Ranking the Most Entertaining Offenses in the NBA so Far
Defense might win championships, but offense drives TV ratings, ticket sales and NBA League Pass subscriptions.
For every diehard hoops head that lives to see a defensive struggle that results in a total of 150 points between both teams, there are dozens of fans who would rather take in a frantic race to 150.
The NBA, always one to unearth marketing gold, is aware of this fact. Offenses have been liberated by more restrictive rules on defenders. Three-point bombs have been dropped by the dozens. Lanes once filled by physically imposing intimidators have now become liftoff zones for the league's nightly aerial assaults.
Frankly, I couldn't be happier.
It's tough to watch any game for more than a few minutes without enjoying a wow moment provided at the offensive end. That could come by way of a ferocious finish, a dizzying dribble display, an in-the-gym long-range dagger or a passing sequence performed to perfection.
But which NBA teams send highlight reels spinning the fastest? Glad you asked. There are more than a few awe-inspiring offensive units pacing the early part of the 2013-14 NBA season.
*Unless otherwise specified, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
Honorable Mention
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With so many options and only five available slots in this ranking, I'd be remiss not to mention some of the near-misses from this list.
Some of these clubs still need some time to jell. A flurry of offseason activity has taken its toll on their cohesion, but once the chemistry has had proper time to develop, then these clubs could find their way inside of the top five.
Others may never hit that mark, but they deserve a spot here nevertheless.
Dallas Mavericks: It's familiarity with a welcome, unfamiliar twist. Dirk Nowitzki's still a scoring stud (18.3 points per game), while Monta Ellis has replaced volume with efficient scoring (22.5 points on 47.4 percent shooting). With the always reliable Jose Calderon (1.6 turnovers in 31.8 minutes) guiding the offense, the Mavericks can increase the tempo without ever losing control.
Houston Rockets: Remember when all salivated over the dynamic duo of James Harden and Dwight Howard? Well, Houston has bypassed the limits of a big three and attacked with a fantastic four. Harden, Howard, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons are all averaging better than 16 points a night. If Terrence Jones has found a home as a stretch 4, the Rockets could have the most electric offense at season's end.
New Orleans Pelicans: The panic meter may have reached an uncomfortable level for the 3-6 Pelicans, but the entertainment value hasn't suffered one bit. Anthony Davis is even better than advertised (21.8 points), Eric Gordon looks healthy (16.2 points, 31.1 minutes) and Anthony Morrow (60.0 percent three-point shooting) is leading the league's third-best perimeter attack. If Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans can get going, this offense can attack from all angles.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Regardless of supporting cast, it's tough to leave Kevin Durant and his 30.6 points a night outside of the top five. Luckily, that struggle won't last much longer. Russell Westbrook is still finding his rhythm (34.8 percent from the field), and neither Reggie Jackson (41.4) nor Jeremy Lamb (42.0) has yet provided a second-team spark. Once those dominoes drop, nets will be shredding at an alarming rate.
Phoenix Suns: Eric Bledsoe is ridiculous (21.1 points, 7.1 assists). What, you need more analysis than that? Fine then, how about Markieff Morris' bid for Most Improved Player (15.9 points, .600/.500/.818 shooting slash)? Or Gerald Green campaigning for spots in both the slam dunk and three-point contests (44.2 percent)? If you want a reason to purchase League Pass, you'll find several in the desert.
5. San Antonio Spurs
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Not a bad spot for the league's most boring team, I'd say.
If unflappable point guard play, three-point barrages and old-man post games aren't your thing, then I can see how the San Antonio Spurs might have drifted off your basketball radar.
For the conscious viewers, though, this team offers everything you could ask for and then some.
If not for Gregg Popovich's forward-thinking preservation plan, Tony Parker could make a serious run at the MVP award (18.1 points, 6.2 assists in 30.9 minutes a night). Forget about crashing the Big Three, Kawhi Leonard has emerged as an ultra-reliable No. 2 option (13.0 points on 53.8 percent shooting).
The Spurs, like always, boast an oversized arsenal on the perimeter with five different players shooting 40 percent or better from distance. When it's not overwhelming from outside, this team can do damage off the dribble or punish with its passing.
And things are only going to get better for this offense from here.
Slowed by an early chest injury, Tim Duncan has limped out of the gate (11.7 points, 38.6 percent shooting). Considering he entered 2013-14 having shot below 49 percent just once in his first 15 seasons, a bounce-back effort isn't likely; it's inevitable.
