The Greatest NBA Tandems
August 31, 2005 | 12:00am
Starting in reverse order, here's our list of the top duos in NBA history:
10. KARL MALONE AND JOHN STOCKTON - Played for 18 years together which is longer than any two teammates that have ever played in NBA history.
Malone is the NBA's 2nd leading scorer in league history and Stockton is the assist leader. Because they played so long and so well together, they defined the idea of dynamic duos.
They appeared in two NBA Finals but never won a championship.
9. TIM DUNCAN AND DAVID ROBINSON - Both 7 feet tall, it's the best pairing ever of big men all-time. Their effectiveness was due to Duncan's versatility which allows him to play power forward and Robinson controlling the post. Duncan's arrival was at the tailend of Robinson's career and that they played only six seasons together. Both won a championship, and after Robinson retired, the Spurs won two more titles, with Duncan at the helm.
8. MOSES MALONE AND JULIUS ERVING - Playing in the talented cast of the '80s was not easy although they won a title in 1983 in a convincing fashion, winning 65 regular season games and sweeping through the playoffs, winning 12 of 13 games, a most dominating post-season performance in league history. Age and injuries, and the talents of Magic and Kareem of the Lakers and Bird and McHale in Boston prevented them from dominating the league. But it was fun to watch Erving fly and Malone relentless on defense.
7. JOHN HAVLICEK AND DAVE COWENS - In the '70s, eight different teams won NBA championships. Only the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics repeated, so why the bias on the Boston duo? Well, New York had a great team with strong players at major positions - Bill Bradley and Dave DeBusschere at forwards and Earl Monroe and Dick Barnett at guard.
The Celtics relied more on the manic approach of Cowens to the game and the all-around skills of Havlicek.
6. JERRY WEST AND ELGIN BAYLOR - Between 1962 to 1970, West and Baylor led the Lakers to 7 appearances in the Finals, losing all seven, including six to the Celtics. They could have won five or six titles, if not for one player and that player was Bill Russell. At that time, West was the top guard in the league while Baylor was the best forward who took the game above the rim. Both of them averaged more than 30 points a game for four seasons. Baylor's retirement after 9 games in the 1971-72 season was the ultimate irony for him as the Lakers went on to beat the Knicks for their first title in Los Angeles.
5. LARRY BIRD AND KEVIN MCHALE - The heart and soul of the Celtics, they won 3 titles but this may sound few considering their caliber. They played in an era where teams are most competitive and for Boston to win those titles, they have to go through the Sixers and the LAkers who had some of the games greatest players.
Bird was a do-it-all, while McHale, at 6-11 and with a wingspan of 7-2, was a savvy operator giving extra dimension on the low-post on offense and defense.
4. MAGIC JOHNSON AND KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR - Magic is the greatest playmaker in history and the most dominant point guard to play the game. Together with Kareem, they gave the Lakers 5 titles in the '80s. There never were ego problems as for 10 years, Magic focused on the team's welfare and made sure that at the end of every fastbreak, Kareem would be the first option.
3. MICHAEL JORDAN AND SCOTTIE PIPPEN - Most great duos faeture either a center, a forward or a guard, but MJ and Pip dominated with their intense defense and athletic skills. Both were no taller than 6-7 but at one point in their careers, they were considered the first and second best defensive players in the league. And the Bulls won six titles to boot.
2. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL AND A SIDEKICK - If only Shaq and Kobe had solved their differences, they could have won at least 3 more titles. Shaq and Wade? Until they surpass the 3-title run of the Shaq-Kobe duo, only then will the Shaq and Wade tandem become great.
1. BILL RUSSELL AND A PARTNER - With Russell as the centerpiece, the Celtics won 8 straight championships and 11 in 13 years. During this span, Russell was paired with Bob Cousy but was also on the Celtic teams that had Hall of Famers Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, Kc Jones, Frank Ramsey, Tom Heinsohn and John Havlicek. Cousy was on six of these championships but no one was around for all of 11 titles except Bill Russell, so for accuracy's sake, the best duo in NBA history is Bill Russell and a Partner.
