Per Sources’ 2019-20 NBA season preview continues. I started by giving my predictions on who the Western Conference playoff teams were going to be. Now, we move to my positional rankings. I’ll go through each position and give opinion/analysis as to who’s in the top-10 at each position. Then, I’ll cap it off by giving my top-10 players for the new season. We start with the top-10 point guards for 2019-20.
#10: Mike Conley
2018-19 season stats: 70 games played, 21.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.3 blocks, 1.3 steals, 43.8 field goal percentage, and a 36.4 three-point percentage.
Mike Conley is now on the Utah Jazz after being traded from Memphis during the offseason. As the polished veteran is on a potentially contending Jazz squad, Conley will bring a new level of offense onto an already proven defensive team. I still see Conley as a top-10 point guard in this league, and all of his play in Memphis should back that up. I don’t expect Conley to be an All-Star by any means. However, I do expect Conley to have one of his better seasons which doesn’t have to include massive stat jumps. With Donovan Mitchell by his side, Conley should flourish.
#9: De’Aaron Fox
2018-19 season stats: 81 games played, 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.6 blocks, 1.6 steals 45.8 field goal percentage, and a 37.1 three-point percentage.
De’Aaron Fox is one of the young point guards who are slowly getting ready to take over. After missing out on the Most Improved Player award last season, Fox is one player I expect to improve once more. His skill-set gives him a major advantage over most point guards in this league. However, he has a ways to go if he wants to be considered among the NBA’s elite. To stake his claim, he may need to lead Sacramento to the playoffs. Overall, Fox is a fantastic young talent with the tools to succeed this season.
#8: D’Angelo Russell
2018-19 season stats: 81 games played, 21.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.2 steals, 43.4 field goal percentage, and a 36.9 three-point percentage.
D’Angelo Russell has the chance to have the best season of his NBA career. On the Warriors, he’ll be put into a system that fits him specifically. A rapid-fire offense that puts a heavy emphasis on high-levels of scoring is just what Russell needs. And, to enhance that, he’ll be starting alongside a two-time MVP.
When Klay Thompson returns, no one knows what’ll happen with Russell. What I do know is that he’ll be a huge asset to the somehow slept-on Golden State Warriors. To some, Russell actually impacts winning, so he should be higher up. That’s not the case for me. Defense is something Russell lacks, and he needs to improve if he wants to be ahead of the others on this list.
#7: Chris Paul
2018-19 season stats: 58 games played, 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 0.3 blocks, 2.0 steals, 41.9 field goal percentage, and a 35.8 three-point percentage.
I understand that Chris Paul may be slowing down in terms of his performances. That’s why I knocked him out of my top-five. Paul is still one of the NBA’s best playmakers, and why would that stop on the Thunder? Sure, no one expects Oklahoma City to make the playoffs. However, what I expect from Paul is more of the same – a veteran leader who can be a second/third option. Paul, like Conley, won’t be an All-Star but still a valuable asset for his team. The Thunder aren’t on the come up at all, but having a veteran such as Paul will assist their young talent greatly during their rebuild.
#6: Kemba Walker
2018-19 season stats: 82 games played, 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.2 steals, 43.4 field goal percentage, and a 35.6 three-point percentage.
Is Kemba Walker supposed to be this high on the list? Or, even on the list at all? Walker hasn’t become accustomed to winning much in his career. But that shouldn’t really cause him to be penalized on any top-10 point guards list. He’s an elite scoring guard with the ability to put shots in when it counts the most. On top of that, he can be trusted to be a playmaker. In Boston, where they excel with “team-ball,” Kemba Walker will fit in just fine. He won’t be another Kyrie Irving with the ball in his hands too often. I believe Walker will adjust his play-style while still showing that he deserves the sixth spot. Sorry TPR, Walker is indeed a top-10 point guard.
#5: Ben Simmons
2018-19 season stats: 79 games played, 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 0.8 blocks, 1.4 steals, and a 56.3 field goal percentage.
