Robinson dunking against the Heat
Photo by NBA.com
Nate Robinson is one of the smallest players in the league, yet he is very good, proving that size isn't everything. Robinson stepped up last year as a member of the Chicago Bulls, being a solid replacement for the injured superstar point guard, Derrick Rose.
During the Bulls' 2013 playoff run, Robinson averaged 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1 steal per game. For a player who was unexpectedly given a starter role, he performed on a very high level.
Beside his great skillset, Robinson has other ways to entertain NBA fans. Being 5' 9" he is, surprisingly one of the best dunkers in the league.
The point guard recently signed with the Denver Nuggets where he will play as a backup point guard behind Ty Lawson. In case Lawson is not able to play sometimes, Robinson can take over the starting spot and play well, just like he did it in Chicago.
Next-best : Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings
5' 10" - No players eligible
5' 11" - Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets
Lawson going up for a layup
Photo by Getty Images
Another Nugget on the list. Ty Lawson is another undersized point guard, but his size doesn't prevent him from being a great player that he is. In his last season, Lawson averaged 16.7 points along with 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. These numbers significantly improved in the postseason where he averaged 21.3 points, 8 assists and 1.7 steals per game in just 6 games.
Since entering the league, Lawson has been constantly improving and it is best reflected in his stats which get better and better every year. Of course, there is still room for improvement and the guard could improve his shot selection. The only stat which has been constantly declining throughout his career is a field goal percentage. In his first season, Ty shot 51.5% from the field, but it went down to 50.3% in his sophomore year. A year later it declined to 48.8% which is still very good, but in his last season Lawson converter only 46.1% of his shots. It is not bad either, but considering that he can do better, he should work on his shot. If he keeps his starter role, which I believe he will, and if he improves his field goal percentage by at least 2%, he could easily average 20 points a game.
Next-best: John Lucas III, Toronto Raptors
6'0" - Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Paul established himself as one of the
best floor generals in the NBA
Photo by AP
Chris Paul is probably the best point guard in the league today. His great vision of the court mixed with scoring and passing ability makes him one of the hardest players to guard and the numbers he posts show that he's right on the top of the league.
Last season Paul almost averaged double-double with assisting and scoring, as he finished the season posting averages of 9.7 assists and 16.9 points per game.
Although Paul has never had much success in the postseason, he is only 28 and in his prime. Los Angeles Clippers are a very good team and they might have more success in playoffs next year.
Next-best:Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic
6'1" - Rajon Rondo,Boston Celtics
Celtics might start rebuilding around Rondo
Photo by Getty Images
Another easy choice. Rajon Rondo is one of the best playmakers in the league and probably the best player on the Boston Celtics right now. He is a guy who can easily finish a game with a triple-double, let alone a double-double, which he averaged last season. The 27-year-old guard led the league in assists per game last season, with 11.1 dimes per a contest.
Beside his assisting, Rondo is also capable of scoring, as he proved when he dropped 44 points on the Heat during the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.
Last season he averaged 13.7 points per game while making 48.4% of his shots. His free throw shooting (64.5% last season) and 3-point shooting (24% last season) should be improved since both are low for a superstar point guard like Rondo. Considering that he will have more freedom on the offensive end of the floor next season, we can expect him to improve these numbers. Hopefully he will recover quickly from his injury, and dominate NBA floors sooner than we expect!
Next-best:Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
6'2" - Tony Parker,San Antonio Spurs
Parker is one of the best European players
in the NBA today
Photo by SLAM Online
The 31-year-old French point guard, who almost won his fourth NBA championship ring, is still one of the best players in the league - I would say that he ranks within ten best players in the NBA today. Last season he posted averages of 20.3 points and 7.6 assists per game, while shooting 52.2% from the field. He stayed consistent during the playoffs last season, but unfortunately for him, he failed to win another championship trophy.
Right now, Tony Parker is representing his country's colors in the Eurobasket 2013, and he is one of the best players there. It seems that he only gets better with age, so it will be interesting to watch him and the San Antonio Spurs next season. Although many people say they are done, I believe they still have fuel in their tanks and they will have another big season.
When it comes to Parker's career, he has an enourmous advantage over other 6'2" players in the league, as well as over many other players. Parker is a 3-time NBA champion and he was an NBA Finals MVP in 2007. During his career he was selected to play in 5 All-Star games and he was selected to a few All-NBA teams.
Next-best:Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
6'3" - Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook going up high!
Photo by Getty Images
Russell Westbrook is, in my opinion, the most athletic point guard in the NBA. His speed, quickness, agility and vertical leap are just incredible, and mixed with his ball-handling, passing and scoring skills, they make Westbrook one of the top ten NBA players in the league right now. Although his shot selection needs a big improvement, Westbrook managed to score 23.2 points per game last season. He also added 7.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds to his averages, showing that he is a versatile player, who can do many things on the court.
During the playoffs last season, everyone saw how valuable Westbrook is to his team. After he went down with the injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder couldn't reach the conference finals again, let alone NBA finals. We will see how well Westbrook will perform after the injury, but I'm sure he'll completely recover and remain as athletic as he has been so far.
