B/R NBA 200: Ranking the Top Combo Guards of 2014-15 Season
Some players can't be pigeonholed in as point guards or shooting guards, simply because they spend too much time at both backcourt positions. They aren't quite as common this season as they were in 2013-14, but there are still a few standouts with that lineup versatility shining on their resumes.
We have one notable rookie (Jordan Clarkson), as well as plenty of veterans. And playing styles vary drastically, as the combo guard title encompasses athletic backcourt members who attack the rim, spot-up shooters and defensive specialists all under the same umbrella.
And don't worry, there are still some stars and rising stars at the position, even if only 10 players are going to make the positionless rankings at the end of this series.
Now, we have to put the league's best combo guards in a definitive order.
The NBA 200 metric identifies the players who performed best during the 2014-15 season. Potential doesn't matter, and neither does reputation. It's all about what happened this season, and this season only. All positions are graded using the same criteria (though rim protection was added into the equation for bigger positions), but the categories are weighted differently to reflect changing roles, with max scores in parentheses:
- Scoring (23)
- Non-Scoring Offense: Facilitating (15) and Off-Ball Offense (7)
- Defense: On-Ball (20) and Off-Ball (20)
- Rebounding (5)
- Intangibles: Conduct (5) and Durability (5)
For a full explanation of how these scores were determined, go here. And do note these aren't your father's classification schemes for each position. Players' spots were determined by how much time they spent at each position throughout the season, largely based on data from 82games.com and Basketball-Reference.com, and we're expanding the traditional five to include four combo positions.
In the case of ties, the order is determined in subjective fashion by ranking the more coveted player in the higher spot. That was done by a voting committee comprised of myself, two National NBA Featured Columnists (Grant Hughes and Dan Favale), two Associate NBA Editors (Ethan Norof and Joel Cordes) and an NBA Quality Editor (Jacob Bourne).
Note: All statistics come from Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. In order to qualify for the rankings, players must have suited up in 20 games through March 10, the date of data collection.
Point Guard Rankings can be found here.
10. Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers
1 of 10
Scoring
Jordan Clarkson came on strong as a scorer during the second half of the season, attacking the basket and using his athleticism and lankiness to finish plays at the rim. But he still wasn't particularly efficient, thanks to the absence of a reliable stroke from the outside. The rookie has the tools necessary to become a well-rounded commodity from either guard slot, but it's easier to defend his burst to the basket when he can't make defenders pay for giving him more wiggle room.
Non-Scoring Offense
A decent cutter, Clarkson has plenty of room for improvement in every portion of this category. He needs to shore up that shaky jumper before he's a threatening presence off the ball, and his vision doesn't allow him to shine as a distributor. The former Missouri transfer is always going to be more of a score-first player, but he can't let that solely define who he is in the NBA.
Defense
His 6'5" frame and lengthy wingspan allow him to suffocate smaller defenders on some possessions, but Clarkson didn't show much discipline away from the ball during his rookie season. He was particularly porous when tracking spot-up shooters, and the Los Angeles Lakers had to actively keep him out of isolation situations.
Rebounding
Clarkson's ratio of uncontested-to-contested boards was impressive, as he recorded just about one of the latter for every two of the former, but he still didn't convert many of his chances. Especially given his size advantage out of the backcourt, he grabs a shockingly low percentage of the missed shots that end up in his vicinity.
Intangibles
Though Clarkson received spotty minutes during the opening salvo of his professional career, that wasn't because he was hurt. He was just bouncing between the D-League and the NBA, as well as receiving some DNP-CDs before he proved himself. His durability was just fine.
Overall
It appears as though Clarkson could emerge as a draft-day steal. He slipped past 15 teams in the second round before the Lakers snatched him up in 2014, and he used the team's dearth of talent to assert himself as a capable rotation guard. Clarkson needs to improve his defensive discipline and willingness to pass the rock if he's going to get minutes when the Lake Show are more competitive, but he has the upside necessary to stick around for a while.
