20 Players to Keep an Eye On in the NBA Playoffs.

Every year the NBA playoffs come and go and even though there are 4 rounds of 7 game series they can fly by pretty fast. I personally don’t mind if my team the Lakers make it or not I watch a ton of the playoffs every single year and this year I especially encourage people to watch. Even if your favorite team did not make the playoffs its fine as long as you’re a fan of basketball you will enjoy these playoffs. This postseason is shaping up to be one of the best postseasons yet, with a ton of great teams in the West and some up and coming teams in the East all fighting for a NBA Championship. This article is meant for everyone from avid fans to the occasional basketball watcher. I have made a list of 20 players that you should watch in the playoffs this year. These 20 players range anywhere from star players that can carry their teams to victory to lesser known players that will have a larger than expected impact on their teams this post season. I have listed the stats and a short paragraph about each player and why you should watch them. I hope this list can be used as an aid for what to look for when watching the games this postseason and also possibly provide some quick recaps for people that might not have caught many games this season.

1. Stephen Curry

Stats: 23.6 PPG 7.7 APG 4.3 RPG  PER: 27.64

Reason to Watch: Of Course Steph Curry is going to be on this list. He hasn’t just led his team to a #1 seed in the West, but one of their best seasons ever. Curry has only missed 3 games this season and those 3 games the Warriors lost, but also when Curry is off the court he leads the NBA in plus/minus differential. This means that when Curry is not on the floor the Warriors are not nearly as good as when he is on it, no matter how many other pieces the talent packed warriors have. Expect Curry to put on a show come mid-April, but he will have to continue to get all the pieces of this team involved like he has done all season long if they want to go deep in the playoffs.

2. LeBron James

Stats: 25.6 PPG 7.3 APG 6.0 RPG  PER: 26.11

Reason to Watch: Well, it looks like LeBron’s return to Cleveland has worked out for him so far after a shaky start to the season. Just like past years the East is an overall weak conference setting up an easier path for another LBJ title run. Though this time will be a little different for him since he doesn’t have two playoff experienced veterans alongside him. Instead LeBron has two younger guys that he has to lead. LeBron has put even more responsibility on himself than ever, not only does he have to worry about being the best player on his team, but he has to be a leader for his younger teammates that he might not have had to do as much if he still was with Bosh and Wade.

3. Kyrie Irving

Stats: 21.9 PPG 5.1 APG 3.2 RPG  PER: 21.38

Reason to Watch: Besides this being the first time Kyrie has played in the playoffs, this will also be the first time Kyrie has played on a winning team in the NBA. The reason that people need to watch Irving this postseason is because there is a good chance that with LeBron’s playmaking ability Kyrie will put up some big numbers as this team advances through the playoffs. Now this is not to say that LeBron will not be the leader of the team still and might still be the teams lead scorer, but this might be a look at the future for Cavs fans. Kyrie taking the torch from LeBron is inevitable and will come on the better half of the next 6 years most likely.

4. James Harden

Stats: 27.7 PPG 6.9 APG 5.7 RPG  PER: 27.02

Reason to Watch: If you have watched a Rockets game this year then you know exactly why Harden is a favorite to win MVP this year. He has carried this team that has had every player except for himself deal with injuries all season long. Harden will need to carry this MVP performance into the playoffs to avoid a 1^st round exit like last year. Harden also needs to keep his historic amount of free throw attempts going, because last year his poor numbers from the field and lack of driving hurt his team and it lead to their loss to the Trail Blazers.

5. DeAndre Jordan

Stats: 11.4 PPG 14.8 RPG 2.2 BLKPG  PER: 20.78

Reason to Watch: DeAndre is playing amazing this year. Yes, you can say his FG% is only good because of his lack of range shots, but I see that as someone who knows their game and sticks to it. Also he is a force on the rebounding end and blocking shots. DJ is a player to watch because of the things he does that make up for what Blake doesn’t do. By himself he makes up for Griffins lack of rebounding and allows Griffin to develop his mid-range game and spread the floor more. Not only is he an integral part to this team’s chances of getting over their playoff hump and making it the conference finals and possibly further, but he can dunk too. No seriously get ready for some big time alley oops, some posters, and probably a few put backs.

6. Mike Conley

Stats: 15.9 PPG 5.4 APG 3.0 RPG  PER: 18.78

Reason to Watch: This year has been a tough one for Conley he has struggled to stay fully healthy. Though he must stay healthy if this team wants to go anywhere in the playoffs. Yea sure Gasol and Randolph are probably the best two players on the team, but Conley is the man that makes the team work. His ability to control the pace of a game is un-matched in the NBA and that is big if the Grizzlies are going to play their half-court game. Conley needs to be watched mainly for the reason that he is a barometer for this team’s success as he goes so does the team.

