Divisional Depth Chart: Pacific Point Guards by David Murphy, Saturday, July 24, 2010
As we rank the top 5 players at every position in each division, attention is now turned to the point guards of the Pacific Division.
The Pacific point-guard group sets itself apart from the divisions we previously covered (Northwest, Central) in that it boasts tremendous depth; that strength will be factored into the ranking.
1. Steve Nash, Phoenix
The two-time MVP had a great year, at age 36 nonetheless. Nash averaged double-figures in assists for the fifth time in his career and propelled Phoenix to an improbable postseason run that culminated against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. While Nash won't have Amar'e Stoudemire next season - who certainly contributed to his high assist numbers - Phoenix still has plenty of shooters and he should once again be among the elite point guards in the NBA. If he is this good at age 36, why not at 37? Add in that Goran Dragic backs him up, Phoenix is a no-brainer for the top point guard spot in the Pacific.
It may seem surprising to put Curry ahead of the reigning Rookie of the Year, but in terms of point guard tools, he takes the cake. Curry displayed exceptional court vision while shooting an excellent 44% from 3-point range and 89% at the free throw line. His on-ball defense is certainly not a strength, yet Curry swiped 1.9 steals per game, good for third best in the league. Evans may have the sexy sat line, but Curry is the heir to Nash's point guard throne.
Evans took home the ROY and put himself into history as just the fourth player to ever post a line of 20-5-5 in his inaugural season. He might be the biggest point guard in the league at 6-6 and uses his size very well in getting to the basket, rebounding and bodying up the opposition. The biggest detriment to his game is a poor shooting stroke; Evans shot just 25% from downtown. Evans is behind Curry on this list, but not by much.
4. Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, LA Lakers
These two are bunched together because the sum of their parts makes a pretty good point guard; Fisher is the ring-laden clutch shooter while Blake distributes and takes care of the ball. Although neither possesses great defensive ability, they are a nice 1-2 punch on a championship team. They come on at 4 on this list because, despite decent skill, the Lakers' system doesn't place great emphasis on point guards, and they happily oblige in limited roles.
5. Baron Davis, LA Clippers
The fact that Davis ranks fifth in the division speaks more about the strength at the position in the Pacific than it does on Davis' shortcomings. He has struggled to live up to a lucrative contract with the Clippers, and questions have been raised about motivation and commitment to staying in shape. Davis continues to shoot poorly in LA, yet in 2009-10 played 75 games and posted a very respectful 8 assists per game. The talent is there, and a good year would easily move him up in the rankings.
