The NBA is a guard-driven league nowadays, with the three-pointer becoming the focal point of many teams’ offenses. No team’s offense is driven by the three-pointer more than that of the Golden State Warriors. With two-time MVP Stephen Curry and two-way shooting guard Klay Thompson, the Warriors have the best backcourt in the NBA; however, despite the publicity and historic success, the Warriors aren’t the only team with a lethal backcourt. There happen to be at least five other NBA teams with a lethal backcourt as well. In this article, we’ll count down the five best NBA backcourts outside of Golden State.
The Best NBA Backcourts Outside of Golden State
5. Chicago Bulls
This off-season, the Chicago Bulls traded away franchise point guard Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, ending an era, but they did a great job of replacing him. With the addition of Rajon Rondo, the Bulls got a crafty play-making guard who is an assist machine. They also signed the now-former face of the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade. Wade, while on the decline, has a lot left in him and is still a top five shooting guard. He can take over a game with his scoring ability. Rondo and Wade will be a very under-the-radar backcourt next season, but they’re still be one of the league’s best.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Despite Kevin Durant‘s departure to the Warriors, the Oklahoma City Thunder are still one of the more dangerous teams in the West. With top five overall player Russell Westbrook running the point, the Thunder have the most intimidating guard in the NBA, a player with a motor and an ego like no other player in the association. He’s a high flyer, he’s improved his shooting over the years, and he’s the best defender at his position. Westbrook’s new backcourt partner, Victor Oladipo, plays very similarly to him. Oladipo is a defensive force and a solid scorer, and while an inconsistent shooter, his jumper did start to improve a bit as last season went on. Westbrook and Oladipo are a lethal backcourt duo and will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
3. Washington Wizards
Over the past three years, the Washington Wizards have become known as a guard-driven team. With All-Star point guard John Wall and shooting guard Bradley Beal, the Wizards have a formidable backcourt. Wall is one of the best two-way guards in the NBA; he is a great play-maker and relentless finisher in the paint, he can make outside jumpers and find his teammates, and he’s a lethal defender. Beal is a threat as well. He can score from anywhere on the court and is one of the better shooting guards in the league. Despite their rumored ‘beef’ with one another, Wall and Beal make up one of the most dangerous backcourts in the NBA and are a lethal duo.
2. Toronto Raptors
Last season, the Toronto Raptors finally got out of the first round and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. That success was largely due to their backcourt. With All-Star Kyle Lowry at point guard and fellow All-Star DeMar DeRozan at shooting guard, the Raptors can match up with any other backcourt in the NBA, even Golden State. Lowry is the most aggressive and mentally the toughest point guard in the league. He gets in the paint, doesn’t shy away from competition, and is a very good outside shooter. His teammate DeRozan is a prominent figure as well. He is a high flyer and an elite scorer, which he’s proven by averaging over 20 points per game over the last three years. DeRozan has slowly worked his way into the superstar conversation. The backcourt duo of Lowry and DeRozan pose an extremely large threat in the Eastern Conference and the entire NBA.
1. Portland Trail Blazers
Last season, the Portland Trail Blazers shocked the NBA world by making the playoffs after losing four-fifths of their starting lineup, including All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge. They also shocked the NBA with their excellent backcourt production. Damian Lillard broke out to prove that he’s a superstar and that he can carry a team to the playoffs and then some, which he did by averaging just over 25 points per game. His teammate, shooting guard C.J. McCollum, also showed off his scoring abilities. McCollum replaced the departed Wesley Matthews at shooting guard in a way that the Trail Blazers never could’ve imagined. By averaging just under 21 points per game, McCollum showed that he’s an elite backcourt player; he looked as if he had been starting for years.
The Trail Blazers Backcourt Poses an Imminent Threat to the Warriors
Lillard and McCollum are the biggest backcourt threat to the Golden State Warriors because the two backcourts are near identical to one another. Lillard, like Curry, can play out on the perimeter, and while he is lethal from the three point line, Curry doesn’t play with the aggression with which Lillard plays. Lillard is always looking to get to the rim and is known for being a high flyer. The Trail Blazers also pose a threat at shooting guard. McCollum, like Thompson, can play out on the perimeter, and although Thompson is the better defender, McCollum is the better all-around offensive player; he can get to the basket, as well as play in isolation, which is something that Thompson doesn’t exactly have in his arsenal. While Golden State has the NBA’s best backcourt, the Blazers have the tools and weapons to give the Warriors a run for their money.
Golden State Isn’t the only Team with an Elite Backcourt
The Warriors have the best backcourt in the NBA with Curry and Thompson, but their backcourt isn’t the only elite backcourt in the league. The Trail Blazers, Raptors, Wizards, Thunder, and Bulls all have stellar backcourts – especially the Blazers and Raptors. With up-and-coming superstars Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the Portland Trail Blazers have an extremely lethal backcourt that can run with Golden State. The same goes for Toronto; with the All-Star backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors have the most aggressive guard duo in the NBA; they don’t back down from anyone. While the Warriors have a historically great backcourt, theirs isn’t the only lethal one.
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