Top 10 Duos for Fantasy Hoops
April 17, 2008 by Evil E
Statistically speaking, Nash & Stoudemire are the most dominant duo in the NBA.
Here are my Top 10 same team Dynamic Duos for the ‘07-08 fantasy basketball season.
Honorable Mention:
Caron Butler & Antawn Jamison (Wizards)
Carmelo Anthony & Marcus Camby (Nuggets)
Hedo Turkoglu & Dwight Howard (Magic)
Chauncey Billups & Rasheed Wallace (Pistons)
Jason Richardson & Gerald Wallace (Bobcats)
#10. Manu Ginobili & Tim Duncan (Spurs)
Combined Stats:
38.8 points
16.1 rebounds (#3 Duo)
7.3 assists
2.2 steals
2.3 blocks (#3 Duo)
2.1 threes
48.0% FG
79.3% FT
12 games missed
Using per game stats, Ginobili was a top 15 fantasy player this season (using per minute stats he was top 3!). Unfortunately, he missed 7+ games for the 4th year in a row. Still, Manu was a certifiable steal because he fell past pick #50 in most drafts. Duncan suffered sharp declines in blocks, assists, and FG% this season, but he made up for it by pulling down more boards and shooting his finest FT% in 6 years.
The Spurs duo didn’t dominate any single category, but they were well above average across the board. Ginobili is always one of the leading guards when it comes to boards and blocks, and his excellent free throw shooting really helps out Duncan. However, Timmy D blocked fewer than 2 shots per game for the 1st time in his career and both guys are over 30, making me wonder if they’ll make this list again next year.
#9. Paul Pierce & Kevin Garnett (Celtics)
Combined Stats:
38.4 points
14.3 rebounds
7.9 assists
2.7 steals
1.7 blocks
1.8 threes
50.0% FG (#3 Duo)
82.6% FT
13 games missed
Garnett was a surefire 1st round pick and Pierce probably didn’t fall past Round 2, but this veteran duo was definitely attainable. While both played well and WON, their stats were a little disappointing. They averaged close to career-lows in minutes per game and KG was not his ironman self, missing 11 games.
One major plus was their shooting %’s. Pierce’s FG% jumped from 43.9% last year to 46.4% this season and Garnett’s FG% jumped from 47.6% to 53.9%. They both also shot over 80% from the line, but like the Spurs, are an over 30 duo, so don’t expect much of an improvement in ‘08-09.
#8. Joe Johnson & Josh Smith (Hawks)
Combined Stats:
38.9 points
12.7 rebounds
9.2 assists
2.5 steals
3.0 blocks (#2 Duo)
2.4 threes (#2 Duo)
44.3% FG (Worst Duo)
76.5% FT
1 game missed
It was a very solid ‘07-08 season for this Hawks duo. They stayed healthy (J-Smoov missed just 1 game and Johnson played in all 82 games for the 5th time in the past 6 years) and led Atlanta to the playoffs for the 1st time since 1999!
Johnson’s not a PG, but his 5.8 dimes per game is quite nice and his 2.1 threes per game ranked him in the top 15 yet again. Josh Smith finished 2nd in blocks for the 2nd year in a row, and he also helps out with steals, boards, and assists. Unfortunately, both guys shot poorly from the field, making them the worst FG% duo on this list.
#7. Mike Dunleavy & Danny Granger (Pacers)
Combined Stats:
38.7 points
11.3 rebounds
5.6 assists (Worst Duo)
2.2 steals
1.5 blocks
4.2 threes (#1 Duo)
46.0% FG
84.3% FT (#2 Duo)
2 games missed
Danny Granger established himself as a top 20 fantasy player this season. Incredible value for a guy who fell to the 7th round in some leagues. Similarly, Mike Dunleavy was a top 30 player who may have fallen to the 12th round!
Without a doubt, the Pacers produced the best “bang for your buck” duo this season. If you had both of these sharpshooters on your team, you were provided with oodles and oodles of threes and a superb FT% (Mike D. shot a career-high 83.5% from the line and Granger set an insane Pacers record with 65 consecutive free throws without a miss). Hopefully you had a top assist guy tho! Dunleavy is in his prime now and Granger is just scratching the surface, so expect this duo to thrive for several more seasons.
#6. Allen Iverson & Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets)
Combined Stats:
52.1 points (#1 Duo)
10.4 rebounds
10.5 assists
3.3 steals (#3 Duo)
.6 blocks (Worst Duo)
2.0 threes
47.4% FG
80.0% FT
5 games missed
Need points? This high-scoring duo could have carried your team in that category all season long. They attempted a lot of shots, but their combined FG% was respectable and their 80% FT was rock solid.
