With the trade deadline and waiver period in the rear view mirror and NBA rosters set for the stretch run, it’s only appropriate to do an exhaustive study on the teams with the best benches, right?  Right.

And since we already know which teams have the best starters – all that takes is a quick look at the standings, for the most part – let’s take a look at how much help they get off the pine.  First, a disclaimer: there are many ways to quantify the contributions of a bench, but for this exercise we will focus on quality over quantity whenever possible.  In the case of some teams, of course, there is value in both.

Portland:  It’s almost not fair, but Portland’s bench has to be considered the best in the league, if for no other reason than the presence of Brandon Roy.  Obviously a starter and one of the best players in the league if he didn’t have to deal with devastatingly balky knees, there are still few players who you’d rather have with the ball down the stretch.  The very definition of a bench player is someone who can’t quite handle the workload of a starter for one reason or another (in his case, long-term health concerns), but what he gives in spurts is as valuable to his team as many starters.  And despite attempts to limit playing time, he’s still playing over 31 minutes a game.

The addition of Gerald Wallace has also served to strengthen this unit, allowing Nate McMillan to play matchups with Wallace at the four and Aldridge at the five against smaller lineups, or using Camby at the five and bringing Wallace off the bench.  Either way, there is enough firepower at the top to give them the top spot despite a relative lack of depth compared to some of the other teams on this list.

Clippers: What was once justifiably considered a glaring weakness has all of a sudden become a real strength for the Clips, who can now realistically be called “deep.”  DeAndre Jordan’s emergence as a certifiable NBA starting center has allowed them to bring now-healthy Chris Kaman off the bench, and Kaman has accepted and responded to his new role with nearly 13 points a game since coming back from ankle injuries. Always a gifted shooter, especially for a 7-footer, he has upped his averages from 10-15 feet (53%) and 16-23 feet (45%) this season.  Few teams in the league have centers capable of scoring like he does, and none can say they are able to bring one off the bench.

Their precocious 19-year old backup point guard, Eric Bledsoe, was thrust into a starting role with Baron Davis out to start the season, but has come on strong of late (averaging 16 points over the last seven games) and shown the capability to impact the game in a variety of ways.  He ranks fourth among point guards in Rebound Rate and brings energy and athleticism on both ends of the floor that teams hope for from guards off the bench.  Al-Farouq Aminu’s 3-point shooting has cooled off considerably since the beginning of the season, but he has found a niche by using his length and finishing ability to impact the game.  While both rookies remain vulnerable to lapses in decision-making and are prone to playing out of control at times, they have contributed significantly to many of the team’s wins, and still offer gobs of upside.  Add efficiency-monster Craig Smith (60.6 True Shooting Percentage) and Randy Foye (10 games of 20 or more points) to the mix, and you have a formidable second unit.

Lakers:  The Lakers essentially have six starters, with Lamar Odom perfectly capable of filling in without missing a beat.  As it stands now, with Andrew Bynum healthy, he brings tremendous versatility off the bench.  He has a career highs in PER (19.8) and 3-point shooting (38%), and is 54% from the floor with his typically strong rebounding ability (8.7/game).  Regardless of his role, he remains an integral part of the team’s system, a perfect fit in the triangle offense with his length, passing, and ability to stretch the floor.  Given the fragile nature of the team’s starting center, his value cannot be overstated.

Perhaps the biggest addition in the offseason for the defending champs was Steve Blake, especially considering the defensive deficiencies of the starter, Derek Fisher.  But while Blake has struggled to contribute as hoped, another guard, Shannon Brown, has stepped up and provided a big boost.  He has upped his shooting percentages across the board and gives an older team much-needed athleticism and finishing ability that, again, fits the mold of an ideal guard off the bench.  Matt Barnes has only played in 42 of the team’s 68 games, but he adds toughness and defense along with 47% shooting that the Lakers hoped for when they brought him on.  It’s obviously a team that gets most of its production from the starters, but like most contenders not playing in Miami, they have their share of weapons in reserve.

Celtics:  Some – many, maybe – questioned the wisdom of trading Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City in return for Jeff Green.  Perk was a physical force for the Celts and a contributor to their strong defensive identity, but in trading their starting center, they may have actually strengthened their chances of a title run by augmenting their bench with Green, a case that Assistant Director of Basketball Operations, Mike Zarren, made at Sloan (did I mention how much I learned there?).  Green adds length and shooting off the bench, and is arguably better suited to contribute in Boston with a master distributor like Rajon Rondo and a system less reliant on individual scorers like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.  Like the game I saw against the Warriors, Doc Rivers is often able to play a small lineup with Kevin Garnett as center and Green at the four because many teams lack a traditional center.  In addition to Green, the Celtics feature Glen Davis, another big capable of mitigating their relative lack of size with his bulk and scoring ability.   He has become a vital role player in his fourth year with Boston, averaging nearly 30 minutes a game.  The team has struggled at times to find a capable backup to Rondo with Delonte West unable to stay healthy, but between him and rookie Avery Bradley, there is at least the potential for capable fill-ins when Rondo needs a rest.

Phoenix:  Behind Steve Nash, the Suns may not have the most impressive starting group, but thanks, in part, to their early season trade with Orlando, they actually boast one a pretty strong second unit.  As evidenced by his success backing up Dwight Howard, Marcin Gortat has the ability to play starters minutes at center.  He ranks 12^th in the league among centers in Rebound Rate and 14^th in Adjusted PER despite coming off the bench, and remains one of the most underrated big men in the game.  Jared Dudley has become an incredibly valuable bench piece (40% from three), showing he is capable of contributing this year with a career high usage rate without any drop in efficiency.  In Aaron Brooks, they have one of the strongest backup point guards in the league, his style a nice fit for Phoenix’s uptempo offense.  Another piece from the Orlando trade, Mickael Pietrus, provides strong defense and scoring (53% True Shooting) on the wing.

Dallas:  For a team that “goes 10-deep,” the bench really gets most of its production from two guys: Jason Terry and Shawn Marion.  In his 12^th season, Terry remains the prototype for a reserve guard, able to score in bunches as a deadly complement to Dirk Nowitzki.  He is around his career high in Usage Rate, but remains efficient from deep (38%) on his way to 16 points per game.  Though he is no longer the kind of disruptive force that made him a perennial first round fantasy pick, Marion has quietly continued to score efficiently (51% from the floor) and adapted his game to suit the needs of the team by shooting fewer than one three-pointer every other game.

Along with those two, the team has two “energy guys” in J.J. Barea and Corey Brewer and a very solid backup center in Brendan Haywood.  Barea is a worthy backup to Jason Kidd, with his energy and ability push the pace while knicking down threes at a solid clip (35%).   The newly-signed Brewer is 6’9” and a very strong wing defender who can finish at the rim (although he should never be allowed from farther away).  Haywood is efficient around the hoop (nearly 57% from the floor) and provides the team with a strong backup to Tyson Chandler.  In sum, it’s a group that supplements Nowitzki and Kidd to form one of the deepest units in the league.

Charlie Widdoes contributes to ClipperBlog as well as Stacheketball.  Follow him on twitter: @charliewiddoes.