Apr 4 2013

Is It that Shocking?

Pittsburgh was their first victim. Then it was Gonzaga, followed by LaSalle and Ohio State. The Wichita State Shockers have seemed to dominate the four teams they have played thus far in the tournament. The clichéd phrase “shocking the nation” has been tossed left and right since the Shockers knocked out Gonzaga in the Round of 32. But has Wichita State’s “Cinderella story” really been that shocking?

I know it may be hard to believe, but there are more than just redneck farm boys on this basketball team. There is deep, athletic talent coached by an incredibly intelligent staff. When you put two and two together, Wichita State is composed of an ideal tournament roster.

AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill

Their point guard, Malcolm Armstead, is a dauntless guard who takes the ball to the hoop with confidence. Red shirt freshman Ron Baker’s three point shooting has been surreal in the tournament, hitting 40% of his attempts from long range. The Shocker’s big men, Cleanthony Early and Carl Hall, are strong rebounders who can be scoring threats. Along with impressive starters, Wichita State is complemented with arguably the deepest bench in the tournament. All but two of the Shocker players average 11+ minutes per game, and none more than 29. With nine players playing over 25% of the game, Wichita State lacks visual tiredness, giving them an advantage with their fresh legs. The issue for the Shockers, as the second best team from the Missouri Valley Conference meets the Big East champion, Louisville, is experience.

Reuters / Lucy Nicholson

This Saturday, Wichita State will have their biggest game in school history against Louisville. Wichita State’s leading scorer, Early, averages just 13.7 points per game. When compared to Louisville’s Russ Smith, who puts up 19 a game, Early looks like David facing Goliath. The same goes for every Shocker when put next to every Cardinal. However, the stamina and togetherness Wichita State has could spell doom for the Cardinals. Unfortunately for the Shockers, Louisville is motivated more than ever because of Kevin Ware’s devastating leg injury suffered in the Elite Eight.

I believe the winner of this game will face Michigan in the National Championship. There, I think the champion is a toss-up. Louisville’s motivation could carry over into Monday’s game, benefiting them greatly. Wichita State’s run could continue into the championship game, where all of the pressure would be on the expected-winner, Michigan. The Wolverines’ Trey Burke has been absolutely red hot, though, and has his team fearless. Although this Final Four has been unlike those in previous years, whoever emerges on top will still have well-earned it.

Drew Agnello

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Mar 29 2013

Sweet Sixteen Preview: Kansas vs. Michigan

Tonight is home to possibly the best Sweet 16 matchup of the tournament. The Kansas Jayhawks will tip off against the Michigan Wolverines at 6:37 central time. The game, being played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is a rare meeting between two of the top programs in the country.

Look for the matchup between Kansas guard Travis Releford and Michigan’s Tim Hardaway Jr. Releford’s strong defensive play could determine the outcome of the game. Hardaway Jr. has been averaging 17.5 points per game in the Wolverine’s two tournament games, but Travis Releford has the defensive ability to significantly decrease Burke’s scoring.

Also keep an eye on the Trey Burke matchup with Elijah Johnson. Johnson has had a disappointing season, but has proved to come up in tight situations. Burke, a sophmore, is arguably the player of the year, though. I think Johnson will come up big once again and hold Trey Burke to a sub-par night.

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

If Jeff Withey can have the same type of game against Michigan as he did against North Carolina, the Jayhawks have no reason to lose. Withey’s paint communication with Kevin Young is superb, and they are arguably the best big man duo in the NCAA this season. Watch for Young to draw double teams and then dish the ball to Withey for easy scores.

The X-factor in this game is Ben McLemore. Lately, McLemore has been playing at a level he has never seen, nor has the nation. In Kansas’ previous game versus North Carolina, McLemore went 0-9 from the field, 0-6 from three point range. If he can regain his shot, Kansas could cruise to a victory. Plus, I want to see him have a highlight-dunk. During the regular season, Ben McLemore soared for some spectacular dunks. If he can go on a one man breakaway, McLemore should put something special on a dunk to give Kansas the momentum.

