Re-Ranking the NBA's Elite Point Guards at End of 2012-13 Season

The point guard position is easily the deepest in the NBA.

From floor generals who score first and pass later to unselfish savants who would forego an open layup in favor of dropping another dime, the Association is home to many different breeds of point guards.

There are guys like Chris Paul, who choose how they will play depending on the game. There are athletic freaks such as Russell Westbrook, whose superior explosiveness has distinguished them beyond reason. Then, you have the Stephen Curry-types, with releases so swift defenders don't have an adequate chance to react. And then there are the understated names, like Jeff Teague, who fly under the radar but run structured offensive sets to near perfection all the same.

Which of today's starting point men are considered the most elite? And which styles of play get the nod over others?

With the regular season essentially in the rear-view mirror, there's never been a better time to sift through the point-guard pool and redistribute the balance of power.

*Unless otherwise noted, all stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference, hoopdata.com and NBA.com.

Tier 6: How Many of Us Should Actually Be Starting?

Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings

Jeremy Lin, Houston Rockets

Mo Williams, Utah Jazz

Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat

Mike James, Dallas Mavericks

Yes, Thomas should be starting. He should have been starting all year.

Though extremely tiny, he's also very explosive. He gets to the rim like he's Nate Robinson, but shoots like he knows what is and what isn't a good shot. So, not like Robinson.

Playmaking is an issue with the 24-year-old, but he's only a sophomore. The passing instincts should come. Getting exploited on the defensive end by taller point men (in post-ups, specifically) is something he can't change.

I'm torn on whether or not Lin should be starting. He attacks the rim better than some of the players that will follow and he's able to find seams in the defense.

With that in mind, he also lacks so many of the tools to round out his game. His lateral quickness was never noteworthy and it's been even more off since he had surgery on a torn meniscus last spring. Lin hasn't developed a consistent jump shot either.

Is he bad? Absolutely not. He's just not meant to be elite.

I'd like to say Williams shouldn't be starting, but the Jazz really don't have any other choice. He can score, shoot the three ball efficiently and his assist totals have climbed above six this season.

Williams is a defensive disaster waiting to happen, though. He doesn't communicate well and is thrown off by the softest of screens.

Chalmers doesn't need to be an elite point guard. In fact, if he was, the Heat wouldn't necessarily be better off. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade need to dominate the ball, so if anything, we should commend Chalmers for his ability to play off it. I'll take his physical on-ball defense over most point men in the league, too.

He's not the playmaker his position suggests he should be, but again, that's because he doesn't need to be. 

To answer your question, no, James should not be starting for the Mavericks. For some reason, though, coach Rick Carlisle considers Darren Collison nothing more than a perennial backup. O.J. Mayo and Collison should start a "Down with Rick" club (kidding; Carlisle is a favorite of mine).

Save for the season Mike James averaged 20.3 points and 5.8 assists with the Toronto Raptors, he's never been known as a playmaker. He's a scorer first; more so than Collison. And his defensive intensity varies, especially at 37. It's also the reason why face-palming is now an epidemic.

Tier 5: Are We Good, Lucky or Just Plain Mediocre?

Raymond Felton, New York Knicks

Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns

Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic

George Hill, Indiana Pacers

I went back and forth on Felton, but he seems to be a good fit here. He can be as out of control as Kemba Walker once he gets into the paint, but he's nimble for someone as stocky as he is. New York has looked better on him than Portland, Denver and Charlotte ever did, and he doesn't receive enough credit for his pick-and-roll sets.

His knack for bouncing off screens instead of fighting through them isn't a desirable quality, but his unyielding desire to win (at least with the Knicks) is.

Every time I watch Dragic, I'm smitten by his handle and resourcefulness on the offensive end. He can score, dish and when he wants to, he can even play defense.

With that said, I'd like to see him lead the charge on at least a fringe-caliber team before building him up too much. That, or at least up the ante to 15 points and eight assists per game next season.

We'd like to fancy Lowry a star, but he needs to stay healthy for an entire season and prove that his numbers aren't as prone to fluctuating.

In terms of raw talent, though, I'm sold. He's strong for a point guard and uses it to his advantage on defense. When his work ethic and conditioning are up to snuff, he's quite the diligent playmaker as well.

Seven years into his NBA career, though, and we're still left looking for more.

