Regan: NFL Preview

Here is a very brief team-by-team overview of the 2011 NFL season. GO COWBOYS!!!

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills- Sorry Bills fans, the bad records you have become accustomed to is a trend that is going to continue this season. If I were the owner I would tell my coaches to make sure they lose every game so they can get Andrew Luck with the first pick in next year’s draft, but they won’t do that.           

2011 Record Prediction: 5-11

Miami Dolphins- I honestly don’t know a whole lot about the Dolphins except they have a quarterback that ranks among the bottom third of the league at his position, the same can be said about their running back. Also, Marc Anthony and J-LO own a portion of the team; now that they are divorced I don’t know how that’ll work. Anyways, another mediocre season for Miami.

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

New England Patriots- Looking to rebound after a tough playoff loss to their nemesis the Jets. Fortunately, they still have the best quarterback and best coach in the game. I think they are just as good as last year when they finished 14-2.

2011 Record Prediction: 13-3

New York Jets- My least favorite team in the league (that’s not a major Cowboys rival) unfortunately should be formidable again with a good running game and stout defense. Will go as far as Mark Sanchez can take them.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans- No team happier about Manning’s injury, although I’m sure they would never admit it. Potent offense led by Andre Johnson and Arian Foster should score a lot of points, the addition of Wade Phillips at defensive coordinator should improve the defense. Look for the Texans to win division for first time in franchise history.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

Indianapolis Colts- Thanks to a certain quarterback’s bad neck this team will lose a lot for the first time in a long time. If the line and receivers are legit they’ll win a few games, if Manning was the only reason they have been legit they will win less then a few games.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

Jacksonville Jaguars- They released a slightly below average quarterback for an extremely below average one. They’ll run the ball a lot and have success with that, and continue to be the team no one ever thinks about, even the majority of the people in Jacksonville.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

Tennessee Titans- A new coach, new quarterback, and new very large contract for running back Chris Johnson. I think Hasselback will actually fit in very well with the Titans, and I think the Titans could surprise a lot of people and possibly win this division. (But probably not)

2011 Record Prediction: 8-8

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos- A team with a lot of question marks under new coach John Fox. Former coach Josh McDaniels certainly didn’t do the team a whole lot of favors, setting them up for the future. On offense they are going to run the football with Knowshon Moreno, a high pick who has yet to prove anything in the NFL. If Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil can be major force in the running game and get to the quarterback, it would greatly help a secondary that’s ancient in a couple spots (Dawkins, Bailey) and extremely young at another (Moore). A favorable schedule in a below average division helps a lot but reaching .500 is still a stretch.

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

Kansas City Chiefs- Last year the Chiefs were one of the NFL’s biggest surprises, however I don’t think they can expect to repeat the success from 2010 to this year. They had so much go just right last year, and that doesn’t happen year to year in less you’re actually a really good team, which the Chiefs aren’t.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

Oakland Raiders- I have no idea why so many people outside of the Oakland area seem to like the Raiders, they haven’t been good in almost a decade, and things aren’t looking up, they will be bad again this year. Their best player is the punter Shane Lechler if that tells you anything.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

San Diego Chargers- Worst special teams in history last year, which just cannot happen again, especially with the new kickoff rules. Until last year they had ruled this division for the majority of the last six or seven years, this year they will regain the top spot led by MVP candidate Philip Rivers.

2011 Record Prediction: 11-5

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: They’ve been a very good team the last couple years, and they will be again this year. The aging defense led by Ray Lewis still has a year or two of dominance left in them, and Ray Rice is a stud at running back. However, they will suffer another early exit in the playoffs because Joe Flacco isn’t capable of leading a team to the Super Bowl, he’s a decent quarterback, but not one of the elite that can take a team to the Super Bowl.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

Cincinnati Bengals- A team that finished 4-12 record last year is somehow a lot worse. Andy Dalton may have a good career, but he won’t have good season, the running situation is average at best, and the same can be said for the defense, although I don’t think either area will even be average. My deep apologies Bengals fans.

