With this year's NBA Draft now past us, many will immediately begin to look towards next year’s rookie class. Point guards rule next years group led by O.J. Mayo (USC), Derrick Rose (Memphis), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Sherron Collins (Kansas), D.J. Augustin (Texas), Scottie Reynolds (Villanova), Mario Chalmers (Kansas). With anticipation of possibly seven point guards being drafted in the first round next year, let’s take a lay-of-the-land and check out the top fifteen true point guards (Monta Ellis, Acie Law, and Leandro Barbosa ruled ineligible) twenty-five years old or younger:
(1) Deron Williams, Utah Jazz, 23
Williams has trimmed down his body fat since entering the league and has continued to show that he has a great grasp of Jazz coach, Jerry Sloan's system. He really knows how to play the game and is one of the best passers in the league. He has a knack for hitting big shots and is a great leader. He is able to compensate on defense for his lack of food speed by playing great position defense. Although he is not the most athletic point guard out there, he is able to bull his way to the hoop by overpowering smaller and weaker defenders. Williams has really improved dramatically each year in the league, and there is no reason to think that this will not continue.
(2) Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets, 22
Paul excels on offense in transition, making lead passes for dunks and lay-ups. In the half court, he has a great handle, including a deadly hesitation move with his right hand. Paul exhibits great court vision and plenty of shot-making skill around the basket. His one weakness right now is outside shooting, but considering how well he shoots free throws that should improve as he acclimates to the longer NBA three point line. Defensively, Paul is very good at getting into the passing lanes and coming away with the ball. The flip side of that is that he must gamble less, or choose his prey more carefully. Paul has quick feet and good strength, though as an undersized player in the league, he's always going to have difficulty with bigger guards backing him down.
(3) Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs, 25
Coming off his third NBA Championship and first as the MVP of the Finals, Parker has certainly solidified himself as one of the best point guards in the NBA. Much like Paul, Parker has mastered the ability to get into the lane at will. Parker is a deadly weapon on pick-and-roll plays because of his quickness. Defenders try to go under the screen and force Parker to shoot a jumper, but he's so fast that he often can beat defenders to the other side and go in for a lay-up. He also has a superb teardrop shot - perhaps the best in the game - which he uses to great effect when he can't get all the way to the rim. Unlike his jumper, Parker has always shot the teardrop with plenty of arc, and he releases it very fast. Defensively, Parker is underrated. Between his outstanding quickness and his now considerable experience, he's become one of the better defenders at his position. Long-range shooting is the biggest weakness in Parker's game.
(4) Devin Harris, Dallas Mavericks, 24
Harris has blinding quickness off-the-dribble reminiscent of Kevin Johnson, and seems able to get to the basket at will. He needs to get better at finishing once he's there, however, as he had a penchant for blowing layups. His shooting also seems to be inconsistent. Harris could stand to take more three point attempts in order to open his game up. In order to raise his game to the elite level, he will need to work on this perimeter shooting. On the defensive end, based on his quickness and size he can defend both point guards and shooting guards.
(5) Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies, 20
Conley is an ultra-quick lefty point guard with a solid feel for running a team. His ability to get by opposing guards and into the paint is on the elite level. He makes great decisions on the floor and has a great wingspan for a point guard. He is an above average athlete and plays the passing lanes well. Conley has a nice assortment of midrange runners and shots in the paint going towards the rim. His outside shooting is still a major question mark, and could stand to improve his percentage at the free throw line. However, he has proven in the past to be fearless and steps up big when it matters.
(6) Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats, 23
Felton has outstanding quickness going to the basket and has a talent for creating plays off the dribble. He sees the court well, especially in transition, and he's a good rebounder for his size. Offsetting that is a shaky jump shot and finishing skills. Felton struggles to convert when he went to the rim against bigger defenders. Felton will also need to improve his overall defensive skills.
(7) T.J. Ford, Toronto Raptors, 24
Ford is a jackrabbit point guard who excels at pushing the ball and getting his team open-court opportunities. In the half court he can penetrate almost at will thanks to his quickness and an outstanding change of pace move. He tends to get in trouble when he over-penetrates, causing turnovers. Ford is a poor outside shooter who defenses continually dare to shoot. His weak shot makes him very easy to defend on pick-and-rolls, because the defender can go under the screen and know that Ford won't beat him from outside. Ford is great at pressuring the ball, but is a magnet for post-up guards.
