Post by BANNAK on Aug 27, 2015 15:10:37 GMT
There are several one-two punches in the league, so I decided to look at the Top 5, in my own opinion. I'll take into consideration production and team success to come to a conclusion about the rankings themselves, but honestly, theres not much splitting these 5 tandems. Each tandem will get a nickname as well.
Honorable Mention: The Great White Hopes
File photo from Bender's mid-game food poisoning epidemic.
Klym Artamonov: 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg, 3spg
Dragan Bender: 15.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.4bpg
If there was a list to be made about greatest foreign tandem in the history of NBADSL, these two would probably take the award. Unfortunately for this article, however, Bender had food poisoning to start the season and was on a minutes restriction. The only explosions the Hawks saw from the veteran PF in the early stages of the season were to be found in the team's bathroom on flights across the country. While he seems to be on the road to recovery, it wouldn't be fair to put someone who has played so little minutes into the top 5.
Honorable Mention: Rush Hour
Zhou Qi: 35ppg, 10rpg, 1.2bpg
Penny Hardaway: 21ppg, 6rpg, 11apg
Not since the majesty that is Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have we seen such a tremendous interracial couple. Both could make the argument to be the best at their position, with Zhou probably favourited as the best PF in the game right now. The only thing holding these two back from climbing the rankings is the record the Cavaliers currently have. They have an inside/outside scoring threat, with Qi being able to pick and pop or pick and roll. A highly versatile tandem, but it is looking like their last dance together, with Zhou Qi becoming a free agent this off-season.
#5: JFK-G
Garnett seen here at SuperMaor's restraining order hearing
Jalek Felton: 26ppg, 6rpg, 3apg, 1.8spg
Kevin Garnett: 19.1ppg, 12.1rpg, 2.6bpg
The Wolves probably would have featured in this list as an honorable mention with Marbury/KG but the recentrape deal saw Felton heading West to team up with KG, propelling the Wolves into the Top 5 on potential alone. They have a solid squad 1-5, and in a weaker Western Conference, should make a lot of noise this season. In 5th place now due to the record, at the end of the season the KG/Felton tandem could rise through the rankings if they perform well together and make it out of the West.
#4: The United Nations
Hakeem Olajuwon: 20ppg, 10rpg, 3bpg
I don't know, one of the guards: Stats vary
Hakeem is a dominating force in the league, and as evidenced last season in the playoffs, seems to take it up a notch when he needs to. Though there isn't a noticeable one two punch on the Wizards, it's safe to say the number 1 guy is Hakeem. Number two can alternate between Hughes (United States), Papaloukas (Greece) or Terrell (Australia) on any given night. While the Wizards are currently only 5 games over .500, that should change as they get a set DC and some wind in their sails. No doubt they will be contending again this season.
#3: John Johnson
Stockton throwing up the deuces for the fallen homies back in Spokane
John Stockton: 19ppg, 11apg, 1.6spg
Stanley Johnson: 26ppg, 11rpg
Another team where multiple players could be second fiddle to Stanley Johnson (Traylor, Spree), however I give the nod to John Stockton just due to the sheer influence All-Star level PGs have on teams in FBB. Stockton is leading the league in assists and shoots solid percentages from the floor, and Johnson is insane, scoring at a high level at his age and pulling in 11 boards as a SF. The Warriors are leading the West and are seemingly on a collision course with the Wolves in the WCF. Should be a good matchup between the pair.
#2: BBQ Chicken
Shaquille O'Neal: 23ppg, 14.5rpg, 4.1bpg
Marcus Camby: 20ppg, 14rpg, 4.2bpg
While other tandems on this list are more versatile and usually consist of players who play different positions entirely, Shaq and Camby are pretty much the same mold. However they are too dominant of a tandem to leave off the list. Mind boggling fact time: Shaq and Camby, alone, average more blocks than 23 other teams entirely. Throw in 14 rebounds a piece, and not to mention they give you 43 combined points, and its not hard to see just how dominant a pairing these two are.