9. Jerryd Bayless, Milwaukee Bucks
2 of 10
Scoring
Jerryd Bayless doesn't fire away from the perimeter nearly as often as he did during his prime years with the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies, nor does he attack the basket with the same ferocity. Instead, he's been content to live on a steady supply of pull-up jumpers, which lends some diversity to the Milwaukee Bucks offense but doesn't truly allow him to thrive as a scorer.
Non-Scoring Offense
Playing more point guard than he has in years, Bayless posted decent assist figures. Turnovers still hold him back, though, as he wasn't exactly careful with the ball and often failed to hit his targets when running the show in Brewtown. As an off-ball threat, a similar story unfolded—the good just had to come with the bad.
Defense
Bayless has been a negative defender every year of his career—going into this season, a minus-0.2 defensive box plus/minus was his career best—but Jason Kidd helped turn him into an adequate one. This combo guard has never had a stopper's mentality, but he was active off the ball and sought out passing lanes with more fervor in 2014-15, allowing him to provide the Bucks with an occasional steal.
Rebounding
Prior to this season, Bayless' career-best rebounding average saw him pull down 2.3 boards per contest. So while he may have topped that mark (2.7), he still wasn't particularly impressive, especially with the vast majority of his work coming while no one on either team was close to him.
Intangibles
A sore left knee kept Bayless out of the lineup as the calendars flipped over to 2015, and a sprained ankle plagued him for a brief spell in the middle of March. But he still missed minimal time and spent the vast majority of the season suiting up in his Milwaukee threads.
Overall
When Bayless is hitting his looks, he's a valuable commodity. Not too many guards bring his style of shot-creating ways to the table, and there certainly aren't many other presences like that in Milwaukee. But even when he's on, the Bucks have to live with his inability to contribute in many other areas, which severely limits his overall value.
8. Greivis Vasquez, Toronto Raptors
3 of 10
Scoring
Limited playing time didn't ever allow Greivis Vasquez to get into a rhythm, and his numbers this season don't accurately reflect how talented he is. Though he was more reliant on his three-ball than ever before and fared well from beyond the arc, he struggled from inside it and went through some inexplicable woes from the stripe. Coming off a season in which he knocked down 88 percent of his freebies, Vasquez has to be disappointed that he hit a 75.8 percent clip this year.
Non-Scoring Offense
Vasquez is a tremendous off-ball threat whose ability to catch and shoot has to be respected at all times. But for a combo guard who's previously spent so much time at the 1, he's not exactly a potent passer. His teammates shot well off his feeds, but they didn't come too often and weren't accompanied by an impressive amount of passes that led to fouls or secondary dimes.
Defense
The Raptors were only slightly worse defensively when Vasquez was on the floor, but that's largely because his teammates kept things close for him. This 6'6" guard has slow feet and poor instincts, especially when he's trying to keep up with a potent shooter who doesn't have the ball. A few screens and quick cuts, and there's plenty of space.
Rebounding
One of the weakest contested rebounders in any NBA backcourt, Vasquez is nearly incapable of pulling down a board when an opponent is within an arm's length of him. He's decent at reading the ball off the rim, which helps him grab a few missed shots every game, but his average is misleadingly high.
Intangibles
There are no conduct issues or major injuries to speak of here. Vasquez's slate in this category is as squeaky clean as they come.
Overall
Vasquez's ability to play both guard positions came in handy when DeMar DeRozan was missing time early in the season, but he still had a fairly disappointing campaign. A floor-spacing shooter who can force defenses into paying attention to him, the Maryland product didn't bring enough to the table in order to mask his defensive inability on a regular basis.
7. Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
4 of 10
Scoring
Even though his three-point stroke inexplicably abandoned him, Mario Chalmers got to prove what he could do while spending more time with the ball in his hands. And simultaneously, the Miami Heat found out that they'd probably prefer for him to take on a more minor role, as Chalmers was an inefficient scorer who sometimes saved his lines with an ability to draw contact near the basket.
Non-Scoring Offense
Chalmers, perhaps because he spent so much time waiting for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to pass him the ball in years past, is quite comfortable serving as a spot-up shooter, though he did so far less often this season. His passing is also quite lackluster for someone with so much experience playing at the point, as his assist-to-turnover ratio is anything but sparkling.
