Raptors Rapture
Fansided

NBA Power Rankings: Where is Fred VanVleet among point guards?

By Avishai Sol

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 09: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the Canadian national anthem ahead of their NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Scotiabank Arena on January 9, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 09: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the Canadian national anthem ahead of their NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Scotiabank Arena on January 9, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 04: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns stands on the court during the second quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on January 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 04: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns stands on the court during the second quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on January 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Phoenix Suns. player. 66. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Chris Paul. 4. PG

Whether he’s carrying the Hornets, running Lob City, playing second fiddle to James Harden, willing the Thunder to the playoffs, or leading the Suns to the Finals, Paul has spent more time floating around this top five than anybody else on this list.

It’s hard to quantify how good CP3 is at this stage of his career. The scoring stats won’t wow you at 13.9 points a game, but his efficiency, assists, and leadership are excellent once again.

Paul hasn’t played on a team with a losing record since 2010.  He simply makes his teams into winners through things that can’t be measured with a number.  Things like leadership, poise, maturity, the clutch gene, and that mysterious schism between high assist numbers and actually being a world-class playmaker.

Paul is coming off a Finals appearance and is currently leading the Suns to the top record in the league.  It’s not flashy or new, but it works.

NBA Power Rankings: Ja Morant is electric.

Pick Analysis. PG. 3. Scouting Report. Memphis Grizzlies. Ja Morant. player. 211

It’s always nice to see players improve. Whether it’s a fringe guy cementing himself in the league, a bench player finding the proper role to become a starter, or in the case of Morant, a star literally vaulting himself into superstardom.

Playing the game with reckless abandon reminiscent of Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose in their heyday, Ja has been the head of a Grizzlies spear that’s been the best team in basketball for three weeks now.

After the team record, the biggest positive for Ja this season has been his improvement as a shooter. Now that he’s a passable 35% from three, it forces defenders to play Ja honestly from range, making his first step all the more devastating.

It’ll be interesting to see how both the Grizzlies and Ja face the impending challenge of the postseason. If Morant can achieve these results in the playoffs, it will move him from the final five into conversations for the best point guard in the world.