1. Steve Nash, Phoenix: We've already delved into his status as top dog, and expect him to score more than he did last season after the departures of Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson. He has at least three more seasons left in him as a dominant playmaker, consistently leaving everything he has out on the floor. You can't teach heart, and his is immense.

2. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia: Speaking of tickers and expending every ounce of energy, Iverson's collective body of work makes him a cinch for the Hall of Fame. Choke on that, haters. While he indeed monopolizes the basketball, he has averaged over five assists per game in six of his nine seasons, and after setting a new career high in that department while leading the league in scoring, appears to be aging gracefully now that he has reached 30.

3. Jason Kidd, New Jersey: His court vision has been on par with the all-time greats for about a decade now, and he seems to have made it through complicated knee surgery just fine. If Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson help out like they should, he might just regain his status as the league's top assist man. He's still not the greatest of shooters, but his ability to fill a stat sheet and get the most out of those around him overrides that.

4. Baron Davis, Golden State: What he did for the Warriors after leaving New Orleans was phenomenal, whetting appetites all over the Bay Area that perhaps the team's days of losing are over. He has to prove he can stay healthy -- something that has eluded him two years running -- but there's no question the 26-year-old is among the most feared playmakers in the game, especially since he packs the outside shot to balance his game out.

5. Gilbert Arenas, Washington: People forget he's only 23, and you can expect last year's All-Star berth to be the first of many. Although not a natural point guard, he remains Washington's primary ball-handler and should get a significant boost from the presence of vets Antonio Daniels and Chucky Atkins. He's still developing into a superstar -- growing into that role -- but no one can deny how scary his game is. At this point, he's the best second-round draft pick of the past decade.

6. Mike Bibby, Sacramento: Although we're still waiting on him to fully break through as a star, what he's done to date deserves massive props. The Kings, long loaded with stars, are unquestionably his team, and he's upped his scoring and assist averages every year since arriving from Vancouver (now Memphis) in 2001. At 27, he's entering his prime, and with his Kings entering a make-or-break year in terms of contention, he must embrace the challenge of taking his team as far as it can go.

7. Kirk Hinrich, Chicago: Yes, he starts at shooting guard, but considering Ben Gordon's role on the team and the fact Hinrich handles it so much and led the team in assists a year ago, we're taking the liberty of lumping him with the rest of them. He's progressing nicely in taking the reins of an immensely talented young squad, and there's no telling how much better he can get as he approaches his third professional season.

8. Chauncey Billups, Detroit: He's Mr. Clutch, a man GM Joe Dumars lauds as the key to Detroit's recent success despite so many other deserving candidates. All Billups does is takes and makes the big shot, and his bouncing around the league early on, combined with his gregarious personality, makes him one of the NBA's most popular players. The former Finals MVP recently turned 29 and will again be the straw that stirs the drink for the perennial title contender.

9. Tony Parker, San Antonio: Naysayers will call him inconsistent, and there are certainly times when nerves and trying to do too much get the better of him, but considering he's 23 and has two rings, he must be doing something right. He certainly could stand to improve from the perimeter, but considering his cat-like quickness and ever-progressing defensive skills, he merits a Top 10 spot.

10. Joe Johnson, Atlanta: The Hawks undoubtedly made the right move in offering Johnson big money despite his lack of experience as a lead guard. Only that twinge of doubt keeps him from climbing higher on this list, and we have a hunch that will be erased fairly early in his tenure. He had the luxury of Nash making the game simple for him last season, but that only makes it easier to overlook that he does the same for teammates. No one will be sleeping on him after his new team improves significantly.

11. Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana: Last year's breakthrough season was marred by foot trouble that helped cost him over half his team's games, but he still averaged over 15 points and five assists. European import Sarunas Jasikevicius offers great insurance in case the injury bug bites again, but if he's able to stay healthy, the Pacers have to be considered a legitimate threat to overcome Detroit and Miami in the East.

12. Jamal Crawford, New York: Consider this giving Craw the benefit of the doubt. Rail-thin, inconsistent and prone to making questionable decisions, he still averaged nearly 18 points and over four assists in his first season with the Knicks. With Larry Brown moving Marbury over, expect him to help rein Crawford in by handing him the ball-handling duties and asking him to use his head to capitalize on his vast talent. It's certainly worth the gamble, and Brown is exactly the type of guide the 25-year-old needs.

13. Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City: Of the three point guards selected with the top five picks of this June's draft, expect him to have the best numbers. He's incredibly talented, confident and possesses that unique quality of doing absolutely everything humanly possible to come out on top. The Hornets are going to hand him the keys and see where he takes them, and although success won't come immediately, his production will.

14. Jason Terry, Dallas: This might be a little low for him considering his reputation took a hit in having to replace Nash, the eventual MVP. But he handled himself extraordinarily well, helping the Mavs to a six-victory improvement and enjoying a strong run in the playoffs. Jet proved he can indeed run a team, deferred to Dirk Nowitzki and helped in the mentoring process of eventual successor Devin Harris. There's no reason to believe he won't again be solid, even though Harris will likely receive more minutes in Year 2.

15. Luke Ridnour, Seattle: Without Daniels there as a safety net, Ridnour will get the bulk of the minutes from former assistant Bob Weiss, and he has displayed the ability to handle himself capably. He's quicker and stronger than he looks, and the confidence to run a team and keep defenses honest with his strong jumper, should develop with his role increasing. Last year's playoff experience should facilitate his growth as well.

16. Deron Williams, Utah: The second and final rook to crack the Top 20, Williams was brought on board for one reason: Get the Jazz back to the playoffs. The supporting cast is there, and Williams will do his part, solidly handling his role on both ends of the floor and finally giving the team a worthy replacement to the legendary John Stockton. He'll please the Utah faithful with his fundamentals alone.

17. Sebastian Telfair, Portland: Only 20, there's no question the concerns about his size and lack of perimeter proficiency are legitimate. But he's indeed special, a gifted playmaker with fearless tenacity and the desire to work on improving. Those traits will win Nate McMillan's admiration and confidence, especially since he's going to grow as a defender, thanks to the new coach's presence. There will be some growing pains, but the Blazers were correct in their assertion that he would develop into a superb floor leader for years to come.

18. Damon Stoudamire, Memphis: After six consecutive mediocre seasons, the 32-year-old veteran enjoyed what was possibly his most productive season in Portland. That occurred despite the presence of Telfair, who ultimately received on-the-job training during the season's final months. At his new address, he'll be teamed with fellow newcomer Bobby Jackson but should be a fundamental part of a Grizzlies squad looking to maintain its status as a playoff team in the loaded Western Conference.

19. Sam Cassell, L.A. Clippers: Yes, he's 35 and lost a step, but last year's nightmare campaign can be attributed in part to the fact he wasn't healthy. It glaringly affected his defense and explosiveness, but when he was finally able to find solid footing, the 'Wolves nearly pushed their way into the playoffs. Expect him to have one more run in him, keeping Livingston from being rushed and allowing a capable Clippers squad to compete for a postseason berth.

20. Rafer Alston, Toronto: He was productive last year, ranking among the Top 20 in the league in assists and steals while averaging over 14 points and three assists per turnover, but his constant bickering with coach Sam Mitchell was definitely a distraction. The temperament of both coach and player is very similar in that both want to win so badly that they clash, but Skip-to-my-Lou is still the best the Raptors have, even with Alvin Williams healthy enough to play again and Spanish import Jose Calderon set to contribute. Hopefully, last year served as a learning process that will aid him this year, as more dark days appear to be in the cards.