NBA / Sep 11, 2008 / 5:50 pm
Who has the best frontcourt trio in the NBA?
Jermaine O’Neal (photo. Stephen Hill)In today’s Toronto Star, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo said that last year’s Opening Night starting center, Andrea Bargnani, should see more time at small forward this year following the arrival of Jermaine O’Neal. With Bargnani (6-11), Chris Bosh (6-10) and J.O. (6-11) manning the 3-4-5 spots, Toronto will have the largest front line in the NBA this side of the Lakers trio of Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.
While those two groups are the biggest, who is the League’s best three-man frontcourt combination?
September 11th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Michorizo says:
Off subject Austin and I don’t mean to put Dime on blast or bother you, but is there anyway you can help me out on the summer giveaway prize I am to receive. I never got an email.
September 11th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Joe says:
I think it might just be Orlando. Superman, Hedo, and Rashard, that’s one heck of a front line.
September 11th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Coop says:
Well only the following have decent 3/4/5 starters:
LA
NO
Toronto
GS
Philly
Phx
Utah
I’d go with NO or Philly I think. I’m counting Iggy as a SF (as he should be)
September 11th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Tyrone says:
Gotsta go with them Lakers y’all - with Odom, Gasol and Byrum rockin’ it together, it’s hard to see anyone beatin’ them y’all. Mad props to Lakers management for hookin’ this team up.
True thugz never lie.
Tyrone
September 11th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Coop says:
I forgot Orlando haha. I’m a pro scout!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
QuEst?? says:
melo,marin, hunter jajajajjaajjajaj
September 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
nick says:
how are bynum and gasol gonna play together. bosh and jo have a better chance at being better. both are petter perimeter players where the lakers players are more back to the basket scorers.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
English Off The Board says:
The Lakers are an obvious look, but i think Lamar is not as consistant as those whose blood is a shade of purple of gold like to believe. Bynum is unproven as a superstar, and a superstar team needs a superstar big.
No hate intended, i would love to see bynum prove me wrong but i think he will be dissapointing this season.
Phx is a big shout, depending obviously on one certain 7 foot plusser. But if i had to pick any 3-4-5 of any team in the L to go out there night after night and never dissapoint, i would go for Orlando too.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
T Dubbs says:
Easy answer:
The Lakers.
I want to see Bargani defend the real SFs in the league.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
QuEst?? says:
fuck jameer nelson!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
The saint says:
the rockets….ron artest yao tmac
September 11th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
HAS to be the Lakers! Too tall too much skill. Easy.
Homeboy still thinks he’s actually getting a prize he won, it was all a joke!! Ha ha ha
September 11th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
English Off The Glass says:
Yo someone expand on this competition prize. Im lost.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Three Stacks says:
Lakers don’t need Bynum to be a superstar. People are trippin if they really think Laker fans believe Bynum’s gonna come in and be a superstar. We just want him to be good, put up numbers like he did last yr, which isn’t asking for superstardom.
The only problem I have w/ the Lakers front line is, they don’t have much variety. I’d rather have a better shooter at the 3. Peja, West, and Chandler is probably the best balanced. Rashard, Hedo, and Dwight is pretty good. How about Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Al Horford as sleepers?
September 11th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Dagomar says:
Probably the Lakers, Jazz, Rockets and Raptors and Magic are at the top of the list. Hard to say yet because we have to see how the Raptors players perform this year (injuries? How will Bargnani improve - and defend Bron at the 3?), how Bynum recovers from injury, how Artest handles the 4 spot (and if Yao doesn’t get injured), etc. Weird though, it seems that after the league’s been getting smaller for so long, it might be getting bigger again. At least that seems to be the trend at the moment in LA and TO.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Coop says:
It doesnt ‘have’ to be LA at all! Gasol is no elite defender (or post guy, come to that) and Bynum is over-rated). LO is a stoner. Enough said. They’re good, no doubt, but not great imo.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
AB40 says:
gotta be Lebron Lebron and Lebron.
jerome james, eddy curry and malik allen gotta be high on this list. Miami has no front court.
