Ranking the top five NBA backcourts by the numbers

As the NBA evolves into a guard-heavy league where a small-ball, pace-and-space mindset is the norm, it's becoming common to see the core of a team lie in its backcourt.

Take the Golden State Warriors, for example. But although its a seemingly perfect backcourt model, the Warriors' duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson isn't the only guard combination in the league that is the focal point of most game plans. For this reason, we ranked the NBA's top five starting backcourts, based on statistical combinations and averages this season, as well as potential for success moving forward.

1. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Warriors

Both possess the uncanny ability to hit a crucial shot at any given moment and — if they keep it up — they could find themselves on an all-time backcourt list sooner rather than later.

2015-16 combined statistics — Points: 50.2. Assists: 8.5. Rebounds: 8.9. Steals: 2.7. Three-point shots made: 8.1. Usage rate: 56.4%. Points created by assists: 20.2.

Average statistics — Field goal percentage: 49.1%. Three-point percentage: 44.7%. Player efficiency rating: 25.11 Assist/turnover ratio: 1.44.

2. Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe, Suns

Phoenix struggled to find the perfect one-two punch for a couple of seasons, experimenting with Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas and Bledsoe, but they seem to have struck gold after obtaining Knight in a trade last February. At the ages of 24 and 26, Knight and Bledsoe have a bright future ahead of them.

2015-16 combined statistics — Points: 42.8. Assists: 11.7. Rebounds: 8.6. Steals: 3.6. Three-point shots made: 4.2. Usage rate: 54.1%. Points created by assists: 28.5.

Average statistics — Field goal percentage: 44.5%. Three-point percentage: 36.8%. Player efficiency rating: 20.52. Assist/turnover ratio: 1.73.

3. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, Raptors

In the midst of their fourth season together, Lowry and DeRozan are playing their best basketball. Solid defenders and skilled scorers, the two All-Stars complement each other nicely.

2015-16 combined statistics — Points: 43.3. Assists: 10.5. Rebounds: 9.2. Steals: 3.4. Three-point shots made: 3.3. Usage rate: 54.8%. Points created by assists: 24.9.

Average statistics — Field goal percentage: 43.4%. Three-point percentage: 38.3%. Player efficiency rating: 22.55. Assist/turnover ratio: 1.88.

4. John Wall and Bradley Beal, Wizards

Both have dealt with their fair share of injury woes throughout their young careers (Beal is currently out two weeks with beginnings of a stress reaction in right leg), but have proven to be something special during their time on the floor together. When you combine their athletic ability with Wall's quickness and court vision and Beal's ability to knock down big shots, the DC duo creates matchup nightmares.

2015-16 combined statistics — Points: 40.0. Assists: 12.0. Rebounds: 8.9. Steals: 3.3. Three-point shots made: 3.7. Usage rate: 52.8%. Points created by assists: 28.8.

Average statistics — Field goal percentage: 44.7%. Three-point percentage: 37.7%. Player efficiency rating: 18.41. Assist/turnover ratio: 1.58

5. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Blazers

A few other backcourts could argue for this spot, such as Avery Bradley and the aforementioned Thomas in Boston or Chris Paul and J.J. Redick in Los Angeles, but Lillard and McCollum have simply blended too well in their first year together as starters to not make our top five.

2015-16 combined statistics — Points: 44.3. Assists: 10.6. Rebounds: 8.1. Steals: 2.2. Three-point shots made: 5.1. Usage rate: 57.2%. Points created by assists: 25.1.

Average statistics — Field goal percentage: 42.4%. Three-point percentage: 37.5%. Player efficiency rating: 19.59. Assist/turnover ratio: 1.85.