3. John Wall, Washington Wizards
Even has a 32.7 percent shooter from deep, Wall claimed the title of best point guard in the Eastern Conference last season. His defense continues to be an underrated asset, while 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game in more than enough to earn him a top three spot.
Wall makes up for his iffy shooting with speed, gunning through holes in halfcourt defenses and breaking things open in a way no other point guard can when operating in transition. He’s virtually impossible to match stride-for-stride at full speed, and that gives him a unique advantage as a playmaker — where he can exploit angles slower guards can’t.
The Wizards seem to be treading in the same place in the Eastern Conference standings, and the long-term extension of Otto Porter, in a way, should continue that. They’ll have trouble making the jump to Cleveland or Boston’s level, but they’re at least in the third or fourth seed discussion as long as Wall is at the helm.