NBA Power Rankings: Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo and Each Team's Slickest Disher
The level of talent in the NBA has always been a bit shocking for me, ever since I started watching as a small child.
Every year it seemed there would be more and more faces to watch for. A new seven-foot center on the block, a shooting guard that seemed to torch the opposition, a forward that couldn't miss the three-ball or a point man that seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. No matter how much I was impressed one year, it felt like the bar was raised as soon as the next season began.
Sometimes in the NBA a particular position gets a rather unusual surge in talent, as many prominent players of that position rise to stardom at nearly the same time. This always makes things fun to watch, as it truly brings the best out of each competitor, and you can see firsthand who the best of them is. Over the last two years or so, this has been the case for the point guard position.
Just a few short years ago, it appeared that Chris Paul and Deron Williams were in a class of their own. While they still reside in the top tier, they are no longer alone. Not even close for that matter. This league has seen an invasion of top-flight point guards, who seem determined to leave their stamp on the game of basketball. Now there are several guards who prove on a nightly basis that they deserve to be in the conversation of the slickest disher out there.
The following is a power rankings I have put together to give you a little insight on the league's best point guard assist men. It's not judged entirely on assists however, so anyone looking for that can simply check the assist leaderboard.
30. Kyle Lowry
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I know Rockets fans, no one likes to be in last. But wouldn't it be worse if he was actually starting material?
This is no knock on Lowry as a reserve, but more an observation that he would most likely not start on any other team in the league. He puts up fair numbers across the board as the team's starting guard, but I have to say that nothing really shocks nor amazes me. His shooting percentage is below average for a point guard at 43 percent, and his points per game is also no prize at 13.
With those kinds of numbers, you can't expect to be considered one of the top guards in the league. On a bright note for Kyle Lowry, his three-point percentage is holding well at 37 percent this season, and should he return to a reserve role someday, he will surely bolster that team's roster. Such is reality however, that someone does have to be last. The harsh fact of the NBA these days is that there really are that many point guards that are better than him.
29. Mario Chalmers
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Calm down folks, as this is the first case of stats not telling the entire story.
Kyle Lowry may have better season stats, but Mario Chalmers has has a heck of a tumultuous season of injuries and scarce playing time. The reason for me ranking Chalmers above Lowry is simple—he plays more like a true point guard.
While Lowry can instantly switch to a two-guard when needed to, Chalmers has more of a necessity to be the dish man on offense. It really comes down to the way each player is wired internally, and Chalmers comes out ahead in these rankings due to his nature of being the one position.
He can knock down the three-ball with the best of them, finds his teammates on the fly and is always operating on a pass-first basis. Odds are you won't see many behind the back showtime passes from Mario, and that's why he cannot possibly be ranked higher on this list of talented guards.
28. Rodney Stuckey
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Rodney Stuckey comes up next in these rankings, even though his assist total per game is a meager 4.3.
He plays for the Pistons folks. Who would you pass it to?
While Stuckey can't rack up the assists in bunches like guards on better-formed teams, he has proven himself to be a talented individual with the ball. Stuckey may be a shoot-first type of point guard so far in his career, but I have to wonder sometimes if that's only because he's played for Detroit. He may have been a lot more inclined to get the ball to his big three, or even dynamic duo...if he ever had one.
Still, Stuckey has shown a great deal of talent both shooting the ball and managing to make something out of nothing when it comes to the Pistons' offense. The fact of the matter is, I'm not sure if Steve Nash would average more than four assists on that team.
Okay, maybe he would.
The good thing for Stuckey is that the future looks bright for him if he can ever make it out of Detroit.
27. Luke Ridnour
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It hasn't been long since last season when Luke Ridnour made some noise to close out the 2010 campaign, but his production has slipped as of late.
Ridnour has proven that when he's healthy and motivated, he can turn some heads in this league. Unfortunately for him however, he suffers from a similar ailment as Stuckey. While Ridnour has Kevin Love and Michael Beasley to pass to, the well runs pretty dry after that. Add that to the fact that Ridnour is constantly fighting for minutes with Johnny Flynn, and it's no wonder his numbers are not wowing us.
The facts are that when he's on a roll, Ridnour can run the point as good as anyone on the second tier. He can be an excellent ball thief, he finds his team in transition and can score enough to remove the burden from the stars on occasion. If his minutes were increased and he had a star shooting guard to drop dimes to, my guess is he would be at least five spots higher on this list.
26. Derek Fisher
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Another case where the stats just aren't enough, is none other than the Iron Man, Derek Fisher.
Nothing on his stat sheet looks very impressive, yet he brings so much to the table that he becomes indispensable. You can't count on him to drop 10 dimes a night, or score 30, but what you can count on is that he will make big plays happen.
When it comes to shooting, he's never afraid to take the tough shot. He's knocked down so many buzzer-beaters and go-ahead buckets in his career that it's a task to keep up with. His unshakable confidence allows him to raise up over your best man, and have a great shot at bringing home the victory.
When it comes to the last-minute dime, Fisher is just as valuable. If he knows he doesn't have a shot, he's not going to force it. He's going to make the best possible play on the court to get the W, and never look back. You won't see many between-the-legs dimes from him in crunch time, but he's going to get the ball where it needs to go, and really that's all that matters.
25. Mike Conley
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If Mike Conley is one thing in this league, he's a man on the rise.
He was once branded as a mediocre guard who couldn't shoot well, but is now garnering more respect with every game he plays. From last year alone his shooting percentages are up, his three-ball is falling and he's averaging nearly seven assists per game.
The change in his game has to be coming from his new sense of confidence. When you watch Conley play these days, it's obvious that he's taking more pride in his game. There's no doubt that he sees what the other guards are doing in the league right now, and he wants to be a part of it.
To be perfectly honest, I wanted to rank Conley higher. There are just too many point guards on the upswing right now, and they have shown to be more consistent than Mr. Conley. The upside for Conley, is that he hasn't seemed to have reached his ceiling just yet. In the coming years he could easily see himself shoot further up this list of talented dishers.
24. Darren Collison
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After Chris Paul went down last year, basketball fans saw the rise of a new point guard in Darren Collison.
He did such a good job filling in for Paul, that he landed himself a job in Indiana as their starter the very next season. Since arriving in Indiana, Collison has found himself deep in the trenches of NBA life. His transition to being the starter on a regular basis didn't exactly go to plan. Everyone thought that he would put up the same amazing statistics as he did on the Hornets, but instead he hit a bit of a slump.
When all is said and done however, I think Collison is going to do just fine. His numbers have already rebounded since the start of the season, and it's becoming clear that all he needs in Indiana is a little bit of time. He has forward sensation Danny Granger, and budding big man Roy Hibbert in his corner there, and together they should do just fine.
23. Jose Calderon
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Part of me wants to rank Jose Calderon higher on the list, and part of me thinks that this is the exact right place for him.
This is because Calderon has proven himself to be somewhat of a talented anomaly in this league. He has shown that he can rack up the assists like anyone year after year, but his ability to do it on a consistent basis has been suspect, to say the least. This year alone he's averaging nearly nine assists per game, which is good enough to turn heads league-wide.
The problem with Calderon is, and always has been, consistency. This is mostly due to his injury-prone nature, and in my opinion, lack of focus at times. He's one of the only players in the league that can go out and get you 20 points and 15 assists one night, and then fall flat on his face for five points and three assists the next night.
The harsh reality in this league is that you can't have such drastic swings in production from your main guys if you expect to be winning. Still, even with his faults, Calderon has proven himself to be a very talented passer. He has the ability to explode for large assist totals on any given night, and that's certainly not something every guard can say.
22. Baron Davis
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If Calderon is an example of inconsistency, Baron Davis is the virtual model for it.
When Baron shows up, you almost never know what you can expect to get out of him. In his heyday he was an electrifying passer and shooter, with a deadly first step. When he's not so motivated however, the results have proven to be somewhat disastrous. This comes mostly from his dueling mind sets of if he should be a pass-first, or shoot-first guard.
While he was on the Warriors, the shoot-first mentality seemed to help both himself and the team thrive. On other squads, this hasn't proven to be the case. Lucky for Davis, he can be a dazzling dish man when he so chooses to be. When he's not thinking about getting his own shot off, he is very capable of creating highlight-worthy passes to the open man.
Baron may not be playing in Cleveland at the moment, but that too shall pass for him. What will make the biggest difference for Davis, is what he chooses to do next. When he does get some playing time in the near future, he's going to have his work cut out for him convincing people to give him a job next year.
In the end, Baron controls his own destiny. Which road he chooses to go down is entirely up to him.
21. Jameer Nelson
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While the stats may not dazzle the eye when it comes to Jameer Nelson, his play between the lines certainly can.
Nelson has the distinct advantage of playing with a finisher like Dwight Howard in Orlando, but that doesn't change the fact that some of the oops he tosses are flying works of art. He makes setting up his men look easy with his ability to get off passes in the blink of an eye, sometimes without even looking.