2011 Record Prediction: 2-14

Cleveland Browns: A team that is on the rise with a running back they like in Peyton Hillis and a quarterback they think is the guy in Colt McCoy. However, they don’t really have any other offensive playmakers and with the likes of Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the division they need more playmakers. Yet another rebuilding year for the Browns

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

Pittsburgh Steelers- The defending AFC champs come into this season hungry to get back to the Super Bowl as well as get a few more fines for cheap shots and illegal hits, and with a cast that is pretty all much returning they should have a pretty good shot at just that if they stay healthy.

2011 Record Prediction: 12-4

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys- My favorite team, and as the readers of this blog know I am extremely biased towards my favorite teams and favorite players. That is going to continue right now. However, hear me out, the Cowboys have the offensive weapons and an offensive mind (Head Coach Jason Garrett) to make them unstoppable. They do have a few offensive line question marks. But even with those question marks this offense will be among the tops in the league. Tony Romo is looking as good as ever and has great chemistry with receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant as well as the best tight end in the league Jason Witten. On defense they were horrible last year, but two years ago they were a top 10 defenses with primarily the same players. They are capable of being pretty good and I think they will be.

2011 Record Prediction 10-6

New York Giants: Injuries have really hurt them already this season especially on defense, and they were on the decline anyway. Eli is an interception machine, the running game isn’t that great. Ahmed Bradshaw was fine as a second back but a little out of his league as a featured back. Plus, they always suck in the second half.

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

Philadelphia Eagles- The favorite in this division and rightfully so, they have lots of talent on both sides of the ball. But forgive me if I don’t jump on the Eagles bandwagon (and not just because I have always freaking hated the Eagles). Mike Vick is a spectacular talent but he’s played a full season just once and back up Vince Young is a guy that, well… deserves to be a back up. I’m just not convinced they’ll totally mesh, but they will still be really good.

2011 Record Prediction: 11-5

Washington Redskins- Rex Grossman is the starting quarterback, that’s all you need to know.

2011 Record Prediction: 5-11

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons- A really good team last season that should on paper be better with the addition of Julio Jones on offense and Ray Edward on the defensive line. They have a really well rounded offense and this is the year Matt Ryan needs to step up and carry this team to some playoff wins.

2011 Record Prediction: 12-4

Carolina Panthers: They have some talent, but not enough quite yet, especially in a division as tough as this one. Unless Cam Newton can carry the Panthers the way he carried Auburn last year, which he most likely won’t, it will be another dismal season for Carolina fans.

2011 Record Prediction: 5-11

New Orleans Saints- They win a lot of games but I don’t know how. Drew Brees is a stud, one of the top few quarterbacks in the game and Marques Colston is a solid receiver but other then that, they just don’t have a lot of great players. However, they do have great coaching and one of the best at the most important position, and just enough talent to reach the playoffs but they’ll lose early again.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

Tampa Bay Bucs- The media loves Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, and he’s solid, but I do not understand the infatuation with him at all, you would think he was as good as Manning or Brady. (Just venting some frustration) Last season they finished 10-6. They won a lot of close games and a lot of games against subpar teams. People consider Tampa to be a fun, trendy pick this year… not smart.

