Right on Point: Power Ranking the NBA's Starting Floor Generals
It's a daunting task to try and dissect and evaluate every starter at a certain position, and then rank them from 1-30, the task then elevates to near impossible status.
Some players have started the entire season, and some have just recently taken over the reigns. Some have even just changed teams.
Current starters were decided on using ESPN.com depth charts, and then evaluated on offensive statistics, leadership, defense, and impact to their team.
Enjoy!
30. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves
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There is little to get excited about when talking about the Timberwolves. Jonny Flynn and Kevin Love, that's about it.
Jonny Flynn is a great talent, there is no doubt about that. Despite his ability, he was tough to place on this list.
He's only started eight games for the Timberwolves this season, but has recently stepped in and given the them decent production.
Flynn is averaging 9.3 points and 4.0 assists per game in 26.9 minutes in the month of February.
29. Tracy McGrady, Detroit Pistons
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Does anyone else think it's weird to see Tracy McGrady on a list ranking the leagues point guards? Well, the fact is the Pistons have been giving McGrady more of a facilitating role, starting games at the point and settling Rodney Stuckey into the role of two-guard.
He isn't much of a defender at this point, and even tho he's been given the title of point guard, you'll never see him guarding an opponents ball handler.
McGrady is averaging 8.3 points and 3.3 assists per game in 23.3 minutes on the season.
The days of Tracy McGrady are near over in this league, and this is starting to look like his last gasp.
28. Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
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I'm not attributing any of the success of the Miami Heat to whom ever is claiming the official title of 'point guard'. That person right now is Mario Chalmers.
Chalmers retained his job as starter 40 games into this season after Carlos Arroyo was under performing. And to be honest, Chalmers isn't doing much better.
In 14 starts this year Mario is averaging a mere 2.9 assists and 7.0 points per game. He does play decent defense, and brings the ball up for one of the Eastern Conference favorites. I guess we can give him credit for that.
27. Kyle Lowry, Houston Rockets
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Kyle Lowry is another example of a player who has come into his own while filling in for an injured teammate. Lowry took over for Aaron Brooks in November and hasn't given back the job, starting a total of 49 games on the season.
In those games Lowry has played very well, averaging 12.5 points and 6.6 assists per game.
Unfortunately, the Rockets haven't been all that good this year. They're a mere 26-31 on the season, and currently holding down the 12th spot in the Western Conference.
Kyle Lowry will be a player to look out for in the coming years.
26. Ramon Sessions, Cleveland Cavaliers
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I think everybody remembers Ramon Sessions for one thing: putting up 32 points and eight assists in Cleveland's monumental upset of the Lakers.
The numbers would indicate that Sessions is actually putting together a fine resume for potential future employers. In 21 games as the starter he is scoring 14.2 points and dishing out 6.5 assists per game. He is also known as a very formidable defender.
Cleveland doesn't look like they're going to get over this post-LeBron hangover anytime soon, so don't be surprised to see a young talent like Sessions jump ship while he has the chance.
25. Beno Udrih, Sacramento Kings
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Sacramento is bad. Tyreke Evans has had injuries. Oh, and Beno Udrih has actually put up decent numbers. Unfortunately, it's tough to rank him any higher because of his team's lack of success.
As a starter (41 games), Udrih is averaging over 14 points and almost five assists per game. He plays good defense as well, averaging about a steal and a half per game.
Beno is one of the lesser known point guards in the league and that is mainly because of where he plays. It's a shame, because this guy is a solid talent.
24. Mike Bibby, Atlanta Hawks
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Many people are going to read this and be scratching their heads at why a player like Mike Bibby is ranked so low. Well, it's because this list is more than just who's the biggest name.
Look at the numbers, Mike Bibby is having a bad year. His minutes are down, so are his points, assists, rebounds, and steals. I think it's safe to say that his age is starting to catch up with him.
He still is a good NBA point guard, and barely turns the ball over.
I'm just not sure that he has enough left in the tank to lead the Hawks anywhere in the post-season, let alone keep up for the rest of the regular season with New York's new additions.
23. D.J. Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats
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D.J. Augustin has matched almost every expectation in his first full year as a starter. He even has his Bobcats lurking in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
He's very good at taking care of the basketball and also almost always makes the correct pass. He averages over 14 points and 6 assists in 33.4 minutes per game.
Keep an eye out for this kid in the future, he's part of a list of up-and-coming young, talented, and driven point guards.
22. Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks
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So many question marks surround young Brandon Jennings. Here are a few: attitude, durability, and strength. There is one thing that is well-known and that is he can flat out score the rock.
His leadership and decision making on the court needs to be improved but that will come with age. On the flip side, there is no denying this kids talent.
I'm not completely sold on him but if he can stay healthy throughout the second half of the season, he could lead the Bucks on a surge to grab the eighth and final Eastern playoff spot.
If not, the Bucks will be one of the seasons more disappointing teams.
21. Darren Collison, Indiana Pacers
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Remember that list I was talking about - the one about young, up and coming point guards, add Collison to that list.
He played very nicely for New Orleans, backing up Chris Paul during his rookie year but since he was given the starting nod for the Pacers, he's really blossomed.