Jameer Nelson can certainly be classified as a shoot-first guard on some nights, but his team-player mentality keeps this condition from affecting him too much. At the end of the day, Nelson wants to make the right play happen for his team. When he's able to stay on the court and produce consistently, the Magic are equipped with one of the more talented point men in the league today.
20. Kirk Hinrich
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Kirk Hinrich has turned into somewhat of a journeyman in the last few years, but that's not because nobody wants him on the team.
The truth of the matter is, Kirk keeps finding himself on guard-heavy teams. Derrick Rose came along to kick him out of relevance on the Bulls, followed directly by John Wall superseding him almost immediately on the Wizards. Now Kirk finds himself on the Atlanta Hawks this season, and he's done well to fill in for the now-gone Mike Bibby.
Like Bibby, Hinrich is a point man who can score just as well as he can distribute. He has a knack for gauging what the team needs from him on a particular night, and he then adjusts his game accordingly. Hinrich is at his deadliest when he's knocking down his three-ball with consistency, and finding his men on the fast break. When he's firing on all cylinders, he's very capable of leading his team to victory with a combination of beautiful passes and knock-down shooting.
19. Andre Miller
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Andre Miller may be an eleven-year veteran as of this season, but don't write him off as "the old guy" just yet.
On a Portland team that has changed quite a bit this season, Miller has stayed put for good reason. At this point in time, there are not many guards that could run the Portland offense quite like Miller can. Averaging 13 points and seven assists this season, Andre Miller continues to prove that he can run the offense and lead the team to victory.
In terms of passing, Andre Miller is so under the radar it's ridiculous. No one ever talks about how he can connect the dots with the best of them, yet averaging seven assists per contest is not something you can do half-willed.
While you won't always see a flashy play from him on SportsCenter, he has an amazing knack for putting the ball right where it needs to be. While he's not the fastest guard out there, he is also able to run the fast break with precision, constantly setting up pretty alley-oops for his teammates.
Andre Miller may look for his shot more than the truest of point guards, but he is a team-player through and through. He remains a dangerous opponent even at his age, due to his ability to hurt you with every part of his well-rounded game.
18. Jrue Holiday
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Jrue Holiday finds himself climbing this list due to his stellar all-around play as a point guard.
Not only is he scoring and dropping dimes, but averaging just over four rebounds per contest as well. This budding young guard is also a natural ball thief at 1.5 steals per contest, and is shooting very well from the floor at just under 45 percent. What he lacks in range-shooting at the moment, he makes up for in speed.
The best part about Jrue's game, is that it's only begun to evolve. He's already shown great court vision on the offensive end of the floor, and his defense has a tremendous amount of potential if he can cut down on how much he gambles against his man. With youth on his side, Jrue's game will continue to grow exponentially with the experience he gains through the years.
The biggest thing to look for, is how hard he works on improving his long-range shooting, and if he can discipline himself into cutting down on the turnovers.
17. D.J. Augustin
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Another guard that people are starting to take notice of, is D.J. Augustin.
He's gone on streaks earlier this season that had some people starting to think we had another superstar in the making. While I would put those talks on hold for now, it's clear to me that Augustin has a bright future in the NBA. His stats this year have improved on his career totals in just about every category, all while Augustin arguably has no one to pass the ball to.
The weak parts of his game are his shooting percentages, which are low for a guard, and his assist totals. The assists will come in time (or with a better cast), but the shooting is what he will need to spend that extra time in the gym for. One thing is for sure, 42 percent from the field is not going to cut it at this level of competition.
I see a bright future for Augustin if he continues to develop his game at the rate he has this year. His game has many directions it can evolve in, if he only takes the time to make it happen.
16. Ty Lawson
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If speed kills in this league, then just call Ty Lawson "The Punisher."
Lawson seems to take advantage of guards on a nightly basis with his blistering speed and ability to switch his game into a different gear when it matters the most for his team. As far as stats go for him, his totals this year are greatly flawed through no fault of his own.
Chauncey Billups was traded to New York along with Carmelo Anthony at midseason, and Ty Lawson was then thrust into the role of starting guard. This change of lineup has proven to be dynamite for the Denver Nuggets, however, as they are red-hot since the All-Star Game. Lawson also benefits from his mindset as a willing passer. His three-ball range and jump shot overall continue to improve as time goes on, but Lawson has shown that he is willing to make the pass that is right for the team.
