The league right now is ripe with point guards. Every generation of players, a certain position gets its shine. With Charles Barkely, Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, the NBA saw its greatest era of power forwards. Jordan and Clyde Drexler led a league of dynamic scorers from the wing. Right now its seeing a great group of young point guards, and everybody is arguing over who is the best.
I only put in 5, with a special 6 thrown in there because of what Rondo has been doing the last couple of years, but there are definitely more that could be added to the list.
Chauncy Billups – I didn’t add him because as good as he is, he hasn’t been as dynamic and as talented as these other guys. His ability lies in his leadership, knowledge of the game, and his ability to make big shots. But he's a winner.
Jameer Nelson – He can really shoot it and is a leader on the Magic. He’s not the quickest PG around and his height really limits his ability to create his own shot.
Russell Westbrook – He might be the future. He’s soo athletic, and he’s big and strong and hungry. He’s still learning how to play the point, but once he figures it out and he matures, he could make this list.
6. RAJON RONDO – I love the way Rondo plays. He is a throwback point guard that runs his team. He’s pass first, defensive minded, and can dominate a game without scoring a lot. But, he can dominate without scoring because he doesn’t have to. He’s playing with 3 hall of famers. I’m not one criticize him or knock him because he’s so fortunate, but his game is highlighted because of it. Teams don’t really guard Rondo, they put his defender on the free-throw line with their hands out, so I can't put him higher than this. But, Rondo does produce. When he plays well, the Celtics win, and they won a lot making it to the finals. He can do everything well, except shoot, and he rebounds and plays defense and gets to the basket great. And his interior passing is unbelievable. He has also definitely learned how to run a team, which will serve him well when a team is completely his in a couple of years. That will be Rondo’s true test - when the Celtics game plan is centered around him, and the defensive focus of the opponents is about him as well. When teams did focus on him, he tended to struggle a little bit more. I want to see him perform when the spotlight is on him and he’s the main attraction.
4. TONY PARKER – The only two on this list to have championships are the last two, which is hard for me to do, but while they played a big part of winning those championships, those two PG’s came into the situation as a piece of the puzzle, not the person being built around. Parker had serious trouble circumventing his way to an already championship team and winning over his hall of fame coach, and his troubles early on were well documented. But with Tim Duncan on his last legs, and an injury plagued Ginobili aging, Tony Parker is a main piece and reason for the Spurs to be in the title hunt every year despite being one of the oldest teams in the league. He gets to the basket at will. His shooting as somewhat improved, but its his fearlessness of getting in the paint that is his calling card. He is one of the best scoring point guards in league, and shoots at such a high percentage because of his ability to get to the teeth of the defense. His production dropped this year to just under 17 points and 6 assists a game due in large part to injury, but a couple years ago when he was healthy he had his best year at over 22 and 7 assists a game, and his production always increases in the playoffs. I put him a little lower on the list because he's starting to peak out at his ability level. His game hasn’t changed much over the years in terms of him improving his shooting and his assist numbers have been consistently hovering and the high 5's and low 6's throughout his career.
3. DERRICK ROSE – After the top 3, it gets increasingly harder for me. If you give me the choice between Tony Parker, Derrick Rose, and Rajon Rondo, I’m taking Rose on his strength, athletic ability, and the fact that he’s got this nasty look in his eyes. All three of these guys have definite shooting problems, and teams back off because of their speed and quickness. Of the three, Rose is the only guy that is getting it done as the focal point of an offense. Rose is the main scorer and the leader, night in and night out for the Chicago Bulls. Without Rose, the Bulls are a lottery team. Unlike with Rondo and Parker, a team’s defensive scheme against the Bulls starts with the point guard, and he still produces at a high level. Its not as hard to get 18 and 7 when a defense is backed off a little focused on hall of fame teammates as is the case with Parker and Rondo. Rose gets it done scoring, and also as the leader of a young and promising team. If I’m a free-agent, that’s definitely a team I’m looking at, as long as Rose is at the point. He can take over a game but also knows how to get his teammates involved. His averages of 20 points and 6 assists in his second year trumps both of the other guys, and he's only getting started.
3. STEVE NASH - These top 3 are in another class, right now, when it comes to point guards. Nash has been doing this for so long, and every year when people think he's going to fall off, he keeps going. If you want a contract extension or want to make more money, take a cut, go play with Nash, and he'll get your stats and your pocket book back up. No matter who he plays with, he makes them better. He can't play a lick of defense and probably won't ever win a championship a a bi-product of it, but he is the truth when it comes to point guard play. His first few years were riddled with injuries and playing behind all-stars Jason Kidd and Kevin Johnson so he won't pass John Stockton on the career assists list, but he has set the standard for assists the last 6 years, averaging at least double figures in the stat in 5 of those years. Age hasn't slowed him down, yet, and losing Amar'e in free agency is going to cause an effect, but as of right now, he's right there.
2. DERON WILLIAMS – Deron Williams got my respect back in high school when I was forced to play him, with all the big time coaches in the stands, and he got the better of me. He could easily be at the top of any list, because his size and strength allows him to get anywhere on the court at any time, and his ability to outplay Paul in many of their head-to-head battles. He’s got a consistent mid-range jumper, can knock down the three, and if you give him any kind of a gap, he can attack the rim and finish through contact or just as easily dunk through traffic. His game is so under control at all times, and, despite his large frame, he has the ability to get his shoulders past defenders with his speed and ability to use screens. He benefits from playing under Sloan, who doesn’t get a lot of recognition because he hasn’t won the championships, but his track record shows his ability to coach. He has to find a way to get things done and get his time past mediocrity in the west, which isn’t easy, before he can be the best.
1. CHRIS PAUL – DON’T SLEEP ON CP3. He’s been hurt for the past 2 years with various injuries, but when he’s healthy, he does more for his team than anybody in the league, not named Steve Nash. Tyson Chandler and David West both got paid off of Chris Paul’s leadership. He took to the Hornets, with no other big-time superstars (unless you call Peja in 07 a superstar) to the conference semi-finals. People today are quick to forget, but CP3 is more than the truth. When he was last healthy One place that he does get his knock is though is his head to head battles with Deron Williams. D-Will does get the better of these battles, but I put CP3 over D-Will because of how far, when healthy, he gets his team and his better performance when they don't go head to head. When he’s healthy he’s got the ability to go for 22 points 11 assists and almost 3 steals a night, all stats are better than Williams. And when he's healthy, his team wins.
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