Getty Images/Ed Zurga

I belive Kansas will come out on top. The Jayhawks have showed up for big games against some of the best teams and I do not see that changing today. Also, this is Michigan’s first Sweet Sixteen appearance since the Fab Five the early 1990’s. Kansas’ experience in the Sweet 16, eight appearances in the last ten years , will be beneficial to tonight’s game. Tipoff is at 6:37 p.m. on TBS, and the winner of this game will advance to play the winner of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast.

Oh, and how about Florida Gulf Coast?

Drew Agnello

Mar 3 2013

Buzzer Beater for the Ages

Feb 28 2013

NBA Update

All-Star weekend in Houston is over, and the trade deadline has been met. A handful of teams have surprised the world, while others have been utterly disappointing. With the month of February coming to an end, here is what you need to know about the NBA today.

Starting in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers have essentially been a failure. Before the season, small forward Metta World Peace believed the Lakers could win 73 games, something that has never been done. L.A. has only won 28 games with 24 remaining. Mathematically, it looks like the Lakers will not be winning 73 games. Kobe Bryant is more than confident that Los Angles will make a late season push into the playoffs, yet the Lakers are currently ninth in the West.

The San Antonio Spurs are as good as they seem. Though the Spurs may be old, this team currently has a 45-13 record, the best in the NBA. Tony Parker is averaging 21.1 points per game on the year, and Tim Duncan is rebounding around 10 times per game. Many believe the team is so old that they have forgotten how to lose. San Antonio looks like a legitimate contender for the NBA championship.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the same, explosive team as last season. However, the loss of James Harden is proving to be a burden for OKC. The Thunder are just 17-9 in the new year, but are still second in the West. Kevin Durant is making his case for MVP, leading the league in scoring, averaging 28.8 points per game. Oklahoma City is still a tough place to play at, and that could hold well for the Thunder come playoff time.

To me, the surprises of the West are the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets. Golden State is a young team that is statistically one of the better teams in the league. The Clippers are third in the West and have a roster that can win match-ups against nearly any team. No one expected the Houston Rockets to be where they are right now. James Harden has Houston eighth in the West after being predicted to finish last in the conference. The obvious disappointment is the Lakers, but I also think of Minnesota as a disappointment. Although Kevin Love is out, I did not expect the Timberwolves to have a record of 20-33. Next season, Minnesota could be a serious playoff contender.

In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat are dominating. LeBron James is at the top of his game right now, averaging 27 points per game with a field goal percentage of 57. Plus James is grabbing a career high 8.1 rebounds per game along with 7.1 assists per game. He is the frontrunner for the MVP, and the Miami Heat are frontrunners for the title, currently first in the East at 40-14.

The Indiana Pacers are on the rise with the return of Danny Granger. The Pacers are virtually and physically the only team in the East with a chance of beating the Heat in the playoffs. Their size and athleticism gives Indiana a colossal advantage over some teams, more notably Miami. The Pacers are second in the East, trailing the Heat by six games.

The East may not be too competitive, but the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls have been impressive thus far. The Knicks got off to a hot start at the beginning of the year, going 11-4 in November, but have since fallen to third in the East. Carmelo Anthony is having the best season of his career as he looks to carry New York to a high seed in the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls have been missing their star player in Derrick Rose the entire season, yet are still in playoff contention. With Rose’s return coming any time he feels like he can play, the Bulls will only be better. The Boston Celtics are the only disappointment to me in the East. They lost point guard Rajon Rondo to injury, but I feel like they should be better than 30-27. Boston had a chance to go to the Finals last season, but it looks like a championship run is out of the Celtic picture.

As the race for awards begins, here are some of my predictions for the more major awards.

