5 Best benches in the NBA right now

A team with a couple of superstars in the starting lineup is expected to do a good job throughout an NBA season. However, teams considered clear contenders for the title normally have one thing in common: their benches can get the job done. In this article, we will review the five best benches of the 2020-21 NBA season's first month.

5 Best second units in the 2020-21 NBA season

Analyzing a bench is not always easy, as a team might have a great player on their second unit carrying the load, but the bench overall might not be performing at a high level collectively.

Last season, the LA Clippers, for example, had a tremendous second unit because they had two of the best scorers off the bench in the 2020 Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, and multiple Sixth Man of the Year award winner Lou Williams.

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In the current season, we have seen some impressive performances off the bench, and various second units are getting the job done around the NBA.

In this article, we will rank the five best benches in the NBA right now. The ranking will be based on their overall performance and statistical impact on the team's success.

Without further ado, let us start.

#5 Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives against Reggie Perry #0, and Bruce Brown #1 of the Brooklyn Nets.

The 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks seem to be looking ahead to the NBA postseason already, as they have failed to replicate their regular-season success in the last two years. They have one of the best records in the Eastern Conference at 9-5 (second in the East), and the bench has been effective for them.

The Bucks rank second in the NBA in Offensive Rating (117.9), eighth in Defensive Rating (108.2), and second in Net Rating (9.6). Their bench is third in Plus/Minus, second in three-point percentage, first in three-pointers made per game, and Top 10 in field-goal percentage.

Bobby Portis has been their best player off the bench, as he is averaging 11 points and eight rebounds per game with 55/43/72 shootings splits.

#4 Golden State Warriors

Eric Paschall #7 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Golden State Warriors have had ups and downs in the 2020-21 NBA season. Still, they are fifth in the Western Conference with an 8-5 record and have recorded some impressive victories, especially against the LA Clippers at home and the LA Lakers at the Staples Center.

Even though Stephen Curry has earned lots of praise for his performances in the 2020-21 NBA campaign, the Golden State Warriors' bench has been good for the team.

Especially on big games, the Warriors' bench has been stunning. In a two-game series against the LA Clippers from January 6th to January 8th, the bench scored 47 and 42 points, respectively. Then, the bench was huge in making a comeback against the reigning NBA champion LA Lakers on January 18th. The bench scored 37 points in the game (and made 15 of 26 shots).

Golden State's bench ranks inside the Top 10 in points per game, field-goal percentage, free throws, rebounds, and inside the Top 5 in assists per game. Moreover, they have a positive Plus/Minus (1.0), which ranks ninth in the NBA.

Beyond the stats, they have played hugely against tough opponents and have been one of the keys for Golden State's current form.

Eric Paschall has been their best player off the bench. The sophomore is averaging 12 points per game and has made 52 percent of his shots and 80 percent of his free throws.

#3 LA Clippers

Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers talks with Lou Williams #23.

The LA Clippers' bench led the NBA in points per game last season with a whopping 50.3, and they were third in the entire league in bench Plus/Minus with 2.0. This season, they do not have reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrel on their squad, but the LA Clippers still own an impactful bench.

They have an 11-4 record and are tied with the LA Lakers for the best W-L record in the league so far. They rank first in Offensive Rating (117.9) and third in Net Rating (7.3), despite having the 20th Defensive Rating in the NBA (110.6).

The LA Clippers' bench ranks first in three-point percentage (42.9), fifth in field-goal percentage (47.8) and seventh in points per game (38.5). Last year, the LAC bench was led by two players, Harrell and Lou Williams. While Williams remains on the roster, the second unit of Tyronn Lue's team is built on a collective effort.

Marcus Morris is averaging 11 points per game off the bench, while sniper Luke Kennard and Williams are each averaging nine points per game.

#2 Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles, center, cheers as teammates Rudy Gobert #27 and Jordan Clarkson #00 walk to the bench.

The Utah Jazz might be the hottest team in the NBA right now, and their offensive weapons are well-oiled at the moment. The Jazz have a 10-4 record so far, and they have been solid on offense (eighth in Offensive Rating with 112.9) and defense (fifth in Defensive Rating with 106.9).

Their Net Rating is at 6.0, the fourth-highest in the NBA. While their starting lineup has been good, the Jazz's bench has been solid. The second unit ranks fourth in points per game (38.8), second in field-goal percentage (48.7), fifth in three-point percentage (39.7), and sixth in Plus/Minus (1.5).

Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles are the main weapons on Utah's bench. Clarkson is averaging 18 points and five rebounds per game with 49/43/94 shooting splits. Ingles, on the other hand, is averaging 10 points per game and his shooting splits are 50/41/78.

#1 LA Lakers

Kyle Kuzma #0 and Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The reigning NBA champions, the LeBron James-led LA Lakers, continue to perform at a high level even after falling to the Golden State Warriors thanks to a flat game recently.

The Lakers are tied with the LA Clippers for the best record in the NBA (11-4), and have the best defense so far with a Defensive Rating of 104.5. Also, their offense is the fifth-best in the league (Offensive Rating of 114.6), and they lead the league in Net Rating (10.1).

On their bench, the LA Lakers have the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner Montrezl Harrell, and the second unit ranks first in field-goal percentage (49.3), sixth in three-point percentage (39), second in points per game (41.5), and eighth in Plus/Minus (1.3) in the NBA.

Harrell is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game off the bench, while Kyle Kuzma has been effective too, averaging 11 points and six rebounds per game. Kuzma has also made 40 percent of his three-pointers so far.