There seems to be more great point guards in the NBA today than ever before.
Many times throughout NBA history, there have been eras that certain positions dominate. Centers dominated in the past and for a while it seemed you could not win a championship without a great one. Other positions were prevalent at times, but today it is point guards. Every time you turn on an NBA game, you see an epic battle at the point guard position.
The list extends to almost all 30 teams but let's just list a few:
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks
Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
John Wall, Washington Wizards
Mike Connolly, Memphis Grizzlies
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Just for historical perspective, when I played in the 1980s, it seemed that every team had a great small forward.
Just to name a few:
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
Bernard King, New York Knicks
Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks
James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers
Jamaal Wilkes, Los Angeles Lakers
Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
Larry Nance, Cleveland CavaliersPhoenix Suns
John Drew, Atlanta Hawks
Purvis Short, Golden State Warriors
Chris Mullin, Golden State Warriors
Xavier McDaniel, Seattle Supersonics
Kelly Tripucka, Detroit Pistons
Adrian Dantley, Utah Jazz
Tom Chambers, Phoenix Suns
Alex English, Denver Nuggets
That is quite a list of talented small forwards. There are many factors as to why the pendulum has swung so far.
1. More kids are playing point guard today. It is certainly the “cool position” to play. Somebody with a wicked handle has respect.
2. The game is taught differently at the youth level today. No one wants to play the center or pivot position anymore. At the Amateur Athletic Union and “And 1” level, the art of dribbling is rewarded and emphasized by style of play. A wide-open game that focuses on fast breaks and one-on-one basketball rules the day.
3. The NBA rules state that you cannot hold or put your hands on players anymore. Those types of rules were always there but the NBA has made a point of emphasizing them to make a better game. A few years ago the game was getting very rough and physical and it detracted from the beauty of basketball itself. The game today is called much differently and rewards the skilled and quick.
4. The NBA rule of “defensive three seconds” has left the middle of the lane much more open. This allows the quicker players to have much more of an effect on the offensive end of the court.
5. This is an extension of reason three. Since players can't push and shove or grab as much defensively, quickness on defense has become more of an asset. This rewards the quicker smaller point guards.
6. The definition of a point guard has changed. Players like Westbrook or Rose may not be true point guards but are extremely effective at that position because of their extreme athleticism.
The flood of great point guards just seems to continue and the game is better for it. The NBA has never been more exciting and the overall talent level is at an all-time high. A wide-open game where skills and athleticism are emphasized makes the NBA game much more enjoyable to watch.
Top free agents still available
Kenyon Martin, in his day, was a force to be reckoned with at the power forward position. He put fear into any opposition's eyes and there was no better defender in an endgame situation. Some team that needs toughness could do a lot worse.
Delante West is a troubled but very talented guard. In the right situation, probably a veteran established team; he can add scoring and defensive presence.
Fantasy Tip
Any time you see a veteran, age 35 or older, playing big minutes and putting up great numbers be wary. Older players have a great tendency to get hurt. They are just not as flexible and do not recover as well as players in their 20s. So if you find somebody like that on your team and they have had a great run, perhaps the best advice is 'sell high.' The exception to this rule could be East-leading New York Knick's starting guard, Jason Kidd. At 39, he seems to keep finding new ways to be effective and his teammates credit him with their success so far. Truly he is an ageless wonder.
Congratulations
Blake Griffin and Josh Smith have been named West and East NBA players of the week. Both guys have been unstoppable lately. Their respective teams, the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks, have been quietly becoming two of the best teams in the league. Griffin is like a runaway freight train, there is just absolutely no way to stop him. Smith is more under control than ever and is finally getting the accolades his talent deserves.
