The Top Trios in the NBA
Is CP part of the fifth best trio in the League?On his blog, ESPN’s Chris Broussard makes the spot-on observation about how the NBA has evolved from a League dominated by dynamic pairs (Jordan and Pippen, Olajuwon and Drexler, Malone and Stockton, Payton and Kemp, AI and Aaron McKie, er, I mean…) into one based on successful three-man operations.
He ranks the top ten trios in the League right now as:
1. KG, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen
2. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili
3. Kobe, Bynum, Gasol
4. T-Mac, Yao, Artest
5. Chris Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler
6. Nash, Amare, Shaq
7. Chauncey, Rip, ‘Sheed
8. Dirk, Kidd, Josh Howard
9. Arenas, Caron, Antawn Jamison
10. Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller
What are your thoughts? How would you rank the best trios in the League? Who is missing from the list?
Source: ESPN.com
August 1st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Caf says:
Bosh, O’Neal, Calderon??
August 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
craig990 says:
I disagree with #3!.. but good list.. no complaints!
How can we rate Bynum?.. He hasnt done anything yet!.. Yes he has shows some flashes last season.. but he gon injured again!!
We dont know if he would be the smae Bynum we saw last year.. or if he took a few steps back!. He isnt proven ad hasnt shown.. much!
Lakers current Trio is Odom, Kobe , Gasol… Untill Bynume returns strong.. he is out of the picture
August 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
HenryZ says:
How about the Toronto Raptors – Chris Bosh, Jermaine O’Neal & Jose Calderon
August 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Jay G says:
1st!What about Hedo, Howard and Lewis?
August 1st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
craig990 says:
Oh.. and lets not forget..
Hedo, Lewis, Howard
Williams, Boozer, Ak47/Okur.. should have made that list too!
August 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
srb says:
Some of those haven’t even played together.
Paul, West, Chandler should be higher.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
ticktock6 says:
Heh. I actually did a post on this earlier today. Basically I think he should’ve waited on ranking “paper” Big Threes like Bryant-Bynum-Gasol and Artest-Yao-McGrady over the rest. I mean, do we rank the teams based on stats? No. We play a season. These guys haven’t played together yet. They should get a big fat asterisk. I’d move Detroit’s guys up and Dallas and Phoenix down (hard to be a Big Three if you just came off getting ridiculed in the playoffs for part of your trio being old/irrelevant).
Hornets (and Lakers) really have a Big Four though. They also get 16 PPG from a guy who’s not even in that list.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Blue says:
Wade, Beasely and Marion! c’mon now!!!
August 1st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
CHEE says:
this is how my list goes:
1)celts
2)NO
3)houst
4)wash
5)spurs
6)LA(take byrum out and put odom)
7)orl
8)philly
9)phon
10)dal
August 1st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
aap007 says:
U serious amare nash shaq ahead of sheed chauncy nd rip…..r u serious……
August 1st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
ejay225 says:
They might not make the list yet, but after this season, you’ll have to add Roy-Oden-Aldridge. With a backup Big 3 of Bayless-Rudy-Outlaw. It’s a great time to be a Blazer fan, that’s for sure!
August 1st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
GsusX says:
i second what #4 is sayin… and how bout j-rich, crash, and emeka?? and i’m not so sure bout havin the suns on here, shaq isnt half the player he used to be, and in my mind, that keeps them off this list
August 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
HenryZ says:
The top trios in the latter future could include the Miami Heat – Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion & Michael Beasley
August 1st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Octopus Jonny says:
If we’re gonna throw out on-paper lists what about
BAYLESS/ROY/ODEN/ALDRIGE?
August 1st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Austin Burton says:
At least with the T-Mac/Yao/Artest group, we’ve seen each guy play for long enough to make an educated guess on how they’ll play together. Bynum had one half-a-season of quality play — who knows what he’ll look like when he’s back or when he has to share the paint with another seven-footer.
Utah’s group of Deron/Boozer/Okur should be on there.
I’d say Detroit’s top three is Chauncey, Rip and Tayshaun rather than Sheed.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Jayo says:
How bout Milwaukee? Mo, Redd, & RJ. Or the ATL w/ Bibby, J-Smoove, & Joe Johnson.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
KenAdams says:
Seriously! How did Deron and Boozer not make it? They are one of the best dynamic pair! You could just throw in Okur or AK-47 and make them dynamic trio or quartet. Come on!
August 1st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
Whoever rated those trios was seriously tunnel visioning his shit.
What about the Bucks, Atl, Toronto?
And how you gonna rate trios that havent played together?
Remember how great the McGrady Hill duo was? No, because they never played together, but Broussard probably thought that was the second coming of Jordan and Pippen.
And the fact that its all about trios now is pure BS also. Mike and Scottie had RODMAN, you might have heard of him. Karl and John had Hornecek. Payton and Kemp had Hawkins/Schrempf, I remember Big Dog, Allen and Cassell, I remember Kareem, Magic and Worthy. I remember Bird, McHale and the Chief.
