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There is heavy competition in the NBA this season amidst new teams on the horizon ready to make big splashes in the playoffs. The LA Lakers' top duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis has their work cut out for them this campaign with high-flying duos in hot pursuit of their title.
The LA Lakers' cross-town rivals Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have their eyes set on righting the wrong from the 2020 postseason. The Clippers duo made a mockery out of the Lakers in the season opener, and going by their performance so far, they will do much better in the playoffs this time around.
NBA 2020-21: Ranking the the best duos so far this season
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have been dazzling to open their campaign and are battling with Tatum and Brown for who gets to sit atop the Eastern Conference. A new powerhouse is emerging in the West, with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert putting on a beautiful display of winning basketball.
On this note, let's take a look at the best duos in the league so far this season.
#1 LeBron James & Anthony Davis (LA Lakers)
James: PPG 24.4 RPG 7.8 APG 7.6 BPG 0.4 SPG 0.8
Davis: PPG 21.1 RPG 9.0 APG 3.6 BPG 1.9 SPG 1.2
The LA Lakers duo reigns supreme in the early days as they continue to play the game at an elite level. The secret behind their success is the camaraderie between their top duo. AD has been vocal about his feelings for King James and does not shy away from telling the world that he looks up to him. That kind of understanding between superstars is rarely seen in the modern-day NBA.
On the floor, LeBron James continues to do what he does best — making everyone around him better. James is running the offense like clockwork, making the right plays, and even taking over the game when the situation demands it.
Also Read: How many rings does LeBron James have?
Anthony Davis is the key man on the defensive end and continues to protect the rim with authority. Together their stock in the game has only trended upwards as they remain the team to beat this season. LA has demonstrated exemplary basketball one expects from the defending champs.
Also check out: Anthony Davis Contract Breakdown
#2 Kawhi Leonard & Paul George (LA Clippers)
Leonard: PPG 24.9 RPG 4.9 APG 5.8 BPG 0.6 SPG 2.1
George: PPG 24.4 RPG 6.2 APG 5.6 BPG 0.6 SPG 1.2
Coming in at number two is the dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Despite their woes in the 2020 playoffs, the duo has not lost faith in what they can achieve together, coming out with a sense of urgency in this campaign. The LA Clippers made some moves in the offseason and have found players better suited alongside their top duo, and the new unit is taking the league by storm this season.
Paul George faced lots of heat at the start of the season and has since silenced his critics by posting some monster performances in game-winning scenarios for his side. Kawhi Leonard had a slow start to his season but has picked up steam and is now matching his regular-season averages. Leonard has proven that he can elevate his team into a title contender and will aim to join LeBron James in the elite club of players to have won the NBA championship with three different teams.
As things stand now, the LA Clippers look like the prime competition that the Lakers will have to go through in the postseason.
#3 Joel Embiid & Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
Embiid: PPG 26.4 RPG 11.3 APG 2.8 BPG 1.4 SPG 1.4
Simmons: PPG 12.2 RPG 9.2 APG 8.0 BPG 0.9 SPG 1.5
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have become a staple in top duo rankings in the association for a good reason. They have elevated the Philadelphia 76ers to a top contender in the Eastern Conference.
Embiid is arguably the best center in the league today and can dominate the paint area with his size and skill. He has been putting up MVP-caliber numbers these past few seasons but will have to dig deep and find that new dimension to his game to advance his 76ers deep into the playoffs.
How Simmons develops in the coming season will play an immense role in deciding their fate as a unit. While Simmons is a great two-player there have been some doubts about his scoring abilities during crunch time. If Embiid and Simmons can take their games to the next level, their prospects in the NBA begin to look scary.
#4 Donovan Mitchell & Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
Mitchell : PPG 24.3 RPG 3.9 APG 4.9 BPG 0.5 SPG 0.7
Gobert : PPG 12.2 RPG 13.5 APG 1.4 BPG 2.8 SPG 0.5
Breaking into this list of top duos in the early season is Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. While no one was talking about the Utah Jazz making strides before the season, they have become the hot topic of discussion around the league with their stellar performances of late. Mitchell has been tearing it up on the offense and is playing with a chip on his shoulder. He earned his first All-Star appearance last season and is looking determined to receive that honor again this year.
Meanwhile, Rudy Gobert has been a beast on boards and has been orchestrating their defense to perfection. Together they are looking primed for a breakout season that could potentially elevate the Utah Jazz into one of the top contenders in a stacked Western Conference. That said, it remains to be seen if they can continue to play the game at a high level and keep adding more wins as the season unfolds.
#5 Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Tatum: PPG 26.9 RPG 7.1 APG 3.8 BPG 0.8 SPG 1.8
Brown: PPG 25.8 RPG 5.8 APG 3.8 BPG 0.5 SPG 1.5
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are well on their way to superstardom in the NBA. The Celtics' duo has been the driving force behind Boston's winning record over the past few seasons. They have come with a bang to open their new campaign this time around and are battling for the top position in the East. Both players respect each other's game and know how to play off each other.
Jayson Tatum has been leading from the front and has shown that he has what it takes to make the big shots down the stretch. He is undoubtedly the Celtic's best player and continues to raise his own ceiling.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown is having a career year for the Celtics and looks determined to get better with time and more game-time experience. Between the two of them, the Celtics have a bright future and could eventually find themselves competing for the title in the future.
Guess the Lakers players!
