It's easy to reminisce about the great guard tandems in NBA history. From Jerry West and Gail Goodrich to Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, star backcourt duos have given NBA fans something else to get excited about. With the league moving more towards perimeter players with fewer traditional back-to-the-basket post players, the current NBA is filled with excellent guard tandems. Having a great backcourt makes things easier on post players and typically means the team plays at a faster place.
Here are the top five backcourt tandems in the NBA:
- Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets - Both are getting up there in age, but Kidd's one of the best point guards of all-time and is well-known for his ability to accrue triple-doubles. He's also a tough-nosed defender. Getting that kind of complete package in a point guard is rare. Kidd averaged 13.2 ppg, 8.2 rbpg and 9.2 apg in 2006-2007. Vince Carter is one of the more exciting scorers in the league. His acrobatic dunks and finishes in traffic pair well with his ability to hit the three-point shot. Carter averages 25.2 ppg in 2006-2007.
- Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs - Having Tim Duncan in the middle certainly helps, but these two international stars are quick as lightning, smart and play well off each other. Parker's a waterbug with the ball, dodging through the heavy traffic of larger players. He's a great finisher and playmaker, and averaged 18.6 ppg, 5.5 apg in 2006-2007. Ginobili can be erratic on the court at times, but he comes through in the clutch and brings so much energy to each game. His versatility makes him a viable weapon, as well. He averaged 16.5 ppg in just 27 minutes of work each night in 2006-2007. Parker and Ginobili are in part responsible for the numerous NBA Championships the Spurs have won in recent years.
- Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons - Billups bounced around the league for a while before finding a home with the Pistons. He's the offensive glue to that defensive-oriented team and performs well in the clutch. He averaged 17.0 ppg and 7.2 apg in 2006-2007. Richard "Rip" Hamilton reminds many of former Indiana Pacers star, Reggie Miller. Miller was more of a three-point gunner than Hamilton is, but both are skinny two guards who like to play the chase game with defenders, running all over the court off of screens to get open looks. Like Miller, Hamilton is a master at this, and it earned him an average of 19.8 ppg in 2006-2007.
- Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls - The Bulls are struggling early on in 2007-2008, but they've been a major factor in the team's success over the past few years. Chicago isn't known for its offense, which makes Gordon's offensive spurts so important. Gordon averaged a career high 21.4 ppg last season, while shooting 41.3% from beyond the arc. Hinrich's toughness and defensive prowess makes teammates better. He averaged 16.6 ppg and 6.3 apg in 2006-2007.
- Steve Nash and Raja Bell/Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns - Including Bell and Barbosa is sort of a cop-out, but many would suggest that Nash be on this list whomever you pair him with. Nash is a poor defender, but he's an astounding offensive force. His efficiency and ability to make plays is dazzling. He averaged 18.6 ppg and a league-leading 11.6 apg in 2006-2007. Bell and Barbosa are both quick, sharp-shooting perimeter players who fit well with Nash's drive and kick style.
There are other guard tandems who deserve mention. The Charlotte Bobcats' backcourt of Raymond Felton and Jason Richardson have loads of potential. Though, Richardson hasn't really found a fit in Charlotte yet. If Ronnie Brewer of the Utah Jazz continues playing as well as he's playing, he and Deron Williams might crack this list before long. The Milwaukee Bucks hope that Mo Williams and Michael Redd can continue to blossom. In addition, Sacramento has an impressive backcourt with Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin. Of course, Bibby needs to be consistently healthy in order for these two to be considered.