2011 Record Prediction: 8-8

NFC  WEST

Arizona Cardinals- Even if Kevin Kolb is as good as Arizona hopes he is, this will still be a subpar season in Arizona. The defense is not very good and the running back is Beanie Wells. And by the way I don’t think Kolb is that great. (Although a definite upgrade from last season’s qb saga in Arizona) However, being in the worst division in football should help.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

San Francisco 49ers- They should give Alex Smith five or six games to prove himself, if he’s bad they should tank for Andrew Luck, if he’s decent they should probably tank for Andrew Luck, if he’s actually good they should consider it a fluke and still tank for Andrew Luck.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

Seattle Seahawks- Their starting quarterback isn’t Rex Grossman. You are probably thinking, “Hmmm that’s a good thing.” Well the Seahawks starting quarterback is Tarvaris Jackson; yeah somehow Grossman isn’t the worst starting quarterback in this league. The Cowboys have three quarterbacks better then Jackson.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

St. Louis Rams- This is a trendy pick among fans and experts as well this year, and in this case I’m going to have to agree. Because Sam Bradford is an absolute stud, in five years when Brady, Manning, and Brees have all regressed or retired he will be fighting Rodgers for the title of best quarterback alive. Stephen Jackson is an underrated running back who will give the offense good balance and propel the Rams to the division title.

2011 Record Prediction: 9-7

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears- Last year this lackluster team somehow made it into the playoffs and into the NFC championship game, well that’s not happening this year. Jay Cutler is not a winner and never will be a winner. Last year was an absolute fluke.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

Detroit Lions- The Lions are a team to watch out for if they can stay healthy, particularly quarterback Matthew Stafford. They have a top 5 receiver in Calvin Johnson, a solid running back and when he’s healthy Stafford is tough to stop. And Ndamukong Suh is in my opinion already about the best defensive player in the entire NFL.  The Lions will reach .500 but no playoffs quite yet.

2011 Record Prediction: 8:8

Green Bay Packers- I admit I’m writing this after their Opening Night win over the Saints, so I’ve already had the chance to kind of evaluate them. The Packers offense is going to be an absolute nightmare for every other team in the league. I really don’t think they can be stopped. Aaron Rodgers is better then every other quarterback in the NFL except for Brady, and he’s probably tied with Brady. Good offensive line, good running back, good tight end, good receivers. The offense has no weaknesses whatsoever. The defense looked a little shaky at time Thursday night but that’s against an elite offensive team, they’ve proven to be a good defense.

2011 Record Prediction: 13-3

Minnesota Vikings- All depends on how much Donovan McNabb has left, they have the best running back in the league, but that won’t matter if McNabb can’t make some plays. They have a favorable schedule; even so I don’t see the Vikings making a playoff push.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

·      So based off my predictions the playoff teams from the AFC will be the Patriots, Steelers, Chargers, Jets, and Ravens, and Texans.

·      From the NFC: Eagles, Cowboys, Falcons, Rams, Packers, and Saints

·      I think in the AFC championship we’ll see Patriots vs. the Steelers

·      NFC Championship will feature Packers vs. Cowboys (don’t judge me)

·      In the Super Bowl it’ll be Packer vs. Patriots

·      And the champion will be …… the Green Bay Packers for the second year in a row.

The MVP of the league will also be a repeat; Tom Brady will win it again. Suh will be the defensive MVP.

Devin:NFL Preview

A brief overview of the upcoming season. I'm just glad to be back to football!!

AFC North

Pittsburg Steelers-The Steelers possess a nasty defense and a strong running game, key elements to any championship run. Once again, this division is theirs to lose. 13-3

Baltimore Ravens-They will once again have one of the best defenses in the NFL, but I don’t trust Flacco to ever take them to the promise land. 10-6

Cleveland Browns-With one year under Colt McCoy’s belt and the dominant running of Peyton Hillis, the Browns will only get better. 8-8

Cincinnati Bengals-Maybe signing every thug in the NFL is catching up with Cincinnati. A rookie quarterback throwing to a rookie wide receiver is the least of their troubles, this team is a mess. 2-14

AFC South

Houston Texans-Mark my words, this is the Texans year. They return a strong offense with a vastly improved defense. Look for them to make some noise this season. 11-5

Indianapolis Colts-Without Manning this is a 4-12 team, and that’s being generous. Lucky for them the rest of this division is terrible and Manning might be back towards the end of the season. 8-8