Iverson finished in the top 10 in steals for the 10th time in his career and Melo set a career-high in that category, making them a top duo for thefts. Unfortunately, they’re also the worst duo on this list for blocks.
#5. Baron Davis & Monta Ellis (Warriors)
Combined Stats:
41.9 points
9.7 rebounds (Worst Duo)
11.5 assists
3.8 steals (#1 Duo)
.8 blocks
2.2 threes
47.3% FG
75.9% FT (Worst Duo)
1 game missed
Statistically speaking, Baron & Monta were the top backcourt duo this season. They were also big-time draft day steals. Baron’s injury history scared many people off, but he responded by playing in all 82 games for the 1st time in 6 years. Don Nelson also tricked several gullible reporters and fantasy “experts” into thinking that Marco Belinelli was going to get major minutes, allowing Monta to fall past the 7th round in some leagues.
Speaking of steals, this Warrior duo led the league in that category, both finishing in the top 15. Unfortunately, their free throw shooting still needs some work (neither guy has shot 77% in a season before). They are also listed as the worst rebounding duo on this list, but that is deceiving, because they are two of the top guards in the league for boards & blocks. Some people believe that Baron & Monta have played their last game together, but I think they’ll be back for one more good run.
#4. Deron Williams & Carlos Boozer (Jazz)
Combined Stats:
39.9 points
13.4 rebounds
13.4 assists (#2 Duo)
2.3 steals
.8 blocks
1.0 threes (Worst Duo)
52.8% FG (#2 Duo)
77.1% FT
1 game missed
They haven’t reached “Stockton & Malone” status yet, but D-Will & Boozer are coming damn close. Deron’s 50% FG, 80% FT, 10.5 dimes, and 82 gp was very Stockton-esque, but Williams will have to triple his steals if he wants to match the absurd 3.21 spg that Stockton nabbed in ‘88-89.
Boozer also did his best Karl Malone impression, finishing 8th in boards, 9th in FG%, 18th in scoring, and in the top 6 among power forwards in steals and assists. But like the Mailman, Booze is limited in the blocked shots department. The lack of threes also hurts, but the current Jazz duo still earned the #4 spot on my list.
#3. Kobe Bryant & Lamar Odom (Lakers)
Combined Stats:
42.5 points (#2 Duo)
17.0 rebounds (#1 Duo)
8.9 assists
2.8 steals
1.4 blocks
2.2 threes
48.0% FG
79.6% FT
5 games missed
Kobe was a top 5 pick in almost all leagues, but his preseason trade demands made him something of a question mark. He responded by playing in all 82 games and leading the Lakers to the best record in the West (ho-hum). After missing 26 games last year, Odom missed just 5 in ‘07-08, rewarding owners who drafted him in Round 5 or later.
While this duo couldn’t carry your team in any one category, they were very good in points, steals, and rebounds (10.7 for Odom was career-high, 6.3 for Kobe was 2nd-best) and didn’t hurt you in any single category. And for two non-point guards, you really couldn’t ask for more assists. They were also a great duo this season because Odom’s career-high 52.5% from the field helped raise Kobe’s 45.9% mark, while Kobe’s excellent free throw shooting helped balance out Lamar’s sub-par 69.8% FT. Quite simply, this duo has no statistical weaknesses, earning them the #3 spot on my list. (Honorable mention shout-out to Andrew Bynum, who was putting up better stats than Odom before he got hurt).
#2. Allen Iverson & Marcus Camby (Nuggets)
Combined Stats:
35.6 points (Worst Duo)
16.1 rebounds (#2 Duo)
10.4 assists
3.1 steals
3.7 blocks (#1 Duo)
1.3 threes
45.5% FG
78.9% FT
3 games missed
Congratulations if you gambled on Marcus Camby: he played a career-high 79 games this season! The ultimate high-risk, high-reward player dominated the league in blocked shots (divide his blocks by 2 and only 6 guys can match!) and finished 2nd in rebounding. AI doesn’t do much in either department, but this shows you how Camby can carry your team in those cats.
These Nugz are the worst scoring duo on this list, but Iverson pitches in with plenty of points, steals, assists, and solid free throw shooting. I don’t think they’ll be a top 3 duo again next year, but what they did this season was very impressive.