I just commended Lowry for his strength, but Nelson might be the strongest floor general in the league. While undersized, he packs a nice athletic punch and slashes through traffic like a knife through butter. He always seems to rack up assists, but he's more of a scorer than anything. Yet his jump shot has remained erratic for nine years.

Hill isn't a conventional point guard by any means, but he's been exactly what the Pacers need.

By now, he knows when to dump the ball off down low or to Paul George and when to attack. He controls the flow of Indiana's oft-stagnant offense nicely and is scoring more than he ever has before.

What he lacks in playmaking ability he makes up for in perimeter defense. The fact that he's dwelling in Tier 5 is a testament to how deep the point guard crop is.

Tier 4: Hey, We're Here Too

Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers

Jose Calderon, Detroit Pistons

Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks

Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats

Greivis Vasquez, New Orleans Hornets

Say what you will, but I'll take Nash as my point man any game. Of course, I hail from the Big Apple where watchable point guards come around about as often as NBA championships, but still.

In the midst of an injury-riddled season, Nash flirted with his fifth 50/40/90 season. He'll fall short (that damn fake hip of his), but his four remain a league record. His ability to be a potent offensive force both on and off the ball separates him from most, and there's no one better at initiating the pick-and-roll.

Both his defense and his age make me sad, but he's still Steve Nash.

If Calderon isn't one of the most overlooked point guards ever, then he's incredibly close. He's a lethal shooter with exceptional court vision and ball control, and his leadership capabilities aren't to be underestimated either.

Calderon's defense leaves much to be desired since he's not as agile as some of his foes, but somehow, while playing for two lottery-bound aggregates in the Raptors and Pistons, he ranks eighth in win shares amongst all point guards. Enough said.

Like clockwork, Teague has improved his all-around game in each of his first three seasons. He threads the needle admirably while on the run and is deft at maintaining control in traffic. You've got to appreciate his hops around the rim, too. Maybe it's Josh Smith, or perhaps he has too many hands to feed in Atlanta, but I'd like to see Teague score even more as he continues to progress.

I'm not hating on Walker. He's managed to carve out a nice career early on despite being as undersized as Ty Lawson. His crossover has been as good as it was at UConn and his motor is relentless.

Still, I can't shake this D.J. Augustin feeling I'm getting. Though he's averaged near 18 points and six assists per game, I see him as being a good player on a really bad Bobcats team. His penchant for out-of-control isolation sets aren't helping sway me either.

I'm going to get killed for my assessment on Vasquez, but I stand by it. He's definitely good (his nine assists per game speak for themselves) and has done wonders for New Orleans' offense.

Yet he's not especially athletic or someone who can control the pace of a game. For a rebuilding team like the Hornets, he's a capable stop-gap, but he's not a player to build a winning franchise around.

Tier 3: We're Good, but We Could Be Better

Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets

Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies

Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks

Lawson has evolved into a top-notch floor manager. He makes quick and coherent decisions, is impossible to defend off the dribble and absolutely lethal in transition.

His three-point shooting has reached a new level as well. His percentage has declined, but he's now attempting more than three a game and hitting over 36 percent of them.

What truly hinders Lawson is his size. He forces a sufficient amount of steals, but when defending bigger guards, he gets killed on post-ups and screens. Still, he's a warrior.

Well, actually, he's a member of the Nuggets, but you get my point.

If you're not a fan of Mike Conley, you're not a proponent of stellar basketball. He's an understated playmaker with a tight handle. He can switch directions and hands on a whim. His defensive intensity is through the roof, but then again, he plays for the Grizzlies.

Conley has the potential to be a star, but I'm not sure if he feels the same way. He doesn't look for his shot enough, almost like he'll be waived if he averages more than 12 shot attempts per game.

Rubio can be elite. He's an incisive passer with great instincts and seemingly breaks down defenses before he crosses the timeline. He's got Chris Paul-like hands on defense, but he plays a bit far off his defenders, seemingly deeming it a necessary sacrifice to clog the passing lanes. But it's not (again, see Paul).

Rubio needs to add some lift, rotation and arc to his jump shot before he starts toiling with elite-level status. Like yesterday.

Raise your hand if you thought Lillard would be the runaway candidate for Rookie of the Year. Now, for those of you raising your hands, check your pants, because they're on fire.

Lillard was revered for his scoring at Weber State, much like he is at the NBA level. Few could have foreseen how well he has adjusted to running an offense, though. Ball control and reading first steps on defense are aspects of his game he needs to improve, but otherwise, all indications are that he's a star in the making.