The future looks very bright for Lawson, as the Nuggets currently have one of the most under-the-radar teams in the league. They are young, deep, playing well together and have a dynamo for a point guard in young man Ty Lawson.
15. Mo Williams
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Mo Williams may be the first person to ever come to Clipperland, only to play better than he was playing on another team.
Williams has never been shy about shooting the ball, but his passing skills are definitely overlooked in this league. When he was on the Cavaliers he was never given much passing credit. This was mostly because of how much LeBron dominated the ball when he was on the court. Since Williams has gotten himself out of LeBron's shadow, he's done well in proving that he can run an offense efficiently.
This season he's averaging two more assists, and over a point more than his career average. He seems to be fitting in well with the Clippers' system, and he's letting his shooting and passing skills do the talking for him. He can hit you with the oop on the fast break, with his dagger short-corner three or with his cutting drive into the paint. With all of these weapons at his disposal, Williams will continue to be a dangerous guard in the coming years.
14. Devin Harris
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Devin Harris has had quite a change of scenery this year, while his game has also changed for the better.
In his seventh season in the league, Harris is currently setting career highs in points per game, and assists (15 and seven). His move to Utah may have been a little unexpected, but it hasn't seemed to have hampered his ability to run an offense on the Utah Jazz. Suddenly, he finds himself with more people to pass to, which has to lead to more confidence in his own offensive game.
Harris also has the luxury of being one of the quicker guards in the league today. It's often difficult for his man to stay in front of him on offense, and that allows Devin to punish him either with his playmaking skills, or his amazing ability to finish at the rim in traffic.
He's going to need to stay put for a while if he wants to see his game continue to improve, but at 28 he still has a good window of time left in the NBA.
13. Brandon Jennings
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I don't like to rank players based on potential very often, but that's the case when it comes to Bucks guard Brandon Jennings.
He's currently averaging nearly 16 points and five assists per game, but is doing so on some far-below-average shooting percentages. He's only shooting 38 percent from the field, 32 percent from the arc and 78 percent from the line. These are unacceptable shooting clips for a star point guard, and these numbers must drastically change for Jennings to make the leap into the next tier of guards.
The reason he's ranked so high is because of how much he's shown us he can do already. He's proven he can explode in the points, assists and steals category. He's also shown us clinics on speed, quickness and finishing at the rim in traffic.
I'm a firm believer that Brandon is simply a victim of the "sophomore slump" right now, and that in the coming years, his percentages will even out as he continues to improve his shot. Most players, no matter how talented, hit a wall at some point in their career, and this is Jennings's.
Look for Brandon to improve across the board in his shooting over the next two seasons, and cut down on his turnover rate. When he's able to do that, his game will go from threatening, to realised danger.
12. Tyreke Evans
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No offense to Beno Udrih, but Tyreke Evans is the table-setter in Sacramento.
No matter how much time Tyreke spends at the 2-guard position, he still plays like a combo guard to me. Evans is most certainly a shoot-first player, even when he's at the 1-guard position. That, however, hasn't stopped him from being the team's assist leader again this year at nearly six per game.
What makes Tyreke such a force in the backcourt, is his immense versatility on both ends. He can score in bunches whenever his number is called, dish out sweet dimes to his cutting teammates, create extra possessions with key steals and even clean the glass better than most small forwards. His strength is also a valuable asset to his game, as he's constantly able to muscle his way through the lane to the cup.
In the end he's going to need to decide which position he's going to stick with in order to maximize his game. For now, he's known by all as the best point guard on the Sacramento Kings, and one of the best young guard talents in the league.
11. Chauncey Billups
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What can I tell you today that you don't already know about Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups?
The first thing I'll tell you is that he's the same player he's always been. He is still the same veteran presence that can run a half court offense to perfection, and hit some of the biggest shots when the game is on the line.
Recently he was traded, along with superstar friend Carmelo Anthony, to the New York Knicks and has experienced a little bit of trouble adjusting his game. This is mostly due to the fact that D'Antoni's offensive scheme really calls for a younger and faster point guard. That being said, Chauncey continues to produce for the Knicks while he's on the court, and will only get better the longer he's in the system.
Chauncey's greatest assets as a player are his ability to keep calm under pressure and his knack for hitting big game shots. These attributes elevate him over the average guard, as you can trust that he will make the right play in order to take home the W.
I look for Billups to continue to be a relevant guard for the next few years, even at his age. His experience, clutch factor and heart will ensure him a job in this league until he decides to call it quits.
