Ranking the NBA's 5 Best Duos
One of the NBA's hottest debates going on is: Which duo is the best in the league right now?
It could be Oklahoma City's dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Or, it could be the Batman/Robin duo of the Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Or, it could be that other pair in Los Angeles, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum.
Want an underrated duo? How about the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose and Luol Deng.
Maybe the best duo in the NBA both reside in South Beach, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Here is a look at the Top Five dynamic duos in the National Basketball Association.
Enjoy!
5. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng: Chicago Bulls
1 of 5Chicago Bulls' fans will always hold a special place for Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
The duo was responsible for the Bulls' six NBA championships and they provided the league with an enormous history of video highlights that will stand the test of time.
However, the current Chicago tandem of guard Derrick Rose and forward Luol Deng may have already supplanted the former 1970s duo of Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier. Rose and Deng have been together now since Rose entered the league in 2008.
Together, they are averaging 37.7 points and 11 assists per contest. Those stats are one reason why the Bulls are 27-8 and battling the Miami Heat for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Former All-Star Carlos Boozer was destined to be the second go-to-guy in Chicago, but so far, Deng has been the most impressive.
4. Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum: Los Angeles Lakers
2 of 5There is a new duo in Lakerland.
For several seasons the Los Angeles Lakers mega-superstar Kobe Bryant and Paul Gasol terrorized the NBA. After Gasol came to the Lakers in a trade during the 2008 season, it wasn't long before Bryant and Gasol led the Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
Bryant (with his league-leading 28.5 PPG) is still the main man for the Lakers, but his tag-team partner has changed. His deputy sidekick is now center Andrew Bynum.
Gasol has been the target of trade rumors and although the seven-footer is averaging a decent 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds a game, his play has been up and down. Meanwhile, Bynum has stepped his game up. After serving a four-game suspension to begin the season, Bynum has been playing like a man possessed.
The 7'0" big man is averaging career-highs in both points (16.3) and rebounds (12.8); his rebounding average currently ranks third in the NBA.
It remains to be seen if Gasol gets traded, but Bynum has replaced Gasol as Bryant's new sidekick. The new duo are averaging a combined 44.8 points.
3. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul: Los Angeles Clippers
3 of 5The other Los Angeles star duo, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, has turned the Los Angeles Clippers into the "Lob Angeles" Clippers.
The moniker nickname "Lob Angeles" fits Griffin and Paul very well. With Paul running the point and Griffin filling the lanes, this dynamic duo is becoming must-see television. Whenever the Clippers play, you do not want to miss ESPN, NBATV or any other visual media outlet, because the Paul-to-Griffin lobs for dunks are a thing to be seen.
Paul and Griffin have provided some of the most breathtaking highlights of the season. Paul, who came to the Clippers via free agency before the season, has teamed up with last year's Rookie of the Year winner and the two have propelled the Clippers atop the Pacific Division, one game in front of their city rival (Lakers).
The two are averaging 40.6 points combined a game and have become one of the NBA's best tandems. Without a doubt, they are the most entertaining duo. The only other league duo that comes close to comparison is the one in South Beach, Florida.
2. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook: Oklahoma City Thunder
4 of 5If you don't think the Oklahoma City Thunder's duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are having fun this season, think again.
The proof: February 19th, 2012.
On this date, Durant and Westbrook both etched their names in the record books. At home against the Denver Nuggets, Durant and Westbrook erupted for 91 points in a 124-118 win over the Nuggets. Durant scored a career-best 51 points, while Westbrook added 40.
Out of the 10 games that were played on that Sunday, Durant and Westbrook's 91 points combined were more than seven teams who played that day: L.A. Lakers (90), Boston (81), Charlotte (73), New Jersey (85), Orlando (78), Miami (90) and Utah (85). Philadelphia scored 91 in a one-point loss to Minnesota to tie the two-man wrecking crew.
Durant (27.7) and Westbrook (23.6) are currently the NBA's top-scoring duo (51.3 PPG). Together, they have led the Thunder to a 26-7 mark, which ties the Miami Heat for the league's best record.
Both are arguably the best young duo in the league and are only surpassed by the tandem that they share the best record with: Miami's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
1. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat
5 of 5Are you surprised about who was No. 1?
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is without a doubt, the best duo in the National Basketball Association.
James and Wade are second in scoring (51.3) only to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City. In their second year together, James and Wade have teamed up to lead the Heat atop the NBA—along with the Thunder.
When they are playing great, there is no other duo in league history that provides more breathtaking highlights than James and Wade, although Chris Paul and Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers can match them highlight for highlight.
James signed with the Heat last offseason to help Wade win another title. Although they came up short in the finals last season to the Dallas Mavericks (4-2), Miami is the odds-on-favorite to win the NBA title this year.