So in conclusion, Broussard is full of shit and probably had nothing to write about, duos changing to trios, why in hell is this guy writing about basketball, he seems more like someone fit to write about being dumb
August 1st, 2008 at 4:07 pm
rangerjohn says:
here is the ONLY problem i have with this list, #3,4,10 cant be put on that list (AT LEAST NOT YET) considering none of those 3 “trios” have ever even played 1 game or even had a single practice together.
give it some time and lets see if gasol and bynam can even co exist, or if artest and yao come to blows, #10 i dont see much issues to arise there besides injury.
to early to call them a top 10 trio, just like it is to early to call oden a top anything center, got to at least play a game 1st.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Dagomar says:
To me this just reinforces how badly the Cavaliers are run.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
tommy the cat says:
http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/the-top-nba-trio/
August 1st, 2008 at 4:22 pm
LakeShow84 says:
What Dagomar??
LBJ/Ilkauskas/Gibson
LOLOLOLOL
August 1st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
isotope says:
My problems with the list:
Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum? What about Odom?
Chandler? U sippin a lil too much hornet juice.
Nash, Amare, and Shaq shouldnt even be on the list.
The Wiz should be higher.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Godzilla says:
What about Lebron, ummm..and…umm….wait i know this……..aw crap he ain’t got nobody.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
McLovin says:
snow/varejo/tractor traylor?
August 1st, 2008 at 4:43 pm
isotope says:
are we talking about their success as a team or the individual successes? If we’re doing as individuals then Peja should take Chandler’s post.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:43 pm
GayforRudy says:
This list blows.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
GayforRudy says:
Everyone should probably pull their heads out of their asses and realize that Ray Allen is done. Thus making your #1 ranking here garbage. Go suck off the ESPN announcers some more!
August 1st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
D.H. says:
Its already been stated, but the first three names that popped to mind were Wade/Marion/Beasley. After this season I’m thinking those three would be no brainers to include.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Sacto - J says:
How about Kevin Martin, Beno, and Miller….Why do I hear crickets?
I see the point, but have to agree with an earlier post that there has always been a prominent 3rd / 4th fiddle to all the great duos, thus making them not…duos..? And in general, I think the mindset of any GM when building a team is not to make a prominent trio, but to add as much talent as possible to the team no matter how many superstars you may have. Now if Sacramento could just get one….
August 1st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
GayforRudy says:
Any list that contains a former or current Laker center is invalid. Bynum hasn’t done anything. Shaq single handedly lost the Spurs series…guy is garbage.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:47 pm
GayforRudy says:
Brad Miller is also done. Pull your head out
August 1st, 2008 at 5:02 pm
mbw says:
mbw all the way Marion Beasley Wade
August 1st, 2008 at 5:06 pm
McLovin says:
conley mayo gay!
August 1st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
rob stewart says:
Can someone please acknowledge A.I., Carmelo, and K-mart!
August 1st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Diego says:
I think the Wizards trio has got to be ranked higher than 9. Come on! Shaq and Nash are pretty much done.
How about Cheech, Chong and Josh Howard?
August 1st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
weezy f says:
how about jefferson love and foye
August 1st, 2008 at 5:42 pm
nick says:
some squads should not make that list. like brand on philly, none of them players have played with brand.
And if ur gonna put bynum with the lakers who was injured you might as well put the raptors trio up of calderon, bosh and jo.
Probably would have been easier just to make a trio of everyteam in the league and go from there so that no one compalains about their squad not being there.
Like in a couple yrs the clips trio of baron, gordon and al thorton could be deadly.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:42 pm
weezy f says:
josh howard arrested for speeding and drag racing and a whole lot of weed in his car
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8404044/Howard-charged-with-speeding,-drag-racing?FSO2&ATT=MA
August 1st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Jim says:
ha ha weezy, I think you added the weed out of habit; doesn’t mention possession, which you know it would.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:53 pm
weezy f says:
it sin his car somehwere they just havent found it haha
and nellie won 6.3 million dollars in court from mark cuban and this isnt nba related but i found it funny from braylon edwards on his future in the nfl
“The groundwork for the cake is laid” what the fuck does that even mean!?!? cake???
August 1st, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Luigi says:
lol Josh shud just leave DAL. haha
okay here. the wiz shud be higher. not bkuz i have insane bias on WSH. but when the big 3 was healthy. they were the top team in the east. now if they’re healthy. they have potential to compete with BOS.DET. n all the other big dawgs in the east.
but the trios up there. osme of them havent played wit each other so we’ll see.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
NYCBalla says:
First off, how the hell do some of these trios get props if nobody has even seen them play together? Second, what about Williams, Boozer, & Okur in UT? Let me guess, too many white guys (booz and williams look mixed)?
August 1st, 2008 at 7:07 pm
scrum says:
seriously…no Deron Williams / Boozer / Memo?
