying to get Ireland back to the consistency they had a few years ago. Recent results have seen a dip in Irelands form; they are now ranked 12th in ODIs, below Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. They dont have many opportunities to climb, but this will be one.For South Africa, the match marks the real start of a season that began with two winter Tests against New Zealand last month. Their packed home season includes 28 matches across formats until March next year. Limited-overs cricket will likely remain a low priority as they chase Test redemption, but with the Champions Trophy less than nine months away, they will want to begin planning, which for them usually also means climbing the rankings. Victory against Ireland wont do much for that cause but it will set them up for the five-match series against Australia that follows. A series win for South Africa in that contest will see them rise to No. 2.Perhaps, more importantly, the focus will be on how South Africa will enter a new era marked by transformation targets which stipulate that they field a minimum average of six players of colour, including two black Africans, over the course of a season. Essentially that means that at the end of the summer, an audit will be done of every match played to check that the target has been met. Administrators have already said that the fact that the calculation will be done as an average will allow the selectors flexibility, which throws up the possibility of loading teams with players of colour in seemingly meaningless matches, so that there are fewer constraints in selection for bigger games. In this ODI, as many as four black Africans may take the field for South Africa.This will also be the first match in which the new DRS laws will be applied.Form guideSouth Africa LWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)Ireland LWLWLIn the spotlightTemba Bavuma has only opened the batting twice in List A cricket - once in 2010 and more recently in February for Lions against Knights - but it is a role he may have to get accustomed to. Russell Domingo believes Bavuma could become a long-term opener, given his tight technique and ability to build an innings, and has hinted that Bavuma will be asked to bat in that position at franchise level this season.Kevin OBrien will be the man South Africa want to stopp, not just because of his reputation.dddddddddddd OBrien was one of only two players to score more than 25 the last time South Africa and Ireland met. The other one, Andy Balbirnie, is not in this squad. OBrien also took the all-important wicket of Faf du Plessis, who will captain South Africa in this match.Teams newsAll three of South Africas new caps could make their debuts in a new-look XI that is without AB de Villiers (injured), Hashim Amla (awaiting the birth of his third child), Dale Steyn (rested) and Imran Tahir (rested). Bavuma will probably open the batting with Quinton de Kock, and David Miller will return after being left out of the triangular tournament in the Caribbean. Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo and Wayne Parnell will form a trio of allrounders. Aaron Phangiso is the only specialist spinner in the side.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 JP Duminy, 5 David Miller, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 Dwaine Pretorius, 9 Andile Phehlukwayo, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Aaron PhangisoNeither Ed Joyce nor Boyd Rankin have traveled with the Ireland squad for these matches which, in the words of Adrian Birrell, South Africas assistant coach who used to be in charge of Ireland, robs them of their best batsman and best bowler. Sean Terry will fill in for Joyce while Ireland will have to decide if Tim Murtagh, who will arrive straight from playing in the county season finale for Middlesex against Yorkshire, should be thrown into the mix immediately or given an extra days rest.Ireland (possible): 1 William Porterfield, 2 Sean Terry, 3 Niall OBrien, 4 Gary Wilson, 5 Kevin OBrien, 6 Paul Stirling, 7 Stuart Poynter (wk), 8 Andy McBrine, 9 George Dockerell , 10 Barry McCarthy/Tim Murtagh, 11 Peter ChasePitch and conditionsFrom an ODI total of 399 by South Africa against Zimbabwe in 2010 to scores of 91 and 104 by Netherlands and Scotland respectively, Willowmoore Parks pitch is capable of anything. In what is still early season, it is likely to be slow and low and perhaps take some turn, favouring a more old-fashioned style of play. While the surface readies for summer, the weather is already there. A beautiful day is expected with temperatures hitting 28 degrees and clear skies.Stats and triviaSouth Africa have played four ODIs against Ireland - three at World Cups - and have won all of them. They have never played Ireland at home.Willowmoore Park has not hosted an international match since 2013, when South Africa played Pakistan.Niall OBrien needs 36 runs to become the fourth Irish player, and second in his family, to reach 2000 ODI runs.QuotesThey are a team that cannot be taken lightly. Every now and again, they create a huge upset. I wouldnt look at their recent losses independently. Id look at them in their last five years and theyve had some big wins.South Africas assistant coach Adrian Birrell, who was in charge of Ireland in the past, expects a fight from the Associate nation ' ' '