Ranking the Best NBA Back Courts 2018-2019 Offseason

Today, we rank the best point guard/shooting guard duos in the league! The way I am choosing who are the starters for certain teams is by looking at projected lineups so if somebody is not here, then that is why.

This will be highly controversial, but as always, comment below if you want an explanation or have any questions!

#30 Charlotte Hornets (Terry Rozier & Malik Monk)

This shouldn't be much of a surprise, after losing an all-star in Kemba Walker and a decent player in Jeremy Lamb, this is a major downgrade mainly as both cannot play defense.

#29 Cleveland Cavaliers (Darius Garland & Colin Sexton)

Garland and Sexton are both super young. so it is too early to tell if they can do a lot of damage in today's league. Sexton is a great play maker, but is short for a shooting guard and Garland might be injury prone.

#28 Memphis Grizzlies (Ja Morant & Dillon Brooks)

Ja is supposed to be a star in the league, but I'm not super sure, plus Dillon Brooks? This one doesn't need much explaining to do as it is almost the worst in the league.

#27 Dallas Mavericks (Jalen Brunson & Tim Hardaway Jr.)

This is mainly due to Brunson not having much playing time in his rookie season and Tim Hardaway Jr not doing much in the league. While Hardaway is a decent 3 & D shooter, he is not a top shooting guard in the league.

#26 Minnesota Timberwolves (Jeff Teague & Josh Okogie)

Teague is getting very old and is playing at a much lower level than when he was once an all-star in Atlanta. Okogie is super young but shows promise in being a pure lock down defender.

#25 Orlando Magic (D.J. Augustin & Evan Fournier)

These guys are sub par, but did have a bit of playoff success last season. Augustin hitting a clutch shot and Fournier is a decent two way player at best, but never near the top tier.

#24 New York Knicks (Dennis Smith Jr & R.J. Barrett)

Call me bold for not having them below, but I do feel like DSJ will be taking a massive jump this season and wants to be a franchise cornerstone for the Knicks. Also, RJ is going to play shooting guard as Kevin Knox will be the Small Forward.

#23 Miami Heat (Goran Dragic & Dion Waiters)

With Dragic going into a contract year, there is speculation if he will pick it up in order to receive a better contract. Only a few years ago, he was an all-star level player, and looks to get back to that. Dion Waiters isn't really worth talking much about though.

#22 Phoenix Suns (Ricky Rubio & Devin Booker)

The main part of why the Suns are so high on this list is Devin Booker, who should have been an all-star last season. Don't get me wrong, Ricky Rubio is a good play maker, but is no star.

#21 Detroit Pistons (Derrick Rose & Luke Kennard)

I do believe that D-Rose will never go back to his MVP form, but do I believe he can average 20 and 7? Definitely, which is why the Pistons are so high on this list, plus Kennard is a good 3&D player.

#20 San Antonio Spurs (DeJounte Murray & Bryn Forbes)

Many people forgot how Murray was a top five defensive guard in the league before his Torn ACL which sidelined him for the whole season. He is a bit young but has amazing qualities, as does Forbes.

#19 Chicago Bulls (Tomas Satoransky & Zach LaVine)

LaVine is arguably a top 6 Shooting Guard in the league, and is an offensive threat, but his defense in the only thing in question here. Tomas did great on the Wizards, and is reasonably young enough he could stick around with the Bulls for some time

#18 Atlanta Hawks (Trae Young & Kevin Huerter)

This is really bold, but Trae really turned it around after the all-star game, averaging around 20 and 8, which is very impressive for a rookie! Plus, Kevin Hueter showed flashes of brilliance and is similar to a young Klay Thompson.

#17 Los Angeles Lakers (Rajon Rondo & Danny Green)

While Rondo is one of the greatest play makers in NBA History, he is no where near his Celtics days. Plus, Green is a good 3&D shooter, but neither are top guards in there respective positions.

#16 Sacramento Kings (De'Aaron Fox & Buddy Hield)

Fox put the league by storm, showing that he has what it takes to become a star in the league, and is already a top ten point guard. Hield also took a massive jump, averaging near 21 and was lights out from three.

#15 Oklahoma City Thunder (Chris Paul & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)

Paul is still a great player in the league, and while he is not an all-star anymore, he can get you 17 and 9 on any night. SGA is super young with a bright future in today's league where it is good to be a tall point guard like him.

#14 Indiana Pacers (Malcolm Brogdon & Jeremy Lamb)

The only reason the Pacers are so low is that Oladipo is supposed to be out until January while healing from his injury. With Oladipo, find the Pacers borderline top ten for this ranking.

#13 Washington Wizards (Isiah Thomas & Bradley Beal)

While Beal is a top five shooting guard in the league, Thomas hasn't been good since his Celtics days a couple years back. If John Wall was healthy, Wizards would be a top five back court maybe even top three.

#12 New Orleans Pelicans (Lonzo Ball & Jrue Holiday)

This duo is pure clamps, but need to improve their offensive game if they want to be a top ten back court in the league. Plus, Lonzo is injury prone and that may stunt his development.

#11 Los Angeles Clippers (Patrick Beverley & Landry Shamet)

This is a slighty better version of the Pelicans, but with experience. Pat Bev can guard anyone in the league, and Shamet makes up the offense that Bev doesn't do much of.

#10 Toronto Raptors (Kyle Lowry & Norman Powell)

This might seem low for the reigning NBA Champions, but Kyle is not a top 5 point guard in the league, and nobody has really heard of Powell except during the postseason.

#9 Denver Nuggets (Jamal Murray & Gary Harris)

Denver fits in the range from 15-7, but I feel that ten is a perfect spot for them. Murray put on a show in the postseason and got a massive contract extension and Harris is a good shooter.

#8 Milwaukee Bucks (Eric Bledsoe & Wesley Matthews)

Bledsoe is a defensive stud who complements Giannis and Middleton perfect as a guy who can run the guards for the Bucks. Matthews is no where near his Portland days but can still shoot.

#7 Philadelphia 76ers (Ben Simmons & Josh Richardson)

Simmons could be a poor man's Magic Johnson by the end of his career and Richardson put up 20 points per game and was a borderline all-star for the Miami Heat last season.

#6 Boston Celtics (Kemba Walker & Jalen Brown)

Kemba is a top point guard in the league, but hasn't contributed wins to his old team, the Hornets. Maybe I am rating him and Brown too low based off that, but right now 6 is a good fit.

#5 Brooklyn Nets (Kyrie Irving & Caris LeVert)

I don't think Irving will be that good, and this is mainly due to his cancerous locker room presence while on the Celtics. I doubt his attitude has changed since then for the Nets.

#4 Utah Jazz (Mike Conley & Donovan Mitchell)

The Jazz have made it clear they want to win, and with Conley, they take the next step there. Conley is arguably the greatest player to never be an all-star and Mitchell is an emerging superstar.

#3 Houston Rockets (Russell Westbrook & James Harden)

On paper, this should be the best in the league, two MVP players on the same team. The only concern with these two is that there is only one ball and that will take a lot of sharing.

#2 Portland Trail Blazers (Damian Lillard & C.J. Mccollum)

Probably my favorite one in the league, Lillard and CJ have what it takes for a run, as seen when they made it to the Western Conference Finals last season. Plus, the chemistry between them is probably one of the best in the league.

#1 Golden State Warriors (Stephen Curry & D'Angelo Russell)

No brainier. Best Point Guard in the league with Curry and top seven point guard with Russell, obviously top dog.