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Whose number one?
And why wasn't Duncan on the All Star team?
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playo...n-mvp-rankings
Duncan 2, Parker 5, and Tiago 9
but Splitter's development might be their most impressive feat of all.
His agility and ability to "tall up" on drivers and post players make things so difficult for most opponents to finish shots. His 18 rebounds, four blocks and only two fouls in the first two games combined against OKC also show how he competes hard and smart while also being productive. His value inside is both key and underrated
Whose number one?
And why wasn't Duncan on the All Star team?
And when are the all-nba and all-defensive teams going to be announced? They seem late this year.
Still figuring it out, how to put players from best team overall in them, since neither played 30 mpg this year.
Good Call.
By the way, I was in Warsaw last week. Cool place.
I hate capital, tbh
They are. Last year all-defense was announced on May 13th, all-nba on May 23rd.
I hate capital, tbh
Oh really?Well, its good to see as a tourist. I've spent most of my time in Poland in Krakow, anyway.
Cheers. Thanks.
There's only 4 teams.
You working on a sequel?Oh really?
If you're referring to my book, not a direct sequel. It's a realistic war drama about partisans in Latvia and Lithuania post World War II. I was in Poland because I was leaving Ukraine and going to Riga for a book promotion. (The Latvian edition is out of the first novel). I didn't have a transit visa for Belarus, so I had to go around it. While there I took in some of Warsaw, but I've been to Krakow maybe 4 or 5 times on earlier trips.
Last edited by BillMc; 05-24-2014 at 11:52 AM.
Wow! Tbh being used appropriately here!I hate capital, tbh
Can someone cut and paste the article (for those that aren't ESPN "Insiders")?
Postseason MVP rankings: Top 10
Originally Published: May 23, 2014
By David Thorpe | ESPN Insider
In the NBA, superstars are the difference-makers. Their play dictates wins and losses more than any other variable, as we see each season. But their impact is so much deeper than what the box score reveals, or even what most advanced metrics report.
Once again, LeBron James is shining brightest this postseason for all sorts of reasons. And he's just seven wins away from really forcing his name into the "best player ever" conversation. Those seven wins will be incredibly hard to get, but doubting him based on what we are seeing from him for the third straight postseason is a mistake.
1. LEBRON JAMES, HEAT
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 11 MPG 40.3 PPG 28.8 Reb 7.4 Asst 4.8 BPG 0.6 SPG 1.8 PER 31.39 EWA* 4.6
The thing about the world's best players is they almost always stand tallest when they're needed most. Not that they make every clutch shot or never make mistakes. It's more about their presence -- their involvement in every key play and their ability to give their teammates the confidence to play their best more often than they typically would.
Just a few years ago, it was clear that LeBron was the game's best player in the regular season, but he wasn't "that guy" in the NBA Finals. Today, though, no one can question the mantel LeBron currently sits on. Forget for a moment that he has been the best player, statistically, this postseason. He does so much more as a leader, facilitator and elite superstar that it's apparent he is solely focused on winning, not starring.
No one looks for Dwyane Wade lurking in the short corner more than LeBron does. No one displays a more positive vibe when the team is struggling than LeBron, either. Every week it seems like he continues to not just grow his game and talent, but create more distance between himself and the nearest compe or to his throne.
(Previous rank: 1 )
Photo credit: Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images
2. TIM DUNCAN, SPURS
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 14 MPG 33.1 PPG 16.5 Reb 8.5 Asst 1.9 BPG 1.6 SPG 0.2 PER 21.43 EWA* 2.3
We all know that Duncan is one of the best players ever. He is also one of the most fundamentally sound players, which is why he's destroying OKC on mismatches inside. He is an expert at creating sealing angles that allow a teammate to pass him the ball at a spot in the air that he can just catch and lay in. His defenders, especially when they're smaller (Reggie Jackson defending Duncan?), have no chance.
