NBA Power Rankings: The Best Playmakers of the 2012 Playoffs

We're now well into the 2012 NBA playoffs, which means that the sample size is large enough to take a look at the best playmakers of the postseason. 

Don't get me wrong though, we're still dealing with a very small sample size. It's just big enough that the cream is starting to rise to the top. 

To look at playmaking, I'm using a metric I previously developed and called playmaker rating. The gist of the metric is that it measures the combination of how efficient a player is at creating points on offense and how much he's used within the offense. 

For a full description of playmaker rating, I would highly recommend clicking here.

Once you've done that, enjoy the rankings of the best playmakers of the postseason!

No. 104 Through No. 91

104. Joel Anthony, Miami Heat: 4.81 Playmaker Rating

103. Reggie Evans, Los Angeles Clippers: 4.92

102. Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks: 6.53

101. Kendrick Perkins, Oklahoma City Thunder: 8.08

100. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers: 8.47

99. Omer Asik, Chicago Bulls: 8.59

98. Shane Battier, Miami Heat: 9.95

97. Jordan Hill, Los Angeles Lakers: 10.06

96. Vince Carter, Dallas Mavericks: 12.32

95. Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies: 12.42

94. Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic: 12.79

93. Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers: 13.00

92. Kirk Hinrich, Atlanta Hawks: 13.12

91. Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz: 13.17

No. 90 Through No. 81

90. Mike Miller, Miami Heat: 13.45 Playmaker Rating

89. Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Lakers: 13.46

88. Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz: 13.62

87. Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs: 14.05

86. Shawn Marion, Dallas Mavericks: 14.11

85. Paul George, Indiana Pacers: 14.12

84. Steve Blake, Los Angeles Lakers: 14.32

83. Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics: 14.33

82. Leandro Barbosa, Indiana Pacers: 14.44

81. Mike Bibby, New York Knicks: 14.45

No. 80 Through No. 71

80. Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets: 14.79 Playmaker Rating

79. Randy Foye, Los Angeles Clippers: 14.88 

78. Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic: 14.93

77. Landry Fields, New York Knicks: 15.13

76. JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets: 15.21

75. Brandon Bass, Boston Celtics: 15.41

74. Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City Thunder: 15.69

73. Caron Butler, Los Angeles Clippers: 16.00

72. Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks: 16.70

71. Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers: 16.76

No. 70 Through No. 61

70. Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz: 16.77 Playmaker Rating

69. Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder: 16.99

68. Baron Davis, New York Knicks: 17.21

67. Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers: 17.39

66. Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat: 17.40

65. Arron Afflalo, Denver Nuggets: 17.41

64. Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies: 17.52

63. Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls: 17.55

62. Metta World Peace, Los Angeles Lakers: 17.87

61. Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks: 18.06 

No. 60 Through No. 51

60. J.R. Smith, New York Knicks: 18.07 Playmaker Rating

59. Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs: 18.20

58. Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers: 18.39

57. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs: 18.70

56. Delonte West, Dallas Mavericks: 18.75

55. O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies: 19.02

54. Jason Richardson, Orlando Magic: 19.06

53. Stephen Jackson, San Antonio Spurs: 19.15

52. Ramon Sessions, Los Angeles Lakers: 19.44

51. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers: 19.68

No. 50 Through No. 41

50. Al Harrington, Denver Nuggets: 19.77 Playmaker Rating

49. Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia 76ers: 19.86

48. Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls: 19.87

47. Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks: 19.92

46. David West, Indiana Pacers: 19.93

45. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks: 19.98

44. Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls: 20.01

43. Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers: 20.20

42. Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers: 20.74

41. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: 20.78

No. 40 Through No. 31

40. Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies: 20.94 Playmaker Rating

39. Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers: 21.04 

38. Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks: 21.11 

37. Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets: 21.27

36. George Hill, Indiana Pacers: 21.46

35. Mo Williams, Los Angeles Clippers: 21.64

34. C.J. Watson, Chicago Bulls: 21.67

33. Devin Harris, Utah Jazz: 21.76

32. Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks: 21.87

31. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: 21.89

No. 30 Through No. 21

30. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies: 22.23 Playmaker Rating

29. Ray Allen, Boston Celtics: 22.58 

28. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks: 22.84

27. Lou Williams, Philadelphia 76ers: 23.08

26. Glen Davis, Orlando Magic: 23.57

25. Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls: 23.63

24. Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets: 24.00

23. Al Jefferson, Utah Jazz: 24.58

22. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks: 24.88

21. Rip Hamilton, Chicago Bulls: 25.03

20. Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers: 25.29 Playmaker Rating

Playoff Per Game Stats: 16.9 points, 4.4 assists, 1.5 turnovers

Usage Rate: 22.8

Shooting Percentages: 40.2 percent FG, 80.0 percent FT

Jrue Holiday may not have shot efficiently from the field thus far in the 2012 NBA playoffs, but he's minimized the turnovers and found plenty of open teammates. 