Jacksonville Jaguars-Cutting David Garrard was an interesting move, but this team has some pieces to be successful in the future. Still a middle of the pack team right now though. 6-10

Tennessee Titans-Don’t expect the world from Chris Johnson, I actually expect a down year. Hasselbeck isn’t the answer; hopefully Jake Locker is a quick learner. 4-12

AFC East

New England Patriots-The rich get richer; or better in the Patriots case. Ochocinco and Haynesworth will revive their careers and the Patriots will again dominate. 14-2

New York Jets-Its time the Jets put their money where Rex Ryan’s mouth is. Sanchez will have his best year, and they will again make it deep in the playoffs. But can they make it past the AFC championship? 11-5

Miami Dolphins-They have a strong defense, but the offense will not be very affective as long as Chad Henne is at the helm. I’m not sure why they didn’t go after Orton. 8-8

Buffalo Bills- They upgraded their defense tremendously with Marcell Dareus and Shawn Merriman, but that offense is still a glaring weakness. Another team with huge QB questions. 4-12

AFC West

San Diego Chargers-They will return an all around dominant team. The special teams will be better, which is all this team needs. Don’t look much past the regular season for them though. 11-5

Kansas City Chiefs-If Cassell can have another strong year this team will be successful. The defense is growing into a good unit, and Jamaal Charles will continue to average insane yards per carry. 9-7

Denver Broncos-This team is vastly improved from last season. Look for their defense to surprise people and Knowshow Moreno to have a breakout year. Von Miller=Defensive Rookie of the Year. 8-8

Oakland Raiders-Al Davis will somehow find a way to make his team a bottom dweller again. They lost too much in free agency and it will affect them more than they imagined. DMC and Bush will single handedly will 4 games for this team. 5-11

NFC North

Green Bay Packers-I see no reason why they can’t repeat. Aaron Rogers is without a doubt the best QB in the NFL, they have several starters returning from injury, and Clay Matthews is just plain scary! 15-1

Detroit Lions-Detroit finally makes the jump from the bottom of the NFC North. Their defense looks fantastic on paper and if Stafford can stay healthy he will go to the Pro Bowl. 11-5

Chicago Bears-The Bears go by the rule of 3, they have a good season every 3 years. Seeing as how they won the division last year, look for a down year. Cutler throws over 20 int’s again and they resemble the 2009 Bears. 7-9

Minnesota Vikings- Adrian Peterson will get his, but the departures of Sidney Rice and Ray Edwards will hurt a lot. McNabb will be better than last year, but not good enough to make this team competitive. 5-11

NFC South

New Orleans Saints- They have an all world offense, and can score in no time at all. Vilma is the center of a strong defense that never gets enough credit due to the offense outshining everyone. 13-3

Atlanta Falcons-Julio Jones completes this offense and gives Matt Ryan yet another target. They will come into the season with a chip on their shoulders due to the beating Green Bay gave them. 11-5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers-They will soon have a very scary defense again. Josh Freeman will continue to surprise people and the Bucs will have another strong year. Too bad they play in the NFC South. 10-6

Carolina Panthers-Cam Newton is not the answer, and the Panthers will soon find this out. They did good to keep most of their free agents, but this team is several years away from legitimacy. 4-12

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles-The Eagles have the most dynamic offense in the NFL and a totally revamped defense. There is no real threat to them in their division. 12-4

Dallas Cowboys- For some reason they did absolutely nothing to improve that terrible defense. But, their offense can be legit; and if Felix Jones can stay healthy you will be hearing a lot about him this season. 9-7

New York Giants-Even with Peyton sitting on the bench he is still the best Manning brother. Injuries this preseason have absolutely killed their defense. Even their much heralded draft class is suffering. Look for a slow start but a strong finish. 7-9

Washington Redskins-Rex Grossman as a starter spells failure for any team. Their offense is full of no names and their defense won’t be able to carry them. Don’t expect much from this team. 4-12

