It's an argument that's been around for a little while. Which would you rather have: a great point guard or a great big man?It's a legitimate debate and a strong case can be made for each position. But this year, point guards are winning the matchup.
Yes, if this postseason has proven anything it's that you better have a pretty good point guard – or at least a point guard playing very well – if you hope to do any damage. And if you don't have one, then you better be sitting with one of the league's true stars.
Derrick Rose's Game 1 performance against the Celtics – 36 points and 11 assists – set the tone. Rose, the NBA's Rookie of the Year, made every big play down the stretch and was the reason Chicago won in overtime.
That only started the break.
Boston's Rajon Rondo answered Rose and then some, coming back with a triple-double in Game 2. Rondo's been so good that it's gotten to the point he must be mentioned when talking about the league's better points.Denver's Chauncey Billups has reminded everyone that there's no substitute for playoff experience and there's no way to truly measure leadership. Carmelo Anthony might have a higher profile, but Billups is the most important player on the Nuggets.
Andre Miller is having a very good playoffs, too, and doing it in his typical understated way. Andre Iguodala might have made the game-winner for Philly in Game 1, but it was Miller who helped get the Sixers to the point of stealing one in Orlando. Miller flirted with a triple-double in Philly's Game 3 win on Friday.
San Antonio's Tony Parker has been so good, including a 38-point effort against Dallas in Game 2, that he apparently got a rise out of Erick Dampier, which isn't easy. The Mavericks' single-biggest issue seems to be whether or not they can keep Parker from pentrating.
Deron Williams was the best thing going for the Jazz in their two road losses at L.A. Then in Game 3 on Thursday, Williams made all the big plays down the stretch and willed his team to a victory.
Second-year point guard Aaron Brooks isn't quite in the same league as the point guards mentioned above. Or is he? Right now, he might be.Brooks has been brilliant for the Rockets, filling a much-needed scoring role. Brooks' career-high was a 30-point game against the Phoenix Suns in early March, and his second-best regular-season scoring game was a 23-point night.
But in the postseason, Brooks has put together back-to-back scoring nights of 27 points and 23 points, and thrown in 12 assists along with it.
So great has the point guard play been in the postseason, that we haven't even gotten around to Chris Paul, Jason Kidd. They're doing all right, but all right doesn't cut it in this group.
It seems pretty simple, really. You either better have a darn good point guard or you better have a LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard or Brandon Roy to camouflage that you don't.
Without one or the other, it's likely to be a quick postseason.
