NBA point guards For the next five weeks, we will rank the league's starters by position. Today, we look at point guards. Next week: shooting guards. 1. JASON KIDD, New Jersey The Buzz: Can dominate without scoring 2. GARY PAYTON, Seattle The Buzz: May be the best defensive PG ever 3. STEVE FRANCIS, Houston The Buzz: Migraine-free, he will cause others headaches 4. MIKE BIBBY, Sacramento The Buzz: 2002 playoffs were just a glimpse 5. BARON DAVIS, Charlotte The Buzz: Looked a little chunky at world championships 6. STEVE NASH, Dallas The Buzz: Does things you only see in the circus. 7. ANDRE MILLER, L.A. Clippers The Buzz: Steadiness is reminiscent of Maurice Cheeks 8. JOHN STOCKTON, Utah The Buzz: By far, the savviest of this group 9. STEPHON MARBURY, Phoenix The Buzz: Would be better at shooting guard 10. SAM CASSELL, Milwaukee The Buzz: Most underrated elite PG 11. ERIC SNOW, Philadelphia The Buzz: His toughness and maturity are invaluable 12. DARRELL ARMSTRONG, Orlando The Buzz: Technically a sixth man, but you know better 13. TONY PARKER, San Antonio The Buzz: Could be in top 10 at year's end 14. JAY WILLIAMS, Chicago The Buzz: Never played NBA game and is already this high 15. JASON TERRY, Atlanta The Buzz: Scoring machine is Hawks' best PG option 16. JASON WILLIAMS, Memphis The Buzz: Jerry West won't change him 17. DEREK FISHER, L.A. Lakers The Buzz: Being on three-time champs increases profile 18. CHAUNCEY BILLUPS, Detroit The Buzz: Talented but unproven as a floor leader 19. JAMAAL TINSLEY, Indiana The Buzz: Has all the skills; needs better attitude 20. DAMON STOUDAMIRE, Portland The Buzz: Trade him, if you can 21. ALVIN WILLIAMS, Toronto The Buzz: Not a true PG, but who is these days? 22. TRAVIS BEST, Miami The Buzz: Plays better in a reserve role 23. TROY HUDSON, Minnesota The Buzz: Wants to prove he can run a team 24. CHRIS WHITNEY, Washington The Buzz: A Jordan favorite, which is saying something 25. GILBERT ARENAS, Golden State The Buzz: Warriors need an upgrade here 26. SHAMMOND WILLIAMS, Boston The Buzz: Tony Delk could win this spot 27. CHARLIE WARD, New York The Buzz: Knicks are the home of overpaid, limited PGs 28. BIMBO COLES, Cleveland The Buzz: Hopes lead them to LeBron James 29. KENNY SATTERFIELD, Denver The Buzz: Only option since Nuggets waived Mark Jackson http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...767147.column?coll=orl-sports-headlines-bball
Agree with top 3...Bibby a little too high...I'd move him in behind Davis and Nash....If Cassell is underrated and elite, why is he being rated in the middle of the pack?....Snow is way too high...So is Billups...AWilliams is way too low....
I too believe that this is a fair assessment as far as top 10 goes. After that, there's a lot that can be argued.
Bibby is not better than Nash or Andre Miller. He's ranked way too high; considering all he had was a breakout postseason. I think Parker is better than Darrell Armstrong and Eric Snow. And if Whitney was a Jordan favorite, why is he being rumored in every Wizards trade?
The only thing I disagree with is Payton's blurb. The word on the street, whatever the hell that means, has been that his defense has been declining markedly over the last 3 seasons. His steals #'s have fallen off a bit too, so it looks like there may be some truth to that.
I totally agree with this assessment, I also agree with the other poster that said that Alvin Williams is ranked to low. Alvin Williams has some serious game and stop the Cassell flames we definitely know just how good he can be in any situation.
WHAT IS THE CRITERIA???? Love francis, but I would have to say as far as PG's go, you have to think that Nash and Miller have an argument that they are better than Francis: Pts REB FG 3pt FT Ast Ast/TO ratio Nash= 17.9 3.1 48.3 41.9 88.7 7.7 2.75 Miller= 16.5 4.6 45.2 24.5 81.2 10.9 3.63 Francis= 21.6 7.0 41.1 32.4 77.3 6.4 1.64 A PG should make those around him look good. Francis can do that on occasion, but there are others who (at this point) are a little better than Steve.
That was garbled... try this Pts Nash= 17.9 Miller= 16.5 Francis= 21.6 REB Nash= 3.1 Miller= 4.6 Francis= 7.0 FG% Nash= 48.3 Miller= 16.5 Francis= 21.6 3pt% Nash= 41.9 Miller= 24.5 Francis= 32.4 FT% Nash= 88.7 Miller= 81.2 Francis= 77.3 AST Nash= 7.7 Miller= 10.9 Francis= 6.4 AST/TO Ratio Nash= 2.75 Miller= 3.63 Francis= 1.64
i guess the criteria is the best player at that position and steve, imo, is in the right spot. what stat judges how much of a difference you make to your teammates, because it certainly can't just be assists. how good is andre miller or his teammates if they're consistent bottom dwellers and actually worse in each of his 3 years? i'd take francis 100/100 times before nash or miller if i'm starting a team. for the list i'd move baron right behind steve, followed by nash, miller, then bibby dropping to 7.
This is hard to rate because pure point guard is not how the position is played these days. Pure point guard: Jason Kidd Andre Miller Steve Nash John Stockton "Point Guard" Jason Kidd Steve Francis Baron Davis Mike Bibby Gary Payton Steve Nash I rank Steve that high (and would higher) but the jury is out on his headaches. If he were healthy last year how much better would he have been and how would his stats look. How much better will he be this year with Rice, MT, a seasoned Griff, Boki, and Yao Ming? We'll know real soon...
It's interesting that 7 of top 10 listed are playing in the West. Stevie's gonna have quite a battle this coming season.
Andre Miller si WAY overrated. Watch how his assist numbers go DOWN this year, and how his status drops. He's not bad, but he's not top 5. Steve, Payton, Kidd, and Baron are top 4, in no particular order. But Kidd has #1 for sure. After that, it's open. According to reports, Bibby has been in the gym "seven to ten" hours a day this offseaosn, and is a frikkin' stallion. So he may improve his play too. I must say, if Baron slimmed down, he'd pose a REAL threat as best PG in the league next year. Steve needs to improve his D and become a more efficient passer. The rebounds are excessive, and quite frankly useless now that we have Griffin and Yao in the middle.
Hey Dude, Yea, it's close but Bibby showed the real deal in the playoffs last year. Payton's damn good though... I agree, you get to the top five and it's a free for all, they are all damn good...
Looking at number of years in the league: Payton (12 yrs) Kidd (9 yrs) Steve Nash (6 yrs) Bibby (4 yrs) Francis (3 yrs) Davis (3 yrs) We could assess that Payton is on the down turn of his career. Kidd and Nash are at or near their peak. Francis, Davis, and Bibby still have growing potential. So if we were to rate according to future predictions. I would be more prone to agree with your rankings.
