And so we reach another new week in the NBA season....not too many to go now until the Playoffs.
It's A Point Guard's World
Last week was an impressive showcase of Point Guard play:
There is so much depth and variety at the position that it feels like we’re currently in the Golden Age of Point Guards.
It kinda reminds me of the "Golden Age of Hong Kong Cinema", when numerous Martial Artists of different styles and abilities starred on the big screen.
The Martial Artists of Asian Cinema are analagous to the many talented Point Guards we see in the NBA today.
But which martial artists best correspond to the top Point Guards? Well, I’m glad you asked…
Stephen Curry
"The Way Of The Warrior"
Who is the best Point Guard in the NBA today? Many would argue that it is Stephen Curry, just as many would argue that Donnie Yen is currently the best martial artist in Asian Cinema.
Yen is famous for the Wing Chun style displayed in his portrayal of Ip Man, so it’s easy to overlook the fact that Yen actually has a wide range of skills from Wushu to Jiu-Jitsu.
Likewise, it’s easy to forget that Curry is more than just a shooter (he currently leads the league in steals per game and is 6th in assists).
And like Yen, there is more than just a hint of self-assuredness when Curry performs.
Russell Westbrook
"Furious Tiger Style"
Westbrook has been a brutal one man wrecking crew in recent weeks. In this sense, he is the NBA’s version of Tony Jaa: a reservoir of energy and athleticism coiled up within a small yet powerful frame.
With 6 triple doubles in his last 8 games now, Westbrook is not afraid to angrily take on a host of opponents all by himself - a trait he shares with Jaa.
Chris Paul
"Angry Midget School of the Shaolin"
Chris Paul may be overshadowed by the younger Point Guard stars of todays NBA, but let's not forget that Paul helped usher in the recent trend of Point Guard as team’s best player.
In this pioneering sense, Paul resembles Gordon Liu.
Liu was known for playing a Shaolin monk, trying to adhere to the age-old traditions of the Shaolin temple. Similarly, Paul is seen as a “traditional” Point Guard, stubbornly adhering to the age-old values of what a Point Guard should represent.
In the movie Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, Gordon Liu must turn his back on Shaolin values in order to reach his ultimate destiny.
Chris Paul may have to turn his back on his Point Guard ideals in order to reach his ultimate goal of an NBA Championship.
He took a step forward in that regard when he outduelled Westbrook last week. Younger Point Guards better take note.
Kyrie Irving
"Slippery Eel Style"
Jackie Chan uses props, stunts and humour to such a large extent that he’s seen, rightfully or wrongfully, as more of an entertainer than a martial artist.
Similarly, Irving can score in such spectacular ways that it’s hard to tell if he’s more of an entertainer than a Point Guard.
Irving’s 57 point outburst last week was impressive, but is this the way he should be playing for the Cavs to win the title? I don’t know…like a Jackie Chan action movie, it’s probably best not to think about it too much.
What is certain is that Kyrie’s 57 point game was as exhilarating as anything we’ve seen all season.
Like Jackie Chan, he’s definitely a crowd pleaser.
John Wall
"Master of the Cobra Strike"
Think of John Wall’s attributes and the first things that come to mind are speed and (passing) precision, which is why he is the Jet Li of the NBA.
Wall and Li are both relatively quiet, unassuming guys who don’t draw attention to themselves and perhaps lack the charisma to captivate international audiences.
In his recurring role as Wong Fei-Hong, Jet Li tried to fight off the influence of the West.
It may be a long shot, but Wall and the Wizards may be doing the same thing come Finals time.
Mike Conley
"Crouching Grizzly Hidden Dragon"
While not his side's main star, Conley is nevertheless an outstanding team player with a bevy of skills.
The same can be said of the underrated Yuen Biao, a staple supporting actor in many iconic Martial Arts films.
He is seen as the little brother to Honk Kong heavyweights Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, just as Conley is seen as the little brother of Memphis big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
Pound for pound however, both Yuen and Conley are amongst the best in their fields.
Tony Parker
"School of Pop(ovich) Kune Do"
“Be formless. Shapeless.
Like Water.
You put water into a cup - it becomes the cup.
You put water into a bottle - it becomes the bottle.
Water can flow. Or it can crash..."
This is the philosophy pioneered by Bruce Lee and exhibited in todays NBA by Tony Parker, who, like Lee, was one of the first foreign pioneers of his genre to make it in America.
