NBA Playoffs 2011: Top 25 Players Who Stepped Their Game Up This Playoffs
The beginning of the 2011 NBA Playoffs have been more exciting than any postseason in recent memory.
With so many exciting athletes delivering memorable performances in the early going, it's incredible to think that the road to the championship for these hopeful teams has just begun.
These 25 players have really made a concerted effort to propel their team to the next level, and the action should only stand to get better as we move forward.
All numbers up-to-date as of April 27.
25. Jamal Crawford, SG Atlanta Hawks
1 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 14.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.2 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 20.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.2 apg
Through the first three games of the postseason, Crawford has really made his presence felt.
Averaging nearly 10 points per game more than he did in the regular season, the Hawks are going to need the hot and cold shooter to stay hot throughout the series if they have a realistic chance of advancing past Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
A true X-Factor for Atlanta, if Crawford can prove to be a 20-point scorer nightly off of the bench for his team, the Hawks could really surprise a lot of people.
24. Jameer Nelson, PG Orlando Magic
2 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 13.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.0 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 13.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.8 apg
Although Nelson has had a drop off in assists, Orlando has to be more than happy to see the increase in scoring from their talented point guard.
With the Magic needing all of the offense that they can muster from players not named Dwight Howard, Nelson is going to have to be more of a scorer than facilitator for his team.
And with backups Gilbert Arenas and Chris Duhon unrealistic candidates to rob Nelson of any serious minutes on the hardwood, Nelson's going to have to step up and continue to deliver.
23. Jason Terry, SG Dallas Mavericks
3 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 15.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 4.1 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 16.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.0 apg
Jason Terry has always been one of the more undervalued players in the league, but if Dallas hopes to makes a prolonged postseason push, they're going to need a whole lot of no. 31.
With Tyson Chandler and Shawn Marion seemingly fading at the wrong time for the Mavs, Terry needs to step up in a big way for his team.
Dirk Nowitzki can't win a championship on his own, and the Mavericks need all of their complimentary pieces firing on all cylinders if they want to get to the finals. Terry is atop that list.
22. Nene Hilario, C Denver Nuggets
4 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 14.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2,0 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 14.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.6 apg
The Nuggets might be in an 0-2 hole to begin their series against the Thunder, but don't blame the big man in the middle.
Nene has been a force for his team all season, and now he's stepping up in the playoffs when Denver needs him most.
With Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen struggling mightily, Nene is going to play all of the minutes that his sore groin can possibly handle.
21. Andre Miller, PG Portland Trail Blazers
5 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 12.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 7.0 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 16.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.8 apg
The veteran point guard always seems to be at the focal point of any criticism that the Blazers face, but he's stepped his game up impressively in the early going.
No, he's not likely to explode for 15 assists or anything Rajon Rondo-esque, but what he does bring is veteran leadership and stability to a team that desperately needs it.
He's also been surprisingly efficient in his decision making, and he's a big part of why the Blazers were able to nab Game 3 at home and get right back into the series against Dallas.
20. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF Portland Trail Blazers
6 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 21.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.1 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 20.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.6 apg
LaMarcus might have unfairly missed this season's all-star game, but it's safe to say that he's already sewn up his spot for next year.
The Blazers will need their breakout power forward to continue to play at an elite level if they want to unseat the Mavs, and Aldridge hasn't disappointed to date.
He's made everyone forget about the team's big man woes from the regular season, and if they get past the first round, he's going to earn the nationwide recognition that he deserves.
19. LeBron James, SF Miami Heat
7 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 26.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7.0 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 24.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 6.2 apg
LeBron hasn't been the one-man scoring machine that so many are used to, but playing alongside Wade and Bosh, he simply doesn't have to be.
With the absence of a dominating presence in the middle, James has made it his mission to secure the boards and provide his team with the element that they had been lacking.
If Miami doesn't make it to the finals, it's going to come crashing down on the King, so it's easy to see why he's giving it a very well-rounded effort.
18. Mike Conley, PG Memphis Grizzlies
8 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 13.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.5 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 15.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 6.8 apg
There were a lot of eyebrows raised when Memphis handed an unproven Conley a lucrative five-year contract extension earlier this season, but now it's beginning to look like the product of Ohio State signed at a discount.
After establishing career-high regular season averages in both points and assists, Conley has performed at an even higher level in the playoffs for a budding Memphis team.