Rookie of the Year- Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers
Sixth Man of the Year- Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers
Coach of the Year- Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Most Improved Player- Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers
Most Valuable Player- LeBron James, Miami Heat
2012-2013 NBA Champion- Miami Heat over San Antonio Spurs (4-3)

With about two months left, the rest of this NBA season should shape out to be an exciting one.

Feb 20 2013

Mizzou Arena

“They’re one of the best teams in the country, if not the best.” This statement came out of Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith’s mouth in a press conference after his team had just taken down the fifth ranked Florida Gators. As the Tigers prepared for their game on Super Tuesday, they knew they had a tough battle ahead of them. Many believed that Florida was going to be too big of an obstacle, especially for a Missouri team that has lost to teams like LSU and Arkansas. Yet the players and coaches knew that something was going to go their way on the chilly Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena.

Picture from Yahoo.com

For many, it was simply impossible for Missouri to beat Florida, and those people had reason to believe that it couldn’t happen. After an obliterating and embarrassing 83-52 loss in Gainesville earlier this season, it was only logical that Missouri wasn’t going to make this a game. However, there was one thing the Tigers had going for them; they were playing at Mizzou Arena. Any team that steps foot on the floor at Mizzou Arena, no matter how good they are, better be ready for a dog fight, and Florida was not.

So what is so special about the Tigers’ home floor? Well, over the last 86 games at the arena, the Tigers are an impressive 82-4. They also currently hold a 16 game winning streak at home, which has overlapped from last season. Current head coach Frank Haith has been a very successful coach at Mizzou posing a 30-1 career record in the building. But what is it that makes this place so special? “Deep down inside, it took everyone to win this game,” said junior point guard Phil Pressey about the win against Florida. The thing is, he meant everybody. Yes, the players and the coaching staff, but the fans were the ones keeping the game alive. The fans who helped Mizzou keep momentum when attempting to cut two different 13 point deficits, one in each half. The fans are the most special part of the Tigers success at home.

So what is there to conclude from this article? Well I can tell you one thing. There is magic at Mizzou arena. Yes, the Tigers have had a poor record on the road, and have played very inconsistently. However, when they come home, there will always be a challenge. So I say to any team that ever tries to step on the court at Mizzou Arena, watch out.

Trevor Weinrich

Feb 15 2013

All-Star Weekend

All-Star Weekend is my Super Bowl Sunday. Except in the case of All-Star Weekend, it’s spread out over three different events (because who really counts the Celebrity All-Star Game?). I’ve preset my DVR and set a side several hours of my Sunday to re-watch all the festivities before the main event on Sunday night, the NBA All-Star Game. I make it a habit to pick my winners beforehand (which tend to be wrong, I did pick Chase Budinger to win the Dunk Contest last year), so without further ado here are my picks for All-Star Weekend:

BBVA Rising Stars Challenge:

This event has developed more flair over the years. For starters Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkely now draft the teams rather than it being simply a Sophomore – Rookie Challenge, with the sophomores usually taking home the victory. With the teams now more evenly matched, it gives for a much more entertaining game. Here are the teams:

TEAM SHAQ: Damian Lillard (Portland), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Andre Drummond (Detroit), Klay Thompson (Golden State), Harrison Barnes(Golden State), Chandler Parsons (Houston), Dion Waiters (Cleveland),Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte), Tyler Zeller (Cleveland), Kemba Walker (Charlotte)

TEAM CHUCK: Anthony Davis (New Orleans), Kenneth Faried (Denver), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Bradley Beal (Washington), Ricky Rubio(Minnesota), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando),Brandon Knight (Detroit), Isaiah Thomas (Sacramento), Alexey Shved(Minnesota)

The clear cut favorite here is Shaq’s squad for one big reason. Kyrie Irving. I’ve been saying for months that Irving is the next elite player in the NBA. He has the potential to not only be elite, but to be a 1^st tier elite player (Durant, Kobe, LeBron, Chris Paul). While Chuck’s roster certainly lends very well to a strong inside game with Anthony Davis and Nikola Vucevic, Andre Drummond will help anchor Team Shaq in the paint and allow Irving to score and create on the perimeter for the other shooters on his team (Barnes, Thompson, Parsons). Team Shaq should shoot Team Chuck out of the Toyota Center. Prediction: Team Shaq over Team Chuck – 143-131

All-Star Saturday Night

This is far and away the best part of the weekend, mainly because of the dunk contest. The other events hold merit and can be very entertaining, but everyone tunes in so they can be dazzled by the highflying showmanship in the final event of the evening, the Sprite Dunk Contest.