Next-best:Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
6'4" - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Despite many injuries he faced throughout
his career, Wade is still one of the most
prolific players in the league.
Photo by NBA.com
Like Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade is a 3-time NBA Champion and has 1 Finals MVP award. Last season Wade won his third championship ring, although he underperformed during most of the postseason games as a result of his numerous injuries. That resulted in Wade averaging only 15.9 points per game in the playoffs, but he still redeemed himself with a few great games in the finals against the Spurs. During the regular season, Wade averaged 21.2 points on 52.1% shooting. He also added averages of 5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
If he manages to stay out of injury trouble, Dwyane Wade could dominate his opponents with an ease once again and lift his scoring averages. Wade will turn 32 next season, so that will be another problem for the superstar guard. However, I'm sure he will perform well if he stay healthy throughout the season. Considering the Heat are on their 3-peat mission, they will need Wade to play very well since the mission is anything but easy.
They
say basketball and hip-hop have always been intertwined and anybody
who disagrees with that clearly doesn’t watch nor are they in tune
to the culture of basketball. Over the last few seasons Lebron James
and the Miami Heat have ruled the basketball world but many old
school fans or fans of that era will say that this era of NBA basketball is soft or not as strong as the 90's. The same people who
say that can say the same about hip-hop music. For years hip-hop has
lost its core value in lyrics and clever wordplay in exchange for
catchy beats and song lyrics for the radio but like anything in life it
has its cycles.
Enter
Compton MC Kendrick Lamar-one of the top rappers in the game today.
As an up and comer gunning for the top spot in the world of hip hop
Kendrick was featured in a song with Detroit based rapper Big Sean
titled “Control”. In this song Kendrick took shots at every
rapper who he sees as competition and didn't mention rappers he
doesn’t fear as competition. He
even went as far as calling himself “King Of New York” even
though he is a native of California. He stirred up a lot of
controversy and although he may have respect for his peers in the rap
game such as J.cole,Cassidy and Big Krit that dosen't mean he isn't
trying to destroy them as far as competition is concerned because at
the end of the day its about being the best and most well respected
at your craft and Kendrick Lamar’s craft is hip hop music.
Fraternize-To
associate with others in a brotherly or congenial way.
The
word Fraternize or the act of it known as fraternizing is incredibly
obvious in the NBA today. The Miami Heat's big 3 of Dwyane Wade,
Lebron James and Chris Bosh all joined all once number 1 options for
their respective franchises joined forces in the summer of 2010 to
compete for championships. Or at least that’s what they will tell
you but a big reason they are together is because well...they are
friends. Now I’m not hating on them but I'm giving an example that
everybody knows about. Now I will not say that the players in the NBA
aren't competitive because to play in the NBA you have to be but I
will say that guys are a bit to buddy-buddy.
Just
picture this right its 1990something (you fill in the year) and
Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller are playing in an intense playoff
series between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers. Its approaching
halftime the Pacers have the basketball and Reggie Miller comes off a
screen and drills a 3 point shot at the buzzer. Nice play right? Well
this play was so nice that in the middle of a playoff game that
Michael Jordan goes up to Reggie Miller and high fives him in honor
of him drilling a shot on his team. Visualize and marinate on that
for a second,does that look right?
The
answer is a resounding “HELL NO” so why do we see NBA players
fraternizing with each other during playoff games. For example take this seasons
Eastern Conference Finals between the Pacers and Miami Heat. Paul
George dunks on Chris Andersen the following play Lebron James comes
back and hits a 3 pointer to beat the buzzer at halftime. They could
have just went to the locker room and that’s that but no they had
to high five each other because of course they are friends. Now I
know those guys train together in the off season but save that stuff
for post game this is the Eastern Conference Finals and a trip to the
NBA Finals is on the line. Lebron James has friends on the Heat he
can go clap up Dwyane Wade and Paul George can go give Roy Hibbert
some dap but don't fraternize during games its just not right and it
looks wrong.
Players
from back in the day such as Charles Barkley can't stand guys being
friends saying “I hate that stuff I see today”. He has every
right to while this is the highest level of basketball in the world
and there is a certain level of respect that it commands you can't
show it during the games though its war. Like I said though just like
hip-hop everything has cycles and maybe basketball will once return
to the days of genuine hatred and less fraternizing it makes for
better basketball.
Rajon Rondo is a guy I have a tremendous amount of respect for. Along with
being one of the top guards in the NBA this guy is hyper competitive
and isn't about being Chris Paul's or Russell Westbook's best friend
because he is to busy trying to beat them and prove he is the best.
Rondo embodies everything right with basketball from a competitive
standpoint. Again not hating on the Miami Heat but everyone and their
mom is taking the veterans minimum to go there and not all NBA fans
agree with that and some even myself may see it as a cop out or just
more fraternizing. Rondo isn't in the best situation in Boston and
could easily go somewhere better if the right scenario was presented
but He wants to be the guy in Boston and he isn't friends with that
many NBA players and I actually admire that it's not about making
friends its about winning so Rondo gets it.
