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NBA Positional Power Rankings: Harden, Westbrook Are Insane

By Steven Abramo

Dec 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after making a three point basket during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after making a three point basket during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket past New York Knicks guard Courtney Lee (5) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket past New York Knicks guard Courtney Lee (5) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Point Guards

1. Russell Westbrook: There shouldn’t be any debate to who should get the No.1 slot. Westbrook is operating at a level that’s unheard of in this day in age – averaging 30.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game on a Thunder team that’s lacking cohesion across its roster. Already, Westbrook has accumulated 16 triple-doubles in just 36 of Oklahoma City’s games this year. It’s worth mentioning that he produced 18 all of last season with a better supporting cast.

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2. Damian Lillard: Portland has been caught in the crosshairs of insufficient forward play and bad misfortune from free agent pick ups this season. This hasn’t impeded Damian Lillard from making his case to being an All-Star selection. Through 32 games, Lillard is arguably having his best season offensively – pouring in 27 points per game and shooting 45 percent from the field.

However, it’s been his steady rebounding (bringing down 4.5 boards a game), as well as an improved efficiency with drives at the rim that’s made Lillard one of the best at his position thus far. According to Rip City Project, Lillard is connecting on roughly 55.7 percent of his shots at the rim this season, the third-best mark in basketball for all NBA guards.

3. Kyrie Irving: The defending champs have yet to miss a step so far this season, winning 26 of its first 34 games while posing as the Eastern Conference’s clear-cut No.1. A major reason for that has been the continual improvement of Kyrie Irving. Entering this season’s halfway point, Irving has shown the willingness to adapt his game that very few at his position can.

He’s flourished as of late, stepping up in J.R. Smith’s absence to become Cleveland’s top perimeter shooter, making 42 percent of his three-point shots. In a season that so far has seen Irving play his third-highest amount of minutes per game in his career, 34.8, Kyrie is averaging career-highs in points (23.9 per game) as well as field goal percentage (48.1 percent).

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