7. Kawhi Leonard

Stats: 16.3 PPG 2.6 APG 7.3 RPG  PER: 22.11

Reason to Watch: Kawhi dealt with eye problems at the beginning of the season and also it’s hard to tell how well a player personally is doing in the Spurs system since there is such a spread of minutes, but just looking at Leonard’s game log of late he is ready to continue what he started last season in the finals vs the Heat. With the lack luster seed the Spurs have this year look for no minute limitation on Leonard from the start and be prepared to see how good he really is on the biggest stage in this year’s NBA playoffs.

8. Draymond Green

Stats: 11.6 PPG 3.7 APG 8.0 RPG  PER: 16.24

Reason to Watch: If Curry is the leader of the team then Draymond is the heart and soul. The Michigan St. product has been a hustle play kind going back to his college years, but until he was moved into the starting lineup this year he didn’t have the numbers to back up his effort play. The numbers of course don’t make the player, but extra minutes sure allow a player like Green to have a larger effect on the game then if he was coming off the bench. If you get a chance to watch a Warriors game this post season try to take your eyes off the splash brothers for a bit to watch this man, but you will have to be ready because Draymond will be flying around the court going 110% every play. Good Luck keeping up.

9. Damian Lillard

Stats: 21.1 PPG 6.2 APG 4.7 RPG  PER: 21.06

Reason to Watch: Lillard has ice in his veins and it’s been evident since his first year in the NBA. Though now more than ever he will need to be ready to carry the load for his team with fellow guard Wes Matthews out for the season. Lillard is must watch because of his shooting skills and his no concern for human life mentality when the clocks ticking down in the last seconds of the game. Be sure to watch Lillard this post season his play will have you questioning where he has been the last 5 years then you realize that he hasn’t even been in the NBA that long yet.

10. Joakim Noah

Stats: 7.4 PPG 9.7 RPG 1.1 BLKPG  PER: 15.85

Reason to Watch: Noah is the anchor of this rough and tough Chicago team. He epitomizes what it means to lock down the paint. Lately Noah has not been himself this season though. Noah is a must watch player, because Derrick Rose or not the Bulls need Noah to play at a high level. His ability to lock down the paint also largely effects Pau Gasol’s play and allows him to avoid getting beat up in the paint on defense and stay energized on the offense end to provide the team with scoring they have been missing in the post season the past couple years.

11. John Wall

Stats: 17.5 PPG 10 APG 4.7 RPG  PER: 20.25

Reason to Watch: The Wizards looked real good the first half of the season, but the problem is there’s more than 41 games in the NBA season. John Wall can and should take blame for this lack luster second half. His personal stats might not have suffered, but his role in this team is to drive and kick to shooters like Beal while also getting his big men Nene and Gortat involved. If the Wizards want to turn their team around Wall needs to start doing this again, because when the team does badly it’s going to fall on him no matter his personal numbers. Wall is a must watch because of the fact that he makes or breaks this team and is the main factor for how far they go into the playoffs.

12. Al Horford

Stats: 15.1 PPG 7.2 RPG 1.3 BLKPG  PER:21.16

Reason to Watch: When thinking of the Hawk’s success many people will name Korver, Teague, or even Millsap, but most forget Horford and for good reason this year. His numbers have declined this year and I’m not sure if it’s due to the higher amount of team play they have been doing or if it’s just a decline at his age being a big man. Though one thing is evident if the Hawks want to be more than just a good regular season team Horford needs to step up his game and lead the Hawks like he has done most his career. He is important to watch mainly due to what effort level you will see him play at. Sure if he’s not doing great I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks still made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but if they expect to compete with the West or even the Cavs he is going to need to start averaging at least 18 and 10 come playoff time.

13. Kevin Love

Stats: 16.4 PPG 10 RPG 0.5 BLKPG  PER: 18.93

Reason to Watch: Unlike the first 2 Cav players on this list Kevin Love hasn’t received much credit for the success of the Cavaliers this season. Rightfully so his numbers have dropped off and it can be said that he hasn’t exactly gelled well with the rest of the team. Though if you look beyond his stat line you can see how integral a part of this team he is and will be during the playoffs. Teams that have LeBron become successful with outside shooting and the ability to spread the floor. Kevin Love is a much better shooter then Chris Bosh is, and he is big enough to guard the paint if needed and can grab a ton of boards on occasion. That is why he’s a must watch player, if he can do what Chris Bosh couldn’t for LeBron in the past then this Cavs team might just have themselves some rings at the end of the season.

