The shooting guard used to be the weakest position in the NBA, and some would say it still is. However, it’s catching up. The position is producing some quality players. Let’s take a look at who tops the list as we continue opening week in the NBA!
Honorable Mentions
-Eric Gordon
-Danny Green
-JJ Redick
–Kyle Korver
Eric Gordon is going to need to step up for the Pelicans this season as they look to capitalize on last season’s success which saw them make the playoffs for the first time in 3 years. He has the potential to be a 20 points per game player alongside Anthony Davis. If he can stay healthy, once the rest of the team gets healthy, the Pelicans can make some noise in the deep Western Conference
Danny Green needs to be included. He’s one of those players who knows his role, and does it to perfection. He’s a great 3 and D player. Danny Green can play great defense. He’s got the length to cause problems for whoever he’s guarding. Green is a great three point shooter and has a quick release when he’s in catch and shoot situations. Green is one of those guys you put in the starting lineup for defensive purposes. But he can shoot the ball too, and that’s a plus.
JJ Redick is appearing to be more involved in the Clippers offense. He’s a great shooter, he can move without the ball, and has a nice release. JJ Redick can catch and shoot, or he can take the one dribble pull up. At times, he can attack the rim, finish, draw the foul, and hit his free throws. JJ Redick is going to be a valuable player for the Clippers as they pursue a championship.
Kyle Korver is in the same position as Redick. Korver is an excellent shooter. But he needs to create his own shot more. He is excellent as a catch and shoot player, and he can move without the ball great. But he doesn’t really put the ball on the floor a lot to attack the rim. If he attacked the rim, and was able to draw contact, he would be able to score more points for the Hawks. Korver is a great shooter and can join the 50-40-90 club any season.
10. Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Victor Oladipo looks poised to take the next step as he leads this young Magic team in the 2015-2016 season. Last season saw him average 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 44% shooting. He’s not a great shooter. He hit just 34% from 3 and 35% from mid range. His biggest strength was getting in the paint, which is where he had the majority of his shots and hit 51%, specifically 52.4% at the rim. Oladipo isn’t a great jump shooter, hitting only 34% on such shots. On layups, however, he hit 52% on 409 attempts. Victor Oladipo has the potential to be a great offensive player in the game, and he needs to take the next step this season.
09. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
A popular pick for Most Improved Player, Bradley Beal is ready to take the next step with Paul Pierce out of town. He and John Wall can be the best back court in basketball. Last season he averaged 15.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 42.7% field goals, and 40.9% three point field goals. Beal is a very good spot up shooter with a nice catch and shoot release. He can run the floor on the fast break, get the ball and finish at the rim. He’s not afraid to take a little contact at the rim. The former 3rd overall pick is an excellent three point shooter, an area he’s improved in every season. Bradley Beal isn’t much of a passer, but he has shown in the past that he can be a great one. This is the season Bradley Beal takes the next step. Don’t be surprised if you see 20+ points a game from Beal this season.
08. Monta Ellis, Indiana Pacers
Monta Ellis joins the Pacers and is now playing alongside Paul George. Monta Ellis is a great offensive player, when he’s driving the ball. He was 62% on his layups a season ago. However, he likes to take the jump shot, even though he was only 38% on jump shots a season ago. He can get to the paint and finish, and that’s going to be a strength for him. Ellis isn’t the best three point shooter, but that’s an area he can work on this season. He’s not a terrible defender, and could hold his own against some of the league’s elite last season. Monta Ellis is going to prove to be a nice addition for the Pacers as they try to get back to the playoffs.
07. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
Khris Middleton has emerged as a potential superstar in this league. He seemingly came out of nowhere for the Bucks last season and was a major reason they were the 6th seed. Now he looks to capitalize on that and lead the young Bucks back to the playoffs, and possibly a second round appearance. Last season he averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and shot the ball at 46.7%, including 40.7% from three. He’s got a quick first step when he’s attacking the rim, and he can finish extremely well. He’s very good at creating his own shot. But he’s also good in catch and shoot scenarios. Middleton loves the corner three. On top of his improving offense, he’s an excellent defender. He held opponents to under 42% shooting last season. Middleton was rewarded with a nice contract this off season. He’s going to be a key contributor for the Bucks as they make a playoff push.
06. Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks
Wesley Matthews is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, but he’s going to be playing on a bit of a light schedule as the season starts. Matthews has the ability to be a lights out shooter. He was 45% overall last season, 39% on three point attempts and 53% on two point field goal attempts. Matthews scored 16 points a game last season. The majority of his attempts were three point field goals, and he’s not afraid to put up the shot. But Matthews isn’t just a three point shooter, even though that’s a really strong area of his game. Matthews knows how to move without the ball. He did have Damian Lillard feeding him the ball, and now he has a declining Deron Williams, so how will that affect him? Wesley Matthews is a strong finisher at the rim. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. Wesley Matthews might just be the best scorer the Mavericks have this season, once he’s 100% and playing on a full schedule.