There is a lot to like about how Conley has been facilitating the offense, and he's finally showing people why he was selected fourth overall back in 2007.
17. Thaddeus Young, SF Philadelphia 76ers
9 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 12.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 11.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.8 apg
Young has been a beast off of the bench for the Sixers, and even though Miami now has a commanding 3-0 series lead, Thad's contributions haven't gone unnoticed.
Although he's still battling bouts of inconsistency (just four points in Game 3), Young is still just 22 years old and has considerable room to grow.
He would be a lot more productive if he were receiving starter's minutes, but for now will have to remain capable of contributing in a sixth man role.
16. Zach Randolph, PF Memphis Grizzlies
10 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 20.1 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.2 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 19.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.6 apg
Although the statistics might not show it, Z-Bo has brought his A-game to the playoffs in the early going.
He hasn't had to be a one-man show down low in large part due to the emergence of Marc Gasol, but Randolph is showing everyone exactly why he's worthy of the hefty salary that his team just rewarded him with a few days ago.
If the Grizz can hold on and advance past the no. 1 seed San Antonio Spurs, Randolph is going to make opposing GM's look silly for passing up on his obvious talent.
15. Ray Allen, SG Boston Celtics
11 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 16.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 22.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
Not only did Allen hit the decisive shot in game one for the Celtics, but he has really elevated his level of play since the playoffs began.
Shooting over 63 percent from the field, the veteran is shooting an unconscious 15-of-20 from downtown and is showing no signs of slowing down despite turning 36 in July.
The big four have come to play when the bench has disappeared, and Jesus Shuttlesworth has led the charge.
14. Ron Artest, SF Los Angeles Lakers
12 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 8.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.1 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 13.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 apg
Now this is the Ron Artest that the Lakers were expecting to get when they signed him as a free agent over incumbent Trevor Ariza.
He's a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line and a surprising 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and it's been Artest's offense that has trumped the talk of his defensive skills.
With the Lakers sputtering and the superstars dragging in the early going, Artest is going to have to be the same player that he was in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals throughout the entire postseason.
13. Carmelo Anthony, SF New York Knicks
13 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 25.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.9 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 26.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 4.8 apg
Melo and the Knicks might be in a 0-3 hole, but despite the team's slight shortcoming thus far, the blame hardly belongs on Anthony.
Playing without teammates Amar'e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups, Anthony exploded for a memorable performance in Game 2 that left many with their jaw near the ground.
If he could ever decide that he wanted to play a lick of defense or be more careful with his shot selection, Anthony could enter the conversation for the league's top talent.
12. Russell Westbrook, PG Oklahoma City Thunder
14 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 21.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 8.2 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 23.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.2 apg
Westbrook has elevated his game to a new level this season and should be considered one of the elite point guards in the NBA.
Like Jameer Nelson, Westbrook has been less of a facilitator thus far in the playoffs, but the Thunder will welcome any additional scoring that their MVP can provide to the team.
While Kevin Durant remains the major player of concern for the opposition, nobody should be overlooking what Westbrook is capable of doing.
11. Kevin Durant, SF Oklahoma City Thunder
15 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 27.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.7 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 32.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.6 apg
Russell Westbrook might have overshadowed Durant for the majority of the regular season, but the playoffs still clearly belong to Durant.
After an early exit at the hands of the Lakers last season, Oklahoma City is looking to make it a lot further in 2011 and the Durantula isn't looking like he's going to back down from anybody.
Assuming that they get past Denver, there isn't a single team in the Western Conference that's going to have an easy task in trying to contain KD.
10. Dirk Nowitzki, PF Dallas Mavericks
16 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 23.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.6 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 26.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.8 apg
Why doesn't Nowitzki get the attention that he deserves? Perhaps it's because we've all just gotten so used to his utter excellence.
After starting the regular season slowly, Swish lived up to his nickname, finishing the year on an absolute tear which has successfully translated to the postseason.
As long as Nowitzki continues to hit off-balance jumpers over the outstretched arms of over-sized defenders, it's going to be hard to take down Dallas.
9. Andrew Bynum, C Los Angeles Lakers
17 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 11.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 14.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 0.6 apg
The Lakers would be in an 0-3 hole if weren't for Andrew Bynum.
While many were frustrated with the big man's inability to play in the beginning of the season due to ongoing knee woes, Bynum has made those concerns a thing of the past with his extraordinary play early in this postseason.
