Ranking the Eastern Conference Starting Point Guards, Who's Number One?

This past season the Eastern Conference finally caught up to the Western Conference in terms of point guard play. Though the West still holds a tad bit of an advantage in regards of better players, the East isn’t far off.

Now joining the fray, is Washington Wizards rookie, John Wall, he’ll quickly climb the ladder like some of last year leaders.

This past season saw the emergence of Rajon Rondo, as he became a bonafide All-Star.

Derrick Rose continued his tremendous growth from his rookie season, and he too was a All-Star.

Brandon Jennings exploded on the seen as a rookie and guided the Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs, only rookie in his class to do so.

Jameer Nelson bounced back from his shoulder injury, and was once again a top five Eastern point man.

Even Raymond Felton did a good job of guiding the Charlotte Bobcats to their first ever playoff berth.

Yes, things are looking up for the future of the point position in the Eastern Conference.

15. Lance Stephenson - Indiana Pacers - 6'5" and 210lbs (rookie)

Lance Stephenson is a second round draft pick in this past NBA draft. He was recently rewarded with a GUARANTEED contract, a foreign practice in regards to second round draft picks. The Indiana Pacers hadn’t given one to a second round pick since 2006.

Lance wasn’t regarded as a point guard entering college, let alone the NBA draft. But after a stellar showing in the Orlando Summer League, Stephenson has convinced the Pacers that he can play the position.

Stephenson averaged 14.8 points and shot 73 percent in four games of Summer League play. He guided the Pacers squad to a 3-1 mark.

Like most rookies, his jump shot needs a lot of work and so does his attention on defense. He lacks the speed and quickness of the elite point men in the NBA but he’s good at taking angles to limit his limited physical abilities.

He's basically an isolation player at this stage of his career and shouldn’t be expected to run an offense efficiently. His number one asset to the Pacers will be his ability to get in the paint and put up points.

With his size and aggressive nature, he should grow into a solid rebounder and help defender.

I’m eager to see what the young man can do, definitely one to watch this season.

14. Jose Calderon - Toronto Raptors - 6'3" and 210lbs (5 year pro)

Jose Calderon is coming off a season where he was forced to split time with Jarret Jack (who may start) because of his poor defensive abilities.

It’s odd that a player as fiery and as physically built as Calderon is, struggles to dig down and play solid defense. It really hurts his team because he’s one of the best shooters in the entire NBA and is extremely efficient at running a team’s offense.

The Raptors actually tried to trade him to the Charlotte Bobcats, but the deal never fail through. It’ll be interesting to see how long he remains in Toronto. A move to New York might be in the future, sooner than later.

13. D.J. Augustin - Charlotte Bobcats - 6'0" and 185lbs (2 year pro)

D.J. Augustin is set to become a NBA starter for the first time in his NBA career. This is largely due to the Charlotte Bobcats electing to not re-sign Raymond Felton.

After averaging 24 minutes per game as a rookie, Augustine saw his minutes drop to below 20 minutes per contest in his sophomore season. And his numbers suffered for it.

Highly regarded as a knock down shooter, regardless of where he’s at on the floor. The knock on Augustin has been his small stature and how it doesn’t coincide with the style of play that the Bobcats like to initiate.

Unless the team picks up another guy to start or split the minutes, Augustine is set to have a brake out season and make a bigger name for himself.

I expect him to average 14 plus points and 6 plus assist per game this season.

12. Mario Chalmers - Miami Heat - 6'1" and 190lbs (2 year pro)

Mario Chalmers is coming off a season where he was relegated to 22 starts after starting 82 games as a rookie for the Miami Heat. Not that his benching was warranted, because it clearly wasn’t, he found himself right alongside Dwyane Wade in the Heat backcourt in nearly every fourth quarter.

Never the less, that was then and this is now. Chalmers enters his third season with the distinction of being the Heat expected starter at the point position. The job is basically his to loose.

He should be more focused as a player this upcoming season, being that the Heat traded or elected to not re-sign all of his young teammates of a year ago.

Chalmers problems lie in two areas:

1. He struggles with ball pressure when bringing the ball up-court.

2. He isn’t often aggressive enough with his penetration.

If he can correct those issues, he can be a special player in this league.
Gifted with the ability to raise his level of play in pressure situations, Chalmers should excel this season with the media circus that will follow the Heat this up-coming season.

He is an underrated creator and distributor (two consecutive seasons he’s finished second to only Wade in assist.) He has a solid shooting stroke that should be much improved and is getting better at getting in the lane and finishing.

Great help defender and solid individually, if given enough minutes, he has the kind of ability to lead the league in steals per game.

This is a make or brake season for Chalmers, he will be a free-agent at the end of next season. It’ll be on him if he is a member of the Heat for the next half decade plus.

11. Mike Bibby - Atlanta Hawks - 6'2" and 195lbs (12 year pro)

Mike Bibby is entering the twilight of a once illustrious career. Still a part of a playoff team, his dreams of winning a title appear all but gone.

He is coming off his worst statistical showing of his NBA career and many believe that he may be in jeopardy of losing his starting spot to Jeff Teague (a rookie this past season.) Now will he, that’s entirely up to him.

