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The playoffs are now upon us and the top teams are raring to continue their momentum all the way and as deep as they can go. At the forefront of their attack is their respective starting lineups who have battled and clawed their way to get to where they are right now. We have examined each starting five of all playoff contenders and put into consideration their stats and other intangibles to come up with the best of the best.
5 – Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose / Jimmy Butler / Mike Dunleavy / Pau Gasol / Joakim Noah
With 11 All Star appearances and an MVP award in between themselves, the Chicago Bulls’ starters boast of having the more decorated profiles among those who made our list. This Bulls team is so good that they were the preseason favorites to take the East. The team took a major hit when Derrick Rose went down for an extended period but he’s expected to play in the postseason. With a healthy, Rose and Butler, the Bulls are easily one of the best teams to avoid.
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LA Times
4 – Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Paul / J.J. Redick / Matt Barnes / Blake Griffin / DeAndre Jordan
Based on NBA.com, of all playoff contenders’ starting lineups, the Clipper five has the best +/- rating when on the court together at 7. With a relatively shallow bench, this five is already Doc Rivers’ best weapons and they have carried the Clips all season long with Chris Paul as the catalyst of everything that they run. He’s so dangerous with the ball and it makes life easier for the other starters, especially Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, to maintain their efficiency.
Click ‘Next’ to see the third best starting lineup of the 2014-15 NBA Playoffs!
Jennifer Stewart | USA TODAY Sports
3 – Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry / Klay Thompson / Harrison Barnes / Draymond Green / Andrew Bogut
The Golden State Warriors starting unit has been at it since the beginning of the season and they have not skipped a beat. Their consistent high level of play on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court have enabled the Dubs to enjoy the league’s best win-loss record. MVP favorite Steph Curry continues to dazzle his way through defenders while playing beautiful music with the lethal Klay Thompson and Draymond Green still hasn’t figured out what he can’t do on the court.
Click ‘Next’ to see the second best starting lineup of the 2014-15 NBA Playoffs!
Dale Zanine | USA TODAY Sports
2 – Atlanta Hawks
Jeff Teague / Kyle Korver / DeMarre Carroll / Paul Millsap / Al Horford
The Atlanta Hawks starting lineup is perhaps the most low profile of all fives on our list but they are an absolute force to reckon with. They are simply too good that they have been named NBA Players of the Month in January; the first time that the NBA’s monthly citation has been awarded to an entire starting lineup. Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford were selected to this year’s Eastern Conference All Star squad. They are that good.
Click ‘Next’ to see the first best starting lineup of the 2014-15 NBA Playoffs!
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1 – Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyrie Irving / J.R. Smith / LeBron James / Kevin Love / Timofey Mozgov
Every piece has been a great compliment to one another, even Kevin Love despite all the talk surrounding him, and it has resulted to the Cavaliers having the best record in the NBA from the day this five was assembled. LeBron James ad Kyrie Irving have finally found a way to play off one another, which is scary, while JR Smith and Timofey Mozgov offers the perfect skill set to mix it up with the Cavs’ Big Three. Irving, Smith, James, Love, and Mozgov have taken the league by storm and, unfortunately for the rest of the competition, they are showing no signs of regressing.