In Parker’s case, he proved that an international Point Guard can lead a team to an NBA title.
When he first came to the US he was the secondary star to Tim Duncan. But like water he shapeshifted to fit the needs of the Spurs and eventually found himself as the driver of the Pop Kune Do system.
Parker has quietly lfted his game in recent weeks, and not coincidentally the Spurs’ play has improved in that same stretch.
This is the Pop Kune Do philosophy in full effect.
“...Be water my friend.”
Dante Exum
"Awkward Crane Style"
What’s a weekly thread without a mention of Exum?
As he is only in the early stages of his career, Dante is therefore like a young Ralph Macchio.
Exum is hesitant to get in the lane and draw fouls while Macchio was a meek teenager who needed an old Japanese man to save him when he first got into fights in Karate Kid.
Will Quin Snyder become Exum’s Mr Miyagi and get him to overcome his fears, topple the Western Conference – a Conference reminiscent of the Cobra Kai dojo in its ruthlessness - and eventually take out the All Valley NBA Championship?
I sure as hell hope so, but only time will tell.
Raymond Felton
"Appetite Of Fury"
Not all NBA Point Guards can be stars and neither can all Asian martial artists.
And while it may be counterintuitive to compare Felton to a martial artist (given that Raymond is more comfortable with a gun in his hand), he is nonetheless reminiscent of Carter Wong, aka the guy from Big Trouble in Little China who exploded, causing piles of food to spill out of his body.
One suspects the same will eventually happen to Felton if he continues to stack on the pounds.
But Which Point Guard is No. 1?...Your Votes Are Needed.
It'd be interesting to see how BigFooty ranks the best Point Guards in today's NBA.
So I was thinking that perhaps all you BigFooty basketball fans out there could PM me your Top 10 Point Guards, ranked from best 10th best.
And, if enough votes are received, I'll reveal BigFooty's Top 10 Point Guards in next week's Weekly Thread.
You can define a Point Guard any way you wish, from passers like Ricky Rubio to scorers like Kyrie Irving, to taller playmakers like James Harden and Joe Ingles. In any case, send me your PMs...
Point Guard Play Of The Week
If you had to rank NBA Point Guards who have no eyebrows, Isaiah Canaan would definitely come out on top.
Logos and Lines and Stuff
The graph below plots Offensive and Defensive Efficiency (points scored and allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for League Average and Strength Of Schedule). Basically the further in the top right corner you are, the better you are.
Once again, credit for the original idea goes to Bigfooty User Final Siren, who created the concept in the thread: The Race for the Flag in Squiggly Lines).
A few additions to the Graph:
It's hard to believe, but there's only a month remaining in the NBA regular season. Teams are jostling for Playoff position. Some are floundering, while others are rising to the occasion. Here's a quick look at some of those teams...
The East
Indiana has finally been able to hit the right side of the break-even line. They could be a tough matchup for a high seeded Eastern Conference team. (You could say they might make some "noise" in the Playoffs).
The remaining contenders for the 8th spot in the East (Miami, Boston and Charlotte) have yet to reach that break-even point, but they've all been heading thee right direction in the least few weeks. Which one of these teams will win the right to lose in the 1st round of the Playoffs?
Milwaukee has struggled (offensively in particular) since the Carter-Williams trade. Will this mid-season tinkering ultimately cost them the 6th spot in the East?
As much as Aaron Brooks has tried to carry their offense, the Bulls desperately need their starting backcourt back.
Washington managed to reverse its slide last week. I wish Bradley Beal would stop taking so many long 2 point jumpshots though.
Philly aren't on the Graph because there offense isn't good enough to make the cut. Their defense has been good though. Case in point:
The West
The Graph isn't pretty viewing for a number of teams in and around the Western Conference Playoff race:
Memphis' offense has gone in the tank whenever Randolph and Gasol sit on the bench at the same time, something that Joerger persists with for some unknown reason during early 4th quarter stretches.
During these times Jeff Green has been underwhelming and there's too much onus on Conley or Calathes to create a shot. Maybe the return of Vince Carter will give Memphis bench units the kick in the pants that it needs.
Ah, the Suns. Predicatably, the messy Trade deadline has had a negative short term effect in Phoenix, their offensive efficiency dropping heavily since then.
