Stephen Curry is one of my top 5 PG's this season indefinitely, but who are the other 4?
Normally, I don't like to "rank" players as much as the media, who never gets it right, but I decided to take a look at who are really the best PG's in the NBA this season. I figure we can objectively find the top 5 PG's in the NBA this year, based on this years performance. Notice that means most great PG's have their teams headed for the playoffs in my opinion, as they are essentially the second coach and the position has become so powerful the last half decade. Also allows us to assess their season 3/4 the way in and see who finishes strong and whom let's us down.
Steve Nash! Derrick Rose! Rajon Rondo! Russel Westbrook!
Sorry guys, as you have all been in the top 5 multiple times in your career, this year you missed the cut for either aging or injury. Westbrook has missed almost half the season with Durant carrying the load (and doing it well), so I don't think he's gonna make it. Rondo is looking like he might be a top 5 PG next season, but this season he's missed more than half the games and Boston is headed for the lottery. Rose... please get healthy. Stevie boy, I think it's time to look like a shell of what we all think of when we think about the Steve Nash MVP stud 7 years ago.
Other guys that missed the cut and why (a quick shout out to):
-Michael Carter-Williams
Likely Rookie of the Year. 17ppg, 7apg, 6rpg, 2spg on a awful, terrible Philly team.
-Jrue Holiday
Started the season well with his new Pelican squad but has been and is out for the rest of the season. Should be in contention next season as a 2nd tier top PG.
-Isiah Thomas
Once the 60th draft pick, now a 2nd tier PG almost... his 20ppg and 6apg and 3pt range are efficient but his lack of leadership, wins, and defense are to be desired. He will be an amazing 6th man on a good/great team this Free Agency or he could stay with the Kings surrounded by talent "me first" players and awful management and coaching that is lacking.
-Mike Conley
A really good all around player for the playoff bound Grizzlies... he's that 2nd tier.... 19ppg, 6apg, 2spg as they battled for a 7-8 playoff spot. He's quicker than he appears and has gained some strength and plays both ends of the court well.
-Kemba Walker
Another great season statistically for Kemba, but more importantly he has Al Jeff and has the Bobcats in playoff position. Solid 2nd tier starting PG. His stats are solid though his FG% is a bit woeful... But with him and Al having to be the ones taking shots with defenses in them they have learned to win. Kemba keeps improving each year in each stat. New 3pt range.
-Kyrie Irving
I know. You are all against me here saying he's likely in the top 5.... but there's talent on that Cavs squad and he can't lead them to the playoffs in the East? That's not a top PG in my eyes. Kyrie is flashy and has games showing his greatness, but he's 21 and needs to learn to make his teammates better. His 6 assists a night aren't going to get it done unless he's scoring at a more efficient rate. His defense could use some work too. He's the best 2nd tier of PG's, but the 5 guys ahead this season are deservingly so.
-Kyle Lowry
Having a career season, and surprise it's in a contract season. But he has stepped up his game and played great the second half of the season and has helped lead Toronto into the playoffs. If he could make Free Throws he might actually be able to get up to the first tier.... but for now he's with the top second tier Point Guards. Plays both ends well though sometimes his shot selection can be concerning. But high energy pitbull this season, playing a solid all-around game. DeRozan and he are the heart of the team.
-Ty Lawson
He was hurt for a bit, but he really is starting to explode as of late, and Denver is not headed for the playoffs, but injury plays a huge part as we saw them struggle without Ty Lawson, and a true center. But he's yet to manage 18+point per game, 8.8 assists, and 2 steals a game along with efficient scoring and the ability to create his own shot. He's looking like he could become even better next year. So now that we've talked about the other great Point Guards in the NBA, and you understand that I won't put Westbrook in the top 5 because of the amount of time he was gone. He's top 5 when playing at his best for sure, but simply out of the total season he hasn't had the same impact due to playing less games.
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| Curry and Wall |
-(Mega Shout out) Damian Lillard
Falls just short of the top 5 for me, but is having some standout moments and games. His 43%FG is still semi-efficient because of his made three's for the season (top 5 in NBA) and shooting 40% from three point land averaging 20.8 points a night along with a sub-par 5.6 assists and 0.7 steals, showing a lack of defensive effectiveness. A great ball handler and shot creator though, and closes games well. Portland is so talented with the ball at every starting spot and he's got them heading into the playoffs strong.
5th- Tony Parker
The French Poet on the court... He's just a great example of a leader and point guard of a team that run's such great offense and passes the ball so well as a team, as well as the pick n' rolls with Duncan. Nearly unstoppable still. His stats won't show his true impact though, the Spurs are 2nd (or 1st) in the West and look to be a solid contender. He's shooting 50% from the field, and has improved his 3pt shot while still getting to the Free Throw line effectively. Tough shot maker. This year his PER is 19.5 so far, averaging 17.6 points, 6.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 steals, per game shooting 50%FG, 37%FG3pt, 80%FT. The stats really don't do him justice in terms of affecting games, as he plays 30.8 minutes a night, 4.0 minutes less then all the other players on the top 5. But from what he's shown all of us in playoffs and NBA Finals past history, he gets even better in the playoffs, so I look for him to play great from here on.
