It sems to me that in the past few years there has been an influx in what I consider to be outstanding PGs. Beginning in 2005 with Chris Paul and Deron Williams the number of guys who are *potential* HOF lead guards is really amazing. In '06 Roy, admittedly a hybrid 1-1, and Rondo were drafted. 2007 was pretty lean in regards to PGs but then '08 brought Derrick Rose. Then this year there were 12 guys drafted in the first round who will spend some time at the 1. I just cannot recall a time when one position had so much quality at once. Even if only 2 of this years PGs end up as good as advertised, we are talking about 7 guys who should be perrenial allstars at one position all aged 26 or less (D. Harris, CP3, D. Williams, Rondo, Rose, and, my guesses, Rubio and Flynn)!!
I think once the NBA went to the no hands checking on the perimeter rules, it took a while for teams to realize that now the smaller PGs could do well also. Now, they are willing to draft the 5'11" PG.....whereas before those were too small. DD
I don't think the quality has improved much. Of course, Deron Williams and Chris Paul are great but some of the other guys aren't that impressive to me. Devin Harris is a perfect example of a mediocre playmaker who can take advantage of the new rules and have his way with a defense. I mean, if you can't touch him how the heck are you supposed to defend this guy?? He's not very talented it's just his quickness advantage and if he just slams his body into a big man in the paint they get called for the foul. It's frustrating to watch. I'm just glad I'm not a mavericks fans so I didn't have to watch my team get beat in the finals by this silly rule. Let the men play basketball!
Derrick Rose Aaron Brooks Chris Paul Deron Williams Derek Fisher Jason Kidd Devin Harris Russell Westbrook? Rajon Rondo Chauncy Billups Allen Iverson Jameer Nelson Mike Bibby Steve Nash Tony Parker Gilbert Arenas Mo Williams? That's just to name PGs out of the top my head. There is a LOT of PG talent in the NBA.
Meh. Used to be a significantly deeper position. Hell Phoenix alone had Kidd, KJ, and Nash all at the same time at one point.
... and Sam Cassell. *EDIT* : I take that back, I think Cassell was part of the trade for Kidd that year.
Possible hall of famers from that list: Chris Paul Tony Parker Jason Kidd Deron Williams Only Paul and Williams have come into the league in the last few seasons - so I'd disagree with the original post - that there are so many potential hall of famers entering the league! Mind you, there ARE a lot of guys who can contribute at the PG spot.
You put Mike Bibby on the same level as Derek Fisher? To me Bibby, Mo Williams and Jameer Nelson are all the same type player. Like all the other type point guards these days - Good scoring 2 guards in point guard's body, shoots the ball well, brings the ball up the court like they're supposed to, decent to good passing, marginal to adequate defense. Bibby's never been an All Star. Nor has DERON Williams. Maybe it is a stacked position. I agree. Its easier to translate the good shorter college guards game to the NBA now. Years ago size and physical hand checking negated the midget types. Now since thats not an obstacle, guys like Aaron Brooks who shined in college can play how they usually play and have a better chance at contributing. Brooks might not stop anyone, but since they dont care about perimeter defense anyway all he needs to do is come back and score on the other end. Tiny Archibald was actually 6'1". If that was "tiny" then not much has changed at the PG position.
Great future for the pg position in the league however while there is an abundance of quality pg, there seems to be a big dropped on the number of big men. Big men as in center type players and not the power forward type.
1) Allen Iverson is NOT a PG 2) We are looking at overall talent, right? Most of those guys would be bench players back when you could hand check. They just aren't very skilled players. Aaron Brooks, Fisher, Devin Harris, Westbrook, Jameer Nelson, Mo Williams and Tony Parker all owe a significant part of their production to quickness and touch fouls. Overall they are not as talented as their predecessors. It's just that Stern has figured out that brain dead fans want to see scoring at all costs - even if it means bad basketball. Now, if you can run fast and dribble a ball you can play PG in the nba, you don't even have to be able to shoot. Just get in the paint and slam your body into someone - you'll get to the line at an alarming rate. 3) When was the last time you saw a PG get shut down? HINT: It's not because they're all amazingly talented. Rajon Rondo is probably the best PG defender in the league but since no one on planet Earth can stay in front of Derrick Rose he got torched in the playoffs. You just aren't allowed to defend these guys anymore.
Whats shocking is the lack of quality centers. From the top in no particular order, Yao, Howard, Shaq. Basically thats it. Unless you include the likes of Nene, Bogurt, Miller and Chandler. Out of 30 teams, and you can barely name 10 players that you would want in your team if you are starting a new squad.
We just finished up the '08-'09 season, so let's look at the PG crowd from 10 years ago ('98-'99): HOF Material: Jason Kidd John Stockton Gary Payton Above Average: Stephon Marbury (in his prime) Penny Hardaway Mark Jackson Rod Strickland Others of Note: Mookie Blaylock Terrell Brandon Nick Van Exel Chauncey Billups (pre-Detroit) Darrell Armstrong 20 Years Ago ('88-'89 Season): HOF Material: Stockton Magic Johnson Isiah Thomas Others of Note: Mark Price Kevin Johnson Terry Porter Doc Rivers
