Steph Curry is the best point guard in the Western Conference, and arguably in the NBA, ensuring his position at the top since his mid-twenties. After sliding over to point guard last year in Brooklyn, does James Harden revert to piling up points at the two with Irving now sidelined indefinately? GP. But Damian Lillard didnt want to rebuild, so he brought his game to the next level, increasing his scoring by over four points per game. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Despite his dip in play, the Warriors are 12-2 and playing at a high level. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Ja Morant had 23 points and seven rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies raced to an early lead and coasted to a 112-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night in a matchup of the Western Conference's top teams. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Antetokounmpo Williams Randle Harris Wainright Noel Hernangomez Saric Nurkic Capela Payne LeVert Robinson Watanabe White York Siakam Arcidiacono Prince Rozier Dunn Embiid. Lowry and "Heat Culture." They were the league's best unit in November (106.4 points allowed per 100 possessions), but went 8-6 during that stretch while navigating significant foot injuries to standout guards James Harden and Tyrese Maxey (whose offensive abilities far outweigh their defense). Lets jump right into the Western Conference, first with the guards. Gilgeous-Alexander went on to say, Im not playing this game just to be a good basketball player. The NBA has been the host to many world-class point guards. NBA shooting guard rankings 2021-22 1. Having played 32.6 MPG, the reigning MIP has . Stephen Curry has played at an All-Star level this year; he is ninth in the league in scoring despite a lower usage rate than last year. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has made plenty of headlines recently. McCollum is third. The Blazers are 4-6 this season without Lillard and 19-44 under those circumstances going back to the start of 2021-22. The 23-year-old MVP candidate put on a show on Tuesday in becoming just the sixth player to post five or more 40-point triple-doubles in Dallas win against Golden State, joining the likes of Oscar Robertson (22), James Harden (16), Russell Westbrook (13), Wilt Chamberlain (7) and LeBron James. Already arguably the most complete point guard in league history, his improved shooting could have brought his game to a new level. For now, he comes in at 10th on this list, but expect to see Edwards continue to climb his way up the ranks every year. Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns has emerged as one of the best shooting guards in the league As we continue to countdown to the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, which gets underway on 19. Is Westbrook too low here? The east has finally pulled itself together and is deeper than the west. $5. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. This offseason, the Bulls have surrounded LaVine with the most talent he's ever played with in adding Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan to the trade deadline acquisition of Nikola Vucevic. And since the Sacramento Kings point guard was passed over for the All-Star Game, it looks like he will remain underrated. He joined Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only players in league history to post those stats. He finished sixth in the league in assists last year and is leading the league with 12.5 assists per game this year. If Portland resolves some of their issues, they will match or exceed last years success on the strength of their franchise player. With Curry on the floor, the Warriors had an offensive rating of 114.2. PRL (Position Replacement Level) = 11.5 for power forwards, 11.0 for point guards, 10.6 for centers, 10.5 for shooting guards and small forwards EWA: Estimated Wins Added - Value Added divided by 30, giving the estimated number of wins a player adds to a team's season total above what a 'replacement player' would produce. He has also proven himself to be one of the best shooting point guards in these so-called clutch moments. "Miami valued my time and level of play," Bouyea said. Curry is a prime example of a modern-day shooting point guard and has shown remarkable skill and charisma in his storied career. So does this mean that 6'6 is a good height to play basketball? Ty Lawson, PG, Denver Nuggets. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs 12. Height: 6'6 Teams: Los Angeles Lakers Position: Shooting guard Kobe Bryant's 20-year career in the NBA allowed fans to witness the evolution of his legendary gameplay and the evolution of his haircut choices. Prior to last season, many expected the Portland Trail Blazers to miss the playoffs and rebuild after losing four starters in the offseason. The 30-year-old bounced back strong upon his return, finishing with season-long averages of 23.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, playing Robin to Damian Lillard's Batman in another playoff berth for his Trail Blazers. Still, the Pacific Time Zone features some of the most talented All-Stars in the NBA. The six-time All-Star missed his fifth consecutive game (strained right calf) on Wednesday, but the 32-year-old appeared to be back in All-Star form through his first 11 games. They are 13-2 and have had numerous blowout wins. For that reason, he's not included. 9 ranked shooting guard, but don't be surprised if new head coach Ime Udoka deploys Smart as the starting point guard to begin the season. The Phoenix Suns (33-29) visit the Charlotte Hornets (20-43) on Wednesday night! However, McCollum needs to be better than steady to make it to the next level of shooting guards. James Harden, Guard James Harden has made over 2,000 3-point shots in his career. Some are genuinely here due to their low basketball IQs, while others are just held in low regard by fans. Curry scored 32 points in the loss to go with five rebounds and five assists, amassing his 13th game this season with 30 points or more. Ja is a verified lunatic. The NBA released its first All-Star Game fan vote Thursday. Download this stock image: Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, center, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets guards Chauncey Billups, left, and Arron Afflalo defend in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Given the nickname for his ability to deliver in clutch moments, Lillard has no doubt been one of the best point guards not only in the Western Conference but in the whole of the NBA. The 35-year-old may no longer be at his athletic peak, but Lowrystill does all of the little things to help his team win. 10. The next group of Bogdanovic, Sexton, Robinson, Brooks, Fournier and Hardaway represent six players who excel in their roles as certified starters, each bringing a specific skillset to their team. 