The Top Five NBA Shooting Guards Right Now in the 2014-2015 Season

It’s crazy as hell that James Harden wasn’t voted as an All-Star starter this season. Crazy. As. Hell. But all is good now because The Beard is draining buckets, taking names, and, get this, playing D!!! His Rockets? Fifth overall in the league. Boom. And how about the other guys on this list? They’re pretty good, too, but, by far, there’s just no SG on the planet who can lay a hand on James effin’ Harden.

And who are those “other” SGs? Let’s see.

Here they are – the top five shooting guards RIGHT NOW in the 2014-2015 NBA regular season (this is based on the Player Efficiency ratings as calculated by HoopsStats.com as of the evening of February 27, 2015 – Manila time):

The Top Five NBA Point Guards Right Now in the 2014-2015 Season

The All-Star Weekend has been etched in memory and the craziest trade deadline in recent memory has just passed. Goran Dragic got his wish to bolt Phoenix along with every other point guard the Suns had, while the Bucks did the smartest thing ever by trading away their best player for a former Rookie of the Year who hasn’t really done much since. OKC may have just become the league’s most dangerous team, while, sadly, we might have seen the last of Chris Bosh this season after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lungs.

It’s been a crazy past week or so in the NBA, but here we are now, with only about 27-30 games to go per team and the Playoff race reaching fever pitch. By all indications, it looks like things are going to get even crazier.

And with that backdrop, here they are – the top five point guards RIGHT NOW in the 2014-2015 NBA regular season (this is based on the Player Efficiency ratings as calculated by HoopsStats.com as of the evening of February 21, 2015 – Manila time):

The PBA: Back Where They Belong

I like San Miguel Beer (SMB). Actually, I love San Miguel Beer! I grew up with SMB in the early 90s and it stuck with me throughout my high school and college days. SMB was a big part of my adolescent and adult years. I spent time with SMB at least 2-3 times a week. It did not matter that there was school the next day. I spent my afternoons and nights with SMB. SMB was also there to cheer me up when I was down and it made my formative years more enjoyable.Through thick and thin, SMB was always a part of my life.

But let me be clear. I am not an alcoholic and I rarely drink beer, maybe once a month. When I mentioned SMB, I meant the San Miguel Beer/Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association. The San Miguel franchise is among the winningest teams in the history of the PBA. Their Beermen team name was officially replaced by Petron Blaze Boosters after March 2011.

With the recent news that the name "San Miguel Beer" is making a comeback after being away for 3 years, I decided to write about my best memories of SMB. 

San Miguel Beer circa 1993. From Left to Right: Ato Agustin, Biboy Ravanes, Franz Pumaren, Dong Polistico, Alvin Teng, Hector Calma, Ramon Fernandez, Allan Caidic, Yves Dignadice, Samboy Lim, Kevin Ramas, Art Dela Cruz

My Top 5 Moments in San Miguel Beer History:

The NBA: 2013 Top 5 Players in Different Categories

These superstars are excellent in multiple categories.
Read on to find out which ones they are.
(Photo by: Lisong Designs/@lisong24)

The NBA regular season starts in less than a week. Predictions have been posted here and Power Rankings will come out next week. In the meantime, I thought of updating a list that I made last season regarding the top/best players in a certain category. Here, I listed five players who I currently believe are among the best in that basketball category that I created (over 20 groups). The players compiled do not necessarily translate to rankings since I just wrote the first five players that came to my mind. I gave more consideration to things that happened recently (2012-13 season). Also, I neglected to add rookies and I ignored injuries (Ex: Rondo, Kobe).

The NBA: Position Battle: The Best Point Guards Right Now

Nope, despite finishing with 41 against the Knicks, Kyrie Irving does NOT make this list. Linsanity, Steph Curry, Deron Williams, and Kyle Lowry also miss the cut, but there is ONE guy who’ll really make you shake your head (not THAT head!).

5) Brandon Knight (DET) - 23.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.2apg, 1.0spg, 65.4 3pt%, 20.8 EFF

Why, yes. Now is the time to shake your head. Brandon Knight is a top 5 point guard in the NBA, at least based on his last five games. I mean, look at his 3-point shooting! Better than 65%!!! Too bad the Pistons continue to suck, losing four of their last five.