The obvious advantage that the Lakers possess over their opposition is clearly their size, and with Gasol looking like a walking zombie through two games, Bynum is going to have to bring it every night for that perceived advantage to have any relevancy.
8. Rajon Rondo, PG Boston Celtics
18 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 11.2 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 19.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 12.0 apg
Quieting the concerns that lingered around him, it's clear that the real Rajon Rondo has shown up to play for the Celtics in the postseason.
After struggling mightily with bouts of inconsistency down the stretch, RR has looked like the player that his team desperately needs him to be if they want to make a return trip to the finals.
As long as he doesn't fall in love with his jump shot, this is the player that fans should get used to seeing as long as Boston remains in contention.
7. Jason Kidd, PG Dallas Mavericks
19 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 7.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 8.2 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 12.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.6 apg
Did someone dial the playoff clock back ten years without telling Jason Kidd?
Looking like a completely new player on the floor, Kidd has really stepped up when Dallas needs him most.
Still producing in a big way at a youthful 38 years of age, it's pretty obvious that Kidd realizes that this may be his best chance at capturing an NBA championship ring.
6.Kevin Garnett, PF Boston Celtics
20 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 14.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.4 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 15.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.5 apg
Garnett may have missed out on the Defensive Player of the Year Award, but if he continues to play at such a high level, he'll have plenty of reasons to make Dwight Howard jealous at season's end.
K.G. has been in a zone thus far, and he's having the same type of impact for his team that he did in 2008 when the Celtics won it all.
He's going to log major minutes with the scarcity of depth behind him along the front line, and as long as he can stay healthy he should remain among the most productive players still playing.
5. Chris Bosh, PF Miami Heat
21 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 18.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.9 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 19.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 0.8 apg
After all of the heat that Chris Bosh took in his inaugural season in South Beach, CB4 is playing his best basketball of the year when it matters most.
Looking like an assertive, aggressive basketball player (especially on the glass), Bosh's interior success has successfully negated Miami's ineptitude at the center position.
Bosh is really bringing it for Miami, and as long as he continues to produce at such a high clip, they're going to be really, really tough to take down.
4. Marc Gasol, C Memphis Grizzlies
22 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 11.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 14.6 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.4 apg
Gasol's facial expression in the picture included serves as the exclamation point that deserves to stand behind his insane level of play in the early going.
After seeing teammates Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley all receive hefty extensions from the Grizz this season, Gasol's impending free agency is surely in the back of his mind as he looks like a completely renewed player in the playoffs.
He might be Pau's little brother, but he's coming up really big when it matters.
3. Derrick Rose, PG Chicago Bulls
23 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 25.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 7.7 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 27.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.2 apg
Just ignore the drop in assists from Rose during the postseason because it really doesn't even matter.
The MVP favorite has lived up to the lofty hype that surrounded him before the series against the Pacers began, and he's singlehandedly taking it to Indiana when they're all focused on shutting him down.
As good as he's been, Rose would be even better if he didn't fall in love with his newly found long-range jumper, but it's hard to pick a bone with this kid considering he's generating more buzz about basketball in Chicago since the days of Michael Jordan.
2. Chris Paul, PG New Orleans Hornets
24 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 15.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 9.8 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 24.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 11.6 apg
For those that thought the dominant era of CP3 was coming to a close when he battled knee woes last season, this playoff performance is for you.
Missing his most prolific scorer in David West (torn ACL), Paul has taken the responsibility of producing into his own hands. Who said that his days at the top were coming to an end?
The Hornets have arguably the least amount of talent on the active roster of any team in the playoffs, and they're giving the two-time defending champs an enormous amount of trouble.
1. Dwight Howard, C Orlando Magic
25 of 25
2010-2011 Regular Season: 22.9 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 1.4 apg
2010-11 Playoffs: 27.4 ppg, 15.6 rpg, 0.2 apg
C'mon Dwight, can't you get those assists numbers to rise? These are the playoffs!
In all seriousness, Howard has looked like a man among boys through the early going of this year's postseason. Despite the dominant play from Dwight, the Magic are now in an unfamiliar 2-1 hole in the first round.
This could be the Magic's last chance to convince Howard to stay in Orlando for the long-term, but if he's delivering these type of incredible performances and the team is still struggling, it's not exactly a promising omen for the future.
