This year’s NBA playoffs are starting to look like a showcase for some of the most exciting point guard match-ups in recent years.
The big draw in the NBA team Bulls-Celtics series has been the play of Boston’s Rajon Rondo and Chicago’s Derrick Rose. In his first-ever playoff game, the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year erupted for 36 points and 11 rebounds against the Celtics. While Rose has shown capability at the one spot through four games—averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists—he hasn’t been able to keep up with Rondo’s sick stats. The Boston sports star is averaging just over 23 points, 10.8 rebounds and 10 assists in the series thanks his triple-double Sunday at Chicago.
Although the Hornets-Nuggets series hasn’t been all that exciting, the match-up of Denver’s Chauncey Billups and New Orleans’ Chris Paul is almost as satisfying as the Rondo/Rose battle in the East. Billups’ shot has been on point through three games and he’s been giving the banged-up NBA team Hornets absolute fits on defense. Paul has been impressive, but with injuries plaguing New Orleans his performance has been overshadowed by the lack of support from the bench.
In the Mavericks-Spurs series, both NBA teams have been driven by the play at point. San Antonio’s Tony Parker has shouldered his team, scoring 117 points through the series’ first four games. Dallas has been starting two point guards—J.J. Barea and the legendary Jason Kidd—who’ve combined to put up solid numbers that are sure to help the NBA team Mavs sail into the Western Conference semi-finals.
As the NBA team playoffs continue, these match-ups can only get hotter.
