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NBA Power Rankings: Every Team’s Starting Five

By Maxwell Ogden

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Jan 16, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) congratulates Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) congratulates Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

The pursuit of depth is one of the most trivial and challenging endeavors a general manager can embark upon. A strong second unit is often the difference between contending for a championship and merely competing to make the playoffs.

With all of that being said, depth only exists if there’s a strong enough starting five.

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Some starting lineups are more lopsided than others, with the star power attempting to carry a lackluster complement. Others are built with the flaws of each member in mind, combining a variety of strengths to cover up each weakness.

It’s the latter which you’ll generally find near the top of this list.

Entering 2015-16, the landscape of the NBA has changed in a dramatic fashion. Some contenders still look the same, but many have added key components to improve their respective long and short-term futures.

The question is, which team has the best starting five in the NBA?

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