NBA Power Rankings: Each Team's Big Three

Recently in the NBA, there seems to be a new movement amongst players, owners, and GM's.

The movement is stars, or sometimes superstars, joining forces to create a super team that would hypothetically contend for championships together for a number of years. Instead of each player being the individual star of an average or mediocre team, they would band together and try to win championships.

The most famous example is the Miami Heat, who acquired superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join forces with Dwyane Wade in Miami in the summer of 2010. 

But not all teams have the resources to acquire a big three with as much talent as the Heat did. Some may not even have any All Stars, but the question is, how do each team's "big three" (the three best players) stack up against one another. 

Obviously, a team's top three players determine how successful a team is (just ask Chicago or on the other side of things, New York). Here are my rankings of each NBA team's big three, No. one through 30. 

Note: I will be using players on the team's active roster. If a player is injured, right now, but is expected to be back before the end of the regular season, he is eligible (e.g. Eric Gordon). However, if an injured player is not expected to play anymore this season (e.g. Jeremy Lin), I will not use him for these rankings. 

30. Charlotte Bobcats

Big Three

Corey Maggette, Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson

It comes as no surprise that the NBA's worst team also has the worst big three, if you can even call it that. Maggette, a career journeymen leads the team in scoring with over 15 points per game, while Walker and Henderson are young players just beginning to hit their strides in the NBA.

However, none of them should be relied on to be the key players on a team, but that is the situation in Charlotte, which has led to a 7-45 record on the season.

29. Toronto Raptors

Big Three

Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon

Since Chris Bosh left for Miami, Toronto Raptors fans have had little to be excited about, and that continued this season as the team is nearly 20 games under .500

While Bargnani has proven to be an effective scorer, he hasn't provided the lift to the franchise expected of him since being drafted No. one overall. DeRozan is a good young talent, but is still inconsistent. Calderon may not be in the top three on the team in scoring, but he is one of the best assist men in the league today.

Again, while these three are all good players, they are role players at best and emphasize the overall lack of talent on the Raptors. 

28. Cleveland Cavaliers

Big Three

Kyrie Irving, Antwan Jamison and Anderson Varejao

Make no mistake, Kyrie Irving is an absolute stud, and it is a testament to him that the Cavs have been able to be in the playoff mix at all this season. Still, he is a rookie just learning the NBA game, and the talent around him makes Cleveland rank low on this list.

Jamison is still scoring at a high pace, which is impressive for a player of his age (35). However, his scoring is really more of a necessity on this team, which lacks scoring talent, leading Jamison to take more shots then he probably should. 

Varejao is a quality big man who works hard down low, but he shouldn't be in any team's top three players. 

If Cleveland can add another scorer to aid Irving in the offseason, its place in these rankings, as well as in the real-life standings, will move up. 

27. Washington Wizards

Big Three

John Wall, Jordan Crawford and Nene

While John Wall enjoyed watching his alma mater Kentucky cut down the nets after Monday's NCAA Championship game, it could be a long time before he gets anywhere close to a championship of his own in the NBA.

Wall has had a semi-disappointing career since being drafted No. one overall, but he is still the best player on a Wizards team that has not come together at all like many hoped they would this season. 

Jordan Crawford is a shoot-first 2-guard who has shown the ability to score in the league but not do much else, and Nene was a good pickup at center, but won't be a huge difference-maker for this team.

None of the three All Stars, and the team has been hurt by the lack of development of its young players such as Andray Blatche, Chris Singleton, and Jan Vessly. 

26. Detroit Pistons

Big Three

Rodney Stuckey, Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight 

The Pistons' crowded backcourt has not translated into wins, despite the individual talent they possess. 

Stuckey leads the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game and also gets over four assists per game. However, he is being forced to split time with the Pistons' other point guard, Brandon Knight, the rookie out of Kentucky whose 12.6 points per game seem to have him headed to the All-Rookie team.

The real star of the Pistons may be former Georgetown star Greg Monroe, who has emerged as the best player, even above veterans such as Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon.

Monroe averages nearly 16 points and is .2 rebounds away from averaging a double-double. If Detroit can find a way to clear up some cap and get rid of Stuckey and Gordon's shots from the offense to free more up for Knight and Monroe, they could be a good team down the road. 

