Chris Paul (left) and Steve Nash have been overtaken by a raging Bull in the race for the best point guard in the NBA. (Getty Images)

For someone who plays very little defense and makes crucial mistakes in late-game situations, Steve Nash is still rated very high among his peers. He was twice voted league MVP despite not making it to the NBA Finals. He’s the only two-time MVP without a Finals appearance. Even softy Dirk Nowitzki made it to the Finals twice. For some reason, the Nash hype machine spread like wildfire during his first three seasons in Phoenix. Now, Nash is being exposed for what he truly is. A very good point guard, but not a top-five point guard.

OneManFastbreak.net publisher and editor Joel Huerto rates the top points guards in the NBA:

1) DERRICK ROSE, Chicago Bulls: D-Rose became a star during the first round of the 2009 NBA playoffs in an epic series against the Boston Celtics and his career has been on a fast track to Springfield. In his first NBA postseason game, Rose scored 36 points at the new Boston Garden. Rose combines great handles and amazing body control with a fearless attitude. He has improved his midrange game and 3-point shot the last two seasons, and his hard work was rewarded when he was named the league’s MVP in 2011. Rose and Russell Westbrook are the best end-to-end PGs in the Association, but few can match Rose’s uncanny ability to maneuver around a defense en route to the basket.

The sky is the limit for Chicago Bulls All-Star guard Derrick Rose.

2) CHRIS PAUL, Los Angeles Clippers: Remember Chris Paul? Some analysts were quick to dismiss him as the top playmaker in the Association because he missed so much time with a knee injury. But when healthy, CP3 is an absolute witch with the basketball. He is capable of posting a 20-5-11-2 stat line, and has the ability to change the game by himself. CP3 has his sights set on a dominant 2011-12 season with his new team to prove to everyone that he is STILL one of the best PGs in the NBA.

3) DERON WILLIAMS, New Jersey Nets: D-Will is Jason Kidd with range. Williams can play fast or slow, and can be a playmaker or a scorer. D-Will has the entire package. He can drive, he can hit the 3 and get his teammates easy shots. And he’s built like a tank. He’s one of the few PGs who can score 20 points and get 10 assists. The only knock on Williams – and the same can be said about CP3 – is that he hasn’t been able to lift his teams past the conference semifinals.

4) RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Oklahoma City Thunder: Westbrook’s coming out party occurred in the 2010 NBA playoffs when he lit up the L.A. Lakers in the first round. Westbrook is one of the best finishers in the league and attacks the rim like a wing player. The scary part about Westbrook – a former UCLA standout – is that he’s still learning his position. And his stint with Team USA during its gold-medal run in Turkey can only help his growth as a player.

5) RAJON RONDO, Boston Celtics: The 6-1 guard from Kentucky was arguably the Celtics’ best player during the 2010 NBA playoffs, and has turned the Celtics’ Big Three into the Fantastic Four. Rondo is a unique point guard because he rebounds extremely well and has an array of circus shots when he gets close to the basket. He’s also one of the best off-the-ball defenders in the league, leading the league in steals in 2009-10.

Young point guards Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose will have plenty of head-to-head battles for years to come. (GETTY IMAGES)

6) TONY PARKER, San Antonio Spurs: In the last 20 years, only two point guards have been named the MVP of the NBA Finals: Chauncey Billups and Tony Parker. Parker, the MVP of the 2007 Finals, consistently puts up outstanding offensive numbers, and is the only point guard on this list that shoots over 50% from the field. Few can match Parker’s speed, and the Spurs guard was one of the first players to use the floater as a main weapon.

7) STEVE NASH, Phoenix Suns: Some would say this list is “whack” for having the great Steve Nash No. 6. Well, the Great Nash is very good but not great. He’s a bit overrated. He’s a liability on defense and, for someone who is considered by many as the smartest point guard in the league, he makes a lot of mistakes in crucial situations.

8) BRANDON JENNINGS, Milwaukee Bucks: When you can put 55 points on the board as a rookie, you are big time. Jennings exploded onto the scene with a fantastic first season (15.5 points and 5.7 assists in 82 games), and he could have easily won Rookie of the Year if it weren’t for a historic season from Tyreke Evans. Jennings did have the last laugh over all his rookie peers as he led his team into the 2009-10 playoffs. The sky is the limit for this young Buck.

9) JASON KIDD, Dallas Mavericks: Kidd may be the oldest guy on this list, but he certainly isn’t ready to collect his 4o1K plan. The 37-year-old veteran shot 42% from the field in 2009-10, only the third time in his illustrious career he’s hit that mark. Kidd remains one of the best start-fillers in the league, averaging 10 points, nine assists and close to six rebounds. He may not defend like he used to, but he’s definitely not a liability on defense.

10) STEPHEN CURRY, Golden State Warriors: During the second half of his rookie campaign, Curry began to really establish himself as one of the best point guards in the league. He greatly improved his playmaking skills once he got comfortable with Golden State’s guard-friendly offense. Curry is a classic sniper, capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. When he steps off the team bus, he’s open!

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