HoopsVibe: Top 5 Guards Pt.1

Heres Part 1 of what HoopsVibe believes to be the top 5 Guards in the league:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The NBA?s Top Ten Guards: Part One


1. LeBron James

LeBron James will undoubtedly be the best guard on the planet next year.

He has more than exceeded expectations thus far, pushing his limits seemingly on a weekly basis. If I had claimed before he was drafted that he?d have a 27-7-7 year as early as his sophomore season, even the most dedicated of his fans would have shot me a look that questioned the prediction. As it is, we all have a different look on our faces now that we?ve seen King James assume the throne and lay a royal beatdown on the rest of the league.

If he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far, 2006 will see him coming the closest to a triple-double average since Big O stepped away from the game. Even if he doesn?t, he?ll still boast a monster line and the reputation as the man who somehow played beyond the incredible hype that surrounded him before he ever signed a professional deal.


2. Kobe Bryant

As much of a mystery as he is to anyone outside of his inner circle, there?s no denying that Kobe Bryant remains one of the most talented athletes in all of sports. With nine professional seasons under his belt, three rings in his jewellery box, and twenty-seven-year-old legs beneath him, he remains a formidable force, more capable than anyone in the league of dropping forty on a given night. While his influence on team chemistry and his ability to lead a franchise have been questioned, he more than answers these with numbers and big-time performances. When the game is on the line, there?s not a player in the league I?d rather give the ball than KB8.


3. Tracy McGrady

Another prep-to-pro phenomenon rounds out the top three. T-Mac may have taken a minute to show us what he could do, but now that he has, he doesn?t want to let us forget it. With improved defensive capabilities and another season?s experience to his name, McGrady is set to cause problems for his opponents next year with his long arms (7?4?? wingspan), leaping ability and wet jumper. Now, at nearly 6?10?? (he has grown considerably since he was measured as a rookie), he has the size and game that make him a unique specimen even in a league full of tall, skilled players. There is not, nor has there been in recent memory, a defender with the physical talent to contain McGrady, and it is for that reason that he takes this spot.


4. Dwyane Wade

Although the first player on the list to have attended college, Dwyane is still a young ?un, and his game is coming along as that of any player of his age and experience. However, unlike most second-year players, Flash has carried a team deep into the playoffs, showing the composure and maturity of a seasoned veteran, putting up look-at-me numbers along the way. Although others would select a more established player at this point, Wade?s talent and proven ability to adapt to circumstances (e.g. Detroit?s defence) makes him too good to pass up at four.


5. Allen Iverson

Sure, he?s getting a little long in the tooth. Sure, his aging frame has taken twenty years? worth of beatings in less than ten. Sure, he stands a true 5?10?? and has shot less than forty-two percent from the field from his career. But with Allen Iverson, none of the conventional measures of worth are applicable. With a heart bigger than any seven-footer and the ability to drop thirty on a nightly basis, the former MVP retains his position among the league?s elite guards. Although there?s only so much time left before something gives out permanently, it would be pessimistic not to expect at least another season or two of world-class production from Philly?s favourite little man.</div>

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Mine would be,from the above list:

1.T Mac
2.AI
3.Kobe
4.Lebron(I love lebron,but i dont think he deserves to be over tmac and ai,ppl who have been in the league longer)
5.D Wade

 

Lebron currently isn't better than Tmac and Kobe because of defense, and Iverson is still the better player than Wade by a little, though it's arguable I guess.

I'd go:

1) Kobe
2) Tmac
3) Iverson
4) Lebron
4) Wade
6) Kidd
7) Carter
8) Allen
9) Pierce
10) Arenas
11) Baron [if he stays healthy I'd put him over Gil right now]
12) Steve Nash
13) Ginobili
14) Marbury
15) Bibby

HM: Rip, Redd, Francis, Hughes, J-Rich, Billups

EDIT: Forgot the PG's, and Pierce added since him and Tmac are both SF's and SG's nowadays...

