NBA: Ranking the 4 Best Starting Lineups

Mar 02, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

With so many moves being made this offseason already, there are so many new superteams that have been born. So many trades and free agency acquisitions have made the NBA much more interesting because now, we’re all curious to see who wins it all. It’s going to be hard for them to stick with each other, of course, but which have the best players in their starting lineups?

There are plenty of teams that would be able to take down the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference, such as the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets, but like LeBron James said, “I ain’t got no worries.”

We’ll see about that, King!

1. Miami Heat: Chalmers, Wade, James, Battier, Bosh:

It’s no secret at all that the Heat have the best starting lineup in the NBA. Other than Norris Cole and Ray Allen, however, their bench is very weak, so they need a strong lineup. With three All-Stars and three of the best players in the universe, the Heat have to be number one on this list.

In 2005, Dwyane Wade single-handedly lead the Miami Heat to the Finals and beat the Dallas Mavericks. Respectfully, he has stepped down to let LeBron James become the face of the franchise. Despite a horrible loss to the Mavericks in 2011, the Heat have never let their heads drop and have now won back-t0-back championships.

2. Brooklyn Nets: Williams, Johnson, Pierce, Garnett, Lopez

Every single player in this starting lineup is capable of being an All-Star this season. Deron Williams may have had a slow season, but he’s still one of the most explosive point guards in the NBA, with the exception of Russell Westbrook. Johnson is the underrated clutch player in the NBA who has a sweet shooting stroke.

Pierce is another clutch player, and perhaps one of the best of all-time in that department. He will always take and make the big shot while making the right play. Garnett is a solid power forward who will give good production every single second he’s on the court. These two former Celtics bring a lot of heart to the roster.

Lopez is the big guy who was a replacement for Rajon Rondo in the All-Star game, but hey, he’s still an All-Star. He had a breakout season this year and has been put up in the same classification as Dwight Howard in terms of dominant centers in the game today. The Nets’ lineup is solid.

3. Houston Rockets: Lin, Harden, Parsons, Smith, Howard:

What’s amazing for Houston is that they have two stars in Harden and Howard in a small market. This gives them space to flourish and do well, as Howard didn’t play well in the big city.

The other guys like Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons are solid role players who are not quite stars yet but are on their ways. The Rockets are going to work very well together next season. Either that, or Howard isn’t motivated. This is how their roster looks on paper.

4. Golden State Warriors: Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee, Bogut:

This is the ultimate lineup. Only of these guys (David Lee) was an All-Star last year, but Stephen Curry was a snub, and is now considered the best shooter in the NBA today. Klay Thompson is in the top three for best shooters in the NBA. Those two create the Splash Brothers, a lethal combination that has teams running all over the place.

Iguodala — we all know him. He’s the guy who’s like a mini LeBron James, and knows how to do it all. He can rebound, shoot, handle the ball, and pass the ball as well. He’s perfect for helping Curry thrive as the shooting guard and moving Thompson over to the small forward position. Lee is an All-Star who will continue to be a monster on the glass as well as on offense.

Andrew Bogut is quite a puzzle. He’s a great defender, but his offense is going to have to come into play at some points. All the Warriors would need for him is about seven points per game.