Pistons < Spurs
08-17-2006, 10:49 PM
10) Steve Francis – New York Knicks
After the worst season of his career in almost every statistical category, it may be hard to believe that Francis still deserves a spot on this list. However, Francis is one of the most skilled basketball players to ever grace the NBA courts. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Francis has the body of a running back and with the speed and vertical leap to boast, he can get to the hoop at will, while not being a liability on the defensive end.
Few remember Francis gracing the highlight reel on a daily basis, nicknamed Stevie Franchise. Most will now say, “Steve Francis? A franchise player? Don’t make me laugh.” But it was no laughing matter; Francis was the heir to Hakeem Olajuwon’s crown in Houston before a giant emerged from behind the Great Wall of China to take over the reigns.
Nearing 30 years of age, fans of Francis will hope to see him either moved out of New York, where he has never looked very comfortable or perhaps – just maybe – see Francis return to his glory days in a Knicks uniform and drop 20 points-per-game, five rebounds-per-game and five assists-per-game at the shooting guard spot under the tutelage of Isiah Thomas. But the fact remains that a player of Francis’ calibre needs to be on this list.
9) Manu Ginobili – San Antonio Spurs
In his fourth NBA season, Ginobili put up pedestrian scoring numbers and has still yet to cross the 30 minute-per-game barrier. However, few can debate how simultaneously exciting and deadly Ginobili’s game is. He creates headaches for opposing players with his crafty and deceivingly quick drives and on the defensive end, he’ll flop like a fish out of water to draw an offensive foul and is one of the league’s premier ball thieves.
The key element to Ginobili’s success is his current role as the Spurs’ third scoring option who fits into their system seamlessly. For the second straight season, Ginobili shot nearly 50 per cent from the field and was as close to 40 per cent from three point range as he’s ever been. Ginobili has also improved his ball handling capabilities, recording a career-low turnovers-per-game apart from his rookie season, where he played significantly less minutes.
All things considered, Ginobili is an essential component of perhaps the most dominant and consistent NBA team in the past five years.
8) Michael Redd – Milwaukee Bucks
Redd may not be an explosive player who soars to the rim and throws down on a defenseless victim, but the man can shoot and score in bundles like few others. His track record: 40 point game against the defense-oriented Pistons in a 20 point playoffs win, 41 points on that same Detroit team in the regular season and nearly 20 other games where he scored 30 or more points.
Not only that, but Redd was the leader on an overachieving Bucks team that made the playoffs and shot more than 50 per cent from the field against the aforementioned lockdown Pistons.
Redd’s scoring numbers have improved year after year, despite defenders knowing what he can do and covering him (or double-covering him) accordingly.
All of that is fine and dandy, but the most beautiful thing about Redd is that he was selected with the 43rd selection in the 2000 NBA Draft and is easily the best player to emerge from it.
7) Richard Hamilton – Detroit Pistons
Coming off of his best statistical season to date and his first year as an all-star, Hamilton has established himself as more than just a product of his surroundings and as one of the league’s best shooting guards.
There is not a single shooting guard in the NBA that is as good as Hamilton without the ball in their hands. Hamilton is always on the move and his shooting nearly 50 per cent from the field shows his advances shot selection.
At 28 years of age, you know what you’re getting with Hamilton; a player who can score 20 points-per-game for any team in the league, give you a few rebounds and assists, shoot solid percentages and keep defenders honest.
6) Jason Richardson – Golden State Warriors
Richardson is another player who is coming off of his best season to date. The one thing that holds Richardson back from greatness is his abysmal free throw shooting, which has only surpassed the 70 per cent threshold in one of his five seasons.
Despite not being terribly efficient from the stripe, Richardson is one of the league’s most exciting players whose scoring numbers have increased every year since he has entered the league.
If the Warriors want to succeed, they will be unable to rely on the chronically unhealthy Baron Davis, which means that Richardson needs to take this team on his back, average more than four assists-per-game and show the Western Conference that he means business.
5) Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks
I am among the few who think that Billy Knight made a solid move in doing whatever he could to land Joe Johnson. Trading Boris Diaw was definitely a mistake in hindsight, but when the trade was made, they had to unload one of their swingmen and Diaw was the odd man out. The Suns definitely got the better of the Hawks on the trade, but it allowed Atlanta to land themselves a franchise player.
