Best Tandem Talent: The Top 7 NBA Duos Of The Future
The 2010-2011 NBA season has been highlighted by an infusion of young talent, draft picks panning out and the birth of several new stars.
Teams that underwent the laborious and painful rebuilding process are now seeing the fruits of their labors with Oklahoma City possessing an entire stable of young talent and the Los Angeles Clippers finally beginning to shed their terrible reputation of being a loser.
The 2010-2011 season has also been highlighted by older stars slowing down, from Tim Duncan to Brandon Roy.
It is clearer, now more than ever, who the top seven duos of the future NBA are.
7. Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls
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Combined Statistics: 44.3 points, 10.4 assists, 14.8 rebounds, 1.74 steals, 1.12 blocks.
Age: Rose-22 / Boozer-29
The Good:
This dynamic inside out duo has been just what the doctor ordered for the Chicago Bulls.
Carlos Boozer possesses the range and inside presence to keep defenses honest and prevent them from over helping on Derrick Rose, which in turn has allowed the 6'3'' point guard to have his best season yet.
Rose no longer sees the floor overloaded on his side and once again has the dependable second option to turn to after losing Ben Gordon.
Playing alongside Boozer has allowed Rose to bump up his assist numbers, from 6.0 to 8.1 per game and allowed Boozer to elevate his game as well, upping his scoring average to almost 20 PPG despite playing less minutes than previous years.
When they are on the court together, Chicago has won almost 60% of its games. According to82games.com, Boozer and Rose possess the first and second highest "simple rating" on the team at +7.2 and +7.1 respectively.
The next teammate who plays significant minutes, Luol Deng, comes in at +2.6, a clear testimony to just how good Rose and Boozer are.
The Bad:
Unfortunately, Boozer's age puts a damper on the potential of this duo. Undoubtedly, they will lead Chicago to great heights in the near future but age will taper off Boozer's production and Rose will need to find a different running mate.
The Verdict: Very promising and immediate future, but not long lasting as Boozer eventually exits his prime. MVP candidate Derrick Rose will step up,however, to keep this duo and the Bulls winning.
6. Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
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Combined Statistics: 31.3 points, 7.3 assists 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 1.13blocks
Age: Evans-21 / Cousins-20
The Good:
Although their production does not match up to the tandem of Rose and Boozer, Evans and Cousins have the slight edge simply due to their age. Evans has been hobbled by foot problems all year and Cousins has been through his own rookie ups and downs; although, their recent victory over the Lakers shows just how much potential these two have.
For evidence of their chemistry and ability to lead the Kings to victory, look no further than their January 2 game against the fifth seed in the Western Conference: New Orleans Hornets.
Cousins' passing ability and low post prowess was put on full display as he posted a 27-12-7 line. Evans complemented Cousins' efforts with a 18-6-2 foul-plagued performance.
When they are on the court together, Sacramento has won almost 55.5% of its games.
The Bad:
Their production at a young age indicates untapped potential, but maturity is always a concern. Sacramento does not have the most constant system, with coach Paul Westphal constantly tweaking the starting lineup.
Cousins is also known for his maturity issues and clashes with authority—one of the few reasons why the Kings may one day part ways with him.
Evan's foot and ankle problems have dampened his season and continue to be problematic. Also, his adjustment to playing alongside a bona fide low post presence should not be discounted.
The Verdict: Bright future with tons of potential, possibly derailed by growing pains, tumultuous franchise and injuries/incompatibility.
5. Michael Beasley and Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Combined Statistics: 41.9 points, 4.6 assists, 21.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.2 blocks.
Age: Beasley-22 / Love-22
The Good:
2008 draft mates Beasley (second pick) and Love (fifth pick) have both found their niche in frigid Minnesota, blossoming in their third seasons.
The trade of Al Jefferson cleared the way for Kevin Love to display the full scope of his game with a flurry of 20-20 performances, 30-20 performances, and even a 30-30 game.
Getting away from the distractions of Miami has helped Beasley as well, allowing him to finally show off his natural scoring ability that made him the second overall pick.
This duo has a very good inside-out system, with Love doing yeoman's work on the boards and Beasley taking on the role of go to guy and wing scorer.
When they are on the court together, Minnesota has won almost 75 percent of its games.
The Bad:
Minnesota has not won a lot of games and Beasley continues to be inconsistent. He is capable of having monster 40 point performances, but also equally capable of fading away.
Michael Beasley and Kevin Love do not so much play off each other as some duos do, but rather plays with each other.
Love usually receives the ball in the low post and probes. If he is unable to find a scoring opportunity and the shot clock is running down, he dumps the ball off to Beasley who creates his own shot.
The Verdict: This is only their first year playing together and first year they really "blossomed". Look for both to improve drastically, as a duo, and eventually learn to play off of each other and develop chemistry.
4. Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks
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Combined Statistics: 30.5 points, 7.2 assists, 15.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 3.1 blocks.
Age: Jennings-21 / Bogut-26
The Good:
Jennings and Bogut, healthy, make the Bucks a very tough team to beat, invigorating their fans and bringing back the "fear the dear."
Last season, they led the Bucks to a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and pushed the Atlanta Hawks to a seventh game despite playing the whole series without Bogut, who had broken his arm late in the season.