Perk, KG and Pierce is preaty nice
September 11th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
English Off The Glass says:
@ Three Stacks
I know Lakers fans don’t think Bynum is going to be a superstar, i said it was Odom who wasn’t going to step up into Lakers fans expectations. I said Bynum would be a general dissapointment, but thats just a gut feeling, and it usually happens to young players who have had mad hype at the end of the previous season. Bynum was out and purple-n-golds were all mad excited about Andrew comin back like he was some sort of saviour.
Excuse my hyperbolaic license a little but the lakers have always dominated with uber-star centres like Shaq and Kareem as well as a solid back court. That has always been the key to lakers success. Can you imagine if Dwight Howard played for the lakers.
now theres your ring.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
kg fan says:
of course i like pierce kg and perk, but i agree with three stacks, atlanta could be sleepers
September 11th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Eazy-Yi says:
Toronto are going to be pretty good on paper as are the Lakers but a team that has 2/3 of a solid frontcourt and the other 1/3 is a maybe, are the Houston Rockets. Ron Artest - Solid, does more than hold his own. Luis Scola, did you guys see the Semi Final match he played against USA? fantastic and that’s against all NBA team member. Finally the biggest if of them all standing in at 7′6″, Mr. Ming, he can put up solid numbers when healthy and before he went down last year the rockets were laying down the ground work for a very productive season even if Yao was unfortunate enough to go down again, The Rockets would be one of the most fantastic small-ball teams ever!
September 11th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Joe says:
@Coop….really? those are the ONLY teams with DECENT 3/4/5 combos?
Hmmm….I think you would also have to include
Houston - Battier, Scola, Yao
Boston - Pierce, KG, Perkins
NJ - Jefferson, Villanueava, Bogut
LAC - Thornton, Camby, Kaman
Portland - Webster/Outlaw, Aldridge, Oden
September 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Coop says:
Joe,
I meant top-tier 3 man combos. The one’s I mentioned have top guys at all three spots- those ones ^ are nice but Scola and Battier are hardly all-stars, Perkins is just average, Milwaukee (not NJ haha
have no star there, Thornton isnt anything great and neither are outlaw or webster.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Joe says:
My bad on the NJ/Milwaukee mix up, but you really think Dalembert is a top guy/all star type?
What about Bargnani? When did he become a top guy?
Biedrins is a top guy?
Come on now, if you are throwing teams out because they are weak at one of the 3 spots, you have to do it across the board
September 11th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
James says:
thorton, camby, kaman
September 11th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Brown says:
How does Bargnani even equate? He’s not even their starter. He’ll see spot minutes at the 3 at most. They’ll only use him there on mismatches. Kapono or Moon are better options to throw into that trio.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
parinaz suns says:
i hate the spurs but duncan by himself is better or does as much as any other trio
September 11th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
isotope says:
Sorry. Yao + Scola + Artest. I’ll take them before I take any other frontcourt.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
ZACH says:
Prince, Sheed and Maxiell- Hate all you want
September 11th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
AY says:
I have a hard time saying anyone other than the orlando 3; all the other teams have an excellent PG or SG to either get them the ball or create space with great shooting. The guys on the magic have to play with jameer and freakin’ keith bogan. I mean, it’s like the vitamin water comercial with shaq killing that horse; are you really going to fault the horse if it lost because it had to drag shaq’s fat ass around? Just playing with those two and getting to the playoffs is a miracle in itself.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Jah says:
LA Lakers.
Detroit Pistons.
‘Nuff said.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
solomon says:
how about cleveland
LBJ (6′9″) / sideshow (6′11) / Z (7′3″)
and takin’ it up a notch, indiana
mikey d (6′9″ - SG) / granger (6′9″) / troy (6′11″) / foster (6′11″)
we’re talking height, right?
and fuck nba.com’s listing… anyone believe bosh is just 6′10″?
thought so.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
AY says:
If anyone thinks detroit is better with the current roster than swapping their three bigs with orlando, you cannot be thinking clearly. Swap jameer and keith bogan with chaucey billups and rip hamilton for orlando; i don’t even know how to quantify that upgrade. +15 games? +20? +25? orlando finished 52-30 last year. 52-30 starting jameer and keith bogan in the NBA!
