In the latest episode of ESPN’s “Jalen and Jacoby,” Ryan Hollins and David Jacoby ranked the best backcourts in the West at the moment.
𝗪𝗵𝗼'𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗽 5 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/J4hhCN8b8m
— Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) August 3, 2019
Both Hollins and Jacoby agreed that the number one spot belongs to a couple of former MVP’s, James Harden and Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets. However, the two NBA analysts didn’t agree on the number two spot. Namely, David Jacoby believes that Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson deserve to be next to Harden and Westbrook. On the other hand, Ryan Hollins believes that the Portland Trail Blazers backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is better.
Jacoby thinks that Curry and Thompson are better because they can play defense while Hollins believes Thompson’s injury will affect his performance when he returns to the court later in the season. The former Los Angeles Clipper also said that if it wasn’t for Klay’s ACL injury, he and Curry could have been ahead of Lillard-McCollum on this list. At this point, though, Hollins selects Lillard and McCollum. Hollins also had a thought about Jacoby’s statement that Curry and Thompson are better defenders, saying that the Portland Trail Blazers duo is better when it comes to scoring.
“Yes but scoring wise, that is not gonna be a problem,” Hollins said.
He added that Curry never stopped anybody but is capable of outscoring them. Hollins also reminded Jacoby of the 50-point playoff display of Lillard against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“It was literally one of the most impressive playoff performances I have ever seen in my entire life,” Hollins said.
Hollins also included Los Angeles Lakers tandem of LeBron James and Danny Green on the list. David Jacoby questioned Hollins for including James and Green as best backcourt duos after the Lakers head coach Frank Vogel stated that LeBron would not be their first option at the point guard position.
Hollins had an answer to that as well, saying that the NBA today is “positionless” and James has always played point guard every now and then.
