NBA Playoffs 2011: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and the Top 10 Scoring Threats
This 2011 NBA Playoffs will be one for the ages, featuring seventh and eighth seeds making strong runs to finish the season and great individual talents in each conference.
The Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic will hope to work over their regular-season success to the postseason, while the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks will prove they came to play with the big boys of the conference.
In the West the rusty San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers will look to pick up the pace going into the postseason, as teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers will try and continue to win ball games as each team has done consistently over the last several weeks.
Offensive possessions will likely run through several players each time, as shot selection can prove vital in games decided by no more than a possession or two. With 12 of the 16 teams in the field ranked in the top 15 defensively this season, getting points up on the board could prove to be the difference.
Join B/R and myself in ranking the top 10 scorers that will take part in the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
No. 10: Chris Paul
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New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, in comparison to his last three seasons, has had an average year when it comes to scoring. His 15.9 points per game are a career-low, while also averaging under 10 assists for the first time in four seasons.
The Hornets team has David West leading the scoring department, which gives more reason to doubt the great CP3. Yet make no mistake, come postseason time, Paul tends to step up the scoring load.
In his two seasons making the playoffs, Paul averaged 24.1 and 16.6 points per game. When Paul gets going he becomes a threat around the rim, from mid-range and beyond the arc. Not to mention, his free-throw percentage of 87.8 percent is a career best.
If Paul is on his game, he is as good as any guard in the league at putting the ball in the basket.
No. 9: Dirk Nowitzki
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The Dallas Mavericks All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki is as hard a player to guard as anyone in the league.
Nowitzki can beat you with his long-range jumper and mid-range game, as well as in the paint. His fadeaway jumper is as smooth as any in the league, while being 7'0" makes his shot nearly impossible to get a hand on.
Looking at the numbers, Nowitzki's figures have dropped just a bit, as his 23 points per game are the fewest since 2003-2004 season. Regardless there's no denying his ability to score, not to mention his 23 points per game ranks 10th in the NBA this season.
Nowitzki finished off the season with a bang, netting 32 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field. The Portland Trail Blazers will surely have their hands full on the defensive end in the first-round matchup.
No. 8: Russell Westbrook
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This may come as a surprise to some, but the things Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook can do on the offensive end of the floor are unmatched by many in the NBA.
Westbrook, much like a Derrick Rose or Deron Williams, has the ability to shoot the ball consistently from mid-range as well as take the ball to the cup effectively. If Westbrook gets a lane to the basket, nine times out of 10 he's putting it down with authority.
His athleticism, effective first step and strength after contact make Westbrook one of the more difficult point guards to guard. Westbrook also has a knack of getting to the free-throw line, averaging 7.7 attempts per game. Given he shoots 84 percent from the line, Westbrook becomes that much more of a scoring threat.
Although Kevin Durant is the first player who comes to mind as the Thunder's top scoring threat, Westbrook can be just as effective a scorer on a given night.
No. 7: Paul Pierce
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Since the Boston Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the 2007-2008 offseason, Paul Pierce's scoring numbers have taken a significant hit. This season, Pierce is averaging 18.9 points per game, just 0.6 better than the 18.3 averaged last season.
Sharing the load has been a difficult role at times for the 13-year veteran, but when it comes time for the fourth quarter of a postseason game, the offense is run through him. The last two postseasons Pierce has averaged 18.8 and 21 points per game.
His three-point shot has continually improved, as has his shot selection. Pierce's 49.7 percent shooting from the field this season is a career-high.
No. 6: Derrick Rose
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It's been a fun ride this season watching Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose go to work, as his play this season has been arguably the best of any player this season.
The 22-year old All-Star took an injured, solid-at-best rotation and helped the Bulls rise to the top spot in the East. The Bulls' 62-20 season has NBA fans turning heads quickly, as for the first time since the Michael Jordan days, the Bulls seem to be the real deal.
His career-best season has the MVP contender averaging 25 points per game while shooting a career-best average of 33 percent from three-point range and 85.8 percent from the free-throw line.
