It Takes Two
As the first half of the NBA season comes to an end, it's safe to say who the more dominant teams are in the league. In the east, the top four teams are all powerhouses, all having good odds of ending up at the top of the conference in the playoffs. The west was not expected to be such a dominant conference, but some teams have proved us wrong. In today's league, there are so many talented players scattered around the Association, making it difficult to win with just one star on your team. Many successful teams have successful duo’s, which in this day and age of the NBA, seems like a necessity.
There are some strong duos that while not on the list deserve an honorable mention. Starting off with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. These two will always be a high-power duo but they can’t be placed in the top 5 due to their unsuccessful season, a current record of 28-28. The pair has been playing together for so many years that their chemistry is unmatched. Another honorable mention is Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Both players have made their statements as to why they will go down as all time greats, but with a mix of constant injuries and an unsuccessful record of 26-31, they won’t be making it into the top 5. Other duo’s that will not make the top five are Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, and Zach Lavine teamed up with DeMar DeRozan. Both Duo’s are threats, yet both have complications such as Zion’s health and the Bulls cant have over a .500 win percentage.
Starting off at number five, from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are a duo to worry about. With Mitchell averaging about 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, it's clear he is effective on the court with a PER of 22.8. His partner in crime, Darius Garland, is averaging a smooth 22, 3, and 8 with a PER of 19.6. This duo is arguably the most dominant backcourt in the NBA due to their elite shooting and great passing ability. Mitchell’s leadership is clearly effective as he brings such high motivation to the rest of the team. With his leadership and both of these two stars being able to score 30 points on any night, this duo could bring their team to the NBA finals without a doubt.
Ranking at number four, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are bringing the Grizzlies to 34-22 record so far this season. With Ja’s ability to attack the defense with 27.5 points a game with 8 assists and Jaren’s defensive prowess with 3.3 blocks a game, this team is hard to beat. Ja has a PER of 24.1, and Jaren is right behind with 21.5. This duo is young, motivated, and energetic, and there’s definitely an NBA Finals appearance in this duo’s foreseeable future as long as they stay together.
While they may be defense-oriented, the third best duo goes to Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is having another MVP season, averaging about 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. This is huge for the Milwaukee Bucks as they also have Jrue who averages a clean 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Jrue Holiday should not be overlooked. The all star reserve has a pure jumpshot, can attack the rim with power, and has great IQ on both sides of the court. Giannis’s PER is 28.9, which is a monster statistic, and Jrue is able to be a second handed threat to opposing teams. This duo is terrifying on the defensive end as they completely disrupt offenses and counter them on their offensive end. They have already won a championship together and they play with an intense and physical playstyle. The sky's the limit for this duo.
Placing second is the 76er’s James Harden and Joel Embiid. Embiid has an insane PER of 30.9 while averaging about 33 ppg, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists a game. This is arguably his MVP season and nobody can stop him. To make matters worse for opposing teams, he has a pass-first point guard who can also score at will. Harden is averaging 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 10.8 assists. This duo could bring any team deep into the playoffs, especially with them having the most effective play in the NBA, in their pick and roll. Harden has evolved his game to fit with Joel’s so they work together like flint and steel. I will fully say I am terrified of what this duo can do if they stay healthy.
The top duo is also the top team this year. Leading the Celtics to an NBA’s best record of 41-16, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are a problem. They have been a part of the same organization since being in the NBA. Tatum and Brown have grown each other's games around one another like thorns growing on a tree, and have evolved their games to be an elite duo. Jayson is averaging 30.5, 8.6, and 4.5 with a PER of 23.8 and Brown has 26.5, 7, and 3.2 with a PER of 19.3. What makes them so dominant is that they have turned into all-star two-way players. Having each one at the wing is deadly and their chemistry is unmatched. They are both able to involve teammates while being dominant scorers and continue to get better every year. They went to the finals last year but fell short, but this year there's no doubt in anyone's mind that they could win it all.
Because of the spread of superstars around the league, there is no right answer on who could win the championship, yet these duos give us a good idea of who can have a strong run. The NBA is en route for a bright future ahead, and these duos are at the center of it.