4. Golden State Warriors
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The Golden State Warriors have rarely graded out poorly in the entertainment department, but finally that flair is coupled with a solid standing in the wins column.
The NBA's sixth-most efficient offense (103.8 points per 100 possessions) still cashes most of its checks from beyond the arc, but this team can move the scoreboard from any spot on the floor.
Splash Brothers Stephen Curry (45.3 percent) and Klay Thompson (47.1) have registered on the Richter scale with their perimeter plunges. Andre Iguodala has led the infantry (58.1 percent from the field), while moonlighting as a sniper (46.9 percent from deep).
All five starters are willing, talented passers. This team's ball movement drops your jaw, and Curry's off-the-bus triples don't give you a chance to pick it up.
With Iguodala and the "Black Falcon" Harrison Barnes always threatening to take flight, this team has tremendous spacing on or above the floor.
Watching the Warriors when they're hitting on all cylinders feels like a privilege. There's style and substance, flash and function.
Still not convinced this offense is worth a watch? Go out and find a better passing frontcourt duo than David Lee and Andrew Bogut. I'll wait.
On second thought, that's going to take more time than we have here. Better just keep this list moving.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
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Between Kevin Love's full-court bullets and Ricky Rubio's nutmegs, what's there not to like about this Minnesota Timberwolves attack?
While everyone—your truly included—has been dissecting Love's future, I can only hope that hasn't limited the appreciation of his present.
The guy's been a great rebounder and scorer before, although never quite like this. But the addition, or at least expansion, of a passing game (5.1 assists per game) has been truly remarkable.
He's demanding extra defensive attention, then exploiting teams for bringing it. He's helped Kevin Martin hit everything in sight (.460/.558/.922). He's taken a career 41.8 percent shooter in Corey Brewer and molded him into an offensive machine (14.9 points on 50.0 percent shooting).
But Love is only part of Minnesota's magic.
Rubio is a miracle worker with the ball in his hands. He's creeping up the assists leaderboard (9.7 per game) and could conceivably hold the top spot for the next decade. And to think, this guy can't even shoot.
Throw a Superman villain under the basket (Nikola Pekovic) along with his 13.2 points a night, and you're left with an intoxicating offensive blend more than deserving of your attention.
2. Los Angeles Clippers
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Despite preseason death certificate issued by Blake Griffin, "Lob City" is surviving and thriving under new Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
The Clippers have two of the league's top four dunkers, DeAndre Jordan has 22 slams, Griffin has 17, via CBSSports.com, and the best point guard in the business (Chris Paul).
Giving that title to Paul is far from ground-breaking. It feels like he carried that title from Wake Forest with him when he joined the NBA ranks in 2005.
But here's what's really terrifying: This may be the best Paul we've ever seen. This is the third-best scoring season of his career (20.4), and his best season as a passer (12.8 assists) and foul shooter (league-leading 96.7 percent). And the career 35.3 percent three-point shooter has yet to find his touch from outside (21.9 percent).
Yet Paul's only part of the reason L.A. is sitting in this No. 2 spot.
L.A. has San Antonio's pesky penetrations, Golden State's barrage of triples and Minnesota's next-level passing all rolled into one. Not to mention the way "Sweet Georgia Brown" starts whistling through your head whenever this team gets out in the open floor.
Yet there's still one more offense that's (slightly) more worth your time.
1. Miami Heat
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Did you really expect a different ending? If you did, let me slip on my doctor's shoes and prescribe a serious dose of Miami Heat viewing.
LeBron James could start his own franchise as a one-man team—sometimes it looks like he has—and the "King" might still claim this throne.
Contrary to popular belief, though, James isn't the sole reason Miami has the league's most-efficient offense (111.7 points per 100 possessions). This team redefines the world unselfish with its league-leading 71.7 assist percentage.
Really, we should have all seen this coming. James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh sacrificed millions and risked their reputations for the chance to do something special together.
The trickle-down effect of that collective move has been staggering. There are no egos in the offense, no sets of eyes tracking the stat sheet.
Good shots aren't good enough. Passes, no matter how many are needed, turn those good looks into great ones.
But crisp passing only holds attention for so long among the casual fans. That's where Miami's high-flying theatrics and long-range daggers come into play.
Efficient and electric, this is the greatest show on earth. And it hasn't even featured major roles for Michael Beasley and Greg Oden just yet.
