RealGM

Which duo would you rather build around on today's NBA?

Curry/Pippen just feel like they cover each others weaknesses better.

Curry is proven to carry a team offensively to a title. Pippen is a proven elite defender and can play Robin. KD and Barkley would be incredible as an offensive duo due to their efficiency. Even if Barkley never shoots the 3, his pairing with KD would be devastating for defenses. But there is only one ball and I'd be content having an all-time perimeter defender in Pippen with the GOAT of shooting over two elite scorers.

I think Pippen could feast really well on the 4-on-3’s that Steph routinely creates. While Pippen was relatively limited offensively, he was a good slasher when he could get a head of steam and he was good at reading and reacting on offense. Those two things would make him very good at converting on those 4-on-3’s IMO. And, of course, Pippen being a great defender would help. The only concern I have here is that Pippen would only be the outlet for those 4-on-3’s if he was coming up to screen, and I’m not sure Pippen would be a very effective screener, since he was not a big-bodied guy.

With KD/Barkley, you're pretty much locking your team into a low defensive ceiling. In his long career, Barkley's team never finished higher than 9th in DRtg. Prime Durant wasn't a plus impact defender either. You're going to be great offensively but with Curry/Pippen you're going to be great offensively too but you'll also have a chance to be great defensively.

And it would really have been nice to pair either KD or Barkley with a quality facilitator. Both are finisher kind of offensive players who benefit a lot from an effective point to set them up.

While I don't see Barkley getting better on defense, you could probably find a way to work him into a scheme. Offensively, I suspect he would have a Giannis-like impact. He's a guy that can handle the ball like a guard, pass pretty well, and finish at the rim like nobody's business. Think of the glimpses Zion shows when he is halfway healthy.

That kind of rim pressure contrasts well with Durant's shooting. And we know how well KD does when he gets (more) open shots. The other thing is, while rebounding isn't the same today, I could see Barkley having an outsized impact and situationally destroying teams who simply can't match up. Possessions are a big deal.

With Pippen, he could probably approximate the Draymond role and be better in most respects except post defense. That's a proven formula with Curry. But for me, the ceiling of Barkley and Durant is too high for me to pass up. I see Pippen as the fourth best player in this exercise and that makes a difference.

easily curry and pippen

Curry and Pippen. Would be an amazing duo. Don't see why it couldn't be as impactful as Draymond+Curry.
Durant and Barkley would be a fun duo as well. I'm imagining barkley locking in on Orebs while KD takes the half court shots. I think Barkley's defensive deficiencies would lead to more problems than Curry+Pip.

The slightly less talented pair who weren't head cases please.

penbeast0 wrote:The slightly less talented pair who weren't head cases please.

Not sure Pippen wasn't a head case either to be honest.

Refusing to go in when Phil drew the play for Kukoc.

Sitting out at the start of the 98 season and then asking to get traded.

He had his moments of being difficult.

I'd pick Curry/Pippen too, but it's really only Curry who isn't the head case from this group.

The talent is close enough that it comes down to fit, and I suspect Curry/Pippen is a cleaner fit.