12 Top Playoff Performers of the 2010s
The playoffs are the one area in sports that matters the most. On sports radio, television and the Internet, you hear a familiar chorus of non-stop chatter about athletes "winning when it matters."
What's cool about all of that pressure is that guys step out of the shadows and become heroes overnight. The NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL all have produced a bunch of these postseason luminaries.
Fans paint this graven image of those individuals because of their aptness to secure victories, and we all abide by it.
The purpose of this article is to investigate 12 top playoff performers, covering all of the major sports bodies in the United States. Basing our decisions on wins, championships and stats, here's what surfaced.
Kawhi Leonard
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Kawhi Leonard's rise in the postseason has started to take shape over the last two years. The all-around linchpin of the San Antonio Spurs became the MVP of the 2013-14 NBA Finals with his shutdown defense and knack for scoring the ball.
Despite the Spurs losing to the Los Angeles Clippers, one of the biggest diamonds we got from this year's postseason was the continued excellence of Leonard. In seven games, he averaged 20.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. Those are big time numbers for the future of this organization.
Assuming we use the past two seasons as a barometer for his progress, it's not a stretch to think that Leonard is going to be a scary man to face next season and beyond.
Madison Bumgarner
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Madison Bumgarner's 2014 postseason was one to remember. In seven appearances (six starts), Bumgarner went 4-1, and just for good measure, he tacked on a save to close out the World Series.
He was precise with his pitches and dominant in situations that mattered the most. An ERA of 1.03 to go along with 45 strikeouts proved how crazy his '14 playoffs actually were.
For all of his troubles, Bumgarner was named the World Series MVP as he helped lead the team to a Game 7 victory over the Kansas City Royals in their ballpark.
There have been few pitching performances as complete and endearing as Bumgarner's was. He showcased all of the goods on the biggest stage without fear. That's all you can ask for in a top playoff performer.
LeBron James
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You might not know this, but LeBron James is ranked seventh in NBA postseason history when it comes to total points scored. And based on what we've seen, he should continue to climb that legendary ladder.
Recently, he's been crowned a two-time NBA champion (in 2011-12 and 2012-13) and is a cardinal reason why the Cleveland Cavaliers have fought their way back into the playoffs this season.
Using the 2010-11 playoffs as a jumping off point, James has averaged 26.8 points, 5.9 assists and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Staggering totals like that expose you to James' consistence brilliance.
If the Cavaliers are able to win an NBA title this season, his playoff legend will detonate, leaving tattered essays penned by his doubters all over the place.
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Joe Flacco
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"Playoff" Joe Flacco is a real thing. As one of the NFL's $100 million men, Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in 2012.
The maddening part about Flacco is that he isn't a robust numbers guy during the regular season. He's never thrown for 30 touchdowns in a year or even 4,000 yards. Yet because of the damage he's done in the postseason, he was rewarded with a lucrative deal.
In 15 playoff appearances, Flacco boasts a 10-5 record. He's thrown for 3,223 yards, 25 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions.
The toughest part about Flacco in those winter months is that he never seems to get rattled. His shows great poise and confidence working within the pocket.
With a Super Bowl victory and solid numbers to back it up, Joe Flacco is clearly a peak performer.
Jonathan Quick
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The Los Angeles Kings' two Stanley Cup victories since 2010 (in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons) have reinvigorated this franchise. Besides having a strong attack, the man tending the net—Jonathan Quick—has been a conquering force.
Quick's postseason antics have cemented his status as one of the NHL's top goalies. Since the inception of the 2010-11 playoffs, he's won 43 games, saved 92.6 percent of the shots ripped in his direction and, once again, has two Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy to show for it.
At 29 years old, Kings fans have to pray that Quick has a ton of good years left in him. Because even though the Kings are out of this year's Stanley Cup race, he's clearly one of the best in the business.
Tim Duncan
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Tim Duncan is ageless. The guy may be pushing 40 years of age (he's 39), but he never ceases to amaze.
Trekking back to 2010, the San Antonio Spurs have managed to remain championship contenders. They've appeared in two NBA Finals, winning one against the Miami Heat in 2014.
