ESPN's top 10 players in this Finals

[Moranis]

I feel like the title is a little misleading. The ESPN insider article is "The 10 most important players in the NBA Finals". Can someone who has insider, provide the criteria that ESPN used to define who a most important player is.

The criteria was....however the author wanted to rank the players. That was the ONLY criteria.

So essentially our opinions here are just as good as his regardless if the title says "top 10 players"(here), "10 most important players"(top of ESPN article) or "10 best players"(on link to article on front page of ESPN).

well important and best are no where near the same thing, which is why it was a fair question from johnnygreen.  I could absolutely see calling Wiggins being the 3rd most important player in the series, when he is obviously not the 3rd best player in the series.

[johnnygreen]

I feel like the title is a little misleading. The ESPN insider article is "The 10 most important players in the NBA Finals". Can someone who has insider, provide the criteria that ESPN used to define who a most important player is.

The criteria was....however the author wanted to rank the players. That was the ONLY criteria.

So essentially our opinions here are just as good as his regardless if the title says "top 10 players"(here), "10 most important players"(top of ESPN article) or "10 best players"(on link to article on front page of ESPN).

I wasn't trying to offend you in any way. I just think there must have been a reason as to why Wiggins was #3 on the ESPN list, because I do see a difference between most important and best. For instance, is Jaylen better than Klay...yes. However, if you give me the choice between the two in the fourth quarter in the Finals, I'm taking Klay every time.

[johnnygreen]

A lot of people seem to be upset that Wiggins was rated so highly. Consider his primary role in this series and its impact on his team: take Tatum out of the game. If he's able to do that at all, GSW will win this series.

I don't think anyone is taking Tatum out of a game at this point. Jayson is simply too good now. However, if Wiggins can defend Tatum one on one and limit him to his averages, without the need for a double team, then Wiggins becomes very important.

[nickagneta]

I feel like the title is a little misleading. The ESPN insider article is "The 10 most important players in the NBA Finals". Can someone who has insider, provide the criteria that ESPN used to define who a most important player is.

The criteria was....however the author wanted to rank the players. That was the ONLY criteria.

So essentially our opinions here are just as good as his regardless if the title says "top 10 players"(here), "10 most important players"(top of ESPN article) or "10 best players"(on link to article on front page of ESPN).

I wasn't trying to offend you in any way. I just think there must have been a reason as to why Wiggins was #3 on the ESPN list, because I do see a difference between most important and best. For instance, is Jaylen better than Klay...yes. However, if you give me the choice between the two in the fourth quarter in the Finals, I'm taking Klay every time.

I wasn't offended, just letting you know there really wasn't any set criteria. The author put out some stats and just placed whatever player within whatever ranking. The author never explained why one was more important than the next.

[footey]

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=tatumja01&p1yrfrom=2022&player_id2=curryst01&p2yrfrom=2022

It's interesting.  Tatum and Curry have been really close this post-season (and this season in general).  The two big statistical differences:  Tatum has played significantly more minutes, and Tatum turns the ball over way more.  JT makes up for that with better defense, but it would be great if he'd be more careful with the ball.

They should create a stat called adjusted scoring average, in which the gross scoring average of a player is reduced by one point for each turnover; does any stat model do that?  Might make players more conscious of the scoring cost of turnover.

[footey]

Hey, it gives Brown some small amount of bulletin board material.

The guy who I think is a bit disrespected is Klay.

I guess if I was ranking:

1. Tatum (yes, I went there)
2. Curry
3. Brown
4. Klay
5. Smart
6a. Horford
6b. Green
7.  Poole
8. Wiggins
9. Timelord
10. White

Seriously, though, did ESPN just say "well, Wiggins was an all-star, so he's third"?  He hasn't been that good since around February.

This is close to what I would rank them, although I fear that Rob's impact will be lessened by the injury; I would put White at 9 and Grant at 10.  If Iguadala plays and is healthy, he could factor in.

[gouki88]

A lot of people seem to be upset that Wiggins was rated so highly. Consider his primary role in this series and its impact on his team: take Tatum out of the game. If he's able to do that at all, GSW will win this series.

If he's as 'successful' as he was defending Luka then we should win

[celticsclay]

I was also probably thinking about this more for best than important when I first read it. I do think Kevin looney is surprisingly important. If we get him in foul trouble this may be one of the teams we can dominate on boards.

