The
NBA has evolved over the last decade. It went from a league that
Emphasized post play to a more small ball guard oriented league.
Point guards in todays NBA are specimens and are doing things you
never thought you would see a Point guard do. Russel Westbrook and
Derrick Rose when they step on the floor are usually the most
athletic guys on the floor, teammates look for them on alley-oops
more then they look for
their teammates on alley-oops the game has changed and the Point
Guard position has become hands down the most important position in
the league. The league today posses so many talented guards that it's
hard to keep track of sometimes. Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Rajon
Rando, Tony Parker, Russel Westbrook and Deron Williams are the
“cream of the Crop” as far as point guards go but there is a new
wave of talent that I would like to delve into today the “2nd wave”
of guards if you will, the guys that in the coming years will make
the Point guard position even more competitive then it already is at
this point.
When
Talking about the future or guys that will take over the #1 spot for
players in the league in the coming years not just point guards, you
got to start with Kyrie Irving in only his 2nd
year in the league taking over the league seems to be this man's
mission. Last season he
joined
Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson and Lebron James as the
only No. 1 overall draft picks to average at least 18.0 points and
5.0 assists. He won the MVP of the Rising stars Challenge game at
All-star weekend between Rookies and sophomores shooting 8-8 form 3
for 34 points.
This
man has been a winner ever since he was playing at #6 Patrick High
School in New Jersey with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He has taken his
game to seemingly a whole new level this season and has become the
unquestionable leader for a Cleveland Cavaliers franchise still
trying to get back on it's feet since “the Decision” Lebron James
made several seasons ago. The man fears nobody and you know that when
he confidently puts up money to play the likes of Kobe Bryant 1 on 1
like he did in the off season .He his very poised for someone his age
and he just has that “thing” or it factor that All-Stars in this
league posses and if he can stay healthy then there is no stopping
Uncle Drew from leading the Cavs some place special one day.
John
Wall Is
a perfect example of what the point Guard position has became in the
NBA he is long, explosive and athletic but Wall like Kyrie Irving is
a 1st
round pick who went at the top of his draft class who has big shoes
to fill in Washington. In his 3rd
season in the League John Wall has had a hard time staying on the
floor. Since the day he put on a jersey Wall has been expected to be
a savior for a franchise that has been struggling for some years now.
He came in after one season at Kentucky and hasn't quite lived up to
what I thought were unrealistic expectations, there is a maturation
process that goes on when you come into the league that young
especially when the team you play with surrounds you with Lazy
Knucklehead ball players (Javale Mcgee, Andre Blatche).
It's
year 3 and we are starting to see Wall's game Mature he plays with a
much better pace and the Wiz are starting to surround him with pieces
Like Bradley Beal And Nene. Once John Wall puts a full season
together then we will see something special from
the rookie of the year runner up.
They
say Winning
is a process well that is an understatement for Kemba Walker and the
Charlotte Bobcats. When Walker got drafted he found himself at the
wrong place at the wrong time. The Bobcats were just a few seasons
removed from a playoff appearance when he was drafted they had just
traded Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson and Kemba found himself on
a very young talent depleted roster. The team was beyond bad in fact
they were so bad that they set the record for lowest winning
percentage in NBA History going 7-59 and Walker struggled. It's crazy
to think that Kemba Walker who was a Mcdonalds All-american in high
school and led Uconn to a National Championship was now part of the
worst team in Pro basketball history. Kemba didn't let his team's
struggle get to him, when summer came he spent an ample amount of
time in the gym working on his Jumpshot so he could improve his game
offensively. The
result is a much more improved game offensivley with a 6 percent
increase from the 3 point line and 7 percent increase in his overall
field goal percentage.
Kemba
Walker is 20-103 in his basketball career to this point but with
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as another Building block, another high pick
in this years upcoming draft and 20 million dollars of cap space to
play with Kemba may finally get some help and show the basketball
world what he can really do when he has weapons around him. Kemba is
a winner brings it every night and is a top flight talent in this
league surrounded by a bunch of end of the road players.
When
the Blazers made their 2013 1st
round draft selection this season and chose Damian Lillard from
little known Weber State many experts called it a reach, well now
with abut 20+ games left it looks like Lillard is already going to be
the unanimous Rookie of the year and for good reason. He
exploded on to the scene opening night vs. Lakers wasn't star struck
by Kobe Bryant or Steve Nash and proceeded to collect 23 points and
11 assists in his rookie debut joining Isaiah Thomas and Oscar
Robertson as the only players to get 20 points and 10 assists in
their rookie deubt. He leads all rookie's in assists and points and
has displayed a poise much beyond his years, Lillard is doing Weber
State proud.
So
there you have it the next wave of Point guards in the league all
talented and all ready to lead their teams to the top.