05. DeMar Derozan, Toronto Raptors
DeMar Derozan is very underappreciated. He’s been arguably the best player for the Raptors the last few seasons, but doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Last season he averaged 20 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals. Perhaps the biggest knock on him is his shooting percentage, which is right around 41%. That needs to improve if the Raptors are looking to make that next step. DeMar Derozan is very good at putting the ball on the floor, attacking the rim, and finishing. He was an impressive 64,4% from 0-3 feet a season ago. Derozan was able to shoot the ball at 47-50% early on in his career, but his shooting percentage has gone down every season. Still, he’s an unbelievable player, and is the guy for the Raptors. Some would argue Kyle Lowry is, but DeMar Derozan is very capable of leading this team. He’s very capable of scoring 23-25 points a night, and he needs to show it this season if the Raptors are going to have any playoff success.
04. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Image used at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwyane_Wade (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Some might wonder why Dwyane Wade is this high on the list and Kobe isn’t on the list at all. Well, Dwyane Wade has proven, when healthy, he is still one of the best players in the league. Dwyane Wade can do it all. He can shoot, pass, rebound, and is an above average defender. The problem with Wade is not being able to stay healthy. The last three seasons, he’s missed a combined 61 games. He’s definitely not the player he was early on in his career. Last season he averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and shot the ball at 47%. Wade is excellent at creating his own shot. He can attack the rim and the way he finishes is spectacular. It seems when he gets to the rim, the ball is going in no matter what. Wade makes sure of it. But he can also create space for a jump shot too. On defense, Wade nags you. He’s always moving. Wade is a three time champion for a reason. He’s got a winning mentality. The Heat are healthy once again, and Wade is looking to make a run at a 4th title.
03. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Klay Thompson is one half of the best back court in basketball along with Stephen Curry. Klay Thompson is one of the best shooters in the league today. He’s very capable of joining that 50-40-90 club. A lot of people want to call him one of the best two way basketball players, but he still has a little work to do on the offensive side of the ball. The high shooting percentages is great, but it’d be nice to see him create his shot a little more. He’s shown that he’s capable of doing so, he just needs to do so more often. Last season saw him score a career high 21.7 points a game en route to a championship. He shot 46.3% overall, 44% from three, and 88% from the free throw line. However, he only averaged 3 rebounds and 3 assists. It’d be nice to see Klay attack the rim a little bit more instead of relying on his outside jumper. If he can do that, he’s going to be an even bigger threat offensively. On the defensive side of the ball, Klay is more than capable. He held opponents to around 42% shooting a season ago. Klay Thompson has the potential and ability to be a superstar in this league. He isn’t quite there yet, but he will be. Give him a couple more years and he may challenge Stephen Curry as the Warriors’ best player.
02. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are Jimmy Butler’s team now. Yes, Rose is still the point guard, but with all the injuries he’s been facing, it’s hard to tell if he’s going to stay healthy for a full season. Jimmy Butler is emerging as one of the best two way players in the league today. Last season, Jimmy Butler had a career year and was rewarded with the contract he deserved. Appearing in 65 games, Butler averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists. He’s also a phenomenal shooter, hitting 46.2% of his attempts, including 38% from three. Jimmy Butler has the potential to be the best two way player in the game in just a few short years. He’s got the offense to do so, and he’s an above average defender. He averages 1.8 steals a game, and is capable of locking down the opponent’s best player when asked. He’s been named to the All Defense 2nd team the last two seasons. Jimmy Butler is going to continue to improve, and he’s going to continue to lead this Chicago Bulls team as they try to overtake Cleveland in the East.
01. James Harden, Houston Rockets
Was there really any speculation over who was going to be 1st? James Harden is the undisputed number 1 shooting guard in the league today. Sure, his defense lacks at times, but that’s an area he’s improving in, and he started to show it a season ago. James Harden just about brought the Rockets to the Finals, single handedly. He was the runner up for MVP, although he has a strong case for winning the award taking an injury riddled Rockets team to the 2nd seed. James Harden knows how to score the basketball. He’s arguably the best offensive player in the game today. Harden scored over 27 points a game a season ago. The Beard can get to the rim with ease and draw contact. He averaged around 10 free throws a game, making around 8 of them. The guy is an offensive genius. He can shoot or drive and attack. There’s pretty much no stopping him. He also averaged 7 assists and 6 rebounds. James Harden is a well rounded offensive player. With Ty Lawson coming into town, the former 3rd overall pick should be getting some more open looks. If he can continue to improve his defense, he should be in the discussion for the best player in the NBA. For now, he’s the best shooting guard in the game.
