Is J-Lin Overrated? The 2012-13 NBA Point Guard Rankings

2011-2012 Stats: 8.9 PPG 2.6 RPG 5.4 APG
2012-2013 Salary: $1.2 million

Greivis Vasquez is a big point guard who got a chance to shine last year and will be New Orleans' floor general this season. Mainly because No. 10 pick Austin Rivers isn't a point guard. Vasquez made Monty Williams look smart after he dished out 13 assists during the 2013 season opener in a loss to the Spurs. He made a lot of big shots during his time at Maryland, but hasn't quite found his niche yet. New Orleans is going to surprise some folks this year and Monty Williams could well be Coach of the Year. He can at least help the Hornets make some noise.

2011-2012 Stats: 11.3 PPG 3.3 RPG 5.5 APG 0.7 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $5 million

Ramon is a solid, all-around point guard who can start on some teams in this league (i.e. the Bobcats). The Lakers weren't exactly scrambling to bring him back during the off-season, which paid off because they landed Nash. He's turnover prone (over two turnovers per game when you average five APG is a bit much) and needs to step his defense up, but he's able to hit a clutch shot to make up for it. Ramon is essentially a solid backup on a contender or a starter on a pretender.

2011-2012 Stats: 9.8 PPG 2.7 RPG 3.5 APG 1.5 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $4 million

Chalmers put the clamps on Lin along with the entire Heat team, holding Jeremy to eight points during their February 23 matchup. Mario's defense also caused most of Lin's eight turnovers that night. He's not a pure point, but on a team with LeBron James and D-Wade, Mario just has to do what he does best and that's defend and hit the open three. So far, he has been doing a good job, often coming up big like he did in Game 4 of last year's Finals when he dropped 25 in a win. Top five though? FOH.

2010-2011 Stats: 10.7 PPG 1.3 RPG 3.9 APG 0.6 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $3.2 million

Aaron Brooks took the league by storm in 2009-10 when the barely 6-foot guard averaged 19 points a game, drained 39 percent of his threes and almost single-handedly led the Rockets into the playoffs. Along with Wilson Chandler and JR Smith, Brooks ventured to China during the NBA lockout, missing most of the 2012 season. Now back in the states, Aaron has signed on with the Kings to take over point guard duties in order for Tyreke Evans to play off the ball. Brooks is lightening quick with an automatic jumper. The Kings are definitely better with him at the point. Hopefully he can regain some of that 2010 magic.

2011-2012 Stats: 13.2 PPG 1.9 RPG 3.1 APG 1.0 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $8.5 million

Mo's a professional. He happily came off the bench once Chris Paul took his gig. Last year he was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate and a big part of the Clippers success. Now he'll be running point for the Jazz in hopes of having a good year and either get a nice contract or get picked up by a contender as a role player. Williams is a shoot-first point guard, but has shown that he can run an offense. He plays solid defense as well. Mo-Will is a better fit for Utah than Devin Harris was.

2011-2012 Stats: 12.8 PPG 3.2 RPG 3.8 APG 0.8 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $2.6 million

This young guard has the chance to be a real good player. He sees the floor well and is able to run a team. Knight was the starting point for the Pistons during much of last season which gives him much needed experience heading into his sophomore year. That being said, he still needs to get stronger so he can play better defense and not get knocked around when he drives to the bucket. He's a scorer first, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's selfish. Detroit's PG makes the right play most of the time and that's all you can ask for.

2011-2012 Stats: 11.9 PPG 3.2 RPG 5.7 APG 0.7 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $8.6 million

Jameer Nelson is a shooting guard in a point guard's body. He scores with the best of them and can defend guys that are close to his size. With that being said, Dwight Howard didn't feel like Jameer was good enough and now he's a Laker. Orlando should've snatched a true point a long time ago, so Nelson could play off the ball and do what he does best. When healthy, he can ball, but that is seldom. Nelson has yet to play a full 82-game NBA season in his eight years.

