The Top 10 Players in the 2014 NBA Playoffs (May 5, 2014) Part 2

The 2014 NBA Playoffs have given us, arguably, the best first round so far, what with five series going the full seven games and the lower seeded or “weaker” teams surprising fans and quashing experts’ predictions left and right. Simply put, the past few weeks of postseason action have been nothing short of awesome.

In this second of two parts, I will present five of the current Top 10 players in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. This will be based on the players’ stats for their first round games. They are ranked according to Player Efficiency for that duration of time only.

In this list, we will find the five best players so far in the postseason. Here you’ll find two Trail Blazers, a soon-to-be disgruntled Houston Rockets big man, and the two best SFs in the Eastern Conference.

Ladies and gents, presenting your top performers in the 2014 NBA Playoffs thus far.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on May 5, 2014 (Manila time).

The NBA: April 2014 Position Battle – The Top 5 Small Forwards Right Now

In this Position Battle post, we will focus on the top five small forwards at this point in the season. We will take into account just the players’ stats for the latest five games of their respective teams. This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each player’s production.

KD is going to be the MVP, but LBJ is still the best player on the planet. That’s what the numbers show so far. Also, PG24 makes a comeback to the top five, while a fiery Frenchman and a former Aztec round out the league’s top tier swingmen right now.

The four guys up top are all aching to dethrone the King at the bottom.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on April 13, 2014 (Manila time).

The NBA: December 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Small Forwards Right Now

This is our third Position Battle post of 2013-2014, and we will focus on the top five small forwards at this point in the season. This is maybe the most predictable of all the position battle posts, since the top four guys will pretty much be interchangeable for the remainder of this year.

Kevin Durant and Paul George are among the
league's best SFs.
(image from Getty Images/Bleacher Report)

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on December 12, 2013 (Manila time).

5. Luol Deng (CHI) - 19.4ppg, 7.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.1spg, .458 FG%, 19.9 EFF

Deng is a trooper. Even with D-Rose out and trade rumors swirling, he will continue to lay everything out on the floor. He’s nursing an Achilles heel injury right now, but, again, don’t count on this guy to miss out on helping his team. He definitely doesn’t have the biggest influence in the Association, but he sure can play ball.

           

4. Paul George (IND) - 24.7ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.4apg, 2.1spg, 47.5 FG%, 2.8 triples per game, 86.3 FT%, 23.2 EFF

PG24’s underwhelming first half against Miami really dampened his stock, but he’s still definitely one of the most fun guys to watch. His barrage of jumpers in the second half really gave Indiana a big lift, and, man, he never looked this conifident. Ever. Gotta feeling his best is yet to come, Scary as hell.

The NBA: 2013 ECF: Top of the East

Dwyane Wade finally had a good game to support LeBron James in Game 7.
Miami will appear in their 3rd straight NBA Finals vs San Antonio
(Image from: Joe Skipper/REUTERS) 

#beatdown #Game7 #LetsGoHeat
Defense wins championship and in this case, it won Game 7 of the East Finals. This was a tight and contested series with defense and rebounding being the winning factors in each game. Miami won 3 of their games by double digits and Game 7 was a total team effort that resulted into a beat down of the Pacers. Miami limited Indiana to a measly 76 points including a dominating 2nd quarter where the Heat took over by scoring 33 to the Pacers' 16 which bumped the halftime lead to 17 points. The Pacers never recovered as the lead ballooned to 29 plus George and Hibbert got into foul trouble for the first time in the series. The Heat led by Wade and Bosh, finally owned the glass as they grabbed more rebounds than the Pacers. Miami was more aggressive with their shot selections as they attacked Hibbert and the paint at will which resulted to a staggering 33 of 38 FTs (highest of the series). LeBron James spearheaded the attack with his smothering defense of Paul George to start the game (7 points) and on offense, LBJ made sure that Wade and Bosh got their touches to get them more involved. The strategy worked in the first half when Wade/Bosh already eclipsed their total production from Game 6.