Sears Shooting Stars: This one is easy, plus not many people care, so I’ll make it short. You never bet against Robert Horry in a shootout. I’ll take the West squad of Big Shot Bob, Sam “Looks Like an Alien” Cassell, Harden, Westbrook, Tina Thompson and Maya Moore over the East squad of Dominique Wilkins, Mugsy Bogues, Bosh, Brook Lopez, Swin Cash, and Tamika Catchings.

Taco Bell Skills Challenge: In years past this event has featured some great point guards and playmakers. Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker, Steve Nash and Derrick Rose are some of the recent notable champions. This year’s contestants seemed to be a watered down version of the contestants of years past minus Parker. Aside from Jrue Holiday and Parker, I don’t consider the other contestants proven point guards at this point in their career. Not to say their future isn’t promising, but we haven’t seen much yet. Jeremy Lin, Jeff Teague, Damian Lillard, and Brandon Knight. While experience may seem trivial in a competition like this, I don’t see anyone unseating Parker as reigning champ.

Prediction: Parker over (3) Holiday and (2) Lillard in the 2^nd Round. Lin will finish with the worst time, followed by Knight and Teague respectively.

Foot Locker 3 Point Contest: This event is always this most difficult to call, and this year does not get any easier. Last year’s contest featured Kevin Durant and Kevin Love in an intense shoot-out for the title. This years competitors all have a legitimate shot at the crown, but there are a few that stick out from the bunch. Here are the participants:

West

Ryan Anderson (New Orleans)
Matt Bonner (San Antonio)
Stephen Curry (Golden State

East

Paul George (Indiana)
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland)
Steve Novak (New York)

Prediction: This will be the most entertaining 3 point contest in recent history. Look for George and Bonner to make early exits. Look for Irving and Curry to face-off in the finals with Curry bring home the trophy. Watch out for Ryan Anderson as a potential dark horse.

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest: This contest is the most hyped and most entertaining event of the weekend. Their have been so many historic performance in the past from Dominique and MJ’s showdown in 1988 to Vince Carter’s absolute clinic in 2000. While the participants may have lacked star status in recent history (minus Howard and Griffin) , they have certainly made up for it with some legendary performances (Nate Robinson’s Kryptonite performance, Jeremy Evans two ball slam). Here are the participants:

East

Gerald Green (Indiana)
Terrence Ross (Toronto)
James White (New York)

West

Eric Bledsoe (L.A. Clippers)
Jeremy Evans (Utah)
Kenneth Faried (Denver)

Prediction: Look for Jeremy Evans to make an early exit after winning the competition last year. I just don’t see him having the showmanship or creativity to win it again. Look for Gerald Green, Kenneth Faried and Eric Bledsoe to advance to the finals with Bledsoe teaming up with teammate Chris Paul to pull something out of Lob City’s bag of tricks.

2013 All-Star Game:

Out with the old and in with new seems to be the theme of the 2013 All-Star Game, at least on the East squad. 6 of their 8 reserve players are participating in their first All-Star game including Paul George, Kyrie Irving, and Brooke Lopez. Kevin Garnett has stated that this will be the last All-Star game that he will participate in, after 16 appearances. On the West side they feature only one newcomer to the squad in James Harden, who joins his former teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in their 4^th and 3^rd All-Star games respectively. There are several other familiar faces on the West side, including Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, both of whom could be playing in their last All-Star game.