If we talk about all of that time starting with the 2010-11 playoffs, Duncan has averaged 16.5 points, 1.8 blocks and 10.1 rebounds per game. His production never ceases to falter even with all of those minutes wearing down his tires.
Amazing playoff performers aren't always guys who hit game-winning shots. They are the ones who use consistency as a model of production. In that respect, Duncan is near the top—even as he gets older.
Marshawn Lynch
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Can we please initiate Beast Mode into this slideshow?
Marshawn Lynch's playoff numbers are gargantuan. He's rushed for 917 yards, nine touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per carry since 2010.
The lesson here is that all you have to do is hand Lynch the rock and let him get on that bulldozer grind.
Besides posting those great numbers, he's also played in two Super Bowls—winning one along the way in 2013-14. We can get lost in the Russell Wilson playoff luster. However, that's no excuse to forget about that beast they call Marshawn Lynch.
Pablo Sandoval
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Is Pablo Sandoval the best hitter in postseason history? Before you burst out laughing or deface my name in the comments section, listen up.
According to CSNBayArea.com, "Among qualifying players with at least 150 plate appearances, nobody touches Sandoval's .344 clip in the playoffs."
The switch-hitter supreme has been a playoff wrecking machine. Besides his .344 batting average, Sandoval has also crushed six home runs, 20 RBI and has tallied a slugging percentage of .545.
His production has helped the Giants capture three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. It's really a shame that Sandoval joined the Boston Red Sox this past offseason. Besides his jaunty personality, the Giants lost a postseason emperor.
Patrick Kane
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Patrick Kane's brilliance in the regular season can only be topped by his Herculean transformation in the playoffs.
Kane is the Chicago Blackhawks Renaissance man. Going all the way back to the 2009-10 playoffs, he's netted 34 goals and handed out 54 assists. Those attacking capabilities led him straight to a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013.
The craziest part about Kane's madness is that in 102 postseason games played, he's scored 102 points. That's some Ultimate Warrior-type strength right there.
Aaron Rodgers
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"Playoff" Joe Flacco may be the postseason boss, but Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers isn't too shabby either.
As you've probably seen by now, we're using 2010 and beyond as a benchmark. In that regard, Rodgers has earned his keep. Besides his Super Bowl win in 2010, Rodgers has won six games with four losses.
At face value, that's not overly spectacular. However, football is a team sport. And in that sense, a lot of those losses weren't Rodgers' fault.
His 19 touchdowns to only six interceptions truly reflect what he's done for the Packers during the NFL playoffs.
When you can elevate a Lombardi Trophy over your dome and win the MVP of a Super Bowl, you're doing something right. Rodgers has been so good in the playoffs that it's hard to imagine him not getting back to the big game soon.
James Harden
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Watching the maturation process Houston Rockets guard James Harden has undergone since he left the Oklahoma City Thunder has been a pleasure.
Harden's evolution in Texas has been a cause for cheers and jeers. Paired with Dwight Howard, this duo has opened a window for the Rockets to win an NBA championship.
Greatness comes in all forms. In Harden's case, he blisters opponents on offense during the regular season and usually carries that trend with him into the playoffs.
Charting his dominance, Harden's 22 points per game since the 2010 playoffs is misleading. A better picture of his accomplishments can be traced to his recent stint with the Rockets.
On that level, Harden's average shoots up to 26.9 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
He's almost unguardable on the offensive end when he gets that wrist flicking. Knowing all of that, it will be interesting to see if he ever is able to get his hands around that golden trophy.
Russell Wilson
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We end this slideshow with one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL today, Russell Wilson. Wilson's days with the Seattle Seahawks have been full of huge wins and huge moments.
He may not have the blue-chip acumen that Andrew Luck does. Nevertheless, Wilson has a Super Bowl ring and a 6-2 postseason record to lean back on.
Just think, had it not been for a fantastic play by New England Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler in this year's Super Bowl, Wilson would have two shiny championship rings on his hand instead of one.
Unless noted otherwise, all game scores, stats and information courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
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