The
NBA could learn a lot about having a competitive balance from
Kendrick Lamar. He isn't tweeting J.Cole about how great he is nor
is he speaking about how musically gifted he thinks Wale's last album
may have been. He is trying to destroy his opponents (whom he has
respect for) but he is trying to be the best at his craft so you
aren't going to hear him talk about how great he thinks those guys
are when he is trying to stake his claim as the best in hip-hop. The
way Michael Jordan told people to step up their game through his
exceptional play is the same way Kendrick is telling his peers in the
rap world to step their game up lyrically.
So
what has been the aftermath of Lamar's verse calling out all of his
peers. He has gotten responses from some notable names such as Joell
Ortiz, Papoose, Cassidy and Joe Budden. It has sparked some great
lyrics in hip-hop over the last week or so and fans of the genre
couldn't be happier.
Will
the NBA ever follow in hip-hops current foot steps and stop the
acting like friends while on the court? Hopefully, I think it makes
the sport look bad when dudes are hugging each other just before
tip-off. I don't care how much respect Kevin Durant has for Lebron I
along with millions don't want see him be friends on court with
James nor do we want to see him back down we want more guys in the
league to take on the attitude of Joakim Noah, Nate Robinson,Rajon
Rondo and Roy Hibbert. That’s the attitude of “This is basketball
and I respect your game but I'm here to kick your ass”. So NBA
Players follow the lead of your favorite rapper Kendrick Lamar and
respect the hard work the opponent puts into their craft but tear
their head off on that hardwood. Kendrick Lamar is the perfect
example of striking a balance of respect for someones craft and
confidence in your ability and the NBA needs to get back to that.
It's
not everyday that a franchise like the Boston Celtics hires a young
coach like Brad Stevens to lead them in the rebuilding process and
ultimately to banner number 18 hanging at the TD Garden but that’s
what has happened here. Recently the Celtics decided to part ways
with franchise cornerstones Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in a trade
with the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Marshon
Brooks and 3 future first round draft picks.
This
means that Rajon Rondo is now “The Guy” on the team. Throughout
the course of his career in bean town Rondo has always played his
role behind the likes of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett but
now the Boston Celtics are his team and he needs to stay. People have
always said Rondo is just a play maker and could never be the number
1 guy on a really good team, I for one disagree. Rajon Rondo does so
many things right obviously with his passing and ability to make
people better but the defensively his intensity can inspire a team
this is a guy who just wants to win and now its his time to prove he
can do it as the guy. He has a leaders mentality and you want that in
your organization.
This
biggest thing for the Celtics is getting new coach Brad Stevens and
Rondo on the same page and for now that seems to be the case. Stevens
in his opening press conference stated “There is no bigger fan of
Rajon Rondo then me”. Sources close to Rondo say that he is looking
at the situation with an open mind which is exactly what you want to
hear. For now the dynamic between Stevens and Rondo is cool but we
will see how long that lasts when the season starts and the Celtics
lose a few games.
This
is the perfect opportunity for Rondo to prove himself he always had
the mindset of a leader now its time to put that to use. As the
Celtics move forward they have still have a few pieces already
sitting around Rondo like Jeff Green, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks,
Avery Bradley and Brandon Bass the Celtics aren't elite but they are
far from scrubs they just need to put themselves in a position to
bring in another All-star player to play with Rondo. That could come
in the form of one of 3 future 1st round draft picks the
Celtics received in their recent trade with the Brooklyn Nets. As a
big time franchise that prides itself on excellence don't expect the
Celtics to be below the elites for that long.
This
isn't 2006 anymore Rondo isn't a wide eyed kid from Kentucky, this is
his team now. This is a guy who when healthy is a top 5 guard in the
league. The same guy who played less than half a season last year and
had more Triple-Doubles then Lebron James. This is a guy who i'm sure
goes to the TD Garden sees all the banners and retired numbers and
wants to be up there himself. Danny Ainge get him pieces so you can
get #9 to the rafters and another banner for Boston
The
modern day version of NBA Basketball is quick, fast and exciting. It
is a point guard driven league and we have a lot of tremendously
talented players at that position and 2013 proved that. With Injuries
to some of the games top talents like Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo we
got to appreciate how great they truly are with them seeing little to
no action this season but it allowed us to focus on other great
players like Tony Parker and Stephen Curry. There is such an
abundance of talent at the point guard position that its hard to pay
attention to all 30 starting PG's. So I took the liberty of putting
together the 2012-2013 NBA point guard power rankings, pay attention
for your favorite point guard. Lets get started.