During each season he's spent in the league, Holiday has gotten better about maintaining control of the ball, and he's playing with an increased level of care during the postseason. 

19. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs: 25.46

Playoff Per Game Stats: 11.2 points, 4.2 assists, 2.6 turnovers

Usage Rate: 24.5

Shooting Percentages: 41.3 percent FG, 75.0 percent FT

Manu Ginobili has easily cemented his status as the best basketball player with a bald spot in the playoffs. 

The lefty sixth man for the San Antonio Spurs has slashed and eurostepped his way towards good but not great scoring numbers. What puts Ginobili this high up in the rankings is his passing. 

A 25.5 assist percentage like Ginobili's would be considered a solid mark for a point guard. 

18. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers: 25.80

Playoff Per Game Stats: 17.6 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 turnovers

Usage Rate: 26.5

Shooting Percentages: 50.9 percent FG, 58.5 percent FT

Blake Griffin has officially reached the interesting "so overrated he's underrated" territory. 

The second-year power forward has performed admirably during his first showing in the postseason to the tune of an efficient 17.6 points per game. 

Griffin does turn the ball over a lot, but he also has above-average passing skills for a man of his size. The only thing truly holding this bearded wonder back is his ineptitude from the charity stripe. 

17. J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic: 26.01

Playoff Per Game Stats: 10.8 points, 3.2 assists, 1.2 turnovers

Usage Rate: 22.3

Shooting Percentages: 43.2 percent FG, 85.7 percent FT

I have no idea how this happened. J.J. Redick's status as a top-20 playmaker shocked me so much that I went back and triple-checked the numbers to make sure that I had entered everything into my spreadsheet correctly. 

Lo and behold, here he is. 

Redick may not have scored a lot for the Orlando Magic, but over 20 percent of his made field goals were from downtown, and he was near automatic. That, coupled with a surprisingly high usage rate and a dearth of turnovers, bumped the former Duke Blue Devils star up quite a bit. 

16. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics: 26.02

Playoff Per Game Stats: 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 turnovers

Usage Rate: 27.0

Shooting Percentages: 39.3 percent FG, 87.3 percent FT

Paul Pierce may not have a stellar field-goal percentage during this edition of the NBA playoffs, but he's been nothing short of dominant at times. Just ask my Atlanta Hawks about that. 

The Truth has been involved in all facets of the game, but his most notable positive during the postseason has been his performance at the free-throw line. 

Pierce has attempted 63 free throws this postseason and has drilled 87 percent of them. 

15. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics: 26.12

Playoff Per Game Stats: 19.5 points, 1.9 assists, 1.8 turnovers

Usage Rate: 24.3

Shooting Percentages: 50.6 percent FG, 83.3 percent FT

Dare I say that Kevin Garnett has looked like his MVP self from the Minnesota Timberwolves days? The Big Ticket hasn't been worth the price of admission in years and is playing better than he ever has since donning a Boston Celtics uniform. 

KG has knocked down a ridiculous amount of mid-range jumpers and is playing in the post for the first time in forever. It's a bit confusing actually. 

What could have possibly sparked this sudden resurgence? 

14. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs: 27.35

Playoff Per Game Stats: 16.6 points, 2.4 assists, 1.2 turnovers

Usage Rate: 24.7

Shooting Percentages: 50.7 percent FG, 81.3 percent FT

And now we have back-to-back big men who were supposed to have lost a step, but have proved the doubters wrong during the postseason. 

Tim Duncan has been the second-most heavily-used player on the San Antonio Spurs, and he's responded by piling up the assists and points while limiting his turnovers. 

Shooting over 50 percent from the field while scoring 16.6 points per game does wonders for your playmaker rating. 

13. Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic: 28.16

Playoff Per Game Stats: 15.6 points, 6.6 assists, 2.0 turnovers

Usage Rate: 24.5

Shooting Percentages: 39.2 percent FG, 75.0 percent FT

While Jameer Nelson wasn't able to shoot the ball whatsoever during the Orlando Magic's first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers, his pure point guard stats more than made up for his tendency to draw iron. 

The point guard averaged 6.6 assists per game even though his teammates weren't hitting shots, and he still only turned the ball over twice per contest. 

I've been advocating that the Magic look elsewhere at the point guard spot next season and either sign a free agent or draft a floor general, but Nelson made me eat my words. 

12. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics: 29.01

Playoff Per Game Stats: 15.0 points, 12.7 assists, 3.7 turnovers

Usage Rate: 23.7

Shooting Percentages: 44.0 percent FG, 54.5 percent FT

Rajon Rondo has been a triple-doule machine during the 2012 NBA playoffs, but it's important to remember that triple-doubles are more unique than outstanding. A 15-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist game may get far more publicity, but it's not better than the less glamorous 25-points, nine rebound, nine assist game. 

The Boston Celtics point guard has scored surprisingly well, and his assist numbers are ridiculously good, but he still struggles with a few crucial aspects of playmaking. 

Rondo shoots a decent 44 percent from the field, but his free-throw performance is lacking (that's being nice). Also, he turns the ball over way too often. 

11. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: 29.20

Playoff Per Game Stats: 18.6 points, 7.5 assists, 3.7 turnovers

Usage Rate: 26.2

Shooting Percentages: 43.3 percent FG, 85.7 percent FT

Chris Paul has been uncharacteristically plagued by the turnover imp this postseason, and that's kept him from ascending into the top 10. He belongs there, but his play of late just hasn't merited that lofty ranking. 

The Los Angeles Clippers offense still runs through CP3—and for good reason. His scoring and passing are still phenomenal, and he's automatic from the line. 

It's just all about those pesky turnovers here. 

10. Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets: 29.83

Playoff Per Game Stats: 19.0 points, 6.0 assists, 1.1 turnovers

Usage Rate: 22.7

Shooting Percentages: 51.4 percent FG, 63.2 percent FT

If you didn't get a chance to watch Ty Lawson play during the Denver Nuggets' first-round series with the Los Angeles Lakers, then I'm truly sorry. 

The speed demon of a point guard is one of the most fun players in the league to watch, even if he is underutilized by the Nuggets. 

Just for fun, let me show you what Lawson's playmaker rating and rank would be if we messed around with his usage rate, while making the false assumption that the rest of his stats would remain the same. 

With a 25.0 usage rate, the same as the next player in the rankings: 32.86 (No. 5).

With a 26.2 usage rate, the same as Chris Paul on the previous slide: 34.56 (No. 3). 

With an arbitrary 30.0 usage rate, as all but two of the remaining players are at 30 or above: 39.4 (No. 1).

See what I mean about begin underutilized? 

9. James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder: 30.52

Playoff Per Game Stats: 18.0 points, 3.6 assists, 2.2 turnovers

Usage Rate: 25.0

Shooting Percentages: 47.1 percent FG, 87.8 percent FT

Amazingly enough, James Harden is the first of three Oklahoma City Thunder players that will appear in the top 10. The team's offense has just been that good. 

With his beard and mohawk flying past defenders and through the air, Harden has been a scoring (and to a lesser extent, passing) sensation off the bench this postseason, just as he was during the regular season. 

No matter what Metta World Peace says, this guy isn't just a substitute. 

8. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks: 31.60

Playoff Per Game Stats: 26.8 points, 1.8 assists, 2.5 turnovers

Usage Rate: 31.5

Shooting Percentages: 44.2 percent FG, 90.5 percent FT

Dirk Nowitzki may not have been able to do enough to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he still performed admirably on offense in Round 1.

The flamingo shot still worked, and the offense still ran through Dirk. It was just the other parts of his game that were lacking. 

Nowitzki's defense was worse than it's ever been, and his total rebound percentage plummeted into single digits for the first time in his storied career. 

7. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs: 32.25

Playoff Per Game Stats: 18.2 points, 7.4 assists, 2.8 turnovers

Usage Rate: 27.1

Shooting Percentages: 44.9 percent FG, 82.4 percent FT

Tony Parker is the last remaining player with a usage rate below 30. The French floor general has just been that good when the ball has been in his hands. 

