NBA Playoffs 2011: Power Ranking Derrick Rose and Each Team's Point Guard
The common theory among NBA executives, coaches and fans alike is that big men win championships. Looking back at the last four championship PGs, it's hard to argue. Since Chauncey Billups' Pistons won in 2004, the PGs for championship teams have been Tony Parker (twice), Jason Williams, first-year starter Rajon Rondo and Derek Fisher (twice). While all solid, reliable players, these little men were clearly less important to their teams than Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol.
So what does a ranking of the playoff PGs tell us about any teams chance at a title?
This is the era of the point guard. With so many great young floor generals in the game today who can pass, shoot, finish, defend and even rebound, the position is quickly gaining value. Guys like Jason Williams wouldn't survive against the new generation.
Here's a look at the 2011 playoff PG field.
The Guys Who Can't Cut It
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16. Kirk Hinrich, ATL
While Hinrich provides a decent defensive presence, his offensive game barely approaches caliber of a normal NBA starter. He is nowhere near playoff caliber. Since arriving in Atlanta, he has produced only 3.3 APG and turns the ball over 1.5 times. His scoring average is 8.5, which wouldn't be terrible he were a pass-first PG. In reality, his low scoring average is a result of his 43-percent shooting. Despite his 6-4 frame, he's a non-factor on the glass (2.3 RPG).
15. Mike Bibby, MIA
Bibby is a small PG who other guards consistently exploit defensively. Potentially going up against guys like Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo this postseason, Bibby will likely be moved to the off-guard position, forcing Dwayne Wade to cover for him. If Bibby made up for his defensive shortcomings with an explosive offensive game, Miami would be fine, but Bibby is not much more than a good outside shooter. He's not asked to be a playmaker, but considering he only gets 2.6 APG, his 1.3 TPG are unacceptable.
The Guys Who Aren't There Yet
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14. Mike Conley, MEM
Mike Conley has certainly exceeded the expectations of many, as he has established himself as the starting PG for a solid NBA team. While Conley creates a fair amount of offense with a decent shot and has respectable playmaking abilities, he struggles defensively and against bigger PGs. Guarding Tony Parker will be very difficult for him in the first round, and the pressure of his first playoff appearance could make him a non-factor on both ends.
13. Jrue Holiday, PHI- Holiday has had an excellent sophomore season, and has improved consistently as the year progressed. In fact, he gives the Sixers a clear edge at the PG position in the first round against Mike Bibby.
However, Holiday is still mistake prone and streaky offensively. While he is a quality young player who can score (13.9 PPG), pass (6.5 APG), and play some defense, his lack of postseason experience keeps him relatively low on the list.
The Guys Who Do Enough
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12. Jameer Nelson, ORL
Nelson is an experienced PG who's playoff career has been limited by injuries. However, playing healthy in two postseasons, he's put up numbers that overshadow his regular season numbers.
Nelson has had a solid, healthy 2010-11 season, shooting 45% on FGs, 40 percent from deep, 80 percent from the line, and dishing 6.0 APG. He is small but fundamentally solid defensively. His size may be exploited later on, but he gives Orlando a clear edge in the first round and will put up a fight against anyone.
11. Derek Fisher, LAL
Derek Fisher has some of the weakest numbers among playoff PGs. He shoots 39 percent from the field, scores 6.8 PPG, grabs 1.7 RPG and dishes 2.7 APG. However, he shoots rarely from inside three, and his three-point shooting is at 40 percent. He also isn't asked to rack up a lot of assists and his assist to turnover ratio is 3/1. He steals the ball more (1.2 SPG) than he commits turnover (0.9 TPG).
While Fisher doesn't carry the Lakers on his back, he certainly plays his role effectively. Oh, and he's won five championships, so it's tough to care about his numbers.
The Guys Who Might Surprise You
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10. Darren Collison, IND
Like college teammate Jrue Holiday, Collison is in his second season and shows excellent signs of development. While Collison's numbers are decent (13.3 PPG, 5.1 APG), one could argue that Holiday's are better.
However, Collison shoots 46 percent from the field and a gaudy 87 percent from the line, and does a lot more defensively than most 6'0" PGs. Collison also plays well under pressure, and has that intangible quality that makes him look like a future star. His rise could begin with a breakout postseason, even if it ends after five games.
9. Andre Miller, POR
For a guy that has played on five teams in 11 years, Andre Miller is pretty consistent. His career 46-percent shooting, 7.2 APG, and 14.4 PPG are all soiid numbers, and he's just about right there again this season. Miller creates plays, is dangerous from close range and is excellent at getting to the line and making other teams pay once he's there (85 percent this year). He is a decent defender—although certainly not stellar. Still, Miller is a true leader and will give Portland an excellent chance to upset Dallas in round one.
8. Raymond Felton, DEN
Although Ty Lawson is the starter, Felton plays more minutes and is the primary playmaker. His minutes have dropped since coming to Denver, but Felton is still an efficient PG with an assist/turnover ration of 6.7/2.6.
He is quick, excellent at breaking down the defense, and finds not only the open shooter but the guy who can get the ball to the open shooter.