With that being said, Collison averages 13.6 points and 5.1 assists per game but what is most impressive is the poise he shows for only being 23 years old.
Young stud. Check.
20. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies are on the rise, and much of that is to the credit of Mike Conley. With O.J. Mayo getting injured and serving suspensions, along with Rudy Gay getting injured, Conley has showed an incredible amount of leadership and toughness.
His numbers aren't too shabby either: 13.7 points and 6.6 assists per game, coupled with his almost two steals per game on the defensive end.
The Grizzlies have a very bright future, and are mere percentage points behind Utah for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. A spot Conley will hope to lead his team to.
19. Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lakers
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Statistics and numbers do this guy zero justice, so for his sake, I'm going to leave them out of this section.
Derek Fisher is a 'mans' point guard, the guy who does everything without getting any credit, and Mr. Dirty-Work all rolled up into one compact, tough basketball player.
The justification for him being so low on this list is because of the transition to the quick and athletic game point guards must posses this day in age.
With that said, there is no substitute for heart, leadership, toughness, and experience come playoff time.
18. Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers
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Once again, back to that list I was talking about. Jrue Holiday is a flat out stud, and I'm not just over-hyping him to justify my modest ranking. This guy is the real deal.
Much of the 76ers surprise success this season is because of their young nucleus of talent, led by Holiday.
He is putting up solid numbers on the season: 13.8 points and 6.2 assists per game in 34.9 minutes.
Couple that with the fact that he has his team in the playoff picture at the all-star break, and you have yourself one impressive twenty-year-old.
17. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
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I'm going to come out and say it: Jose Calderon is the most underrated point guard in the NBA. Strong words for someone that you've probably rarely heard of.
Here are some other stats that you probably haven't realized: his APG (9.0) is good for fifth best in the league, and his AST/TO (4.18) is the best in the NBA.
Simply said, Calderon is one of the smartest point guards we have on the court today, it's just a shame that he plays above the border on such a talented yet inexperienced Toronto squad; squad he'll hope to finish the season strong with.
16. John Wall, Washington Wizards
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Here's another guy that you can add to your "Young Point Guards" list.
John Wall is the most electrifying rookie, not named Blake Griffin. Just look at Wall's stats in his rookie campaign: 15.1 points and 9.1 assists per game, as a rookie!
Although he is one of the most exciting players in the league, this is a point guard only list. In terms of being a point guard, he still has room to grow, and that's why he is sitting at the middle of the pack right now.
All he needs to do is stay healthy, and hope the Wizards can develop some help for him.
15. Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets
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There is a reason that this guy was in trade talks for Carmelo Anthony. It's because he is that good.
Devin has been one of the most poised and composed floor generals since his days in Dallas, and now at age 27, he's turned into one of the great point guards in the league.
He's averaging 15.0 points and 7.6 assists per game playing for lowly New Jersey.
Is there any way to even fathom how good he might have been if he would of continued to play with Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler?
14. Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers
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Another person who has graciously enjoyed the 'Blake Griffin effect' this season. Ever stop and think how Blake Griffin is continually throwing down these emphatic alley-oops? Answer: It's because Baron Davis is throwing them.
Davis has been the true floor leader on this youthful Clippers squad, who after a slow start, are experiencing a nice little surge into the playoff talks.
B. Diddy, as he likes to be called, is back from an early season injury and looking to improve upon his 7.0 assists per game, and lead his team toward a playoff push in the spring.
13. Stephen Curry, Golden St. Warriors
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Stephen Curry aka "The Baby-Faced Assassin" is my fifth addition to the ever-growing young point guards list.
The 22-year-old point guard had himself a fine first half of the season, averaging 18-plus points and 6-plus assists for the Warriors.
We all know his skill as a shooter, but Stephen has a basketball-IQ that is through the roof and mostly unprecedented for a kid of his age.
While the team probably won't make the playoffs this season, the future looks bright for Stephen and the Warriors.
12. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
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Man, can this guy still ball or what?
Jason Kidd is now 37 years old and just when you think he's going to slow down, he completely surprises you. After Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler went down for the Mavericks, the aging Kidd seemed to hold the team together and not let things get too out of hand. A true testament to his leadership and presence in the locker room.
Although his numbers have taken slight hits, Kidd is still an elite point guard in this league and has his Mavericks sitting in second in the West with a 40-16 record.
11. Raymond Felton, Denver Nuggets
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If you didn't hear, Raymond Felton is now part of the Denver Nuggets as part of the Knicks-Nuggets-Timberwolves blockbuster trade for Carmelo Anthony.
With that said, Raymond Felton produced extremely nicely for the Knicks in the first half of the season, and I expect that same level of production to remain with the Nuggets.
With numbers that spell 17.1 points and 9.0 assists per game, it is safe to say that Felton will be a strong candidate for the Most Improved Player award at the end of the season.
10. Chauncey Billups, New York Knicks
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Alright, here we go, the top 10.
Again, if you didn't hear, Chauncey Billups is now a member of the New York Knicks.
Many people may be asking why I have Billups this high on this list at this age, and the answer is simple. He has three really important things at his disposal: championship experience, a sure-fire three-point shot, and Carmelo Anthony/Amar'e Stoudemire.
