Point Guard Revolution

These NBA playoffs have showcased the position of point guard in all its glory. The value of a talented floor general is an integral part of most levels of organized basketball, with March Madness being dominated by dynamic guard play. But one needs to only look at the top teams this past season to glean the true value of a good point guard down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Chris Paul is the heart and soul of the New Orleans Hornets, even managing to force himself into the conversation for league MVP with the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. A truly great point guard allows a team to elevate itself from a middle of the pack squad to a title contender. Consider this, without Derron Williams, the Jazz would be getting blown out of the building against these ultra talented Lakers. With their physical All Star point guard, Utah, a team considered mere cannon fodder for the #1 seeded Lakers, has been playing physical and with a purpose. More importantly, the Jazz have been staying in games, down only 3 with under 3 minutes left in Game 2 at the Staples Center. Derrick Rose's record setting 36 point, 11 assist performance in his playoff debut surpassed the playoff debut of the greatest player to ever set foot on the hardwood, and in the process carried the #7 seed Bulls to a shocking upset against the Celtics at Boston.

Guards Mo Williams and Chauncey Billups have lifted their respective teams to new heights, with Williams coming over from Milwaukee to help lead Cleveland to the best record in the league, and Billups pushing the perennially underachieving Denver Nuggets to a #2 seed in the heated West. Other point guards have been key components of their team's success, with Tony Parker, Aaron Brooks, Jason Kidd, Andre Miller, and Mike Bibby. Without their respective floor generals, none of these talented playoff teams would be in the position to make a run for the title.

The numbers back up this prognosis, as Billups made his mark with 36 points and eight assists in a win over Paul's Hornets (a game in which Paul had 21 points and 11 assists). Mo Williams had a 21-point game in Cleveland's Game 2 win. Miller scored 15 points, with seven assists and seven rebounds in Philly's Game 1 upset over the Magic. And Houston second-year man Aaron Brooks has been brilliant, averaging 25.0 points and 6.0 assists in two games. Even more astonishing, if one takes all of the starting point guards in the playoffs and takes the average of their combined statistics the numbers are eye popping: 18.2 points on 48.5 percent shooting along with 7.5 assists. These statistics would place a player in the top 30 in scoring and inside the top 10 in assist as well this past regular season.

While most championship of years past have featured marginal point guards, this year's playoffs have proved to be an exception. While even the 3 peat Lakers of the early 2000s, often considered one of the best teams in NBA history, featured Derek Fisher as their primary point guard, nearly every squad in this season's postseason features an All Star caliber player at the point. While Derek Fisher is a solid role player, and has proven to be a solid NBA starter over the course of his career, the stocky guard never averaged more than 13 points or 4 assists during the Los Angelos 3 peat.



The NBA game has shifted to a guard oriented game, with the lack of emphasis on the traditional big man clearly evident. Gone are the days of great traditional giants in the post, with the Patrick Ewings, Hakeem Olajuwons, and David Robinsons of seasons past being replaced by leaner, more athletic wing players, and the likes of Samuel Dalembert, Joel Przybilla, and Jarron Collins starting at the center position in these playoffs.



So here's to the point guard and its return to glory, may the best teams win.