Defense
This guard spent the year watching opposing players brutalize him in isolation settings. He was one of the league's worst one-on-one defenders, and he only partially redeemed himself with some solid work against pick-and-roll ball-handlers.
Rebounding
Is it really Chalmers' fault that he plays on a team with so many solid rebounders at each position? Yes and no. He can't grab boards over players like Hassan Whiteside, but he also rarely puts himself in a spot where he'll even have an opportunity to contribute.
Intangibles
Though South Beach was seemingly hit by an injury virus that spread like wildfire, Chalmers remained healthy throughout the year. A minor knee issue slowed him down in early March, but that was really the only concern while the Heat were trying to stick in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Overall
Chalmers didn't have anyone to yell at him for every minor offense this season—as James departed for the Cleveland Cavaliers—and he might have missed the vocal abuse. Not because he likes being berated, but because it means there were more superstars around him trying to draw away defensive attention. His flaws were on display far more often this season than they were during Miami's "Big Three" era.
6. Tony Wroten, Philadelphia 76ers
5 of 10
Scoring
Tony Wroten might have a broken jumper, but he knows how to work with it. Few players have the attack switch flipped on more often, as this combo guard put his head down and tried to work his way to the basket whenever possible. Given that he played less than 30 minutes per game, earning six free throws during his average outing was quite impressive. Now, if only he converted more than two-thirds of them...
Non-Scoring Offense
Although he's anything but threatening when he's working without the ball (his occasional cuts to the hoop notwithstanding), Wroten was able to remain effective on the offensive end through his passing. Turnovers hold him back significantly, even if bad-pass cough-ups comprise a relatively low percentage of his mistakes, but he does a nice job keeping his head up and looking for teammates. It's also worth noting that playing with more talented shooters would help him out significantly in this category.
Defense
Wroten's on/off split was misleadingly poor this season, as his teammates started gaining more defensive cohesion later in the season, after he'd suffered a season-ending partial tear to the ACL in his right knee. But he's still not exactly a defensive asset, gambling quite often and showing a stunning lack of discipline in nearly every off-ball situation imaginable.
Rebounding
Given his 6'6" frame, athleticism and aggressive mentality, Wroten should be better on the glass. But he's not, and "should" only matters, well, not at all in this analysis. Weirder still, No. 8 can occasionally explode for a gaudy figure in the rebounding column before disappearing for the next week.
Intangibles
It's hard to earn a good durability score when you tear your ACL with only 30 games on the ledger.
Overall
Wroten was coming on strong before his season-ending injury. He'd already thrived in the starting lineup and had made a successful transition to a sixth-man role before he went down, though his aggressiveness wasn't exactly helping the Philadelphia 76ers win games. Nonetheless, he may be a forgotten-about keeper for this rebuilding franchise.
5. Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons
6 of 10
Scoring
Reggie Jackson had plenty of opportunities to shine as a featured scorer this year—when Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were hurt, as well as when he was expected to replace Brandon Jennings after the Oklahoma City Thunder shipped him to the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline. However, ineffectiveness from the outside and a relative inability to get to the charity stripe plagued him in both locations. If he was trying to prove himself a No. 1 option, he failed the audition.
Non-Scoring Offense
Though he's only a decent spot-up shooter, Jackson is an offensive threat when he's not scoring because he can be quite adept in the passing department. He started to show that in late March, dishing out 52 dimes in a four-game stretch that was highlighted by his 20-assist performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. Losing the gunner mentality would allow him to shine even more in this area.
Defense
Jackson is thoroughly mediocre in most areas of the defensive game, showcasing the tools necessary to thrive but sometimes losing focus. He has spells in which he looks like a lockdown player, especially defending isolation or the pick-and-roll game, but then he regresses just as quickly. Expect future improvement as he continues adjusting to more of a featured role on offense and the energy that requires.
Rebounding
Even though he pulled in a respectable percentage of his chances on the glass, there simply weren't enough of them for him to shine. Plus, the opportunities he does receive throughout a typical game are usually of the uncontested variety, as he waits for the ball to come to him on a carom rather than truly attacking the boards.
