As the 2014-2015 NBA season approaches it's time to look at the top 5 point guards in the league going into this year. Honorable mentions include John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Goran Dragic, Damian Lillard and Rajon Rondo.
5. Derrick Rose:
2013-2014 Stats: 10 games, 31.1 MPG, 15.9 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 0.5 SPG, .354/.340/.844 shooting, 9.7 PER
Rose is arguably the best point guard in the NBA when he is healthy. But that is just it, WHEN he is healthy. Rose has played a total of 49 games the last two seasons and during that time he has not quite put up numbers that he did during his 2010-2011 MVP season when he average 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. While Rose has looked impressive during training camp, how a player looks in practice and an actual game are two quite different things.
But there is no doubting Rose's talent. He may arguably be the most talented point guard in the NBA and for that reason he deserves to be mentioned on this list. There's no arguing if Rose remains healthy this season and is able to regain his MVP form he will once again be at the top of the best point guards in the league. For now all we can do is wait and look.
4. Tony Parker:
2013-214 Stats: 68 games, 29.4 MPG, 16.7 PPG, 5.7 APG, 2.3 RPG, 0.5 SPG, .499/.373/.811 shooting, 18.9 PER
Many may be surprised at seeing Parker on this list, but the NBA is about winning and there is no denying that Parker is a winner. He won his fourth ring with the San Antonio Spurs this past June, and had a fantastic Finals performance. Parker's numbers may not look as great as other point guards around the league but that is highly due to coach Poppovich limiting his minutes to under 30 per game.
There is no other point guard that knows how to change the pace of the game when neccessary, when to attack, and how to move without the ball more effectively. Above all Parker is a champion, a four time champion at that.
3. Stephen Curry:
2013-2014 Stats: 78 games, 36.5 MPG, 24.0 PPG, 8.5 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, .471/.424/.885 shooting, 24.1 PER
Stephen Curry, like many of the point guards on this list, is a minus on the defensive end. But his brilliance on the offensive end is what makes him so special and different from all the other point guards on this list. Curry was the NBA's seventh leading scorer and fifth leading distributor.
What makes Curry so special is his elite ability to shoot three-pointers. He shot 42% from downtown while putting up an incredible 7.9 attempts per game. Curry is a flashy passer, a constant offensive threat no matter where he is on the floor and at 26 years old he is barely entering his prime.
2. Russell Westbrook:
2013-2014 Stats: 46 games, 30.7 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 6.9 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 SPG, .437/.318/.826 shooting, 24.7 PER
While Westbrook didn't play a full season last season due to injuries that doesn't take away from the fact of how stellar he was throughout the season and most importantly in the playoffs. Throughout the playoffs he averaged 26.7 points, 8.1 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game.
Westbrook catches a lot of criticism for taking too many shots and not getting the ball to reining MVP Kevin Durant enough, but OKC fans cannot overlook the fact that there are times Westbrook looks like the best player on the floor and not Durant. Westbrook is one of the league's best offensive talents that is capable of brutally punishing defenders when he is engaged and a freak athlete that cannot be stopped attacking the basket.
1. Chris Paul:
2013-2014 Stats: 62 games, 35.0 MPG, 19.1 PPG, 10.7 APG, 4.3 RPG, 2.5 SPG, .467/.368/.855 shooting, 25.9 PER
As far as pure point guards are concerned, it does not get any better than Chris Paul. He may not be the athlete like a Russell Westbrook or the pure shooter Stephen Curry is, but he is the best floor general in the league. He is an all-around talent who defends his position with the best of them, orchesrates his offense and can score or find open teammates for easy looks at any time.
Paul led the league in assists and steals last season and had the sixth highest Player Efficiency Rating among point guards. Paul's 'flashy' days may be behind him, but he is still the most fundamentaly point guard in the league.