If Tyson Chandler makes a trio because he gets ally-oops, Memo can make a trio because of his threes. 2 of the trios on the list haven’t even played together yet! Broussard seriously lost some credibility with this list.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:17 pm
scrum says:
make that 3 trios (76ers/Lakers/Rockets)
August 1st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Willis says:
Kevin Martin, Brad Miller, uhhhhh Mikki Moore…
haha.
Kings might have the best rookies this season w/ Sean Singletary, Jason Thompson, Donte Green, and Bobby Brown.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Willis says:
also Davis/Kaman/Camby should make this list.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Ernesto says:
The biggest problem with this list – and it’s only a minor one – is that it’s an exercise in written masturbation for everyone involved. Even me, you might suppose.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:20 pm
JC says:
So disrespectful to L.O. in LA. Pretty sure he’s a reason they played in the Finals… more so than Bynum IMHO. till Bynum does more than ball in a contract year (yup I said it) he’s 4th on that squad…
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 am
HUH!!!! says:
@GayforRudy
if you at all watched the NBA finals this year you would know Ray Ray probably should have been the MVP!
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 am
Amar says:
not putting a utah team up there (one of the top teams in the L) is silly. how about a top 4? deron, boozer, memo and AK47 ??? (european basketball MVP for 2007)
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
Celts Fan says:
Here’s my list (any one that hasn’t played together yet is not considered.)
1A. Paul, KG, Ray (@GayforRudy – post 28 -, you woulda looked right until Ray dropped a Finals record # of 3s after disappearing until the middle of the ECF. All Ray has to do is be able to shoot, not carry an entire team any more.)
1B. TD, Manu, Parker (not this year, but long term, they have 3X the hardware. Can’t be a complete homer on this one. Some of us may find them boring – I don’t personally, simple, consistent execution is very impressive to watch – but Manu’s one of the best int’l players ever and TD’s one of the top 10 players ever, and TP seems like he’s on the fast track to the Hall w/ the other 2.)
3. CP3, West, Chandler (anyone saying Chandler’s only on here for catching oops completely ignores defense, that’s where he makes his $, that, and yes, catching oops!)
4. Chauncey, Rip, ‘Sheed/Tayshaun (either one. I’ll keep them in this slot regardless. Sheed’s better offensively, Tay’s an Olympian. Can’t go wrong w/ either choice)
5. Kobe, Gasol, Odom (would be #3 if we KNEW Bynum would do what we all think he will OR if Odom hadn’t crapped all over himself in the Finals.)
6. Deron, Boozer, AK47 (honestly think these guys are gonna get a ring w/in the next 5 years. They’re on the rise.)
7. Gil, Caron, Jamison (if they could all stay healthy at the same time, they’d probably be higher cuz they’d have gone far enough in the Playoffs they’d have to be, but it seems like they never can. Still plenty of time though.)
8. Nash, Amare, Shaq
9. Dwight, Rashard, Hedo
10. Joe Johnson, Horford, JSmooth (obviously assuming he’s back there next year.)
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
P_Dizzle says:
Who’s missing?
The Jazz trio of D-Will, Boozer, and Okur.
The only teammates on the Olympic squad are Boozer and Williams. Boozer and Okur were All-Stars in ‘07. We all know that Williams should have been there last season, but will get his soon.
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
P_Dizzle says:
I agree w/ other posters. You can’t put a trio up that hasn’t played together. They haven’t even proved anything.
On that same note you can’t put the Sixers w/ AI on that list. He hasn’t even signed yet. So they might not even be a trio, although he is more than likely going to be a Sixer come tip-off. Still no guarantees.
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
doc says:
I dont agree with duos used to run the league.When?Mike,Scottie,Horace-Rodman-Kukoc all had they run.Keem ran shit by hiself Clyde hopped on his back for 1 out of 2.As somebody stated before the Celts and Lakers had 3 superstars.Even the Sixers had Doc Moses and Toney.Chris dont know what the fuck he talking about.Payton and Kemp had Detlef.Stock and Malone wouldnt see no finals games without Horny making it rain from deep.People forget about the older ballers.
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
shake&bake says:
@post 18- you say that you can’t rate trios that haven’t played together yet but you also say that toronto and milwaukee should be included
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Billy Sunday says:
what about westbrook durant and green?
August 4th, 2008 at 5:24 am
kowtz says:
Shut the F up to those who say you can’t list those who haven’t played yet…
If this was the late 80’s and I put in Bird, Magic and Jordan, assuming they all got traded to the bulls, noboy would be saying, Oh don’t put them on number coz they haven’t played yet…
Puss…
August 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
sweetv0mit says:
how about clevelands lebron/lebron/lebron?… hahahahahaha
August 4th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
bologna shooter says:
how about the knicks, jared jefferies, malik rose, and jerome james…. those 3 are deadly
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
mark says:
You guys are all fuckin retarted… billups isnt even on the pistons and they fuckin suck, prince is a skinny broke ass version of lebron james, Wallace needs to quit bitchin and just shut the fuck up, and Rip needs to stop being a pussy and lose the mask.