Johnson is an unselfish, talented and underappreciated asset in the NBA who has been turning heads in Team USA workouts with his work ethic and desire to succeed.
Last season, Knight declared Johnson his point guard of the future in an experiment that ultimately failed. But with the acquisition of Speedy Claxton, Johnson now has the flexibility to start at his natural shooting guard spot and then cause headaches for defenders when he moves to the point guard spot, giving the Hawks a team where no player is shorter than 6’7”.
With Johnson re-entering his comfort zone and a young Hawks team getting a year older, expect to see the team achieve their best record in years.
4) Ray Allen – Seattle Supersonics
Allen is a player who always seems to slip under the radar. The Sonics had a horrible season, but that did not prevent him from having his best season to date, averaging 25 points-per-game at age 30.
A class act on and off the court, Allen is the best shooter in the entire league and, even under the watchful eye of defenders, was able to shoot more than 40 per cent from outside the arc for the fourth time in his career. Currently, Allen averages 39.9 per cent from outside the arc and six three point shots-per-game over his career, which is an amazing feat.
He may not have the flare of Richardson and Francis or the versatility of Johnson, but Allen is a true superstar on the NBA level and one of the deadliest shooters the league has ever seen.
3) Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets
Carter has gone from half man, half amazing to half man, half the season back to just plain Vince Carter over the span of his career. Slowly, Carter is beginning to shed his reputation of being an injury prone has-been into once again being considered one of the league’s top shooting guards.
While he’s no longer as explosive as he was early in his career, Carter is still good for some highlight reel action and Alonzo Mourning will certainly attest to that fact. The fact is that since his arrival in New Jersey, Carter has been good for roughly 25, 5 and 5, which is enough to keep him among the league’s elite.
Paired with Richard Jefferson and an aging Jason Kidd, now is the time for the Nets to make some serious noise in the Eastern Conference.
2) Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
Words cannot fully express the evolution of Wade’s game from the college level to where it is today. From a potential tweener to someone who most would consider a top-5, if not top-3 player in the league after only his third season.
Aside from his three-point shooting, Wade’s game borders on flawless. From his near-50 per cent shooting from the field to his near-80 per cent shooting from the line, his 5.7 rebounds-per-game and 6.7 assists-per-game and his top-5 steals and points-per-game stats, Wade has proven that he is the consummate superstar.
Wade’s dominance continued into the playoffs where his averages were higher than his regular season stats in every category besides assists and at 6’4”, he averaged more than a block-per-game, which is exceptional.
The scary thing is that at age 24, Wade’s career has only just begun and with expectations already far surpassed, NBA fans can only be thankful for the future years of greatness that he will bestow upon them.
1) Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers may not be the same without Shaq, but the fun of watching Bryant destroy defenders in his prime is worth the sacrifice. Bryant’s tenth NBA season saw him tally a Jordan-esque 35.4 points-per-game with more than 5 rebounds-per-game and 4.5 assists-per-game to boast. He also improved his ball-handling skills with one less turnover per-game than last season.
As great as Wade was during the playoffs, Bryant’s 81 point game proved that he is the most dangerous offensive player in the game. Of course, what sets Bryant apart from Wade is his defense, which is what puts him at the top of this list. Bryant has made six all-defensive teams during his ten NBA seasons, which is a feat that only shooting guards of Michael Jordan’s superstar calibre are able to accomplish. Until Wade starts earning this honor on a consistent basis like Bryant, there should be no question as to who is the more talented all-around player.
Like all great athletes, Bryant has seemed unfazed by circumstances that should have held him back. His public adultery confession, the sexual assault charges against him that were ultimately dropped, Shaq’s departure, Phil Jackson’s tell-all book and a falling-out with his parents. Bryant has certainly overcome all obstacles, but may have tainted his legacy in the eyes of some in the process.
Bryant’s “him or me” attitude, in regards to playing with Shaq, may be what prevents him from ever winning another NBA championship, but as long as he keeps playing at the top of his game for the next six or seven seasons (his 28th birthday is around the corner), basketball fans will get to see one of the greatest of all-time do his thing.
