Sir Charles in Charge
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NBA: Which teams have had the best benches in 2017-18?

By Dillon Dente

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Andre Iguodala
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Andre Iguodala /
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SHENZHEN, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Nick Young #6 of the Golden State Warriors in action against Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Nick Young #6 of the Golden State Warriors in action against Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

1. Golden State Warriors

Essentially, this Warriors bench could have their own team and probably play .500 basketball against the rest of the NBA. It’s pretty remarkable what they’ve been able to accomplish, and playing 565 minutes just shows me that their accomplishments are no fluke.

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Their sixth man (Andre Iguodala) is a former Finals MVP, Shaun Livingston could start at point guard for like 12 NBA teams, Omri Casspi, Nick Young, and David West are are legitimate NBA players, and Javale McGee could have competed for most improved player last year if not for some Greek basketball Jesus in Milwaukee.

To make matters worse, the Warriors fleeced the Bulls in this year’s draft to get Jordan Bell in a move so head-scratching that it warrants putting the entire Chicago front office in timeout for, like, 12 months.

The Golden State Warriors bench is first in offensive rating, first in assist percentage, first in assist-to-turnover ratio, first in effective field goal percentage, second in true shooting percentage, and first in player impact estimate.

Though Nick Young is averaging only about seven points per game off the bench at this time, bringing a 41 percent 3-point shooter off the bench on this team is just a disrespectful showcase of relentless shooting firepower — the basketball equivalent of lifting your pant leg to show your concealed pistol, but instead revealing something out of a Rambo movie.

The depth of a team’s bench is often a good barometer for their success. Most of these teams will end up in the playoffs, and one of these teams will likely win the title, hardly a coincidence. “The chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” I’m not sure who said that, probably Kobe again.

Must Read: NBA Rumors: 8 big names that could be moved before the NBA Trade Deadline

Come June, one of these benches will have to step up and do some of the dirty work that leads to championships, the very same dirty work that will likely get them there in the first place.

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