September 11th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Luke says:
pistons, no questions asked.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
solomon says:
seriously, its o-town…
they just dont have anyone good enough to run the show… man, give them even someone like ,heck, luke ridnour or travis diener, and they’d play better ball…
were out like respect for jameer…
September 11th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
TJ says:
I’d go with Boston. The three compliment each other well and provide all you could need from a frontcourt.
Yea, Perkins isn’t an all-star, but neither are Bynum, Odom, Bargnani, etc. What he does is provide what they need: Size, rebounds, and blocks.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
TJ says:
On a sidenote, Orlando has to have (hands down) the worst two guards in the league.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
J says:
eddy curry, jerome james and zach randolph may not dominate the front court but they could sure dominate the food court
September 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
SteveNash says:
Eddy Curry / David Lee / Danilo Galinari
September 11th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
SteveNash says:
Isn’t McGrady a SF?
September 11th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
d says:
Bargnani/Bosh/JO
they just beat out gasol, odom, and bynum
September 11th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
funkymonkey says:
NO - Chandler/West/Stojakovic
September 11th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
marcus the great says:
i’ll take Utah(Okur, Boozer, AK) and Houston(Yaowzer, Ronnie, Tracy)
thanks
September 12th, 2008 at 12:46 am
heartbreaker85 says:
much as id like to say LA, you have to look at their strengths when they play together. gasol, odom and bynum haven’t done jack with each other, and are easily going to be in each other’s way since none of em can shoot from the outside (save for pau)
my bet’s on west-chandler-peja. you got the rebounder in chandler who can block shots, a legit low post threat in west who rebounds (take that shaq/curry) and a tall 3 poitn shooter to spread the floor for the two bigs.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Willis says:
How abotu Peja, David West and Tyson. Or LaMarcus, Oden, and Roy.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:08 am
solomon says:
lol @ post#37
no love for hotlanta?
horford / j-smoove / marvin
September 12th, 2008 at 1:32 am
bill says:
Nets - yi, sean williams, brook lopez
memphis aint bad either with their new signings -
gay, warrick, gasol/hadadi
wolves is young and exciting - brewer, big gay al, love
Sac is nice with Salmons, Mikki Moore and B-Mill
But hands down best frontcourt trio goes to OKC Thundercats - Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison
September 12th, 2008 at 2:57 am
JT$ says:
1}}BOS Celtics - Garnett, Perkins, Pierce
2}}ORL Magic - Howard, Lewis, Turkoglu
3}}LA Lakers - Bynum, Odom, Gasol
4}}DET Pistons - Wallace, Prince, Maxiell
5}}HOU Rockets - Yao, Scola, Artest
6}}PHI 76ers - Dalembert, Brand, Iguodala
7}}NO Hornets - West, Chandler, Stojakovic
8}}UTAH Jazz - Okur, Boozer, Kirilenko
9}}TOR Raptors - O’Neal, Bosh, Bargnani
10}}PHX Suns - Diaw, Shaq, Stoudamire
September 12th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Amar says:
okay, #1 — you can’t just assume that guys that look good on paper will actually be good in a real game. artest hasn’t played in Htown yet, who knows how that’s going to end up. similarly, gasol and bynum haven’t played together . . . somehow it’s going to be perfect though, right lakers fans?
I know that Utah has three guys who have been all-stars (andrei, boozer and memo), and have played together for 4 years and average 7.5 playoff wins every season they make it there.
that’s pretty good if you ask me.
are they the best on paper? no. will they give trouble to any other frontcourt? yes. (add in millsap and you have a pretty good core of fowards, but then again, that would make it too much like this blog article already: http://allthatjazzbasketball.blogspot.com/2008/08/depth-perception-power-forward.html )
September 12th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Coop says:
Joe,
Fair point. You’re right about Bargs. I class Beidrins and Dalembert as ‘top guys’ simply because of the dearth of talent at the Centre spot. They’re better than a lot of starting Cs.
September 12th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Rob says:
the Truth, KG & Perk !!
Pierce isn’t that tall but still strong & fast enough to take other taller 3’s off the dribble. Plus, you have to respect his outside game.
KG is just KG. Brings it on both ends of the floor.
