Deron Williams or Chris Paul: Which Point Guard Would You Rather Have?
When discussing the NBA's top point guards the names most commonly mentioned are Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Derrick Rose, and Rajon Rondo.
Most observers would place Paul and Williams at the top of this list, because their games are more well-rounded, and they have arguably been the most dominant players at their position.
Rose, Nash and Rondo are all great point guards, but there are fundamental flaws in the make-up of their games which prevent them from occupying the same space as Paul and Williams.
Rose may be the strongest point guard in the league, and he has the quickness to get to the rim at will, and Rondo may be the NBA's best defensive point guard, but neither has a reliable jump shot from 15 feet.
Nash is probably the NBA's best offensive point guard, and he has great vision in the open court, but he also has the reputation as a poor defender, that has followed him throughout his career.
Paul and Williams exist on a higher tier than the previously mentioned players because they have all of the same strengths and fewer weaknesses.
There are merits for each as the NBA's top point guard, but if you had to make a decision, who would you choose?
Paul has averaged 19.3 points, 10 assists, and 2.4 steals over the course of his career, while Williams has averaged 16.7 points, 9 assists, and 3.1 rebounds during the course of his.
Paul is quicker than Williams and it could be argued that he has better vision in the open court as well, but Williams' physical advantages speaks volumes when comparing the two players.
Williams stands 6'3'' which is about three inches taller than Paul, and he is also stronger, and if there is one thing that has bothered Paul in his career, it's dealing with bigger, stronger opponents.
For instance, Paul was a leading candidate for the NBA's MVP award in 2008-09, and finished second only to Kobe Bryant, but in the 2009 playoffs Paul was demolished by Denver's Chauncey Billups.
Billups is 6'4'' and he used his strength and size to visibly frustrate Paul throughout the series, and his physical style of play was likely the difference in Denver's five game series victory.
It would be unfair to place all of the blame for New Orleans' loss to Denver on Paul's shoulders, but in order for the Hornets to be successful Paul needed to be spectacular, and Billups prevented that from happening.
In last season's playoffs Williams' Utah Jazz team was a decided underdog to Billups' Denver Nuggets until the series actually began.
Williams almost beat the Nuggets by himself as he averaged 25.8 points per game and 11.2 assists, while shooting 49 percent from the field and 48 percent from the three point line.
Billups' physical style didn't bother Williams as he led the Jazz to an unlikely upset, in what was arguably the most dominant first round performance by any point guard in last season's playoffs.
The fact that Williams succeeded where Paul failed doesn't prove that Williams is a better point guard, but it does highlight the one advantage Williams may have in the argument.
Most people consider Paul to be a superior defender due to the high number of steals he accumulates, but that is mostly due to his defensive instincts in the passing lanes.
Williams doesn't create as many turnovers but his man to man defense is superb, and while Paul is vulnerable in the post against bigger guards, Williams' size prevents that from happening.
Paul lost nearly half of last season to an injury so the two only met once in the regular season with Williams winning the head to head match-up in points and assists with 17 and 11 to Pauls' 12 and nine, but Paul's Hornets won the game.
Williams and Paul are equally matched in most categories and the debate as to who is the better player will likely never be solved.
It's hard to go wrong with either player, but if pressed to make a decision I would choose Williams due to his size and strength, and I would probably regret the choice each time I saw Paul play.
