Predicting The NBA’s Most Dangerous Offensive Lineups This Season (BR)
Now this is an interesting article from Bleacher Report (thanks again for the content). It’s no secret that offense has taken over the NBA. During the 2020-21 season alone, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and tenth most efficient offenses ever were playing in the NBA all at once.
That alone is insane and while the cliche is that “defense wins championships,” the NBA has become a wild west of offense and you need firepower to win. Let’s just say some teams are better than others are torching opposing defenses.
Today, I will react to Bleacher Report’s 10 most potent offenses entering 2022. If you are above the age of 40 and like defense, cover your eyes. Things might get ugly.
Now, Bleacher Report didn’t rank the offenses 1-10, they were just trying to name the 10 best offensive lineups in the NBA, which is fair. I think we all know which lineup would be #1, so this isn’t a ranking, more of an elite list of high-powered offenses that you should be proud to be on.
Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young – Kevin Huerter – Bogdan Bogdanovic – Danilo Gallinari – Clint Capela
The Hawks are so deep, so talented, so loaded, you could put together 5-6 lineups that are better than most in the NBA. They’re just that good and they are going to be an incredibly high-powered offense in 2022 with Nate McMillan coaching them for the full season.
It’s kind of weird not to have John Collins or De’Andre Hunter in this lineup, but it kinds of makes sense. Collins isn’t the same player when he’s playing next to Clint Capela, as he isn’t nearly as effective when just standing on the perimeter. De’Andre Hunter was excellent to start last season, but he just couldn’t stay healthy.
So while this lineup won’t end up being the starting lineup, if you want offense, here’s who you go to. Albeit in just 19 minutes together, this group of guys roasted opposing defenses for 129.3 points per 100 possessions last season. Maybe with a bigger sample size this season we can see them do more damage to opposing defenses.
Trae Young is one of the best pick-and-roll players in the NBA, with great touch on his floaters and elite range. Clint Capela is an elite lob threat next to him.
Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter are incredibly similar players. Guys who are great off the catch and can also move off-ball. Solid off the dribble as well, really good three-level scorers that help make the offense flow.
Not to mention Danilo Gallinari, who offers some more shooting and a solid low post presence.
This lineup is lethal offensively and hopefully, we get to see this lineup more in 2022, as they don’t have any weaknesses. Crash in on the Young-Capela pick and rolls too much? Here are some snipers like Huerter, Bogdanovic, and Gallinari for you. Stay on the shooters, well Clint Capela and Trae Young will gladly dice you up down the middle.
There is no right answer to stopping this lineup and a lot of Hawks lineups in 2022 are just going to be too good to stop.
Brooklyn Nets
James Harden – Kyrie Irving – Joe Harris – Kevin Durant – Blake Griffin
Duh. The Brooklyn Nets might have assembled one of the best offensive lineups in NBA history. Remember at the start when we talked about how the most efficient offense ever played in 2021? We’ll you’re looking right at them. This skill is indeed unmatched.
The Big 3 of Harden/Irving/Durant is lethal on its own. These 3 played just 8 games together in the regular season but still had an offensive rating of 119.6, which if you couldn’t tell, is really good. Now they get to play together for a whole training camp + season. Good luck to everybody else.
While the Big 3 gets the spotlight (as they should), the rest of the roster isn’t exactly awful. Joe Harris has led the NBA in 3-PT% for 2 out of the last 3 seasons. Last season, he shot 52% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and he is one of the best overall shooters in the NBA.
Blake Griffin has found a career resurgence with the Nets. While the dunks don’t come with the same amount of aggressiveness as they used to, he’s a good rebounder and he even shot 38% from 3 last season in 26 games with the Nets.
“At full strength, nobody can beat us.” – James Harden
I second that. Nobody can beat the Nets if their big 3 remain healthy. Injuries were the only reason they didn’t win the title last year and if they stay healthy, I can’t say I see anybody beating them straight up.
Harden and Durant have seven scoring titles between them. Irving had a 50/40/90 season last year while also averaging 27 points per game. Joe Harris has a top-10 career TS% (62.4) among all players who have logged 10,000+ career minutes. Blake Griffin has five All-NBA selections and three top-10 finishes in MVP voting.
This is like Thanos with all of his infinity stones. Every single team is going to be overmatched when they play this team. They’re just that much better than everybody else and as long as injuries don’t hit them as hard as they did last year, they’re going to be just fine.
Scary Hours Indeed.
Chicago Bulls
Coby White – Lonzo Ball – Zach Lavine – DeMar DeRozan – Nikola Vucevic
The Bulls were a bottom 10 offensive team last season. It’s safe to say they are going to be better in 2022 with their new additions. But will they be top 10 good? I’m not so sure about that.