 

aI agree with og15's list but I'd put Carter at 6 and The Truth could also be mentioned if he's considered a SG.

 

Pierce seems to be considered a SF, which would really make Tmac a SF too, but I don't know anymore.

Also I edited my post, I kept forgetting the PG's, Baron, Bibby, Marbury and even Francis [though I'm not a fan of his game at all].

 

That list that HoopsVibe provided has the correct players IMO, except Lebron being number 1 seems strange to me; dont get me wrong hes amazing especcially for his age but its not fair to put him at number 1 when he hasnt made the playoffs yet.

 

Here's my list:

1) Kobe
2) Iverson
3) McGrady
4) James
5) Wade

I'm basing this list on current status. If looking at the big picture, such as future, age etc. my list would be slightly different. But as far as current status goes, that should be about right.

1) Kobe Bryant- Easily the most talent player in the NBA. A proven winner and can do everything on the court. The only real flaw to his "game", and I say "game" with quotes because it's not really his game it's his psyche which in a way can go under you're game because the mental aspect plays a role. But whatever, the only real flaw to Kobe are his leadership skills, mental durability and other mental related things.

2) A.I, one of the greatest little guards of all-time, arguably the greatest offensive little guy of all-time. But accomplishments aside Iverson is a winner. While many are not supportive of his style of play particularly because he handles the ball for majority of the game you cant argue the fact that he has matured a lot and he has reached the point of his career where he makes his teammates better(like Kidd a player who knows a thing or two about making people better quotably said). Top that off with biggest heart in the league and the most competitive fire since Jordan he still reigns on top as far as guards goes. His game has declined some but the fact that he plays smarter hides that mishap.

3) You can say McGrady is Kobe Bryant duplicate. But then again, it's not really fare to have a player at his caliber in someone else's shadow; he's basically his own man. Whatever you can say about Kobe you can easily say the same thing about T-Mac, however there is one thing. No matter what happens he just can't win. The Mavericks proved him so, the 21 straight losses helped that case, and nobody forgets about the Pistons series in the 2003 NBA Playoffs. Besides that he is one heck of an athlete and for those who people who said he can?t play defense, he proved them all wrong. When you actually have help and you could conserve your energy you will have a little something left in the rank to play D and McGrady proved that theory right.

4) The face of the NBA. He's just getting better & better year by year. The way James performed last season along with Wade they can change the whole thing about the Sophomore slump to Sophomore Sensation. These guys improved so drastically that one may wondering who will have another Wade/LeBron type Sophomore season? That aside, LeBron has a body of a big SF with quickness of an average PG. He can play the PG, SG, SF and defending on the match up he can even play PF. He is a very versatile player that can do anything. However he has yet to lead his team to the Playoffs. It may be too early to judge in the win column but if he's good enough to be ranked among the best guards you have to be criticized him that category..

5) Wade can be looked as bigger, stronger and more durable version of Iverson. After all he claimed to have molded his game by none other than Allen Iverson. Wade tenacity is like nothing since A.I. His determination to attack the rim is bar none. With a mammoth like Shaq on the team one would say that he got the easy way out which in a way he sort of does, but when you look at the big picture at times he is the one that is carrying Shaq. When Shaq is out, Wade at times is hoisting up 35-40 Point nights. He's a very good passer and a solid defender. Statistically he is the best shot blocking G. With his athletic and feel for the game he is without a doubt one off thee best guards in the league.

--

Now that's the way I think the article should have looked like.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">1) Kobe
2) Tmac
3) Iverson
4) Lebron
4) Wade
6) Kidd
7) Carter
8) Allen
9) Pierce
10) Arenas
11) Baron [if he stays healthy I'd put him over Gil right now]
12) Steve Nash
13) Ginobili
14) Marbury
15) Bibby</div>

GA is ranked toooo high on that list for my liking.

