AllDayNBA.com Basketball Blog

Since the great Michael Jordan represented the number 23 on his Chicago Bulls jersey, the shooting guard position has arguably been the most exciting spot on the floor in the NBA.  Also known as two-guards, these players can do anything from shooting mid-range jumpers and slashing to the rim, to running the offense and making their teammates noticeably better on the court.  Today, the typical shooting guard is ball-dominant, although you do tend to run into those who are excellent playing without the ball in their hands, such as Detroit’s Richard Hamilton and Boston’s Ray Allen.  Two-guards love a good screen, and the elite players welcome the defensive attention, not only to draw defenders away from their opponents, but to increase the chances of drawing a foul as well.

The following five shooting guards are all-stars, franchise players, and most of the time, the key component to their teams’ success in both the regular season and the playoffs.

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (27.8 PPG on .459 FG, 5.3 RPG, 4.8 APG)

Bryant is the complete NBA player and, without a doubt, the best overall player to grace the game since Jordan.  This season, despite injuries to three fingers on his shooting hand, an ankle, and back spasms, Kobe is leading the Lakers to a possible third-consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, holding on to the second best record in the NBA.  A top three candidate for the 2010 MVP award, Bryant has hit six game-winning shots this season, is a pest on defense, and is averaging over 27 points for the seventh time in his 14-year career.  Topping this list may not be enough for Kobe Bryant; many will state that he is still the best player in the NBA.

2. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (26.4 PPG on .465 FG, 4.7 RPG, 6.6 APG)

The Heat may be clinging to that final spot in the weaker Eastern Conference, but Wade is the most consistent player on the team, and his contributions on offense and defense do not go unnoticed.  It’s a known fact that numerous teams will be gunning for Wade this summer, as he headlines a free agent class packed with superstars and all-stars, and there is nobody more deserving of a max contract than he is.  Nicknamed Flash by his teammates, his ability to get to the rim is unmatched by most players in the league, and even though his numbers are somewhat down from last year’s, he is still one of the most effective and dangerous guards in the East.

3. Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers (21.9 PPG on .472 FG, 4.5 RPG, 4.8 APG)

Roy is a versatile combo guard that can play three spots on the floor, and his ability to create for his teammates has been beneficial to Portland’s success this season.  Considering the amount of times he does handle the basketball, his turnovers are low (2.2 per game).  Unfortunately, like Wade, most of his numbers have taken a hit due to injuries, but not enough to effect the Blazers in a negative manner.  The most intriguing part of Roy’s game is not his offensive game, but his defense.  Roy has had plenty of success defending elite scorers in the league, including Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, both of which you will find ahead of him, but his overall body of work sits him at third in the rankings.

4. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks (21.5 PPG on .458 FG, 4.7 RPG, 4.7 APG)

Similar numbers, but less defense–that’s why Joe Johnson sits below Brandon Roy on the Fab Five list.  There are similarities between the two.  Both can run the point for their respective teams, both can shoot the rock, and neither shy away from contact on the drive, but Johnson’s defensive game isn’t as polished.  Fortunately, his Hawks are the superior team, and with all due respect to Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford, Johnson is the clear-cut leader and the player sitting in the driver’s seat in Atlanta.  Similar to Roy, Johnson turns the ball over just twice per game, just below his career average and 1.3 less than his career high, which also occurred as a Hawk.

5. Stephen Jackson, Charlotte Bobcats (20.7 PPG on .427 FG, 5.0 RPG, 3.8 APG)

He may not score as much as Monta Ellis, or shoot 45 percent from the floor, but Stephen Jackson is a top defensive player at the two-guard position.  The Bobcats are 29-25 with him in the lineup, 3-6 to start the season without him.  The record may not sway many fans’ decisions until they glance at Charlotte’s struggles last season: 35-47 in the standings, ninth in opponents’ points per game.  This season, Charlotte is a top three defensive team in the NBA, ranked first in opponents’ points per game, holding those teams to under 45 percent shooting.  Jackson not only leads the team in steals, but also in points, providing relief for Gerald Wallace at both ends of the hardwood.