4) Russell Westbrook (OKC) - 21.2ppg, 3.2rpg, 9.0apg, 1.8spg, 21.2 EFF

Jet Zero probably won’t be in the MVP conversation this year because he’s more of a volume scorer, but one cannot deny the impact he makes on the court in each OKC game. He’s the Thunder’s number two scorer, but he’s tops in steals and assists. He’s a big part of why OKC has won its last 10 games, and he’s a big part of why they’re on top of the whole league right now.

3) Chris Paul (LAC) - 16.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 8.4apg, 2.6spg, 21.8 EFF

Averaging less than 17 points and 9 assists per game is subpar for a player like Paul, but even then he’s still the third-best PG in the league. The Clips have won 9 straight and are still firmly in control of the Pacific Division. They’re also set to sweep their Eastern road trip after what should be an easy win against the Pistons in two days. For the CP3 fans out there, don’t worry. I’m sure your idol is just humming and waiting for the right time to explode.

2) Tony Parker (SAS) - 21.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 8.0apg, 56.9 FG%, 50.0 3pt%, 92.6 FT%, 26.0 EFF

Will you look at those shooting numbers?! They’re TOO INSANE. I mean, it’s almost unfair for a playmaker to shoot much better than most big men in the league. And then still have time to dish out 8 dimes an outing. But that’s how Parker’s game has progressed through the years. He has become a well-rounded world-beater, and the Spurs, currently 2 games ahead of Memphis in the Southwest, are all too happy to have him on board.

1) Rajon Rondo (BOS) - 14.2ppg, 7.2rpg, 12.8apg, 2.8spg, 1.0bpg, 53.4 FG%, 26.4

Rajon Rondo is the NBA’s best point guard. That’s not too arguable a point, but then again what’s really strange is how his team, the Boston Celtics, are languishing ahead of only Toronto in the Atlantic Division. The Cs lost three of their last five, and they have tough ones against the Bulls and Cavs to follow. Rondo’s superhuman, stat-stuffing production notwithstanding, I still don’t think Boston is a good bet in the near future.

Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker are the two top PGs
in the NBA today.
(image by Eric Gay/AP)

Honorable Mention: Steph Curry (GSW), Jrue Holiday (PHI), George Hill (IND)

The NBA: Position Battle: The Best Shooting Guards Right Now

Most of the heavy-hitters like Dwyane Wade, Manu Ginobili, Joe Johnson, and Jamal Crawford aren’t on this list, but at least the heaviest hitter of ‘em all still reigns supreme.

5) Jordan Crawford (WAS) - 20.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 5.6apg, 1.0spg, 19.2 EFF

Remember when he claimed he could be better than a certain other Jordan? He still WON’T be able to do that, but at least he’s putting up great numbers in the continued absence of John Wall.

4) OJ Mayo (DAL) – 23.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.4apg, 1.6spg, 22.4 EFF

Mayo is another guy benefitting from the absence of his team’s top player, but, unlike the Wizards, who are languishing at the very bottom of the East, the Mavs are still in the thick of the fight out West.  Mark Cuban’s crew would love to have Dirk back ASAP, but as long as Mayo puts up these stats, Dallas might just keep its head above water.

3) Klay Thompson (GSW) - 20.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.6apg, 1.2spg, 1.0bpg, 23.2 EFF

After a slow start, Klay Thompson is finally showing why this was supposed to be, and is slowly shaping up to be, his breakout season. He’s scoring and shooting with the best the league has to offer, and the Warriors, despite their most recent loss to Orlando, are really reaping the rewards.

2) James Harden (HOU) - 28.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 5.5apg, 2.5spg, 27.3 EFF

Harden’s production continues to be strong despite the Rockets losing 3 of their last 5. They did, however, win back-to-back games against the Wizards and the Celtics to stop their losing skid. Harden remains to be the top shooting guard outside of California and an All-Star spot should be in the offing. Anything less would be travesty.

James Harden slams one on the break as the
Rockets beat the visiting Celtics.
(image by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

1) Kobe Bryant (LAL) - 34.2ppg, 4.8rpg, 4.4apg, 1.8spg, 28.8 EFF

Kobe has really been doing well of late. Too bad the same can’t be said of his team. When Kobe puts up these kinds of numbers, the Lakers usually win, but, strangely enough, even with the best center in the world in the lineup, they just can’t seem to string up the Ws with any consistency this season. They did win their latest game, but, heck, that was against Washington. WASHINGTON.

Honorable Mention: Monta Ellis (MIL), Rodney Stuckey (DET), Manu Ginobili (SAS)