With his developed three-point ball, and consistently at the free-throw line, his game on the offensive end opens up that much more. Due to his shot improvement, defenders have to play tight defense. As a result, the player with arguably the quickest first step in the game blows by and likely draws contact on the way to the rim.
Rose has been cooking and has continued to get better with each game.
No. 5: Dwyane Wade
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Much of this season, the Miami Heat shooting guard has been much overlooked. The arrival of LeBron James has left Dwyane Wade with less scoring opportunities and far less stardom in South Beach.
Despite being overlooked, the guy has produced and produced well. His 25.5 points per game rank fourth in the NBA, just two spots behind his fellow companion James. Wade does it best with his ability to get to the rim and finish in a plethora of ways, while also having a reliable jump shot from the outside.
Their meeting in the first round with Philadelphia favors the former NBA champion, as this season his numbers are off the charts against the 76ers. Wade shoots an average of 51.6 percent to go along with a whopping 30.7 points per game.
Note to Philadelphia fans, don't let LeBron James be the focus, Wade can be just as deadly.
No. 4: Carmelo Anthony
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Not too many players have the talent on the offensive end that 'Melo does, or the ability to gain as much media attention.
Scoring-wise, a case can be made for Carmelo Anthony as being the best scorer this league has to offer.
The New York Knicks All-Star can beat his defender in multiple ways, whether it's driving to the basket, taking a fadeaway jumper on the baseline, hitting a contested layup or pulling up from three. When it comes to scoring, there's simply almost nothing he can't do.
This season Anthony's 25.6 points per game ranks third in the league, while his 42.4 percent from three-point range since joining the Knicks is a career-best. Anthony's free-throw percentage has also skyrocketed, averaging a career-high 87.2 percent average from the foul line.
The Celtics will have their hands full in their first-round clash with Anthony and the Knickerbockers.
No. 3: Kevin Durant
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K.D. is simply "sick-nasty" when it comes to scoring the rock.
The Oklahoma City Thunder talent has only gotten better since joining the league, averaging 27.7 points this season to lead the NBA. Durant's scoring title is his second consecutive one, averaging over 30 points per game last season.
Despite the decrease in numbers, he has taken fewer shots per game, while Westbrook has also earned a greater role in the offense. With Westbrook averaging nearly 22 points per game, it makes Durant's numbers looks all the more impressive, in that his touches have taken a hit as well.
Leading the league in scoring two seasons in a row with the scoring talent out there is quite the achievement for Durant, as his number three ranking on the list is well deserved. To many it might not even be high enough.
No. 2: LeBron James
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Since the Miami Heat acquired LeBron James, there has been a significant improvement in the Heat's ability to score the basketball.
James brings a decent jump shot, a dynamic first step and arguably more talent than any player in the league at finishing around the rim. His 6'8", 250-pound frame makes the forward nearly impossible to stay in front of. Once the head goes down, and he takes that power dribble into the paint, defenders are more than likely left helpless.
Often his shooting ability has been criticized, although he has improved season after season in the league. His 51 percent shooting is a career-high. Even more impressive, since joining the Heat his points per game went down only three points, as he finished the season with 26.7 points per game.
Considering he plays alongside two other players who can put up 20 or more points on any given night, it makes these 26.7 points per game all the more impressive. Not to mention the mark has him at number two in the NBA this season.
No.1: Kobe Bryant
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Who else would it be?
Despite the plethora of great scorers this league has to offer, the top spot still belongs solely to the "Black Mamba."
Los Angeles Lakers future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant is as good as it gets when it comes to scoring the basketball. His 25.3 points per game this season rank fifth in the league.
Yet when it comes postseason time, Bryant seems to always find a way to step up his play. In his last four postseason appearances, Bryant has averaged no fewer than 29.2 points, averaging over 30 in three of the four. It is also important to note that playing alongside Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum make scoring points all the more difficult.
The LeBron James and Kobe Bryant talks are and still will continue on, but at the end of the day Bryant is the more complete scoring threat. He has a better jump shot, a more consistent mid-range game, equal ability to finish at the rim and a better three-point shot.
On the verge of a second three-peat in his 15-year career, NBA fans should be ready, as Bryant's play should continue to impress on the offensive end.