Intangibles
Jackson did stay healthy throughout the season, but he also tended to put on the pouty face when he wasn't getting the necessary minutes and touches for the Thunder. It was beyond obvious that he wanted out of OKC, and he finally got his wish at the trade deadline.
Overall
When Jackson's shot is falling and he's committed to making a positive impact on the defensive side, he's quite the asset in any backcourt. His shot-creating abilities alone are worth throwing him out on the court for 30 minutes per game. But Jackson spent the 2014-15 season prone to shooting slumps and defensive lapses, which severely depressed his value. His best hope in the future might not be as a No. 1 scoring option, but as a complementary piece who can fill any role that's asked of a guard.
4. Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
7 of 10
Scoring
Avery Bradley has continued to prove that last year's improvement from beyond the three-point arc wasn't just a fluke. He made 39.5 percent of his looks from deep and took 3.3 per game in 2013-14, his first as a true featured member of the Boston Celtics. This season, he lofted up 4.6 per contest and hit 35.2 percent of them.
Non-Scoring Offense
No. 0 has continued to impress both as a cutter and a spot-up threat, which is the source behind the vast majority of his points in this category. After all, he's one of the absolute worst qualified passers in any backcourt slot, thanks to a complete inability to generate assists. When you're lining up at the 1 or 2 and can't average more than 1.8 dimes while playing over 30 minutes per game, that's a big issue.
Defense
This combo guard is one of the few players in the NBA to receive a perfect score in a subsection of this category, as there's no reason to dock a point for this pesky defender's on-ball work. It's when his man doesn't have possession that he struggles a bit, as Bradley was significantly less stingy guarding spot-up shooters. He was still great, of course, just not compared to what he does when staying in front of a dribbler.
Rebounding
Bradley was never a strong rebounder, and he's on the verge of becoming a liability when he's lined up at the 2. He's regressed from last year's one-season improvement, lowering his involvement and the percentage of available boards that he's grabbing.
Intangibles
A relentless competitor who isn't at all averse to playing defense for the length of the court, Bradley's passion should be inspiring to his teammates. So too should his penchant for staying healthy, as a brief bout with the flu and a strained left elbow were the only things able to keep him out of the lineup.
Overall
Bradley's continued respectability from beyond the arc helps mask his overall offensive flaws. He's one of the worst backcourt distributors in the league, and his game from inside the three-point line isn't exactly something the Celtics would like to brag about. But he'll have a place in the league for a long time all the same, if for no other reason than his one-way dominance when shutting down an opposing guard.
3. Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
8 of 10
Scoring
Kudos to Victor Oladipo for spending so much time with his jumper ever since leaving Indiana. He's turned a weakness into a minor strength over the last two years, allowing him to put a much more complete scoring arsenal on display. Driving to the hoop and finishing is still this combo guard's biggest asset on the offensive end, but the respect defenders now have to give to his jumper makes his first step all the more deadly.
Non-Scoring Offense
The combination of savvy/athletic cutting and a working spot-up jumper makes Oladipo a player who must be monitored on the wings. But his improvements in the passing department also help his score a bit, as he's no longer turning the ball over nearly as often from bad-pass cough-ups.
Defense
This was supposed to be Oladipo's calling card. When he left the Hoosiers as a raw offensive product, it was his point-preventing ability that was supposed to ensure he remained valuable right off the bat. But Oladipo hasn't been nearly as good as expected, struggling to grasp the nuances of NBA play on many occasions, especially when he's in off-ball mode.
Rebounding
Only one qualified combo guard was better at pulling down contested rebounds this season, and that's not just because Oladipo spent a lot of time on the court. He's not afraid of contact, which shows when he dashes into the lane and attempts to parlay his hops into an unexpected board.
Intangibles
A facial injury that led to a mask and a delayed debut is the only reason he's losing a point here. Oladipo has otherwise been healthy, and he's a great teammate who never takes himself too seriously.
