Chris Paul, Derrick Rose - Point Guards who have ruled NBA in the last decade – Part 5
1. Chris Paul
If it wasn’t for Chris Paul, we would have never known what a true point guard is capable of doing. The number one contender on this list is the New Orleans Hornets’ man, who has had nothing short of six exceptional seasons so
far.
Chris Paul is that one guy who can lead a team entirely on his own and he has done that time in time out for the Hornets. What he did against Kobe and his Lakers last season, is exactly what Derrick Rose could not do against Miami.
In that series, Paul averaged 22 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals; per game. He almost beat the Lakers singlehandedly. The amazing thing is that he took on two of the best defensive players i.e. Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest,
and did so without David West.
Chris Paul is the complete package. He can do just about everything on the court. His career stats portray a similar picture; 18.7 points per game, 9.9 assists per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. However, what makes Paul great
is his ability to be a leader and take matters into his own hands.
Although only 6 ft, his presence can induce fear down the opponent's spine. Paul was named Rookie of the year in 2006 and since then has been named in the All Rookie 1st team, All NBA 1st team and the All
Defensive 1st team.
As it currently stands, CP3 is not likely to win a championship in New Orleans. He will have to look beyond his love affair with the Hornets. It is reported that most championship contenders, including the Lakers, are after the
high profile star.
2. Derrick Rose
The flamboyant new star, Derrick Rose, has created huge ripples since being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2008. Rose is an exceptional talent and undoubtedly one of the best point guards in the league today. He ranks at number
two.
The Chicago Bulls star racked up an average of 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds; per game. Those are astounding figures, which also helped him earn the highly coveted ‘Most Valuable Player award. Moreover, he was also crowned
Rookie of the season in 2009.
There is no suspicion regarding the potential of this young gun, as he has already managed to achieve what most NBA players can only dream of. Rose was named in the All Rookie 1st team in 2009 and also in the All NBA
1st team in 2011.
Setting aside his credentials, Rose is an extremely explosive player. However, there still remains more to be seen out of him, especially when it comes to the playoffs. This time around he was on target only 37% of the time in
the first playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.
He was better against the Atlanta Hawks but was a mere shadow of himself against the Miami Heat. Overall, he struggled to maintain his preseason form during the playoffs. He will have to develop a fighting ability against players
like LeBron, Wade and Kobe. He needs to attack more and do it with confidence.
His underperformance in the playoffs is the reason why he sits at number two. However, it will not at all be surprising if he does step it up in the near future.
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