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djsunyc
Posts: 44929
Alba Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #536
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10. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors finally had to make a decision at point guard between Calderon and T.J. Ford, and the way the 6-3 Calderon played last season when Ford was out with yet another injury simplified the decision for president Bryant Colangelo. In fact, it even allowed them to move Ford and take a big gamble on the rehabilitation of former All-Star Jermaine O'Neal. Nonetheless, it still leaves a huge responsibility for Calderon. Although his numbers dropped after Ford returned because of lost minutes, he still played in all 82 games, averaging 11.2 points, 8.3 assists (vs. just 1.54 turnovers). He also shot a blistering 52 percent from the field, 43 percent from 3-point range and nearly 91 percent from the free-throw line. In other words, the 26-year-old Spaniard can shoot lights out, distribute the ball and doesn't turn it over. Maybe it wasn't a tough decision, after all.
9. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
When the Mavericks made the big trade for Kidd at the All-Star break, it was perceived as a move to win now, and worry about rebuilding later. The consequence was the Mavs continued to backslide, almost fell out of the playoffs altogether after two of the best regular seasons in their history, and Kidd now is 35 and coming off one of the least productive years of his career. Nonetheless, he remains the most gifted ballhandler/passer of the generation, is still strong getting the ball off the boards and running the break, and will get the ball to the right people virtually all the time. With new coach Rick Carlisle, there will be a fresh training camp to grow together. He may not be the triple-double machine he once was, but he, Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson are the only ones to reach 100 and he's not done yet. Odds are he'll average a double-double again and that ain't bad.
8. Andre Miller, Philadelphia 76ers
His numbers are good, but they only begin to tell the story of how much street cred Miller built last year leading the young Sixers out of nowhere into the playoffs -- not to mention taking the Pistons to six games in the playoffs. Miller, 32, did average a career-high 17.0 points a game, with 6.9 assists and 1.3 steals. He even shot a career-best .492 from the field, reflective of how much more discriminating he was when he did choose to take control of the shot. But most of all, he helped the young crew of Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams, et al, learn how to win and believe in themselves. Of course coach Maurice Cheeks get credit and it's coming in waves of extensions at the moment, but none of that would have possible had president Ed Stefanski given in and dealt Miller at the trade deadline with so many teams beckoning. He earned the right to see it through.
7. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
Two operations on his left knee and a glittering six-year, $111 million contract later, it's impossible to know what to make of Gil, circa 2008-09. Oh, we know the mouth will roar. It always does. We know the shots will be launched. They always are. But what kind of effect will he have on the chemistry of the Wizards, who did just fine without him? Granted, he's only 26, but he did have that knee cut twice in six months. Chances are his ****y approach won't change, but what if his effectiveness drops down a level or two? That's the gamble they took with the huge contract in the wake of just 13 ineffective games last season. If he gets close to the 28.4 points and 6.0 assists of two years ago -- with the personality to boot, he was worth the loot. If not, that's a lot of money for Abe Pollin to eat.
6. Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers
This will get real interesting, real fast with Davis going home. The stunner came right away in free agency when he bolted Golden State and committed to the Clippers. It was perceived as the package of Davis and Elton Brand leading the Clippers to the promised land and building their film production careers together. Instead, Brand, with more than a little nudging from his agent, David Falk, ran away to Philly. Davis got Marcus Camby as a stand-in, but not much more. Now, coming off his first 82-game season since 2002, Davis, 29, must match his output of 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and a serious run at the playoffs to justify the Clippers' investment. Health and consistency have always been the issues with him, if only because the All-Star talent exudes. But can he come home without getting fat and happy?
5. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
Although it has seemed apparent the past couple of seasons that "Mr. Big Shot" has lost some steam off his fastball, he's still a clutch player and he has everything to do with why the Pistons continue to be solid contenders if not favorites in the East. Billups still averaged 17.0 points and 6.8 assists while shooting just less than 45 percent from the field, along with 40 percent from 3-point range and a staggering .918 from the free-throw line. He struggled with a hamstring strain in the playoffs last season, and that certainly had an adverse effect on the team, but he didn't play well in their conference finals loss to the Cavaliers in 2007 either. Yes, the Pistons have been to the conference finals six years in a row, but they've only come away victorious twice. And when Billups is more than just the perceived leader of that team, at some point he is accountable for the limitations.
4. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
When it comes to the purest form of point guard running an offense, nobody does it better than Nash, but with his 35th birthday coming in February, the back and shoulder problems are taking a toll on the 6-3, 200-pounder. And yet, he still played in 81 games last year, averaging 16.9 points and 11.1 assists. He also shot better than 50 percent from the field, 90 percent from the free-throw line and 47 percent from 3-point range. The biggest difference is his stamina late in games and his inability to stay in front of any of the brash young point guards in the West. There is also the contention that the changing of the offense when Shawn Marion was traded with Marcus Banks for Shaquille O'Neal not only marginalized coach Mike D'Antoni's offense, but Nash's approach. There's something to that, but he's still special. Just older special.
3. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Anyone who watched Parker and Chris Paul go at it in the West semifinals would be hard-pressed to question whether Parker belongs in the top four ... or perhaps ahead of Nash depending on your taste of point guards. But the 2007 Finals MVP missed 13 games this past season and his shooting numbers went down, although his assists did rise from 5.5 to 6.0 for only the second time in his career. There is no questioning his effectiveness taking defenders off the dribble as perhaps the pre-eminent guard in the game today at getting to the rim. But there is question about the way he runs an offense, and his lack of consistency. His shooting range is still limited ... and still rarely out to 3-point range. So it raises the question: Is he just an exceptionally quick guard on a great team, or an exceptional guard making a good team great?
2. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
Connected at the hip with Chris Paul because he was taken third and Paul fourth in the 2005 draft, Williams is bigger and stronger than Paul at 6-3, 205. Moreover, he's a more exceptional long-range shooter. And yet, he does not dominate a game the same way Paul does from start to finish, despite 18.8 points, 10.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. That's not to say Williams is sub-standard, but he tends to be more streaky than consistent in his manner of taking over, and his ballhandling just isn't at the same level when it comes to dribbling or passing. But because he is bigger and more physical than Paul, he brings another dimension to the defensive-oriented Jazz that better fits his team. Besides, he already has led his team to the Western Conference finals (2007), and they're in decent position to return soon. Essentially, it comes down to these two guys and isn't likely to change.
1. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
He rose to the top of the league last season and took his team from nowhere into the Western Conference semifinals. Still only 23, he averaged 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, 2.7 steals and most importantly taught his team how to win. His numbers even went up in the playoffs as the Hornets blew through the Mavericks and really had the Spurs on the ropes in the West semifinals. The question is where the 6-foot guard goes from here, and whether or not he's ready to take the next step with his team. His quickness, hands and instincts are extraordinary, and he did play in 80 games after struggling through 64 in his second season. If there is a question, it may be durability, and the one thing we know for sure is the Hornets aren't going anywhere without Chris Paul.
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9/12/2008 1:06 PM
