Ranking the top 10 players featured in the NBA Conference Finals
6. Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
Speaking of one of the top big men in the league…So far in the playoffs, AD is averaging 21.2 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.3 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game. Davis is shooting 53% from the field as well. He also has 9 double-doubles in the playoffs.
Davis has put up three 30-point performances. He also has two different 20-rebound games as well (he has grabbed 15 or more rebounds five times).
While fans have been critical of him being inconsistent in the playoffs (with poor performances in Games 2 and 4 against Memphis), there have been several games in the playoffs where Davis has been the best player on the court. Having a big man that can take over a game like Davis is capable of is a true game-changer for the Lakers as they seek their second title in four years. Davis is also a strong defender, capable of impacting the game on that end when his offensive game lags.
On the season, Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 56.3% from the field in 56 games.
5. Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Brown has put all questions about his future aside in what has been a very strong playoff run so far. Through two rounds, Brown is averaging 24.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1 steal per game. The counting numbers are impressive, but even more impressive is the efficiency: 54.1% from the field and 47.1% from deep.
In the regular season, the 26-year-old had arguably the best year of his career averaging 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 49.1% shooting. Brown parlayed that regular season into a 2nd team All-NBA selection, which will likely prove very beneficial to him financially.
As with the two players before him on this list, with Brown’s offensive abilities, it’s easy to forget that he is a strong defender as well.
On any given night, Brown can be the Celtics’ best player. Brown scored 30+ points in all three of the final three games of the Hawks-Celtics series. He’s also arguably the team’s most consistent player (has scored 20+ in 10 out of Boston’s 13 playoff games so far).