NBA Playoffs: Who Is Best Point Guard Remaining?

by David Shepard, OTSL Special Contributor 

With the NBA playoffs at full height the best point guard still playing has been Tony Parker. Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo do get a majority of the headlines, but Parker has outplayed both Rondo and Westbrook in these playoffs thus far. This is certainly a golden age for point guards in the NBA, but it is the polite and underrated Tony Parker that may be the best point guard remaining in these playoffs, and here is why....

Spin 1: He is outplaying Westbrook and and Rondo in the 2012 Postseason.

Despite the fact that Tony Parker has been in the league for 11 years he is still getting the job done. Rondo and Westbrook combined don't have that many seasons under their belt by the way. First off, Rondo and Westbrook have a combined 9 losses in the 2012 postseason, Parker has none. Parker has shot at least 50% from the field in two different playoff series, Rondo and Westbrook have not done this in a single series thus far. 

Parker is a better all around scorer and distributor of the basketball than both Westbrook and Rondo. Parker has gone for 10 assists at least twice, while Westbrook has no games in which he has hit that mark. Rondo's postseason high has been 23 points, Parker has scored at least 23 points on four different occasions. He has managed to do this while playing less games than both Rondo and Westbrook. 

Parker Best Point Guard This Postseason?

                       2012 Playoffs

             Parker    Rondo   Westbrook 

PPG         20.5      15.3         23.7

APG          7.1       11.9         4.8

FG pct      47.1      44.9        45.2  

Spin 2: Tony Parker is a flat out winner

Parker has a combined three NBA championships including a finals MVP under his belt. Rondo does have a championship, but zero finals MVP's. Parker has 20 postseason series wins, that is more than Rondo and Westbrook combined. Rondo has had the luxury of playing with three sure-fire first ballot hall of famers (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen) for the past five seasons. He has 11 postseason victories over those past five years. Tony Parker played with only one sure-fire first ballot hall of famer during his first full five seasons (Tim Duncan). He also won 11 postseason victories over that same time frame. 

Mr. Parker Shines In Playoffs

Notable Point Guards Postseason Careers

                       Parker      Rondo      Westbrook  

Titles                    3              1                 0

Finals MVP's        1              0                 0

Series Wins        20            11                 4

Spin 3: Parker has more than just the experience, he has the numbers too

Parker has more career playoff points than both Rondo and Westbrook combined. He has also played in 148 postseason games and counting. That is 28 more postseason games than both Westbrook and Rondo combined. To Parker's credit he has never missed a single postseason since he has been in the league. Rondo and Westbrook can't make that same claim.

Experience Counts For Something

Notable Point Guards Postseason Careers

                           Parker    Westbrook  Rondo

Points                   2,796       789          1,206

Assists                    753       197             773

Games played        148         34               86       

No matter how you slice it, Tony Parker is head and shoulders above the remaining point guards in the NBA Playoffs.

Editor’s note: Dave filed this story prior to Rajon Rondo’s spectacular 44 point, 8 rebound, 10 assist performance in the Celtics game 2 overtime loss to the Heat. Though I doubt even that would change his mind on Parker.

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