#JesusSaves #WoW #Finally #AboutTime
It was about time for some of the Heat players to show up. Ray Allen was missing for most of the series as he struggled to get his threes in while his FTs also deserted him. He still got his 20 minutes of playing time but the production was not there. Things finally went his way during the 2nd quarter when Allen erupted for 10 points including 3 threes that helped Miami establish a big lead which they never relinquished. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade produced his best game of the series and the playoffs with his 21 points and 9 rebounds (6 offensive). This was the first 20-point outing for Wade in the past 12 games. D-Wade a.k.a WoW was active on defense and his scoring provided ample support to James. Wade attacked the paint and drew fouls which resulted to 7/7 FTs. As for Chris Bosh, he had a productive first half with his 8 points and 7 rebounds. He still struggled shooting (3-13) but he was engaged and competing. Bosh did not always settle for the long jumpers as he tried to drive to the hoop and challenge Hibbert at the rim. The results were not pretty for Bosh but that was a lot better than doing nothing. More importantly, Bosh played solid defense against Hibbert in the 1st half as he finally delivered better numbers during the opening half.

#PacerNation #PG24 #Elite
The Pacers had a wonderful season and they exceeded expectations. They were not supposed to reach this far in the playoffs without Danny Granger while Paul George's rise to stardom was not expected to happen this early. Lance Stephenson had a decent season as he became a full time starter while Roy Hibbert and his verticality deserve a ton of credit for challenging Miami. The Pacers truly had a chance to upset the Heat and some (Sir HoopNut) would argue that they should have already won the series. In truth, the Pacers are an amazing defensive team but they simply lack the offensive firepower to match the Heat. In 3 of their losses, Indy averaged 84 points while giving up 101 to Miami. The Pacers are on the cusp of becoming an elite team but they need another shooter (maybe a healthy Granger) plus more help from their bench. A more capable backup PG and a shooting wing player should elevate them to another level for next season. Miami always dominated Indiana when their starters went for a short rest.

#NBAFinals #GoSpursGo
The Finals start on Thursday with the San Antonio Spurs resting for about 9 days. This series will be billed as the fight between whose "Big 3" is better while other subplots include: the chance for LeBron James to avenge his 2007 loss as a Cavalier, which team is healthier (Wade or Manu), which bench is better and can Coach Spo hold his ground against the best in the business, Gregg Popovich. The Spurs swept LBJ in such a dominating fashion 6 years ago which left James embarrassed and humiliated. Their season series was 2-0 in favor of Miami but both games featured a bunch of missing key players which offer us nothing in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Both teams are among the top in offensive production while also being devoted to defense. Stay tuned at here at Hoop Nut as we will have additional articles to cover the NBA Finals. We will have guest writers as well!

#Player of the Night
LeBron James (Heat) - 32 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a nasty alley-oop in the 2nd quarter!

#Highlight of the Night
Dunkathon in Game 7

#Tweets of the Nights

David West ‏@D_West30

Salute to MIA...Championship Resolve 2nite!!

Paul George ‏@Paul_George24

GREAT year.. Proud of my guys! Nothin better than competing agaisny a great competitor.. We there tho Pacer Nation! #Wethere

The NBA: 2013 ECF: New "Big 3" helps Miami Win

Udonis Haslem had another big game in Game 5 and the Heat won by double digits.
His numbers were similar to their win in Game 3. Are we seeing a pattern?
(Image from: Lynne Sladky/AP)

#MVP #SuperMario #ThisIsUD
Miami is one win away from making their 3rd straight Finals appearance to play the waiting and resting San Antonio Spurs. Thanks to LeBron James who dominated the 3rd quarter with 16 points to outscore the Pacers who only had 13. LBJ had help but it did not come from the usual suspects. Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem had big games and they both contributed in a big way during the Heat's run in the 3rd frame. Super Mario had another good game (had 20 in Game 4) with 12 points and 6 assists. More importantly, he helped limit George Hill to just 1 point. Udonis Haslem produced 16 points on 8-9 shooting which was similar to Game 3 when the Heat won by double digits. He made 8 straight shots after missing his first attempt. Haslem was pivotal in the 3rd as he scored 10 points on mostly baseline jumpers. James was masterful in that quarter as he scored or assisted on 24 points of the 30 that Miami scored to pull away from the Pacers. LBJ did most of the work but at least he had help from more reliable players in Chalmers and Haslem. If Wade and Bosh decide to join the party, then the Heat will be in the Finals next week.

