Thanks for the 6,000 views. I really appreciate it! Keep them coming!!!
Let's be realistic. We have seen a wave of tall, talented, and freakishly athletic point guards come to the NBA. Probably the result of John Calipari's drive and kick offense centered on the 'won and done' concept. We can't generally give all the credit to Coach Cal for coming up with the next version of an NBA point guard but it's safe to say that he has been the one that has brought it to my attention.
Coach Cal has had the luxury to recruit an influx amount of talent to play for him, especially point guards. He had the likes of Tyreke Evans, John Wall, and Derrick Rose to run his blitzkrieg-type offense. He pressured his opponent's to try to find a way to slow the tempo of the game. It hasn't happened and it isn't going to happen.
Those point guards were arguably the first options on their team. They utilized their extreme foot speed and athletic ability to create shots for themselves and their teammates.
But why am I not a big fan of it?
Let's first consider what a point guard is supposed to do. One, set-up the offense. How can that be possible when he's the first option on their team and when he attempts more than twenty shots per game?
Let's use the example of Russell Westbrook and his relationship with Kevin Durant. I am all praises for Durant except for the fact that he isn't that much of a good defender and he takes too many shots. I've come to realize that he takes that much because he knows Westbrook isn't going to pass the ball to him that often. Westbrook
probably has the ball 16 seconds of the Thunder's shot clock; dribbling around
and creating isolation situations for himself. Yes, he gets to score but how
much attempts does he take? The bigger question is, how much attempts does he take away from Durant?
Durant's
scoring prowess and ability is limited with time. He struggles getting the ball
in his spots because Westbrook isn't an adept passer. At times he
may blow you away with 8 or even 10 assists per game but you have to understand
that it occasionally comes with 6 or 7 turnovers in the process. Therefore Durant is forced to
make do with what he has. He will shoot the ball when he has it therefore
making him and the Thunder predictable when Westbrook does decide to pass the
ball.
If
Westbrook does evolve to become a pass-first point guard, the Thunder will
become a much much better team. Imagine having the NBA's leading scorer three
years in the running getting the ball in his spots with an able and athletic
scorer-passer waiting. That'd be unstoppable.
James Harden is a much much better passer
that Westbrook. Let him play the point and you potentially have a chance to
contend for the title with Westbrook playing the 2.
Plus, Westbrook isn't a good defender. Yes
he gets a steal and a great block here and there but opposing point guards have always capitalized on that match-up.
Derrick
Rose, God bless his injured knee, is one heck of a player. A player who at
times I think is the only reason why the Chicago Bulls always seem to have the
#1 seed in the East year in and year out. He scores in a variety of
ways---making tough double-pump reverse lay-ups among many others. People
always tell me why am I not a big fan of Derrick Rose. Simple. He shoots too
much. At times he is forced to do exactly that with the talent the Bulls have
surrounded him with but their level of play will not increase because of the
development of their players.
If
Rose were to shoot 15 efficient shots per game and hand
out 12 assists, then you can consider him the best point guard in the
league. He has a lot of talent and he can single-handedly change the outcome of
the game but he's not going to last long. Perfect example will have to be the
playoffs last season. When LeBron James played superb defense on the
"MVP", the Bulls got nowhere. Their offense was centered around
Rose's attack to the basket and they became stagnant and predictable on
offense.
That's
what a score-first point guard brings to the table. Yes he is athletic and can
score in any way you want him to but when he's guarded tenaciously and being
hounded by pressure, your team is going nowhere.
But
what is a point guard supposed to be? Food for thought I suppose.
He's
suppose to be a willing passer. Someone who sets his teammates up beautifully
but has the talent to score and create for himself when needed. Someone who is
a threat and makes the defense think what he is going to do.
That's
what I love about the likes of Chris Paul, Steve Nash, and even Evan Turner
(LOL!). These players can give you a little bit of everything. They'll score
when necessary. Grab a rebound and start a fastbreak when in dire need of
points. They'll feed the ball to the post and throw game-changing alley-oops to
change the complexion of the game. They have the ability to make the outside shot, which give their big men the luxury of room to operate. They have the composure to make the big shots. The 'Dagger' as it's called. Point guards are supposed to be difference
makers and not mere scorers passers.
They
give you what you need when
you need it. A perfect example will have to be what Chris Paul is doing
with the Clippers. He single-handedly is willing his team to win. Taking
over during the 4th quarter when his team needs a basket. Feeding the ball to
Blake Griffin for him to get his confidence back. Pressuring the opponent's
ball carriers to commit turnovers which lead to much needed confidence boosting
dunks.
Paul isn't the best athlete in the NBA. We can argue that he is one of the fastest but he doesn't jump as high as Rose or Wall. He is quick and agile on the floor but never mentioned as one of the fastest point guards in the league but he has the biggest heart. He has the leadership to organize and fix his young and inexperienced team. (They only have LIMITED plays) He has the will to win---a champion within.
As a
point guard, your job isn't simply to score or pass but rather to takeover the
game in any way when absolutely necessary.
Chris Paul should have gotten an MVP before Derrick Rose. It only seems fair.
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