September 27, 2013
Top 10 Shooting Guards
By Willard Smith
Following on from my successful ranking of teams, I will try my hand at ranking each NBA position 10 through to 1. Don’t crucify me if you don’t see your favorite player here. I’m sure you will all have your own arguments and justifications for including snubbed players!
I forgot to add the players who are ‘on the bubble’ so I guess I got to do it right here. Allen Iverson, Ben Gordon, Michael Redd, Andrew Watson and Rip Hamilton are all player who nearly made my top 10. (Gordon is probably the biggest snub as he averages over 20 points a game.) These three guys can all score but that’s about it. The rest of the guys ahead of them have a bit ‘extra’. Enjoy this top 10. It was definitely fun to rank but the real challenges come up ahead with point guards and small forwards!Top Ten10. OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies, 25, Years Pro: 6
2012-13 stats: 18.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 17.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 410 GP, 410 GSWith Martti Must gone, mark my words – OJ Mayo is going to have a breakout season. Mayo has always had all the makings of a talented scorer in the NBA. The only thing missing was shot attempts. With Must gone, a ton more shots are coming Mayo’s way. Even if the Grizzlies don’t win much, Mayo is going to put on a show!
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9. Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors, 28, Years Pro: 9
2012-13 stats: 18.2 PPG, 6.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 17.8 PPG, 6.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 608 GP, 529 GSEllis has long been the leader for Golden State. He is their best scorer and the one who pushes the team at the frantic pace they still play at post-Don Nelson. No one likes to match up with Ellis because he just keeps coming at you.
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8. Tracy McGrady, Denver Nuggets, 37, Years Pro: 19
2012-13 stats: 24.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 22.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1077 GP, 934 GSThe statistics are deceiving and all I can say is that Tracy McGrady is doing what he has done for most of his career – building up great numbers on crap teams. Don’t let these ones fool you though as T-Mac is doing more harm than good as he hurts Denver with a low shooting percentage (.426 from field) and his high turnovers (3.1 per game). However, when putting it all into perspective; he’s not bad for someone missing all of 2011-12 to back injury. Now that he’s acclimatized in Denver, will he do something worthwhile in his nineteenth year in the league?
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7. Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers, 35, Years Pro: 18
2012-13 stats: 21.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.0 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 25.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1275 GP, 1127 GSKobe is still the man you want with the basketball when it is crunch time. Although the ability to single handily beat the opposition for an entire game isn’t there anymore; Bryant has learnt to play the steady hand and strike at the most opportune time. The Lakers may not be winning as much as they used to but Bryant still commands the double team. He’s slowing down though and all the wear and tear over his career has caught up to him. Let’s see how smart he will be with his playing time this season.
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6. Kevin Martin, Minnesota Timberwolves, 30, Years Pro: 10
2012-13 stats: 22.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 84 GP, 84 GS
Career stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 652 GP, 572 GSBanished from Sacramento for not being buddies with Moses Chara, Kevin Martin helped deliver a title to the Kings as well as played 84 games last season. Now try to tell me that isn’t an achievement! With a fresh start in Minnesota and a team to call his own for the first time since 2009-10, Martin looks like he is in great form.
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5. Reshawn Tyson, Seattle Stealth, 24, Years Pro: 5
2012-13 stats: 23.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 18.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 311 GP, 185 GSTyson is one of the most exciting up-and-comers in the league. His high-flying antics and all-around game have helped him become a fan favorite in Seattle as well as in his native New York. After knocking back contract offers from the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic this past Summer, Tyson will go back to work with the Stealth for now. Trade rumors aside, we all know that Tyson has a shot at taking away teammate Kevin Durant’s title as ‘Seattle’s best player’.
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4. Joe Johnson, Utah Jazz, 32, Years Pro: 13
2012-13 stats: 24.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 20.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 953 GP, 882 GSJoe Johnson is one of the most lethal scorers in the NBA and, alongside Deron Williams, forms one-half of the NBA’s highest scoring SG-PG starting tandem. Joe Johnson could make his game rise even higher by having better shot selection. That’s been a problem of his since joining Utah. His first season with the Jazz was woeful and although he has improved by leaps and bounds, he still needs to work on that decision making. He’s a bit too trigger happy.
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3. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards, 31, Years Pro: 13
2012-13 stats: 24.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 23.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 841 GP, 815 GSOne of the most talented players in the NBA and also one of the most talkative. Arenas has been so important in keeping the Wizards relevant and he does such a great job because of his talent. If only he could motivate Lamarcus Aldridge as well as he writes his blogs, then perhaps Agent Zero wouldn’t always be gone fishing every April. Well, the good thing for Arenas is that since the Wizards have been going nowhere – there are whispers of a trade out of the nation’s capital.
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2. Andre Iguodala, Philapdelphia 76ers, 29, Years Pro: 10
2012-13 stats: 20.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, .507 FG%, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, .483 FG%, 732 GP, 732 GSThe most underrated guard in the NBA, full stop. And he is also the best defensive guard in the NBA, hands down. Iggy is going to have a tough year in Philly with the team he has at the moment but the good thing is that he will get to show off more of his skills. No one knows how good this guy really is but believe me; Iggy is good. He is really good. If Philadelphia make the playoffs without three of their starters from last season then Iggy overtakes the next guy next year.
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1. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, 31, Years Pro: 11
2012-13 stats: 25.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 7.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, 82 GP, 82 GS
Career stats: 24.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 718 GP, 710 GSAnd here we are at number 1 and no surprise who is here waiting. Dwyane Wade had one of his best season last season and don’t expect him to stop. The only thing stopping him will be a knee injury or something (touch wood). I don’t need to say much because we all know that Wade is the best 2-guard in the game today.
