9/5/2023 0 Comments Steam player countJayson Tatum Brian Babineau / National Basketball Association / Getty But this year, while his team didn't make as deep a run, Booker's individual excellence was perhaps even more impressive. He scored 45 or more on three occasions, guiding the Suns to victory in each of those contests.īooker already proved his merits as a playoff performer when he led Phoenix to the Finals in 2021. His 64.9% effective field goal shooting is incredible efficiency for any player, let alone one with Booker's high degree of difficulty. The dynamic wing averaged 33.7 points to lead all qualifying players this postseason. However, the Suns' elimination can be attributed to Denver's excellence and Phoenix's lack of depth more so than an indictment on Booker. There's no way around the fact that Booker's postseason ended embarrassingly. The veteran superstar willed the Warriors to a series victory over the Kings with a 50-point masterpiece, which stood for about two weeks as the Game 7 scoring record (until Jayson Tatum had other plans). He's seven years removed from his unanimous MVP campaign, but is it crazy to suggest Curry has never been better? The four-time champion and reigning Finals MVP averaged a playoff career-high 30.5 points, shooting 57.1% from inside the arc - the best two-point efficiency he's ever produced in a postseason.Ĭurry put Golden State on his back out of necessity, as his supporting cast didn't perform as it has in years past. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / Getty But make no mistake, Darvin Ham's squad wouldn't be this deep into its run without this version of Davis. The Lakers' trade deadline overhaul was instrumental in getting them into the postseason in the first place. And, though lineup data can be hazy under small sample sizes, Los Angeles' offense suffered its most drastic drop-off over the first two series when Davis sat - a team-high difference of 20.5 points per 100 possessions. Entering Tuesday's series opener against Denver, he averaged a league-best 3.3 blocks in the playoffs to go with 1.4 steals, seemingly throwing off nearly anyone who dared to challenge him at the rim. Golden State also struggled mightily to keep Davis off the glass, as he recorded two games of 20-plus boards in the series. Neither the Grizzlies nor the Warriors appeared to have an answer for the eight-time All-Star inside. Anthony Davisĭavis has been an absolute force on both ends. He took a slight step back in the second round against the Knicks but was still easily the series' top all-around performer with 24.6 points, 7.2 boards, six assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Butler torched Milwaukee for 56 and 42 points, respectively, in the final two games of the series, ruthlessly putting away the postseason's No. That's a sizable improvement for a player who never fared better than 38.1% on threes over an entire regular season. However, it's tough to believe the Butler carrying the Heat through this postseason is the same one we saw throughout the 82-game campaign.Īgainst the Bucks in Round 1, he scored a scorching 37.6 points per contest on just under 60% shooting, including 44.4% from deep. Jimmy Butler Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / Gettyīutler swears up and down that " Playoff Jimmy" isn't a real thing. It's no coincidence the Nuggets have the top offensive rating of the playoffs through two rounds and one conference finals game. He's created good shots for others nearly every possession he touches the ball, making it impossible to double-team him. Jokic scored efficiently from every area of the floor - mid-range jumpers, bruising post-ups, odd floaters, and a little 3-point shooting.Īs much as he dominates at getting buckets, Jokic's all-time great passing separates him from other stars. The two-time MVP bumped his scoring average to 34.5 points on an unbelievable 66.3% true shooting in a six-game series victory over Phoenix. Jokic elevated his game against the Suns, who came into the playoffs as the betting favorite among Western Conference teams. He's got six triple-doubles, already tied for the second-most in a single playoff run ever. The numbers speak for themselves: 31 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 10.1 assists through 12 contests. Jokic's sheer dominance this postseason has been remarkable to watch.
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