It's not worth a new thread, but Tim Legler writes a pretty nice article about Chris Paul and Deron Effin Williams. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-071113 Two Brilliant Points About The Present, Future We saw the game's two great young point guards in action on Monday night. Both Chris Paul of New Orleans and Deron Williams of Utah have led their teams to good starts. The two third-year point guards naturally invite comparison, with Williams having been picked one spot ahead of Paul in the 2005 NBA draft. Both teams they run are off to 6-2 starts. Both are playing great basketball. Williams entered Monday's game averaging 21 points and 10.4 assists per game, then posted six points and seven assists in a 117-93 blowout win over Sacramento. Paul's team needed some heroics, and he hit the winning layup in an 84-82 win in New Jersey. He finished with 27 points, having entered the game averaging 18.1 points and 11.1 assists per game. Paul's got the early statistical edge in steals (2.9 to 1.0) and rebounds (4.4 to 3.1). Williams has the advantage in 3-point field goal percentage (48 to 36). First, let's look at Paul. He has put up great numbers, but the thing I like about him the best is he's a great decision maker. Since he first had the ball in his hands at the NBA level, he was the leader of that team. This is important. More than any other position, point guard is the most difficult to play in the NBA. As a rookie, those guys are timid around veterans and won't say "No, I've got the ball, and I know what I'm doing." His leadership and poise are beyond his years. He missed time last year, and some say smaller point guards are prone to injuries. But I don't think durability is going to be a big deal for him. When you're at that level of talent, and he's long been playing at that size, he'll avoid many hits when finishing on bigger guys in the paint. He's going to have his share of nicks and dings, but I think he's learned how to avoid the big contact. One thing I noticed is that some teams try to post him up at 6-feet, 175 pounds -- it reminds me how teams would post up Muggsy Bogues, which only served to get them out of their game plan. When Paul's in traffic, if he gets his hands on the ball, it's often his. We saw this when he stole the ball late in Monday's game to set up Morris Peterson's four-point play. He has tremendous strength in his wrists and forearms. As good as he's playing, one would think he could become an All-Star soon. But just like the power forward position is overloaded with talent in the West, so too is the point guard position. As long as Steve Nash is there, along with Tony Parker and Baron Davis, and of course Allen Iverson is listed as a point guard -- well, it's going to be tough. He might not play in an All-Star Game for three or four years. If the Hornets keep playing this well, and they get off to a 30-18 start or so, he's got a great chance to get in. Otherwise, he's probably not going to get in until the other guys fade. Williams, however, will be an All-Star this season. What he did in the playoffs last season put him on the map as probably a top four point guard in the league. The guy was a better NBA player at the start of his career than I thought. I didn't know he had this quickness, and he likes to get one step on you, creating space by using his upper body. I didn't realize he had that knack. I underestimated him. And he's certainly worked hard to get where he is. When I talk to people in Utah, they say they can't get him out of the gym -- a great example of a guy who improved through hard work. I think his catch-and-shoot looks are more consistent and he's a phenomenal finisher. One thing he needs to be more consistent with is what he creates off the pick-and-roll. He's got to get more consistent in the midrange game. On the pick-and-roll, the defender is going underneath the pick and daring him to hit that shot. Of course, that's nitpicking by me. I've played for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan; he's tough on you. He's got great knowledge, and once he gets on you, that's a difficult place to get out from under. You've got to be thick skinned. Williams seems to have that. Let's turn the clock ahead five years. The top point guards like Nash and Jason Kidd are going to have to slow down by then. That's when we could see the time where these are the top two point guards, along with Parker, out there. Your best playing years are usually from age 27 to 32. That's when you have the best balance of experience and physical talent. And your team's front office has had time to surround you with the right players. If I had to take one, I'd pick Williams, because I think he's got a little bit more in each area. I like a point guard with more size (6-3, 208 pounds) who's more physical, who can take contact at the rim. Still, you're not going to go wrong with either guy.
Kidd and Nash are on their way out. They are probably in the last few years of their career before they become irrelevant. Chris Paul is still a little raw and has lots of time to develop his all-around game. I think part of the problem is with this inferior Hornets team. On a better team, he would definitely be in the same league as Parker and Williams. Tony Parker and Williams are battle tested. These guys can be trusted upon to deliver in crunch time and clutch situation. But out of the two, I'd pick Williams. This is not a slight on Parker but I just don't see any drive in him after winning three rings already. Williams is still hungry for that first ring and we need to feed that hunger!!! So yeah, Williams all the way.
