NBA Power Rankings: Ranking Every NBA Team's Second Units

If you're only as strong as your weakest link, then the strength of NBA teams is found not in their starting five, but in the strength and depth of their benches.

While that isn't always necessarily true for every team, like the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, there are a lot of teams in the NBA that find their strength and success in the production they get from their benches.

Ahead is a ranking of every NBA team's second unit, based on overall efficiency, offensive production and how much drop off there is in overall production between the team's starting five and their second unit.

Read on to find out where your favorite team's second unit ranks.  Enjoy. 

30. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers start off this list simply because they have the absolute worst second unit in the entire NBA.

One of the main reasons why the Lakers aren't dominating the Western Conference so far this season is because of the less-than-stellar production coming off the bench.  The Lakers bench has managed to produce a measly 20.7 points per game, with a efficiency rating of 24.1, which is the lowest among all 30 NBA teams.

If the Lakers want to be a legitimate contender in the Western Conference, they've got to get more production out of their second-unit guys, like Josh McRoberts, Steve Blake and Metta World Peace.

Best Bench Player:  PG Steve Blake

29. Orlando Magic

Amidst swirling trade rumors regarding star center Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic have remained a top contender in the Eastern Conference, with 20-plus wins on the season.

Their success thus far, though, isn't a result of their weak bench production.  The Magic rank 29th in the NBA in overall efficiency off the bench, with a rating of 24.6 and 28th in point production off the bench with an average of 24.5 points per game.

When you take out J.J Redick's 11.0 points-per-game average, it eliminates nearly half of the Magic's bench production, which shows just how paper thin their second unit really is.

Best Bench Player:  SG J.J. Redick 

28. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers made the best trade of this past offseason by reeling in point guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets.

The Clippers didn't get him for cheap though, giving away Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and Al-Farouq Aminu and some draft picks for the star point guard. While they got serious talent in return, the Clippers gave up some solid players which moved bench players into starting spots, resulting in a decrease in production off the bench for Lob City.

Los Angeles ranks 28th in overall efficiency off the bench with a 26.3 rating, and while adding Kenyon Martin will definitely help, he can't save a weak Clippers second unit.

Best Bench Player:  PF Kenyon Martin

27. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks could've had one of the best second units in the NBA if they had played Jeremy Lin earlier on, but hey, we all make mistakes—luckily, it worked out quite well for New York.

Before Jeremy Lin swooped in to save the day, the Knicks were seriously struggling, and it was in large part due to the inept play of their second unit.  

Guys like Bill Walker, Toney Douglas and Jared Jeffries just weren't cutting it, ranking 27th in production off the bench with an average of only 26.1 points per game.

If the Knicks want to keep riding the Linsanity hype train, they absolutely need to keep improving their production from an otherwise weak second unit.

Best Bench Player:  PG Iman Shumpert  

26. Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are one of the 20-plus loss teams in the NBA, and it isn't only because they don't get production off the bench, it's also because their starting lineup is one of the weakest in the NBA.

The Pistons rank 25th in offensive production off the bench with 26.7 points per game, and they're one of the least efficient second units in the NBA, with a 24th-best efficiency rating of 29.0. There isn't much the Pistons can do to salvage the 2011-12 season, aside from giving their young talent like Brandon Knight a lot of minutes.

At least the Pistons have no where to go but up when it comes to getting better in nearly every aspect of the game, including improving the strength of their second unit.

Best Bench Player:  SG Ben Gordon (The Pistons change their starting lineup way too often, that's why Ben Gordon has this spot even though he's started quite a few games.)

25. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are off to a solid start, which is in large part due to the production they're getting out of Tyler Hansbrough and George Hill off the bench.

Aside from those two guys, though, the Pacers aren't getting any legitimate production from their second unit, and that's one of the reasons why they aren't a better team this year. While Indiana ranks 23rd in the NBA in offensive bench production with 27.6 points per game, they rank 27th in field-goal percentage with a measly 39.5 percent.

The Pacers' second unit isn't the most efficient either, ranking 25th with a rating of 29.0. The Pacers' second unit undoubtedly has a lot of room to improve, as does the entire Pacers team.

