Best Duo - NBA

[healer677]

In a previous post re. VC I mentioned that most great players can elevate the game of others around them. But, most great teams usually have 2 great players. After posting this, I got into a discussion with a few of my friends and we argued the best duo in basketball....all time and why.

If you were a GM - who would you want to build a team around? Why?

MJ and Scottie, The Doctor and Chocolate Thunder? The Big O and Lew?

 

[healer677]

Initially I was torn between Magic / Kareem and Russel / Cousy.

I had 2 friends arguing Kobe/Shaq vs McHale/Bird.

Just the way their teams dominated their respective era, I chose Magi/ Kareem and Russel/Cousy. Though I shudder at the possibility of the "what if."

What if Ralph Sampson could have stayed healthy? I don't really want to imagine the potential of a true Twin Tower combo that good.

What if The Admiral was 5 years younger?

or how about a guard combo - the bad biys - Dumars / Thomas?
"What if"

 

[frankcastle]

Here are some duo's that I like but not necessarily all time greats.....

1) Duncan/Robinson
2) Barkley/Johnson
3) Stockton/Malone
4) Kemp/Payton
5) Olajawan/Drexler

Here's a what if... for Raps fans a motivated Cater/McGrady

 

[healer677]

The Stockton/Malone pick did come up - but one of the guys argued because of the lack of a ring. My counter to that was - The Mailman is one of the alltime greatest scorers and Stockton is the all time assist leader.

Personally, I like the combo...same with The Glove/ Rainman combo.

Do you think VC and TMac could have really played well together though. Attitudes aside - I don't think either one had the moxy to be great together. Both those guys are singles in my book.

But......

TMac / Yao- that could prove to be a good one....

 

[homonger]

In terms of results, you'd have to go with Russell/Cousy, Russell/Havlicek, or some other Russell based permutation. Ditto for Magic/Kareem, Bird/McHale, Jordan/Pippen, and Kobe/Shaq.

I always liked watching Malone/Stockton. Those two basically ran the same play for 15 years, yet no one could ever stop it.

Best duo in the game today? It could have been Nash/Nowitzki, or even Webber/Stojakovic, but those duos have been broken up. I agree, T-Mac/Yao has potential, and if LeBron ever gets a decent running mate, it could be awesome, but so far, Gooden and Ilgaukas just don't cut it. So, I'd have to go with Wade/Shaq.

 

[chd]

Russel And Johny H.
Of Boston
NOT THE BEST BUT MY DADS FAV.

 

[chd]

Also
Did
West Play With Chamberlan In La

 

[homonger]

Also
Did
West Play With Chamberlan In La

Yes, they won one title together, in 71-72, and lost in the finals to the Knicks twice, and to the Celtics twice.

The earlier versions of the Chamberlain/West teams also had Elgin Baylor on them, and the latter versions also had Gail Goodrich.

 

[chd]

The Knicks Of That Time
Frazier And Debussher
Iam I Right
As A Kid My Fav.
Use To Go To The Gardens And See The Braves
When The Would Play Home Games Here
Ernie D And 2 For Macadoo

 

[moneyshotz]

I would have to sayyyy...

1) Mj & Pippen - The best all around duo ever IMO
2) Shaq & Kobe - Great duo on the court but cant seem to get along
3) Ducan & Robinson - Absolutely unstoppable
4) Magic & Worthy - Great to watch pick apart teams
5) Bird & Mchale - 2 white guys that will kill you outside and inside

 

[homonger]

The Knicks Of That Time
Frazier And Debussher
Iam I Right
As A Kid My Fav.
Use To Go To The Gardens And See The Braves
When The Would Play Home Games Here
Ernie D And 2 For Macadoo

The Knicks of the late 60's/early 70's had Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Hall of Famers all. Later they added Earl Monroe and Jerry Lucas, two other Hall of Famers. I loved the Knicks then.

 

[batista7777]

could have been, should have been......but never happened

Carter and Tmac

 

[Big Papa Smurf]

Have to go with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. West is only behind Jordan as a SG. Balyor is only behind Bird as a SF. Both played in the finals 6 times together, only to lose to Bill Russell's great Celtic teams.

 

[Don]

Most talented duo ever: Shaq and Kobe

Best duo ever: Malone and Stockton. I pick them because when I think of killer duos in the NBA, I think of them. Not only did they work so well together and rely on each other but because they were so responsible for their teams success for so long. There was never that 3rd guy that was close to their level on their teams. Bird/McHale was great. But what about Parish? DJ? I think of the great Bird/McHale/Parish trio. Not the Bird/McHale duo. Magic/Kareem? Yeah that was great but what about Big Game James? Byron Scott led the team in scoring for a year too. I really like MJ and Scottie. They were the Bulls but lets face it.... Scottie was clearly second fiddle to MJ and one of MJ's "supporting" cast. Cousy and Russell was great but Russell was the monster on defense and Cousy wasn't integral to Russell being great.

Malone and Stockton.

 

[ice_dog]

Rick Barry and Nate the Great, the year 1967

Another choice would be

Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas, the year 1977