[pearljammer10]

If the article truly is "The ten most important players in the Finals" than Wiggins at 3 seems right. If your GSW you know what you are getting from Curry, Klay, Dray, even Looney. Wiggins is their wild card x-factor. If he has a good series like he did against Dallas then the Warriors are in much better shape, if he struggles against our length then GSW is in trouble.

Hence him being so high on a list of importance.

[hpantazo]

There's no way you can have a legit list of the 10 most important players of this series and not have White on there. Him and Smart's defense on Curry , Thompson and Poole is the key to the series. 

[hpantazo]

There's no way you can have a legit list of the 10 most important players of this series and not have White on there. Him and Smart's defense on Curry , Thompson and Poole is the key to the series.

How's this list looking now after game 1?


I'm still adamant that White is easily in the top 10 most important players in this series.

[nickagneta]

Clearly Brown has cemented himself in the top 3. Wiggins being in front of him was always ridiculous.

Brown was his same old ridiculously consistent self with a 24/7/5 night last night. He catapulted the team to an historic comeback with 10 points and 5 assists in an incredibly clutch 4th quarter performance. AND he shut down everyone he guarded. That's not hyperbole. Here are the stats:

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1627759/head-to-head?PerMode=PerGame&SeasonType=Playoffs&dir=A&sort=GP

Right now, Brown is probably top 2 on the list based on his performance in just this series after one game.

[gouki88]

Clearly Brown has cemented himself in the top 3. Wiggins being in front of him was always ridiculous.

Brown was his same old ridiculously consistent self with a 24/7/5 night last night. He catapulted the team to an historic comeback with 10 points and 5 rebounds in an incredibly clutch 4th quarter performance. AND he shut down everyone he guarded. That's not hyperbole. Here are the stats:

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1627759/head-to-head?PerMode=PerGame&SeasonType=Playoffs&dir=A&sort=GP

Right now, Brown is probably top 2 on the list based on his performance in just this series after one game.

Him being able to stay out of foul trouble (thanks to no Jimmy Butler / Giannis) will also be huge. He had 11 fouls in games 6-7 against Miami, and just the 1 foul in the first game. Enables him to a) stay in the game without having to be yanked and b) be more aggressive on both ends.

[nickagneta]

Clearly Brown has cemented himself in the top 3. Wiggins being in front of him was always ridiculous.

Brown was his same old ridiculously consistent self with a 24/7/5 night last night. He catapulted the team to an historic comeback with 10 points and 5 assists in an incredibly clutch 4th quarter performance. AND he shut down everyone he guarded. That's not hyperbole. Here are the stats:

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1627759/head-to-head?PerMode=PerGame&SeasonType=Playoffs&dir=A&sort=GP

Right now, Brown is probably top 2 on the list based on his performance in just this series after one game.

Him being able to stay out of foul trouble (thanks to no Jimmy Butler / Giannis) will also be huge. He had 11 fouls in games 6-7 against Miami, and just the 1 foul in the first game. Enables him to a) stay in the game without having to be yanked and b) be more aggressive on both ends.

Tatum is special, but if the Cs win it all, Jaylen being the best #2 guy in these playoffs by a wide, wide margin is going to be a major reason why Boston does win it all.

I think his performance in these playoffs will give him more national recognition and jumpstart a string of All-Star and All-NBA awards. Winning titles does that for players

[gouki88]

Clearly Brown has cemented himself in the top 3. Wiggins being in front of him was always ridiculous.

Brown was his same old ridiculously consistent self with a 24/7/5 night last night. He catapulted the team to an historic comeback with 10 points and 5 assists in an incredibly clutch 4th quarter performance. AND he shut down everyone he guarded. That's not hyperbole. Here are the stats:

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1627759/head-to-head?PerMode=PerGame&SeasonType=Playoffs&dir=A&sort=GP

Right now, Brown is probably top 2 on the list based on his performance in just this series after one game.

Him being able to stay out of foul trouble (thanks to no Jimmy Butler / Giannis) will also be huge. He had 11 fouls in games 6-7 against Miami, and just the 1 foul in the first game. Enables him to a) stay in the game without having to be yanked and b) be more aggressive on both ends.

Tatum is special, but if the Cs win it all, Jaylen being the best #2 guy in these playoffs by a wide, wide margin is going to be a major reason why Boston does win it all.

I think his performance in these playoffs will give him more national recognition and jumpstart a string of All-Star and All-NBA awards. Winning titles does that for players

Kinda reminiscent of how Klay went from a good All-Star tier guy to an All-NBA / All-Defence tier guy once Golden State started winning. Obviously different players, but similar kind of dynamic 1-2 duo.