Best Bench Player:  PF Tyler Hansbrough   

24. Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies' 2011-12 season hasn't started off with the same winning ways the Grizzlies found in the 2011 NBA playoffs, and that's largely because they lost Zach Randolph for the majority of the season before it even started.

What the Grizzlies need, in Randolph's absence, is production out of their second unit. While they're not playing terribly, they're not setting the NBA on fire either. The Grizzlies' second unit is averaging 27.6 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the NBA, but they are 26th in the NBA in bench efficiency with a rating of 28.2.

Aside from O.J. Mayo's 11.2 points per game, the Grizzlies aren't getting any consistent production from their second unit, and that will hold them back throughout the 2011-12 NBA season.

Best Bench Player: SG O.J. Mayo

23. Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings have struggled to find consistency this season on both sides of the ball and both ends of the bench, earning the honor of being one of the teams in the NBA with at least 20 losses.

While the Kings certainly have consistent production across the board from their second unit, their production isn't nearly enough to help Sacramento win games. Sacramento's second unit lacks serious discipline on the defensive side of the ball, which has led the Kings to an NBA-worst average of giving up 101.2 points per game.

Sacramento needs to improve in a lot of areas to become a legitimate Western Conference contender. A good place to start would be focusing on getting more production out of their second unit.

Best Bench Player: PG Jimmer Fredette 

22. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are hovering right around .500 right now and have one of the worst second units in the NBA, which makes their No. 22 ranking pretty impressive.

The first players off the Celtics' weak bench are guys like Brandon Bass, Chris Wilcox, Keyon Dooling and Marquis Daniels, and their lack of significant production has been the difference maker in a majority of the Celtics' 14 losses this season.  

The Celtics as a team rank 26th in the NBA with 90.1 points per game, and their second unit's 24th best average of only 26.9 points per game certainly doesn't help.

When the Celtics lost Jeff Green for the 2011-12 season, they lost a lot of their second-unit production. That lack of second-unit production will undoubtedly be one of the reasons why they won't make it deep into the 2012 playoffs.

Best Bench Player:  PF Brandon Bass (out five to seven days with a sprained knee)

21. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are arguably one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, but that doesn't mean their second unit is one of the best.

While guys like Norris Cole and Mike Miller have put together a few solid performances this season, their play hasn't been consistent enough to earn a spot higher than this on this list. The Heat rank 26th in offensive bench production with an average of 26.2 points per game, but impressively enough, they still manage to rank 12th in field-goal percentage from their bench.

With LeBron, Wade and Bosh running the show, the Miami Heat don't really need any more production than they're already getting from their bench to win games. Unlike a lot of other teams, the Heat are able to excel without stellar bench production, which is somewhat impressive.

Best Bench Player:  PG Norris Cole 

20. Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats are undoubtedly the worst team in the NBA, with the worst overall record, but that surprisingly doesn't mean they have the worst second unit too.

The Bobcats rank 18th in points off the bench with 30.4 points per game, 21st in efficiency off the bench with 31.2 rating and 17th in field-goal percentage with 41.8 percent shooting from the field.  

A large part of the Bobcats' solid production off the bench is the play of Kemba Walker, D.J. White and Derrick Brown, which has been a nice surprise for Charlotte.

The Bobcats season is all but over, but the one bright spot they can hold on to is the play of their second unit this season, which means the future is at least brighter than the present in Charlotte.

Best Bench Player:  PG Kemba Walker 

19. New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets don't have a lot to be excited about right now, with more than 20 losses on the season, but the production they're managing to get off the bench from guys like Jordan Farmar and Anthony Morrow is at least one bright spot.

The Nets' second unit ranks 15th in offensive production with an average of 31.4 points per game, but what holds them back from being higher on this list is their 19th-ranked efficiency rating of 33.4.  

The Nets' second-unit production would undoubtedly be higher if center Brook Lopez wasn't injured and in the starting lineup, but he isn't, so the Nets find themselves at this spot.

The Nets don't have a lot going for them moving forward this season, but at least their second unit isn't the worst in the NBA.

Best Bench Player:  PG Jordan Farmar 

18. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks lost a lot of momentum and bench production this year when center Al Horford went down.