10. John Wall
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John Wall has come into this league all guns blazing, and that's how he's managed to crack the top 10 guards currently in the NBA.
As a rookie he's averaging 16 points, nine assists and nearly two steals per game. Think about how amazing that is for a first-year point guard, and then remember that he plays for the Washington Wizards. No offense to the Wiz kids out there, but it must take a supernatural passing ability to drop nine dimes a game with the kind of cast he has around him.
On top of what's already been mentioned, I haven't even gotten to his incredible speed yet. Have you ever seen this guy on the fast break? It's not your fault if you haven't, because the dude is a blur out there. He can get going so fast some times that I can see opposing players not even want to go chase him down.
His glaring weaknesses at the moment are his shooting percentages and his high turnover rate. His shot is already showing signs of improvement as the season moves along, but the turnover issue needs to be addressed. I'll give him a pass on both transgressions for the moment, however, as he's still just a rookie. If Wall makes it a point to spend extra time in the gym on his shot, he will quickly become one of the best point guards in the league.
9. Jason Kidd
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Another year in the books and another year of Jason Kidd dropping jaws with his Houdini-like passes.
When it comes to Jason Kidd, there is really no point in talking about statistics. We all know what he can do on any given night, and let me assure you that he has not lost his touch. Jason Kidd is one of the most rare forms of point guards that literally seem to have eyes in the back of their heads.
No matter what team he's playing for, or what system he's playing in, he's going to learn where his teammates will be so well that the pass will arrive before they can even get there. Kidd has also put in the work over the years on his shooting touch, and it has paid dividends for both him and the team that he plays for. Now, he's not only a threat to put the ball anywhere he wants on the floor, but also for putting the ball in from long-range with great accuracy.
Kidd does continue to age as all humans do, but his game ages like a fine wine. He will continue to thread the needle and drop bombs from outside the arc until he decides to hang up the sneakers.
8. Tony Parker
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The Spurs are on their way to claiming the top spot in the Western Conference this year, and a great deal of it is thanks to the stellar play of point guard Tony Parker.
Now a seasoned veteran in this league, Parker continues to surprise people with how well he complements the Spurs organization. He fit the mold perfectly when it was strictly a half-court offense in their title-winning days, and is now thriving in a much more up-tempo style that Greg Popovich enacted just this season.
Tony Parker's greatest skill as a passer is his crafty style of play. He must do his homework before going into games, because he uses every trick in the book to exploit their weaknesses. He knows when to kill them with the passing game, and he also knows when he needs to be aggressive offensively to get the job done. Another reason Parker is one of the league's top guards is his ability to get to the rim whenever he wants.
He's got every move in the book down when it comes to driving the lane, and will burn opposing teams that don't have the personnel to guard him. While Parker has never been known to explode in any category, he has been known to contribute in every category on a consistent basis.
7. Stephen Curry
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"Baby" Steph Curry may not be fully evolved in terms of dishing the basketball yet, but the main reason his stats are lacking in this department is Monta Ellis.
Since Ellis has a strong love for the isolation game and spends a good amount of time dominating the ball, I can see how it could be tough racking up the dimes if you're Curry. This aside, Curry has already shown us in his young career than he can find his teammates on the fast break, and virtually burn people's houses down on the offensive end.
Curry is currently shooting 93 percent from the stripe, 43 percent from the arc and 47 percent from the field. Think about those numbers. This kid is in his second year. Add these numbers to his blistering speed, ability to change speeds on a dime and his great court vision for this stage of his career, and you have some truly scary potential. His game is transforming at an incredible rate already, and if he were in another system, he would most certainly be averaging upward of eight assists per game to go along with his incredible offense.
If he stays in Golden State he will never be an assist leader in the NBA, but he will continue to become one of the deadliest guards in the league either way.
6. Russell Westbrook
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In his third season in the NBA, Russell Westbrook has elevated his status from "on the rise" to "star player."
He's gotten to the point where I can no longer label him the "Robin" to Durant's "Batman." He's averaging over 22 points and eight assists per game this season alone, and his shooting numbers are just starting to improve. He seems to fit like a glove in the Oklahoma system. He trusts his teammates, does well to find the open man on the break and knows when his team needs him to step up and take over on the offensive end.
His strength is the source of his power on the offensive end, as he bullies his way through the lane at will. He's also doing a much better job this year at creating contact when he goes to the cup. As his free throw attempts per game continue to rise, so will his efficiency.
With all this is mind, let's not forget how young Russell is. There are many areas of his game that will continue to improve over the next five years, and Westbrook will have a chance of being a top-three guard in this league for the rest of his career.