(8) Marcus Williams, New Jersey Nets, 21
Though not a great athlete, Williams is a smooth operator at the point reminiscent of Mark Jackson. He sees the floor, can break down defenses, and has good size for his position. He's not a great shooter, but his lefthanded shot appears good enough to keep opponents honest. He may still be a step slow to defend the league’s top point guards, but as he gains more game experience, his defense should improve.
(9) Jarrett Jack, Portland Trail Blazers, 23
While his defense is certainly NBA-quality, Jack’s inability to connect from outside makes him less of a threat on the pick-and-roll. Of particular concern is his turnover ratio, although it did improve last season. With a solid base, Jack has the strength to power his way to the rim when he gets a step on defenders, and he may be able to develop a post game that complements his strength when he's opposed by smaller guards.
(10) Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic, 25
Nelson is a short point guard, but powerfully built and penetrates explosively when going to the right. He shoots the ball well from the three point line, making him deadly in the pick-and-roll. Nelson's strength allows him to muscle up shots after taking contact, although he seems more content to pull up or shoot a floater. He's a score-first point guard but he's not blind either. Nelson is really good at pressuring the ball, forcing dribblers to take time off the shot clock while working upcourt, and he does it without taking unnecessary gambles.
(11) Sergio Rodriguez, Portland Trail Blazers, 21
Rodriguez is an outstanding dribbler and passer, has good size and at a young age, can still improve greatly. His outside shot and defense both are major question marks. He also needs to improve his physical strength in order to improve his overall effectiveness. Rodriguez owns a lethal crossover, and can take any defender one-on-one. He also has the ability to find the open teammate in traffic, but still can sometimes be careless with the ball. As he gets more experience, Rodriguez will continue to improve and may become one of the best point guards in the league in the near future.
(12) Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors, 25
Calderon is a speedy dribbler with long arms. He dribbles equally well with both hands and sees the floor very well. He continually posts excellent assists numbers, but sometimes gets in trouble when he drives and leaves his feet before knowing where he'll pass the ball. Calderon needs to improve his outside shot, so opponents cannot sag off him. Because of he currently struggles with his outside shot, defenders force him to drive into crowds when he penetrates, which often leads to turnovers. Defensively, Calderon's length and quickness make him a good perimeter defender, but he needs to add muscle. Adding some meat on his bones would also help him absorb contact at the offensive end when he goes to the rim.
(13) Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics, 21
Quickness, long arms, and the ability to push the pace give many hope that Rondo will be a success in the NBA. He has great body control and finishes well at the basket. However, a lack of a jump shot could put that success in jeopardy. Defensively, Rondo excels with quick hands and a knack for stealing the ball. He’s also a fantastic rebounder for a guard, but his understanding of the game must evolve.
(14) Kyle Lowry, Memphis Grizzlies, 21
Although he has great promise, Lowry has struggled to get playing time in the league. He is an energetic, ball-hawking guard who can penetrate and dish. Lowry is a gritty and tough defender, who has a knack for stealing the ball. In the past, he has shown a big heart and great passion for the game. He plays bigger than his actual size and is a very physical guard. His jump shot off the dribble is his biggest weakness. His overall perimeter game needs more consistency.
(15) Sebastian Telfair, Boston Celtics, 22
Telfair is incredibly quick and a fantastic ball handler, qualities which made him a lottery pick. The first player of his size to turn pro directly out of high school, Telfair has taken his lumps in the NBA largely because of his poor jump shot. With defenders sagging several feet off him and daring him to shoot, his trademark penetrating ability has been neutralized. Because of this, his assist ratio has struggled. However, this is not because of his inability to see the floor – he can be a dazzling passer at times. It's just that he has no answer right now when teams take that play away. He needs to become a better finisher around the basket. Telfair thrives in an up-tempo environment, which would also have helped him defensively. With a small frame, he is great at pressuring the ball, but vulnerable when defending bigger guards.
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