2011-2012 Stats: 11.7 PPG 2.5 RPG 5.3 APG 1.3 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $7.5 million

Dragic is a fiery point guard that can score in bunches and plays tough defense. He's finally getting his chance to start full-time with the Suns, but he has big shoes to fill. This is Dragic's second stint with Phoenix. He was traded for Aaron Brooks in 2011 and now is one of Phoenix's key off-season signings. Goran is no Steve Nash, but he's young and improving. Remember when he dropped 23 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the WCF against the Spurs? Yeah, the kid is nice. He has a chance to be a good point one day.

2011-2012 Stats: 24.5 PPG 4.0 RPG 5.0 APG 1.5 SPG (Weber St.)
2012-2013 Salary: $3 million

In college, Damian Lillard was a scoring machine, averaging almost 25 points per contest. Regarded as the top point guard in the draft, the Blazers took him at No. 6. He plays the pick and roll well and has very few weaknesses on the offensive side of the ball. The kid can flat out play, but is also unselfish. Mainly a perimeter player, Lillard can still take it to the rack and gets after it defensively, too. The Blazers made a good pick with this kid. Lillard proved it by dropping 23 and 11 on the Lakers in the 2013 season opener, joining the likes of the Big O and King James.

2011-2012 Stats: 13.5 PPG 3.3 RPG 4.5 APG 1.6 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $2.6 million

Jrue Holiday has evolved into a nice point guard. He came into the league as a combo guard, but slid over to the point due to his size. He's a good scorer, an exceptional defender and has shown that he can run a team, especially last year. Jrue was a big part of Philly's surprise 2012 season, helping them advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Now with Andre Igoudala gone and Andrew Bynum in the middle, Holiday has a chance to really show his worth. Once he stops making key turnovers in clutch moments, the Sixers should be a real force in the East.

2011-2012 Stats: 10.6 PPG 4.2 RPG 8.2 APG 2.2 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $3.7 million

OK, let's get his frightening 35 percent field goal percentage out of the way. He can't shoot, we're all aware of that, but once he was named the starter the T'wolves became a playoff team. Then he tore his ACL and they fell back to the depths of hell. The kid has been hyped up since he started playing in Europe professionally at 16. So, we guess you can say he hasn't lived up to the billing. But, you can't deny his knowledge of the game. Ricky has great court vision which allows him to drop dimes on demand and his lanky arms allow him to play the passing lanes well. He shoots a decent percentage from beyond the arc (34percent) and most importantly, makes everyone around him better. Isn't that what a point guard is supposed to do?

2011-2012 Stats: 14.7 PPG 3.4 RPG 5.3 APG 1.5 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $3.9 million

All Stephen Curry has to do is stay healthy. He has the potential to be a star in this league. Curry is a lights out shooter like his pops and can come up with a couple steals over the course of a game. His ankle injuries have impacted his lateral movement on the defensive end. Hopefully he can go to Germany or something and get that fixed. He's a good passer, but still has to learn how to be a true point guard and maybe cut down on the turnovers. This'll be his first year without Monta Ellis by his side, so maybe things will be different. There'll definitely be more shots to go around.

2011-2012 Stats: 19.1 PPG 3.4 RPG 5.5 APG 1.6 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $3.1 million

Brandon Jennings isn't a conventional point guard, but what he lacks in convention, he makes up for in confidence. He never met a shot he didn't like and with Monta Ellis as his sidekick, it's going to make for an exciting brand of basketball in Milwaukee. Jennings is a skinny, little dude that's a nagging defender with quick hands and can carry a team offensively. He's played with a chip on his shoulder since the Knicks passed on him during the 2009 Draft and has been on a mission to kill them ever since. That's his best trait, the kid will kill you and then rub it in your face. Sort of like a young Reggie Miller. Don't forget his sick handle which allows him to create shots for himself while embarrassing cats.

2011-2012 Stats: 16.4 PPG 3.7 RPG 6.6 APG 1.3 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $2.5 million

Since starting full-time, Ty Lawson has crept his way into the conversation of Top-10 point guards. His relentless motor gives opposing teams headaches. Ty is a 49 percent shooter from the field which is damn near unheard of from a point guard. Even at 5'11", he's able to penetrate and kick at will or he'll take it straight to the bucket. Since the Melo trade, he has emerged as the Nuggets' best player. His handle isn't all that, but what does that matter if you can't catch him? Right now, at this very moment, we feel he's Top-10.

