Here is my list. Argue as much as you like, its just my opinion.
1. Rajon Rondo. I love his game and he has gotten a little better every year. I love pass first pgs (although I'm about to contradict myself). He makes everyone on his team better. Watching the Celtics without him this year should show you just how valuable he is. They don't have guys that can get by their defender. And I think to be an effective player you need to be able to make the other team use a second defender to guard you. Whether it be a pg getting by his primary defender, or a post player drawing a double, or even guys like Kobe and Lebron who get double teamed on the perimeter before they even take a dribble, if it takes multiple guys to defend you, you are a commodity. This allows your shooters and cutters and role players to get easier looks and to get shots they can't get on their own. 2. Russell Westbrook. Ok this is where I contradict. I know he is a pass last pg, but I absolutely love his game. I almost put him first but after thinking for a while he got the two slot. He puts sooooo much pressure on the defense on every possession. He plays harder than basically everyone in the league, and he plays with a chip on his shoulder which I love. What sets him apart is that he is basically unguardable. His pull up is basically whether he makes or misses, because the defender has no say in the matter. And he just attacks the rim without mercy. Some say he shoots too much but look at OKC in the last two games. They look like a team that doesn't have an identity. And talk about creating opportunities for others. He is an underrated passer, and just by him having the ball, all the defenders have to take another step towards guarding the paint and giving his teammates a little more space.
3. Derrick Rose. I give him the nod over Chris Paul. I think he is so explosive and can get to the rim at will and dunk on you too. He is an impossible player to guard, and his 3 point shot is improving all the time. He took this Chicago bulls team that can't score 80 unless Nate Robinson goes off to being one of the most explosive offenses in the league and the #1 seed last year which was best record in the East. And on top of it, he tears his ACL in game 1 which the Bulls won, and then they lose to the terrible Sixers who had a losing record (I believe) during the regular season. He is the ultimate example of a guy who makes a bunch of very average players into the best team in the conference.
4. Chris Paul. Never been a big Chris Paul guy, although I do like him more now that I have seen him play more often now that he is here in LA. He is a great competitor and great all around offensive player. I'm not a huge fan of his defense and I think he struggles with physical point guards. But he has turned the Clippers from irrelevent even with Blake Griffin and D'andre Jordan, to a second tier team in the West which is saying something with how deep the West is. Having Paul this low is blasphemy to some people but I just like the other guys a little bit better.
5. Stephen Curry. This guy is rising the charts in a ridiculous fashion. The problem is he may not be able to rise any further with the guys above him. Some people may like him better than one or all of the people above him but I still would take all of those guys ahead of him at this point. His shot is so smooth and he needs absolutely no space to get it off. He is becoming a better passer every year and cutting down turnovers. He does struggle on the defensive end, which is part of the reason I don't have him higher, and he has been hurt so much so far in his career, I don't think he has gotten to reach his full potential. And I am thinking he is pretty close right now and its really impressive. He might be the most fun to watch of anyone on this list because of how he can just hit you for a quick 10 or 22 like he did in 6 minutes the other night.
the rest of the top 10 for me:
6. Tony Parker
7. Derron Williams
8. Kyrie Erving
9. Damian Lillard
10. Gerives Vasquez (sorry about spelling)
Thats my list. Feel free to bash it.
Going out to eat with my mom be back to see reactions in a couple hours
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