4th- Goran Dragic
The Slick Slovenian is having a Career season, possibly up for Most Improved Player (Paul George?), and has lead the Phoenix Suns from day 1, with zero expectations to do anything positive with the NBA season. The Suns have been in the playoff race all season (still are) and Dragic has been playing great lately, while having a very consistent season even with Eric Bledsoe another solid PG (or is he a SG?) that has been hurt about half the season now. Played well with him, lost him to injury, and the Suns continue to play well. Dragic truly has a remarkable season as a very unique, wiry, point guard, who scores at a great rate and is still an effective court leader and passer. This season his season average is 20.5 points, 6.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals per contest shooting 51%FG and 41% from the land of three, though he only takes half the amount of three's that Steph Curry does. He gets to the line well and is at 77%FT, which could use improving. But his true shooting percentage is amazing, and his ability to create for himself and others allowed him to flourish this year surrounded by shooters and athletes. Goran has to get his Suns into the playoffs still. They need to finish solid or they could see Memphis claiming their spot. Goran will have to be great for them to make the playoffs. I hope they do.
3rd- John Wall
This might be the one people disagree with. Dragic does have a higher PER rating so far this season, but there are many games to come and Wall has been playing good to great basketball every night, it seems, lately. On the season him and the entire Wizards team really started to play well together about 3-4 weeks ago, and they look to finish strong in the East. Wall has his teammates playing at a very high level lately, and guys like Ariza and Beal are putting up great numbers and scoring well. Wall has lead them this year averaging 19.9 points, 8.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, shooting 43%FG and 84%FT, along with a respectable and rapidly improving 3pt FT% of 33%, the only thing he really needs to improve is his FG% a few points. But his defense.... yes his defense. He really can harass other Point Guards and even get in the lane playing help D and strip the ball with his long arms, or chase down a shot and block it averaging 0.5 blocks, essentially 1 every other game as a point guard. He's right up there with Chris Paul on best 2 way Point Guard, but Wall started the season off slow and has really started playing well, while his team has started to win more as they head for the playoffs. I only see him building on what he's done so far, as the team seems to be in a great state right now and seems to be improving nearly each game. John Wall could go crazy in a playoff series. That should be fun to watch.
2nd- Stephen Curry
Some may say he has been the best this season. He has put up great numbers and has the Warriors in the playoffs right now, but the Warriors don't seem as solid as we all thought they would be now, especially the amount Harrison Barnes has regressed. They still have a shot at the playoffs, and Stephen Curry will do just that: shoot! He's having a great season, career numbers in many categories, averaging 23.6 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 3.3 three pointers made per game, shooting 46%FG, and 41% on his threes. He is leading the NBA in three-pointers made... SURPRISE. He can create off the dribble, hell, when he's in the zone and hot it seems like he can make any shot from within 40 feet or so. But the Warriors do live and die by the three, and while Curry has put up great numbers and done a solid job, I feel like he should be making the players around him better, especially inside. Maybe they are starting to adapt, we shall see. I do know that Steph Curry will be shooting lights out as a late playoff seed hopefully...
1st and Ultimate Gladiator - Chris Paul
Sad for me to say this as a Laker fan that thought we made a trade for him. But it has to be said.. He really is a master of ball handling and court vision, and that tough attitude he brings is great. The Clippers under Doc Rivers as coach have become what it seems like a legit contender now, and how fast Paul was able to pick it up and how well he's executed Doc's plan has gone well, playing for what looks like home court in the playoffs.Paul is the true definition of a "player that makes his teammates better". This season he's averaged 18.6 points, 11.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 steals, shooting 46% FG. Look at the player DeAndre Jordan looks like now as a result of Chris Paul and their plans. Same with Griffin on the break or even in half-court sets, the alley-oops and athleticism, as well as the trust Paul has in creating for a teammate to shoot a 3 or whether he takes over in the fourth and scores 6 straight points. He's still the true definition of what I want to see out of my lead Point Guard. He's a great defender, a great leader, and still shows the most basketball IQ and NBA savvy. What can he do with the Clips remains to be seen.... but we will get at least one playoff series from them.
And the forgotten Point Guard's of 2013-2014:
KENDALL MARSHAL... the Lakers guard who's stat's need not be shown here because each game is losing by 20-40 points a night, thus the offensive stats are so empty for bad teams like the Lakers or Bucks or situations like that. Sure he can see the floor well and average 12apg when given 36 minutes a night, but he also allows every opposing Point Guard to go off for career nights.... coincidence I think not. He's also a much more mediocre 3pt shooter than we've been treated to so far... those wide open threes he takes 1.9 seconds to shoot... I think the Lakers should seek changes at PG, but at least Farmar is a great backup PG.
Ricky Rubio- 8.9 points, 8.8 assists, 2.4 steals, 37%FG, suck shooter, great creator.... his game scoring though makes Marshal look bad....
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