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In the NBA Playoffs, the best player always has a chance

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) goes to the basket past Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) and center Kelly Olynyk (41) during the third quarter in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) goes to the basket past Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) and center Kelly Olynyk (41) during the third quarter in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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There is one truth about the NBA Playoffs that has run true throughout the decades in the league: The best players win. Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson. Larry Bird. Bill Russell. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Shaquille O’Neal. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James. They always found themselves deep in the playoffs and, at times, were able to will their team to victory.

The league is full of these stories of great players rising to the occasion and in some cases overcoming incredible odds to win. The narrative of the NBA is built around these great players doing just that and winning titles. Just last year, the Cavaliers trailed 3-1 in their finals series with the 73-win Warriors — if anyone could forget. That is when James went superhuman to deliver the Cavaliers their first ever title with averages of 36.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game in that historic comeback. He shot 50.6 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc. James took over the series, which is saying something since he was a big part of the series before. There is a reason James is always at the center of the NBA narrative. Even in defeat in 2015, he probably had a stake at MVP.

The finish to the finals last year revealed one of the great truths in the NBA and the playoffs. It does not matter who it is, either. Tracy McGrady could lead his eighth-seeded Magic to a 3-1 series lead over the top-seeded and soon to be dynastic Pistons in the first round in 2003 because McGrady was the best player in the series. Kobe Bryant did the same with his Lakers in 2006. Both those teams ended up losing to better all-around teams, but there is no denying their individual brilliance — McGrady averaged 31.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in the seven-game series, Bryant averaged 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in his series.

Read More: Is Damian Lillard just Kyrie Irving without LeBron James?

Neither had teammates worth writing about (sorry, old Shawn Kemp and young Andrew Bynum), yet both players had their teams close to upsetting championship contenders. The best player in the series had a measurable effect.

That is among the storylines for NBA Playoffs through one weekend. Some of the biggest upsets from the first two days came because the best players took over. The Celtics are the better team and still likely to win their series against the Bulls, but — despite Chicago’s turmoil and struggles this season — there was an undercurrent of belief Chicago could pull off the upset. Jimmy Butler confirmed why that belief existed. Even with all the emotion poured into that game and Isaiah Thomas’ incredible effort, Butler’s 15 points in the fourth quarter (on his way to 30 total) changed the game. With a nice supporting role from Bobby Portis, the Bulls pulled off the upset.

The Celtics struggled to control the glass in Game 1 and allowed Portis to get away from them, but it was Butler who laid the final blow. His fourth quarter performance is exactly what teams need to gut out difficult games in the playoffs.

The big test was in Toronto. Everyone seemed to recognize Giannis Antetokounmpo was the best talent in the series between the Bucks and Raptors. No one was sure if he was ready to take over a series like the best player could. After all, Antetokounmpo still has a lot of growing to do as a player. Yet Antetokounmpo proved on Saturday that he’s ready to take over with a 28-point performance on 13-for-18 shooting to lead Milwaukee to the Game 1 victory. This was Antetokounmpo announcing himself to the world. A Game 2 confirmation and this may truly become the Age of Giannis — and Toronto could officially be in trouble.

John Wall did the same in the third quarter for the Wizards. With the Hawks taking over, Wall scored 15 of his 32 points to get Washington back into the lead and on the team’s way to a 1-0 series lead.

The best player in the series plays its biggest role deeper in the playoffs. That is when teams can take away pet sets and plays and becomes about what your best player can do on his own. What kind of plays can he force to get others involved and get himself going? The playoffs are the ultimate showcase for individual play. Fans pay to see the head-to-head matchups and to see the cream rise to the top.

Next: The Rotation: Pacers flop against the Cavs and the Grizzlies rage against the universe

The result of this is the best player in the series gives his team a chance no matter where they are seeded. They could be the top-seeded Warriors, the eighth-seeded Bulls or anywhere in between. The best player in the series is a safe bet to keep things interesting if not win the series outright.

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