NBA Power Rankings: Spurs, Lakers, Heat, Celtics and the NBA's 10 Best Trios
As a lifelong Miami Heat fan (not bandwagon, as so many people tend to be nowadays because of the "Heatles"), I have absolutely no qualms with saying that the most talented trio (duo...cough, cough) in the NBA belong to the Heat, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh (cough).
Talent doesn't always equal greatness, however.
You don't always have to have three superstars to be a Big Three. Time will tell if these three talented players can learn to be clutch and closeout games...but they are not currently the best (i.e. most productive in terms of wins, clutch play and tenacity) trio of players in the NBA.
Here is my take on the NBA's top 10 "Big Threes".
10. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins
1 of 10
I know...they have not played one single game together; however, I truly think that lost in the hoopla of the "Anthony to New York" saga was the potential birth of a different breed of Big Three.
Kendrick Perkins was the down and dirty man for the Celtics—he plays like a true center should. Now, Kevin Durant (one of the best scorers, period) and Russell Westbrook (blazing fast facilitator and scorer) will have the inside presence that they have been missing.
Time will tell if this trio moves up my list or disappears completely.
My guess? They quickly become a force.
9. New Orleans Hornets: David West, Chris Paul, Emeka Okafor
2 of 10
You don't hear much out of New Orleans other than news about Chris Paul, which is a shame, because he has two partners in crime that play really well with him.
Emeka Okafor is a defensive force, just as he was with Charlotte. He has a nose for the ball, and even though he is undersized, plays with a tenacity that rivals most bigger centers.
David West is an excellent shooter who knows how to score. I am not sure I would call this a Big Three, but these guys know how to play together.
8. Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Josh Smith
3 of 10
To me, this is an underachieving trio of players. All three are All-Star-quality players, with two of them making the All-Star game this year.
Something just isn't always clicking with these guys, and it should, because the playing style of the players complement each other well.
True, they have taken Atlanta and made them relevant, but when you have a guard, forward and center who all know how to play at a high level, you should be thinking championships, not one-and-done playoff trips.
Maybe one day they will bring it all together and be a greater Big Three—they have the potential.
7. New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups
4 of 10
Possibly too high of a ranking for a new group, but in a few short games they have proven a great deal about themselves.
This is the making of a high-quality scoring machine.
Carmelo Antony and Amar'e Stoudemire are scary good on offense, and Chancey Billups has already proven his worth as a leader and facilitator. If they continue to improve, the Knicks could compete for an NBA championship this year.
6. Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler
5 of 10
Possibly one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season, the Dallas Mavericks are playing at a high level of basketball at this point.
Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki (who in my mind is a heavy MVP candidate) are established stars who have played well together for a while now. Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best all-around players I have seen in a long time.
Tyson Chandler has really brought his game up for this team. Averaging close to a double-double (almost 11 points and 10 boards) with 62 blocks has given the great scoring duo of Kidd and Nowitzki an inside threat to create more opportunities for them.
5. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah
6 of 10
This is a workmanlike team.
When Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are healthy, they are defensively one of the most solid teams in the NBA.
When they are healthy.
Derrick Rose is a special player. He may be the best point guard in the league, with all due respect given to Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo. He is explosive and aggressive.
Noah is the dirty-work guy. He may not blow anyone away with numbers, but his passion and excellence on the boards creates a great deal of opportunities for his teammates.
4. Miami Heat: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
7 of 10
I am not panicking just yet, but I have not enjoyed watching this new-look Heat as much as I thought I would. Are they good for some great highlights? Absolutely.
Can they score on anyone? Obviously.
However, in the clutch they have struggled, and the cavalier attitude that I see out of James and Wade at times drives me insane. They seem to lack that killer instinct that drove Jordan and continues to drive Kobe.
These three players are easily the best players individually, but it may take time for that team concept to catch on.
When (or if) it does, the league will be on notice, but until then, they are the Harlem Globetrotters of the NBA—lots of style, little substance.
3. Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo
8 of 10
Go ahead and say it—I cheated with this one—it is really a Big Four.
I was truly thinking about making these guys number one, but based on championships and long-term success, three feels just about right.
These guys play ruggedly, and the Boston Celtics remind me of the old-school Raiders of the NFL—good and nasty.
Kevin Garnett is a monster inside and is probably the most intimidating player in basketball. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are two of the best shooters in the world, and Rajon Rondo has established himself as a top-three point guard in the NBA.
Losing Perkins will hurt these guys, but they stand a solid chance of winning a second championship together as a unit.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher
9 of 10
Many would argue that this trio should be number one, and you could make a very convincing argument to that fact.
However, as it stands, this Big Three is more like a dynamic duo with a man sitting behind a computer directing the missions. You know...Kobe is Batman, Pau is Robin...
Fisher is Alfred.
I have always thought Derek Fisher to be a player of a system who just happens to be lucky enough to be one of Kobe's best friends and trusted teammates. Kobe and Pau Gasol are world class, and all three players are intelligent and complement each other well.
They represent the ideal Big Three—a facilitator, a scorer and an inside man.
As a triple unit, they have won two championships.
(Post publishing edit: I have received a great deal of grief including Fisher as opposed to Odom or Bynum... Kobe trusts Fisher more than any player in the NBA. Bynum is made of glass, and Odom is not a consistant player. The beauty of an opinion piece is that it is just that... and opinion... however, as a trio, to me, these three compliment each other perfectly. It just made more sense to me to include a passer, scorer, and inside man.
I do NOT think Fisher is a better player overall than Odom or Bynum.)
1. San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker
10 of 10
For my money, the trio of aging stars in San Antonio is the best Big Three and possibly the most unheralded. Together, they have won three championships and have done so by perfectly complementing each other.
They may be old (and injuries are starting to become an issue), but they obviously still have a great deal to offer.
Tim Duncan has always been one of the hardest workers and most respected players in the NBA. He currently leads the Spurs in rebounds and blocks. Even with his aging body, he almost averages a double-double per game.
Manu leads the Spurs in points per game, and Parker is the assists leader. These three players all know how to play the game the way it is supposed to be played—and I am no fan of the Spurs.
Like the Lakers, it is difficult to not respect the team.