#1: Richie and the Phonz
Mitch Richmond: 29ppg, 8rpg, 4.5apg, 2spg
LaPhonso Ellis: 24ppg, 11rpg, 3.5bpg
Hard to go past the Magic's duo in this list. Orlando is sitting pretty at 13-2 and it's largely due to the play of Richmond and Ellis. In terms of versatility and total production, they are pretty unmatched in the league at the moment. Richmond is quite probably the best SF in the league and Ellis would definitely be Top 3 in terms of Power Forwards. As a first and second option they give you exactly what you would want: an inside and outside presence, as well as two players who are above average defensively.
Honorable Mention: The Great White Hopes
File photo from Bender's mid-game food poisoning epidemic.
Klym Artamonov: 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg, 3spg
Dragan Bender: 15.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.4bpg
If there was a list to be made about greatest foreign tandem in the history of NBADSL, these two would probably take the award. Unfortunately for this article, however, Bender had food poisoning to start the season and was on a minutes restriction. The only explosions the Hawks saw from the veteran PF in the early stages of the season were to be found in the team's bathroom on flights across the country. While he seems to be on the road to recovery, it wouldn't be fair to put someone who has played so little minutes into the top 5.
Honorable Mention: Rush Hour
Zhou Qi: 35ppg, 10rpg, 1.2bpg
Penny Hardaway: 21ppg, 6rpg, 11apg
Not since the majesty that is Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have we seen such a tremendous interracial couple. Both could make the argument to be the best at their position, with Zhou probably favourited as the best PF in the game right now. The only thing holding these two back from climbing the rankings is the record the Cavaliers currently have. They have an inside/outside scoring threat, with Qi being able to pick and pop or pick and roll. A highly versatile tandem, but it is looking like their last dance together, with Zhou Qi becoming a free agent this off-season.
#5: JFK-G
Garnett seen here at SuperMaor's restraining order hearing
Jalek Felton: 26ppg, 6rpg, 3apg, 1.8spg
Kevin Garnett: 19.1ppg, 12.1rpg, 2.6bpg
The Wolves probably would have featured in this list as an honorable mention with Marbury/KG but the recent
#4: The United Nations
Hakeem Olajuwon: 20ppg, 10rpg, 3bpg
I don't know, one of the guards: Stats vary
Hakeem is a dominating force in the league, and as evidenced last season in the playoffs, seems to take it up a notch when he needs to. Though there isn't a noticeable one two punch on the Wizards, it's safe to say the number 1 guy is Hakeem. Number two can alternate between Hughes (United States), Papaloukas (Greece) or Terrell (Australia) on any given night. While the Wizards are currently only 5 games over .500, that should change as they get a set DC and some wind in their sails. No doubt they will be contending again this season.
#3: John Johnson
Stockton throwing up the deuces for the fallen homies back in Spokane
John Stockton: 19ppg, 11apg, 1.6spg
Stanley Johnson: 26ppg, 11rpg
Another team where multiple players could be second fiddle to Stanley Johnson (Traylor, Spree), however I give the nod to John Stockton just due to the sheer influence All-Star level PGs have on teams in FBB. Stockton is leading the league in assists and shoots solid percentages from the floor, and Johnson is insane, scoring at a high level at his age and pulling in 11 boards as a SF. The Warriors are leading the West and are seemingly on a collision course with the Wolves in the WCF. Should be a good matchup between the pair.
#2: BBQ Chicken
Shaquille O'Neal: 23ppg, 14.5rpg, 4.1bpg
Marcus Camby: 20ppg, 14rpg, 4.2bpg
While other tandems on this list are more versatile and usually consist of players who play different positions entirely, Shaq and Camby are pretty much the same mold. However they are too dominant of a tandem to leave off the list. Mind boggling fact time: Shaq and Camby, alone, average more blocks than 23 other teams entirely. Throw in 14 rebounds a piece, and not to mention they give you 43 combined points, and its not hard to see just how dominant a pairing these two are.
#1: Richie and the Phonz
Mitch Richmond: 29ppg, 8rpg, 4.5apg, 2spg
LaPhonso Ellis: 24ppg, 11rpg, 3.5bpg
Hard to go past the Magic's duo in this list. Orlando is sitting pretty at 13-2 and it's largely due to the play of Richmond and Ellis. In terms of versatility and total production, they are pretty unmatched in the league at the moment. Richmond is quite probably the best SF in the league and Ellis would definitely be Top 3 in terms of Power Forwards. As a first and second option they give you exactly what you would want: an inside and outside presence, as well as two players who are above average defensively.
