Best 10 Players Left in the 2022 Playoffs

[liam]

Butler above Curry?

Currently, that's what I would have. Curry hasn't looked the same since the new year.

Curry has historically been great, but his play for half a season now is not better than current Doncic and Tatum. I feel like the ranking that he's getting on this board right now is more legacy than anything.

Curry in the 11 playoff games has averaged 33.1 mpg (quite a few blowouts decreasing minutes) and is scoring 26.9 ppg with 5.6 apg and 3.4 rpg with a 60.1 TS%.  His GmSc is 19.6.

Tatum has played a lot more mpg at 41.2 but isn't exactly scoring better at 28.3 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.6 rpg with a TS% of 57.5.  His GmSc is 19.5.

Obviously Tatum has played better defense, but defense is far less important than offense overall and Curry has been better on an actual per minute basis. 

I think they are close, but Curry to me requires more defensive focus because you can't leave him open from anywhere on the court.  He moves around a lot as well.

Defense just won us two series against arguably the two best teams in the NBA. Two way players are way more valuable than one way players. See Devin Booker...

[Who]

I am surprised Klay is on all of these top 10 lists. His drop-off on defense + his average scoring efficiency ... I am not convinced he still belongs on these lists.

[liam]

I am surprised Klay is on all of these top 10 lists. His drop-off on defense + his average scoring efficiency ... I am not convinced he still belongs on these lists.

I also move Celtics up on competition faced.

[Moranis]

Butler above Curry?

Currently, that's what I would have. Curry hasn't looked the same since the new year.

Curry has historically been great, but his play for half a season now is not better than current Doncic and Tatum. I feel like the ranking that he's getting on this board right now is more legacy than anything.

Curry in the 11 playoff games has averaged 33.1 mpg (quite a few blowouts decreasing minutes) and is scoring 26.9 ppg with 5.6 apg and 3.4 rpg with a 60.1 TS%.  His GmSc is 19.6.

Tatum has played a lot more mpg at 41.2 but isn't exactly scoring better at 28.3 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.6 rpg with a TS% of 57.5.  His GmSc is 19.5.

Obviously Tatum has played better defense, but defense is far less important than offense overall and Curry has been better on an actual per minute basis. 

I think they are close, but Curry to me requires more defensive focus because you can't leave him open from anywhere on the court.  He moves around a lot as well.

Defense just won us two series against arguably the two best teams in the NBA. Two way players are way more valuable than one way players. See Devin Booker...

The thing is, Devin Booker isn't a great offensive player.  He is very good, but not great.  He is a very good shooter.  He is a very good passer (for a SG).  He is an average ball handler.  He isn't all that big, fast, or athletic so he can't just shoot over people, blow by people, or get around them.  Curry is just a whole other level of offensive player. 

[liam]

Butler above Curry?

Currently, that's what I would have. Curry hasn't looked the same since the new year.

Curry has historically been great, but his play for half a season now is not better than current Doncic and Tatum. I feel like the ranking that he's getting on this board right now is more legacy than anything.

Curry in the 11 playoff games has averaged 33.1 mpg (quite a few blowouts decreasing minutes) and is scoring 26.9 ppg with 5.6 apg and 3.4 rpg with a 60.1 TS%.  His GmSc is 19.6.

Tatum has played a lot more mpg at 41.2 but isn't exactly scoring better at 28.3 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.6 rpg with a TS% of 57.5.  His GmSc is 19.5.

Obviously Tatum has played better defense, but defense is far less important than offense overall and Curry has been better on an actual per minute basis. 

I think they are close, but Curry to me requires more defensive focus because you can't leave him open from anywhere on the court.  He moves around a lot as well.

Defense just won us two series against arguably the two best teams in the NBA. Two way players are way more valuable than one way players. See Devin Booker...

The thing is, Devin Booker isn't a great offensive player.  He is very good, but not great.  He is a very good shooter.  He is a very good passer (for a SG).  He is an average ball handler.  He isn't all that big, fast, or athletic so he can't just shoot over people, blow by people, or get around them.  Curry is just a whole other level of offensive player.

I agree. Steph is a whole other level but both are not good defenders. The Celtics are just stacked with two way players and that's what I love!!!!

[perks-a-beast]

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Tatum

[Roy H.]

I am surprised Klay is on all of these top 10 lists. His drop-off on defense + his average scoring efficiency ... I am not convinced he still belongs on these lists.

He’s been quite good in the playoffs.  His current .560 eFG% in the playoffs is second highest of his career, and his 20.4 ppg is his 3rd highest scoring average.

[Moranis]

I am surprised Klay is on all of these top 10 lists. His drop-off on defense + his average scoring efficiency ... I am not convinced he still belongs on these lists.

He’s been quite good in the playoffs.  His current .560 eFG% in the playoffs is second highest of his career, and his 20.4 ppg is his 3rd highest scoring average.

He has had a couple of awful games (game 2 and 4 against Memphis were atrocious), which have really brought his average down, but he also has been very good a lot.  He isn't back to what he once was, but he is still an excellent player.

[tarheelsxxiii]

1. G. Williams
2. Pritchard
3. M. Fitts

...

4. Luka
5. Curry/Tatum
6. Tatum/Curry
7. Butler
8. Bam
9. Smart
10. Thompson

[GreenlyGreeny]

Superstars:

1. Curry
2. Tatum
3. Butler
4. Luka

Curry gets the nod one more year (would you rather have anybody else taking a buzzer beater shot for you?). Next year, Tatum/Luka will be duking it out with Giannis/Jokic for the title of best basketball player in the world.

The Rest:

5. Smart
6. Bam
7. Brown
8. Klay
9. Dray
10. Wiggins/Dinwiddie/Herro

[gouki88]

1. Doncic
2. Tatum
3. Curry
4. Butler
5. Brown
6. Bam
7. Dray
8. Klay
9. Smart
10. Herro