They added Nikola Vucevic alongside All-Star Zach Lavine at the trade deadline last season and they did a great job adding talent around that duo. The two main additions were DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, two players who should greatly help the Bulls offensively.
My one “problem” with this lineup is Coby White. I know if you want offense, he is the answer, but even then, I think Patrick Williams isn’t that far away from White. I know that White is better, but Williams doesn’t need the ball in his hands and he’s a great complimentary player.
It’s an argument between White, Williams, and even newly signed Alex Caruso, but I’m not sure I agree that Coby White should be in this lineup.
But, my disagreements aside, let’s look at this lineup. All 5 of these guys averaged better than 14 points per game last season. Everybody but DeRozan made more than two 3-pointers a night. Everybody averaged more than three assists. The worst free-throw shooter on this lineup is Lonzo Ball, at 78%.
These 5 guys bring a lot of offense, but they’re not entirely one-sided. They can all pass and shoot pretty well, so this would be a good run-and-gun lineup for Billy Donovan if he wants to use it. While I think that Caruso/Williams would fit better with the other 4 guys, Coby White isn’t a slouch or anything like that.
I think that the Bulls are being slept on. Everybody hated the addition of DeMar DeRozan, even if he is exactly what the Bulls needed. Billy Donovan’s high post system should benefit both Vucevuc and DeRozan. Lonzo Ball should be one of the best playmakers in the NBA and his hot shooting streak over the past few seasons should continue. Zach Lavine and Nikola Vucevic will continue to put the ball in the basket at an All-Star level.
I know the defense isn’t great and this team lacks size, however, Arturas Karnisovas sure knows how to build an offense.
Charlotte Hornets
Lamelo Ball – Terry Rozier – Miles Bridges – Gordon Hayward – PJ Washington
Eh. I have a hard time imagining the Hornets will be a top 10 offense this season. They have a lot of talent, but they’re young. They showed us flashes last season but I need them to be more consistent. If they can do that, they’re going to be a lot of fun to watch in 2022.
The Hornets ranked 23rd in offensive efficiency last season, so expect a jump. But I don’t know if it’s a jump of this proportion, especially with some of the teams that are being excluded on this list (spoiler alert, there are some bad exclusions for this one).
With all of this being said, that lineup for the Hornets is lethal. It features some great scorers as well as some small-ball center from PJ Washington. In 16 games together, this lineup scored 120.7 points per 100 possessions. For reference, this lineup was technically better than the Harden-Durant-Irving Big 3.
This lineup looks pretty good on paper. Rozier and Hayward are two excellent scorers, with Hayward acting as a secondary playmaker behind Lamelo Ball. Speaking of Ball, he’s the engine to the offense. He might not be a scoring machine just yet, but the Hornets need his creativity to give their offense another gear.
Miles Bridges was excellent as a starter last season, averaging 19 points and 7 rebounds on 64% TS in 19 games. Miles Bridges is better as a starter, so he might start some games this season for the Hornets. PJ Washington might not have the best of luck with Instagram models, but he’s a really good small-ball center who gives Lamelo Ball a vertical threat in the passing game.
However, I don’t think the Hornets’ offense will be crazy good this season. It will certainly take a jump, maybe into the early teens, but there are some teams that I would put above them. The good thing is, they’re young and they still have a lot of room to grow. As the great Michael Jordan once said;
“The ceiling is the roof”
Truly inspirational stuff.
Dallas Mavericks
Jalen Brunson – Luka Doncic – Tim Hardaway Jr. – Maxi Kleber – Kristaps Porzingis
Again, this one isn’t that hard. While 22-year old phenom Luka Doncic doesn’t have championship-level help around him, he’s got that Lebron-gene where he can make anything work. We’ve seen him carry teams for the past two seasons and with Dallas marginally improving this offseason? Anything Luka touches will work, to no end.
Doncic can do it all. Score, pass, shoot, rebound, the whole nine yards. He is so crafty for his age and he can just pick apart any defense. His shooting improved greatly from his 2nd to 3rd seasons and he is becoming lethal as a post-player. Doncic is an all-time offensive weapon in the making and this lineup suits his needs pretty well.
Jalen Brunson is one of my favorite role players in the NBA, a solid scorer, and a good secondary playmaker. Tim Hardaway is the microwave scorer. Maxi Kleber can stretch the floor and so can Kristaps Porzingis. While Porzingis has been disappointing in the playoffs, he’s still good and I think that if Dallas uses him right and he becomes more aggressive, they can still salvage a solid 2nd option behind Doncic.