Prediction: This year’s West squad is stacked up and down the roster. With so much young talent on the East squad, I’ll take the West and their offensive juggernaut over the inexperienced East. Final Score: West over East – 133-124 MVP goes to Kevin Durant.

Tommy Randolph

Feb 12 2013

Top Five: Power Forwards

Now, I am on to the big men in the paint who can hit an occasional mid range jumpshot. Here is who I believe are the top five power forwards in the NBA today.

5. Blake Griffin- Almost all of Griffin’s stats have dropped since last season. However, the Los Angeles Clippers are a much better team compared to last year. This year, he is averaging 18.4 points per game along with 8.6 rebounds. Most fans think the only thing Blake Griffin can do is dunk, but his talent goes much deeper than his slamming ability. He makes 53% of his shots and is averaging a career high 66% from the free throw line. Griffin is a strong player whose all-around abilities are often shadowed by his incredible dunks.

4. Chris Bosh- Like Griffin, Chris Bosh’s abilities are also overshadowed, but by his teammates. As the ‘third wheel’ of the ‘Big Three’ in Miami, Bosh’s role may seem small due to the fact that he is not the best on the team, but the Heat rely on him heavily to hit open mid-range jumpers. Bosh is one of the few power forwards who has the ability to hit deeper jumpers. This season, he is only averaging 17.3 points per game, but is making a career high 54% of his attempted shots. At 6’11’’, Bosh should be grabbing more than 7.2 rebounds per game, but his team is winning, and in the end that is all that counts.

3. Tim Duncan- Unfortunately, Duncan has had to miss a few games due to a knee injury. Right now, his status is day-to-day and looks to be back after the All-Star weekend. At 36, the Spurs’ leader is averaging 17.3 points per game and his shooting over 50% from the field. Plus, he is grabbing nearly 10 rebounds per game. The 15 year veteran continues to get the job the done for the San Antonio Spurs, who have the best record in the NBA.

gothicginobili.com

2. LaMarcus Aldridge- The face of the Portland Trailblazers, Aldridge is a young player who is very explosive. This season, he is scoring 21.1 points per game on 48% shooting. Aldridge is recording career highs in rebounds and assists, averaging 9 and 2.6 respectively. His play has earned him a second straight All-Star appearance.

redsarmy.com

1. Kevin Love- He has had to miss a majority of this season, but Love still remains the best power forward in the league. Aside from his rookie season, Love has averaged a double-double every year. This season, Love is scoring 18.3 points per game and rebounding 14 times per game. Kevin Love is a young, all-around player who could dominate the position for years to come.

Last, but not least, I will rank who I think are the top five centers in the NBA.

Drew Agnello

Feb 4 2013

Top Five: Small Forwards

Some of the best players to ever play basketball have played the small forward position. From Elgin Baylor to today, the game has been run by the small forwards. Today, this is who I believe are the five best shooting guards in the league.

5. Paul Pierce- The former Jayhawk is now in his fourteenth season, and his age is beginning to show. At 35, some of Pierce’s talents and abilities are beginning to fade. He is playing less minutes, but his stats remain average for his career. Pierce averages 18.6 points per game, as well as 6.1 rebounds. Unfortunately, most of his numbers are going down and the simple reason why is because he is just not the same player he used to be. Because of Rajon Rondo’s injury, Paul Pierce has to create shots for himself. It is now Pierce’s duty to try and push the Boston Celtics into the playoffs.

4. Luol Deng- He has certainly stepped up his game for the Chicago Bulls due to the absence of Derrick Rose. In his ninth season, Deng is averaging 17.3 points per game, 6.7 rebounds and a career high 3.1 assists. He can hit clutch three point shots and knock down his free throws. With the talent Deng has, I would like to see him attack the paint more and take more shots. However, with the return of Derrick Rose in less than a month, Luol Deng’s opportunity to shine may not come. However, he is still an elite player and his team only gets better with Derrick Rose on his way back.