#Big3? #NoExcuses #Play2Win
The Heat 3 has been reduced to the Big 1, namely LeBron James who has carried Miami in their 3 wins. Sure he had some help from Birdman, Chalmers and Haslem but the other All-stars have yet to provide solid contributions. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade continued to struggle in this series vs the Pacers. Wade and Bosh combined for a measly 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. They are shooting below 50% after finishing the regular season with career-high shooting numbers. Miami was very fortunate to win this game but they cannot expect to finish off the Pacers without help from Bosh and Wade. Even if the Heat advance to the Finals, there's no way they can beat the Spurs without the production of Wade and Bosh. D-Wade has looked ordinary and slow in this series while Bosh has been content to stay in the perimeter and launch jumpers all day long. His rebounds are pathetic and his defense has been below average. To make things worse, their bench has not been better either. Battier, Cole and Allen are all in shooting slumps and that needs to improve ASAP.

#PacerNation #BIGs3
The Pacers dominated the Miami front line again. Indy was led by Roy Hibbert and Paul George who scored the first 29 points for the Pacers. They also had the lead for most of the first half with just the 2 of them scoring. David West added a couple of baskets as well. The BIGs 3 of the Pacers combined for 66 points and 25 rebounds but the Pacers as a whole managed only 79 points and just 33 boards. Paul George was so hot in the first quarter that he scored 13 points which eclipsed the 12 points he scored in Game 4. The problem for the Pacers was the lack of scoring coming from everbody else especially their starting backcourt of Hill and Stephenson. That duo combined for 5 points, 6 assists and 6 turnovers after getting 39 points, 8 assists and 2 turnovers in their last game. Stephenson has been a barometer of how good or bad the Pacers are playing depending on his production. Lance started the game with 2 quick fouls and he lost his rhythm and focus as the game went along. Stephenson also irked LeBron which was a bad idea as LBJ totally decimated him on both sides of the court.

#Game6 #Preview #Adjustments
The series is far from over. The Pacers have a chance to tie this up in Game 6 if they manage to get production from their back court plus shut down Haslem and Chalmers. For the Pacers to win, they simply need to dominate the boards and pound the paint. A few more baskets from Hill and Stephenson will definitely help as well. Miami managed to narrow the rebounding gap (33-32) and points in the paint (34-32). The Heat forced 17 turnovers and they had a better shooting percentage against the Pacers. The Heat also reduced the FTs awarded to the Pacers and most importantly, LBJ did not foul out. James did not operate from the low post often in Game 5 but his mid-range and threes were working. Miami NEEDS Wade and Bosh to offer something for Game 6 because the Heat cannot expect Chalmers and Haslem to continue having big games.

#Player of the Night
LeBron James (Heat) - 30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 16 points in the 3rd quarter

#Highlight of the Night
3rd quarter explosion by LBJ
Birdman blocks Psycho T

#Tweets of the Nights

Roy Hibbert ‏@Hoya2aPacer

I'm sorry for the loss Pacer Nation. Have to force a game 7. I have to do better. We all have to do better.

Michael Wilbon ‏@RealMikeWilbon

LeBron's too good...He's just too skilled, his judgment now is so sound, he's calm, not afraid to roast his teammates if needed...2 good...

The NBA: 2013 ECF: Scorching Heat Take Game 3

Udonis Haslem was active on both sides of the court in Game 3.
UD finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes
(Image from: Michael Conroy/AP)

#RedHotHeat #ontheblock #lowpost
Prior to Game 3, Miami's largest lead in the series was 5 points and they have not shot the ball efficiently. Their offense has sputtered and the turnovers were uncharacteristically high. All of that changed in Game 3 plus a few other things that all favored Miami. The Heat exploded for 70 points in the first half to finish with 114 and won by 18 points on the road. They finished with just 5 turnovers and shot 55% from the field while going 24-28 from the foul line. LeBron James had so-so stats with 22 points and 3 assists but he dominated on the block against Paul George. LBJ manhandled PG24 with an array of low post moves that focused on the left block. James would back down George with about 4 dribbles then he would finish with a lefty shot that George had no shot of contesting. The Pacers decided NOT to send help against James and they effectively left George on an island. James feasted on that match-up and the results were great for Miami. Miami also got a solid game from Dwyane Wade with 18 points and 8 assists including a couple of highlight plays that reminded us that he is still a superstar.

