Top NBA Point Guards

[Big Sexy]

Point Guard is one of the most underrated positions in all of basketball. If you're a team that doesn't have a star player like Kobe Bryant or LeBron James a great point guard is essential. Even with star players if a team doesn't have someone capable of running the point then it's hard to be successful.

I discussed this in the NBA thread a little, but with the emergence of Rajon Rondo in this years playoffs he has put himself in the company of the elite point guards like Steve Nash, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams. So basically this thread is to rank the top point guards in the NBA. Give a top 5, top 10, or just list who you think is among the elite of NBA point guards.

1. Steve Nash- He may not have the most talent but I still don't think you will find a better overall point guard and leader then Steve Nash. He IS the Phoenix Suns and without him that offense just wouldn't work. He is as tough as they come and the former MVP still tops my list.

2. Chris Paul- A lot of people have been hating on CP3 because of the injury this year and have now put Deron Williams ahead of him, but to me CP3 is still at the top talent wise and if it wasn't for his injury this year I may still have him ahead of Nash as the number one guy. The numbers this guy puts up are nothing short of spectacular and at 6'0" tall he is the best small point guard since Isiah Thomas.

3. Deron Williams- He keeps on improving and is a perfect fit for the Jazz. He has great skills on the offensive end and his size has really helped him as a defender in the NBA. Nash, Paul, and Williams are easily the top three point guards in this league.

4. Rajon Rondo- This guy can do it all. Score, dish, rebound, he has overtaken the big three and is now the best player on that Celtics team. The future is bright for Rondo. The big flaw in his game is his free throw shooting but he's working hard to improve that.

5. Chauncey Billups- He's getting older but the former NBA Finals MVP still easily makes it into the top 5. He was great in Detorit and helped lead them to a title and now he is showing he still has it in Denver. It was a disappointing end to this season but Mr. Big Shot still has a few good years left in him.

Rounding out the top ten

6. Derrick Rose
7. Jameer Nelson
8. Russell Westbrook
9. Tony Parker
10. Jason Kidd

 

[jmt225]

All the "experts" lately have been harping on Deron Williams being the best Point Guard in the NBA, and I started to buy into the hype. However, after the Lakers series, there's no way anyone should consider him the best PG in the NBA. No way.

1. Steve Nash - His play in the playoffs have shown us that he's still the man, even at the age of 36 (which is really old for a guard in basketball). The guy hasn't lost a single step over the years. He can still run the transition like no other, create open shots for ANY player on his team, and he of course he can still shoot the basketball. He is without a doubt the best point guard in the NBA right now, and if he wins a championship this year, then I will make the argument of him being in the top 3 to ever play the position.

2. Chris Paul - Injury prone all year, but when this guy is healthy, he's fantastic. He's proved that before this season, and I strongly believe next year he will show the World once again just how great he is. Hopefully New Orleans can get some help for him, though.

3. Rajon Rondo - After Sunday's performance, I have to put him in the top 3. He showed that day that he is indeed one of the most gifted players in the entire sport. 27 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assist... when was the last time you saw a point guard put up those type of number? Been a long, long time, and I think if we ever see it again, it'll be once again from Rondo.

4. Deron Williams - Regardless of the Lakers series, this motherfucker can still play basketball and definitely deserves to be on this list. I think he lacks the leadership the 3 guys above him have, but skillfully wise... this dude has it all. He can shoot the basketball, play down low, create shots for his teammates, etc. Great. great ball player.

5. Derrick Rose - This guy carried the Bulls to the playoffs single handily and actually won them a game. With some actual help next year (hopefully), Derrick Rose will become the star he's had the potential to be since entering the league. He has it all with in him; he's just missing teammates that could actually contribute to winning games.

6. Aaron Brooks
7. Tony Parker
8. Jameer Nelson
9. Andre Miller
10. Russell Westbrook

Chauncey Billups does not make my list. He's way too inconsistent, and unless he was being coached by Larry Brown, he is not a true point guard. All he does is jack up threes and sometimes works the post. He rarely create shots for his teammates and he's absolute shit on defense. No way is he one of the elite point guards in the NBA, in my opinion.

 

[Big Sexy]

Chauncey Billups does not make my list. He's way too inconsistent, and unless he was being coached by Larry Brown, he is not a true point guard. All he does is jack up threes and sometimes works the post. He rarely create shots for his teammates and he's absolute shit on defense. No way is he one of the elite point guards in the NBA, in my opinion.