25. Golden State Warriors

Big Three

David Lee, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson

Expectations were high for the Golden State Warriors this season that they would make a push towards the playoffs under first-year coach Mark Jackson.

However, things have not gone that way as the team sits just 21-32 on the year. They also traded away their top scorer, Monta Ellis, to the Bucks, which hurt them in these rankings.

Instead of Ellis teaming with Steph Curry and David Lee, the No. three player on the Warriors is either rookie Klay Thompson, backup Nate Robinson or veteran Richard Jefferson.

Lee and Curry are no slouches, but Lee's best days of his career were when he was playing in New York, and he hasn't quite put up the same numbers for multiple reasons since going to Golden State. 

Curry's stats are considerably down from his first two seasons as a pro, but he is still capable of going off on any day. Thompson beats out the other two for the final spot here by producing a solid rookie season and averaging over double figures. 

24. New Orleans Hornets

Big Three

Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, and Jarrett Jack

With Eric Gordon coming back after playing just two games this season, it dramatically improves the Hornets' chances in these rankings despite having the worst record in the Western Conference 

Gordon is a dynamic, young scorer who was traded to New Orleans as part of the Chris Paul trade. Alongside him was Chris Kaman, who is one of the more underrated centers in the league. 

Finally, this trio is rounded up with the emotional leader of the Hornets, Jarrett Jack.

While Kaman is a former All Star and Jack is having a great season, these three still don't make much of a splash in the grand scheme of things as stars (with the possible exception of Gordon) and are better suited as role players on a playoff-level team. 

23. Minnesota Timberwolves

Big Three

Kevin Love, Nikola Pekovic and Luke Ridnour 

The T'Wolves had a real good thing going with the one-two combo of Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio early on in the season. Rubio was proving all of the doubters wrong with his excellent passing skills, and it kept them in the playoff hunt for the first half of the season.

However, when Rubio went down with a season-ending injury it ended their playoff hopes and dropped them down on this list. In his place is Luke Ridnour, who in his defense is having one of his better seasons as a pro, but still has never been more than an average point guard in the NBA.

Also joining them is Nikola Pekovic, who is having his breakthrough season as a pro, averaging over 13 points and seven rebounds per game. 

Still, those two are nothing particularly special, and Love's fantastic season is the only one keeping this team as high as they are.

22. Phoenix Suns

Big Three

Steve Nash, Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley

While 23 may seem low for a .500 team contending for a playoff spot, when you look at Phoenix's top three players, 23 may even be a stretch. 

While Nash is still doing work as one of the league's best point guards, Marcin Gortat was a backup for most of his career, and Jared Dudley was nothing more than a three-point shooter and specialty defender until this year. Although both are having terrific years, they have not proven yet that they can be long-term, top-level players. 

The Suns succeed based off of their balance and Nash's ability to get everyone involved, which hurts them in a ranking like this. 

If they lose Nash next season, they would see themselves drop a lot lower. 

21. Utah Jazz

Big Three

Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Devin Harris

Another playoff-contending team that finds itself low on this list is the Utah Jazz, who currently sit just 1.5 games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

However, it can be argued that they have overachieved this season, especially when you look at their big three. 

Jefferson is one of the more underrated big men in the league and never gets the respect he deserves. Millsap has really developed nicely each season and is a great rebounder, and Devin Harris is a former all star.

Although Harris is being outscored by Gordon Hayward, he is the better overall player. Although the Jazz's big three may not be among the best in the league, the one-two combo of Jefferson and Millsap is one of the top big-man duos.

20. Portland Trail Blazers

Big Three

LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Jamal Crawford

LaMarcus Aldridge continues to be one of the best players in the NBA that no one's talking about, but unfortunately for him, it has not led to as many wins as he might have expected in Portland this season.

The Blazers were expected to contend for a top playoff spot in the West, but instead they find themselves under .500 on the season and four games out of a playoff spot.

Joining Aldridge are Wesley Matthews and Jamal Crawford, who both have shown the ability to score in bunches throughout their careers, but have never really broken out consistently.

19. Sacramento Kings

Big Three

Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins and Marcus Thornton

Although the Kings may not be doing too hot in the standings, their "big three" is actually pretty good.