#30
Jameer Nelson (Orlando Magic)
The
Orlando Magic in the post Dwight Howard era are clearly in a
rebuilding stage and having the leagues worst record is a bi product
of that. They have a good young core of players like Nikola Vucevic,
Andrew Nicholson and Maurice Harkless. With all of this happening an
aging Jameer Nelson had the worst season of his career shooting an
inefficient 39% from the field. He looks like a shell of what he used
to be years ago as an All-Star point guard that played on a team that
went to the finals. While still more than serviceable Jameer is no
longer a starting point guard in this league due to his deteriorating
skills and lack of defensive ability. He ranked 28th among
all starting point guards in the NBA this season at 14.44. I think
Jameer can help out a team that’s a contender and needs point guard
production off the bench, 2013 pretty much proved he can't be a
starter anymore.
Stat
line of the year: 27 Points 12 Assists 5 Rebounds 2 steals 9-20 FG on
March 25th vs Heat
#29
Mo Williams (Utah Jazz)
Mo
Williams is another case of a guy who just isn't a starter at this
point in his career. In 2013 his 1st season with the Utah Jazz Mo had
durability issues missing 36 games. Defensively he wasn't the best
but when Mo was on the floor he was productive averaging just under
13 points per game and shooting 38% from the 3-point line. If Mo was
more Durable he would be a bit higher on this list but because of
that he is at #29. Mo needs to go back to his role he had on the
Clippers he hasn't proven to be durable and I feel his game is more
suited for that.
Stat
line of the year: 17 Points 14 Assists 2 Blocks 4 Steals 6-16 FG on
November 12th vs Raptors
#28
Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons)
BrandonKnight in 2013 was known for being the bud of many peoples jokes
after getting destroyed on a dunk by the much bigger Deandre Jordan.
Besides him going viral though his play in 2013 saw his numbers
gradually decrease free throw, field goal and 3 point percentage. The
most alarming thing about Knight is that he has the lowest player
efficiency in the NBA among starting point guards at 12.04 and only averages only 4 assists. That
is unacceptable he is to talented to be playing so bad at this point
in his career and to only average 4 assists with big men like Andre
Drummond and Greg Monroe, GET IT TOGETHER!!! I Have hope for Knight
though he is very talented but needs to work on executing better in
pick and roll situations and defensive rotation. I hope to see the
Pistons in playoff contention and Brandon Knight higher on this list
next season.
Stat
line of the year: 30 Points 7 Rebounds 5 Assists 1 Block 1 Steal
10-20 FG December 8th vs Cavaliers
#27
Jeremy Lin (Houston Rockets)
Last
season Jeremy Lin took over the league with the whole “Linsanity”
thing going on with the Knicks last season. This year was his year to
show us what he could do with a whole year and while he was solid Lin
was not the impact player the Rockets signed him to be. While he had
a solid year for the Rockets complimenting James Harden and being a
key contributor to the team Lin was among the league leaders in
turnovers while being a defensive liability. I think it was a bit
unrealistic for the Rockets to sign him to a large contract based off
of 35 games of action in New York and expect him to be an all-star
but Lin proved this year while he is not an elite point guard that he
is a player who impacts winning and led the Rockets to the 8th
seed in the Western conference. Lin ranked 8th in steals
this season averaging 1.6 per game.
Stat
line of the year: 38 Point 7 Assists 3 Rebounds 2 Blocks 2 Steals
11-21 FG on December 10th vs Spurs
#26
Goran Dragic (Phoenix Suns)
2013
was not a good year for the Phoenix Suns as a whole but Goran Dragic was
a bright spot placing in the top 10 in Assists, Steals and
Double-Doubles among point guards in the league. You probably
wouldn't pay much attention to him in the first place because he
isn't a big name so some of those stats could be surprising. If the
Suns were even a 35+ win team he is much higher on this list with his
high rankings in so many categories among Point guards but because of
that he is down here. I'm a fan of Dragic's game he is a very smart
player and as the Suns move forward in the rebuilding process he will
be a key asset.
Stat
line of the year: 31 Points 12 Assists 9 Rebounds 10-19 FG on March
24th vs Nets
#25
Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat)
Out
of all of the point guards in the league nobody plays it more
unconventionally than Mario Chalmers does on a nightly bases. With
Lebron James and Dwyane Wade as the primary ball handlers on the Heat
Chalmers usually finds himself relegated to the role of spot up
shooter which he does very well. This year he placed in the Top 10
among point guards and top 20 in the whole league in three point
field goal percentage shooting a career high 40%. He broke the Miami
Heat single game record for three pointers made in a game when he hit
10 of them against the Sacramento Kings on January 12th
.He also placed in the top 15 among point guards in steals averaging
1.5 per game. He isn't a star but flourishes in his role.
Stat
line of the year : 34 Points 3 Assists 2 Rebounds 2 Steals 12-16 FG
on January 12th vs Kings
#24
Darren Collison (Dallas Mavericks )
In
his 1st season in Dallas Darren Collison had a steady
season. The Mavericks were a 500. team going 41-41 so they pretty
mirrored the play of their starting PG. Collison wasn't dazzling but
he did place top 5 in free throw shooting among starting point guards
with a career high 88% and top 10 in field goal percentage among
starting point guards. Collison looks more like a solid back up than
a starter but I think hes finally found a home in Dallas.
