The most exciting time of the year for NBA fans is coming up in the next few weeks, the NBA playoffs. The playoffs feature some of the best players in the league in the games that matter. Every possession matters in the playoffs and every score and defensive play is magnified.
Let’s get into some players that will be the most intriguing to watch out for in this year’s playoffs…
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
I mean… this is a no brainer right? George or also self-proclaimed as Playoff-P, will be one of the most magnified players in this year’s playoffs after all his comments. Paul George put a target on his back when he called himself Playoff P and ended up disappointing fans after saying the playoffs was his time. Paul George has actually had a great statistical season, averaging 23.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 5.2 APG while shooting 46.7% from the field and 41.1% from three point land.
Whether the Clippers will be a problem in the playoffs and in a potential championship run will depend on which Paul George appears. If it’s the Paul George in the regular season, the Clippers will be a dangerous team to play against. If it’s the Paul George that’s been appearing in the playoffs as of recent, the Clippers could be in trouble.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
It’s time for Giannis to prove why he should be considered a top 3 player in the league. Giannis can be the most dominant player in the regular season, but if he can’t show up when it matters in the playoffs, it means nothing. Antetokounmpo needs to prove himself in the playoffs desperately. All eyes will be on Giannis and if he can take the Bucks to at least a Conference Finals appearance. They have a great supporting cast in Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and others that will be at Giannis’s side.
Many times in the playoffs it looked like the Bucks didn’t have a game closer, who will it be now? They have Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday who are perimeter threats and Giannis an inside threat. It will definitely be interesting to see how developed Giannis’s game has become in the playoffs when it matters. If Giannis is scoring from the outside or even the mid-range area… watch out. We already know how dominant he is on the inside, but if he develops a shot in the playoffs? The Bucks are going to be SCARY.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Luka in his 3rd year will have a lot of the spotlight again. After playing extremely well against the Clippers in last year’s playoffs without Porzingis, he will finally have a fully healthy team around him this rodeo around. The crazy thing is… the Mavericks could be facing the Clippers in the first round AGAIN this year. The Clippers are currently the 4th seed and the Mavericks are the 5th seed, so… it could definitely be a rematch again.
Luka in last year’s playoffs averaged an insane 31.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 8.7 APG while shooting 50% from the field and 36.4% from three. He put on a show and also hit a pretty wild game winner against the Clippers. The Mavericks will definitely be a team to watch and with Luka being the superstar, he will have all eyes on him. If the Mavericks can pull off an upset and beat the Clippers in the first round, Luka could propel into the top 5 player conversation very easily.