Evans is a former Rookie of the Year, Thornton is averaging nearly 19 points per game, and if Cousins can ever get his maturity issues sorted out, he has all the potential to be one of the league's best big men.

If Sacramento can find the right pieces to build around these three moving forward, they could be in the playoff hunt.

18. Philadelphia 76ers

Big Three

Lou Williams, Andre Igoudala and Jrue Holiday

The Sixers are another team that relies on balance and getting contributions from several different players, which hurts them in this format. However, they still manage to win games despite not having a stand out top-three players.

Igoudala is extremely talented, and knowing his pedigree, it's hard to believe he only averages 12.1 points per game. In fact, it's actually Williams, who doesn't even start for Philly, who leads the team in scoring. 

Holiday is close behind and leads the team in assists. 

17. New Jersey Nets

Big Three

Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries

Another team underachieving in the standings based on the prowess of their big three is the Nets, who come in at No. 17 on this list.

That is in large part due to their All Star point guard Deron Williams, who continues to show why he is in the discussion for the best PG in the NBA. If he decides not to stay in New Jersey, whichever team can land him this offseason will propel itself way up the ladder in the title picture.

He is joined by recent addition Gerald Wallace and ex Mr. Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries. Wallace is a really good pickup for the Nets, although it may be too little, too late this year. Still, he provides great energy and the ability to score when needed.

Humphries, despite having been voted the most hated player in the entire NBA before the year began, is actually putting up some great numbers scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 boards per game.

16. Houston Rockets

Big Three

Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin and Luis Scola 

The Rockets lack any superstars, but they have three very solid NBA players representing them on this list.

Despite battling injuries, Lowry is having his best season yet as a pro, averaging over 16 points and seven assists.

Kevin Martin can just flat out score, and although he isn't doing it quite as much as he did in his days in Sacramento, he still leads the team.

Finally, Luis Scola is a guy any team would want to have as he consistently puts up high scoring and rebounding numbers.

It will be interesting to see how a team like the Rockets fares against Oklahoma City or San Antonio if it should make it into the playoffs. 

15. Atlanta Hawks

Big Three

Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague

If All-Star Center Al Horford was healthy, this Atlanta team could have seen themselves sneak up into the top 10 of these rankings, but instead they drop down to the No. 15 spot.

The one-two combo of Johnson and Smith still strikes fear in opponents. Johnson, known as the "quietest superstar in the NBA," continues to put up great numbers year after year, and Smith may be the most athletically gifted player in the league and is really coming into his own offensively.

Teague is emerging as the team's point guard and is having a pretty sold first season as the starter.

Still this particular group of players has never proven it can break through and beat the top teams of the East in the postseason. Will this be the year? Unless Horford comes back at 100 percent, it is safe to say "no."

14. Indiana Pacers

Big Three

Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert and David West

Don't look now, but the No. three team in the Eastern Conference in none other then the Indiana Pacers. Indiana is ahead of both Orlando and Boston right now, which few expected coming into the season, and it can thank these three for a large portion of its success.

Granger is finally getting a good team around him to show what damage he can do; he will be the key if they are going to have success come playoff time.

Hibbert is developing into one of the East's best centers, and West, who beat out Paul George for the third spot in large part due to his pedigree, has playoff experience that will help this team.

13. Denver Nuggets

Big Three

Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari and Al Harrington

It was nearly impossible for the Nuggets to get equal trade value when they dealt away Carmelo Anthony, but they came about as close as they were going to get by getting back Danilo Galinari, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov (as well as Raymond Felton, who is no longer with the Nuggets). 

Gallinari was coming into his own in New York and, when healthy, is showing his potential in Denver as well, averaging over 15 points per game.

Chandler has an opportunity to join his former Knick teammate on this list as well in the future, but he has played only seven games this season.

Instead, joining Danilo are dynamic point guard Ty Lawson, who leads the team in scoring, assists and steals despite being one of the league's shorter players. Al Harrington is having another good season, scoring over 14 points per game for the balanced Nuggets attack.

12. Milwaukee Bucks

Big Three

Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings and Drew Gooden

Who knew Drew still had it in him? The 12-year veteran is scoring 14 points per game for the playoff-hungry Bucks this season, but it is his two teammates that get Milwaukee such a high placement on this list.

