The NBA: April 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. 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.

Neither Chris Paul nor Steph Curry is at the top of this list. Other marquee names, meanwhile, like Deron Williams, Ty Lawson, or Goran Dragic are also conspicuously absent. The young ‘uns rule, at least for now.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on April 9, 2014 (Manila time).

CP3 is the only "old hand" on this list as the young playmakers
of the Association take over.

5. Steph Curry (GSW) - 22.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 8.4apg, 1.6spg, .506 FG%, 3.4 triples per game, .436 3pt%, 22.8 EFF

Curry remains unconscious from long range, hitting more than three triples a game as the dubs have won 7 of their last 10 games to solidify their hold on the sixth spot in the West. He has been playmaking much better, too, netting double-digit dimes in three of GSW’s last four outings. That includes his 16-assist awesomeness against Trey Burke’s Jazz a few days ago.

           

4. Russell Westbrook (OKC) - 24.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 6.0apg, 1.3spg, .493 FG%, .963 FT%, 23.5 EFF

Instead of fighting for the conference’s best record, the Thunder are now just fighting to keep the Clippers from unseating them as the second seed. Recent wins over the Spurs, Raptors, Bulls, and Rockets have been impressive, but losses to the Suns and the Mavs have hurt. Westbrook, however, has generally been killing it. Jet Zero has still been taking a lot of shots, sure, but one cannot complain when he makes more than half of those he tosses up.

Can Russell Westbrook push OKC into another deep
postseason run?
(image by Barry Gossage/Getty Images)

3. Michael Carter-Williams (PHI) - 19.0ppg, 6.8rpg, 6.6apg, 1.8spg, .515 FG%, 24.4 EFF

It’s not often that the leading ROY candidate shoots nearly 52% from the floor, so props are due here. Sure, the Sixers have the fastest pace in the league, but this kid’s stats are still very impressive despite that. The jury is still out on whether he will be transformed into a bona fide All-Star or into a nouveau Tyreke Evans, but I, for one, am hopeful he’ll turn out to be the former. His 24-6-6-1-1 line against Rajon Rondo and the Cs last week wasn’t anything to scoff at either.

2. Chris Paul (LAC) - 22.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 9.0apg, 2.6spg, .507 FG%, 3.2 triples per game, .500 3pt%, .880 FT%, 28.8 EFF

CP3 is playing at a very high level, and the Clips are right on the heels of OKC for that second seed. If they do manage to pilfer that from the Thunder, then LA will have homecourt in the second round, which will be huge, since they’ve been 32-6 at Staples and the Thunder haven’t been nearly as potent playing away from Chesapeake Energy Arena. Of course, the clincher will be the Clippers’ match against the Thunder tomorrow. The winner of that will have the inside track to the West’s second spot.

Chris Paul and the Clippers are one of the hottest teams
right now, but are they hot enough to clinch the 2nd seed?
(image by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

1. Kyrie Irving (CLE) - 24.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 6.7apg, 3.3spg, .537 FG%, 1.7 triples per game, 29.0 EFF

Irving is playing mighty fine for a guy who won’t see a lick of postseason action. Well, unless a minor mircacle happens and the Knicks and Hawks lose all their remaining games and the Cavs win all theirs. That isn’t likely, though, and, frankly speaking, so is the prospect of Kyrie staying put in Ohio. Methinks his strong play is meant for show, and the other 29 teams comprise his audience.

Kyrie Irving -- should he stay or should he go?
(image by David Liam Kyle/Getty Images)

Outside looking in:

Rajon Rondo (BOS) - 20.0 EFF

Mario Chalmers (MIA) - 19.8 EFF

DJ Augustin (CHI) - 19.8 EFF

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