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Building a roster which will be equipped to compete positively for a championship requires two major focal points. One is provided by a skilled bench while the other comes in the form of megastars headlining the starting lineup. We could argue about the importance of one over the other, but the truth lies in the fact that both play an equally vital role in the long run.
More often than not, the star power on the team takes over and makes up for the lack of reserve talent, but such an on-court scheme seldom results in an NBA title down the stretch. As we move across the slide, we will come across lineups possessing elite depth. These are teams that can never be counted out of a matchup until the final buzzer is heard. They house a wide variety of quality scorers who can step up for their coach on any given night and be the difference makers.
Considering the multitude of dark horses scattered across the league, it is only fitting that we take a look at the five best benches for the ongoing 2019-20 season.
#1 Los Angeles Clippers
Headlined by a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year in Lou Williams, the Los Angeles Clippers possess the mighties bench of the league by a wide margin. Doc Rivers and co. managed to drag the Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round of the playoffs last year, exhibiting true grit and heart, riding on a bench that was first in scoring and fifth in net rating across the NBA.
Now that they have added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to their troops, the squad is bound to provide 48 minutes of uber-competitive display for any team that faces them. In what is turning out be a second unit involving Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, JaMychal Green and Maurice Harkless, the level of talent on the floor for the Clippers throughout the game is something that the other teams would have a hard time levelling with.
#2 Boston Celtics
With names like Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Enes Kanter and exciting rookie Carsen Edwards, the Boston Celtics have a solid foundation when it comes to production off the bench. Despite the loss of Terry Rozier and Al Horford, the Celtics front-office managed to keep their key pieces intact and build a side that looks stacked enough to dominate on both ends of the floor.
Moreover, Daniel Theis and Robert Williams III provide the much-needed spark in games when Coach Brad Stevens is looking towards his backups for help. The Celtics have won four of their first six games so far and look like promising Conference leaders in the near future.
#3 New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans were handed a deep bag of young and sustainable talent during the Anthony Davis haul. A repository so skilled and promising, that if handled smartly, could turn out to be the future of the Western Conference. However, marred by the absence of rookie sensation Zion Williamson, the rest of the Pelicans have been utterly disappointing.
Currently, the Pelicans have Josh Hart, JJ Redick, Jahlil Okafor and rookie Jaxson Hayes taking care of the second unit duties. Considering the impact Zion can single-handedly have on the floor, there are huge upsides to this bench lineup for the Pelicans in the coming future.
Nickiel Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes were both impressive during the summer league, while the rest of the names are highly capable of contributing in double-digit numbers. This team was 24th in terms of bench performance last season but is positively projected to make a notable leap this year.
#4 Denver Nuggets
With the exciting return of Michael Porter Jr. to the Denver Nuggets lineup along with the presence of Jerami Grant, Malik Beaseley, Mason Plumlee accompanying him on the bench, there is hope for a far better ending this year than what this franchise had to endure previously.
Led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in the starting lineup, the Nuggets host one of the most reliable and deep rosters across the league this season. The rotation of Will Barton and Torrey Craig up and down the ranks as the year progresses would be interesting to witness. Coach Mike Malone and his staff has conditioned a wholesome group of players who can score and defend on a consistent basis.
Moreover, they have ample of legroom to force a trade mid-season without affecting their depth heading into the playoffs.
#5 Brooklyn Nets
While Kyrie Irving is playing like a man possessed, it is the underrated nature of his support crew's contribution that makes for an interesting future down in Brooklyn. Outlined with names like Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Garrett Temple and Radions Kurucs, Coach Kenny Atkinson would have his hands full of imposing bench performers through the year.
Dinwiddie was a bonafide Sixth Man of the Year contender last season, and he still has room to grow. The high-flying dominance of DJ is known league-wide, and when added to a lineup that was 8th in bench net rating last year only makes up for more fireworks.
So far, Coach Atkinson has decided to fix Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert, Taurean Waller-Prince and Joe Harris as his starters as he continues to juggle between Jarrett Allen and DJ at the five. Nevertheless, the Brooklyn Nets carry some crazy depth and are to be taken seriously.