Stat
line of the year: 23 Points 9 Assists 2 Rebounds 3 Steals 7-11 FG on
January 14th vs Timberwolves
#23
Steve Nash (LA Lakers)
Over
the last few years Steve Nash has begun to look like a regular guy
and not an All-star or 2 time MVP. I think it's safe to say he isn't
an elite point guard anymore and its been like that for a few seasons
now but he is rated very low because he just wasn't that impact
player and floor general the Lakers needed him to be. On a team with
Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard they're is no reason a guy like Nash
shouldn't average anywhere between 10-12 Assists. He could get at
least 5 Assists if he figured how to use Dwight Howard in the pick
and roll more efficiently. Instead he was a bottom tier point guard
and a regular player on the Lakers. Despite the down year he still
placed in the top 5 among Starting point guards in 3 point shooting
at 43%.
Stat
Line of the year: 19 Points 12 Assists 4 Rebounds 1 Steal 7-12 FG on
March 17th vs Kings
#22
Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
After
having a solid year in Houston last season 2013 showed Kyle Lowry
solidifing his spot as the starting point guard of the Toronto
Raptors moving forward. The only problem was that he had durability
issues missing 14 games at different points of the year. He ranks in
the top half of starting point guards in the league with a player
efficiency rating at 17.51 Along with being in the top half in
double-doubles among starting point guards with 11 this season. One
thing people don't know about Lowry is that he is the 3rd
best rebounding point guard in the league behind Russel Westbrook and
Rajon rondo averaging 4.7 per game which says a lot about Lowry's
toughness on the boards. Lowry plays a solid all around game and with
Jose Calderon gone he is the guy at Point guard for the Raptors
moving forward.
Stat
line of the year: 10 Points 10 Rebounds 10 Assists 5 Steals 4-7 FG on
March 2nd vs Bucks
#21
Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves)
If
this were list based on the most exciting players to watch in the NBA
Ricky Rubio would definitely be near the top of the list but these
are the 2013 point guard power rankings and unfortunately for Rubio
his lack of durability scoring efficiency or productivity has him
this low. If healthy for a whole season he could be in the the top 10
easy he has the best court vision in the NBA. In 2013 Rubio missed
25 games and it forced the Timberwolves to mirco manage his minutes
which in turn affected his numbers and Minnesota to miss the playoffs
once again. Rubio has all the tools to be a great player but he lacks
the ability to score the ball efficiently he shot 36% from the field
and 29% from the Three point line in 2013. Despite his scoring
deficiencies he still managed to produce at a high level among
starting point guards in the NBA placing in the top 10 rebounds and Steals. If he had a jump shot he would become scary good
and teams would have to play him more honestly. Hopefully in the off
season he works on that and stays healthy because he is a joy to
watch play.
Stat
line of the year: 21 Points 12 Assists 13 Rebounds 1 Block 9-17 FG
on March 12th vs Spurs
#20
Jeff Teague (Atlanta Hawks)
During
the 2013 season with Joe Johnson gone in Brooklyn and Josh Smith in a
contract year Jeff Teague had a bigger role on the Hawks and proved
he could flourish in it leading the Hawks to a 6th
seeded eastern conference
playoff
birth. He set career highs in points and assists and seems to just
get better every year. He ranks in the top half of starting point
guards in the league in Points, Assists, Field Goal %, Free throw %
and Steals. Jeff Teague is very well balanced, not elite but a stable
starting point guard. He ranked 9th in Double-doubles
among starting point guard tied with Stephen Curry at 15. Teague has
shows improvement every year, how much is left?
Stat
line of the year: 24 Points 13 Assists 4 Rebounds 1 Steal 9-15 FG on
March 27th vs Raptors
#19
Greivis Vasquez (New Orleans Pelicans)
Speaking
of improvement that’s exactly what Greivis Vasquez continued to do
and I honestly feel like he got robbed of this years most improved
player award. In 2013 He set career highs in pretty much every
category there is like Points, rebounds, assists, field goal
percentage, ETC. He is just a solid player who works his tail off to
improve his game. The only thing that's keeping Greivis from being
rated higher is his turnovers at 3.2 per game which is among the
highest in the league. The only point guards who averaged more
turnovers in 2013 than Vasquez are Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving and
Russell Westbrook. So that's something he needs to work on along with
his defense which I felt was way to inconsistent. For a player who is
as smart as Greivis with the body he has they're is no reason why his
player efficiency rating should be a 16.34. He doesn’t even average
a steal which is inexcusable for a point guard who is 6'6 with longer
arms than most other guards. That shows me a lack of activity on the
defensive end which Greivis can definitely fix as he moves forward in
his career. One thing that is impressive about Greivis Vasquez is the
amount of double-doubles he collects. In terms of Point guards he is
a double double machine with 25 this past season he was 2nd
among all starting point gurads behind only Russell Westbrook who had
31. 2013 was a great step forward for the former Maryland star and I
expect to see him rated higher than this at the end of next season.
