Every Wednesday I’ll compile a list of the top eight playoff performers from eighth to first. When the Finals are decided I’ll pick my MVP for the postseason; an award I absolutely think should exist in addition to Finals MVP.
8. Serge Ibaka: Dude’s 21 and he’s averaging a double-double and almost four blocks a game. Did I mention he’s 21 and a starter on a title contender? It’s been a serious joy to watch Ibaka go from a freak athlete with little feel for the game to a damn player. The Perkins trade allowed him to move to the four, and with Perkins locking down the paint Ibaka is free to patrol the weakside and block the crap out of anything that moves. And he has a legit 15-18 foot jumper. I’m scared. I’m TERRIFIED.
7. Derrick Rose: Rose recovered from two poor games in which he shot a combined 10-40 from the field to score 25 points on 18 shots and close out Chicago’s round one series. Despite his poor shooting efforts Rose has contributed other ways, getting to the line 12 times a game, averaging 2.6 steals, and handing out dimes. Rose’s ankle sprain might have contributed to his less than stellar shooting performances, but he’s still carrying the lion’s share of Chicago’s offense. And he has to play with Joakim Noah…how does he live with himself?
6. LeBron James: A sort of under the radar LeBron first round—much like his regular season performance. But he's turned in a classic LeBron series--giving Miami just what they need when they need it. So far it's rebounds, and LeBron is contributing almost 11 a game.
5. Dirk Nowitzki: You can largely blame Dirk for the Mavericks fourth quarter collapse in game four, but he responded in game five with 25 points, eight boards, and eleven trips to the line. Many presumed Portland’s length and athleticism in the front court would slow down Dirk—I guess we all forget how great the big German actually is.
4. Dwight Howard: Howards body language throughout the first round has been like the kid in pick-up hoops who is actually pretty decent but got stuck on the team with all the doofaces—and has to play against the A squad. I actually think Howard might rip out one of his finger nails every time Hedo Turkolglu bricks a three. He even has a goatee like men tend to get after a bad break-up. I keep thinking he’s gonna’ pull a Jack from Lost and plead with GM Otis Smith, “we have to go back, we have to go back!”
3. Rajon Rondo: I’m not ready to definitively say Rondo is out of his late-season funk—because, really, an armadillo could take Toney Douglas off the dribble—but he sure seems to have his mojo back. It’s good to see Rondo driving to the rim with impunity, rising up for mid-range jumpers with confidence (which according to Hoopdata he’s been stroking at a 41 percent rate), and barking at teammates like any floor general should. It’s pretty evident when Rondo is in a slump—not just because of his poor numbers—but that horrible, dreary, impassive look he gets. Imagine Steven Hawking in your Physics 101 class—that’s Rondo in late-season form.
2. Kevin Durant: Thirty points on 19 shots a game. 52 percent from deep. 82 percent at the line on 11 attempts a game. If Russell Westbrook wasn’t working so hard on his best Jordan impersonation Durant might be putting up even better numbers. Fact is, playing 42 minutes a game he’s carrying Oklahoma City’s offense and playing the most efficient ball of his career. His true test will be when (if) he meets Ron Artest deeper into the postseason. You know, your 2011 NBA citizenship award winner.
1. Chris Paul: The league has never had a better collection of fantastic point guards. Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Chris Paul…and the list goes on. They’re all great, and each in his own way. We can argue the merits of each one but you would be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t enthralled with Chris Paul right now. What’s he’s accomplished carrying the Hornet’s offense and making the Lakers series competitive is simply remarkable. Let’s not understate how starved New Orleans is for offensive options besides Paul and Carl Landry. As John Hollinger noted, Chris Paul might have the best shot selection in the league while teammate Trevor Ariza has the worst. Chris Paul IS the New Orleans Hornets…the floor general, emotional leader, and sole crunch time scorer. The degree of difficulty carrying an offense is through the roof—doubly so when the opponent has two seven-footers in the starting rotation and Kobe Bryant, who isn’t too bad himself. Paul has had to play pretty much perfectly to give New Orleans a chance—and he has.
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