SALT LAKE CITY -- The NBA is loaded with top-tier point guards, and talented players at the position will get good looks during Summer League play.Games begin Saturday in Orlando, on Monday in Salt Lake City, and on July 8 in Las Vegas. And though there are about 90 roster spots for point guards in the NBA, a strong pedigree is no longer enough: Players such as Marcus Paige, a McDonalds All-American who led North Carolina to the national championship game, face an uphill climb to make a team.The Utah Jazz havent reached the playoffs since 2012 and Paige still remains a long shot with six other point guards on the team.Its kind of a great era for point guards right now in the NBA, said Paige, the No. 55 overall pick. Theres no nights off. Youve got elite talent almost at every spot, especially in the West.You want to be a competitor. You want to accept that challenge. You know youre not on that level right away, but you can aspire to work every day and work to get to that level. Im just excited for the different challenges. Gone is the physical style in which the ball is mostly dumped into the post for centers to go to work. Now teams must deal with a Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, John Wall, Kyrie Irving and a host of other skilled ballhandlers on a nightly basis.The Minnesota Timerbwolves drafted Providence point guard Kris Dunn with the third overall pick despite Ricky Rubio coming off his best year as a pro. General manager Scott Layden said its difficult finding a good point guard that also holds his own on the defensive end.In the NBA its so hard to find two-way players, Layden said. The other thing is, how hard it is to find a good point guard. ... Kris, when you watched him play, he made others better. When youre leading a team, thats so important. The toughness factor, when you get that from your point guard, it seems to resonate to the rest of the group. And the ability to defend, because often times youre defending the other teams best player.Teams are regularly carrying three point guards on a roster and continue to look for help at the position. Summer Leagues will feature former college standouts such as Notre Dames Demetrius Jackson, Kentuckys Marquis Teague, Ohio States Aaron Craft, Oregons Joe Young, Louisvilles Terry Rozier and Arizonas T.J. McConnell -- all facing the same challenge as Paige.Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey acknowledged a dearth of point guards on the roster and hopes to work with Paige and his agent on a way to keep him in the organization regardless of whether he makes the club.Its a very important time for me, Paige said of Summer League. Its a guard heavy roster, but Im trying to make it in the league. So I have to show what Im capable of and build on what I did in the combine and in workouts to show that Im somebody that can make a difference at the next level with my shooting. With my playmaking in the pick and roll. And with my competitiveness and leadership.Rule changes and shifts in playing style have given ball handlers an advantage in todays NBA. The lane has widened from its original 6 feet to the current 16, pushing big men farther from the basket. Hand-checking and arm-bars are now fouls, making it more difficult for defenders to stay in front ball handlers, particularly the likes of James Harden. The strategic emphasis on spacing and the pick-and-roll gives quicker players with handles more room to operate.But teams are specifically thirsty for point guards. The Pacers traded for Jeff Teague in a three-team deal that sent George Hill to the Jazz. The Hawks valued Dennis Schroder over Teague. Mike Conley is in for big pay day in free agency, and the Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a deal with free agent Jeremy Lin. The Knicks traded for former MVP Derrick Rose with hopes he can return to a top-tier level of play.Summer League rosters are full of point guards drafted in the second round with no guarantees, and others that signed as undrafted free agents. The odds are long, but the emphasis on the position has organizations searching for diamonds in the rough.It should be an intriguing 17 days of action. New Balance Clearance Outlet . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. New Balance Sale Australia . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. http://www.wholesalenewbalanceaustralia.com/ . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. New Balance Shoes Australia Sale . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Wholesale New Balance . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. HOMESTEAD, Fla. --?Rick Hendrick expects?Dale Earnhardt Jr.?to receive his final clearance from doctors in the next six weeks, which will allow him to return to Sprint Cup racing in February.Sometime in December, the doctor is going to give him final clearance, and then well get him in a car, Hendrick said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He feels great. Everything is on track.Earnhardt, who will miss his 18th straight race this weekend as he recovers from vision and balance issues caused by a concussion suffered in June, has repeatedly said that his rehabilitation and recovery have been on track for a February return.NASCAR will allow Earnhardt to participate in a private test to allow doctors to approve his return to racing.Every step that we supposedly need to go through, weve gone through. I dont see anything holding us back, Hendrick said. I think weeve just got a couple of more hurdles.ddddddddddddEarnhardt has been replaced by Jeff Gordon and Alex Bowman over the second half of the season. Bowman led a race-high 194 laps last week at Phoenix before an accident on a late restart while battling for the lead.Im so happy because our cars are so good, Earnhardt said Monday on The Dale Jr. Download podcast. Im going to get into that thing next year, and its going to be as good or better than when I got out of it.I feel like a very lucky guy in that regard. ... Man, Im really looking forward to getting back on the track, cutting some laps and just being a driver. I miss it, especially as I am getting more and more healthy and more confident in my health. I miss it more and more. ' ' '