Taking a look at the four best 5-man lineups in the NBA this season
We are a little more than 15 games into this strange season, and all NBA teams are all trying to find the right mix of players on the floor. During this early stretch of the season, coaches and general managers tend to tinker with lineups that can play to the strength of their star players, that can keep their team afloat during tough stretches, or that can also deliver a knockout punch against opponents.
While the sample size isn’t very big (especially with some games postponed due to health and safety protocols), a few teams have started to separate themselves from the rest of the pack with some pretty impressive five-man lineups.
Let’s take a look at the four best lineups in the NBA thus far.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
The lineup: Joel Embiid – Ben Simmons – Seth Curry – Tobias Harris – Danny Green
Net Rating – 15.9 points per 100 possessions (117.8 Offensive, 101.9 Defensive)
It seems that Daryl Morey has found the right mix of players to help their young superstars shine. Morey went out and got defense and corner-3 specialist Danny Green along with Seth Curry, fresh off an impressive shooting season with the Dallas Mavericks. Couple that with Doc Rivers as the head coach and with Joel Embiid playing like an MVP candidate with something to prove, and now the Philadelphia 76ers have things rolling.
Why is it effective?
This lineup plays directly into the skillset of their two young stars – Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The offense pushes the ball up with elite playmaker Ben Simmons and then featuring pick-and-roll and/or post-play action to Embiid.
Embiid is currently averaging 28 points and 11 rebounds this season, with an effective field goal percentage of an absurd 59 percent. He’s been borderline unstoppable – He’s getting to the line nearly eleven times a game and is currently shooting the 3 around 40 percent. If defenses decide to sell out and double Embiid, this Sixers lineup can find good open shots for good shooters or let Tobias Harris go to work as a secondary scoring option.
This lineup thrives on their elite perimeter defense, and Embiid is still is one of the best at patrolling the rim. Danny Green usually takes on the primary defensive assignment and this lineup can switch with ease with Green, Simmons, and Harris on the perimeter. This lineup also is a very good defensive rebounding squad – they average 7.9 more rebounds per 100 possessions than their opponents. A suffocating defense that gobbles up rebounds and feeds Embiid is a good recipe for success.
Is it sustainable?
No. The key to the 76ers every season is the health and conditioning of Embiid, which usually wanes as the season goes on. The 7-footer will take them as far as they can go in the East, which should be encouraging considering he looks like a real MVP candidate so far this year. That being said, I don’t think Embiid can continue to shoot the 3 at 40 percent or maintain an effective field goal percentage at 59 percent (if he can, we can just pencil the Sixers into the Eastern Conference Finals right now).
I imagine those numbers will drop somewhat as they take on the better teams or if Embiid gets worn down. However, it appears Daryl Morey and Doc Rivers have found a pretty potent five-man group that they can cash in on when the playoffs start.