14. Rajon Rondo

Stats: 8.8 PPG 7.9 APG 5.6 RPG  PER: 13.19

Reason to Watch: A lot of people will tell you that the Mavericks getting Rondo was a bad move for them. They will point out the clear drop in numbers of overall team stats and of star players like Dirk, but Rondo in the playoffs is worth the few points that you lose due to his lack of shooting. Rondo not only has the playoff experience, but is still one of the best play makers and perimeter defenders which is a must in the tough PG filled western conference. Rondo is key to this Mavericks team being more than just a high scoring gimmick of a team. Rondo can be and just might be the difference between this team making it deep into the playoffs this year and exiting in the first round like last year.

15. J.J. Redick

Stats: 16.2 PPG 1.8 APG 2.2 RPG  PER: 16.02

Reason to Watch: Yes, I bet no one would have guessed that the two clipper players on this list would not include Griffin or CP3. At the beginning of this season I told most people that if I had to face a team in the Western Conference in the first round I would choose the Clippers. It’s just something about that great PG and 2 great Post players that just hasn’t seemed effective the last couple years in the playoffs. This strategy became more evident to me when the Clippers lost Jamaal Crawford for about a month near the end of the season, but then I noticed what J.J. Redick had been doing. Redick has been exactly what the Clippers thought he could be 2 years ago when they traded for him. He has been averaging about 20 points a night and shooting well above 48% from the field and in the upper 90s in ft%. If there is one player to watch this playoffs that isn’t a star for their team its J.J. Not only will you start to have flash backs to his Duke days, but I would bet you hear a few announcers point out the fact that he has been and probably will be a top scorer for the Clippers for the remainder of this season and post season.

16. Kyle Korver

Stats: 12.2 PPG 2.6 APG 4.0 RPG  PER: 14.74

Reason to Watch: Remember back 2 years ago when the Heat beat the Spurs in 7 games. Now remember how good Danny Green played the first 5 of those. Not only did he spread the floor, but was basically on fire from deep for almost that whole finals series. Well now think about the many comparisons that have been made this season between the Spurs and the Hawks. Now think about who is in charge of spreading the floor for the Hawks. Now imagine if that player for the Hawks was even more accurate from deep then Green and is known for staying consistently hot game to game, matter of fact he holds the record for most games with a three made in a row. That’s why you need to watch Kyle Korver come playoff time.

17. Dwight Howard

Stats: 15.8 PPG 10.5 RPG 1.2 BLKPG  PER: 18.67

Reason to Watch: Dwight was a big factor in a losing effort last season in the first round of the playoffs for the Rockets. Howard also has been struggling with injuries most of this season. The Rockets have stumbled on to some pretty good power forwards in Howard’s absence, but if they want to stand a chance against teams like the Clippers or Grizzlies they will need Howard at 100%. Howard is important to watch, because he’s such an important part to this teams one two punch of Harden and himself.

18. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Stats: 12 PPG 2.5 APG 6.7 RPG  PER: 15.04

Reason to Watch: The Bucks are probably not going to make much noise in the playoffs this year, but that is fine they are still young. Though this will give people the opportunity to see them play on national television that they normally don’t get. Jason Kidd has really shown how good a coach he actually is after being handed the reins of this young and talented team. Giannis is probably the most exciting player to watch on their team. If you haven’t seen the Greek Freak in action then this year’s playoffs is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of one of the rising young stars and teams in the NBA.

19. Arron Affalo

Stats: 13.5 PPG 1.7 APG 3.2 RPG  PER: 10.89

Reason to Watch: Affalo needs to be watched by all Trail Blazer fans, and any one that is a fan of whoever ends up facing the Trail Blazers in round one. When Portland traded for Affalo at the trade dead line they assumed they were getting a solid piece to a suspect bench and most likely their future 6^th man. Affalo after all was having a very good year with the Nuggets and needed to be on a contender in an off the bench role which allowed him to capitalize on his scoring with less pressure. Though neither of these parties’ plans worked out. With the injury of Wes Matthews Affalo is now a starter for the Trail Blazers and is called on to replace a big part of the offense and defense that was lost with Matthews going down. If Affalo can embrace this new role then the Trail Blazers have nothing to worry about, but if he struggles then the Trail Blazers won’t have to wait till the second round this year to get knocked out.

20. Marc Gasol

Stats: 17.6 PPG 7.9 RPG 1.6 BLKPG  PER: 21.46

Reason to Watch: I understand that I already talked about how important Mike Conley is to the Grizzlies, but after all Gasol is just as important. He is still one of the NBA’s top defensive rim protectors and can put on a post scoring show as good as anyone in the league. If the Grizzlies are going to have Championship aspirations then they start with Gasol. If you want to see what the NBA was like 15 plus years ago then just watch Marc Gasol in this post season and watch one of the last truly great post players on both offense and defense.