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The Top 5 NBA Duos Today

By James Simpson II

January 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with guard Klay Thompson (11) against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with guard Klay Thompson (11) against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Who are the NBA’s best tandems?

Everybody loves duos right! I mean how could you not. When it comes to sports (team sports especially), how could you not appreciate an excellent tandem. It’s vital to have one if you want to achieve a certain level of success. It’s just about darn-near impossible to win a championship if your team doesn’t possess an elite duo.

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Whether the duo is a great forward-forward or center-defenseman duo in hockey; a dominant pitching duo or power hitting duo that bats 3rd and 4th at the top of the lineup in baseball; a cohesive quarterback-wide receiver duo in football, or a wonderful backcourt or a lethal inside-outside duo in basketball, having two star players on your side complimenting one another could go a long way in helping create a ton of victories for their teams.

Well, I’m here to rundown the Top 5 Best Duos in the NBA today. Not the best duos two or three years ago, or even last year, but the five best right now at this single moment. Let’s jump to the list.

Honorable Mention notices for Washington Wizards backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, Memphis Grizzlies frontcourt of Marc Gasol and Zack Randolph, and Houston Rockets big man-guard pair of James Harden and Dwight Howard.

Feb 24, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) talks to guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Cavs beat the Pistons 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) talks to guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Cavs beat the Pistons 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James and Kyrie Irving

The Houston Rockets Harden-Howard duo came close to cracking the top five list but the LBJ-Uncle Drew combo just nudged them out. And for good reason too: Howard has missed too many games this season and the Rockets have seemed more like a one-man wrecking crew with Harden carrying them for the majority of the season. Also, the more I thought about it, Cleveland really has a trio (Bron-Irving-Love) more than a duo, but the way this season has transpired, it hasn’t been much of a trio – due to the struggles of Keven Love.

The 2015 Cavs have been led by the LeBron and Kyrie show and they are the main reason that Cleveland has won 18 of their last 22 games and have re-entered the championship conversation – that they held in the very beginning of the season. There might not be a duo in basketball better in isolation situations than LeBron (26.0 ppg) and Kyrie (21.7 ppg) and that’s when they do their most damage. Together, there averaging 47.7 points per game and if they continue their recent play of late, these two might see themselves representing the East in the NBA Finals come June.

Feb 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) and guard Stephen Curry (30) talk in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) and guard Stephen Curry (30) talk in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 124-116. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson

Not only are the Splash Brothers the best shooting duo in the league (and of all-time) and the best backcourt in the league but they are certainly one of the five best duos in pro basketball. Curry (23.9 ppg) and Thompson (22.1 ppg) together have taken their games to another level this season and it shows in their team performance – where they have led the Warriors to the NBA’s second best record at 46-12 at the moment.

As a backcourt, there both fully capable of taking over a game and shooting the opposing team right out of a building, which they have both displayed this season (Curry scored 51 points in a win over Dallas on February 2 and Thompson scored 52 points in a win over Sacramento on January 23, where he scored a NBA record 37 points in a quarter). When these two are clicking, firing jumpers, and draining shots from all over the basketball court, then it’s just a thing of pure beauty. They aren’t called the Splash Brothers for nothing.

Feb 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) and guard Damian Lillard (0) react after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) and guard Damian Lillard (0) react after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Portland Trail Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard

This is the best inside-outside duo in the game, outside of the next duo on the list. Aldridge (23.3 ppg) might be the best shooting big man in the league with his unblockable turnaround jump-shot and face-up game. Lillard (21.6 ppg) on the other hand, has the ability to take over a game offensively as well as anybody and there’s no player in the league right now that I want to take the last shot at the end of close games more than him.

Both All-Stars complement each other well and rely on one another to be the go-to guys for Portland. As long as LA and Dame stay connected with the Blazers, they have a bright future together and could lead to many highs for R.I.P. City moving forward.

Dec 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) moves the ball down the court followed by Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) moves the ball down the court followed by Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Los Angeles Clippers Chris Paul and Blake Griffin

In my opinion, these two make up the best inside-outside duo in the NBA. Paul “The Best PG in the NBA” and Griffin “A Top Ten Player” have been at it together for four seasons now and have developed a healthy rapport with one another and a firm understanding of each other’s games. When Paul (18.1 ppg) and Griffin (22.5 ppg) are in sync they run the pick-and-pop and screen-and-roll game with fluidity and once they get in transition, its Lob City baby.

I see CP3 and Blake as two of the NBA’s ten best players and in order for them to claim the No. 1 spot, a Conference Finals or NBA Finals appearance (at least) would definitely help. However, as far as staking claim as the “NBA’s Most Exciting Duo”, this twosome might take the cake.

Jan 21, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball next to Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball next to Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

There’s no question which combo stands as the league’s best. Even though Durant has missed a large portion of games this season, his performance when he’s on the court with his running mate still stands out over every other duo. Not only are Westbrook (26.5 ppg) and Durant (25.4 ppg) the NBA’s most explosive and devastating duo but it’s also a combo that features two of the league’s five best players. You have in Durant last year’s MVP winner and a four-time scoring champion and Westbrook, who might be the most physically dominating point guard in NBA history patrolling the floor together.

There currently the NBA’s highest scoring duo (51.9 ppg) and there’s a great chance that Westbrook wins MVP this season (the tear he’s been on the last month has been remarkable) and that would make the OKC Thunder the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1957 (Bob Cousy) and 1958 (Bill Russell) to have two different teammates win back-to-back MVP awards. How sick would that be? Given how great KD and Westbrook are, the only thing this partnership needs to solidify themselves as an all-time great duo is to bring a title home to Oklahoma City. Until then, enjoy the NBA’s most compelling duo.

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