DieMrBond
09-16-2006, 07:20 AM
Ranking the top NBA point guards
Mike Kahn / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 11 hours ago
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5941690
Until the 2005-06 NBA season, Magic Johnson was the only point guard in NBA history to win multiple Most Valuable Player awards.
Until 2005-06, the emergence of Amare Stoudemire appeared to be the reason the Phoenix Suns came out of nowhere to reach the Western Conference finals the year before.
But when the Suns repeated as conference finalists for the first time in franchise history last spring — without Stoudemire (sidelined for virtually the entire season from knee surgery) — we found out the basis for all of the above: Steve Nash.
And that's why the 32-year-old point guard unequivocally became recognized as the best point guard in the game as the Suns rolled and he was named MVP for the second consecutive year. Once again, previously unsung players emerged with career-best seasons — and the common denominator through it all was the mop-headed, full blast Nash. Sure, a lot of the credit has to go to coach Mike D'Antoni for carving out the freedom and the cast — but were it not for Nash, none of it would work.
Steve Nash isn't great just because of his own impressive stats. He makes players like Boris Diaw great, too. (Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images)
He is the prototype point guard, pushing the ball up the floor and doling out slick passes with either hand, or burying jumpers with unerring precision. All of that makes the choice of Nash an easy one as FOXSports.com begins it's six-part series on the best players in the NBA with the top-10 point guards.
"He does a great job of taking care of himself; that's the first thing," D'Antoni said. "We've asked an awful lot of him, to extend himself to win games because he had to do so much more offensively with Amare out. He never wore down. People thought he was worn down last year, and then he was just ridiculous in the playoffs. If he was worn out, that was a heck of a second wind."
Last season was a tougher call with Allen Iverson not only winning his fourth scoring title but also handing out a career-high 7.9 assists as he was moved back to point guard slot. So we went with Iverson.
This year was no contest because of not only Nash's 18.8 points and league-best 10.5 assists and .921 free throw percentage, but how this time around he lifted little known Boris Diaw into the league's Most Improved Player. Essentially, that's the definition of a great point guard.
It's the manner in which he plays the game, something that Jason Kidd still does at a high level, just not quite at the level he was in his 20s. So he has slipped in the rankings from top drawer down to seventh.
And even with some players not "pure point guards," young Chris Paul proved it is not an antiquated concept. The Wake Forest All-American walked in and won the Rookie of the Year honors as he nearly lifted a very poor New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets team into the playoffs.
Nonetheless, guys like Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas actually learned how to become point guards around their extraordinary shooting ability. Young Tony Parker, with the extraordinary ability to get into the lane and score, continues to build on his ability to involve other people in the offense through his own creativity and unselfishness.
But some of that just can't be learned. With Nash, as with Magic Johnson, it is inherent. "That's why (Nash is) so much fun to watch," Johnson said. "He makes everybody better. That is what the point guard is supposed to do."
This is the first of a six-part series. Next week: shooting guards.
1. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns, 32, 6-3, 195
Nash averaged 18.8 points,10.5 assists, .77 steals and shot an incredible .921 from the free-throw line. And yet, the numbers just don't tell the story of how this guy raised his level of play to Hall of Fame-caliber after he turned 30. It just proves what happens when brains and talent meet.
2. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers, 31, 6-0, 165
A.I. averaged 33.0 points, 7.4 assists, 1.94 steals and sank .814 of his free throws, again top notch numbers. But the Sixers failed to make the playoffs, and the concept of moving him away from the point guard spot seems inevitable again. It explains that just because a guy drives and dishes, it doesn't make him a point guard.
There's no denying A.I.'s talent. (Fernando Medina / Getty Images)
3. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, 29, 6-3, 202
Billups averaged 18.5 points, 8.6 assists (both career-highs), with .88 steals and .894 free throw shooting. More than anything, he's ice in the clutch. But Billups, seemingly like the rest of the Pistons, just wore down last season. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back, but he remains one of the most underrated players in the game.
4. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards, 24, 6-4, 210
Arenas averaged 29.3 points, 6.1 assists, 2.01 steals and sank .820 of his free throws as he became an All-Star and was superb in the playoffs. Arenas is another pure scorer learning the craft of helping his teammates. The key to him is that he tries so hard and is so popular with his teammates; his ascension is inevitable among the elite.
5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs, 24, 6-2, 180
Parker averaged a career-best 18.9 points, along with 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals and sank a less-than-ideal .707 of his free throws. People forget how young he is because he was a starter at 19, but the questions still remain why he hasn't been able to sustain top-drawer play in the postseason. Physically and mentally, he's still growing, so it appears to be just a matter of time.