5. Steve Nash
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The Suns are finally setting in Phoenix this year, but Steve Nash is going down swinging.
Nash has always been known as one of the best passing point guards of his time (or any), and for good reason. He's been able to accomplish this title due to his sixth basketball sense of always knowing where his teammates will be on the floor. I don't care how hard you work, you have to be born with what Nash has in order to play the game like he does.
He does flip passes, behind the back passes, no-look alley-oop passes, between the legs (of the opponent) passes and hundreds more that anyone could list. He's the one passer who I believe out-finesses himself on a nightly basis. Even if he's never tried a certain pass from a new angle, you just know it's going to hit the mark. It's like he doesn't know how to fail in that respect.
Add this to his assassin-like shooting game, and you have one monster of a point guard. He shoots so efficiently, drops dimes like Kanye West and scores virtually at will when it's needed, that he must be in the conversation of best point guard in the game until he retires.
4. Derrick Rose
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Whether you already know it, or you are waiting it out for the official decree, Derrick Rose is this year's Most Valuable Player.
Rose is averaging 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds per game this season, all career highs for the third-year man. He is also shooting a career-high 85 percent from the stripe. With all of these career highs, and a defensive scheme that won't quit, the Chicago Bulls have the best record in the Eastern Conference for the first time since Michael Jordan.
When it comes to Rose, he can bury you whichever way you choose. He likes getting all of his teammates open looks just as much as he likes burning the house down with slashing dunks and jump shots. His basketball I.Q. is already so far advanced for his experience level that it blows me away on a nightly basis. Add this to his new found love of creating contact in the lane, and you have one deadly weapon on your hands.
Rose is at the top of the NBA this year, and he hasn't even reached the top of his game yet. My advice to others is beware of the Rose, for he has many thorns waiting for you.
3. Deron Williams
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Now just across the pond from New York City, Deron Williams begins a new chapter in his already amazingly impressive career.
Make no bones about it, William's strength is in fact his strength. He may be quick, and he's certainly smart, but it's his strength and size that allows him to abusive the defense at will, and it's what will continue to allow him to stay on top.
Williams has proven again and again that he can average 20-plus and 10-plus per game, and you can bet it's going to stay that way for a while. He possesses incredible court vision, and the love of setting someone up over himself in getting the shot attempt. Above everything else, he just flat-out wants to win. He plays with that desire and passion every night, and that, in the end, is what separates the people who win titles and the people who always seem to fall short.
Williams has many years left in his prime still, and will command top-level respect for as long as he can pick up a basketball.
2. Rajon Rondo
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Don't fall asleep when this man is directing traffic against you, or he's going to torch you every time.
Rajon Rondo started out as a good passer in this league, but what he's evolved into is something that basketball dreams are made of. Even with all the weapons he has available to him on his team, one has to be impressed with the passion and beautiful style that he executes with.
When it comes to his strengths, court vision, blinding quickness and rebounding come to mind. Not since the days of Magic Johnson have I seen such wonderful wrap-around no-look passes, but Rondo calls nights where he does so "Tuesday."
Along with this, he has become one with the minds of his teammates. He knows where and when they are going before they do, and this allows him to rack up assists quicker than most.
Did I mention that he's also a world-class ball thief? Only Chris Paul bests him in this category, as no pass or dribble is safe around Rajon. Once he's taken it from you, just forget it. The points have already been scored. just like with Rose, Rondo still has not reached his full potential yet. If he can learn to score the ball efficiently enough on his own, there's not a guard in the league that would be able to stop him.
1. Chris Paul
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The No. 1 slick dish man in the league today is still none other than Chris Paul.
Talk about an overwhelmingly complete package. What exactly can't he do?
Averaging 16 points, nine assists and 2.5 steals per game, this man is a one-man wrecking crew. He also rebounds above-average for a guard at four per contest. When it comes to a weakness, Paul doesn't have one. No really, he doesn't.
He shoots at 47 percent from the field, 40 percent from the arc and 89 percent from the stripe. His three-ball was once a small liability in his game, but he has since rectified that in a big way. He does all this and more with his blur-like speed, his unmatched quickness and with his unparalleled court vision.
Not only can he put the ball anywhere on the floor that he wants it, he does it however he wants to also. There is no pass out of his skill range, no target too hard to reach and no moment too big for him to perform within.
His team may be floundering a bit with the loss of David West, but make no mistake about the fact that Chris Paul is the best point guard in the National Basketball Association.
