*FAN SUBMISSION by Gary Ford II of Durham, NC. Follow him on Twitter @GKFII4.*
Courtesy: LA Times
Chris Paul 5’10, Mugsy Bogues 5’3, Kemba Walker 5’10: Since when did point guards become 6’6″, such as Michael Carter-Williams,(besides of course the great Magic Johnson)? Since when was a point guard 6’1 and taller……Never!
The last few years college recruiting coaches have been heavily recruiting tall point guards. A point guard is meant to lead, dig into people on defense, be a gnat on offense and defense. Compare a 6’5 point guard against a 5’10 point guard and a 6’5 guard will not get as low as a 5’10 guard on defense.
Shorter guards have many benefits because they can get into smaller areas and get lower on defense. They also are more likely to be quicker than a taller players. The only reasonable reason for wanting a taller guard is shooting over a shorter defender and dunking more in a half court set.
Look at the 2014 NCAA Championship game between UConn and Kentucky. The guards of UConn are listed at 6’0″ but looked significantly shorter, Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright. The guards of Kentucky are 6’5″ and exact replicas of each other; Twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison. The Kentucky front court could not handle the pressure of those 5’10” guards.
The twins were shaky with the ball almost every time they came down the floor on offense. There was one play Coach Calipari had to call a timeout because one of the twins almost turned the ball over because Boatright had him flustered and frustrated. On UConn’s offensive end Boatright and Napier kept scoring in bunches. Napier would call a isolation to utilize his speed and quickness. After multiple possessions of the 5’10” guards strapping up the twins and constantly scoring or setting there teammates up, UConn was crowned 2014 National Champions.
A point guard leads, does little things others won’t such as boxing out, always in athletic position (low and on toes), leading by example and always having the most energy. When I see a 6’5 point guard, all I see is a tall basketball player who can dribble without turning the ball over. 6’5 point guard? Absolutely not; he’s a shooting guard! And if he is at the point, it usually means he is not a great shooter either.