Overall
Oladipo isn't there yet, but he's on the verge of becoming a true star. As his defense improves, he's gaining even more value, though we already have to be impressed by the offensive strides he's made. His jumper doesn't hold him back any longer, and he seems to love attacking the basket in crunch-time situations. This Indiana product is starting to morph into a go-to player, regardless of the situation he finds himself in.
2. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat
9 of 10
Scoring
Though Goran Dragic resonated on a historical scale for his 2013-14 scoring efforts—his combination of efficiency and shot-creating ability was quite unique over the last few decades—he took a step backward this season. The slithery guard's true shooting percentage dropped over from 60.4 percent in 2013-14 to 57.7 percent this year, and he spent far less time working off the bounce during his partial season with the Phoenix Suns. And he's still the top-rated scorer at his position.
Non-Scoring Offense
If there's one combo guard you don't want to neglect when he's working without the ball, it's Dragic. He's quite good at spotting up on the wings and draining perimeter jumpers, but he also has the body control necessary to slip through tight openings and free himself while cutting to the hoop. Giving him any space is asking for trouble.
Defense
Not a particularly active defender, Dragic truly struggles when screens are involved. Not only can his marks use them to gain separation off the ball, but he has trouble making the proper on-the-fly decisions when guarding a pick-and-roll ball-handler. He's not atrocious in either area, but the Heat would probably prefer for him to keep out of those situations as much as possible going forward—assuming he re-signs with them this summer.
Rebounding
Dragic isn't your typical rebounder out of the backcourt. He's better than most at working through contact and hauling in a board with players in his general vicinity, but he's not as skilled when reading bounces off the rim. For a shifty player with great spatial awareness, Dragic struggles far more than one might expect when chasing uncontested rebounds.
Intangibles
Though this guard left the Phoenix Suns in a lurch when he declared that he wanted out right before the deadline, he still played his heart out on the court. Feeling betrayed by the team's management is not a conduct issue, so there's no reason to penalize Dragic for thinking that he was misled and still trying to compete.
Overall
Dragic's follow-up to last year's breakout campaign wasn't nearly as impressive, but he remained a high-quality guard who's capable of either running the show from the point or thriving as a spot-up shooter on the wings. He's turned into a "true" combo guard, even if he may be under the impression that he belongs as a 1-guard only—his work at the 2 simply screams otherwise.
1. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns
10 of 10
Scoring
Few players are quicker when creating their own shots, as Eric Bledsoe has a blazing first step and the athleticism necessary to control his body and maximize the space he's given. That allows him to score in plenty of ways, though he's ultimately held back by both a lack of elite-level scoring volume and a three-point stroke that was more inconsistent than in years past.
Non-Scoring Offense
Bledsoe was only an average spot-up shooter for much of the year, but he excelled when cutting to the hoop—something he didn't do too often in Jeff Hornacek's offensive schemes. That said, he was a fantastic distributor all year, dealing with some turnover issues but largely keeping his teammates involved with passes they could actually convert into buckets.
Defense
Smart offensive players can catch Bledsoe ball-watching when he's guarding away from the possession, but it's quite difficult to score on this combo guard in an on-ball setting. He's tough, physical and athletic, which is always a dangerous combination. At this point, players should stop trying to score on him in isolation, even if nearly two try per game.
Rebounding
No combo guard was better at hauling in contested boards. In fact, Bledsoe converts a remarkably high percentage of the rebounds that are in his area, regardless of how many other players have a chance at snatching the ball. Now, he needs to get even more involved rather than sitting back on some plays and failing to use his athletic gifts.
Intangibles
Though injuries have plagued the explosive Bledsoe in the past, that wasn't the case in 2014-15. In fact, there wasn't a single physical malady that kept him out of the lineup during the season, despite the immense burdens he took on throughout the year.
Overall
It's a bit strange given how quick the NBA world was to anoint Bledsoe as the next star when he was earning LeBron James comparisons and nicknames with the Los Angeles Clippers. But now, despite serving as the best player on the Suns throughout the entire season, even when Dragic was in town, he's failing to get the credit he deserves from far too many casual fans. Bledsoe doesn't have name recognition working in his favor, but he plays like a superstar.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Breaking News")
