http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... _fans.htmlThe Best:
- Rajon Rondo, Boston: Averages nearly nine assists and three steals per game, shoots 54 percent from the field and is arguably the best, most disruptive backcourt defender in the league. Stuckey scores more, but if Rondo were not on a team with three future Hall of Famers, he would undoubtedly have a higher scoring average. Stuckey is also much, much better at the line. Still, Rondo is obviously superior at getting teammates involved.
- Jose Calderon, Toronto: Averages 13 points, 7 assists per game, very competently runs Toronto's offense. He has three-point range and shoots 50 percent overall from the floor. It's pretty rare for point guards not named Nash to shoot threes but still have an overall FG% over 50. Defensively, though, Stuckey is much better. Calderon routinely gets worked by opposing PGs. Stuckey is strong enough and quick enough to hold his own.
- Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee: He's only played 13 games in his career, but he's clearly a special player already. So far, he's scoring almost 24 points per game, with about four rebounds six assists and a steal per night and shooting 45 percent, including 47 percent on threes. His ceiling is clearly much higher than Stuckey's.
- Jameer Nelson, Orlando: His assist stats aren't gaudy, and he did get some help in running the offense from Hedo Turkoglu, who's more of a point forward, the last few years, but Jameer did average 17 points, five assists and just two turnovers while shooting 50 percent last season. He's also their crunch-time scorer. He's had injury problems, but he's a very solid point guard who brings a bit more to the table than Stuckey.
- Gilbert Arenas, Washington: If we're talking contract and injury history, Arenas probably gets bumped down into the second category. But strictly based on on-court producting, Gil scores about 23 a game with six assists. His turnovers are way too high -- four a game -- and he's shooting 39 percent, but he's coming off a series of knee injuries, so it may take a few more weeks of basketball to truly evaluate Gil's value. If he's anywhere near healthy Gil, he's one of the league's best scorers. He might not be a true point, but he has the ball in his hands a ton and averages six assists a game for his career, so he can get teammates involved when he wants to.
- Jason Kidd, Dallas: He's well into the downside of his career, but he still runs an offense as well as any elite point guard in the league. He's never shot particularly well, but he makes everyone he plays with better. No question that Stuckey doesn't have the ability to do that yet.
- Tony Parker, San Antonio: He's perennially underrated, but he's been one of the best in the league for several years. No opposing guard can stay in front of him, he shoots 50 percent and he runs an offense for one of the best teams in the league for one of the most demanding coaches.
- Chris Paul, New Orleans: Paul is arguably the best player in basketball regardless of position. He is a future MVP, and may have already been jobbed out of it in 2008. Stuckey's just nowhere near his level, and that's no insult to Stuckey.
- Deron Williams, Utah: He's not Paul, but he's very close. These guys are two the best young players in the league, and were from the minute they were drafted.
- Chauncey Billups, Denver: He'll get his 16 and six and run Denver's halfcourt offense as good or better than any PG runs a halfcourt in this league. He also shoots a low percentage and can't defend small, quick guards. He's elite, but not without flaws. Still, he's far superior to Stuckey as a PG.
- Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City: This one is largely based on potential. He's been good so far in his career -- getting about 17 points with seven assists and four turnovers per game this season. He's not necessarily a tradional PG, but he takes a lot of crunch-time shots despite Kevin Durant's presence and he's going to potentially be one of the best in the league in a few seasons. Right now, he's slightly better than Derrick Rose statistically, which no one say coming after the 2008 draft.
- Derrick Rose, Chicago: If you're starting a franchise and get to choose between Rose and Stuckey, you're taking Rose in a second. But right now they are pretty similar players. Rose's PER this season is 14.5. Stuckey's is 14.6. Rose shoots a better percentage and is no doubt a pure point guard, but he's also not quite the Chris Paul-level talent yet most considered him when he was the No. 1 pick. He could still get there, but not having a great scorer like Ben Gordon next to him has hurt him statistically a bit. Rose has far, far superior skills that are yet to develop and is a better finisher.
