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NBA Power Rankings: Ranking All 30 Starting Point Guards

By Shane Young

Mar 8, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack (0) drives the ball during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. Toronto Raptors won127-122 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack (0) drives the ball during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. Toronto Raptors won127-122 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

29.  Jarrett Jack — Brooklyn Nets

Passer Rating:  113.42 (26th)

Per-36 minutes:  15.4 points, 6 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 3.1 turnovers. 43.9% field goals, 26.7% 3-pointers, 88.1% free throws.

True Shooting Percentage: 52.2% (T-17th)

Player Efficiency Rating: 14.6 (21st)

Real Plus-Minus: -3.65 (27th)

Wins Above Replacement: -1.76 (28th)

It’s not so much that Jarrett Jack is godawful as an NBA player, but more so that he’s not starting point guard worthy … even on the disturbing Nets. Jack made a strong effort to redeem himself after a depressing year in Cleveland, as he entered Brooklyn’s second unit and increased his PER from 11.5 to 14.6. However, starting in 27 games last year, Jack started to become a turnover machine. His 3.1 turnovers per 36 minutes were the highest of his career for one full season.

Jack’s most striking season came with Golden State in 2012-13, when he was a feared bench player that destroyed against second units. He shot 45.2% from the field, 40.4% from deep, and nearly 85% from the foul line that season behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. He thrived in that role and style of play.

Now as Lionel Hollins’ number one option to start at point guard, it seems that younger and more athletic players are passing him by. Jack is 31, and in no way suited for a starting responsibility in his 11th season. Defensive pressure (on and off the ball) will prove to be a weakness with Brooklyn this year because of Jack’s uptick in minutes against other starting units.

Many will point towards the positive results Brooklyn experienced in the 2015 playoffs, with Jack on the floor. In the first round against Atlanta, the Nets shot 13% better from the field when Jack was on the court (140 minutes in six games), compared to the minutes he was sitting. In addition, they outscored the Hawks by 16.7 points per 100 possessions with Jack orchestrating things.

However, you shouldn’t put too much stock into this. Atlanta played one of the most underwhelming six-game series we’ve seen from a 60-win team, and they hadn’t found their groove yet. A lot of Hawks players were blowing defensive assignments, and it was harder for them to adjust after losing Thabo Sefolosha (right before the playoffs). Atlanta’s struggles weren’t exactly a cause-and-effect response to Jack being on the court, so be careful there.

Hollins should find out that relying on Jack this season will have them in the bottom-seven of defensive power, and not even close to a playoff berth.

Next: Get Philadelphia Some Help, Please