The Mavericks have to find some new lineups that give them more offense around Doncic. They have a lot of gadget-type players like Maxi, Powell, Finney-Smith, etc. They need to find some lineups that click around Doncic. Jason Kidd has said that Porzingis will start at the 4 and Dwight Powell with start at the 5, a combo that is interesting but could work given how good Powell is in the pick-and-roll.
But whatever it is, this Mavericks team needs to give Luka some relief. In whatever shape or form that comes in, if they want to go further than the first round, their key to success is getting some help around Luka Magic.
Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry – Jordan Poole – Klay Thompson – Otto Porter Jr – Draymond Green
Again, this lineup is weird. The Warriors, like the Mavericks, aren’t exactly stacked around their Magnus Opus in Steph Curry. Curry is one of the best offensive weapons that the league has ever seen and easily the greatest shooter that has ever lived. But this lineup doesn’t exactly project strength.
We still don’t know if Klay Thompson is going to return to an All-Star level when he returns. Admittedly, defense is going to likely be Thompson’s biggest struggle. “Ain’t nothing wrong with his arm, so that boy’s gonna shoot.” Javale McGee is correct with that statement. That boy is going to shoot.
But if Thompson gives them that same elite shooting next to Curry, it’s even more space for everybody else. Draymond Green will make sure everybody is in line and deliver some beautiful passes. If those 3 return to dynasty form, the rest of the team just has to fill in the grey spaces.
But even if those 3 are back in sync, is it enough? The help around them isn’t exactly proven or anything like that.
The Warriors’ offense was 14th last season and it’s not crazy to see them back in the top 10, but I’m not fully sold yet. Andrew Wiggins seems unlikely to get the vaccine, so he’ll miss more than half of the season, a big blow to the Warriors.
In this lineup, Jordan Poole looks to be a solid secondary option, but Otto Porter? He’s not great, but the thing is, there’s not a whole lot of better options. Andre Iguodala? Nemanja Bjelica? James Wiseman? Jonathan Kuminga? Moses Moody? I’m not exactly thrilled with any of those options, to tell you the truth.
I do think that the Warriors’ offense will be good, but it will still have those moments where things sputter. They need to find stability down low offensively, likely meaning some young guys have to step up. I could see the Warriors having a great offense, but there are a lot of variables to think about before definitively saying so.
Milwaukee Bucks
Jrue Holiday – Donte DiVincenzo – Khris Middleton – Giannis Antetokounmpo – Bobby Portis
The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks were a machine offensively last season and they got better. We know they have weapons, but I do think that this is their best possible lineup, on both ends.
The first 4 guys in this lineup are set in stone and there’s no arguing that. While Jrue Holiday is an animal defensively, his offense doesn’t always show on the box score. He’s great as a facilitator and helps keep the offense going. He’s a very good pick-and-roll player and just a solid player all-around.
Donte DiVincenzo is more defense than offense, but he is a solid shooter.
Khris Middleton proved to be clutch late in games. His three-level scoring was crucial for the Bucks and he gives them an extra punch offensively when he has things going.
Giannis is Giannis. When used right, you can’t really stop him. He’s on his way to one of the greatest careers ever and he’s up there for the best player on the planet right now. Not much more you can say about the guy.
But who will start down low for the Bucks? Brook Lopez has flashes of elite level defense, but he overall regressed from 2020 to 2021 on that end. Bobby Portis had a career year last year and while the defense isn’t great or anything, I do think he’s the better fit.
While I doubt he can shoot 47% from 3 again, he’s still going to offer you that floor spacing that Lopez does. He’s a high energy player, he’s certainly going to battle for you defensively, and he’s a pretty good rebounder. It’s really close between him and Lopez, but I do think that I would give Portis the edge.
This lineup would be excellent. They have great defenders, great playmakers, they would be about as close to the Brooklyn Nets as you can get. I think that’s a compliment in of itself.
Phoenix Suns
Chris Paul – Cam Payne – Devin Booker – Mikal Bridges – Deandre Ayton
Last season, the quartet of Booker, Paul, Bridges, and Ayton played more minutes that any other four-some in the NBA. Those 4 guys put up 118.3 points per 100 possessions, so it’s clear that those 4 guys know how to play well with each other.
Paul is the conductor of the train. He is so crafty and when he wants to score, he’s pretty damn good at that too. Devin Booker is one of the best scorers in the NBA and is lethal in the mid-range. Mikal Bridges shot 43% from 3 last season and showed great improvements off the dribble. Deandre Ayton is great in the pick and roll and can score with finesse or physicality.
Bridges and Ayton should get much better this season. Bridges is entering his 3rd season and Ayton is entering his 4th, but both of them are getting a 2nd year with Chris Paul, which should continue to do wonders to their development.