No, Horford didn't come off the bench, but it put Zaza Pachulia into the starting lineup, which isn't the kind of player he is. Without Pachulia, the Hawks' second unit has still produced at a respectable rate, ranking 17th in offensive production with an average of 30.2 points per game.

What holds the Hawks' second unit back, though, is their lack of depth at the center position.

With Horford on the bench, the Hawks lack any serious presence in the center of the paint when Pachulia is on the bench. If that continues, the Hawks' second unit will struggle down the stretch to help carry the team.

Best Bench Player:  SG Willie Green 

17. Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and it shows night in and night out.

While the Wizards have some solid talent in their starting lineup, like John Wall, JaVale McGee and Nick Young, they also don't have a terrible second unit.  

Guys with a lot of potential, like Jordan Crawford, Andray Blatche and Jan Vesely, give the Wizards even more hope for the future, while still giving the Wizards decent production right now.

The Wizards' second unit ranks 18th in both efficiency and field-goal percentage, while ranking 19th in offensive production with a 30.0 points-per-game average. That kind of second-unit production makes the Wizards more than deserving of ranking on this list.

Best Bench Player:  SG Jordan Crawford

16. Chicago Bulls

With names like Kyle Korver, C.J Watson, John Lucas and Taj Gibson, you wouldn't expect the Bulls' second unit to be as good as it is, ranking 15th in overall bench efficiency.

With Derrick Rose in the starting lineup this season, reserve guards John Lucas and C.J. Watson have stepped right in and helped the Bulls go 7-2 without last year's MVP.  While Taj Gibson isn't developing at the rate that many Bulls fans thought he would, he's still a solid second man off the bench, in minutes replacing Carlos Boozer.

The Bulls' second unit, while good, has to get better if the Bulls want to be able to compete with teams like the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference come playoff time.

Best Bench Player:  PF Taj Gibson 

15. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the brink of becoming an above-average team in the stacked Western Conference, and they have the offensive production of their second unit to thank, at least partially, for that.

The T-Wolves bench, with guys like J.J. Barea, Derrick Williams and Michael Beasley, ranks eighth overall in offensive production with an average of 34.7 points per game. While that's impressive, the one thing holding them back from being higher on this list is the fact that they rank 24th in turnovers per game with six.

The Timberwolves need their second unit to step it up, but not when it comes to offensive production. Minnesota needs them to step up protecting the ball—if they do, the T-Wolves could become a legitimate playoff team in the West.

Best Bench Player:  SF Michael Beasley  

14. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have seriously cooled off after a solid start to the 2011-12 season, but their second unit has continued to play at an impressive rate.

Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby and Jamal Crawford have helped solidify a Blazers bench that looked somewhat thin at the start of the season. The Blazers' second unit ranks 11th in offensive production with an average of 34.0 points per game, while playing with an impressive overall efficiency of 34.7, which ranks 13th in the NBA amongst second units.

The Trail Blazers absolutely need their second unit to continue playing at a high level, because without their production, the Trail Blazers would be a much different NBA team.

Best Bench Player:  SF Nicolas Batum 

13. Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are one of the most inconsistent teams in the NBA, beating Miami one night and losing to Charlotte the next, but that isn't because of a lack of production from their bench.

The Warriors bench ranks ninth in overall efficiency with a rating of 37.7, and they rank seventh in overall field-goal percentage, shooting 44.6 percent.

Golden State ranks 13th in overall bench production with 32.3 points per game. While that offensive production is solid, it isn't quite the spark the Warriors, as a team, need to become a better team.

To become a contender in the Western Conference, though, the Warriors need their second unit to pick up the slack on the defensive side of the ball. Once their second unit does that, they will be one of the best in the NBA.

Best Bench Player:  PG Nate Robinson   

12. New Orleans Hornets

Carl Landry thinks it's shocking too that a team can be as bad as the New Orleans Hornets are and still have an above-average second unit.

The New Orleans Hornets have lost 20-plus games this season, and that's right where most people expected them to be after trading Chris Paul and losing Eric Gordon after the first few games of the season. While there isn't much the Hornets have done right this season, they at least have an above-average second unit that was strengthened by the CP3 trade.

