Top 5 Active NBA Point Guards- #4

4. Stephen Curry 

With his speedy release and silky smooth ball handling ability, fans have become infatuated with watching Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry perform on a highly basis. Curry softens the most hardened of defenses with seemingly impossible three point makes, that mirror the ones you may see in a game of NBA2K14. Defenses become incensed when Curry is drilling the shots they are begging him to take, and the Oracle Arena crowd is sent into a frenzy, as Stephen puts on a circus act with unimaginable three point precision. 

For Steph, the most celebrated aspect of his game may be his accuracy from behind the arc, but he's becoming a well rounded player that has kept GSW's hopes of a deep playoff run intact despite the plethora of injuries the team has endured. The desired starting lineup of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee and Bogut have only played a total of 43 games together, as each player has been attempting to cope with nagging injuries. Curry has played the most amount of games out of those aforementioned players, competing in 76 games, only second to Klay Thompson's participation in 78 contests. 

For Curry this is impressive, as he's dealt with his fare share of injuries to his ankles throughout his early career. The sign of durability and dependability is encouraging for GSW as well, knowing they can depend on a top tier point guard to always be at their disposal against the stiffest of competition. With a roster that bolsters as much talent as the Dubs do on paper, the 6th seed seems to be somewhat disappointing, but all of the injuries could've had them in a much more unfortunate position. 

Golden State can move up before next Saturday's playoffs commence, but to do so they will need some luck and or a some virtuoso performances from Stephen Curry. The performances don't seem to be an issue, as Curry led GSW on Friday with 30 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in only 35 minutes of work against the lowly Los Angeles Lakers.

On the season, Curry is averaging 23.6 PPG (career high,) 8.5 APG (career high,) and 4.3 RPG. The former Davidson Wildcat is shooting 47% from the field and 42% from three showing that consistency is highly in his favor. His usage rate is as high as it's ever been (28.2 up from 26.4 last year) but Golden State is content with this, as Curry has delivered time and time again for the championship hungry team. 

In statistics among point guards, Curry is 1st in scoring, 4th in rebounds, 2nd in FGM and FG%, 6th in assists and 3rd in double-doubles with 27, which includes 4 triple-doubles. Curry is 7th in scoring amongst all players, and his 247 three point field goal makes can be accredited to this. Curry is more than a 3 point specialist, but drilling bombs from beyond the arc is what he does better than anyone else, and this is what makes him incredibly lethal. From the 5 major three point areas on the court (right corner, right wing, straight ahead, left wing, left corner,) Curry is shooting 37% or better from each area. Omit the right corner, and Curry is shooting above 40% from all of the other spots. 

Curry also thrives in crunch time, as his performances in the clutch place him statistically as one of the top clutch players in the league. In the 38 games that have produced "crunch time" Curry is averaging 3.4 PPG which is 6th among qualifying players. He's shooting an 41% in these situations, higher than the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. 

On pull-up jumpers, Curry is shooting 60% from the floor. On step-back jump shots, Steph is shooting 65% from the field. This is remarkable, as most defenses would be content with a player having to consistently knock down a shot of that nature. With a player of Curry's caliber, defenses are forced to adjust accordingly, and just when they do so, Curry uses his wizard like ball handling ability and craftiness to get others involved along with creating for himself.

Curry is averaging a career high in assists, as he's grown more comfortable with playing the point guard position. His assists have generated 1,440 points the highest of his career and 259 more points than last year. He is averaging nearly 4 turnovers per game, (3.8,) but the climb in that figure shouldn't be too surprising as it was mentioned before that Curry's usage rate has increased. If Golden State wants to shake things up in the western conference, Steph has to devote himself to having that turnover per game number shrink when the playoffs begin.

Steph is able to slice and dice through the defense when they attempt to take away his air space, as his sly and quick movements allow him for effective and deadly penetration. He can dump it off to one of his talented bigs for a layup or dunk, or sling it out to the other "Splash Brother," Klay Thompson for a three point bomb. Curry is playing calm, cool and collected basketball and he hopes to lead Golden State on a furious run in the postseason. With a win in Portland tonight, the Warriors will have their first 50 win season since 1993-1994. Curry would've only been 6 years old. The 26 year old hopes to cement his own legacy in GSW, as that passionate fan base yearns for a major accomplishment. 