Things are looking up in Utah though, I mean look at that defensive improvement since they got rid of Kanter and put the Stifle Tower in the starting lineup...
While Gobert and Favors provide the rim protection, most Jazz defenders are quick on their feet, have good hands and are now adept at switching a la the Warriors and Bucks. Utah is very close to breaking even in terms of adjusted efficiency.
You might have spotted a couple of faces on the Graph. Rondo indicates where Dallas stood at the time of trading for him. Since then, the offense has faltered much more than the defense has improved. Can last weekend's thrashing of the Clippers be the turning point for the Mavs?
That white guy on the break even line is Mike Malone and yep, that's where Sacramento was on the Graph when the Kings fired him. There hasn't exactly been much conideration for defense during the Karl era thus far.
Respect goes out to Hipster Doofus for nevertheless sticking with his team, continually watching their games (no doubt a harrowing experience) and posting his disgust here on BigFooty.
Who Wore It Best?
What To Watch For This Week
Mon: Chicago @ OKC. A blockbuster meeting between two former MVPs: Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose. Oh wait...
Tue: Cleveland @ Miami. LeBron takes his talents to South Beach.
Wed: Memphis @ Detroit. The Pistons return home after a brutal Western road trip. Reggie Jackson is no D.J. Augustin, that's for sure.
Thu: Atlanta @ Golden State. The best in each Conference square off....But how convinced are you that this will be the eventual NBA Finals matchup?
Fri: New Orleans @ Phoenix. This one's all about the Playoff implications.
Sat: New York @ Philadelphia. Good seats still available.
Sun: Portland @ Memphis. The no. 2 seed in the West is up for grabs, and Lillard vs Conley will give us a good Point Guard matchup...for the few of you who understood what the hell I was writing about in that Martial Artist section of this OP, I'm sure you're all disappointed that I couldn't find a martial artist to match up with Damian Lillard.
It's A Point Guard's World
Last week was an impressive showcase of Point Guard play:
- Chris Paul produced an MVP-like performance against Russell Westbrook.
- Kyrie Irving scored an NBA high 57 points in a thriller against the Spurs.
- John Wall racked up his third 30/10 game of the season in a win over the hapless Kings.
- Rajon Rondo actually received some praise from Rick Carlisle.
There is so much depth and variety at the position that it feels like we’re currently in the Golden Age of Point Guards.
It kinda reminds me of the "Golden Age of Hong Kong Cinema", when numerous Martial Artists of different styles and abilities starred on the big screen.
The Martial Artists of Asian Cinema are analagous to the many talented Point Guards we see in the NBA today.
But which martial artists best correspond to the top Point Guards? Well, I’m glad you asked…
Stephen Curry
"The Way Of The Warrior"
Who is the best Point Guard in the NBA today? Many would argue that it is Stephen Curry, just as many would argue that Donnie Yen is currently the best martial artist in Asian Cinema.
Yen is famous for the Wing Chun style displayed in his portrayal of Ip Man, so it’s easy to overlook the fact that Yen actually has a wide range of skills from Wushu to Jiu-Jitsu.
Likewise, it’s easy to forget that Curry is more than just a shooter (he currently leads the league in steals per game and is 6th in assists).
And like Yen, there is more than just a hint of self-assuredness when Curry performs.
Russell Westbrook
"Furious Tiger Style"
Westbrook has been a brutal one man wrecking crew in recent weeks. In this sense, he is the NBA’s version of Tony Jaa: a reservoir of energy and athleticism coiled up within a small yet powerful frame.
With 6 triple doubles in his last 8 games now, Westbrook is not afraid to angrily take on a host of opponents all by himself - a trait he shares with Jaa.
Chris Paul
"Angry Midget School of the Shaolin"
Chris Paul may be overshadowed by the younger Point Guard stars of todays NBA, but let's not forget that Paul helped usher in the recent trend of Point Guard as team’s best player.
In this pioneering sense, Paul resembles Gordon Liu.
Liu was known for playing a Shaolin monk, trying to adhere to the age-old traditions of the Shaolin temple. Similarly, Paul is seen as a “traditional” Point Guard, stubbornly adhering to the age-old values of what a Point Guard should represent.
In the movie Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, Gordon Liu must turn his back on Shaolin values in order to reach his ultimate destiny.