The Hornets' offensive bench production ranks 15th in the NBA with an average of 31.4 points per game, and while they won't get Eric Gordon back for a few more weeks, once he returns, that means Marco Belinelli can return to the second unit, which will make it that much stronger.

Best Bench Player:  PF Carl Landry (out three to four weeks with MCL sprain)

11. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are hovering right around obscurity in the NBA, with 20-plus losses on the season, but it's not because they don't have some depth on their second unit.

With guys like Ed Davis, Jerryd Bayless, James Johnson and Leandro Barbosa, the Raptors have one of the most athletic second units in the NBA. Toronto ranks 10th in overall efficiency and offensive bench production with an average of 34.3 points per game, and they rank third in rebounds with an average of 18.2 per game.  

What keeps them from being higher on this list is their 41.2 field-goal percentage, which ranks 20th in the NBA. 

The Raptors don't have a lot to be happy about this season, but one thing they can hold on to is the fact that their second unit isn't all that bad.

Best Bench Player:  SG Leandro Barbosa

10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City is arguably the best team in the NBA, and it's in large part due to the production that they get from their bench once their starting lineup comes off the court.

The Thunder's second unit is led by none other than NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate James Harden, and his production alone makes the Thunder deserving of a spot in the top 10. Throw in guys like Daequan Cook, Eric Maynor and Lazar Hayward, and you've got the eighth most efficient bench in the NBA.  

The Thunder's second unit averages 32.3 points per game which ranks 14th in the NBA, but the level of efficiency that they play at is what makes them such a solid crew.

If James Harden ever permanently moves into the starting lineup, the Thunder will take a major free fall on this list—but until then, they're undoubtedly deserving of a top-10 ranking.

Best Bench Player:  SG James Harden 

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

In a somewhat shocking turn of events, the Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the NBA's best second units, without having any legitimate stars coming off the bench.

With names like Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson and Alonzo Gee, it's amazing that the Cavaliers rank 12th in overall offensive production off the bench, with an average of 33.4 points per game. Not only is the Cavaliers' second unit scoring at an impressive rate, they are more importantly playing efficiently, with a 35.2 efficiency rating, which ranks 11th in the NBA.  

The Cavaliers make their way into the top 10 here because they've managed to do so much with so little.

The Cavaliers have a lot of growing to do before they become a legitimate team in the Eastern Conference, but with the youth and the impressive second unit they have, the Cavaliers will be a team to keep your eyes on in the next year or two.

Best Bench Player:  SF Alonzo Gee

8. Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns aren't one of the best teams in the NBA, but they do have one of the best second units in the NBA, making their way into this rankings' top 10.

With guys like Markieff Morris, Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick and Shannon Brown, the Suns bench surprisingly ranks eighth in offensive production with an average of 34.7 points per game. What holds the Suns' second unit back, though, is their 29th-ranked field-goal percentage and their 17th-ranked efficiency, with a rating of 33.7.

The Suns' second unit can undoubtedly improve, especially if the Suns want to get better and more complete as a team, but they are a solid group of role players and one of the main reasons why the Suns are still somewhat relevant this year.

Best Bench Player:  PF Markieff Morris

7. Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are one of those teams that just can't seem to put together four complete quarters of basketball. They aren't a bad team, but they aren't all the great either.

The one consistent thing the Jazz have, though, is solid production coming from their second unit, with guys like C.J. Miles, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors.  

Utah's second unit, led by those players, ranks fifth in the NBA in offensive production, with an average of 36.6 points per game. They are also the seventh-most efficient second unit in the NBA, with an efficiency rating of 38.6. What holds Utah's second unit back, though, is that they turn the ball over more than any other second unit in the NBA.

If Utah's bench can start to protect the ball and continue to produce offensively at the level they are at, there's no reason why the Jazz won't be able to make an appearance in the 2012 NBA playoffs.

Best Bench Player:  PF Derrick Favors

6. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2011-12 NBA season, turning themselves into a legitimate contender in a stacked Western Conference.

Aside from Kyle Lowry, the Rockets don't have any All-Star-caliber players on their roster, and that's what makes them so special. The production that they get out of their second unit has been carrying the team so far this season.

