Any NBA championship winner will tell you that having a good point guard is essential to their NBA betting chances, and there is no shortage of great ones in the league right now. Here is a look at the top five steering their teams in the NBA right now, and their hoops betting odds to come away with the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season. Also, a special to mention to “combo guards” like Miami’s Dwayne Wade and Portland’s Brandon Roy, who fill both positions but aren’t “pure” point guards.

Chris Paul, New Orleans

The 2006 Rookie of the Year after leaving Wake Forest early, Paul instantly transformed the Hornets from jokes to a legitimate title contender in his three pro years. Paul currently leads the league in assists (12.1) and steals (2.7), in addition to 19.9 points, and he has made an All-Star out of David West. The Hornets have NBA betting odds of +2000 to win the championship, and if they make it out of the tough West, Paul will take most of the credit.

Chauncey Billups, Denver

One look at the records shows how valuable the veteran Billups is to a club: Detroit, since trading him to Denver, is 11-9. The Nuggets are 16-4 and are finally looking like they can challenge in the West. Billups is putting up 18.3 points and 7.0 assists a game, which are both better than his career average, and he brings a steady hand to the frenetic pace of the Denver offense. The Nuggets’ NBA betting odds are now +2500 for the championship, and Billups knows a little something about titles: he was the Finals MVP when Detroit won in 2004.

Deron Williams, Utah

Williams has been injured this season, meaning his 10.1 assists are even more impressive as he plays his ankle back to full strength. Williams has been linked with Paul since the two were drafted in 2006, but Williams has more than held his own, and led his Jazz to the conference semifinals last year as Paul did. The Jazz are currently +1800 to win the title, and as Williams gets healthier, Utah’s hoops betting chances will rise.

Tony Parker, San Antonio

Parker is getting back to his best after an ankle ailment slowed his down through most of November. Parker got off to a hot start, and his 55 points in a double-overtime win in Minnesota is the league high so far this season. The Spurs’ NBA betting odds are only at +1800, but if this point guard who has guided San Antonio to three titles in his eight-year career has anything to say, they will be right there in the postseason.

Devin Harris, New Jersey

A change of scenery can do a player good, as it has done for Harris since he was traded to New Jersey from Dallas for Jason Kidd. With the reins taken off him, Harris has exploded into the league’s highest-scoring point guard, putting up 24.1 points along with 6.1 assists. Harris dropped 47 on Steve Nash and the Suns, and an All-Star nod could be on the way. The Nets’ hoops betting chances are still a longshot at +15000, but the future looks bright for the Nets with Harris at the helm.

Honorable mentions:

Steve Nash, Phoenix; Derrick Rose, Chicago; Jose Calderon, Toronto; Rajon Rondo, Boston; Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers