4th quarter, game 7, the series is on the line. Whom would you pick?

[Jvalin]

Bill Simmons made a list of his ''top 25 players right now for the next 4 months if I'm trying to win a title''. He was discussing the list with Zach Lowe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9XhMW7B_uw

A couple of caveats:

1. This is not a list of who are the best 25 players in the league. 4th quarter, game 7, these are the guys that I trust to be on the floor.
2. Has to be somebody who actually has a chance to be in the playoffs.

So here's his list:

Tier 1
1. Kawhi
2. LeBron
3. Giannis
4. AD

Tier 2
5. Harden
6. Embiid
7. George
8. Lillard
9. Tatum
10. Luka
11. Jokic

Tier 3
12. Lowry
13. Siakam

Tier 4
14. Bam
15. Westbrook
16. Middleton
17. Butler
18. Brown
19. Mitchell
20. CP3
21. Beal

Tier 5
22. Simmons (due to injury concerns)
23. Kemba (due to injury concerns)
24. Zion
25. Sabonis/Murray/Brogdon/SGA/Oladipo/Gobert/Holiday/McCollum/Ja/Ingram

Zach Lowe chose Ingram for the 25th spot.

So what do you guys think? Any objections? Feel free to make your own list if you want.

[Who]

So here's his list:

Tier 1
1. Kawhi
2. LeBron
3. Giannis
4. AD

Tier 2
5. Harden
6. Embiid
7. George
8. Lillard
9. Tatum
10. Luka
11. Jokic

I would put Luka in the first tier. Luka is on a par with LeBron for me. LeBron better defensively, Luka better offensively. Same level overall. The question to me is whether Giannis goes in front or behind these two guys. Close call.

I would drop AD to the second tier. AD still hasn't figured out what type of player he is. You can't lead others if you don't understand yourself.

I don't like the order of that second tier. Embiid and PG13 would be towards the bottom for me. Not the top. Tatum - I want to see maintain this current level for longer before I put him near the top so I will leave him towards the bottom next to Embiid and PG13 for the time being.

Lillard would be top dog of that second tier because he won't shy away from the moment. Then AD. Then Harden / Jokic.

Beal deserves to be up here too. No idea why he is in the 4th tier. I'd strongly consider adding Westbrook and Zion to the 2nd tier as well. Yeah, I would do that. I feel better about having Westbrook / Zion on the floor than Embiid or PG13.

[Donoghus]

I'm still taking Lebron with one quarter, everything on the line.

[Roy H.]

I'm still taking Lebron with one quarter, everything on the line.

Yep.

[bdm860]

Depends on the team.  Game 7, 4Q against the Celtics, Khris Middleton jumps to the top of tier 1 

[jambr380]

I went with Kawhi as I think he is the best combination of strength, speed, skill/shooting, and determination. Perhaps recency bias is playing a part here and I don't consider him the best player in the NBA, but I really don't want anything to do with Kawhi in the 4th quarter of a game 7. I believe he has the best chance at getting the shot he wants to get consistently down the stretch.

[nickagneta]

Surprised by how low Kemba is on the list given what a clutch player he is. There are a whole bunch of players on that list ahead of Kemba that shouldn't be. It's probably due to his lack of appearances in the playoffs, but I would take Walker somewhere closer to top 10-12 than I would top 23-25.

[johnnygreen]

I would take James Harden off that list completely, never mind having him #5. He seems to fall apart in the playoffs, in close games, especially in the fourth quarter. On top of it, if the refs don't want to decide the outcome by calling a foul, I don't know if Harden would be able to function.

[moiso]

I went with Kawhi as I think he is the best combination of strength, speed, skill/shooting, and determination. Perhaps recency bias is playing a part here and I don't consider him the best player in the NBA, but I really don't want anything to do with Kawhi in the 4th quarter of a game 7. I believe he has the best chance at getting the shot he wants to get consistently down the stretch.

Agree with this.  I think Kawhi is the best player in the NBA in such a situation.  He will probably be playing on a level beyond how he has played this regular season by a game 7 of the playoffs.

[Jvalin]

I'm between Kawhi and Luka. I truly believe that people are sleeping on Luka just because they haven't seen him play in the playoffs yet.

Even masked profanity is against site rules. Please, do not do it. Thank you. I'm voting for Luka. He's the next Larry legend.

Btw, Bam at #14 is hilarious. I love his game, but come on now! In what universe is Bam a more important playoff player than Butler?

Brown at #18? No way! If we are talking just playoffs, imo Tatum > Hayward > Smart > Kemba > Brown.
Brown is primarily a slasher. Good luck trying to attack the basket in the 4th quarter of a close playoff series. The game slows down for everybody. Crafty players (=Tatum) are way more effective than explosive players (=Brown).

Anyway, here's my list:

Tier 1
1. Luka
2. Kawhi
3. LeBron

Tier 2
4. Embiid
5. Giannis
6. Davis
7. Jokic

Tier 3
8. Lillard
9. Kyrie (hate him all you want, he's clutch)

Not sure about 10-25. I'd put Tatum in tier 4. SGA would make the list too. The kid is 21 years old and he's playing like a battle-hardened veteran. If you ask me, he's the #1 reason the Thunder are a playoff team this season, not CP3.

I don't think Giannis can dominate a slow paced offense in the 4th quarter of a game 7. I mean, he couldn't do it in the FIBA World Cup (against clearly inferior opponents), why will he do it at the NBA level? I may well be wrong, but I'll believe it when I see it. He can pass the ball to his teammates though and they are deadly shooters from the perimeter.

As for Harden, I'm more or less with johnnygreen on this one.

I would take James Harden off that list completely, never mind having him #5. He seems to fall apart in the playoffs, in close games, especially in the fourth quarter. On top of it, if the refs don't want to decide the outcome by calling a foul, I don't know if Harden would be able to function.

[bellerephon]

I'm between Kawhi and Luka. I truly believe that people are sleeping on Luka just because they haven't seen him play in the playoffs yet.

Even masked profanity is against site rules. Please, do not do it. Thank you. I'm voting for Luka. He's the next Larry legend.

Btw, Bam at #14 is hilarious. I love his game, but come on now! In what universe is Bam a more important playoff player than Butler?

Brown at #18? No way! If we are talking just playoffs, imo Tatum > Hayward > Smart > Kemba > Brown.
Brown is primarily a slasher. Good luck trying to attack the basket in the 4th quarter of a close playoff series. The game slows down for everybody. Crafty players (=Tatum) are way more effective than explosive players (=Brown).

Anyway, here's my list:

Tier 1
1. Luka
2. Kawhi
3. LeBron

Tier 2
4. Embiid
5. Giannis
6. Davis
7. Jokic

Tier 3
8. Lillard
9. Kyrie (hate him all you want, he's clutch)

Not sure about 10-25. I'd put Tatum in tier 4. SGA would make the list too. The kid is 21 years old and he's playing like a battle-hardened veteran. If you ask me, he's the #1 reason the Thunder are a playoff team this season, not CP3.

I don't think Giannis can dominate a slow paced offense in the 4th quarter of a game 7. I mean, he couldn't do it in the FIBA World Cup (against clearly inferior opponents), why will he do it at the NBA level? I may well be wrong, but I'll believe it when I see it. He can pass the ball to his teammates though and they are deadly shooters form the perimeter.

As for Harden, I'm more or less with johnnygreen on this one.

I would take James Harden off that list completely, never mind having him #5. He seems to fall apart in the playoffs, in close games, especially in the fourth quarter. On top of it, if the refs don't want to decide the outcome by calling a foul, I don't know if Harden would be able to function.

Luka's great no doubt, I wouldn't put him in tier 1 however, certainly not above Kawhi and Lebron. I also wouldn't put Embiid in tier 2. Again he's a great player, but not at that level. Right now, I'd go Kawhi although Lebron is a close second. If not for injuries Stef and Durant would be in tier 1 as well.

[fairweatherfan]

Steph is coming back in like a week and should maybe be on the list. If I need a 3 I take him or Lillard. If I need any basket or drawing FTs, between Kawhi and LeBron. Probably LeBron if you include passing for the key bucket.

Oh and if I need a stop I want Giannis or A Davis.  Remember Embiid has choked several times on D in key situations, mostly against us.

[tazzmaniac]

Lebron and Kawhi are in a tier by themselves.  They've actually done it.  The others either have limited experience or have experience at failing to carry their team.  After those two, I'd rate the top 2 way players (Giannis, Embiid, AD) next. 
 

[RodyTur10]

My answer to whom I would trust most with the ball for a final play in the 4th quarter, game 7, series on the line, would be either Luka Doncic or Damian Lillard (so I voted Doncic, I didn't read the question right).

For a whole quarter I probably put Kawhi Leonard on top (even though I rate Antetokounmpo as the world's best player).

[gouki88]

If AD is Tier 1 I think Doncic and Lillard deserve consideration for it too.

I take Kawhi. Even under an injury cloud during last years playoffs he was simply unstoppable, and hit from all over the court. Plus, his passing has jumped massively.