Although Felton will be overmatched by Westbrook in the first round, he is miles better than any other PG on OKC's roster, and he and Lawson are certainly the league's best PG tandem. Following a long, grueling season, Felton will have the benefit of having another good PG, and Denver could outplay their opponents at PG just by having two guys.
The Guys Who Shouldn't Surprise You
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7. Jason Kidd, DAL
Jason Kidd has never been a scorer, but he can't seem to find the basket at all anymore. He shot a dismal 36 percent from the field—34 percent from deep—and scored just 7.9 PPG this season.
But Kidd has never been about scoring and he remains one of the top passers in the league (8.2 APG to only 2.2 TPG). Along with Westbrook, Kidd is the best rebounding PG in the NBA with an average of 4.4 per game. He is very good defensively, coming up with 1.7 SPG to fuel Dallas' deadly transition offense. He also commits only 1.5 fouls a night. As a result, live-at-the-line PG's (like his first round opponent, Andre Miller) struggle mightily against Dallas.
6. Chauncey Billups, NYK
Chauncey has spent his career putting up decent individual numbers and winning his teams a lot of games. "Mr. Big Shot" has won a title—in part due to his ability to come through in the clutch. Billups is a dangerous outside shooter and automatic from the line, and always seems to make the right play to initiate offense.
Defensively, he's about as reliable as they come. While he isn't the quickest or strongest PG around, he stays in front of his man very well. Billups is good at most things and great as a clutch shooter, giving the Knicks the PG they need to contend in the east.
5. Tony Parker, SAS
Duncan is a surefire Hall-of-Famer, and Ginobili gets most of the attention after that. However, Tony Parker is as big a part of San Antonio's success as anyone, and is likely the best player on the team at this point.
Parker's 17.5 PPG ranked No. 5 among NBA PGs, but Parker did so while shooting 52 percent from the field, which puts him at No. 1 among all NBA guards. His insane efficiency, his ability to drive and finish, hit mid-range jumpers and create for others drive the Spurs offense.
If people believe that Parker is overmatched by "big time" PGs like Westbrook, Kidd and Paul, then the Spurs must be overmatched by OKC, Dallas and New Orleans.
The Guys Who Dominate on Both Ends
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4. Rajon Rondo, BOS
Rondo won a championship in his second season and is twice the player now. He's as good a playmaker as you'll find in the NBA, he collapses defenses with his excellent ability to penetrate and found open shooters to the tune of 11.2 APG this year.
He also grabbed 4.4 RPG (not bad for a 6'1" guy), came up with 2.2 SPG and shut the entire league down defensively. He'd probably be the best PG in the league if he had an outside shot, but he certainly doesn't need one—Boston is fine with Rondo drawing defenders and finding Ray Allen or Paul Pierce for wide-open jumpers. Rondo is improving much faster than the Big Three are declining, and Boston's championship window is still more open than most think.
3. Russell Westbrook, OKC
Westbrook is not the greatest playmaker. He may put up 8.2 APG, but he also commits 3.8 TPG—far too many to be a top-tier passer.
Besides his turnovers, Westbrook is likely the best PG in the business. He gets to the hoop and finishes with incredible quickness and force, he's arguably the best defensive PG in the gam and is a beast on the boards—grabbing a PG-high 4.6 RPG. While Kevin Durant is the scoring force that carries the Thunder, Westbrook is the man who will take them to a championship.
He is truly good enough as a scorer, defender and rebounder to beat a Derrick Rose or Rajon Rondo-led team in the NBA finals.
The Guys Who Carry Teams
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2. Derrick Rose, CHI
Derrick Rose is a freak of nature.
It's not fair that a man can be so strong, jump so high, finish so well, pass so well, defend so well and still elevate his game in crunch time.
Rose scored 25.0 PPG this year, dished out 7.7 APG, got his team in the bonus, kept his opponents out of the bonus, played smothering defense late in games and led his team to each of their NBA best 62 victories. The playoffs will bring on a whole new set of challenges, but he's played big in April before, and he's quite a different player now.
1. Chris Paul, NOH
Derrick Rose might be the NBA MVP, and he probably should be. No player on one of the league's top teams was more valuable to their team's success than D-Rose.
But that doesn't mean he's as good a PG as Chris Paul, and he's not. No one is. Paul is, without a doubt, the NBA's best playmaker. His 9.8 APG place him at No. 4 in the NBA, but he does this while committing a miniscule 2.2 TPG. That ratio (4.4/1) was the NBA's best, and it really wasn't close.
His ability to control his speed and direction while handling the ball allows him to get into any space he wants. Defenders must respect his shot (46 percent FG, 39 percent 3-pt) and guard him high. Nor can can they foul him in the lane (88 percent FT) or double-team him due to his passing abilities.
The end result is an unstoppable force that can simply turn a team of mediocre offensive players into a half-court powerhouse. Defensively, Paul is in the top tier of point guards as well, leading the league in steals (2.4 SPG) while staying in front of his man all the same. Paul's team may not be good enough to win it all like Rose's, but this guy is once in a generation.
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