Just missed the cut: Cuttino Mobley (LAC), Ben Gordon (CHI), Ricky Davis (MIN)
Names for the future: Ben Gordon (CHI), Brandon Roy (POR), Devin Harris (DAL), Andre Iguodala (PHI)
http://www.realgm.com/src_feature/659/20060817/the_top_shooting_guards_of_the_nba/
After the worst season of his career in almost every statistical category, it may be hard to believe that Francis still deserves a spot on this list. However, Francis is one of the most skilled basketball players to ever grace the NBA courts. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Francis has the body of a running back and with the speed and vertical leap to boast, he can get to the hoop at will, while not being a liability on the defensive end.
Few remember Francis gracing the highlight reel on a daily basis, nicknamed Stevie Franchise. Most will now say, “Steve Francis? A franchise player? Don’t make me laugh.” But it was no laughing matter; Francis was the heir to Hakeem Olajuwon’s crown in Houston before a giant emerged from behind the Great Wall of China to take over the reigns.
Nearing 30 years of age, fans of Francis will hope to see him either moved out of New York, where he has never looked very comfortable or perhaps – just maybe – see Francis return to his glory days in a Knicks uniform and drop 20 points-per-game, five rebounds-per-game and five assists-per-game at the shooting guard spot under the tutelage of Isiah Thomas. But the fact remains that a player of Francis’ calibre needs to be on this list.
9) Manu Ginobili – San Antonio Spurs
In his fourth NBA season, Ginobili put up pedestrian scoring numbers and has still yet to cross the 30 minute-per-game barrier. However, few can debate how simultaneously exciting and deadly Ginobili’s game is. He creates headaches for opposing players with his crafty and deceivingly quick drives and on the defensive end, he’ll flop like a fish out of water to draw an offensive foul and is one of the league’s premier ball thieves.
The key element to Ginobili’s success is his current role as the Spurs’ third scoring option who fits into their system seamlessly. For the second straight season, Ginobili shot nearly 50 per cent from the field and was as close to 40 per cent from three point range as he’s ever been. Ginobili has also improved his ball handling capabilities, recording a career-low turnovers-per-game apart from his rookie season, where he played significantly less minutes.
All things considered, Ginobili is an essential component of perhaps the most dominant and consistent NBA team in the past five years.
8) Michael Redd – Milwaukee Bucks
Redd may not be an explosive player who soars to the rim and throws down on a defenseless victim, but the man can shoot and score in bundles like few others. His track record: 40 point game against the defense-oriented Pistons in a 20 point playoffs win, 41 points on that same Detroit team in the regular season and nearly 20 other games where he scored 30 or more points.
Not only that, but Redd was the leader on an overachieving Bucks team that made the playoffs and shot more than 50 per cent from the field against the aforementioned lockdown Pistons.
Redd’s scoring numbers have improved year after year, despite defenders knowing what he can do and covering him (or double-covering him) accordingly.
All of that is fine and dandy, but the most beautiful thing about Redd is that he was selected with the 43rd selection in the 2000 NBA Draft and is easily the best player to emerge from it.
7) Richard Hamilton – Detroit Pistons
Coming off of his best statistical season to date and his first year as an all-star, Hamilton has established himself as more than just a product of his surroundings and as one of the league’s best shooting guards.
There is not a single shooting guard in the NBA that is as good as Hamilton without the ball in their hands. Hamilton is always on the move and his shooting nearly 50 per cent from the field shows his advances shot selection.
At 28 years of age, you know what you’re getting with Hamilton; a player who can score 20 points-per-game for any team in the league, give you a few rebounds and assists, shoot solid percentages and keep defenders honest.
6) Jason Richardson – Golden State Warriors
Richardson is another player who is coming off of his best season to date. The one thing that holds Richardson back from greatness is his abysmal free throw shooting, which has only surpassed the 70 per cent threshold in one of his five seasons.
Despite not being terribly efficient from the stripe, Richardson is one of the league’s most exciting players whose scoring numbers have increased every year since he has entered the league.
If the Warriors want to succeed, they will be unable to rely on the chronically unhealthy Baron Davis, which means that Richardson needs to take this team on his back, average more than four assists-per-game and show the Western Conference that he means business.
5) Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks
I am among the few who think that Billy Knight made a solid move in doing whatever he could to land Joe Johnson. Trading Boris Diaw was definitely a mistake in hindsight, but when the trade was made, they had to unload one of their swingmen and Diaw was the odd man out. The Suns definitely got the better of the Hawks on the trade, but it allowed Atlanta to land themselves a franchise player.
Johnson is an unselfish, talented and underappreciated asset in the NBA who has been turning heads in Team USA workouts with his work ethic and desire to succeed.
