We're officially in the dog days of the lockout. Negotiations between the players and owners have stalled and seemingly every day there's talk of another star jumping overseas. But not even the lockout is cause to stop evaluating the best players in the game and seeing how they stack up against their peers based on talent, skill and productivity. This week, I'll be ranking the top five players at each position and breaking down what makes them so special. Each day, I'll look at a different position, starting with point guards and finishing with centers. So toss out postseason awards and career accomplishments and find out who's the best of the best.
1. Chris Paul, Hornets
If his commanding performance against the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs showed us anything, it's that Paul is the game's most complete point guard. His fundamentals are impeccable, and he's capable of effectively running any set in any style of offense. With arguably the best handle in the NBA, it's virtually impossible to deny him access to any path to the rim or spot on the floor. His combination of yo-yo-like ball control, speed and split-second decision-making make him the best pick-and-roll point guard in a pick-and-roll league. He rarely makes the wrong decision after the pick, and no one is better at throwing the lob to the rolling big. Inside the arc, he makes tricky floaters from odd angles seem routine. His deep cache of runners and pull-ups save him the trouble of having to go all the way to the rim, which prevents him from getting his shot blocked as often and reduces wear and tear on his body. One of Paul's most effective but least-known assets is his strength. It gets lost among all his other attributes but helps him to absorb contact in the lane and shrug off bigger defenders while trying to turn the corner.
2. Derrick Rose, Bulls
The excitement quotient soars when Rose goes into attack mode. The fear from his defender is palpable. The reigning MVP overwhelms opponents with blinding quickness and an array of crossover combinations that defenders are forced to play off of. In a one-on-one situation from the top of the key or the wing, Rose is as close to unguardable as anyone in this league. His burst of quickness to the rim is so explosive it leaves defenders with very little margin for error. He has the ability to change direction in tight spaces without slowing down, which more often than not requires a defender to help, freeing up Rose to dump the ball off to a big for an easy 2. But his signature unstoppable move is driving baseline and finishing with an up-and-under reverse layup. No point scores better in the clutch, averaging 47.8 points per 48 minutes of clutch time. Despite being his team's best scorer, Rose keeps those around him happy with his unselfish play. Whether on the break or darting to the rim, he keeps his head up and doesn't waste a lot of time dribbling in place. He made considerable strides with his midrange game last season, and his step-back move after selling the dribble is the best of any point guard in the league.
3. Russell Westbrook, Thunder
In just his third season, the 22-year-old guard landed himself on the All-NBA second team and is one of two guards to average at least 21 points and seven assists. Westbrook is arguably the best athlete in the NBA. He's a speed demon on the break and has the dangerous ability to change direction at full speed in the middle of the floor. He fuels his last two steps before he takes off on one leg with an explosive burst that seems to allow him to accelerate in the air, making an attempt to block his shot all but a guaranteed trip to the line. (His 7.7 free throw attempts per game were first among point guards and eighth overall.) That more than 60 percent of his attempts came at the rim is a testament to the fact that defenders simply can't stay in front of him. But it also is indicative of the fact that his jump shot is far too unreliable. With an improved midrange shot, Westbrook could score the same (or more) on fewer attempts, allowing him to focus more on setting up his teammates. When Westbrook is able to find a happy medium between scorer and facilitator, he could find himself on top of this list.
4. Deron Williams, Nets
Tough to find a pure point guard with a better offensive game than D-Will. Let's start with the break, where he can get his 6-foot-3, 210-pound body up to speed deceptively fast. Thanks to his excellent handle and exquisite balance, he loves to zigzag through traffic in top gear, putting the defense in a vulnerable position. He often pushes the tempo off of made baskets to catch the defense off guard. The best advice for teammates is to sprint hard in your lane and keep your head up. When Williams zips his two-handed chest passes to spot-up shooters, the destination is always between the shoulders and belly button. This prevents the shooter from having to reach too high or low for the ball so he can shoot it in rhythm. Although D-Will won't wow you with otherworldly athleticism like Rose or Westbrook, his advantage is a much more polished offensive game. His midrange J -- a must for a point guard since most can create the space -- is the best on this list, save for Nash. His career percentage from deep (35 percent) means you have to step out and honor the shot. And that's when he gets you with that bang-bang crossover, which is as good as any in the league. Be especially aware of the right-to-left, between-the-legs dribble followed by a hard cross back to the right.
5. Steve Nash, Suns
The former two-time MVP led the league in assists for the fifth time in his illustrious career and shot a sterling 49 percent from the field for a seventh consecutive year. Although his 37-year-old legs make him a defensive liability, he still possesses the purest point guard skills in the league. There's nobody better at creating easy scoring opportunities for his teammates. Whether it's a clever bounce pass to a big while sneaking along the baseline or advancing the ball up court with a 40-foot pinpoint chest pass, Nash expertly puts his teammates in position to succeed. He's not the quickest, but Nash makes up for it by constantly moving -- and no point guard moves better or more effectively without the ball after his initial pass. Benefit: Sprinting to an open spot buys him an extra second to get off catch-and-shoot jumpers when the ball is reversed. This past season's mark of 39 percent from 3 is his lowest since 1999 but still the best on this list thanks to his picture-perfect fundamentals from feet to fingertips. Nash may also be the toughest point guard on this list, playing through a rash of injuries to his nose, eyes and mouth, which he usually incurs thanks to his indifference when it comes to giving up his body. Nash's drive and verve make him as enjoyable to play with as he is to watch play.
Chris Palmer has been a frequent contributor to ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com's NBA coverage since 1999. Follow him on Twitter.