Stat
line of the year: 21 Points 12 Assists 11 Rebounds 1 Steal on
February 8th vs Hawks
#18
Isaiah Thomas (Sacramento Kings)
The
Kings are a weird team, they tried to split time at the point guard
position between Jimmer Fredette/Tyreke Evans/Isaiah Thomas. Thomas
got the bulk of the minutes at 26 a game but that revolving door
messed with his productivity. Despite that he still managed an
efficient 13.9 points per game on 44% shooting. Thomas made the most
of what he had this season but with Tyreke Evans most likely leaving
this off season all Thomas has to show to the Kings is that he is the
guy to start at point guard heading into the future. I feel like if
they are trying to play uptempo then Isaiah Thomas is the way to go
not Jimmer Fredette. If Thomas gets the chance to play more minutes
the Kings will finally have some stability at point guard because his
numbers will increase and he is great at taking care of the ball
averaging 1.8 turnovers per game. He needs the right chance so for
now Isaiah Thomas is a question mark but still had a better year than
a lot of starting point guards in 2013.
Stat
line of the year: 31 Points 7 Assists 3 Rebounds 1 Steal 6-10 FG on
March 27th vs Warriors
#17
Raymond Felton (New York Knicks)
If
this were based on statistics Raymond Felton would not be that high
at 15.22 there are guys behind him who have higher player efficiency
ratings than him. Felton is only this high because he was the
starting point guard on a team where he was relied upon heavily and
delivered. The Knicks finished as the #2 seed in the eastern
conference and he helped the Knicks win a playoff series for the
1st time in over a decade with his stellar play against
the Boston Celtics averaging 17 points and 5 assists. He showed
inconsistency throughout this season but you can't deny his impact
for the New York Knicks this season at point guard.
Stat
line of the year: 27 Points 7 Assists 4 Rebounds 2 Steals 10-20 FG on
December 6th vs Heat
#16
George Hill (Indiana Pacers)
GeorgeHill had a good 2013 season setting career highs in Points,Assists
and Rebounds. He was a key contributor for a Pacer team that captured
the central division tittle and was one win from reaching the NBA
Finals. After being traded from San Antonio Hill has earned the job
as the starting PG for the Pacers and found a home playing in his own
hometown of Indianapolis. He doesn’t do anything great
statistically but Hill does a great job of getting the Pacers to play
to their identity which is one of the things you need your starting
point guard to do in order to win. Hill finished in the top half of
the league among point guards in just about every major offensive category like
Points, Rebounds and Field Goal percentage in 2013.
Stat
line of the year: 22 Points 8 Assists 9 Rebounds 2 Steals on Jnauary
6th vs Jazz
#15
Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers)
Before
the 2013 season started many people were expecting monster numbers
from Jrue Holiday with arguably the best center in the league coming
to Philly in Andrew Bynum. The former Laker missed the entire season
Jrue was forced to step into a leadership role for the Sixers and
actually kept them in the Playoff hunt for longer then people
expected. He earned All- Star consideration during the season while
raking in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists and Double-doubles
among point guards in 2013. He led the league in turnovers averaging
just under 4 a game, he needs to progress in that area if the Sixers
want to take steps to become a playoff team again. 2013 though was a
great year for Jrue Holiday as he proved that “Quick aint fair”.
Shout out to Asap Rocky lol that commercial is bad.
Stat
line of the year: 33 Points 14 Assists 5 Rebounds 3 Steals on January
18th vs Raptors
#14
Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks)
2013
was probably the last we have seen of Brandon Jennings as a Milwaukee
Buck as his contract is up and he has already expressed he wants to
play elsewhere. Jennings ran his mouth a whole lot this year
criticizing coaches, players, management and then saying the Bucks
would beat the defending champion Miami Heat in 6 games and then
promptly got swept in the 1st round. Besides all that
though Jennings had a good season though averaging just under 18
points, He was very inefficient though shooting 39%. He had to take
lots of shots due to the lack of offensive weapons the Bucks have.
People can say what they want about Jennings but they can never say
that Jennings didn't give the Bucks everything he had these past 4
years. Still a tremendous talent but Jennings may never get any
higher on this list then he is now if he doesn’t learn how to play
smarter.
Stat
line of the year: 31 Points 10 Assists 3 Rebounds 1 Steal 10-16 FG on
March 9th vs Warriors
#13
Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers)
Since
he stepped foot in the league Damian Lillards sole mission was to
let the world know just how talented he was and gave us one of the
best rookie seasons we have had in some time. He ran away with the
rookie of the year and was the talk of the league early in the year.
He showed he was a deadly three point shooter breaking StephenCurry's rookie 3-point shooting record by hitting 185 triples. He won
rookie of the month in the western conference all 6 months. He also
displayed his durability by becoming the 1st rookie since
Elvin Hayes in 1969 to lead the league in total minutes played with
3,166 minutes played. He played with poise, flash and flare and kept
Portland in the Playoff hunt for most of the year but has developed a
reputation as a below average defender so he needs to improve on that
part of his game. In his 1st season in the league Lillard
ranked 4th among point guards in scoring averaging 19
points per game and capturing rookie of the year. Lillard is the face
of the Blazers and the future couldn't look any brighter for Portland
because of this guy.
