Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks: Ranking the NBA's Top 20 Scoring Combinations
It's finally over. Carmelo Anthony is heading to New York, ready to team up with Amar'e Stoudemire at Madison Square Garden to make one of the most powerful scoring combinations in the NBA.
But where do they stack up against the other one-two scoring punches in the league? They have a formidable inside-out presence that is rare in the NBA. There are other teams that boast two potent wing players.
Here are the top 20 scoring combinations in the NBA. Do 'Melo and STAT make the top five?
20. Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins
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Whether the Kings stay in Sacramento or end up shipping out to Anaheim, they'll have one the most promising combinations in the NBA.
Tyreke Evans gets into the lane whenever he wants to. Cousins is a budding center, averaging 14 points per game in his rookie year.
Evans is 21 years old, and Cousins is 20 years old. If the Kings can keep these two together and put some more talent around them, they could have great things in their future.
19. Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala
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Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala have the 76ers climbing the ladder in the Eastern Conference. By going 6-4 in its last 10, Philadelphia is nearing .500 basketball.
Iguodala is the team's best player, but Brand is leading the team in scoring. His game isn't what it was with the Los Angeles Clippers, but he's still good for 15 points almost every night.
18. Charlotte Bobcats: Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace
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Stephen Jackson takes advantage of being one of the tallest shooting guards in the NBA at 6'8". He has a well-rounded game but is at his best when he's finding ways to score other than hoisting three-pointers.
Gerald Wallace scores 15.5 points per game. He's not a big time scorer, having not scored 30 points in a game this season, but he's consistent.
Neither of these players should be a No. 1 on an competitive NBA team. Having them as the first and second options has Charlotte in fourth place in the Southeast.
17. Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson and Josh Smith
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If Atlanta is ever going to truly challenge in the Eastern Conference, it's going to need to upgrade its top scorer. Joe Johnson is not deserving of his max contract. It doesn't mean that he's not a great scorer, but he is getting paid too much.
Josh Smith is one of the most exciting athletes in the NBA. He was Blake Griffin before Blake Griffin was. Smith is shooting a career-high 34.8 percent from three-point range while attempting more than two threes per game.
16. Portland Trailblazers: LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews
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If Brandon Roy were healthy, he and LaMarcus Aldridge would be higher on this list. But Portland isn't so lucky.
With Roy out, Aldridge has kept the Trailblazers afloat, averaging 29.1 points per game in February. His season average is 22.3 points per game.
Wesley Matthews carved out a niche for himself on defense in Utah and earned a big pay raise in free agency. He's shooting 39.6 percent from three and is averaging 16.5 points in an increased role with Roy out.
15. Houston Rockets: Kevin Martin and Luis Scola
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Kevin Martin is just as dangerous pulling up for a three as he is putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim. He's leading the Rockets in scoring at 23 points per game despite playing only 31.3 minutes per game. How much could he score if he were getting 40 minutes per game?
Luis Scola has played admirably this season with little help in the post. Yao Ming's missed season has crippled Houston. Still, Scola is scoring 19.2 points per game.
14. Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay
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On any given night, Zach Randolph can switch into beast mode and drop 30 points and grab 15 rebounds. He's one of the most potent big men in the NBA when he wants to be.
Rudy Gay is blossoming in his fifth season. His scoring has always been solid, but he's doing it more efficiently than ever. Both his free throw percentage (80.5) and three-point percentage (39.6) are at career highs.
13. Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson
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Dwight Howard has turned himself into a skilled offensive weapon with diligent work in the offseason. He no longer relies only on superior strength and athleticism. His mid-range jump shot and post moves are much improved.
Jameer Nelson has seen better scoring days. But he is averaging a career-high 6.3 assists per game. He has a lot to do with how the Magic offense goes. When he gets hot from outside, he can drop a bunch of points on an opponent in a hurry.
12. Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry
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How nice is it to be Dirk Nowitzki? At 7'0", he's got the size advantage on most of his power forward counterparts. He stays 10-14 feet from the basket, lifts slightly backward and rains mid-range jump shots like they're layups. How do you defend that?
Nowitzki wishes he had Caron Butler to help him out, but Butler is saddled with an injury. Meanwhile, Jason Terry has put together one of the best Sixth Man of the Year resumes in the league. He's averaging 15.9 points per game.
11. Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin
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Do the Clippers finally have a chance to challenge for a Pacific crown? They've drafted well, getting Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin and could do that next season with more development.
Gordon has upped his scoring average more than seven points per game in his third season, now scoring 24.1 points per game. He's turning into a dominant offensive player.
Griffin needs to take the offense to begin extending his game further and further from the basket. Some teams have been able to shut him down by keeping him away from the rim.
10. Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry
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The only thing that Monta Ellis does more than shoot the ball is get tattoos. He's completely covered now after entering the league with no visible body art just five years ago.
He's becoming more and more comparable to Allen Iverson as one of the highest impact players per pound in the NBA. At 6'3" and 185 pounds, scoring 25.3 points per game is no small feat.
Stephen Curry has proven NBA scouts right by developing into a solid point guard. He's averaging 18.4 points per game and shoots 41.5 percent from long range.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker
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How did Tony Parker screw up with Eva Longoria? The Spurs are thankful that the effects of the couple's divorce hasn't spilled over to the court. Parker is a flash in the lane away from two points seemingly whenever he wants it.
Manu Ginobili is thriving in his new role as a starter. His 17.9 points per game is his highest average since 2007-08 season. The duo of Parker and Ginobili has San Antonio off to a 46-10 start.
8. Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce and Ray Allen
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Paul Pierce always has quiet games. But those quiet games always end in stuffed stat sheets. His 18.8 points per game are leading the Celtics' balance attack.
Ray Allen still has the prettiest jump shot in the game. It's so fast and consistent that it is unstoppable.
The duo works well together. Aside from Rajon Rondo, Pierce is the best Celtic at getting the ball to Allen running past all those screens that Boston sets for him.
7. Utah Jazz: Deron Williams and Al Jefferson
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Carlos Boozer who? Al Jefferson has teamed with Deron Williams to make one of the best inside-out tandems in the NBA. The duo runs the pick and roll to near perfection.
Jefferson won't wow the crowds with monster slam dunks often, but he has tremendous body control and finesse around the rim.
Williams is one of the best scoring point guards in the game but still assists at a high level. His crossover into mid-range jumper is one of the most tried and true moves in the league for a player looking to get his team a much-needed basket.
6. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul and David West
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I wonder if Chris Paul gets a 20 percent tip from David West after each season for serving him up easy shots every night. West is a great player, but you have to wonder how he would fair without such a talented point guard.
West has never averaged less than 18.3 points per game with CP3 running the offense.
Paul is a pass first player. But don't think he can't fill it up himself. He shoots 43.6 percent from outside and can create a fast break at any moment with a quick-handed steal.
5. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer
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Basketball is back in Chicago after the Bulls drafted wisely and spent thriftily in the free agent market. The biggest draft coup was Derrick Rose, who is already in the top five of point guards in the NBA in his third season.
His 24.9 points and 8.2 assists per game have him in the MVP race. His frog-like dunks are ridiculously explosive and fun to watch.
Carlos Boozer joined the Bulls via free agency. When he's healthy, he's a consistent scorer who loves going to his left hand. Why more teams don't focus more on taking away his left hand is beyond me.
4. New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire
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No, the New York Knicks are not suddenly contenders now that they've added Carmelo Anthony. It's going to take time for him to gel with his new teammates, and New York will miss Raymond Felton more than people are realizing. Chauncey Billups just doesn't have the game he used to.
Next season, however, Amar'e Stoudemire and Anthony could have the Knicks rolling. Stoudemire is a force inside. He's carried the Knicks this season, averaging a career high 26.1 points per game.
Anthony is possibly the game's best offensive player. His ability to stroke the jump shot and beat his man off the dribble make him extremely versatile and dangerous.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
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Kevin Durant is in pursuit of his second straight scoring title, leading the NBA with 28.9 points per game. Enough said.
Russell Westbrook keeps making an argument for himself as one of the best point guards in the NBA. It's tough to keep him out of the conversation when he's averaging 22.2 points and 8.6 assist per game.
If these two are able to get some more help on the roster—particularly at center—the Thunder will be tough for the other teams out West to keep out of the NBA Finals.
2. Miami Heat: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
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Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are phenoms. They take turns burning opponents for 30-point performances. Wade and James are two of the NBA's most exciting dunkers but have filled out their games.
If James were ever to get his jump shot more consistent, he could become the greatest player the NBA has ever seen. His natural talent is unmatched by anyone playing in the league. With continued hard work, his game will evolve into something that is truly unstoppable.
Even so, Miami is Wade's team. He's the leader, the one with a championship ring.
1. Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol
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Kobe Bryant is the most skilled offensive wing player in basketball. Pau Gasol is the most skilled offensive post player in basketball. Isn't it obvious that they make the best scoring tandem in the league?
Much of their success comes from getting to the foul line. Did you see Gasol asking the ref for a foul call in the All-Star game? And people think the players don't take it seriously.
Bryant is the best at getting his shot when he wants it. Often, it's with a hand in his face or a hand hitting his on his follow through. His concentration is truly legendary.