If anyone can bring these accomplishments it's Curry. He's recognized as one of the leagues top point guards and players, but to truly become respected he must generate some type of postseason success for the Dubs. Right now would be a fantastic time to start, and if a surprising deep postseason run occurs for GSW, Curry could easily find himself moving up on this list. 

*All statistics were researched BEFORE GSW's game against Portland on Sunday.
*Steph Curry is the first player to make 250 three's in multiple seasons

Do you think Stephen Curry is a top 5 point guard in the NBA? Should he be ranked higher or lower? Hit me on Twitter with thoughts (@wcboyer24) and remember to continue to support The Basketball Society. 

Top 30 NBA Point Guards

For my induction into the Basketball Society I decided to do a Top 30 ranking of NBA Point Guards. This was not a case where every team was represented (Knicks), but a general Top 30 list. This is not a ranking on entire careers, so don't expect Steve Nash on my list. He's definitely a Hall of Famer, but he's arguably the 3rd best PG on his team AT THE MOMENT. Some things I took into consideration were stats, winning, defense (not just steal totals), clutch factor, and importance to the team. All the stats are for the 2013-2014 season through the date of 2/5/2014. I will also give a brief summary of why I put them where they are.

30. Jameer Nelson - 13.3 PPG, 6.7 APG, 3.5 RPG, 37.4 3P%, 14.7 PER

I have never been a big Nelson fan, but he is quietly having a solid season, and the fact that he hasn't lost the starting PG spot to Victor Oladipo shows that he is having a pretty good all around season.

29. Mario Chalmers - 9.5 PPG, 5.0 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 38.5 3P%, 14.6 PER

Mario Chalmers is not even a Top 5 point guard on NBA 2k14, but he is ideal for the Miami scheme: He can hit the open shots, hustles, solid defense, can throw a lob pass, and can be yelled at and not cry afterwards.

28. Brandon Knight - 16.3 PPG, 4.8 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 15.9 PER

Now, most people hear Brandon Knight's name and think of the 4 week stretch last year where he was crossed, dunked on, blew a wide open, game tying layup by airballing, and getting completely destroyed on a pick in the open floor, but he has quietly improved. He's always been a solid spot up shooter, solid on-ball defender, and they're not many PGs with more heart than him.

27. Reggie Jackson - 13.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 15.6 PER

Reggie Jackson is the best full-time bench PG in the league (no one can seriously think he's gonna start over Westbrook) he's a pretty damn good scorer, and he's been amazing as a injury replacement for OKC (which I didn't think he could do so I was wrong).

26. Ricky Rubio - 8.5 PPG, 8.3 APG, 4.6 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 15.2 PER

Ricky Rubio is a PG in the 2000's Steve Nash mode as far as flashiness and passing ability, but he is a god awful shooter. It hurts his team at teams and it seems like he has gotten worse. He does manage to get a lot of steals for someone who isn't known for defense.

25. Jose Calderon - 11.7 PPG, 4.8 APG, 2.2 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 44.1 3P%, 15.3 PER

Calderon is one of the best shooting players in recent NBA history. His assists are way down but that is due to the amazing development of Monta Ellis, which i'm sure Calderon had a hand in.

24. Trey Burke - 12.7 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.2 RPG, 12.9 PER

Burke shook off an early injury and has made a big difference for the Jazz. It's still a shock that he fell as far s he did but he is still Top 5 in ROY voting and should dominate in the Rising Stars Game.

23. Jeremy Lin - 13.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 15.0 PER

Gone are the days of Linsanity, but Jeremy Lin is still a solid starter/6th man for the Rockets. He can still get to the hole when needed, and having Dwight Howard has helped with some of his offensive and defensive mistakes.

22. George Hill - 10.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 37.4 3P%, 13.8 PER

To be a PG and average only 3.3 APG is unacceptable, but Indiana doesn't need him to be a playmaker. Indiana needs him for what he does best: defend. Hill is maybe the best on-ball PG defender in the NBA and despite his low stats, is very important to Indiana and whatever success they will have this year.