Stat
line of the year: 38 Points 9 Assists 1 Rebound 3 Steals on April
10th vs Lakers
#12
Ty Lawson (Denver Nuggets)
This
season the Denver Nuggets had one of the best seasons they have had
in awhile with the highest scoring offense at 106 points per game in
the NBA and a lot of that could be attributed to the play of Ty Lawson.
He did a great job all year of pushing the pace and getting guys like
Kenneth Fareid and Andre Iguadola eazy baskets all year. He did a
great job of finding a balance of facilitating but still staying
aggressive which is why he was so efficient shooting 46% and
averaging just under 16 points per game which were both top 10 among
starting point guards this year. The Nuggets didn't have the season
they envisioned getting knocked out in the 1st round by
the Golden State Warriors but Ty Looked more comfortable than ever
running the offense this season.
Stat
line of the year: 21 Points 11 Assists 6 Rebounds 1 Steal 9-15 on
March 7th vs Clippers
#11
Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats)
Of
every player on this list I don't think any player looked as different or took as
big a leap as Kemba Walker. Sure the Bobcats finished near the bottom
of the league but it wasn't due to Kemba having a bad season. If you
check the stats you will see the that Kemba in 2013 ranked top 10among starting point guards in Points, Rebounds,Steals, Blocks and minutes. He was also one of the few point guards this season who
played in all 82 games, in fact he has never missed a game in his
first two years as a pro. If you don't think Kemba should be rated
this high check this stat. Of the 30 starting point guards in the
2013 season Kemba Walker had the 7th highest player
efficiency rating among His peers at point guard at 18.86. The only 6
Players that had a higher PER were Tony Parker, Chris Paul, John
Wall, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry. Two of the
guys in front of him (Wall/Kyrie) missed 20+ games so based on Player
efficiency rating Kemba Walker is a debatable top 5 point guard.
Kemba is clearly one of the franchise cornerstones in Charlotte
moving forward and as they surround him with more talent it's
inevitable that his stats and success increase.
Stat
line of the year: 26 Points 7 Assists 6 Rebounds 8 Steals on November
10th vs Mavericks
#10
Nate Robinson (Chicago Bulls)
The
Bulls went the whole entire year wondering if Derrick Rose would
come back but for just a short period of time Nate Robinson made you
forget about the injury and just enjoy watching Bulls basketball. He
was durable playing in every single game whether it would be off the
bench or starting he would usually produce. Nate is this high because
he is one of the biggest reasons that a very depleted Bulls roster
overachieved and beat the Brooklyn Nets in the 1st round
of the playoffs. Nate Robinson in game 4 of that series had one of
the great performances in Bulls history dropping 23 points in the 4th
quarter and hitting the game winning shot put the Bulls up 3-1 on the
Nets. I don't know if he is coming to Chicago next season but I do
know that where ever he goes he will play the game hard and play it
right as well.
Stat
line of the year: 23 Points in the 4th quarter In game 4
of the Eastern Conference quarter finals against the Brooklyn Nets.
#9
John Wall(Washington Wizards)
The
Wizards organization is still banking on John Wall to be the
franchise player but in order to do that you must play more than 49
games. Washington is slowly beginning to build around wall and when
healthy he has proven he can do special things. Take for example the
Game on March 25th vs the Memphis Grizzlies one of the
best defenses in the league John Wall had one of the most impressive
performances I've seen all year dropping 47 points. If you didn't
know he had that kind of talent he let you know. There’s only 2
things I don't like about Wall and that s his durability and
perimeter jump shot if he corrects both of those I think he has MVP
talent. I expect to see the wizards in the playoffs as long as Wall
plays 65+ games. 2013 was a year of what if's with Wall so please
stay healthy so we can see a full body of work.
Stat
Line of the year: 47 Points 8 Assists 7 Rebounds 1 Block 1 Steal
13-22 FG on March 25th vs Grizzlies
#8
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Just
like Wall I think Irving has MVP level talent but unlike Wall I think
he could become the best player in the league. He just can't stay
healthy. In 2013 Irving missed 23 games and the Cavs finished near
the bottom of the east but it was a blessing in disguise as they now
have the 1st pick in this years draft. So with the Talent
about to increase for the Cavs can Kyrie stay healthy? I look at him
and see a guy who is mature beyond his years and plays with a poise
and patience you don't see many guys play with at his age. Despite
the injuries Kyrie was still named to the All-Star team and averaged just
under 23 points. He is an All-star now and needs to become a leader
for the Cavs moving forward. 2013 saw him put up great numbers but in
2014 we need him to stay on the court so we can see him “GET
BUCKETS”.
