Erick Blasco's Top 30 NBA Point Guards

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Since NBA point guards carry the most responsibility on the court, the position is widely considered the most important position on the court.

Point guards not only must have talent, but have to understand every aspect of their team’s gameplan, and what defenses are trying to do to stop them. They must be reliable since they generally have possession of the basketball more than other positions, and they must know the ins and outs of everybody on the court—team-mates, opposing players, referees—so that team-mates are put in the best position to succeed, and opponent’s weaknesses are exploited.

Oh, and since opposing point guards have the same responsibilities, being an ace defender is also a must.

This list does not take into account a player’s future prospects or past salad days. The criteria is simple: Which NBA point guard would be best suited to winning a championship with a random collection of starting-level talent? For example, if Andris Biedrins, Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, and Courtney Lee are your teammates, who would you want as your point guard?

Due to the way some NBA lineups are presently constructed, a handful of potential point guards will be asked to play different positions this year. For that reason, Allen Iverson, Delonte West and Jason Terry are listed as shooting guards this year.

No rookies made the list, as neither you nor I have seen them play in meaningful games against meaningful competition to know where they should be ranked.

With the prologue out of the way, on to the list.

1) Deron Williams—Utah Jazz

Before Chris Paul’s legions eviscerate me, consider what Williams would be able to do with a system that allowed him to be the point scorer, or assist maker on nearly each of his team’s possessions.

Williams is both explosive and strong which allows him to always get into the paint, and subsequently, do more damage once inside. Williams may not be as quick as Paul, and Paul is a very strong guard in his own right, but Williams’ size, body, speed, and leaping ability allow him to assault the rim and finish through people.

It’s an element that shouldn’t be underappreciated.

Williams can also play off the ball and is an excellent post player, again, overpowering opponents with his size. He’s one of the league’s premier passers, throwing, arguably, the second best bounce pass in the game behind Steve Nash. He’s also a much better dribbler and passer than Paul using his offhand.

Williams’ three point jumper is spotty, but his midrange pull up jumper is one of the most advanced in the league. His ability to score one-on-one is also much more advanced than Paul’s, who usually needs a screen to start his offense.

Williams has the keys to the most complicated offense in the NBA, and Utah’s scoring output has been extremely successful under his command—no small feat.

While that has as much to do with coaching (and Byron Scott’s lack of coaching) as anything, consider New Orleans’ simple screen/roll or double screen/roll gameplan. If an opponent takes away New Orleans’ screens (something Denver did exceptionally well last postseason, for example), what can Paul do but isolate, something he isn‘t exceptional at?

If Williams’ base offense is taken away, he knows how to get into other options, something Paul can’t do.

Defensively, Williams doesn’t get as many steals and doesn’t have the anticipatory skills that Paul has, but he’s a better screen defender, simply by the fact that he doesn’t give up on screens nearly as much as Paul does. He also gambles less, and is out of position less often.

You can’t go wrong with either stud, but the ability to finish, the mastery of a more diversified offense, and the fewer defensive mistakes give Williams a slight edge in my eyes.

2) Chris Paul—New Orleans Hornets

The best speed guard in the NBA, the best screen/roll player in the NBA, arguably the best point guard in the NBA, Paul’s game is a symphony of superlatives.

He has incredible natural talent—pure speed, agility, leaping ability, shiftiness, and strength despite a small frame. He has refined skills—wonderful court vision, a high basketball IQ, anticipation on both ends of the court, a perfect right-handed dribble with more trickery than a three-card-monty dealer.

He has total mastery of his team’s gameplan and excels in screen/roll situations.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?