It's Duncan's effort, though, that has been most impressive. His determination to get down the floor fast enough to either set a drag screen for Tony Parker or to remain high and be the post player who gets the swing pass before reversing it to the other side is a huge reason why the Spurs have been so effective on offense. Their fast pace does not give the Thunder a chance to set up on defense, and Duncan's willingness to run/race/hustle allows that pace to exist.
Defensively, Duncan is forming a great "tall wall" with Tiago Splitter that has effectively slowed the Thunder's drivers.
(Previous rank: 6 )
Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay
3. PAUL GEORGE, PACERS
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 15 MPG 41.3 PPG 21.5 Reb 7.2 Asst 4.1 BPG 0.4 SPG 2.1 PER 19.66 EWA 2.8
George has been very good this spring, sometimes great. His 3-point shooting alone -- above 40 percent in every series thus far -- changes the tone of the Pacers on offense, which is known to struggle for long stretches.
But George now faces his biggest task once again in the form of LeBron. There is no shame in losing to Miami or being outshined by LeBron. However, this is an opportunity for George to move closer toward LeBron's level. If he can raise his game as a playmaker and defender and help lift his team to the series win, he will have to be mentioned alongside LeBron and Durant as an equal.
(Previous rank: 5 )
Photo credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
4. DWYANE WADE, HEAT
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 11 MPG 34.6 PPG 19.2 Reb 3.5 Asst 4.1 BPG 0.4 SPG 1.2 PER 20.73 EWA 1.9
Age (or wear and tear) does not suddenly turn elite players into average ones. Instead, it just limits how often they are able to reach that elite level of greatness in games. Wade was once the best player on the court on a regular basis and often made multiple spectacular plays in every game he played. There was even a time when he was arguably the world's best player. But with LeBron in-house, and with Wade's body moving south, those memories are cloudy.
In this postseason, though, Wade is reminding everyone just how special he is. His touch around the rim for an undersized off guard might rank as the best of all time. He also can still out-athlete defenders -- just not as often -- and his craft game is as elite as ever.
When Miami needed its dynamic duo to tie the series in Indiana, Wade was more than up to the challenge. His 50 points on 22-for-34 shooting in Games 1 and 2 combined represent a major challenge to the Indiana coaches who are preparing for Games 3 and 4. They are not trying to beat a one-man team.
(Previous rank: 8 )
Photo credit: AP Photo/Michael Conroy
5. TONY PARKER, SPURS
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 14 MPG 31.4 PPG 19.1 RPG 2.5 APG 5.4 BPG 0.1 SPG 0.7 PER 18.04 EWA 1.5
If Wade doesn't have the best inside touch for a guard ever, Parker might. His ability to slice through gaps in any defense and finish shots is such a huge part of the Spurs' offensive success. People talk about finding guys to "stretch the floor" -- meaning 3-point shooters -- but there is another way to stretch it, and that's by being able to score around the rim.
Parker and Tim Duncan's inside games work perfectly with the Spurs' shooters to give every defense nightmares as to who to guard and when to help/recover/double. Parker may indeed be the best point guard in the game today, just as he was last year. He makes his teammates better less so by passing than just by being such a dynamic scorer inside that he draws defenders and lets his teammates earn wide-open looks.
(Previous rank: 4 )
Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay
6. KEVIN DURANT, THUNDER
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 15 MPG 43.3 PPG 30.1 RPG 9.1 APG 4.2 BPG 1.3 SPG 0.9 PER 22.63 EWA 3.9
Durant has been up and down this spring, just as he was in Games 1 and 2 in this series. Without a great effort from him as a scorer (Game 1), the Thunder really don't have a chance to compete. He also has to help energize his team on defense and the glass -- areas the Spurs dominated in Game 2. (KD has one steal and one block in this series.)
Durant has looked tired often in the postseason, settling for jumpers or over-penetrating to the rim -- a problem against a tall defense like the one San Antonio employs. A fresher mind and fresher legs would seek out short paint jumpers, something KD excels in.
