As I have said on Sports Sunday numerous times, I believe
that the NBA is still under the reign of the King, yet this NBA season has
brought new challengers. The past three Miami Heat teams have never dominated
entire seasons—there has always been bumps and bridges across the way. Last
year we saw the emergence of a conference foe that could rival the Heat: the
Pacers.
The Pacers
are the top team in the Eastern Conference as the Heat tread water until
playoff time. Fast-forwarding time will
surely include a Pacers vs. Heat square-off somewhere in the playoffs. A new
generation of superstars has shown it’s potential through the first thirty-some
odd games this season.
Michael Carter-Williams,
PG: I start with the only rookie on this list because he does play for one
of the worst teams in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers (11-21). However, this
Syracuse product’s play cannot be ignored. As a long 22-year-old point-guard,
Carter-Williams brings hope to a franchise that planned on tanking this season.
Carter-Williams, and possibly Evan Turner (if the 76ers can retain his this
offseason) represent leadership of the future team. MCW is averaging over 17ppg
and was surely the most exciting rookie to watch at the end of 2013.
Isaiah Thomas, PG:
When the Sacramento Kings sent Grevis Vasquez in a deal to acquire Rudy Gay
from the Toronto Raptors, more pressure was put onto Isaiah Thomas’s shoulders.
No, not the hall of fame Pistons point, and former Knicks coach, the 24-year-old
Sacramento Kings point guard. The former Washington Huskies standout has come
onto the scene this season as the leader of the Kings. Standing at only 5 ft.
9in. Thomas is developing into the NBA’S next-great small point-guard. Coach
Mike Malone recently stated that Thomas is the future at point-guard and is the
definite starter moving forward.
Jeff Teague, PG:
Teague has long been touted as top point-guard by the Atlanta Hawks front
office—this season he has been proving that. During his first four years,
Teague played a smaller role behind, Josh Smith and Joe Johnson. Many,
including myself, felt like the Hawks would struggle without Smith this season.
Paul Millsap’s coming to Atlanta has made the loss of Smith unnoticed, and it
has allowed Teague to create more plays for himself. Teague is averaged career
highs in points-per-game (17) and assists-per-game (8.2). Atlanta hold the
number, 3 seating in the Eastern Conference and Teague could look to expose the
usually solid defense of George Hill, and Mario Chalmers come playoff time.
Eric Bledsoe, PG: One
of the biggest surprises this season has been the Phoenix Suns. Expected to be
at the top of the draft-lottery board, fans of the had little to no reason to
believe in the Suns pre-season. But the genius behind uniting the
Morris-brothers in Phoenix has given the Suns an aggressive-defensive
personality to rely upon. The undisputed puppet-master, of the team on the
court, is Eric Bledsoe. For years the Clippers coveted Bledsoe in trade
negotiations, now he is doing exactly what the Clippers feared he would be
doing: lighting it up. Bledsoe’s athleticism has helped lead the Suns into
playoff contention, and above several teams that were expected to compete for
the playoffs pre-season (Lakers, Nuggets, Grizzlies).
Damon Lillard, PG:
As awesome as those other point-guards have been to be watch, let’s be honest
here. One point-guard has risen quicker than the rest of this field and is
proving to be the best at the position, across the entire NBA. With Rondo and
Derrick Rose out, it’s hard to say who is the best in the league. Standard
rationalization would say, easy: CP3. I would argue that this season, Lillard
has been more dominating. Lillard is younger and more physical. Also the last
year’s NBA Rookie of the Year is more consistent from behind the 3-point line,
Lillard leads the NBA in most 3-points made (108). Lillard has guided the
Trailblazers to the NBA’s tope record, so far, and is no doubt an MVP
candidate.
Paul George, SF:
The only non-point guard on the list, George, is the most immediate threat to
dethrone King James because of the strength of the team around him. George
plays with arguably the best big-man in the game, Hibbert, and one of the
deepest benches behind a solid starting unit. The former Fresno State bulldog
has proved that he can almost as explosive as LeBron James. George plays the
same position and if he can slow down the king during the playoffs, it should
be a legendary matchup to watch. Enough can’t be said about what George brings
to the Pacers, his emergence levels the advantage of the Heat and puts the
Eastern Conference title up for grabs.
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