The NBA: January 2014 Position Battle – The Top 5 Point Guards Right Now

In this Position Battle post, we will focus on the top five point guards at this point in the season. Unlike our previous posts, though, this time we will take into account just the players’ stats for the latest five games of their respective teams. This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each player’s production.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on January 10, 2014 (Manila time). Chris Paul actually has the highest EFF among all NBA PGs, but he played in just two of the Clippers’ last five contests, so I chose not to include him.

5. Steph Curry (GSW) – 24.2ppg, 8.8apg, 3.6rpg, 2.8spg, 2.8 triples per game, 89.3 FT%, 22.0 EFF

I hate his game-deciding turnover against the Nets, but let’s give Curry a break. The Warriors won 10 straight before that Brooklyn loss, and Curry was a bgi reason why. He had a bit of a slump against Milwaukee and Washington, but he did net five double-doubles in that win streak. Oh, and he also just surpassed CP3 in All-Star voting. Woot!

Steph Curry remains one of the league's
most productive playmakers.
(image by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

4. Kyle Lowry (TOR) – 16.6ppg, 9.0apg, 4.2rpg, 1.8spg, 46.6 FG%, 2.6 triples per game, 48.1 3pt%, 22.6 EFF

The Raptors have been pretty awesome post-Christmas, winning six of eight games. Lowry has also been playing at a pretty high level, netting double-doubles in four of those eight contests. He also hit at least two threes in all but one of those matches. Needless to say, it looks like Lowry and the Raptors are through with tanking. Looks like they’re actually making a run for the postseason.

3. Isaiah Thomas (SAC) – 22.0ppg, 8.4apg, 3.2rpg, 2.8 triples per game, 46.7 3pt%, 22.8 EFF

The Kings have been up-and-down this season, but Thomas has been mostly up. He’s scored 15 or more points in Sacramento’s last eight games. His best was scoring 27 points and handing out 9 assists against the San Antonio Spurs last December 29, 2013. He also did pretty well when Damian Lillard visited town, dropping 22 points, 7 boards, 8 assists and 2 steals against the Blazers.

2. Goran Dragic (PHX) – 24.2ppg, 6.4apg, 2.8rpg, 2.0spg, 51.7 FG%, 1.6 triples per game, 23.2 EFF

Dragic had a great 2013, helping Slovenia make a  splash in Eurobasket and leading them to a World Cup slot. He’s been playing inspired ball since then, too, putting up career-highs in scoring, field goal shooting, and free throw shooting. His player efficiency is at an all-time high, too. He’s blossoming into a superstar.

1. Ty Lawson (DEN) – 19.6ppg, 11.0apg, 4.0rpg, 1.4spg, 2.0 triples per game, 87.5 FT%, 24.4 EFF

Four straight double-doubles for Lawson, and three wins out of four games for the Nuggets. Not bad at all. I don’t think he’ll be an All-Star this season, but he’s surely playing like one. He’s also the best point guard in the NBA as of today.

  

Ty Lawson has a had a good enough stretch of games to push
him atop the point guard ladder in the NBA.
(image from TheRichest.com)

Outside looking in:

Darren Collison (LAC) – 21.8 EFF

Mike Conley (MEM) – 21.6 EFF
Deron Williams (BKN) – 21.0 EFF

Tweet