#ThisisUD #Little12 #bigs
The Heat needed the others to step up and contribute. They were not going to beat the Pacers with LeBron doing everything. Finally, some players on Miami decided to announce their presence in this series and one of them was Udonis Haslem. He had his best playoff game since 2006 and had a season-high 17 points on 8-9 shooting. UD was hitting his trademark baseline jumpers all night long as Roy Hibbert kept leaving him open. Meanwhile, Chris "Birdman" Andersen has been unstoppable in the paint. He is still perfect in this series at 13-13 FGs after going 4-4 for 9 points and 9 rebounds. He is shooting 35 of 41 in the playoffs and is easily their best player off the bench in this series. The Heat's bigs played better than Hibbert and West and when that happens, Miami is unbeatable. Heck, even Ray Allen (2-6), Norris Cole (1-5) and Shane Battier (1-4) made timely three-pointers. They have not exactly broken out of their shooting slumps but a made shot in this game could trigger a better shooting performance in the next game.    

#PacerNation #BeattheHeat
The Pacers did not play that bad at all. They shot 14 more FTs, made 2 more threes and out-rebounded the Heat by 9. Indiana only had 11 turnovers while limiting Miami to 6 fast break points. The Pacers had 4 of their starters in double figures plus Roy Hibbert and David West finished with double-doubles as they combined for 41 points and 27 rebounds. Paul George did not shoot particularly well but he had 8 assists to go with his 5 turnovers. Indiana was limited to below 40% shooting while their FTs faltered at 30 of 44 after shooting close to 80% in the first 2 games. Indy's problems were clearly on the defensive side since Miami torched them from the opening tip until the final buzzer. Miami never trailed after the 1st quarter and the Pacers only got close by 7 points before Miami put on another run to end all hopes of a comeback. The Heat rolled out a flawless offensive game which the Pacers did not have enough firepower to match. Can Miami duplicate the same efficiency for Game 4?

#Game4 #Preview #chessmatch
The Heat made adjustments by putting LBJ on the block more and Coach Spo made minor tweaks in the rotation. Haslem was active and aggressive with his jumper while Wade involved in the drives to the paint. It will be up to Coach Vogel to adjust and game plan for Game 4. Expect the Pacers to send help when James is back in the post. Hibbert was also late on a few rotations so expect him to improve his defensive reads on when to help. That would give Miami more open shots and it will be up to their shooters to make the Pacers pay. Miami cant shot 55% from the field again, right? Allen and Battier have yet to find their shooting stroke but if they make a few shots in Game 4, the Pacers are in deep trouble. The Heat bench was averaging 35 points in the playoffs but so far vs the Pacers, they have been scoring around 25 points. It is also unreasonable to expect Haslem to score 17 points again while shooting a high percentage so Chris Bosh needs to be more engaged offensively PLUS he needs to rebound. Bosh only grabbed 3 boards to up his total rebounds to 10 in 3 games. Dwyane Wade also needs to attack more and less on jumpers. The Pacers have to make their FTs and they need to force turnovers to create easier shots. Lance Stephenson needs to start making shots while Paul George cant wait for the 2nd half before he starts scoring.  

#Stats #News

• Miami has not lost back-to-back games since January
• Miami still perfect on the road at 5-0
• Heat dominated points in the paint: 52-36
• LeBron James was +22
• Stephenson was 2-10, he is shooting 6 of 32 vs the Heat

#Player of the Night
Dwyane Wade (Heat) - 18 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks and a vintage Wade dunk!  

#Highlight of the Night
D-Wade circa 2006

#Tweets of the Nights

Paul George ‏@Paul_George24

Champs made adjustments.. Our turn! A joy to play this game.. #Game4 #PacerNation

Chris Tomasson ‏@christomasson

Frank Vogel on Udonis Haslem: "Is he going to shoot 8 for 9 every night? If he does, it will probably be a long series for us.''