PG Height

[ComboGuardCity]

Hmmm.

Not saying you are wrong on the speed thing, I just want to get an idea where that is coming from. I didn't use the combine numbers for speed and agility, maybe I should have but I tend to not put much stock in them, but, Burks had a 3.16 score in the 3/4 court sprint. That's only .04 slower than Ty Lawson who is one of the fastest guards in the league.

So, you say he's below average in speed. Can you quantify that a bit somehow?

I saw a lot of Burke this year and he just doesn't have the ability to blow by people. I think combine numbers are useless personally. Players move differently in games. Burke got around with numerous screens and isn't a good finisher. I don't think that translates.

[ComboGuardCity]

Hmmm.

Not saying you are wrong on the speed thing, I just want to get an idea where that is coming from. I didn't use the combine numbers for speed and agility, maybe I should have but I tend to not put much stock in them, but, Burks had a 3.16 score in the 3/4 court sprint. That's only .04 slower than Ty Lawson who is one of the fastest guards in the league.

So, you say he's below average in speed. Can you quantify that a bit somehow?

I saw a lot of Burke this year and he just doesn't have the ability to blow by people. I think combine numbers are useless personally. Players move differently in games. Burke got around with numerous screens and isn't a good finisher. I don't think that translates.

[DoubleLintendre]

I always think that the shorter a PG is, the more extra tools he needs as a player to thrive.

The tools that the PG would need more of in order to be successful over other taller PGs:

- High Basketball IQ, good basketball instincts, great court vision
- Is physically very strong for his size
- Has a great shooting stroke, can shoot lights out
- Has a quick first step
- Is particularly quick and fast in general
- Has a large wingspan or larger hands
- Has very quick hands, stealing instincts
- Great ballhanding skills, great coordination, potentially wicked crossover
- Is a super athlete (fast, strong, explosive, quick feet/hands, the whole nine yards)
- Good at drawing contact, savvy shot selector

Chris Paul has basically every trait that I listed. Other successful smaller PGs have a fair amount of the qualities I listed. Lawson is a speed demon, and is pretty strong and explosive. Nate Robinson is a super athlete, with a good jumpshot. Rondo and Bledsoe are physically gifted with long wingspans and quick hands and movement speed. Earl Boykins was very very strong for his size and had good shooting instincts. Allen Iverson was only 6'0, but crazy quick, with a great crossover and ballhandling skills.

I personally would like my PGs to be bigger if possible, because it's harder to have the extra qualities needed to balance out the height/strength/wingspan/great IQ issues that are needed with smaller PGs. It's just easy to abuse smaller PGs by posting them up, or just shooting over them.

It does matter if you're smaller and you're not physically gifted or particularly talented with the ball in your hands. Example of a terrible undersized PG: Jonny Flynn. How many of the qualities did I list does Flynn possess? It requires more out of a smaller player to play in a league where the players around are up to a foot taller than him.

I don't know too much about Burke, but if he can shoot, and has a quick enough first step he should be okay. From what I know of him he is kind of like a Kemba Walker type? If he's as slow as the posters above me have stated, future may not be so great for him.

[Im Coming Home]

6'3 is a perfect size for a point guard to me, 6'4 is fine as well. I always like 6'7 PGs too cause its fun to see.

Perfect size for all positions to me are..

PG 6'3
SG 6'6
SF 6'8
PF 6'10
C 7'0

[og15]

Hmmm.

Not saying you are wrong on the speed thing, I just want to get an idea where that is coming from. I didn't use the combine numbers for speed and agility, maybe I should have but I tend to not put much stock in them, but, Burks had a 3.16 score in the 3/4 court sprint. That's only .04 slower than Ty Lawson who is one of the fastest guards in the league.

So, you say he's below average in speed. Can you quantify that a bit somehow?

I saw a lot of Burke this year and he just doesn't have the ability to blow by people. I think combine numbers are useless personally. Players move differently in games. Burke got around with numerous screens and isn't a good finisher. I don't think that translates.

Pure speed an first step are not the same, especially with the ball, so yea, combine athletic numbers do little to tell us how a player uses any physical attributes on the court. Measurements are more useful

[RoyalWun]

6'9" says Magic Johnson (not really).

But, I personally see 6'3" as the standard for a PG. Idk why.

PG: 6'3"
SG: 6'6"
SF: 6'8"
PF: 6'10"
C: +6'11" (depending on bulk)

Not saying that's what it should be, but what I'd like as far as not having to worry about having an "under-sized" team.

[Flash Falcon X]

I've always looked at 6'3" as the standard as well.

Yeah, Chris Paul is only 6'0", but he has a ton of skills, BBIQ and talent which makes him so great.

If you're an average point guard, I find that being 6'3" gives you a better edge than if you were below that height.

I also agree with the people who listed the following as the best prototypical heights for position:

PG: 6'3"
SG: 6'6"
SF: 6'8"
PF: 6'10"
C: 6'11" or 7'0"

You also have above average players who are able to become great even though their height is lower than what I just listed, though (e.g. Wade at 6'5" and CP3 at 6'0").