It can be argued that no one in the Eastern Conference has a more dynamic scoring backcourt than the Bucks (remember, LeBron James does not play PG or SG), who throw Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings at opponents after getting Ellis in a trade with Golden State midseason.

The shoot-first guards are both scoring at a rampant pace, but still the team sits 1.5 games out of the playoffs. Still, if they can manage to get in, I don't think that Chicago or Miami would be thrilled to have to contend with the Bucks' scoring threats in what was supposed to be an easy first-round series. 

11. Orlando Magic

Big Three

Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson

Whether or not Orlando can hold on to Dwight Howard this offseason will assuredly be one of the league's top questions, but for now he still wears a Magic uniform, and he propels them to nearly a top-10 spot in the best big threes in the NBA.

Joining Superman is Jameer Nelson, the Magic's long time point guard who scores 11 points per contest and dishes out six assists.

Finally, Ryan Anderson, the surprise of the season who may be the favorite for the NBA's Most Improved Player. Anderson scores 16 points per game and grabs seven rebounds for the Magic despite never having been more then a bench player up until this season.

10. Dallas Mavericks

Big Three

Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion

The defending champions kick off the top 10 of the NBA's best big threes.

Led by these three, Dallas ran through the playoffs last season en route to its first ever NBA Championship.

The Mavs may not be performing at the level many expected them to this year, but they're still right in the thick of the playoff mix, and it's likely no top-four team will want to meet them in the playoffs.

Nowitzki has picked up his play after struggling in the first half of the season, while Terry continues to be one of the leagues most consistent sixth men and a great Robin to Dirk's Batman. 

The Mavs likely wished that Lamar Odom would be the third member of this big three, but he has been dreadful in his first season in Dallas, so instead it goes to the Matrix, Shawn Marion, who continues to produce at a high level at age 33. 

9. New York Knicks

Big Three

Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler

The Knicks may only be on the fringe of the postseason, but it's hard to argue that they have one of the best big threes in the NBA.

Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire's accolades speak for themselves, and since coming to New York last season, they have made up one of the league's most dynamic duos.

Unfortunately for Knicks fans, a combination of injuries and lackluster play have made their tenure a disappointment thus far. They were swept out of the playoffs by Boston last yearand are only eighth in the East this year, but they still have great talent.

Joining the two All Stars is Tyson Chandler, who was instrumental in leading the Mavs to an NBA title last season. Chandler is a solid player who nearly averages a double-double, but the Knicks likely would have been higher on this list if breakout PG Jeremy Lin had not suffered a season-ending injury last week. 

8. Chicago Bulls

Big Three

Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer

The Bulls have the best record in the Eastern Conference, but they rely heavily on the play of their defense, as well as the play-making ability of Derrick Rose, which is why they only come in at No. eight in the list of the NBA's best big threes.

Still there is no denying this trio is talented. They are led by Rose, last year's MVP, who has been plagued with injury problems this season but has managed to average 23 points and eight assists in his 34 games.

Deng made the All Star team for the first time this season, which was well-deserved. He averages over 15 points per game and has shown the ability to be the leader in the absence of Rose, while Boozer has been a great scorer his entire career. 

What plagued the Bulls in the postseason last year was that at times Rose was the only player on offense who seemed to be a consistent threat. If they want to win a championship this year, they will need Deng and Boozer, as well as guys like CJ Watson and Rip Hamilton, to help take the pressure off of Rose. 

7. Memphis Grizzlies

Big Three

Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph

The Grizzlies are the team no one wants to play in the playoffs, and it is in large part due to the great play of its big three, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

Even without Gay in the lineup, Memphis beat the top-seeded Spurs in last year's playoffs and took Oklahoma City to seven games in the second round.

This year, they seem to be even better, currently sitting in the fifth spot in the West. Gay is quietly one of the best players in the Western Conference, averaging over 18 points per game.

Gasol may have surpassed his brother, as Marc made the all-star team for the first time this season. But it was Randolph, the much-troubled, but always-talented vet, who really led the team in the playoffs last season, even getting to the point where some, like Kevin Durant, called him the best power forward in the game. 