(Previous rank: 2 )
Photo credit: Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports
7. DAVID WEST, PACERS
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 15 MPG 36.1 PPG 14.6 RPG 6.5 APG 4.3 BPG 0.9 SPG 0.7 PER 14.89 EWA 0.9
West has not been terrific throughout the postseason, but winning is all that matters -- 4 games out of 7 to be exact -- and he has played such a big part in most of the biggest Pacers wins.
He was huge in their "win or go home" victory in Game 6 in Atlanta, just as he was when the Pacers beat the Wizards on the road to close out the series. And in their Game 1 win against Miami, he also took and made big shots.
George is going to have a hard time being superhuman in this series considering his matchup against LeBron, while Roy Hibbert must deal with the Heat's "small-ball" rotations. West, however, can stand out in any situation, and for Indy to survive, it's very likely he'll need three more big games.
(Previous rank: NR )
Photo credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images
8. RUSSELL WESTBROOK, THUNDER
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 15 MPG 38.6 PPG 25.7 RPG 7.6 APG 8.1 BPG 0.3 SPG 1.6 PER 23.27 EWA 3.5
When he's good, he's amazing. When he's bad, he's a problem. Westbrook will always be an enigmatic player as long as he fails to make adjustments as the game evolves. Consider his six worst shooting games of the postseason: He made only 47 of 142 shots from the field (33 percent) and 8 of 42 attempts from beyond the 3-point line (19 percent). In only some of those games was he a relentless driver who earned multiple free throw attempts. And OKC won just one of those games in regulation and one more in OT.
Westbrook is very much the engine of the team and clearly deserves a lot of credit for OKC getting to this stage, but without fewer contested shots/off-balance jumpers and far more hard drives to the rim, it's hard to see OKC winning four of the next five games. Put it this way, Westbrook has the game to hurt the Spurs and spark a special comeback -- the only question is, will he?
(Previous rank: 3 )
Photo credit: Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports
9. TIAGO SPLITTER, SPURS
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP 14 MPG 26.6 PPG 8.9 RPG 7.9 APG 2.4 BPG 0.4 SPG 0.9 PER 19.64 EWA 1.7
The Spurs have run a parade in the paint on offense and built a wall in the paint on defense. Splitter has been a big factor in both areas of success.
Much is made of how well the Spurs have developed Kawhi Leonard and how well they have turned good shooters into great ones, but Splitter's development might be their most impressive feat of all.
His agility and ability to "tall up" on drivers and post players make things so difficult for most opponents to finish shots. His 18 rebounds, four blocks and only two fouls in the first two games combined against OKC also show how he competes hard and smart while also being productive. His value inside is both key and underrated.
(Previous rank: N/A )
Photo credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
10. LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE, TRAIL BLAZERS
2014 POSTSEASON STATS
GP11 MPG 40.1 PPG 26.2 RPG 10.6 APG 1.5 BPG 1.6 SPG 0.6 PER 21.23 EWA 2.1
It's fair to wonder what might have happened had Damian Lillard not made that prayer of a 3 to beat Houston in Game 6 of their first-round series. What if Houston had come back to win the series? The Rockets were built to beat any team, especially with the way Dwight Howard was playing, and had swept the Spurs during the regular season.
This is just academic consideration, of course, because of what Aldridge did to the Rockets throughout that series. The Spurs seem primed to advance to the NBA Finals, and if that happens, they should thank Aldridge.
(Previous rank: 9 )
Last edited by buttsR4rebounding; 05-24-2014 at 04:26 PM.
Where the heck is Serge Ibaka? I thought he'd be #1!
awful list tbh..
Tiago
Kawhi
Parker
Duncan
What rank was Matt Bonner?
Why would a person care what ESPN thinks?
Wonder why Ibaka isn't on that list. The guy is apparently Michael Jordan of defense with the way he's been talked about
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