#1b. Chris Paul & David West (Hornets)
Combined Stats:
41.6 points
12.9 rebounds
13.9 assists (#1 Duo)
3.5 steals (#2 Duo)
1.4 blocks
1.3 threes
48.5% FG
85.1% FT (#1 Duo)
8 games missed
My #1b duo for this season is Chris Paul & David West. I had this deadly duo in one of my Roto leagues, and I felt like a kid opening presents whenever I clicked on a Hornets boxscore!
Chris Paul carried plenty of fantasy teams in steals and assists this year, and that will likely continue for the next decade or so. David West did plenty to share the load, finishing in the top 25 in points, rebounds, blocks, and FT%. In fact, BOTH guys shot over 48% from the field and 85% from the line en route to scoring over 20 points per game. When you consider their average draft positions (CP3 in the 2nd round and West in the 6th round), I think it’s safe to say that these Hornets earned their #1 dynamic duo ranking.
#1a. Steve Nash & Amare Stoudemire (Suns)
Combined Stats:
42.1 points (#3 Duo)
12.6 rebounds
12.6 assists (#3 Duo)
1.5 steals (Worst Duo)
2.2 blocks
2.3 threes (#3 Duo)
55.2% FG (#1 Duo)
83.1% FT (#3 Duo)
4 games missed
Statistically speaking, there’s no denying that Nash & Amare were the #1 duo in the NBA this season. However, both guys were top 10 picks in nearly every single fantasy league, making it extremely tough to land this duo. Thus, they are sharing the #1 spot with Paul & West.
If you DID manage to draft both of these guys, there’s a 99% chance you won your league. At 34 years old, Nash is simply not slowing down. He shot over 50% from the field for the 4th year in a row and over 90% from the line for the 4th time in 6 years. Factor in Amare’s dominant 59% FG and career-high 80.5% FT, and you have the best FG% duo in the league and one of the best FT% duos as well. As you can see in the photo, they’ve got each other’s back: Nash takes care of threes and assists while Amare gets his boards and blocks. The only category they don’t excel in is steals, but if you got duo #1a and you’re complaining about THAT, we don’t want to hear it!
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I should add that the category rankings (#1 duo, worst duo, etc.) are based on the duos listed above only and not every possible NBA duo. However, I believe that SOME of the #1 duos are tops in the league, such as Nash/ Amare for FG%.
Anyway, I had Paul/ West this year and Deron/ Boozer last year. Did anyone else have any of these duos?
I had Granger/Dunleavy on one of my teams. Got Dunleavy in the 2nd to last round.
yoooo idc melo ai iz da best duo ov all time n idc wat anybody says!!
I agree. When it comes to scoring 70 points and giving up 75, AI & Melo are tops!
I had Melo/Camby along with a few other nice pairings Granger/Ginobili/Iggy/Marion half with Boozer second half. Great trade with Marion going off to Doomsville in Miami.
The only cat I wasn’t top three in was Assists. In assists I was dead last. The other cats carried the way to 1st place. It was a special season.
Hey E,
I never checked back in to tell you I did, in fact win out my league. Where there was a single point seperating second from third and third from fourth, I finished 7.5 points up. A lot of credit goes to your draft guide, and helping me to refine trade ideas. I didn’t have any of the duos up there, but I did have a couple, most notable, dirk and josh howard (which was really a trio because i had jterry too) also had Vince carter and R jeff, okur and Ak47, Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy ( Murphy was incredible down the stretch). I agree with the last comment – if you want to win, don’t worry about what players you like. That goes for you too eric. You were anty Dunleavy, but he was a major fantasy stud. I live in Toronto, so my entire league, including me, hates Vince Carter. I took advantage by trading for him at a very low cost. Also look to capitalize on Categories that less experienced players don’t recognize because they are not so glamorous. My team finished near the top in FG%, FT% and TO. Last year was my first season and I was killed in those cats, so I made a huge commitment this year. I drafted Dirk instead of Lebron and then Chauncey instead of Deron Williams. Those were decisions I questioned for a long time into the early season, but ultimately they helped me to win. I am already looking forward to next season.
I was so close to the title last season.
I had Amare (via trade for Kaman & Iverson) CP3, Yao & Melo on my roster. Yao screwed me over (since I picked him over D-Howard… laugh, go on, laugh at me — in my defense, I thought Yao would last the season, had a better FT% and lower TO’s) and that cost me the championship, because the team that beat me in my league’s fantasy playoff (who went on to win the championship) had Tim Duncan, KG & Emeka Okafor catch fire for that one killer week.
Sigh… but there’s always next year (I doubt CP3 is going to fall beyond #5 in the draft this year, much less past the first round). sigh… my fav player.