At times, it's seemed as though Parker has just toyed with defenders. He's so quick and explosive that he can get his own shot whenever he wants. 

Parker has scored well and passed incredibly well while limiting his turnovers, just as he's done all season. 

If this regular season and ensuing postseason haven't been enough to convince you that Parker needs to be mentioned in the best-point-guard discussions, then I don't think we've been watching the same player. 

6. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat: 32.27

Playoff Per Game Stats: 22.6 points, 4.0 assists, 2.4 turnovers

Usage Rate: 31.4

Shooting Percentages: 45.4 percent FG, 70.4 percent FT

Dwyane Wade hasn't been his same All-NBA self at times these playoffs, but he's still been an incredible offensive player. 

The shooting guard has deferred to LeBron James quite a bit, but he hasn't been afraid to call his own number either, especially after Chris Bosh went down with an abdominal injury. 

Wade is turning the ball over at a lower rate than he ever has in the postseason, and that's allowed him to maintain an elite playmaker rating despite his struggles from the free-throw line. 

5. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks: 32.48

Playoff Per Game Stats: 27.8 points, 2.2 assists, 2.8 turnovers

Usage Rate: 36.2

Shooting Percentages: 41.9 percent FG, 75.6 percent FT

Normally, I would skewer Carmelo Anthony for having a playoff-high 36.2 usage rate while barely shooting above basketball's version of the Mendoza Line, but I can't blame him for that. 

For long portions of time, it's seemed as though the New York Knicks offense had no choice but to flow through Melo. The second-highest ranked player from the squad here is J.R. Smith, checking in at No. 61 (well below the first-half cutoff), and Smith shot a disgusting 31.6 percent from the field.  

Melo deserves a pass for his ballhogginess here. After all, he still performed admirably when you consider how much defensive attention he's received. 

4. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: 34.08

Playoff Per Game Stats: 26.2 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 turnovers

Usage Rate: 31.1

Shooting Percentages: 46.2 percent FG, 82.9 percent FT

Kevin Durant, as you might expect, has been sensational on the offensive end of the floor, even if he's been the second-best playmaker on his own team thus far. 

With his smooth scoring and elevated level of passing during the playoffs, Durant put a good bit of separation between himself and Carmelo Anthony in these rankings. 

Durant won his third straight scoring title for the regular season and he's using the playoffs to show once more that it wasn't a fluke. 

3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: 34.46

Playoff Per Game Stats: 28.0 points, 4.6 assists, 3.3 turnovers

Usage Rate: 33.7

Shooting Percentages: 44.2 percent FG, 78.4 percent FT

Some things just don't make sense. For example, how has Kobe Bryant allowed his usage rate to drop to 33.7 after he posted a league-leading mark of 35.7 during the regular season? Isn't he supposed to become even more involved when it matters most? 

Regardless, the Black Mamba has been deadly with those touches. He isn't shooting a great percentage and he's turning the ball over a lot, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. 

Kobe has hit shot after shot, and he's racking up quite a few assists as the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to win a second series in the postseason. 

2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: 37.03

Playoff Per Game Stats: 23.2 points, 5.2 assists, 2.2 turnovers

Usage Rate: 31.4

Shooting Percentages: 48.9 percent FG, 85.2 percent FT

Russell Westbrook has been absolutely sensational during the postseason and is the biggest reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder have looked completely dominant thus far. No, I haven't forgotten about Kevin Durant. 

The score-first point guard has done exactly that, but he's done so with efficiency, shooting an impressive 48.9 percent from the field and knocking down nearly all of his free throws. 

Additionally, Westbrook has found plenty of open teammates to rack up the assists while posting by far the lowest turnover percentage of his career, including all of the regular seasons and postseasons he's played in. 

There's just nothing to complain about here. 

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat: 37.60

Playoff Per Game Stats: 28.4 points, 5.4 assists, 3.4 turnovers

Usage Rate: 33.9

Shooting Percentages: 47.1 percent FG, 77.5 percent FT

Speaking of having nothing to complain about...

Sure, some may harp on how he missed two free throws in the final minute or how he's been uninvolved during some final plays, but the Miami Heat wouldn't have even been in that kind of position without the contributions of LeBron James.

It's amazing how quickly people forget that James had to score 14 points to even have a chance to shoot those unfortunate charity shots. 

Just as he was during the regular season, LeBron has been incredible during the postseason. It's too easy to take his sheer dominance for granted.