Chris Paul may have to turn his back on his Point Guard ideals in order to reach his ultimate goal of an NBA Championship.
He took a step forward in that regard when he outduelled Westbrook last week. Younger Point Guards better take note.
Kyrie Irving
"Slippery Eel Style"
Jackie Chan uses props, stunts and humour to such a large extent that he’s seen, rightfully or wrongfully, as more of an entertainer than a martial artist.
Similarly, Irving can score in such spectacular ways that it’s hard to tell if he’s more of an entertainer than a Point Guard.
Irving’s 57 point outburst last week was impressive, but is this the way he should be playing for the Cavs to win the title? I don’t know…like a Jackie Chan action movie, it’s probably best not to think about it too much.
What is certain is that Kyrie’s 57 point game was as exhilarating as anything we’ve seen all season.
Like Jackie Chan, he’s definitely a crowd pleaser.
John Wall
"Master of the Cobra Strike"
Think of John Wall’s attributes and the first things that come to mind are speed and (passing) precision, which is why he is the Jet Li of the NBA.
Wall and Li are both relatively quiet, unassuming guys who don’t draw attention to themselves and perhaps lack the charisma to captivate international audiences.
In his recurring role as Wong Fei-Hong, Jet Li tried to fight off the influence of the West.
It may be a long shot, but Wall and the Wizards may be doing the same thing come Finals time.
Mike Conley
"Crouching Grizzly Hidden Dragon"
While not his side's main star, Conley is nevertheless an outstanding team player with a bevy of skills.
The same can be said of the underrated Yuen Biao, a staple supporting actor in many iconic Martial Arts films.
He is seen as the little brother to Honk Kong heavyweights Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, just as Conley is seen as the little brother of Memphis big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
Pound for pound however, both Yuen and Conley are amongst the best in their fields.
Tony Parker
"School of Pop(ovich) Kune Do"
“Be formless. Shapeless.
Like Water.
You put water into a cup - it becomes the cup.
You put water into a bottle - it becomes the bottle.
Water can flow. Or it can crash..."
This is the philosophy pioneered by Bruce Lee and exhibited in todays NBA by Tony Parker, who, like Lee, was one of the first foreign pioneers of his genre to make it in America.
In Parker’s case, he proved that an international Point Guard can lead a team to an NBA title.
When he first came to the US he was the secondary star to Tim Duncan. But like water he shapeshifted to fit the needs of the Spurs and eventually found himself as the driver of the Pop Kune Do system.
Parker has quietly lfted his game in recent weeks, and not coincidentally the Spurs’ play has improved in that same stretch.
This is the Pop Kune Do philosophy in full effect.
“...Be water my friend.”
Dante Exum
"Awkward Crane Style"
What’s a weekly thread without a mention of Exum?
As he is only in the early stages of his career, Dante is therefore like a young Ralph Macchio.
Exum is hesitant to get in the lane and draw fouls while Macchio was a meek teenager who needed an old Japanese man to save him when he first got into fights in Karate Kid.
Will Quin Snyder become Exum’s Mr Miyagi and get him to overcome his fears, topple the Western Conference – a Conference reminiscent of the Cobra Kai dojo in its ruthlessness - and eventually take out the All Valley NBA Championship?
I sure as hell hope so, but only time will tell.
Raymond Felton
"Appetite Of Fury"
Not all NBA Point Guards can be stars and neither can all Asian martial artists.
And while it may be counterintuitive to compare Felton to a martial artist (given that Raymond is more comfortable with a gun in his hand), he is nonetheless reminiscent of Carter Wong, aka the guy from Big Trouble in Little China who exploded, causing piles of food to spill out of his body.
One suspects the same will eventually happen to Felton if he continues to stack on the pounds.
But Which Point Guard is No. 1?...Your Votes Are Needed.
It'd be interesting to see how BigFooty ranks the best Point Guards in today's NBA.
So I was thinking that perhaps all you BigFooty basketball fans out there could PM me your Top 10 Point Guards, ranked from best 10th best.
And, if enough votes are received, I'll reveal BigFooty's Top 10 Point Guards in next week's Weekly Thread.
You can define a Point Guard any way you wish, from passers like Ricky Rubio to scorers like Kyrie Irving, to taller playmakers like James Harden and Joe Ingles. In any case, send me your PMs...