6. San Antonio Spurs

Big Three

Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan 

Despite their age, San Antonio's big three continues to play great basketball. The Spurs sit just one game out of the Western Conference lead from Oklahoma City.

Parker, Ginobili and Duncan is the same core group that led the Spurs to three championships over the last ten years, and they are going after a fourth in 2012. 

It is now Parker (the youngest) who has taken charge as the leader as Duncan and Ginobili enter the twilights of their NBA careers. Still this trio and head coach Gregg Poppovich are out to prove they can still contend after their playoff disaster against the Grizzlies last season. 

5. Boston Celtics

Big Three

Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett

The Celtics are another aging team that is trying to prove it still has what it takes to win another NBA Championship.

After a slow start to the year, the Celtics are right back in the mix for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference after taking the lead of the Atlantic Division from Philadelphia.

While the Celts may not be a better team overall than Chicago, or arguably Indiana and Orlando, the Celtics still in my mind have the second-best big three combination in the East.

Rondo is a triple-double machine who has taken over a big three spot on this team in recent years, while Pierce and Garnett continue to produce solid stats despite being up there in age. Not to mention, this team has future Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen as its fourth-best player. 

Who knows if the Celts will stay together after this season, but for now they land in the top five on this list. 

4. Los Angeles Clippers

Big Three

Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Nick Young

The Clippers made the biggest splash of any team this offseason by acquiring Chris Paul to play along side Blake Griffin in L.A. The team had a crazy amount of hype leading up to the season, and for the most part they have not disappointed.

They currently sit at 32-22, good enough for fourth in the West. Paul and Griffin are, as expected, putting up great numbers together. Combined, they average nearly 40 points per game. Paul gets nine dimes per contest, and Griffin grabs 11 rebounds as well as five top plays a night...or at least that's how it seems.

Joining them in the big three is recently acquired Nick Young, who has shown the capability of being a dynamic scorer in the league from his time in Washington. 

The Clippers would likely not have needed Young's scoring if Chauncey Billups hadn't gone down early in the season with an injury. 

3. Los Angeles Lakers

Big Three

Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum

They may have their fare share of controversy, but there is no denying the talent amongst the top-three players on the Los Angeles Lakers.

This group has won two championships together, and even though the team has seen changes (losing Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson), it still sits third in the West and will be a dangerous team come playoff time.

The world already knows about Bryant's greatness. Bynum has immense talent but needs to mature, and Gasol is among the best big men in the game when he is mentally focused.  

We'll see if Mike Brown can get his team right for the playoffs, and if the role players can contribute enough for the Lakers to make the NBA finals, but there is no doubt the Lakers' big three are at a championship level. 

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Big Three

Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden

The Oklahoma City Thunder have taken their place as the new kings of the Western Conference, at least for now.

Leading the way is a pair of All Stars and one of the league's most versatile 2-guards. 

Kevin Durant is my vote for league MVP after what he has been able to do for the Thunder this season, averaging 27.6 points per game and leading them to the top spot in the Western Conference (although the Spurs are hot on their heels). Westbrook is not far behind, averaging 24.4 per contest, and if the two play on the same page they will be hard to stop.

James Harden joins them as the third member of the league's second-best big three. The former Arizona State star comes off the bench to provide a huge spark by scoring nearly 17 per game, while being one of the most crafty players in the entire NBA.

The best news for OKC fans is that at their young age, if the Thunder can manage to keep all three of them, they could become the NBA's next dynasty. 

1. Miami Heat

Big Three

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh

Was there really any doubt who would be No. one in these rankings? When LeBron James and Chris Bosh announced they would be joining Dwyane Wade in Miami in 2010, it sent shockwaves through the NBA, creating the leagues most prominent super-team in history.

The trio of All Stars has racked up plenty of wins since joining forces but were unable to capture the NBA Championship in their first year together. 

James and Wade have shown little trouble playing together, and although everyone seems to have an opinion on who is the better player, the two both get their share on the offensive end, while Bosh chips in as the league's best third option.

The Heat are polarizing, and it will be fascinating to see if they can take the first step to getting the seven NBA Championships they promised, or if they will fail in the playoffs, like they did last season against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.