21. Brandon Jennings - 17.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 16.6 PER

Jennings is the lead man on my team, the Pistons. He is actually having a career year, and rarely has a bad game. That being sad, on defense, he phones it in at times, and God forbid someone scores on him because he takes it personally (in a bad way). And for someone with a gunner reputation, he shoots 39%. Overall. For his career. Yikes.

20. Kemba Walker - 18.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 35.3 3P%, 17.6 PER

"Cardiac" Kemba was having a great season before suffering an ankle injury (that he recently returned from) and he also gets the title for best draft selection by a team ran by Michael Jordan. He has improved his shooting and defense and is a leader on a surprise Charlotte team.

19. Mike Conley - 18.0 PPG, 6.3 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 36.9 3P%, 21.3 PER

Mike Conley is a very good point guard. The fact that he is ranked this low shows the amazing depth at the position in today's NBA. If George Hill is the best on-ball defender at the position, then Conley is a close #2, and he has improved offensively.

18. Jrue Holiday - 14.3 PPG, 7.9 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 39.0 3P%, 17.4 PER

Holiday was having a good season coming off of his career year last year before he was injured a while back. He is shooting and scoring less but is shooting at better percentages and is one of the best 23 or younger PGs in the league.

17. Michael Carter-Williams - 17.2 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.4 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 16.5 PER

Barring something drastic, MCW will be the ROY this season. He is putting up numbers that are not common for rookie point guards in today's era, and he will be the leader of a Philadelphia playoff appearance in the 2014-15 season (I'm calling it now).

16. Deron Williams - 13.5 PPG, 6.9 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 40.2 3P%, 17.4 PER

Remember when Chris Paul vs Deron Williams used to be a debate? Yeah....2008 was great. Williams is nothing more than a serviceable PG that can turn back the clock at times. Right now, he's in the 6th man role in Brooklyn, partially due to production and durability.

15 & 14. Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe - 20.1 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 39.2 3P%, 22.3 PER (GD) 18.0 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 35.0 3P%, 19.9 PER (EB)

I really found it unfair to pick one of these over the other so I put them in the same spot. They are one and the same. Yes, Dragic is having the better season, but before Bledsoe injured his knee, these two literally had damn near identical stats in every category. They make a very good 2 headed guard tandem (very undersized however), and they have led Phoenix to being THE surprise team in the NBA this year. Add 4 draft picks and this team may become a powerhouse very soon.

13. Jeff Teague - 15.9 PPG, 7.4 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 16.3 PER

Teague is a above average defender with long arms, and offensively, he has surprise hops and will dunk on you if you let him. He also seems to have Atlanta in the playoffs every year, no matter the talent.

12. Isaiah Thomas - 20.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 37.3 3P%, 21.1 PER

I already know that I will be harassed about this pick here and I am fully prepared for it, but there are not many point guards in the league right now better than Isaiah Thomas. He's a 5'9 PG who can shoot the ball, score in the paint, and leads a team with Rudy Gay and Boogie Cousins on it. He also is an ok defender for his size, he can score in the clutch, and now that he is a full time starter, receiving 30+ minutes a game, he could possibly sneak into the Top 10.

11. Ty Lawson - 18.1 PPG, 8.9 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 35.0 3P%, 20.0 PER

It seems like you never hear Ty Lawson's name of the things that he does, but he is a very good PG. He shooting percentages are down across the board but he is also averaging a career high in points. He is getting to the free throw line over 2 more times per game than at any point in his career and it shows. And he's also one of few point guards to be averaging 16/8/3 on the season.

10. Kyle Lowry - 16.6 PPG, 7.5 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 39.4 3P%, 20.0 PER

Lowry is probably the most underrated player in the league (it is debatable), and he is definitely the biggest all-star snub. Lowry is a decent rebounder for his size, a very good shooter and passer, an underrated team leader, and is slowly becoming one of my favorite players to watch in the league. Only reason he is this low is because I couldn't exactly say I would take him over anybody that is ahead of him.