"Mr. Big Shot" is a ruthless defender, and one of the best competitors in the sport.
He deserves to be in the top 10.
9. Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic
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Jameer Nelson flat-out just knows how to play the game of basketball, and he does it the right way.
Now while he's never been one to fill up the stat sheet, Jameer is one of the best offensive executors in the Eastern Conference. (Even when executing is easy with Superman on your team).
He's also another point guard with fine playoff credentials. The Magic have been in the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row now, and with the depth and talent they have there is no reason they can't do it again.
Much of it will rely on how well Jameer Nelson performs in the second half of the season.
8. Andre Miller, Portland Trailblazers
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This is my "I have my readers scratching their heads ranking", but the truth is, Andre Miller may even deserve a higher rank than this.
Look at what the guys done. It's simply amazing because no one has done more with less options than Miller this season. He's lost Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla and the team's best player, Brandon Roy for most of the season.
Throughout all of this, he's guided this Portland team to a 32-24 record, and put up great numbers in the process (13.2 PPG, 7.4 APG).
Who would of thought that the league's peskiest player would also be one of the most reliable.
7. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
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Tony Parker is the leader of the team with the best record in the NBA, the Spurs, who are currently sitting at 46-10.
Instead of saying all of the things that this guy does so well, it's almost easier to recite the things he can't do. And even then it's hard to pinpoint something!
While this may be one of the Spurs final cracks at another title, the pressure sure isn't stopping Tony from putting up great numbers. He is averaging 17.4 points and 6.7 assists per game in 32.6 minutes.
6. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Russell Westbrook is one of the most exciting young point guards in the NBA today. His rare combination of size, strength, and athleticism make him one of the leagues elite floor generals.
Russell is averaging 22.2 points per game, along with 8.6 assists, numbers that are well above his career averages in both categories. He is one of the premier defensive guards in the NBA and uses his long arms, and quick first step to start fast breaks and get the Thunder easy buckets.
The Thunder are experiencing the best season as a team since their inception in 2008-2009, and much of that is attributed to their rising young point guard, Russell Westbrook.
5. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
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Schoolyard Steve has been a mainstay on every list regarding point guards since I can remember, and he is barely hanging on to the five spot here. Which is saying something in itself about how truly good this guy is.
There is no questioning the talent and drive that Steve Nash possesses, but he is 37 years old, and it is time that he drop from his perch at number one. (But really 1-5 are pretty much the same anyways).
Now, although the two-time MVP continues to age, his number don't really reflect it. He's actually up slightly in points (16.8) and assists (11.3) from a season ago, making him one of two players this season to average a double-double.
The jury is still out on whether or not the Suns will make the playoffs, but we hope they do, just to see this guy play as much basketball as possible.
4. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
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A slide ago I mentioned that Steve Nash was one of two players who are currently averaging a double-double. Well, Rajon Rondo is the second player.
Although Rondo has been hampered by an array of injuries this season, he quietly is putting together one of his finer years. Along with being the leagues premier thief (2.4 SPG), he is averaging a league-leading 12.2 assists per game.
Boston currently holds the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and like the Spurs, may be making a final effort for a title. If they hope to return, the stellar play of Rajon Rondo will be a huge factor in the coming months.
3. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
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Ranking these next three guys was one of the hardest things I've done in a long time.
Deron Williams is a beast, and when I say beast, I'm talking about his size. At 6'3" 210 lbs, he is not the size of your run of the mill point guard, which makes it all the more impressive at how good he actually is.
Williams is basically a double-double machine (27), and is basically averaging one on the season (21.6 PPG and 9.7 APG).
Utah is currently clinging onto the eighth spot in the West with a 31-26 record. After the resignation of Coach Jerry Sloan, it will be up to Deron Williams and crew to lead the Jazz back to another postseason.
2. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
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Here's my bold prediction for the second half of the season: the Bulls end up with the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, and Derrick Rose wins MVP in the process.
Derrick Rose is the most loved player in Chicago since His Airness, and for good reason. He's humble, he's beyond athletic, he plays his hardest every game, and he's a hometown boy.
Rose's statistics are staggering, and usually not seen by point guards. He is averaging 24.9 points and 8.2 assists per game.
Every time he takes the ball to the rim you can expect to see something absolutely spectacular, and with his improved three-point shot, he is even that much harder to defend.
When the Bulls get fully healthy, it is going to be scary how good Rose and Company will be down the back stretch of the season.
1. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
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And the cake goes to CP3!
Now I said earlier that Derrick Rose was the best player in the NBA right now, but without a doubt, Chris Paul is the league's best point guard.
Paul is top 10 in the league in the following categories: assists per game, free-throw percentage, three-point percentage, steals per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, and double-doubles. All of those are numbers that are simply mind-boggling due to the fact that he goes out and plays tough night-in and night-out.
The Hornets are experiencing a very good season with the leagues best shot-caller, a 33-25 record has them sitting at sixth in the menacing Western Conference.
At only 25 years old, Chris Paul will end up going down as one of the best and smartest point guards the NBA has ever seen.
