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Where Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum rank among the best backcourts

By Erris Brown

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Portland Trail Blazers Guard Damian Lillard (0) and Portland Trail Blazers Guard CJ McCollum (3) look on during an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Portland Trail Blazers Guard Damian Lillard (0) and Portland Trail Blazers Guard CJ McCollum (3) look on during an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images /

4. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris — Denver Nuggets

Career stats:

  • Jamal Murray: 14.2 PPG, 3.1 APG, 3.4 RPG, 43.2 FG%, 33.0 3P%
  •  Gary Harris: 12.6 PPG, 2.2 APG, 2.6 RPG, 46.6 FG%, 36.6 3P%

In all honesty, who can say that the Denver Nuggets haven’t been one of the biggest surprises in the league? Not so much as a playoff team at the moment, but beating out the likes of the Warriors and Houston Rockets early on for the top seep in the West. When Mile High’s basketball team is brought up, it’s easy to direct all attention right at superstar center, Nikola Jokic. But the talent on the Nuggets is dispersed, and often overlooked is the underrated backcourt pairing Denver boasts.

Point guard Jamal Murray and shooting guard Gary Harris are two of the league’s best examples of pure development of drafted talent. Each year has seen an increase in production for the Denver duo, leading to Murray averaging 18.6 points per game now, including explosive 48- and 46-point games this season. Gary Harris was posting 16.6 points per game prior to a right hip strain injury.

Lillard and McCollum have clashed with their Western Conference backcourt opponents before, such as last season’s 38-point outbreak from Murray in a three-point victory over Portland, and Lillard’s 40 and 10 showcase in December of 2016 in a Blazers win.

The most recent matchup between these backcourts came Nov. 30, as the Nuggets escaped Portland with a one-point victory. The point guard half of each duo took a back seat, as Harris and McCollum duked it out, notching 27 and 33 points, respectively.

This is another case of Lillard and McCollum being matchup up with a duo in which the experience triumphs. Murray and Harris arguably host a stronger supporting cast and as of right now, a better record in the standings, but only time will tell as they gain more years of pro experience whether the Nuggets’ 1-2 punch at the guard positions will surpass the pride of Portland.

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