For most undersized players, they would easily be much better of they just met those heights. Monta would be a great SG if he was 6'6", Nate Robinson would be a decent starter if he was 6'3", Carl Landry would be more better at 6'10", etc.

Meeting those heights doesn't guarantee success since there are a lot of busts from drafts, but it at least sets you up with a tool to succeed. Doesn't really matter that much, but I just find those heights to be the desirable ones of I were a GM or scout.

[tsherkin]

It all depends what role they fill and style of ball they play. Smaller is usually more vulnerable to injury. 6'2 to 6'4 ish seems ideal for guys who aren't point forwards or playmaking 2s, though.

[EGarrett]

I think guys above 6-2 or 6-3 or so have trouble keeping up with the speedier guards. When you are 6-4 or 6-5 you are going to be slower.

Why do you say this? I would think that weight matters much more than height, and after all, at least in terms of sprinting, the fastest guy ever is 6'5".

[C0bR]

Paul George? Didn't he grow up after the draft? I guess he is at least 6'9,5 now.

[blind prophet]

Sometimes the height does matter.

Thinking back to when Tyreke was used at pg, at 6'6, at times he would completely take people out of their games. Have seen him bully people like Chris Paul.

Is one of the reasons I want Tyreke to go back to pg, defensively he can be a nightmare for some of the pg's in the league.

[thug-lyfe]

Sometimes the height does matter.

Thinking back to when Tyreke was used at pg, at 6'6, at times he would completely take people out of their games. Have seen him bully people like Chris Paul.

Is one of the reasons I want Tyreke to go back to pg, defensively he can be a nightmare for some of the pg's in the league.

It would also allow Tyreke to be the main ball handler with Mclemore working off the ball, coming off screens for open shots. I hope Tyreke would be more comfortable in the offense with Mclemore around since they seem to compliment each other but that's for another thread.

Trey Burke has decent size IMO. He's not a 6'3 w/o shoes PG but nor is he undersized. What matters is the wingspan anyway and how he uses his tools to his advantage.

[tiderulz]

Of all the measurements for a PG I believe wingspan is the most important.

how does wingspan let you see over taller players to see passing lanes, etc?

[Catchall]

So Burke is about the same size as Lowry, Conley and Felton? That's probably good enough. He's a real floor general, at least. He could stand to get a bit stronger, and that might help his first step.

Edit: It looks like Burke has basically the same dimensions as Eric Bledsoe, minus half an inch.

[YouMustBeJoakim]

how does wingspan let you see over taller players to see passing lanes, etc?

It doesn't. But it allows the defender to get more deflections, rebounds, blocks, etc.

Imo, wingspan is just as important as height, and hugely important for NBA players - of all positions

[tiderulz]

how does wingspan let you see over taller players to see passing lanes, etc?

It doesn't. But it allows the defender to get more deflections, rebounds, blocks, etc.

Imo, wingspan is just as important as height, and hugely important for NBA players - of all positions

NBA players in general, yes, but wingspan over height for PG's? no. just my opinion.

[Torres]

6'3 for me.

[john248]

how does wingspan let you see over taller players to see passing lanes, etc?

It doesn't. But it allows the defender to get more deflections, rebounds, blocks, etc.

Imo, wingspan is just as important as height, and hugely important for NBA players - of all positions

For a PG, I don't care as much about wingspan as much as I do IQ, speed, and PG skills/ability (dribbling, taking care of the ball, passing, great shot, first step). It'd be nice if he could disrupt passing lanes or do more big man things like rebounding and shot blocks, but not all that important. I'd much rather have a PG who has the ability to blow by the defender, get to any part of the floor without giving up the dribble (to either attack the basket or draw in defenders), and has a reliable midrange and 3 point shot.

[Sixerscan]

how does wingspan let you see over taller players to see passing lanes, etc?

It doesn't. But it allows the defender to get more deflections, rebounds, blocks, etc.

Imo, wingspan is just as important as height, and hugely important for NBA players - of all positions

For a PG, I don't care as much about wingspan as much as I do IQ, speed, and PG skills/ability (dribbling, taking care of the ball, passing, great shot, first step). It'd be nice if he could disrupt passing lanes or do more big man things like rebounding and shot blocks, but not all that important. I'd much rather have a PG who has the ability to blow by the defender, get to any part of the floor without giving up the dribble (to either attack the basket or draw in defenders), and has a reliable midrange and 3 point shot.

Well yeah if you're just gonna ignore if they can D up wingspan isn't that important. many people would disagree with you on how important that side of the floor is

Still the span plays a role in some of the stuff you listed

[DeadHorse]

I think guys above 6-2 or 6-3 or so have trouble keeping up with the speedier guards. When you are 6-4 or 6-5 you are going to be slower.

There are definitely exceptions.. John Wall (6'4") is a lot faster than Felton (6'1")