Recently, a lot of talk has been going back and forth among NBA players concerning which team has the best backcourt combination in the league. On Thursday, Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan joined the conversation.
DeRozan had a breakout year last season and earned his first trip to the All-Star game. He also was a part of the USA's gold medal team at this year's FIBA World Cup. He posted a photo on his Instagram of him laughing hysterically alongside running mate Kyle Lowry with the caption "They said what, haha!!? We will see...":
This all started on Tuesday when Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal said he believes he and John Wall are "definitely the best backcourt in the league," according to ESPN. Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters refuted that claim, saying he and Kyrie Irving are the best point guard-shooting guard combination playing right now.
"That's nonsense," Waiters said Tuesday. "(Beal is) supposed to say that, but I know deep down, he's not messing with me and Ky (Kyrie Irving). I think me and Ky are the best backcourt, young backcourt. That's all."
The statistical argument for best backcourt is close. Here are DeRozan and Lowry's stats from the 2013-14 season:
DeRozan: 22.7 PPG, 4.0 APG, 4.3 RPG, 43% FG, 31% 3P, 82% FT
Lowry: 17.9 PPG, 7.4 APG, 4.7 RPG, 42% FG, 38% 3P, 81% FT
These are Wall and Beal's individual numbers:
Wall: 19.3 PPG, 8.8 APG, 4.1 RPG, 43% FG, 35% 3P, 80% FT
Beal: 17.1 PPG, 3.3 APG, 3.7 RPG, 42% FG, 40% 3P, 79% FT
These are Irving and Waiters' individual stats:
Irving: 20.8 PPG, 6.1 APG, 3.6 RPG, 43% FG, 36% 3P, 86% FT
Waiters: 15.9 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.8 RPG, 43% FG, 37% 3P, 68% FT
DeRozan and Lowry were statistically the highest scoring backcourt among the three combinations, combining for over 40 points a game. With so many great guards in the NBA today, it'll be interesting to see who joins the conversation next.
Who do you think is the best backcourt combination in the NBA? Give us a follow and let us know at @SportsWN and @doricsam83.
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