That Other Five (in no particular order):

Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors (25.7 PPG on .453 FG, 4.2 RPG, 5.3 APG)

Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings (20.3 PPG on .462 FG, 5.0 RPG, 5.5 APG)

O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies (17.5 PPG on .456 FG, 3.8 RPG, 3.1 APG)

Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks (17.3 PPG on .446 FG, 2.6 RPG, 2.9 APG)

Ray Allen, Boston Celtics (16.2 PPG on .467 FG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG)

Many claim the point guard position is the toughest to learn on any level of play, but the general feeling by most NBA analysts is that it takes a point guard longer to adjust to life as a professional athlete.  There are a handful who are given the keys to the franchise as early as their rookie season, and in some cases, are asked to both run the offense and take on a second role as his team’s primary scoring option.  If the young guard is less fortunate, he’ll also find himself defending the best backcourt opponents, maximizing the pressure and stress earned by being one of the top college players in the nation.

The 2009-10 NBA season is filled with talented guards worthy of a top 10 mention, but only half can be considered for the Fab Five.

1. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz (18.4 PPG on .473 FG, 4.1 RPG, 10.1 APG)

Williams has been the catalyst on a team that has gone 21-5 since starting the season 19-17.  Going from a bubble playoff team in the rugged Western Conference to a top four seed, the Jazz now look to snag home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and possibly further beyond that.  While forward Carlos Boozer has played a significant role as well, Williams executes plays as good, if not better, than every point guard in the league, and there’s no doubt he has a hand in Boozer’s impressive offensive play, not to mention defending his assignment each night, giving his frontcourt teammates reason to stay put in the paint.

2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets (20.4 PPG on .504 FG, 4.6 RPG, 11.2 APG)

You can’t argue against Paul’s numbers.  Statistically, he is better than Williams.  However, with the recent injuries and the Hornets’ struggles with him in the starting five (21-17, on pace for a 45-win season), Paul gently slides to the second spot in the ranking.  CP3 may have just as much help as Williams does in Utah, and rookie guard Darren Collison is filling the stat sheet with surprising numbers in the points and assists columns.  The Hornets are still having problems without Paul, though, and the numbers speak for themselves: 11-15 without the franchise superstar, fighting for the 8th seed in the West.  Should I use a coin-flip to determine the top point guard?  It crossed my mind.

3. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (17.0 PPG on .506 FG, 3.3 RPG, 11.2 APG)

During the first month of the season, many believed that Nash would be a top candidate for the MVP award, and rightfully so.  The Suns tore through the league, playing 11 of their first 17 on the road and going 14-3 in the process.  Phoenix then took a spill, dropping out of the playoffs after losing 18 of the following 30 games.  Playing through his ongoing back problems, Nash and a rejuvenated Amare Stoudemire, put together two win streaks of five games a piece, and the Suns are now holding on to a comfortable 5th seed in the playoffs.  If Nash wasn’t such a bad defensive player, he would easily top the point guard ranks every season.

4. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics (14.1 PPG on .515 FG, 4.5 RPG, 9.9 APG)

It may not be the popular decision, but let’s take a look at the Boston Celtics for a moment: they are currently the 6th best team in the NBA, record-wise, and with old age and injuries taking a toll on Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace and even Paul Pierce, it’s Rondo who has proven to be the most consistent and highly-effective player in Boston.  Offensively, he is getting the job done, and there’s no question he’s a good defensive player, averaging 2.5 steals per game and containing his opponent most of the time.  His first all-star appearance was well-deserved, and among the three future Hall of Fame teammates he shares the ball with, one can debate that he has shined the brightest.

5. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls (20.6 PPG on .486 FG, 3.7 RPG, 5.7 APG)

Seeing Rose round out the top five may come as a surprise to many.  The fact is, Rose has been more consistent, and more dominant, than both Tony Parker and Chauncey Billups this season.  The Chicago Bulls were steamrolling top teams on the road at one point in January, including the Celtics, Hornets, Suns, Spurs, Rockets and Thunder, and the Chicago native shot below .500 in just one of those six road wins that month.  Despite losing a solid teammate and stellar defensive player in Joakim Noah, and battling a knee injury, Rose has shot .529 in his last 10 games, including a 34-point, eight-assist performance against a surging Dallas Mavericks team on Saturday.  Billups’ inconsistent play sticks him behind Rose, while Parker seems to be relying on Tim Duncan more than Rose does on any of his teammates.

That Other Five (in no particular order):

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (16.5 PPG on .491 FG, 2.4 RPG, 5.7 APG)

Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets (20.0 PPG on .436 FG, 3.1 RPG, 5.9 APG)

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (16.7 PPG on .417 FG, 5.1 RPG, 7.9 APG)

Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks (10.0 PPG on .427 FG, 5.5 RPG, 9.4 APG)

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (16.0 PPG on .455 FG, 4.2 RPG, 5.4 APG)