He’s still solid at running a club and can knock down shots. His troubles lie in the fact that age and injuries have slowed him down. He struggles with beating his man off the dribble and can’t keep players in front of him on the defensive end.

I don’t think he’s starting come the All-Star brake if the Hawks aren’t a top four Eastern Team.

10. Rodney Stuckey - Detroit Pistons - 6'5" and 210lbs (3 year pro)

Rodney Stuckey is coming off a career year in which he averaged 17 points and 5 assist in 34 minutes of play. But it was on a losing club, so let’s keep that in perspective.

Physically gifted to be a stud on both ends of the floor, Stuckey problem lies in his decision making. He’s probably more suited to be a shooting guard in the NBA but his club has two players at the position who have averaged over 20 points in a season.

He is explosive and fast, and built like a miniature tank. Has the mean streak needed to go at whoever and a decent motor, yet he didn’t achieve what many folks believed he would. Does that make him a failure, of course not, but it does show that he has yet to live up to his potential as a player.

After a late season scare in which he collapsed and needed to be hospitalized, Stuckey will be expected to lead the young Pistons squad back to the playoffs.

It’ll be interesting to see if he can increase his scoring averages for the third straight season.

9. Raymond Felton - New York Knicks - 6'1" and 200lbs (5 year pro)

Raymond Felton had a very good offseason as a free agent. He got the pay day he wanted and he landed in an up-tempo system to better showcase his skill set.

This up coming season Felton will be playing for the New York Knicks, though some speculate that he could be on the move if the team can land Tony Parker or Chris Paul in a trade.

However, should he remain on the club, Felton could post the kinds of numbers that cause folks to consider him an All-Star depending on how well his club does this up-coming season.

He’s a solid defender and does a good job at getting in the lane to create primarily for himself but he is skilled at creating for his teammates as well.

It’s odd that he would leave a playoff team for one that will struggle to make it this up-coming season. Maybe he just wants a chance to display his talents on a bigger stage than the one in Charlotte. I’m sure not mad at him for his decision.

8. Jrue Holiday - Philidelphia 76ers - 6'4" and 185lbs (1 year pro)

Jrue Holiday came on strong late in his rookie campaign and surprised a lot of people not apart of the Philadelphia 76ers’ organization. He then carried that strong play over into this past Summer League where he dominated for the 76ers.

He will enter the season as the unquestioned starter at the point guard position.

He is an extremely gifted defender as well as long range shooter. He is an improving penetrator and distributor, and has solid size and underrated athleticism.

He’s going to shock a lot of NBA fans come next season, I expect him to out play many of stating point men this up-coming season.

7. John Wall - Washington Wizards - 6'4" and 198lbs (rookie)

I'll just say this...John Wall will not be the seventh ranked point guard in the East for long barring he doesn't get injured. The kid can flat out play.

Blessed with unbelievable speed, quickness, and athletic ability, plus he appears to have that it factor. It’s almost a guarantee that he will have a Hall of Fame career.

He absolutely dominated during the NBA Summer League and got better each game. He even had a positive effect on his soon to be starting center, as both averaged well over 18 point per game.

People should not be surprised if he has the Washington Wizards in a top ten finish at the end of the season, and though it’s a stretch, he and his teammates have enough talent to push for a playoff seed.

I expect him to challenge for the league lead in steals per game and he should average around 16 to 20 points this season.

He is defiantly a player to watch this season and will be one of the front runners for the Rookie of the Year award.

6. Brandon Jennings - Milwaukee Bucks - 6'1" and 171lbs (1 year pro)

Brandon Jennings is coming off a very successful season in which he was the only starting rookie point guard to guide a team to the playoffs. His success jolted him into heavy consideration for Rookie of the Year.

This season more will be expected of this young speedster who is blessed with elite quickness, speed, and explosive leaping abilities. He will be leading a very well balanced offensive unit and should take every advantage to try and lead the league in assist.

He’s a solid competitor but often makes questionable shot selections, but that’s often the case with young guys who are as gifted as him in scoring. His numbers should jump a bit because his back-up from a year ago (Luke Ridnour) is now in Minnesota.

Has solid NBA range, is a gifted passer, and is one of the best ball handlers in the league.

He was 3-1 versus derrick Rose and the Bulls last year, it’ll be interesting how he handles all the attention that is being given to the other guy and team in Illinois. He already sounds like he has a chip on his shoulder as is.

I expect him to have his Bucks challenging for atop four seed in the East this season!

5. Mo Williams - Cleveland Cavaliers - 6'1" and 190lbs (7 year pro)

Mo Williams can’t be a happy man in Cleveland. Two seasons ago he was traded to the organization with the aspirations of helping the team win a NBA Title.

Well two years later, the team’s best player has bolted to the Miami Heat organization and leaving Williams as the teams’ leader and possibly best player.

So now a new chapter in his life is shaping out to take place. Mo Williams will be pressed with the burden to prove to Cleveland fans that James didn’t make the best decision, and that he wasn’t void of teammates that could help him capture a title.