9. Damian Lillard - 20.6 PPG, 5.7 APG, 3.7 RPG, 40.5 3P%, 18.8 PER

Lillard has earned best PG in the league hype (he's not) for his ability to always show up in the clutch. What Lillard is at this moment is a great PG that shoots (and makes) enough threes to where he could possibly challenge Steph Curry's 3pointers made record in the near future.

8. Kyrie Irving - 21.4 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 35.4 3P%, 18.9 PER

Kyrie is a great young PG with AMAZING handles (ask Brandon Knight), good (yet inconsistent) court vision, a clutch factor, but poor durability, which is why I can't put him higher on my list.

7. Derrick Rose - 15.9 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 10.0 PER

Rose was having a terrible year coming off of his torn ACL before he suffered another major knee injury. I won't say much, because we all know what type of player that he is when he is fully healthy.

6. John Wall - 20.0 PPG, 8.5 APG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 20.2 PER

Wall is much improved, and he is showing that the max contract that he signed is well earned. His only major weakness (shooting) is not that big of a weakness anymore. He is a complete PG.

5. Steph Curry - 24.3 PPG, 9.1 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 40.2 3P%, 23.3 PER

Steph may be the best shooter in NBA history. This year, he actually improved on his numbers and upped his APG by 2. If he played a little bit better defense, he would maybe be the best PG in the league.

4. Tony Parker - 18.1 PPG, 6.3 APG, 2.3 RPG, 50.5 FG%, 20.1 PER

It has never really been about the individual stats for Parker. He is year in and year out a consistent 18 and 6 player on a yearly 50 win team. He can score when needed, and is the best inside scoring PG in the league.

3. Rajon Rondo - 8.4 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 11.7 PER

It's hard to judge Rondo on his stats this year as he has recently returned from a torn ACL. When completely healthy, you can pencil him in for 10/10/5 every single night and he'd rarely fall under that. Also, for someone who has shooting as his weakness, Rondo tends to hit the important jumpers. And he is a SNEAKY rebounder. It feels like you never see him actually grab a rebound but then you see the box score and he has 12.

2. Russell Westbrook - 23.3 PPG, 7.6 APG, 6.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 21.6 PER

Russ is one of if not the best all around point guard in the league. He scores (a lot), he rebounds (a lot), he passes (not enough, for some people), he's a high-flyer, he defends, and he's usually durable (his knee injury was caused by someone else).

1. Chris Paul- 19.6 PPG, 11.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 35.6 3P%, 27.4 PER

Just gonna keep this short: One of Chris Paul's nicknames is The Point God. Enough Said.

This list was compiled and written by Azevia Craft (@tryna_be_famous), member of The Basketball Society. 

#7 - Cleveland Cavaliers

The NBA's most infamous risk factor in Andrew Bynum isn't necessarily the main reason I have the Cleveland Cavaliers this high on my list, but he is a factor. Despite the fact that Bynum has yet to see the floor since his 2011-2012 season with the Lakers, (18.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG in that season) Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant recognizes the potential impact Bynum's size and experience can have, wait for it, if he's able to be on the floor. Bynum signed a two-year deal with Cleveland worth $24.5 million, with only half of the first season's $12 million guaranteed and an option on the second year. He is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.

What I think is beautifully strategic about acquiring Bynum is the Cavaliers' no. 1 overall draft pick of Anthony Bennett. Though Bennett possesses the skill set and body frame more of a stretch-4 than a center, Cleveland will have Anderson Varejao back, who led the league with 14.4 rebounds per game last season before a knee injury that sidelined the Brazilian center for 57 games. Head coach Mike Brown and Varejao have player-coach chemistry from the LeBron years, and now Bynum becomes less of a necessity and more of a luxury. I look at the addition of point guard Jarrett Jack, who was pivotal to the Golden State Warriors' postseason success, as added experience and depth to an already emerging back court of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. I also look at the signing of forward Earl Clark, who I feel proved himself to be an underrated glue guy and productive "tweener" with the Lakers last season. If healthy, reasonable minutes from Bynum can make this team formidable in the front court with Clark, Varejao, Tristan Thompson, and a progressing Anthony Bennett. Add Jack to that back court with Irving and Waiters, and this team is geared to compete for a bottom-half playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

- Martin S. @marley_mcfly

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