NBA: Ranking the Teams With the Most Depth
By John Kim
January 31, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson (far right) instructs point guard Jarrett Jack (2, far left), power forward David Lee (10), power forward Carl Landry (7), and small forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Mavericks 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
A strong bench contributes to a team’s success as much as a strong starting five.
Case in point, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder have at least four Hall of Famers combined, but injuries to their starting lineups diminished their playoff hopes.
After a season where three of the NBA’s most dynamic point guards went down to injuries (Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook), depth is more important than ever. Eighty-two games to play in a season is no joke. A team’s depth not only provides backups in case of injuries but also minutes to rest starters.
The teams that are enjoying the most success in the NBA are also the deepest. Here are the NBA’s five rosters with the most depth.