On a personal note, allow me to greet belated birthday greetings to my pa-in-law, Dodong Gamay Frasco and to my aunt, Remedios Mendoza. Papa May celebrated his nth birthday last August 26. He has maintained his matinee-idol looks, and like antique furniture, appreciation comes with the wear and tear. Nanay Meding, on the other hand celebrated her 91st birthday yesterday and inspite of her advanced age, she's still durable as Italian marble yet fragile like a Swarovski crystal.
E-mail at [email protected]
10. KARL MALONE AND JOHN STOCKTON - Played for 18 years together which is longer than any two teammates that have ever played in NBA history.
Malone is the NBA's 2nd leading scorer in league history and Stockton is the assist leader. Because they played so long and so well together, they defined the idea of dynamic duos.
They appeared in two NBA Finals but never won a championship.
9. TIM DUNCAN AND DAVID ROBINSON - Both 7 feet tall, it's the best pairing ever of big men all-time. Their effectiveness was due to Duncan's versatility which allows him to play power forward and Robinson controlling the post. Duncan's arrival was at the tailend of Robinson's career and that they played only six seasons together. Both won a championship, and after Robinson retired, the Spurs won two more titles, with Duncan at the helm.
8. MOSES MALONE AND JULIUS ERVING - Playing in the talented cast of the '80s was not easy although they won a title in 1983 in a convincing fashion, winning 65 regular season games and sweeping through the playoffs, winning 12 of 13 games, a most dominating post-season performance in league history. Age and injuries, and the talents of Magic and Kareem of the Lakers and Bird and McHale in Boston prevented them from dominating the league. But it was fun to watch Erving fly and Malone relentless on defense.
7. JOHN HAVLICEK AND DAVE COWENS - In the '70s, eight different teams won NBA championships. Only the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics repeated, so why the bias on the Boston duo? Well, New York had a great team with strong players at major positions - Bill Bradley and Dave DeBusschere at forwards and Earl Monroe and Dick Barnett at guard.
The Celtics relied more on the manic approach of Cowens to the game and the all-around skills of Havlicek.
6. JERRY WEST AND ELGIN BAYLOR - Between 1962 to 1970, West and Baylor led the Lakers to 7 appearances in the Finals, losing all seven, including six to the Celtics. They could have won five or six titles, if not for one player and that player was Bill Russell. At that time, West was the top guard in the league while Baylor was the best forward who took the game above the rim. Both of them averaged more than 30 points a game for four seasons. Baylor's retirement after 9 games in the 1971-72 season was the ultimate irony for him as the Lakers went on to beat the Knicks for their first title in Los Angeles.
5. LARRY BIRD AND KEVIN MCHALE - The heart and soul of the Celtics, they won 3 titles but this may sound few considering their caliber. They played in an era where teams are most competitive and for Boston to win those titles, they have to go through the Sixers and the LAkers who had some of the games greatest players.
Bird was a do-it-all, while McHale, at 6-11 and with a wingspan of 7-2, was a savvy operator giving extra dimension on the low-post on offense and defense.
4. MAGIC JOHNSON AND KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR - Magic is the greatest playmaker in history and the most dominant point guard to play the game. Together with Kareem, they gave the Lakers 5 titles in the '80s. There never were ego problems as for 10 years, Magic focused on the team's welfare and made sure that at the end of every fastbreak, Kareem would be the first option.
3. MICHAEL JORDAN AND SCOTTIE PIPPEN - Most great duos faeture either a center, a forward or a guard, but MJ and Pip dominated with their intense defense and athletic skills. Both were no taller than 6-7 but at one point in their careers, they were considered the first and second best defensive players in the league. And the Bulls won six titles to boot.
2. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL AND A SIDEKICK - If only Shaq and Kobe had solved their differences, they could have won at least 3 more titles. Shaq and Wade? Until they surpass the 3-title run of the Shaq-Kobe duo, only then will the Shaq and Wade tandem become great.
1. BILL RUSSELL AND A PARTNER - With Russell as the centerpiece, the Celtics won 8 straight championships and 11 in 13 years. During this span, Russell was paired with Bob Cousy but was also on the Celtic teams that had Hall of Famers Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, Kc Jones, Frank Ramsey, Tom Heinsohn and John Havlicek. Cousy was on six of these championships but no one was around for all of 11 titles except Bill Russell, so for accuracy's sake, the best duo in NBA history is Bill Russell and a Partner.
E-mail at [email protected]
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