The scoring ability of Williams will be needed like never before in his career and he will be expected to raise every aspect of his game in order for the Cavs to return to the playoffs. I don’t see it happening, but Williams is a big enough competitor and talent that you don’t bet against him too often.

I expect an 18 point and seven assist per game season from Williams. However, I don’t see him leading the Cavaliers to the playoffs unless they can find a suitable starting small forward to replace James.

4. Devin Harris - New Jersey Nets - 6'3" and 195lbs (6 year pro)

Devin Harris is coming off a season in which he and his team regressed. He was a first time All-Star in the season of 2008-09 but injuries and a lack luster effort had him as anything but.

This will be a very important season for Harris, his organization has a new owner and a new coach who are extremely committed to creating a winning environment. If Harris wants to be apart of that and continue to be the franchise’s best player, he will have to set the tone early in the season.

I suggest his first duty be to correct his horrendous shot selection. He’s to gifted a penetrator to be shooting those three point attempts which he so often misses.

He also needs to be more of a facilitator of the offense and keeping his teammates involved on the offensive end. And finally, he needs to get back to being the defensive enforcer that he was in Dallas, he’s to long and talented not to be shutting guys down on the regular.

I expect all this talk about the other Eastern point guards to fuel Harris like the Dallas trade initially did. He’ll have a big season and the Nets won’t be at the bottom of the Eastern Conference like this past season.

3. Jameer Nelson - Orlando Magic - 5'11" and 200lbs (6 year pro)

You can’t look at the stats of Jameer Nelson and try to gauge his value as a player. You have to watch him play. One of the best floor generals in the game, he has quietly guided the Orlando Magic to three consecutive seasons as being a top three team in the East.

If there’s one knock on him, it’s his durability. He has only started more than 70 games once in his career, he needs to get himself in better shape.

He’s a clutch performer and arguably the best all around shooter of the starting 15 players in the East. If he isn’t number one, he’s surely no lower than number four.

The Magic will lean on him heavily this up-coming season as he’s had a full season to allow his shoulder injury to heal. I expect him to be a top performer once again.

2. Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls - 6'3" and 195lbs (2 year pro)

Most view Derrick Rose as the top rated point guard in the East and top five in the NBA, I on the other hand am not that high on the young man. His game and personality are easy to like, but that doesn’t take away from the many holes in his game.

He is extremely blessed physically, probably the most athletic point man in the NBA when you factor in all his abilities (though John Wall might beg to differ). He is said to be working on his three point shot this offseason but his fans should hope that he remains the attacking player that he’s been over his first two seasons.

Derrick needs to improve his defense, plain and simple. His man too often gets what he wants against Rose, which is not acceptable.

As the team leader and aspiring Olympian, Rose must improve his on ball defense, rebounding and ability to generate turnovers.

He also must do a better job at creating for teammates, there isn’t any reason why he shouldn’t have averaged better than 8 or more assist per game with how much time he spent on the floor.

I have no doubt that he will be a lock for the NBA All-Star game with his ever growing fan base. I just hope it is a selection that is warranted.

The young man is easily the most talented point man in the Eastern Conference, but that doesn’t mean that gives him a free pass to all the things he doesn’t do well yet.

He said he wants to be the man, well he got his wish. Lets see if he can raise his Bulls to the level that another Chicago native did for the Miami Heat in his third year as a pro...after all, people are already saying he's better than Wade(SMH.)

1. Rajon Rondo - Boston Celtics - 6'1" 180lbs (4 year pro)

Rajon Rondo’s climb to NBA success has been a gradual one, getting better each year. Now he stands as the most dominant player at the point position in the East.

Unlike most players at his position who generally dominate in one or two aspects of the game. Rondo can dominate in four or five aspects of a game, sometimes he does them all in the same game. It’s that ability which has him on the top of these rankings.

Rondo’s only weakness is his free-throw shooting and his lack of a consistent jumper. The rest of his game is of elite status and top five at his position.

He was rewarded with his first All-Star berth this past season and will be a lock for the next four or five seasons, he’s to good not to be. Factor that in with the fact that he’s led his team to two Final appearances in three seasons, and one can see why many consider him to be this generation version of Jason Kidd.

I expect Rondo to have a career season next year as he shoulders the bulk of the load for his Celtic club. He is arguably the best player on a top five team in the NBA, no other point guard in the East can say that.

Conclusion

So there you have it, Rajon Rondo sits atop this mountain of extremely talented and skilled point men. He can score on any of them and has the ability to contain all of them, it’s easy to see why he would be the number one choice.

The list is set to change as the season progresses as some players will rise and some will fall.

Rose and Rondo should be locks to make the All-Star roster and could be members on an ALL-NBA team.

John Wall and Devin Harris will push their clubs from the bottom of the Eastern sellars but will fall short of a playoff berth.

Mo Williams and Brandon Jennings will play with boulder sized chips on their shoulders this season.

D.J. Augustin and Jrue Holiday will become house hold names.

Never the less, the East is back to having some exciting play at the point position, as four teams best player may very well be their point guard.

I hoped you enjoyed the show. Thanks for the read and be sure to checkout some of my older articles.