Houston's bench ranks seventh in offensive production, with an average of 35.2 points per game. When you combine that with their sixth-ranked efficiency rating of 40.1, you can understand why the Rockets' second unit is so good.

The Rockets are flying under the radar in the Western Conference, and with their impressive production off the bench, they're definitely a team to keep your eyes on.

Best Bench Player:  SF Chase Budinger

5. Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the most inconsistent teams in the NBA, teetering between being a good team and being one of the worst in the NBA.

In spite of their inconsistency, the Bucks have one of the most consistent and efficient second units in the NBA, which is somewhat surprising considering the talent they have coming off the bench.  

With guys like Drew Gooden, Tobias Harris and Shaun Livingston coming off the bench, the Bucks' second unit ranks fifth in efficiency with a 42.3 rating and sixth in offensive production with 35.7 points per game.  

The Bucks bench also ranks first overall in rebounds with an average of 18.9 rebounds per game.

With the fifth-ranked second unit in the NBA, the Bucks have the foundation for success, but they lack the experience they need to be a better-than-average team. Give them a few years and the Bucks will be a very dangerous team.

Best Bench Player:  PF Drew Gooden (He's started less games than he's come off the bench for) 

4. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are one of the most fundamentally sound teams in the entire NBA, and they just so happen to have one of the most productive second units as well.

The Spurs' second unit, led by rookie Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter, ranks fourth in overall offensive production with 37.3 points per game. While that's undoubtedly impressive, the fact that the Spurs also rank sixth in rebounds with 17.3 rebounds per game, while also ranking fourth in overall efficiency with a 43.4 rating, makes their second unit a pretty solid crew.

One of the main reasons why the Spurs are currently one of the NBA teams with 20-plus wins is because of the production they consistently get from their second unit.  When Manu Ginobili returns, their bench will only get that much more dangerous.  

Keep an eye out for the Spurs, and their solid second unit, come playoff time.

Best Bench Player:  C Tiago Splitter 

3. Dallas Mavericks

The reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks are doing a solid job of defending their crown, with 20-plus wins on the 2011-12 season so far.

One of the main reasons why the Mavericks won the 2011 NBA title, and are doing so well this year, is because they have one of the most solid second units in the NBA.  

Led by none other than Jason Terry, the Mavericks bench ranks second in offensive production with an average of 43.7 points per game. The Mavericks' second unit also does a solid job of moving the ball around, ranking third in assists with an average of 8.6 per game. 

The Dallas Mavericks are one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA, and it's mainly because their second unit is so strong. Just ask the Miami Heat how good Dallas' second unit is. They got a good taste of their dominance in the 2011 NBA finals.

Best Bench Player:  SG Jason Terry 

2. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets haven't been able to find ways to win games as of late, but before their recent losing streak, the Nuggets were one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference, mainly because of their bench's offensive production.

The Nuggets' second unit, led by Al Harrington, Kenneth Faried and Rudy Fernandez, is the most efficient in the entire NBA, with an efficiency rating of 49.7. 

The Nuggets bench isn't just efficient though, they also rank third in the NBA in overall offensive production, with an average of 42.7 points per game. Denver's bench, with guys like Chris Andersen and Al Harrington, also grabs boards with the best of them, ranking second overall with an average of 18.4 rebounds per game.

There's no doubt that the Nuggets' second unit is one of the best in the NBA, and if they keep playing at the level they are, the Nuggets could be a dangerous team come time for the playoffs.

Best Bench Player:  PF Al Harrington 

1. Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia's second unit is hands down the best second unit in the entire NBA, and their production off the bench is the main reason why the 76ers are such a dangerous team this year.

Not only does the 76ers bench rank first in overall offensive production with an impressive average of 44.0 points per game, they also average the least turnovers among all second units in the NBA by giving up only 3.6 turnovers per game.  

With guys like Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, Philadelphia ranks second in overall efficiency, with a 48.2 rating. The 76ers are one of the NBA teams that don't see much drop off in production when their starters leave the court, which is a major reason why Philadelphia is 20-11 overall on the year so far.

While the 76ers will undoubtedly need more production from their starting five to compete with teams like the Bulls and the Heat, there's no doubting that their second unit is the best of the best in all of the NBA.

Best Bench Player:  PG Lou Williams

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