NBA: Predicting the top scoring duos of the 2019-20 season

Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid 24 points per game (plus 11 rebounds/4 assists and 2.5 blocks per game)

Tobias Harris 22 points per game (plus 6 rebounds/3 assists)

Al Horford’s presence may cut into Joel Embiid’s number of touches, but it will get him easier shots, and he may shoot close to 60 percent overall. It’s also possible that Horford’s superior passing skills rub off on Embiid. In short, the addition of Horford will make life a whole lot easier for Embiid and Tobias Harris, and their chances at being one of the prolific scoring duos in the Eastern Conference.

Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo 28 points per game (plus 12 rebounds/6 assists)

Khris Middleton 20 points per game (plus 6 rebounds/4.5 assists)

Like me, Khris Middleton turns 28 this week. That is, unfortunately, where our similarities end. Middleton’s near-max deal with the Milwaukee Bucks looks like an overpay when compared to certified max players like Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Jimmy Butler, who got paid on the first day of free agency as he did.

But Middleton has a game that not only complements the reigning MVP’s but is perfect for today’s game. With Malcolm Brogdon gone, Middleton will get more touches and meet or exceed the career-high 20.1 points per game he recorded in 2017-18. Giannis might garner most of the headlines, but Middleton is no longer the best-kept secret in the Eastern Conference.