Although Perk isn’t that good (yet). He’s young & big. Plus, he has kinda of a mean streak (just like PP & KG (sometimes))
September 12th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Coop says:
Young, big with a mean streak means nothing. You said he’s not that good and you’re right, and that’s what counts. Thinking about it, only 4 teams should really be in this discussion:
Orlando
NO
Philly
Utah
As they’re the only teams with quality at every spot as opposed to 2 great players with a 3rd who’s just average (Detroit, Boston, LA etc)
September 12th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Coop says:
actually scratch Philly.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Rob says:
I know Perk isn’t there yet. But he has shown some signs that he could be alright.
But I’m just saying…the game is still only played with one ball and I’m pretty sure Pierce & Garnett want it more than Perk. So that’s why to me he’s good fit because he knows what he’s supposed to do. Make his easy shots, set picks, rebound, try to intimidate,…
Pierce & Garnett have enough talent & experience to compensate Perk’s (current) shortcommings on offense.
September 12th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Soopa says:
Id go with Scola, Artest and Yao
September 12th, 2008 at 4:55 am
loot says:
i like this:
thornton, camby, kaman
September 12th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Coop says:
Rob,
Fair enough. I took the question to mean ‘most talented’ as opposed to ‘work the best together’. Who knows?
September 12th, 2008 at 7:30 am
English Off The Glass says:
The clippers have really solidified there 345 but it just depends on Barons ability to really lead a team who are contenders. Post season contenders, that is, not ring. Camby is a beast and will relish in the attention he is going to get as the Clippers become a team to watch. Everyone loves a rags to riches story and Camby is going to be one of the protagonists.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:40 am
TJ says:
I’d rather have 2 “greats” and 1 player who does the dirty work than 3 “goods” if the 2/1 group is a more complete unit. I don’t think it matter that they aren’t equally talented. The question is Best Frontcourt, not Frontcourts with Equally Divided Talent.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Kobeef says:
Boston is #1 and could be #2 because Perkins is pretty weak. KG and Piece are out of this world good and ate Gasol and Odom alive in the finals. Pierce will be more confident and aggressive this year after going toe-to-toe with Kobe and taking the ‘chip.
I think you have to go with the lakers at #2. They won with west with 2/3 of their starting frontcourt. People can hate on Bynum but the numbers say he averaged a double double at just 20 years old. There are better days ahead for Odom, Gasol, Bynum.
Orlando is probably #3 simply because Hedo has been a better NBA player than Bargnani. Dwight + Rashard = Bosh + JO in terms of talent. I agree with the comments above that Orlando has one of the worst starting backcourts in the NBA. They have three all-stars in the frontcourt and a d-league backcourt. Jameer is vastly over rated.
Toronto is #4 but there are a lot of question marks there. Will Bargnani turn into an NBA starter? Will JO return to all star form? If yes, they are very good….but the wheels could come off and I would not be surprised.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Big V says:
Curry/Randolph/Lee
September 12th, 2008 at 9:55 am
rodnets says:
1st Peja, West, Chandler
2nd Artest, Scola, Yao
3rd Kirilenko, Boozer, Okhur
September 12th, 2008 at 10:29 am
P_Dizzle says:
Houston and Utah
Houston - Yao, Scola, Artest, Battier
Utah - Boozer, Memo, AK, Millsap
September 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
it aint easy bein green says:
pierce - kg - perk (not gettin enough love!!!!)
west - chandler - peja
d. howard - rash - hedu
September 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Top_Gun says:
I remember how no one in Utah could stop Bosh. Bargnani doesn’t excel at anything except 3 pointers. Philadelphia’s front court can’t shoot.
I’d rank them :
1)LA complete front court, back court - Kobe…insane
2)Boston
3)Toronto
September 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Tha Boddy says:
You all are putting up groups who have not even played together yet and this group has been goin strong for 3straight years with 3All-Star appearances during that tenure
Nobody is giving the Wizards any love…look at this front
Butler-SF 18-22ppg 6-8rpg 4apg
Jamison-PF 17-22ppg 7-11rpg 1.6apg
Haywood-C 8-12ppg 6-9rpg 1.3apg
and all that is not based projection it’s fact
September 13th, 2008 at 12:28 am
the mamba says:
Tie…
Odom, pau, bynum
And
Artest, scola, yao
I guess we will see who is better in the west conf finals. Throw in mcgrady vs kobe and im dying to see this series happen