It is what they have already accomplished that earns them such a high spot on these rankings as no previous duo has even made the playoffs.
They are also one of the few duos who work very well off of each other, with Brandon Jennings taking the pressure off Bogut and allowing the Australian to play his game.
In the games where Jennings was out, Bogut was clearly struggling offensively.
When they are on the court together, Milwaukee has won a whopping 82.3 percent of its games.
The Bad:
Bogut is incredibly injury prone or incredibly unlucky, suffering minor injuries and freak injuries alike. He has played all season with a back injury, tweaked ankles, and a not yet fully healed broken arm.
Bogut has also struggled mightily from the free-throw line this year.
Jennings also missed significant time this season, despite playing all 82 games last year.
Ideally, Jennings would shoulder more of the offensive load to allow Bogut to focus more on rebounding and shot blocking.
The Verdict: The lack of time together has caused both players numbers to drop but there is no doubt that when both are healthy, the Milwaukee Bucks are a dangerous team to play.
3. Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
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Combined Statistics: 44.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 4.2 steals, 0.6 blocks.
Age: Curry-22 / Ellis-25
The Good:
In their second season together, these two quick guards have figured it out.
Monta Ellis has figured out how to play alongside Stephen Curry as well as how to be the number one option and lead an NBA team to victory.
He has put together an All-Star season.
Curry has kept his hot streak rolling through the summer, elevating his game and raising his numbers, despite struggling with ankle injuries all year.
There may not be a single duo in the league quicker than Golden State's one-two wing punch as Curry and Ellis lead the Warriors in 82games' Simple Rating—possessing two of the only three positive rankings on the team.
Both are also incredibly adapt at picking pockets and reading passing lanes, as evidenced by their 4.2 combined steals per game.
The scariest part is that neither of them is even close to their prime.
In lineups featuring both, the Warriors have won 80 percent of their games.
The Bad:
Playing in an uptempo, up and down the court style, places incredible strain on the body and it is showing. Monta Ellis plays heavy minutes almost every game and shows fatigue every once in a while.
Curry and Ellis both possess similar games—it is hard to predict how long their partnership will hold up.
Curry also has been battling the injury bug, spraining his ankle several times this year and missing games due to ankle pain.
It also seems like Golden State lacks pieces to really put this duo on the main stage and make the playoffs again.
The Verdict: Although a new and uneasy partnership, the results don't lie. Both are thriving in the system and have figured out how to play alongside each other. In a few years, as both begin to hit their primes...
NBA, watch out.
2. Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
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Combined Statistics: 46.9 points, 15.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists 1.9 steals, 0.9 blocks
Age: Gordon-22 / Griffin-21
The Good:
This is the youngest duo on the list. And arguably, the most frightening.
Rookie Blake Griffin has taken the league by storm, flying through the air and dunking on people's heads.
Third year player Eric Gordon has provided the outside threat, raining in three pointers and hitting an array of jumpers.
Together, they have made the Clippers the biggest surprise this season.
This has been Gordon's breakout season as he has evolved into a bona fide scorer, elevating his scoring average from 16.9 PPG last season to 24.1 PPG this season.
Gordon has not become a one dimensional scorer, however. Every single one of his stats has gone up.
Griffin, despite being a rookie, has a chance to be in three events at All Star Weekend: The Dunk Contest, the Rookie Sophomore game, and the main event itself, the All-Star Game.
He has quickly proven that he can be a cornerstone for the Clippers, leading them to victory even when Gordon has been out with a wrist injury.
Gordon and Griffin lead the team in Simple Rating, at +8.2 and +8.0 respectively. In lineups featuring both, the Clippers have won 83.3% of their games.
The Bad:
Virtually nothing, although Griffin's high flying style is a cause for injury concern.
The Verdict: Already tough to stop at a young age, time will only benefit Gordon and Griffin's games. This duo will likely have many epic battles with the number one tandem on the list..
1. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Combined Statistics: 51.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 3.0 steals, 1.4 blocks
Age: Westbrook-22 / Durant-22
The Good:
This is the second youngest duo on the list.
And the only one that has two likely All Stars, one of whom is a MVP candidate.
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have taken turns giving the opponent fits.
With Westbrook slicing through the defense and racking up the assists, Durant has been able to focus on scoring—evidenced leading the league in that department.
Westbrook has also exploded this season, increasing his averages in every category, especially scoring which has gone up by 6 points.
Either guy could go off and light up the opponent for 30+ points and 10+ in rebounds or assists, making opponent teams pick their poison.
That they've been able to accomplish so much in so little time just makes this tandem even more frightening with quick penetration, outside scoring,court vision, and a go-to crunch time scorer for tricky situations.
Westbrook and Durant lead the team in Simple Rating, and Durant has the top Simple Rating out of any young stud on this list at +9.4. In lineups featuring both, the Thunder have won 77.7 percent of their games.
The Bad:
Almost nothing as well, although Westbrook's three point shooting is definitely a point of improvement. Defenses are also now solely geared towards stopping these two or making one of the two beat them.
The Thunder need a consistent third option to find more team success.
The Verdict: The duo of accomplished All Stars tops my list of fearsome tandems to watch out for.
With such a litany of talent, Oklahoma City looks like it has a lot of winning ahead.