Is Ben Simmons developing a jump-shot? Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s an improvement that Simmons will be taking shots when he’s wide-open. Simmons becoming a more well-rounded scorer will translate to a better Philadelphia 76ers team. It’s great enough that Simmons can do everything else for the team that doesn’t include shooting. That’s why I expect a career year from Simmons. A fresh look in terms of the roster will reflect rather well on Simmons and what he can do on the court. If he can shoot, that only means more bad news for opposing defenses.
#4: Damian Lillard
2018-19 season stats: 80 games played, 25.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.1 steals, 44.4 field goal percentage, and a 36.9 three-point percentage.
If I’m being honest, I expect a down year from the Portland Trail Blazers. With Lillard and his backcourt mate refusing to be part of this “load management” trend, he may be overworked. I predict Lillard to play 80+ games which believe it or not is very realistic. He won’t be a top-three point guard this year or next. Lillard is on the outside looking in. His talent is undeniable, and his ability to score the rock efficiently in the clutch is also something that we all marvel at. Lillard will look to lead the Blazers in what will be a huge challenge. You can consider him a dark horse MVP favorite. I don’t. I wrote a full-length piece as to why Lillard isn’t a top-three point guard in today’s NBA. The same holds true now.
#3: Kyrie Irving
2018-19 season stats: 67 games played, 23.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 0.5 blocks, 1.5 steals, 48.7 field goal percentage, and a 40.1 three-point percentage.
Uncle Drew might just mess around and have the best season of his career. His best years to this point came with the Cleveland Cavaliers when he was second-fiddle to LeBron James. In Boston, he completely underwhelmed with achieving nothing notable. Now, he lands in Brooklyn. While he waits the whole season for Kevin Durant to return, Irving is the player trusted to hold down the fort. Whether he’s aiming for someone or not, Irving needs to take this season personally. Durant is out which brings doubt as to what Irving can do without him. Knowing that this is Irving’s team, for now, he needs to come out swinging. I believe Irving will lead the Nets to a tough playoffs appearance.
#2: Russell Westbrook
2018-19 season stats: 73 games played, 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 0.5 blocks, 1.9 steals, 42.8 field goal percentage, and a 29.0 three-point percentage.
The triple-double king comes in at second with no signs of drastically shutting down. Putting Westbrook alongside James Harden is something that should be a crime. He now has another MVP to push him both on and off the court. Westbrook is a superstar with a masterful skill-set. He’s going to need to sacrifice if he wants the Rockets to contend for an NBA Championship. That doesn’t mean he can’t still be a top-two point guard. As far as I’m concerned, Westbrook’s biggest issues fall in his shooting. His field goal and three-point percentages are just unacceptable. If Westbrook can sacrifice and shoot better, then it’s a recipe for success.
#1: Stephen Curry
2018-19 season stats: 69 games played, 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.3 steals, 47.2 field goal percentage, and a 43.7 three-point percentage.
If you expected anyone else at number one, please exit this page immediately. Curry was a star when he didn’t have Kevin Durant. The question is whether or not Curry can lead his team to the wins that warrant such an award. He’s my favorite to win MVP and deservedly so. Curry is the ideal point guard that you want in your offense. He has everything he needs to go back-to-back in MVP voting both this season and next.
He doesn’t necessarily need his best friend, Klay Thompson, to compete and contend in the West. All he needs is his greatness. D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green are a drop off to start the season compared to Kevin Durant and Klay. However, Curry is and will be the reason why we shouldn’t sleep on them this season. I believe because of this new Warriors team, he’ll get back into pre-Durant form and dominate the league once again.
Rankings are always something that warrant many different opinions. The biggest thing I may be berated for here is the fact that Damian Lillard isn’t in the top-three. I may even get some slander after not including Kyle Lowry at all. That’s part of the beauty of sports. Let me know what you thought of my rankings, and stay tuned, as I have 40 more players to rank by position.