I completely disagree with this. It's one thing to not have him in the top 5, but not even in the top ten? The definition you gave for Chauncey's game should really be given to Aaron Brooks who you had at 6.

Chauncey may have started to become a true point guard under Larry Brown, but even after he left Chauncey continued to grow and he had his 4 best seasons assists wise and overall from 05-06 to 08-09. He played tremendous under Flip Saunders and his first year under George Karl. He took Denver from a team that couldn't get out of the first round to a team on the brink of the NBA finals. As far as his defense goes it was great in Detroit and well it may have fallen off somewhat in Denver that's more because no one on the Nuggets plays defense. This year wasn't his best I'll give you that but I still wouldn't put him any lower then 6th on the list.

 

[gd]

1. Nash Incredible what he's doing at his age. Ever since he left Dallas he's went from very good player to more than likely a Hall of Famer. Incredible. He's always in control of the game, never gets rattled, and is just as tough as nails out there. If it wasn't for some unfortunate circumstances over the past few years (suspensions against Spurs, Duncan's miracle 3, Joe Johnson's broken face, etc.) Nash would've had a few more runs like this one.

2. Rondo At this point, he's basically impossible to guard, and he can't shoot. He controls the game and can get to the bucket at will. Maybe it's because he's playing against the incapable Mo Williams, but nonetheless it's impressive. This isn't even including what he's done on the defensive end.

3. Williams Sure, he just got swept, but the Jazz was extremely outmatched in that series. He's one of the biggest PGs in the league and is a great shooter and finisher. The fact that he got that Utah team that far is incredible in itself.

4. Paul Would've been higher, but the knee injury is really concerning. Sounds like something that may affect him long term, which sucks, as he was possibly #1 before it happened.

5. Rose Probably the quickest guy on this list. Really difficult to stay in front of him. LeBron even had some trouble guarding him in the playoffs. If his jumper becomes a little more consistent, he could be scary.

 

["Cool Guy" Jensen]

My Top 5 looks like this...

1. Steve Nash: I hear way too many people taking away everything that Steve Nash has done just because he is 36 years old. For most athletes, 36 years old is surpassed retirement. However, Steve Nash, as 36 years old is just as good as he was when he was 26. A plus is, now he is more efficient, which makes him an even bigger threat.

2. Deron Williams: He has decided that he now is the best PG in the NBA. The guy is amazing... he's a beast. However, I don't think he is in Steve Nash's level. Yes, he is a better scorer, but Nash is the true definite of a premire PG... Deron is more of a great PG, not yet premire.

3. Jason Kidd: Just like Nash, people take credit away from him because he is old. At 37 years old, he is still doing what he's done when he was in his 20's. However, just like Nash, he's more efficient. Jason Kidd lacks the scoring ability now, compared to Steve and Deron, but when it comes to assists (a true PG commodity), he's right up there.

4. Chris Paul: I'm not particularly fond of the guy... quite frankly, I hate him. But I will not let that get in the way of me knowing his talent. He could have easily taken the 2nd or 3rd spot on my list, but injuries has really taken a huge effect on him. When he is healthy, the man is nearly always on fire.

5. Derrick Rose: He really took advantage of being the #1 draft pick, by winning ROY. He was just amazing in his rookie season, regular and post-season. This season, he picked up right where he left off. As good as he is, he can only get better. He can score and assist with the best of them. He is here to stay.

Honorable mentions (in no particular order)...

Jameer Nelson: I always knew how good he was, but I didn't know he can heat up like that. He plays for a team that has many options, so even when he's off, his team can still succeed just with his presence.

Rajon Rondo: I used to hate the guy also. However, in the past several weeks, he's started to grow on me. This guy is nice. Sometimes, he's even too good for his own sake.

Aaron Brooks: He's a long way from being considered the best PG in the NBA. However winning most improved is the first step. This big jump that he took from the 2008-2009 season to the 2009-2010 season is just remarkable. Him playing for my favorite team, I know a lot about him and his style and this guy is amazing!

Russell Westbrook: While, it was Kevin Durant who got most of the credit for the Thunder's success, he also played a big part. Having the Lakers resort to having Kobe guard him, shows how big a threat he is.

Others...

Mike Bibby
Rafer Alston
Mo Williams
Tony Parker
Nate Robinson
Lou Williams
Brandon Jennings
Baron Davis