 

1.Kobe
2.T-mac
3.Lebron
4.D-wade
5.Vince
6.Ray Allen
7.Steve Nash
8.Ginobili
9.Paul Pierce
9.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">
I'd go:

1) Kobe
2) Tmac
3) Iverson
4) Lebron
4) Wade
6) Kidd
7) Carter
8) Allen
9) Pierce
10) Arenas
11) Baron [if he stays healthy I'd put him over Gil right now]
12) Steve Nash
13) Ginobili
14) Marbury
15) Bibby

</div>

Damn!
Kidd (currently) ahead of Allen? Pierce way ahead of Nash and Manu? hmmmm

That's pretty bold

 

This is my Top 5:

1. Kobe Bryant- Probably the most talented shooting guard. Already has 3 rings but lacks great leadership skills.

2.Tracy Mcgrady- Similar to Kobe but a little taller. Got past the first round of the playoffs for the first time with Yao.

3. Allen Iverson- The guy is barely 6 foot and is a scoring machine. He never gives up and is one of the hardest workers in the league. Even at his age he is still putting up great numbers.

4. Lebron James- Had a ton of hype coming into the league and has lived up to it. Put up 27-7-7 last year and is only going to get better.

5. Dwyane Wade- Made the transision to PG his rookie after people called him to small to play SG. His sophomore season he returned to his original posisition and has shined ever since.

 

1. Kobe
2, T-Mac
3. Lebron
4. Flash
5. Iverson
6. Vince
7. B Diddy
8. Ray
9. JKidd
10. Nash

 

?

If the topic is top guards why is LeBron included? He is a SF. Last year on the Cavs Newble started at SG and this year Hughes will start there.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure why McGrady and LeBron are being considered SG's. They both played SF the majority of the time last season.

 

1. Kobe- the most proven gaurd in the game now
2. AI- small, but super fast, and good D too
3. T mac- really long and versatile; but doesn't always give all he has
4. Wade- maybe he has more help than Lebron but he played a big as a factor as shaq on the Heat
5. Lebron- probabbly next season will be 2 or 1?

 

wait wait tell me if im reading this wrong but did they say tmac was 6 10?????

 

with the sfs id go

1. Kobe
2. Iverson(he averged 30 and abvout 7 he could arguably be 1)
3.Tmac
4.Lebron
5.Wade
6.Allen
7.Vince
8.Kidd
9.Ginobli
10. Nash


without the sfs
1.kobe
2.iverson
3.wade
4.allen
5.vince
6.kidd
7.ginobli
8.nash
9.hughes/arenas

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">Damn!
Kidd (currently) ahead of Allen? Pierce way ahead of Nash and Manu? hmmmm

That's pretty bold</div>
Until Kidd actually sucks, I'd still put him ahead of Ray, he has a bigger effect on teammates than Ray does, and has much more defensive impact [one on one, doubling down on post players, steals, etc]. Pierce is a better player than Manu and Nash, he's not as big an impact player as Nash, and not on as good of a team as Manu. I think he has digressed for some reason the past few seasons, but people are starting to rate him too low.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">GA is ranked toooo high on that list for my liking.</div>
Well the list said guards, it didn't say PG's, or anything specific like that, just guards, and in terms of talent, well look for yourself. Arenas averaged 25-5-5, he's a very good shooter and penetrator, was one of the best clutch players in the league, and when Hughes was out in Ferbruary, he was toying with 29-5-6 numbers on 45.1% FG, and 39.5% 3PT.


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">9.hughes/arenas</div>
Don't put Hughes on Arenas' level, because to be real, he's not. Hughes is a great complimentary guy that can litterally do it all, but he's not first option player.

 

There are so many of these lists with some players being considered guards and other times forwards. i wouldn't count lebron as guard he hasn't played that since his rook year, he's more a point-forward. In terms of the best guards it would be a toss up between wade, kobe, and nash.