Point Guard Play Of The Week
If you had to rank NBA Point Guards who have no eyebrows, Isaiah Canaan would definitely come out on top.
Logos and Lines and Stuff
The graph below plots Offensive and Defensive Efficiency (points scored and allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for League Average and Strength Of Schedule). Basically the further in the top right corner you are, the better you are.
Once again, credit for the original idea goes to Bigfooty User Final Siren, who created the concept in the thread: The Race for the Flag in Squiggly Lines).
A few additions to the Graph:
- The diagonal dotted line indicates where Offensive Efficiency = Defensive Efficiency. It's a "break-even" line if you will. Point differential is a fairly decent indicator of team strength. The further away a team is from the break-even line, the greater point differential that team has.
- The little squiggles you can see represent that teams efficiency progress since the Trade Deadline.
It's hard to believe, but there's only a month remaining in the NBA regular season. Teams are jostling for Playoff position. Some are floundering, while others are rising to the occasion. Here's a quick look at some of those teams...
The East
Indiana has finally been able to hit the right side of the break-even line. They could be a tough matchup for a high seeded Eastern Conference team. (You could say they might make some "noise" in the Playoffs).
The remaining contenders for the 8th spot in the East (Miami, Boston and Charlotte) have yet to reach that break-even point, but they've all been heading thee right direction in the least few weeks. Which one of these teams will win the right to lose in the 1st round of the Playoffs?
Milwaukee has struggled (offensively in particular) since the Carter-Williams trade. Will this mid-season tinkering ultimately cost them the 6th spot in the East?
As much as Aaron Brooks has tried to carry their offense, the Bulls desperately need their starting backcourt back.
Washington managed to reverse its slide last week. I wish Bradley Beal would stop taking so many long 2 point jumpshots though.
Philly aren't on the Graph because there offense isn't good enough to make the cut. Their defense has been good though. Case in point:
The West
The Graph isn't pretty viewing for a number of teams in and around the Western Conference Playoff race:
Memphis' offense has gone in the tank whenever Randolph and Gasol sit on the bench at the same time, something that Joerger persists with for some unknown reason during early 4th quarter stretches.
During these times Jeff Green has been underwhelming and there's too much onus on Conley or Calathes to create a shot. Maybe the return of Vince Carter will give Memphis bench units the kick in the pants that it needs.
Ah, the Suns. Predicatably, the messy Trade deadline has had a negative short term effect in Phoenix, their offensive efficiency dropping heavily since then.
Things are looking up in Utah though, I mean look at that defensive improvement since they got rid of Kanter and put the Stifle Tower in the starting lineup...
While Gobert and Favors provide the rim protection, most Jazz defenders are quick on their feet, have good hands and are now adept at switching a la the Warriors and Bucks. Utah is very close to breaking even in terms of adjusted efficiency.
You might have spotted a couple of faces on the Graph. Rondo indicates where Dallas stood at the time of trading for him. Since then, the offense has faltered much more than the defense has improved. Can last weekend's thrashing of the Clippers be the turning point for the Mavs?
That white guy on the break even line is Mike Malone and yep, that's where Sacramento was on the Graph when the Kings fired him. There hasn't exactly been much conideration for defense during the Karl era thus far.
Respect goes out to Hipster Doofus for nevertheless sticking with his team, continually watching their games (no doubt a harrowing experience) and posting his disgust here on BigFooty.
Who Wore It Best?
What To Watch For This Week
Mon: Chicago @ OKC. A blockbuster meeting between two former MVPs: Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose. Oh wait...
Tue: Cleveland @ Miami. LeBron takes his talents to South Beach.
Wed: Memphis @ Detroit. The Pistons return home after a brutal Western road trip. Reggie Jackson is no D.J. Augustin, that's for sure.
Thu: Atlanta @ Golden State. The best in each Conference square off....But how convinced are you that this will be the eventual NBA Finals matchup?
Fri: New Orleans @ Phoenix. This one's all about the Playoff implications.
Sat: New York @ Philadelphia. Good seats still available.
Sun: Portland @ Memphis. The no. 2 seed in the West is up for grabs, and Lillard vs Conley will give us a good Point Guard matchup...for the few of you who understood what the hell I was writing about in that Martial Artist section of this OP, I'm sure you're all disappointed that I couldn't find a martial artist to match up with Damian Lillard.
