In this Position
Battle post, we will focus on the top five shooting guards at this point in the
season. We will take into account just the players’ stats for the entire season up till December 9, 2014
(Manila time). This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each
player’s production.
In this
list, there’s no surprise at #1, but #2 should have some people shaking their
heads. Oh, and the Mamba is officially back!
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| Take a look at the top five shooting guards in the NBA right now! |
Note: All of the following stats are based on each
player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on December
9, 2014 (Manila time).
5. Kobe Bryant (LAL) - 25.2ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.8apg,
1.3spg, 1.4 triples per game, 18.0 EFF
The Lakers
aren’t going to make the Playoffs this season, but that won’t stop Kobe from
continuing to take too many shots. This means that Kobe and Laker fans can
really just look forward to what records Kobe will be breaking. He’s still got
some hops, though.
4. Klay Thompson (GSW) - 21.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.5apg,
1.3spg, 2.9 triples per game, 45.1 3pt%, 18.7 EFF
Klay has
slowed down significantly after such a fast start to the season, but that doesn’t
mean he has become a chump. On the contrary, In fact, Klay has been putting up
career-bests in points, assists, and three-point percentage. No wonder the Dubs
have won thirteen straight and are on top of the entire league right now.
3. Dwyane Wade (MIA) -
22.0ppg, 3.4rpg, 5.9apg, 1.1spg, 54.0 FG%, 19.8 EFF
Many people
expected Wade to play at a diminished level this season, but he’s actually
kinda outdoing himself. He hasn’t been scoring this much since the 2011-2012
season, and his assists numbers haven’t been this high since 2009-2010. When
healthy, D-Wade is still one of the most explosive guards on the planet.
2. Jimmy Butler (CHI) -
21.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 3.4apg, 1.5spg, 48.8 FG%, 21.9 EFF
Raise your
hand if you thought that Butler would be considered the second-best SG in the
league AT ANY POINT THIS SEASON. No takers? Yeah, thought so. Butler has come
out of nowhere to become the Bulls’ leading scorer and, not surprisingly, most
effective perimeter defender. He’s playing the best ball of his young career,
and that should serve him well when he negotiates for a new contract in 2015.
1. James Harden (HOU) - 25.2ppg, 6.3rpg, 6.6apg,
1.9spg, 1.2bpg, 2.3 triples per game, 89.6 FT%, 25.5 EFF
When it
comes to NBA shooting guards, Harden is just way ahead of the pack. I mean, he
tops this list in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and BLOCKS. Where are
those “Harden doesn’t play D” memes again? It sure looks like The Beard has
been listening to everyone’s jeering, and he’s out to shut ‘em all up. Getting
the Rockets to the second round of the postseason, however, would be an even
bigger goal.
Outside
looking in:
Kevin Martin (MIN) - 17.6 EFF
Monta Ellis (DAL) - 17.5 EFF
Kyle Korver (ATL) - 16.6 EFF
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