5 players found. Jayson Tatum is a power forward for the Celtics and is considered one of the best playmakers on the team. The NBA All-Star Game is an honor bestowed upon the most distinguished hoopers every season. Mitchell has great athleticism, but he isnt that great a shooter from the floor. Fans of the NBA will look back at this era and wonder just how so many great players ended up playing against each other in the same conference. We now turn our attention to the five best shooting guards in the West. 4 Phoenix Suns, a 3 -game lead over the No. In the Eastern Conference, former Warrior Kevin Durant is sitting in the No. Miles takes the court to face the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter of Game 2 of the teams' NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series in Denver on Monday, April 19, 2010. (PER - PRL)] / 67). Until that changes, we don't know where or when Simmons suits up. MPG. Heres a quick look at eight guards from the Western Conference that should figure prominently in the mix for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, listed alphabetically. James suffered the injury against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday but was able to return as the Lakers completed a 27-point comeback. We take a look at these five players who make up the very best of the shooting guard position in the NBAs Western Conference. However, Portland has struggled without power forward Al Farouq Aminu and have had their issues so far. 30. Selecting the All-Stars for the guard position in the West is often a tough task, and the 2022-23 season is no different. Curry recorded an outstanding 42.1% of his shots from beyond the arc, further establishing his position as the greatest shooter of all time. Golden State Warriors (+1600) LW: No. The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). NBA Trade Machine; Draft; G League; World of Woj; Awards; NBA History . Accordingly, he is currently first in the league in time possessing the basketball. The Clippers playing at this level are real NBA title contenders. Therefined shooting stroke he displayed in New Orleans should allow him to be an off-ball threat when DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine is running things. Thompson is expected to make his debut some time around Christmas, meaning he'll likely miss half of the season. Despite being just 22 years old, Doncic is widely consideredthe favorite to win the 2021-22 NBA MVP award. RPG. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers. He displayed his enduring class as he led the Wizards' charge in the playoffs, averaging 23.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 13.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 36 matches from March to the close of the league year. Portland. Although Conley just turned 34, he's showing little signs of slowing down. He has averaged a minimum of 20.8 ppg since 2015-16, going for a career-best 23.1 ppg in the 2020-21 NBA season. The Heat have lost four straight and, at 32-29, have fallen into the play-in zone. His shooting, on-ball creativity and off-ball movementmakelife easier for all of his teammates. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Power Rankings: Season nears quarter-mark, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays & strategy for March 1, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1, How the Spurs celebrated Black Heritage Night, NBA set to celebrate Noches neBA program, Feb. 18: State Farm All-Star Saturday Night. Please logout and login again. Take a closer look at how Luka Doncic has been dominating this season. When he rested, the Lakers allowed 114.4. As Allen Iverson put it, Lillard is a "certified killer." Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine breakdown Devin Booker and his quietly stellar season so far. The reigning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player edged out Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic for the top spot for Western Conference guards. He has consistently been one of the NBA's most dangerous scorers, one capable of hitting shots from anywhere on the floor. It was previously reported that Ja Morant was facing a lawsuit for allegedly striking a minor during a pickup basketball game at the beginning of the year, and now this report goes into more detail on that encounter and more. The 32-years old has had a wonderful career in the league, being one of a select few players to have achieved a triple-double in consecutive seasons. Do you agree? The veteran guard was spectacular in his first season with the Bucks as they captured their first title in 50 years. Lillard emerged as a true franchise star last year. Look no further than Bullock whose minimal intensity on the defensive end is matched by a lack of ability to do anything other than chuck treys. The Western Conference has an unlimited amount of great players with the back-to-back MVP of the league in the west as well as LeBron James, and the 2022 NBA Finals MVP Steph Curry. He must be brilliant while being consistent. What they've been up to: Iguodala, who is the lone Lute Olson-coached Wildcat still playing in the NBA, is the highest-earning ex-Cat, making just over $185 . James Harden, Brooklyn Nets With or without Kyrie Irving in the fold, Harden figured to have the ball in his hands more than anyone in Brooklyn. During that span, Lillard averaged 26.3 ppg and 7.0 apg, including a pair of 40-point nights in back-to-back games in October. 6 Mavericks. Edwards' firstseason may have come up just short of Rookie of the Year honors, but the former No. Also Read: Stephen Currys Contract Breakdown? MORE: Irving will not play or practice until he can participate full-time. Your login session has expired. You can e-mail himhere, find his archivehereand follow him onTwitter. During an offseason in which he needed to rest a fractured hand, he decided to get Lasik eye surgery and it may have drastically improved his outside shooting. Jackson started more regular season games than any other Clipper except Ivan Zubac since the Tyronn Lue era began, but would go on long benders where he couldnt find the bottom of the net. The player with the highest 2K Rating among current players whose height is 6'3 on NBA 2K23 is Ja Morant. That's NBA champion Jrue Holiday to you. When Phoenix eventually advanced to the NBA Finals, Booker stated his case for Finals MVP after scoring 40-plus points in Games 4 and 5, but coming up short of the title crushed those hopes. The NBAs fifth-leading scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander sat out of Wednesdays win against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left hip contusion. It's no surprise that the Suns had re-signing Paul at the top of their offseason priority list. He hits open shots off the catch or off the dribble. 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