NFC West

St. Louis Rams-With Sam Bradford slingin it and Steven Jackson running it, this offense will put up points this year. As long as their defense is even decent the division is theirs for the taking. 10-6

Arizona Cardinals-Kevin Kolb better look Larry Fitzgerald’s way alot, because that’s all he has. Patrick Peterson will prove worthy of his #5 draft selection and make fans forget about DRC. 9-7

San Francisco 49ers-They have one of the best ‘QB’s’ on defense with Patrick Willis, but can anyone tell me why Alex Smith is still the starter? Maybe Harbaugh can be a miracle worker, but probably not. 6-10

Seattle Seahawks-I, for one, feel like Pete Carroll wants Andrew Luck. Why else would you trade for Travaris Jackson? Trust me, at season’s end the Seahawks will be in the running for the #1 draft pick. 3-13

NFL MVP-Aaron Rogers
Defensive MVP-Ndamukong Suh
Offensive MVP-Phillip Rivers

Playoffs
Wild Card

Ravens vs. Texans-Texans 25-23

Chargers vs. Jets-Jets 27-14

Eagles vs. Lions-Eagles 32-21

Falcons vs. Rams-Falcons 34-17

Divisonal Round

Texans vs. Steelers-Steelers 38-13

Patriots vs. Jets-Jets 19-17

Saints vs. Eagles-Saints 29-24

Packers vs. Falcons-Packers 32-19

Conference Championships

Steelers vs. Jets-Jets 13-9

Packers vs. Saints-Packers 35-21

Super Bowl XLVI

Packers vs. Jets

Packers 27-19

Regan: NBA's Top 5 Point Guards

Point guard is arguably the deepest position in the NBA right now. However, this prestigious list is in what my opinion is the top 5.

5. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder- I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about basketball, and I generally make good predictions and have good analysis (unless I’m biased, which I am quite often actually) but I was completely wrong on Russell Westbrook, when he was drafted I thought he was going to be a bust, even after he had a really good rookie year I still predicted failure for him. But now after his third year in the league I have to admit this guy is a stud. This past year he averaged 22 points a game 8 assists and almost 5 rebounds a game. He’s probably the best rebounding point guard in the league, which may be a result of having insane leaping ability but it’s still impressive. Likewise, he’s quick enough to explode by just about anyone and get to the rim. As a result he’s able to set up teammates for open shots, get easy shots, or get to the free throw line, all very positive things. The Thunder had one of the top offenses in the league despite starting Kendrick Perkins at center, arguably the worst offensive center in the league, whose only claim to fame is having the ability to look angry at all times, and Westbrook had a lot to do with that. In addition, he’s also solid defensively and as he matures should get even better. However, he does possess a bad qualities, he takes a lot of outside shots, which would be fine if he was the next guy on this list but he’s not and as a result misses a lot of them. He shoots way too much for a point guard and he has a tendency to turn the ball over at crucial times. As a Mavs fan I considered it a great defensive possession for us if he pulled up from outside 15 feet. But despite these weaknesses there is no doubt he has earned a spot on this list.

4. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns- He is by far the oldest player on this list, but at 37 he’s still making baffling defenses with his pinpoint passing and sweet shooting stroke. The two-time MVP may be the best pure shooter in NBA history with a career averages of 42% from long range, 48% on field goals, and a tad over 90% from the free throw line. If he has an open shot you players might as well start running back to the opposite side of the court. Over the last several years the Suns always rank right at the top in nearly every offensive category, and it’s because Nash has run their fast paced offense to perfection. Several times, such as last summer when Amar’e Stodemire signed with New York, people wondered if Nash would be the juggernaut he had been for the years with the all-star forward and sure enough Phoenix was still a great offensive team with Nash averaging 11.5 assists a game. As most of you probably already know, Nash sucks at defense but in his defense he’s really small, not as athletic as most NBA point guards, and also defense has never been a point of emphasis in Phoenix. Plus, according to stats researched by Sports Illustrated Writer Zach Lowe statistically Nash isn’t that bad of a defensive player. However, his offensive dominance outweighs his defensive weaknesses. Although a couple years removed from his prime he still runs the Suns offense as well as any point guard in the league.

3. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls- The reigning MVP of the league is only 22 years old, which is scary for the rest of the league. 22 is barely older then me which is kind of strange, however I digress. Rose is one of the most athletic, explosive players in a league of athletic, explosive human beings. Sometimes when he jumps up for one of his patented two handed slams, while he’s in midair he seems to get an extra lift like there is an invisible trampoline in the air. (I wonder if he has Flubber in his shoes, remember the Robin Williams movie? I think this is a definite possibility) Furthermore, no one in the NBA can stay in front of him (except for LeBron as we found out in the conference finals). This past season he averaged an astonishing 25 points and 7 assists a game, good assists numbers but not he’s not a natural distributor the way the two guys ahead of him are. His defense is pretty good but not great and his shooting although improved is still very spotty. He took 101 3’s during this last postseason and shot below 25%. That’s horrible, beyond horrible, like you almost have to try to be that bad. And yet, he still shot over 100 of them in just 16 games. That’s well over five a game! You would think after missing his 60^th or so he would have figured out “hey I can’t shoot 3’s maybe I should stop” but he didn’t. He may rise on this list in the future, and I think he will, but for now this is as high as I can put him.

2. Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets- Currently a member of the Turkish Basketball League, but obviously better known for his career in the USA. This guy is stupid good, his array of no-look passes, crossovers, and crazy shots make him one of the most exciting players in the NBA to watch. Having said that, he is not nearly the explosive player Rose is, and is not the reigning MVP, (Rose is) in fact Williams has never won an MVP, but he is a better point guard then Derrick Rose. Williams is a much better shooter especially from deep, and for all his greatness, and he is great, Rose tends to shoot his team out of games from time to time whereas Williams doesn’t have that problem. When it comes to passing Williams is as good as anyone in the league right now with the exception of Nash and the guy ahead of him on this list. This past season Williams averaged a double double with over 20 points and over 10 assists per game, and for his career has averaged 17 points and 9 assists per game. The only reasons I didn’t give Williams the top spot on this list is he can be turnover prone at times, whereas the guy ahead of him isn’t, likewise the guy ahead of him is leaps and bounds ahead of him defensively. However, being the 2^nd best point guard in the world isn’t bad at all, he is a really good player. Turkey will be delighted to have this tatted up American in their midst.

  

1.     Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets- Without a doubt the best point guard in the NBA right now. There are absolutely no weaknesses in his game right now. He can pass, shoot, get to the rim, and play smothering defense. Just a few months ago he almost single handedly beat the mighty LA Lakers (although I’m glad he didn’t, it was much more satisfying to see my Mavs take them down) he was by far and away the best player in that series. Likewise a couple years ago his Hornets took out my Mavs in the playoffs and it was because of Paul, he completely owned us, and I hated him for it but I’m over it now… I think. Anyways, Paul had the best Player Efficiency Rating among point guards last season, a good point guard is often referred to as a floor general and no point guard in the league epitomizes that title better then Paul. He sees the floor better than anyone else, as evidenced by his career average of 9.9 assists per game, which ranks behind only Magic Johnson and John Stockton as best assists per game for a career. Paul has made the last four all-star teams (first four out of several I’m sure) and his shooting has gotten better and better, he shot nearly 40% from three point land last season and nearly 50% from the field, very good percentages especially for a point guard. On defense, he is a menace for other teams, he’s always around the ball and he’s really good at taking it away he has made three all defensive teams and should make many more. He is the only player in NBA history to lead the league in steals and assists in consecutive seasons. Also, this last season his supporting cast was Marco Belinelli, Trevor Ariza, and Emeka Okafor that team would have trouble scoring 70 points without Paul, but with Paul they had a very good offensive attack and it’s only because they had the best point in the league. Chris Paul isn’t as flashy as some of the other players on this list, but he is the best all around floor general, which makes him the best point, guard in the NBA today.

