Running the Show: Ranking the 16 Point Guards in the NBA Playoffs

The Point Guard is the player that can make or break a basketball team. They get the play going, and make sure the ball goes to who it needs to go to. Without a good point guard, you aren't going to have much of a chance in this league. If you have a great one, your team is automatically going to be very good. Derrick Rose is proving that with his MVP performance this season, propelling his team to the NBA's elite. But is he the best point guard in this year's playoffs?  

16. Jrue Holiday

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ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 18: Jrue Holiday #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers brings the ball up the court during the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on December 18, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees th

Holiday is a good young player, but he needs more experience before he can become a great point guard.  

15. Darren Collison

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 19: Darren Collison #2 of the Indiana Pacers in action against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on January 19, 2011 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or u

Collison is much like Holiday, but he has shown a little more promise. A few more years in the playoffs, and he'll be Rondo material. 

14. Mike Conley Jr.

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PHOENIX - NOVEMBER 05: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on November 5, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by down

Conley is adapting very well to the NBA with the solid Memphis Grizzly team around him. Still, like the two previous point guards, he needs more experience. 

13. Kirk Hinrich

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ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Kirk Hinrich #6 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena on April 1, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user i

Hinrich is a good player, but he's more of a shooting guard than a point guard; and those goggles don't help either. 

12. Andre Miller

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PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 14: Andre Miller #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on January 14, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 115-111. NOTE TO USER: User

Miller was great in his Denver and Philly days, but he's lost a little bit in the Rose City. 

11. Mike Bibby

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 1: Mike Bibby #0 of Miami Heat drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of a basketball game at Target Center on April 1, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledge

Bibby was a great addition to the Heat. He helped them distribute the scoring and the ball. Still, he's not as good as he was with Atlanta. 

10. Ty Lawson

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 21: Ty Lawson #3 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against Jerryd Bayless #5 of the Toronto Raptors at the Pepsi Center on March 21, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Raptors 123-90. NOTE TO USER: User express

Lawson transferred his skills from UNC to Denver very well. Not only is he a good distributor, but he's a great three point shooter. Last week against the Timberwolves, he dropped a career-high 37 points and was 10-of-11 from beyond the arc. Now that's good. 

9. Chauncey Billups

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Chauncey Billups #4 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on February 23, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading

Billups is still a very good shooter. He's the second choice for a clutch shot in NY, behind the king of clutch and his long time teammate, Carmelo Anthony. He's not as good as he was in the Pistons age, but he's still very good. 

8. Jason Kidd

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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 26: Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks against the Washington Wizardsat the Verizon Center on February 26, 2011 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Pho

He's not the superstar he was with the Nets, but he's a good player and should be recognized as such. 

7. Derek Fischer

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center on April 12, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or

Fisher is a great leader, a great shooter, and a key part of the Lakers' powerhouse. If Miami would have been able to lure him away in the offseason, they would've been home free. 

6. Jameer Nelson

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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 06: Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic passes the ball around Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics on February 6, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Magic 91-80. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Nelson is getting better and better. Since his All-Star season a couple years back, he's been advancing and helping the Magic as he does. 

5. Tony Parker

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ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 05: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on April 5, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user

Tony Parker is an elite point guard. He has always been important to his team, but he'll be even more important in these playoffs while Ginobli is out. 

4. Russell Westbrook

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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on March 30, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 116-98. NOTE TO USER: User

This All-Star point guard has had a breakout season, and the expectations for him and his team in the playoffs are high. Can he deliver? Only time will tell. 

3. Rajon Rondo

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BOSTON, MA - MARCH 04: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics calls out to his teammates in the first half against the Golden State Warriors on March 4, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees t

Rondo has single-handedly turned the Boston Big 3 into a Boston Big 4. He plays with the heart of a champion, probably because he is a champion. Now he'll lead the Celtics in their quest to get another title before Rajon's aging teammates retire. 

2. Chris Paul

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OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets in action against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on February 15, 2011 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or

Paul is one of the players you think of when you think of the National Basketball Association. We don't know how long he's going to remain in Louisiana, but for now he will try to pull off a huge first round upset against the Lakers, and go from there. 

1. Derrick Rose

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls competes in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge apart of NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on February 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Imag

Rose is an emerging superstar in the NBA. In the mind of most people, he is this year's MVP. And rightfully so. He has blown through the competition all year, and the last task that remains for him is to help his Bulls blow through the competition on their way to the NBA championship. We are all witnesses.