Now, you would think that a forward like Jae Crowder or Cam Johnson would complete this lineup, but Cameron Payne kind of makes sense. The Suns gave the once unwanted Payne a 3 year contract and the duo of Payne + Paul is a good one.
The two logged just 84 minutes together last season, but they posted a 126.6 offensive rating in the process. This lineup gives Devin Booker free reign to score whenever he wants, as Payne can act as a secondary creator and ball-handler. Payne also helps space the floor.
While this lineup is a lot smaller than having Crowder/Johnson on the floor, it gives the Suns a lot of flexibility on offense. Look for a lot more Payne + Paul minutes together in 2022. It could prove to be a new wrinkle for Monty Williams and this Suns’ offense.
Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard – CJ McCollum – Norman Powell – Robert Covington – Larry Nance Jr.
My Blazers have been one of the most underwhelming teams over the past half decade. With that being said, we’ve always been good at putting the ball in the basket.
Offensive firepower has never been our problem and even with a new coach, I doubt we’ll falter. Damian Lillard is one of the best scorers in the NBA, averaging 25 points per game for the last 6 seasons. He’s an elite shooter and playmaker and the sole reason we make the playoffs every year.
CJ McCollum has averaged 20 points per game for the last 6 years, complimenting Lillard well enough. 2021 was supposed to be his All-Star season, but a foot injury derailed his hot start. McCollum’s 6 straight seasons of 20+ points is something only done by 8 other active players. While I do think McCollum has to go for us to get better, there’s no denying his talent.
Robert Covington can stretch the floor pretty well. Norman Powell proved to be a solid 3rd option after being acquired at the trade deadline last year. Portland re-signed him for 5 years and Powell brings great shooting and slashing abilities.
Now, at center, normally you would want Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic and Lillard are great together in the pick and roll and Nurkic is one of the better passing big guys in the NBA. But I don’t think he’s the same player anymore, unfortunately.
He’s been so injury prone and it’s left him a shell of his former self on both ends. Obviously he will be the starter, but Larry Nance is kind of perfect for what we need. He’s much more mobile and active. He’s a great defender in the passing lanes and he shot 36% from last season on 3.3 attempts per game.
This lineup would be a great run and gun offense. Nance can really run up and down the floor and I’m hoping we use him at center when Nurkic is out. I think that that would make things a lot easier on Dame, when we can just run the floor and avoid letting defenses getting set.
Like I said, offense is never a problem for the Blazers. However, we’ll have to see how that defense holds up this year. I’m not optimistic.
Utah Jazz
Mike Conley – Donovan Mitchell – Bojan Bogdanovic – Joe Ingles – Rudy Gay
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sure, you can score Utah. You’re offense is great. You play a modern game with spacing, movement, and a whole lot of 3-pointers.
Too bad your defense outside of Gobert is awful and you are doomed for settling for the 2nd round. Enjoy having another year like last year. Say hi to Mitt Romney for me.
Teams That Missed The Cut
These are teams that were (somehow) left off this list. These are teams that should have great offenses in 2022.
Denver Nuggets
I don’t know how they’re not on this list. I know Jamal Murray is going to be a portion of the season, but come on man. You have Nikola Jokic, the best offensive center in the game. He can score from all three levels and just might be the best passing big guy in the league. Not like he just won an MVP, or anything like that.
Michael Porter Jr. was historically good in his second season last year and he’s an elite scorer. Aaron Gordon is a very good slasher. Guards like Rivers, Barton, Campazzo, and Monte Morris should be able to hold up while Murray is out. I don’t see why they weren’t included on this list.
LA Lakers
The Lakers have a retooled offense that features a lot more shooting and spacing than it did last season. Lebron James and Anthony Davis are a great duo. If Russell Westbrook can work his way in with the offense, they will be very hard to stop.
Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo should continue to get better in the shot-making department. Jimmy Butler is still a good scorer from the mid-range. Kyle Lowry gives them a much needed floor general as well as some shooting. Tyler Herro is looking for a bounce-back 3rd season.
Not to mention the sniping proess of Duncan Robinson.
Philadelphia 76ers
If they’re able to trade Ben Simmons for someone like D’Angelo Russell, Bradley Beal, or Damian Lillard, they might just be the 2nd best offense in the East.
Joel Embiid is an animal in the post. Tobias Harris was an All-Star caliber player last year. Seth Curry and Danny Green are good shooters.
If the 76ers keep Ben Simmons? Then things won’t end well.
There is an argument for teams like Boston, New Orleans, or even the Clippers if Kawhi can come back earlier than expected. But these are the teams you’re going to expect near the top of all offensive categories in 2022.
What Are Your Thoughts On This List? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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