The Fig Cap: Hey, Agent Zero, why so glum?  You’re number one in our rankings!

In “real” basketball, point guard is arguably the most difficult position to play since they are basically an extension of the head coach running the actual plays on the court.  They have to know all the plays to run and have the ball in their hands the majority of the game.  In fantasy basketball, point guards are just as important as they will be your main source of assists and a significant contributor in steals, three-pointers made, and/or free-throw percentage.  Any big-time production in points, rebounds, and/or field-goal percentage are simply gravy on top of the meat.  So, coming into the 2007-08 season, which point guard is tops for the position?  I have one word for you – HIBACHI!

1. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards

The Fig Cap: Yeah, that’s better, Gil.

It’s thisclose between Arenas and Steve Nash when it comes to who the king of the court is amongst lead guards.  While Nash might be a two-time NBA MVP his swagger doesn’t come close to Agent Zero’s and in the fantasy game, you have to love Arenas’ potential in being tops in the League in three categories – points, treys-made, and steals.  How much concern should one have about Arenas being healthy after sustaining a knee injury last season?  ZERO concern.  Arenas rehabbed his knee hard this summer and is looking great from all reports.  But the best part about Agent Zero?  He actually cares about his fantasy ranking - that’s all I need to hear!

2. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns

If you love assists then, for you, Nash is the Jessica Alba of fantasy basketball.  Considering the offense that the Phoenix Suns run (and I mean RUN), Nash’s court vision and ability to get the ball in his teammates’ hands at the right time, there is almost no question Nash will lead the league in dropping dimes again.  Another aspect of his game you have to raise your eyebrows about is Nash’s shooting percentage from the floor since joining the Suns three seasons ago, which stands at about 52%.  That’s a high percentage for a guard and perimeter player and when you add Nash’s career 90% accuracy from the charity stripe into consideration, you not only have an unconscious ball distributor, but a shooting machine.  The only “downfall” to Nash’s game is his “lack” of stealing the ball, where he holds a 0.8 career average.  I guess Nash is just too nice of a guy.

3. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets

Not since Oscar Robertson did it during the 1961-62 season has anyone averaged a triple-double for a whole season and it probably won’t happen again.  However, if there is any player that you should put your money on to do it, it’s Kidd.  Last season he averaged 13.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per contest, which is amazing considering he played 80 games last season, the second of back-to-back identical 80 game durability.  But, Kidd is more than just posting triple-double type numbers every time he puts rubber soles to the hardcourt as he contributed 1.6 steals and 1.6 triples-made per night as well last season.  The 40% shooting from the field is at attractive as having an extra toe… on your calf, but for beauty in some spots, you need ugly in others.  Kidd is a bit older at 34 years old, but he seems to be aging like fine wine, so feel free to drink up and draft Kidd somewhere in the first 15-20 picks of your draft.

4. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Last season, Paul missed about a month of ball starting in December thanks to a sprained right ankle injury, but all in all, when you look at the stats for the whole season, CP3 is only getting better.  He was all the rage during his rookie year when he won the 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and despite only playing 64 games in his sophomore campaign last season, the outlook for Paul should still be good going into his third year, especially with the young core of Paul, Tyson Chandler, and David West gelling in the last month of the 2006-07 season.  Add a (hopefully) healthy Peja Stojakovic and Paul has a lot of finishers he can pass off to to pad his assists numbers, which saw an uptick last season going from 7.8 per game his rookie season to 8.9.  However, those weren’t the only numbers that went up as his points per game (16.1 to 17.3) increased to go along with steady production in rock rips (1.8 steals per contest), rebounds (4.4), free-throw percentage (81.8%), and accuracy from the field (43.7%). All of this should add up to having faith that Paul takes another step up in his ascension within the top tier of point guards.

5. Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets

It’s been 50 games since Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets and joined scoring forces with Carmelo Anthony, so from this sample size of games, how did the trade affect AI’s production?  Well, relative to the 15 games he played with the Philadelphia 76ers last season, Iverson went from 31.2 points per game in Philly to 24.8 in Denver; 7.3 dimes to 7.2; 0.8 threes-made to 1.0; 41.3 FG% to 45.4%.  So, it’s a mixed bag of numbers for Iverson, but regardless, they’re nothing to sleep on.  Iverson is like Big Daddy Kane and gets the J-O-B-D-O-N-E!  It’s probably safe to assume you’ll get the same stats from Iverson this coming season as he put out last season with the Nuggets.

6. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz

Williams broke out in a big way last season and you can thank future NBA Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton.  Stockton worked out with Williams during the offseason last year and helped Williams get out of Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan’s doghouse.  You can look at the differences from his rookie to sophomore seasons in two main categories - 10.8 points per game to 16.2 and 4.5 assists per game to 9.3 – and you can see that Stockton helped in a big way. Plus, Williams shot better from the floor, shooting 42.1% to last season’s very respectable 45.6%.  He definitely should have been an All-Star, but at the very least, the negative comparisons he was getting to fellow NBA draftee Chris Paul who was taken after Williams have died down.  There’s room for growth points-wise, but probably not much with the presence of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, but either way, Williams will have the rock a lot as the point guard and will have a hand in who’ll be producing what kind of numbers, obviously including for himself.  Look for the production to continue upwards.

7. Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors

Is Davis ever going to stay healthy?  When he’s on the floor doing his thing – taking it to the rack and converting almost at will, finding the open man for a dunk or J, filling the passing lanes for steals, raining triples from behind the arc – Davis is a stud.  However, 63, 54, and 46 games played, respectively, in the past three seasons has dud written all over it.  Can you really trust the guy to produce for your team all season?  Now, not only do fantasy basketball managers have to think about this, but also Golden State Warriors head honcho Chris Mullin as Davis wants to sign a long-term extension with the Warriors.  However, the team wants the season to be played out first before committing to Davis long-term.  So, B-Diddy could very well opt out after the season.  What does that mean?  A contract year push by Davis and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play every game because of it.  Plus, reports say that Davis has never been slimmer his whole career, which will alleviate pain in his knees, an area of concern for injury.  So, if you like taking risks, you could easily move Davis up the charts here.  Betting on a contract year performance and since, unlike Mullin, you’re not actually going to be paying Davis any real money, Davis could be worth taking that big chance on.  Does 20 points, nine assists, and two steals on the regular tempt you?  That’s what you’ll be banking on.

8. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons

Billups is the opposite of Davis in that he’s just straight up as steady as they come.  Ever since joining the Pistons in 2002, Billups has never scored less than 16.2 points per game and has pretty much stayed around there with a spike in 2005-06 (18.5 ppg).  As far as his shot from the line, it’s about 88% every season since becoming a Piston.  And don’t think that signing an extension is going to make Billups lax.  He’s a winner as evidenced by his many clutch shots and being dubbed, “Mr. Big Shot.”  He’ll dish out a good amount of dimes, steal the pill about once a game, and make a couple of triples per contest.  Solid.

9. Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls

Speaking of steady, Hinrich is as consistent as they come.  Go ahead and check his career stats.  Across several statistical categories, Hinrich’s numbers are very close to each other over the four years he’s been in the League.  Hinrich isn’t a “sexy” name to draft, but if you’re looking for consistent production and getting the value you drafted for, Hinrich is that player.  And, he does it from either guard spot adding some flexibility to your roster.

10. Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats

Imagine seeing Jason Richardson on the wing, Emeka Okafor down in the block, and Gerald Wallace streaking toward the rim.  Yeah, for a point guard that’s a pretty sight and it will be Felton who gets to see that each night.  Production across the board went up for Felton in his second season last year and with the addition of Richardson, you can expect the trend to continue as defenses will now have to spread the floor with both J-Rich and Wallace on the perimeter and Okafor in the post.  Can you say penetration opportunities for Felton to either score or kick out for an assist?  Treys and steals are solid and Felton has as much upside as any point guard on this list.  Expect a jump in stats from Felton.

The Best of the Rest

11. Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns
12. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
13. Mike Bibby, Sacramento Kings
14. Maurice Williams, Milwaukee Bucks
15. T.J. Ford, Toronto Raptors
16. Andre Miller, Philadelphia 76ers
17. Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic
18. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
19. Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana Pacers
20. Randy Foye, Minnesota Timberwolves

Addendum

Other Positional Rankings:

Point Guard Rankings

Shooting Guard Rankings

Small Forward Rankings

Power Forward Rankings

Center Rankings