3. Carmelo Anthony- He is having an MVP season, recording 28.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists. At 6’8”, Melo can beat a player on the outside with his jump shot, or down low with his size. He is hitting 44.7% of his attempted shots this season, 41% on three point attempts. Plus, Anthony is only turning the ball over 2.6 times per game, which is very impressive for someone who has the ball in his hands a majority of the time. Carmelo Anthony’s game has matured greatly, as he has put the New York Knicks in second place in the Eastern Conference.

2. Kevin Durant- The 24 year old is certainly making his case to be the best player in the NBA. Durant, who stands at a lanky 6’10”, has one of the toughest jump shots to defend. His size gives them ability to shoot over almost any defender. KD is knocking down a career high 51.6% of his shots this year. Like the past three seasons, Durant is leading the league in scoring once again, averaging. 29.6 points a game. Along with scoring, he is averaging 7.4 rebounds a game and a career high 4.4 assists. Durant is in charge of the Oklahoma City Thunder, as they look to get back to the NBA Finals.

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

1. LeBron James- This should not come as too much of a surprise to anyone. As arguably the most physically-gifted athlete to ever play basketball, James continues to evolve his game. He is shooting an average of 55% from the field, 40.4% from three point range, and grabbing 8.3 rebounds, all career highs. LeBron is also scoring an average of 26.6 points per game and dishing 7 assists per game. With his 6’8”, 250 pound frame of what is sheer muscle, LeBron James has the ability to play any position. For now, James has established himself as the most preeminent player in the game of basketball.

Now, I am on to the big men down low in the paint. Up next, I will rank the top five power forwards in the NBA.

Drew Agnello

Jan 31 2013

Top Five: Shooting Guards

A shooting guard scores the bulk of a team’s points and heavily contributes to his team’s
overall success. A few days ago, I ranked who I believe are the five best point guards in the NBA. Now, I will rank who I believe are the best shooting guards.

5. Stephen Curry- Curry is in his fifth year with the Golden State Warriors. The 24 year old sharp shooter is averaging 21 points per game, shooting 45.2 percent from three point range. Curry is the leader of a young, high-powered Golden State team that is on pace to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-2007 season.

4. Dwayne Wade- Unfortunately, Wade’s prime is in the past. The 31 year old has been affected by injuries throughout his career, more notably in the past three years. However, Wade remains an astonishing player, with two championships on his resumè. In his 10 year career, Wade is averaging 24.9 points per game along with 6.1 assists and 5 rebounds. This year, though, Wade is recording his lowest figures since his rookie season. Come playoff time, Dwayne normally steps-up his game and significantly increases his effort. Wade and the Miami Heat are first and the Eastern Conference.

3. Andre Iguodala- In his career, Andre has been averaging 15.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists. In recent years, the two time Olympic gold medalist has not been playing well. This year, he is only scoring 13.4 points per game and does not put up impressive numbers in other categorites. He may not put up the highest stats, but Andre Iguodala’s presence impacts the game as much as any player in the NBA. His defensive awareness and all around effort make Iguodala one of the top guards in the league. Iguodala is leading an uprising Denver Nuggets squad towards the playoffs.

2. Kobe Bryant- Over the course of his 17 year Hall of Fame career, Bryant is averaging 25.5 points per game, and three of those years he had averaged over 30. This year, Kobe is putting up 28.1 points per game to go along with 4.3 rebounds. Plus, Bryant is starting to pass more than shoot. At a late time in his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe is beginning to expand his game even more in order to help his team win ball games. The struggling Lakers are currently four games back of a playoff spot, as Kobe Bryant attempts to give L.A. a late push.