2011-2012 Stats: 16.3 PPG 4.5 RPG 8.0 APG 1.4 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $5.9 million

Once John Wall learns to control his speed, he'll not only be one of the best point guards in the league, he'll be one of its best players. Unfortunately for him he was drafted by the Wizards. They did do him a favor by shipping JaVale McGee out of town, though. Wall is by far the fastest player in the league, can get to the basket an time, can dish it and his 6'4" frame mixed with his quickness allows him to play some defense. Once he starts to knock that J down consistently, he's going to be a real problem. With the additions of Okafor, Ariza and No. 2 pick Bradley Beal, the Wizards are giving Wall a team to compete with. They're not a playoff team, but they'll definitely take a step up from last year.

2011-2012 Stats: 18.5 PPG 3.7 RPG 5.4 APG 1.1 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $5.3 million

Kyrie Irving is going to be a problem in this league for years to come. Once he learns to chill out and get others involved, it's a wrap. He can score in multiple ways and nobody can stop him. He can cross you up and drive, hit a mid-range J or shoot the three. The only knocks on him are his defense and getting caught up in going for his. Other than those minor details, Irving is going to be an integral part of the NBA's future. Hopefully the Cavs can build something around him before he decides to take his talents elsewhere.

2011-2012 Stats: 12.5 PPG 3.0 RPG 10.7 APG
2012-2013 Salary: $8.9 million

At 38, Steve Nash can still run with the young pups. He averaged 10.7 dimes last year with that sorry Suns roster. He has never played defense, but what does it matter if you can't stop him offensively? Now with the Lakers he has weapons he hasn't had since Stat left. If he can dish out 10 assists a game in Phoenix, he'll average 13 with this Lakers squad. Nash's vision is impeccable and he can still knock down that clutch three. We believe he has one more high-level year left in him. Mike Brown needs to let him free!

2011-2012 Stats: 21.8 PPG 3.4 RPG 7.9 APG 0.9 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $16.4 million

Since being drafted by Chicago Derrick Rose has proven he's able to put a team on his back. Derrick is a quiet killer that relishes the big moment. He's what Stephon Marbury should've been. A diabolical city guard that could take over a game at will. Like his college coach, Rod Strickland, D-Rose will get in the lane by any means and likes to get three-pointers the old fashioned way. All Rose has to do is sure up his defense and learn to pump the brakes. Oh yeah, and stay healthy. Let's see if he can return to form after that devastating knee injury last postseason. If he does, he'll definitely move up these rankings.

2011-2012 Stats: 21 PPG 3.3 RPG 8.7 APG 1.2 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $17.1 million

The man that started it all. Linsanity began when Jeremy came off the end of the Knicks bench to put 25 points on Deron and sparked seven straight wins. Williams got his revenge, though. He scorched Lin for 38 in their very next meeting. D-Will is a score-first point guard that gets others involved, but doesn't necessarily make them better. He can erupt at any moment, but he's just missing something. He carried the Jazz to four straight playoff appearances after a three year drought, but also drove Jerry Sloan out of town. Once Sloan and Boozer bolted, Utah barely made the playoffs. And as a member of the Nets, he hasn't exactly brought out the best of his teammates (even though they stunk of hot garbage). He's in Brooklyn now with Joe Johnson and a new look team to contend with. This is the perfect opportunity to show that he's a leader and deserving of his superstar status.

2011-2012 Stats: 11.9 PPG 4.8 RPG 11.7 APG 1.8 SPG
2012-2013 Salary: $11 million

Rajon Rando is a crafty dude. We still won't hesitate to leave him open, but does it matter? He's still going to drop a triple-double on that ass. Over the last five seasons Rondo has turned into one of the best players in the league. If he leaves Boston, they're finished. Sure it helps to have played with three Hall of Famers, but when those old guys went down with injury, who kept that thing together? We're eager to see if Rondo can do it when the last two members of the Big Three retire.