Last season, Knight declared Johnson his point guard of the future in an experiment that ultimately failed. But with the acquisition of Speedy Claxton, Johnson now has the flexibility to start at his natural shooting guard spot and then cause headaches for defenders when he moves to the point guard spot, giving the Hawks a team where no player is shorter than 6’7”.
With Johnson re-entering his comfort zone and a young Hawks team getting a year older, expect to see the team achieve their best record in years.
4) Ray Allen – Seattle Supersonics
Allen is a player who always seems to slip under the radar. The Sonics had a horrible season, but that did not prevent him from having his best season to date, averaging 25 points-per-game at age 30.
A class act on and off the court, Allen is the best shooter in the entire league and, even under the watchful eye of defenders, was able to shoot more than 40 per cent from outside the arc for the fourth time in his career. Currently, Allen averages 39.9 per cent from outside the arc and six three point shots-per-game over his career, which is an amazing feat.
He may not have the flare of Richardson and Francis or the versatility of Johnson, but Allen is a true superstar on the NBA level and one of the deadliest shooters the league has ever seen.
3) Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets
Carter has gone from half man, half amazing to half man, half the season back to just plain Vince Carter over the span of his career. Slowly, Carter is beginning to shed his reputation of being an injury prone has-been into once again being considered one of the league’s top shooting guards.
While he’s no longer as explosive as he was early in his career, Carter is still good for some highlight reel action and Alonzo Mourning will certainly attest to that fact. The fact is that since his arrival in New Jersey, Carter has been good for roughly 25, 5 and 5, which is enough to keep him among the league’s elite.
Paired with Richard Jefferson and an aging Jason Kidd, now is the time for the Nets to make some serious noise in the Eastern Conference.
2) Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
Words cannot fully express the evolution of Wade’s game from the college level to where it is today. From a potential tweener to someone who most would consider a top-5, if not top-3 player in the league after only his third season.
Aside from his three-point shooting, Wade’s game borders on flawless. From his near-50 per cent shooting from the field to his near-80 per cent shooting from the line, his 5.7 rebounds-per-game and 6.7 assists-per-game and his top-5 steals and points-per-game stats, Wade has proven that he is the consummate superstar.
Wade’s dominance continued into the playoffs where his averages were higher than his regular season stats in every category besides assists and at 6’4”, he averaged more than a block-per-game, which is exceptional.
The scary thing is that at age 24, Wade’s career has only just begun and with expectations already far surpassed, NBA fans can only be thankful for the future years of greatness that he will bestow upon them.
1) Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers may not be the same without Shaq, but the fun of watching Bryant destroy defenders in his prime is worth the sacrifice. Bryant’s tenth NBA season saw him tally a Jordan-esque 35.4 points-per-game with more than 5 rebounds-per-game and 4.5 assists-per-game to boast. He also improved his ball-handling skills with one less turnover per-game than last season.
As great as Wade was during the playoffs, Bryant’s 81 point game proved that he is the most dangerous offensive player in the game. Of course, what sets Bryant apart from Wade is his defense, which is what puts him at the top of this list. Bryant has made six all-defensive teams during his ten NBA seasons, which is a feat that only shooting guards of Michael Jordan’s superstar calibre are able to accomplish. Until Wade starts earning this honor on a consistent basis like Bryant, there should be no question as to who is the more talented all-around player.
Like all great athletes, Bryant has seemed unfazed by circumstances that should have held him back. His public adultery confession, the sexual assault charges against him that were ultimately dropped, Shaq’s departure, Phil Jackson’s tell-all book and a falling-out with his parents. Bryant has certainly overcome all obstacles, but may have tainted his legacy in the eyes of some in the process.
Bryant’s “him or me” attitude, in regards to playing with Shaq, may be what prevents him from ever winning another NBA championship, but as long as he keeps playing at the top of his game for the next six or seven seasons (his 28th birthday is around the corner), basketball fans will get to see one of the greatest of all-time do his thing.
Just missed the cut: Cuttino Mobley (LAC), Ben Gordon (CHI), Ricky Davis (MIN)
Names for the future: Ben Gordon (CHI), Brandon Roy (POR), Devin Harris (DAL), Andre Iguodala (PHI)
http://www.realgm.com/src_feature/659/20060817/the_top_shooting_guards_of_the_nba/