Honorable Mention:

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics- Good defender, solid passer. Being the worst shooter in the NBA at either guard position (possibly any position) kept him off this list.

John Wall, Washington Wizards- Showed great passing ability as a rookie, impossible to stop in transition, will be a great one.

Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks- Just because he’s a Mav, and because he finally got a ring at the age of 58 (or something like that)

* Some info came from Zach Lowe’s 100 best NBA player rankings on Sports Illustrated’s website.

Devin:NBA's Top 5 Point Guards

Top 5 NBA point guards
Honorable Mention

Steve Nash
I know I’ll get beef for not putting him on my list, and maybe rightly so. At age 37 his assist numbers are as impressive as ever, but his point totals are slowly dropping. Even though he shot nearly 50% from the floor, it was his worst season shooting since 2003. The point guard position is evolving and he doesn’t have the legs to keep up with it.

John Wall
Speaking of the new breed of point guard, John Wall is it. Could possibly be the fastest straight line player in the NBA, he is quick and explosive, can get to the rim, and rebound well. In just his rookie year he averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He needs to work on his jump shot, but pretty soon he’ll be in conversation with my top 5.

Tony Parker
He has been a huge part of 3 NBA Championships for the Spurs, being named a Finals MVP in 2007. Parker is still very quick and possesses arguably the best floater in the NBA. Scores very proficiently in the paint and is sneaky around the rim. Parker has never been a huge assist guy though, only averaging 5.7 during his career. His knees are also starting to give him troubles.

#5
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook might be the most explosive player on my list, but not by much. He has crazy athleticism and uses his explosiveness very well. He was drafted 4th overall due to his defense, and he hasn’t’ disappointed in that aspect. He has the quicks to guard and point guards in the league, and the size to guard and shooting guards. Westbrook loves driving to the rim and has the ability to finish over anyone. He has improved his stats steadily each year, averaging 22 ppg and 8 ast in only his 3rd year. The sky is the limit for this kid. I think he has MVP type talent, and if he didn’t play with Durantula I think his numbers would be even better. The only aspect I could see Westbrook improving on is remembering he is a point guard. As fun as he was to watch at times, I think he sometimes forgets that he has the 2 time scoring champ on his team. He would try to take over games when he didn’t need too, which was evident in the playoffs. With his elite athleticism, defense, and constant improvement I could see Westbrook climbing his way up this list very soon.

#4
Rajon Rando
I thought about putting him at #5, but the mere fact that he had the heart to play with a dislocated elbow in last year’s playoffs, and still managed to play well, bumped him up on my ranking. The ‘Big Three’ can now be called the ‘Big Four’; Rajon Rondo has become a huge part of that team. Their success could even be defined by him now. He has come from being a weakness, to possibly the teams’ biggest strength. He sets up his teammates magnificently with his dribble penetration and passing. Coming into a team with 3 future Hall of Famers couldn’t possibly be easy, but Rando has done it perfectly. He plays the best defense of any point guard, and has even given bigger players like LeBron James trouble. He ranked 2nd among point guards in steals last year, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. I think Rondo could shut down any NBA wing player if he put his mind to it, he’s that good. His freakishly long arms allow him to steal balls, contest shots, and keep his opponent in front of him. His only weakness, no matter how obvious it is, is his shooting. Teams treat him like Shaq from outside of 10 feet and he shot a miserable 56.8% from the line last season. That’s terrible for any position. He won’t put up a lot of points, but he fills up the stat sheet like nobody’s business. In a game last season he had a triple double with 10pts, 10 reb, and a whopping 24 ast!! He sets the tone for his team like a point guard should with is tenacity. If you want to build your team around a point guard who can score in the paint (59.7%), dish the ball, and play stifling defense, then Rando is your guy.