Stat
line of the year: 40 Points 5 Assists 3 Rebounds 2 Steals on January
12th vs Celtics
#7
Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets)
Beside
getting another good coach fired Deron Williams had a successful year
in Brooklyn taking the Nets to the Playoffs. What could I really say
about Deron Williams beside the fact that he is a bonafide All-star
point guard. My only issue with him is his mentality I feel like he
doesn't have that superstars “I'm going to take control of the game
mentality”. This season Deron posted great numbers and once was
again an elite point guard but the Nets being knocked out of the
playoffs by an undermanned Bulls team is unacceptable. As the leader
of the team that can't happen so Deron has to work to get better this
offseason. He was in the top 5 among point guards in Double-doubles
with 21. Now that Jason Kidd is the new head coach of the Nets I
would hope that he helps take Deron's game to the next level.
Stat
line of the year: 42 Points 5 Assists 3 Rebounds 1 Steal 15-24 FG on
March 8th vs Wizards
#6
Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)
Yeah
that’s right I just put Mike Conley at number 6 this is not a typo.
You might tell me Deron is more talented, or Kyrie is a better scorer
but did those guys impact winning or help their teams become the best
in the league in any category. The Memphis Grizzlies have an identity
and Mike Conley helps them play to it as the leagues #1 defense
allowing only 89 points per game. He was top 5 in steals and set a
career high in points averaging 14.6 per game. Conley isn't the most
exciting player but he impacts winning and the Grizzlies advancing to the
Western conference finals is a result of that. This may be the
highest Conley ever gets in these rankings.
Stat
line of the year: 21 Points 7 Assists 3 Rebounds 5 Steals on November
2nd vs Warriors
#5
Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics)
Even
though Rajon Rondo only played 38 games he is still a top 5 point
guard. Just on this stat alone he is top 5, Lebron James in 70+ games
only had 4 triple-doubles Rajon Rondo had 5 in less than half a
season. Just think and marinate on that for a second that’s all I'm
saying.
Stat
line of the year: 16 Points 14 Assists 13 Rebounds 3 Blocks 3 Steals vs
Sixers
#4
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
In
my humble opinion I don't think there is a more exciting player in
the league to watch then Stephen Curry. 2013 was his break out year
he did everything you could possibly do. He broke Ray Allen's single
season 3 point record, dropped 50+ points in Madison Square Garden on
national TV, Led the Warriors to the playoffs and got snubbed from
going to the All-star game all in the same year, pretty impressive
stuff. Curry is known as the purest most deadly shooter in the league
and he earned it shooting 45% from the three point line. He helped
the Warriors win their first playoff series in 5 years and was
recently given the key to the city of San Francisco. Curry is a great
player who seems to be getting better which is scary, I wonder if he
can ever bring a championship to the great fans of the bay area.
Stat
line of the year:54 Points 7 Assists 6 Rebounds 3 Steals 18-28 FG on
February 27th vs Knicks
#3
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Forget
all off the regular season stats we know Russell Westbrook is an
elite point guard, his value really showed when the Thunder didn't
have him in the Playoffs. They missed his energy on defense and
versatility as well he can guard 2 sometimes 3 positions depending
how big a particular small forward is. His energy gets the Thunder
going, he is the catalyst of that team. He was #1 among Point guards
in the league this year in double-doubles with 31. Westbrook is
irreplaceable but i'm sure most of you knew that by now.
Stat
line of the year : 37 Points 5 Assists 10 Rebounds 2 Steals 15-29 FG
on March 5th vs Lakers
#2
Chris Paul (LA Clippers)
2013 CP3's 2nd year as the director of the greatest
show on hardwood known as “Lob City”. The Clippers were once
again in the Playoffs and Paul was once again elite leading the
league in steals and placing in the top 10 in nearly offensive
category among point guards. As great as he is Paul failed to get the
Clippers out the 1st round of the playoffs and it may have
been the end of his tenure as a Clipper. No matter what he had a good
2 years in LA if he decides to leave. If he decides to stay he must
bring a championship to LA for the Clippers no ifs ands or buts about
it. Chris Paul ranked #1 in player efficiency rating among pointguards in 2013 at 26.43
Stat
line of the Year: 19 Points 16 Assists 5 Rebounds 2 steals on January
9th vs Mavericks
#1
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)
Tony
Parker is the orchestrator of the greatest team of our generation and
he was the only player in the league this season that posed any real
threat to Lebron James for MVP. In 2013 He lead all NBA point guards
in field goal percentage shooting 52%. Tony Is just such a tactician
when it comes to making decisions for the Spurs, I don't think there
is anybody in the league who penetrates the middle of the floor
better than him. Parker was just simply the best this season which is
why the Spurs swept a very good Memphis team and is now giving the
Miami Heat a run for their money in the NBA Finals.
Stat
line of the year: 27 Points 12 Rebounds 12 Assists 9-18 FG on
December10th vs Rockets
So
there you have it those are your 2012-2013 NBA point Guard Power
Rankings hope you enjoyed it. Before I end this article let me wish
Derrick Rose a speedy recovery the #1 spot misses you, hope to see
him next season.
If
you disagree with or just want to talk about the power rankings hit
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