6. Chris Paul, New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets, 21, 6-0, 175
Paul came out of the blocks beyond what anyone thought, averaging 16.1 points, 5.1 assists, 2.24 steals and sank .847 of his free throws. More than anything else, his leadership and ability to help the Hornets win blew everybody away. A latter-day Phil Ford, his development and the improvement of the team transformed the Hornets from tragic to a feel-good story.
7. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets, 33, 6-4, 210
Jason Kidd isn't what he used to be, but he's still better than most point guards in the league. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
Kidd averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 assists, 1.88 steals and he made .795 of his free throws, as the Nets were incredibly erratic last season. In many ways, it was reflective of Kidd's fading scoring ability to keep defenses honest. Nonetheless, he's still an extraordinary playmaker, eminently capable of taking over the tempo of any game and plays tough defense.
8. Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors, 27, 6-3, 215
Davis averaged 17.9 points, 8.9 assists, 1.65 steals and made just .675, while essentially losing the elite status he had gained by the end of the 2004-05 season by raising the Warriors' level of play. His talent is without question, but a weight problem has made him injury-prone and his attitude is always in question. But with Don Nelson, he could be the second coming of Tim Hardaway.
9. Mike Bibby, Sacramento Kings, 28, 6-1, 190
Bibby averaged a career-best 21.1 points, but he lost nearly 1.5 assists to negate that with just 5.4 per contest, 1.0 steals and sank an impressive .849 from the free throw line. But he was all about streaks. He would have a string of 35-point plus games, then go 2-for-16 — particularly in the playoffs. Without the great passing big men of past teams, he's exposed as a limited point guard.
10. Sam Cassell, Los Angeles Clippers, 36, 6-3, 185
Cassell averaged 17.2 points, 6.3 assists, .80 assists and shot .840 from the free throw line. But more importantly, he led the woebegone Clippers to their best run in franchise history. His confidence raised the level of play for everybody in the organization; and regardless of how much fuel he has left in the tank, he earned his status and new contract.
Also receiving consideration were: Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks; Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls; T.J. Ford, Toronto Raptors; Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks; Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana Pacers; Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets; Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats.
Veteran NBA writer Mike Kahn is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.
Mike Kahn / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 11 hours ago
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5941690
Until the 2005-06 NBA season, Magic Johnson was the only point guard in NBA history to win multiple Most Valuable Player awards.
Until 2005-06, the emergence of Amare Stoudemire appeared to be the reason the Phoenix Suns came out of nowhere to reach the Western Conference finals the year before.
But when the Suns repeated as conference finalists for the first time in franchise history last spring — without Stoudemire (sidelined for virtually the entire season from knee surgery) — we found out the basis for all of the above: Steve Nash.
And that's why the 32-year-old point guard unequivocally became recognized as the best point guard in the game as the Suns rolled and he was named MVP for the second consecutive year. Once again, previously unsung players emerged with career-best seasons — and the common denominator through it all was the mop-headed, full blast Nash. Sure, a lot of the credit has to go to coach Mike D'Antoni for carving out the freedom and the cast — but were it not for Nash, none of it would work.
Steve Nash isn't great just because of his own impressive stats. He makes players like Boris Diaw great, too. (Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images)
He is the prototype point guard, pushing the ball up the floor and doling out slick passes with either hand, or burying jumpers with unerring precision. All of that makes the choice of Nash an easy one as FOXSports.com begins it's six-part series on the best players in the NBA with the top-10 point guards.
"He does a great job of taking care of himself; that's the first thing," D'Antoni said. "We've asked an awful lot of him, to extend himself to win games because he had to do so much more offensively with Amare out. He never wore down. People thought he was worn down last year, and then he was just ridiculous in the playoffs. If he was worn out, that was a heck of a second wind."
Last season was a tougher call with Allen Iverson not only winning his fourth scoring title but also handing out a career-high 7.9 assists as he was moved back to point guard slot. So we went with Iverson.
This year was no contest because of not only Nash's 18.8 points and league-best 10.5 assists and .921 free throw percentage, but how this time around he lifted little known Boris Diaw into the league's Most Improved Player. Essentially, that's the definition of a great point guard.
It's the manner in which he plays the game, something that Jason Kidd still does at a high level, just not quite at the level he was in his 20s. So he has slipped in the rankings from top drawer down to seventh.