I've said a whole lot of unflattering things about Jennings in the past, and rightfully so. To understand just how inefficient he is, consider that he makes Russell Westbrook look like one of the more accurate offensive players in the league.

Nevertheless, he can light up the scoreboard, and he's not a cursory passer. Perhaps if he switches locales this summer, he'll find himself with a team that can surround him with the talent necessary to succeed, help him adjust his attitude and allow him to leapfrog a tier or two.

Tier 2: The Team of Almosts

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

John Wall, Washington Wizards

Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers

Curry has played like a superstar this season. He's knocking down threes at a record pace, and although the Warriors are a much improved team, him staying healthy has made all the difference.

Aside from developing more of an awareness on the defensive end (rotations), I'd like to see Curry become more reliable as a distributor. He's been known to make some nice passes (those one-handed off-balance tosses are a thing of beauty), but the true offensive catalyst in Golden State is Jarrett Jack at the moment.

Deron has taken a step back this season. That he's still put up 19 points and nearly eight assists per game says a great deal about how talented he is. His play picked up considerably during the latter 20 games of the season, and his efficiency numbers trounce those of last year.

Until he plays with the same dominant consistency he did in Utah, however, he'll remain in Tier 2.

Kyrie Irving is another who appears destined to make the leap to the uppermost of echelons before long. He scores in bunches and gets to the rim with ease, and he's making much better decisions with the ball in his hands (usage rate is up, turnovers are down).

Save for having a slightly keener eye for distributional creativity, his health is an issue. He's missed at least 15 games in each of his first two seasons. Remaining healthy will be a vital part of his development moving forward.

Wall continues to prove us all wrong, as we've quickly come to the realization that he's most likely a max-contract player. His shooting percentages are up and the Washington Wizards have played .500 basketball with him in the lineup (24-24). Once he leads the Wizards back to the playoffs, he'll be taken even more seriously as a star.

The Philadelphia 76ers were difficult to watch this season, but I shudder to think how pathetic they would have been without Holiday.

Finally free from Andre Iguodala's shadow and forced to lead the Sixers in the wake of Andrew Bynum's not-so-surprising absence, he emerged as an All-Star. He's top five in assists per game and scores with such precision you just know a 20-plus point season isn't far off. The kid can defend both on and off the ball, too.

Tier 1: The Elite

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

Let's address the obvious first: Some of you are currently using Google Earth to find a satellite image of my home in an effort to hunt me down and toss expired dairy products at me, all because I included two injured players on this list.

While I understand, I pray you realize that Rose and Rondo are still two of the best in the business.

Despite appearing in just 38 games, Rondo has still positioned himself to qualify (minimum 420 total assists) and actually win the dimes-per-game crown.

His jumper still needs work, though. Some like to say it has improved, but he still shot 36.6 percent outside of nine feet this season. I could also do without the playground style of basketball at times, but he's still the most crafty passer in the league.

And am I the only one who's encouraged Rose is taking his time coming back? Something tells me that next season (if not during the playoffs), he's going to return to average somewhere between 20-25 points and seven to nine assists per game while also shooting (get this) better than 35 percent from beyond the arc.

At full strength, the former MVP rivals (if not exceeds) the explosiveness of every other point man in the league, Westbrook included.

Speaking of young Russell, not only is he a top-five point guard, but he's a top-10 star. He takes some unnecessary risks on defense, can be wildly inefficient and shoots more than Kevin Durant, but hey, whatever he's doing is working. The Oklahoma City Thunder sit atop the Western Conference.

Then there's Parker, who is still one of the most underrated players in the game. He's an efficient scorer and one of the best at drive and kicks. Parker isn't often (or not often enough) associated with the term "superstar," but as perhaps the most fundamentally sound floor general in the NBA, that's exactly what he is.

There's not much I care to say about Chris Paul, for fear of not doing him justice. Everything about him is just astounding.

If not for Rondo, he'd lead the NBA in assists, and if he wanted to, I fully believe he could average 30 points a game.

He doesn't receive enough credit for his defense, especially since joining the Los Angeles Clippers. He has quick hands and feet that allow him to force turnovers by the possession, and while the Clippers allow fewer points with him off the floor, he's often surrounded by lackluster defenders who are great shooters (see Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, etc.) because of how much he can create for them.

Paul is simply the best there is right now. There's no question about it.

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