The way we look at scoring has changed over the last 10 seasons. No longer is points per game the best offensive storytelling metric. Instead, we can look to offensive rating, offensive win shares or offensive points per play.
So, when defining the best duos in the NBA, no longer do we simply stack one scoring average on top of another. The highest scoring duo isn’t the best duo. And in that regard, here are the super duos from last season.
NET RATING: Harrison Barnes-Draymond Green, Warriors
The best net rating for all duos belonged to Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green of the Warriors. With that duo on the court together, Golden State outscored opponents by 18.9 points per 100 possessions!
In fact, the top 10 net ratings in the NBA among duos were all on the Warriors. The best non-Warriors duo in this metric was San Antonio’s Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard (+16.1).
OFFENSIVE RATING: Blake Griffin-DeAndre Jordan, Clippers
Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan combined for the highest offensive rating among all duos. While on the court together, the Clippers scored 118.1 points per 100 possessions, best in the NBA.
The Clippers actually had the 11 best duos in offensive rating last season.
DEFENSIVE RATING: Shaun Livingston-Andre Iguodala, Warriors
We know that the Warriors had the most efficient defense last season, but would you have guessed this as the top defensive duo in the league? The Warriors allowed 93.5 points per 100 possessions with Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala on the court, best among duos in the league.
HIGHEST SCORING: LeBron James-Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers
For some context, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were the top scoring duo per game last season among players who each qualified for the scoring title. The pair averaged 49.4 points per game. But the LeBron James-Kyrie Irving pairing had the third-best net rating on the Cavaliers, which was 34th in the NBA.
LeBron James-Kyrie Irving
Among Duos Last Season
NBA Rank Among Duos
Net Rating +10.4 34th
Offensive Rating 113.4 22nd
Defensive Rating 103.1 145th
Peter Newmann is an analyst and writer who spent 10 years at ESPN, 8 as the NBA senior researcher working 24/7 on the league. He wrote game notes for crews, articles for ESPN.com, analysis for studio shows, and regularly assisted reporters and writers. Follow him on Twitter, and check out his Web site, www.peternewmann.com.