And even with some players not "pure point guards," young Chris Paul proved it is not an antiquated concept. The Wake Forest All-American walked in and won the Rookie of the Year honors as he nearly lifted a very poor New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets team into the playoffs.
Nonetheless, guys like Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas actually learned how to become point guards around their extraordinary shooting ability. Young Tony Parker, with the extraordinary ability to get into the lane and score, continues to build on his ability to involve other people in the offense through his own creativity and unselfishness.
But some of that just can't be learned. With Nash, as with Magic Johnson, it is inherent. "That's why (Nash is) so much fun to watch," Johnson said. "He makes everybody better. That is what the point guard is supposed to do."
This is the first of a six-part series. Next week: shooting guards.
1. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns, 32, 6-3, 195
Nash averaged 18.8 points,10.5 assists, .77 steals and shot an incredible .921 from the free-throw line. And yet, the numbers just don't tell the story of how this guy raised his level of play to Hall of Fame-caliber after he turned 30. It just proves what happens when brains and talent meet.
2. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers, 31, 6-0, 165
A.I. averaged 33.0 points, 7.4 assists, 1.94 steals and sank .814 of his free throws, again top notch numbers. But the Sixers failed to make the playoffs, and the concept of moving him away from the point guard spot seems inevitable again. It explains that just because a guy drives and dishes, it doesn't make him a point guard.
There's no denying A.I.'s talent. (Fernando Medina / Getty Images)
3. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, 29, 6-3, 202
Billups averaged 18.5 points, 8.6 assists (both career-highs), with .88 steals and .894 free throw shooting. More than anything, he's ice in the clutch. But Billups, seemingly like the rest of the Pistons, just wore down last season. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back, but he remains one of the most underrated players in the game.
4. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards, 24, 6-4, 210
Arenas averaged 29.3 points, 6.1 assists, 2.01 steals and sank .820 of his free throws as he became an All-Star and was superb in the playoffs. Arenas is another pure scorer learning the craft of helping his teammates. The key to him is that he tries so hard and is so popular with his teammates; his ascension is inevitable among the elite.
5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs, 24, 6-2, 180
Parker averaged a career-best 18.9 points, along with 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals and sank a less-than-ideal .707 of his free throws. People forget how young he is because he was a starter at 19, but the questions still remain why he hasn't been able to sustain top-drawer play in the postseason. Physically and mentally, he's still growing, so it appears to be just a matter of time.
6. Chris Paul, New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets, 21, 6-0, 175
Paul came out of the blocks beyond what anyone thought, averaging 16.1 points, 5.1 assists, 2.24 steals and sank .847 of his free throws. More than anything else, his leadership and ability to help the Hornets win blew everybody away. A latter-day Phil Ford, his development and the improvement of the team transformed the Hornets from tragic to a feel-good story.
7. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets, 33, 6-4, 210
Jason Kidd isn't what he used to be, but he's still better than most point guards in the league. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
Kidd averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 assists, 1.88 steals and he made .795 of his free throws, as the Nets were incredibly erratic last season. In many ways, it was reflective of Kidd's fading scoring ability to keep defenses honest. Nonetheless, he's still an extraordinary playmaker, eminently capable of taking over the tempo of any game and plays tough defense.
8. Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors, 27, 6-3, 215
Davis averaged 17.9 points, 8.9 assists, 1.65 steals and made just .675, while essentially losing the elite status he had gained by the end of the 2004-05 season by raising the Warriors' level of play. His talent is without question, but a weight problem has made him injury-prone and his attitude is always in question. But with Don Nelson, he could be the second coming of Tim Hardaway.
9. Mike Bibby, Sacramento Kings, 28, 6-1, 190
Bibby averaged a career-best 21.1 points, but he lost nearly 1.5 assists to negate that with just 5.4 per contest, 1.0 steals and sank an impressive .849 from the free throw line. But he was all about streaks. He would have a string of 35-point plus games, then go 2-for-16 — particularly in the playoffs. Without the great passing big men of past teams, he's exposed as a limited point guard.
10. Sam Cassell, Los Angeles Clippers, 36, 6-3, 185
Cassell averaged 17.2 points, 6.3 assists, .80 assists and shot .840 from the free throw line. But more importantly, he led the woebegone Clippers to their best run in franchise history. His confidence raised the level of play for everybody in the organization; and regardless of how much fuel he has left in the tank, he earned his status and new contract.
Also receiving consideration were: Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks; Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls; T.J. Ford, Toronto Raptors; Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks; Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana Pacers; Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets; Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats.
Veteran NBA writer Mike Kahn is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.