#3
Chris Paul
This is where it gets though. Paul is an amazing player with no real weakness. He is always a league leader in steals and assists, averages almost 19 and 10 for his career, and can take over a game when needed; or even a playoff series, like he did against the Lakers. The main reason I have him here at #3 is because of his history with injuries. Chris Paul is a competitor who won’t back down from anyone, but injuries with this guy are evident. Paul’s injury last season affected all of his numbers, as they dropped off substantially from previous seasons. As we all know knees are nothing to take lightly and that kind of injury could likely shorten his career if he isn’t careful. He is smaller than the other top point guards but his strength still allows him to guard bigger guards, and his overall numbers are great for a point guard. He is a crafty, quick, and agile guard who shoots good percentages and routinely makes defenders look silly. When the game is on the line you want the ball in his hands, whether he is shooting or creating for his teammates. You can’t go wrong with Chris Paul on your team, but in the end he is 3rd on my list due to his injuries that caused his numbers to drop last season.

#2
Derrick Rose
The former number 1 pick and reigning MVP has certainly lived up to the hype. He turned a middle of the road 41-41 Bulls team into an NBA best 62-20, all while playing in the Eastern Conference that included the Heat, Celtics, and Magic. The best thing about him; he’s only 22! The improvements he has made since entering the league are nothing short of miraculous, which makes me wonder how good he can eventually become. Between his 2nd and 3rd seasons Rose took all of his numbers to a whole different level. He averaged nearly 5 more points, 2 more assists, more steals, blocks, rebounds, and a dramatically improved 3 point shot. Derrick Rose’s ability to get to the paint and finish at the rim is ridiculous! No 6’3 player should be able to do the things he does! He has also developed a short range floater and mid-range shot that is vital for any point guard in the league. His speed and explosiveness are only matched by Russell Westbrook, which is saying something. He is the youngest player to ever win the MVP and one of only three players in the last 30 years to record 2,000 points and 600 assists in a single season; joining Michael Jordan and LeBron James. No other player in the NBA had the impact for their team that Rose had on his Bulls team; hence the MVP award. There isn’t much he needs to do better besides continue to work on his outside shot, and maybe improve his defensive tenacity a bit. But with his work ethic I think we will all soon forget he ever even had those flaws.

#1
Deron Williams
This race was close until Chris Paul got injured and his numbers dropped this year. But even excluding that, Williams record vs. Paul is 14-5…Deron Williams owns Chris Paul. After a crazy season for Deron Williams that included Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan retiring and Williams being traded to the surprise of everyone, he ended up with the Nets. Even after all the commotion he put up fantastic numbers with 20.1 ppg and 10.3 ast. He is always among the league leaders in those important stats. Last year he was 3rd the league in assists and 3rd among point guards in points. When he got to New Jersey he averaged almost 13 assists, giving the Nets exactly wha they were looking for. Williams’ handles could possibly be the best in the NBA, his ‘killer crossover’ leaves defenders grasping at air, he is deceptively fast for a man that weighs 210 lbs, and he can take over games with the best of them! His defense is very solid, with his size he can guard multiple positions. His distributing and incredible court vision can’t be questioned either; if he can average over 10 assists on a team full of offensive no-names (C.J. Miles, Ronnie Price, Kyrylo Fesenko), then just imagine what he would do with some actual talent. When Deron Williams decides to score the basketball there is no stopping him. He can shoot from distance, pull up in the mid-range, and drive the ball. He will go through, around, or even over a defender when he wants to. Even with all this I feel like Williams has the potential boost his numbers and become the unquestioned best point guard in the league. He is a scorer, a passer, a defender, and a leader. Last year DWill was a more consistent scorer than Paul, and a better passer than Rose, making him the best all around point guard in the NBA right now.