The NBA's Best Starting Units: Who's Clicking and Who's Not

The NBA season is a marathon, but some teams hit the ground running with their starting fives, while others are still trying to find the right rhythm. Chemistry, talent, and coaching all play a part, and the numbers don't lie when it comes to who's truly excelling together on the court.

1. **Boston Celtics:** Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis.

Combined PPG: 105.8

Team Record: 59-16 (as of April 3)

Net Rating: +13.0

This group is a juggernaut. They boast five legitimate two-way players, with Holiday and White setting the defensive tone in the backcourt. Tatum and Brown provide elite scoring, while Porzingis stretches the floor and protects the rim. Their cohesiveness is evident in their league-leading record and their ability to blow out opponents early.

2. **Oklahoma City Thunder:** Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren.

Combined PPG: 94.6

Team Record: 52-23

Net Rating: +8.3

The Thunder are young, explosive, and fearless. SGA is an MVP candidate, averaging 30.3 points per game, but the supporting cast around him is what makes this unit so dangerous. Holmgren's defensive presence (2.3 blocks per game) and Williams's versatile scoring (19.4 PPG) have exceeded expectations. Giddey's playmaking is major, even if his shooting can be streaky.

3. **Denver Nuggets:** Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic.

Combined PPG: 92.2

Team Record: 53-23

Net Rating: +7.2

The defending champions have an established pecking order and an unselfish superstar in Jokic. Murray's clutch scoring and Gordon's defensive versatility perfectly complement the two-time MVP. Porter Jr. provides critical spacing, hitting 40.3% from three, and Caldwell-Pope is a reliable 3-and-D wing. They know how to win, and they prove it nightly.

4. **Minnesota Timberwolves:** Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert.

Combined PPG: 87.5

Team Record: 52-23

Net Rating: +6.5

When healthy, this starting five is a defensive nightmare. Gobert (2.1 blocks per game) and Towns provide a formidable interior presence, while McDaniels is one of the league's best perimeter defenders. Edwards, averaging 26.1 points, is the offensive engine. Conley's steady hand at point guard keeps everything running smoothly.

5. **Orlando Magic:** Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Combined PPG: 79.8

Team Record: 45-31

Net Rating: +4.9

This young Magic team has surprised many, and their starting five's chemistry is a big reason why. Banchero (22.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG) is an emerging star, and Wagner (19.7 PPG) is a versatile scorer. Suggs has developed into a tenacious defender. While the scoring isn't elite, their collective effort and defensive intensity have carried them to a potential playoff berth.

6. **Milwaukee Bucks:** Damian Lillard, Patrick Beverley, Jae Crowder, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez.

Combined PPG: 96.5

Team Record: 47-28

Net Rating: +3.1

The Bucks' net rating shows some cracks, but the talent is undeniable. Giannis is a force of nature, averaging 30.8 points and 11.5 rebounds. Lillard provides a scoring punch (24.4 PPG), but his integration hasn't been effortless. The addition of Beverley and Crowder aimed to shore up their defense, and it's slowly paying dividends, but they still struggle to find consistent defensive intensity as a unit.

7. **Cleveland Cavaliers:** Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen.

Combined PPG: 88.3

Team Record: 46-30

Net Rating: +2.8

The Cavs' starting five, when healthy, is built around defense and two dynamic guards. Mitchell, averaging 26.6 points, is their primary scorer. Mobley and Allen form a formidable defensive frontcourt. Strus adds much-needed spacing. Their offensive flow can sometimes stagnate, especially when Mitchell is off, but they grind out wins.

8. **New York Knicks:** Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Isaiah Hartenstein.

Combined PPG: 85.1

Team Record: 44-31

Net Rating: +2.5

This is a gritty, defensive-minded unit that embodies Tom Thibodeau's philosophy. Brunson (27.9 PPG) has been incredible, carrying the scoring load. Anunoby's arrival in December dramatically improved their defense, with the team going 15-2 in his first 17 games. Hart and DiVincenzo provide energy and timely shooting. Their offensive ceiling is lower than other top teams, but their effort is always there.

9. **Los Angeles Lakers:** D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis.

Combined PPG: 94.7

Team Record: 44-33

Net Rating: +2.1

The Lakers' record is deceptive. After the All-Star break, this unit has been a force. LeBron James (25.2 PPG, 8.2 APG) is still playing at an elite level, and Anthony Davis (24.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG) anchors their defense. Russell's improved consistency (18.1 PPG, 42.4% from three) has been key. Hachimura’s recent offensive surge has provided a much-needed third scoring option.

10. **Philadelphia 76ers:** Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Kelly Oubre Jr., Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid.

Combined PPG: 97.4

Team Record: 42-35

Net Rating: +1.8 (prior to Embiid's injury return)

This ranking is based on their performance when Joel Embiid was healthy. Embiid (34.8 PPG, 11.0 RPG) is an MVP-level player who elevates everyone around him. Maxey has blossomed into an All-Star (25.8 PPG). The issue here, and the reason they're not higher despite the talent, is injuries. Embiid has played just 37 games this season. Without him, their net rating plummets, and their cohesive identity disappears.

**Why Some Superteams Aren't Clicking**

Look, the NBA is littered with examples of talent not automatically translating into success. The Phoenix Suns, for instance, with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, have a combined PPG of 80.5 from those three, but their starting five's net rating is just +0.9. They're 44-31. Thing is, all three are ball-dominant scorers, and finding a consistent offensive flow where everyone feels involved, especially in crunch time, has been a season-long struggle. Their defense, too, has been inconsistent, relying heavily on individual brilliance rather than cohesive team schemes. It's not enough to just put stars on the floor; they have to fit.

Another example? The Golden State Warriors, a team with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Their current starting five, which often includes Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis, has a positive net rating, but the overall team record (42-34) suggests a lack of consistent top-tier play. The age and diminished athleticism of their core, particularly Thompson's struggles with efficiency (42.1% FG), make it harder for them to maintain the defensive intensity and offensive explosiveness they once had. They're still dangerous, but the automatic dominance isn't there anymore.

Real talk: You can assemble all the talent in the world, but if the pieces don't complement each other, or if the health isn't there, you're just a collection of good players, not a great team.

**Bold Prediction:** The Orlando Magic will win a playoff series this season.