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Shooting Guards Jimmy Buttler and Dwyane WadeThe role of a Shooting Guard is probably one of the most versatile roles on the court. They pretty much do it all; spot up shooting, driving the lanes, setting up plays and grabbing boards. Being the perfect combination of small Point Guards and big Forwards, the explosive Shooting Guard position always demands extraordinary abilities from the players who assume it. We count down to the projected best Shooting Guards this season who will try their best to be like their SG heroes (Reggie Miller, Clyde Drexler and Michael Jordan).
#5 Kobe Bryant
The reason Kobe Bryant ranks #5 on our countdown is the simple fact that he’s played only 41 games in the last two seasons and that’s why we don’t have a very good idea about what we’ll see from him this season. Last season, the 37-year old averaged less than 40% from the field for the first time in his entire career. However he still averaged 22 points per game and even got a couple of triple doubles.
The Lakers seem better this season and Bryant is on the verge of retirement. Injuries are obviously a concern but if he manages to be healthy he could average 25 points per game effortlessly. He has a good crew with him this season and a reason to hope that it will be a healthy season. If it was anyone else in his position, we could easily count him out. But if there’s one person who can come back up from all that’s happened, it’s the Mamba.
#4 Dwayne Wade
Contrary to popular opinion, Wade did a pretty good job last season. It was pretty much all he could do in that position with his team a mess and Bosh out with an injury. He himself was pretty banged up with a troublesome knee making him feel like an older player. In spite of everything, he managed to average 21.5 points per game.
This year, the Heat seem like really good contenders against the Cavaliers. With Bosh back healthy and Dragic getting the feel of things, Wade has less pressure of carrying the whole team on his shoulders.
Whiteside and Stoudemire show great promise on the frontcourt and could help Wade’s Heat be one of the top contenders in the relatively easy Eastern Conference. All Wade has to do this season is make sure he keeps healthy and leads the team to more than 40 wins. They’re definitely making the Playoffs this season.
#3 Jimmy Butler
One of the most underrated players in the league right now, Jimmy Butler has the capacity to drastically take the Bulls to the top this season. After already establishing himself as a relentless defender, Butler significantly improved on his 3-point shooting last year taking it from 28% to 38%.
He’s had a testy relationship with star Point Guard Derrick Rose and we don’t know how the new Bulls Head Coach Fred Hoiberg will decide to use him, but we can be assured that Butler will exceed everyone’s expectations with his efficiency. Rose will be back healthy and that will help Butler and his fellow Bulls to seek vengeance and once again establish themselves as an unstoppable force.
#2 Klay Thompson
Reigning Champion, Klay Thompson significantly improved on his game last season being one of the primary reason that the Golden State Warriors were finally able to end their championship drought. The Splash Brother showed great effort on his defense and drained far too many three balls with his bud; Steph Curry.
He does have a slight room for improvement when it comes to ball handling and diversifying his game but once he does that, GSW could very well be on their way to repeating their championship run. He’s an ever-improving shooter and a top level defender who will only grow to become better as a guard.
It would be scary for other teams to even imagine the type of damage an evolved Klay would do considering they could hardly handle him on the court last season.
#1 James Harden
There is absolutely no doubt that Harden is the best Shooting Guard in the league right now. He has improved on his defense in order to leave no weakness behind and be Houston’s hero. He’s a scoring machine and can make shots from pretty much anywhere on the floor.
He came incredibly close to winning the season MVP trophy and if he keeps being a triple double threat like last season, there’s a very good chance he may win it this time. He does most of the ball handling for the Rockets and is clearly their best player. He’s still only 26 years old and well within the years of his prime. We’re going to see him put a lot of defenders on skates and shatter a lot of rims. Oklahoma City Thunder may always regret trading him.