1. James Harden- This may come as surprise to most people. To me, I see no reason as to why Harden is not the best shooting guard in the NBA. Last year with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden was the guy with the beard who had a tacky celebration after hitting a three pointer. Now, he has the Houston Rockets on track for a playoff spot. In just months, Harden has adjusted and matured his game. He went from averaging 16.8 points per game last season to 25.9 this year. Harden is also averaging 3.5 rebounds per game and 4.4 assists per game. He may have the team on his shoulders, but with Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, James Harden is trying to carry the Rockets to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

NBA.com

Some notable mentions are Paul George and Joe Johnson, but they are yet to establish themselves as dominant guards in the NBA. The shooting guard is typically the X-Factor in games, but the NBA has been dominated by the small forward position in recent years. Next, I will rank the top five small forwards in the league.

Drew Agnello

Jan 29 2013

Top Five: Point Guards

The point guard is the most important position in the game of basketball. He controls the floor and creates scoring opportunities for his team. This season, the role of a point guard has proved to be huge, as some teams ail without one, and others thrive with one. Here is a look at who I have as the top five point guards who are currently in the NBA.

5. Tony Parker- The five time All-Star continues to play at quite an elite level. At age 30, the Frenchman has won three championships and has been putting up staggering figures since entering the league in 2001. For his career, Parker is averaging 17 points per game, 6 assists, and 1 steal. This year, Parker is recording some of his highest stats ever, averaging 7.5 assists per game and 20.1 points per game. Parker’s San Antonio Spurs are currently first in the Western Conference.

4. Russell Westbrook- He is a point guard who can butcher a opposing teams by passing or shooting. Russell has both a signature pullup jump shot and an ability to attack the hoop. These assets are helping him 19.4 points per game in his career, and 22.5 this season. Not to mention his passing, dishing 7 assists per game over five seasons, and 8.4 this season. On the defensive side, Westbrook’s quickness has earned him 1.6 steals per game in his career, along with about 5 rebounds per game. Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City are second in the West.

3. Rajon Rondo- The Boston Celtics look like they may not reach the playoffs with the absence of their offensive leader. Rondo’s season sadly ended a few days ago with an ACL tear, but he is still one of the best players in the game. Scoring wise, Rondo is not too effective, but his court vision is astonishing. In the past three seasons, Rondo has averaged 11.3 assists per game. To go along with his feistiness towards players and referees, Rondo is a plain nuisance when he steps on the court. Here’s a clip of Rajon Rondo’s best passes from the 2011-2012 season.

2. Derrick Rose- Like Rondo, Derrick Rose has had to miss this season due to an ACL tear that happened last May. Although, Rose will miss essentially the 2012-2013 season, I still see him as one of the best. He was the youngest player to receive the MVP award at just 22. Over the course of his short career, Rose has averaged 6.8 assists per game and 21 points. When I look at Derrick Rose, though, I see probably the most explosive player in the NBA. His leaping ability for dunks is unreal, and he has speed like no other. Plus, the Chicago Bulls are still one of the best teams in the NBA, even without their star player. When Derrick Rose returns, Chicago could potentially represent the East in the NBA Finals. The Bulls sit at third in the Eastern Conference, 2½ games out of first place.

1. Chris Paul- Paul has led the Los Angeles Clippers to one of the best records in the NBA. To go along with a great record, the Clippers are undoubtedly the most dynamic team in the NBA. Without Chris Paul, L.A. would not even be in playoff contention. Paul is averaging nearly 10 assists per game in eight seasons. He is also putting up 18.7 points per game in what has been quite an illustrious career. As a six time All-Star and two time Olympic gold medalist, Paul continues to work for an NBA Championship.

Jennifer Stewart-USA Today Sports

The point guard controls the floor, but the shooting guard is the one who can hit the big time shots. Coming up, I will rank who I believe are the top five shooting guards in the NBA. Stay tuned.

Drew Agnello

kcyoungguns

Breaking down sports, one post at a time

Category Archives: Basketball

Is It that Shocking?

Sweet Sixteen Preview: Kansas vs. Michigan

Buzzer Beater for the Ages

NBA Update

Mizzou Arena

All-Star Weekend

Top Five: Power Forwards

Top Five: Small Forwards

Top Five: Shooting Guards

Top Five: Point Guards