Every year, the NBA playoffs go by in a blur of action and disappointment. As each team falls out of the post-season, so does their praise. It’s a common and unfair cycle that rewards the two best teams in the League and punishes everyone else. Although this year’s playoffs have been more disappointment than action, the players that flashed success still deserve praise—even if they are no longer in the great game.
1. John Wall Decoy Post Ups
John Wall and the Washington Wizards may have had the most exciting playoff run of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. Mean mugs, game winners, and ejections led to some truly fun NBA games. One way John Wall was able to steer his team to playoff success was with decoy post ups. Even though Wall did not shoot great out of the post, he tricked defenders into thinking he was going to shoot down low. He often lulled defenders to sleep by patiently drifting into the post. All eyes remained on him as he awaited a teammate’s cut or a double team when on a smaller defender. His unique passing ability and speed put the defense into a trance. The defense had to respect John Wall and he commanded that every time he would back up into the post. His ability to quickly eject out of the block into a mid-range jumper also improved the chances of all eyes being on him.
2. Avery Bradley Back Cuts
Bradley has attempted the 4th most field goals after cutting to the basket in the 2017 NBA Playoffs. This is a truly amazing statistic considering it includes big men cutting to the basket after a pick and roll. He also shot a blistering 64% on these attempts, all seemingly in big moments. He was able to consistently sneak past defenders because of his outside shooting and superb timing. The Celtics even used this skill set to carve up the Cavaliers defense and steal a win without Isaiah Thomas.
3. Kevin Love Pump Fake 3’s
A skill that blossomed in the Celtics series and is necessary for the Finals is Love’s pump fake three that rained down on Boston. It is what helped him nail 23 three-pointers in just five games, and hit five in just one quarter. Pump fakes can be extremely effective in today’s NBA. The necessity to run out to three-point shooters makes those who can deceive the initial defender and get an open look all the more devastating.
4. Marcin Gortat Tap Out Rebounds
Gortat was a major contributor to one of the best starting lineups in the NBA this season. He is also possibly the most underrated player in the league. Both his passing as a cutter in the pick and roll and exquisite (illegal) screen setting ability could easily be highlighted, but it’s his uniquely smart rebounding quirk that deserves praise. On offensive rebound opportunities, instead of trying to snatch the ball out of the air, the big man in D.C. strongly swats it backwards. This not only allows him to reach higher but also creates three point opportunities for his guards. It proved especially effective against the Celtics. In fact, the Wizards outrebounded the Celtics by 55 when he was on the court and got outrebounded by 8 when he was off. A 63 rebound difference!
5. Clint Capela’s Verticality
It turns out length is a really important quality in basketball. Clint Capela was able to utilize his in the playoffs by blocking the most shots possible. Even though the Rockets fell in the second round, he still has the most blocks in the playoffs this year. Three more than Draymond Green and eight more than any other player.
He also has a talent for one of the NBA’s strangest rules, the Verticality Rule. It states that a big man must stay perfectly straight while defending the rim, and it is one of the hardest to judge. Fortunately, Clint makes it easy for referees, jumping erect nearly every time. He stifled more than his fair share of shots at the rim and at only 23 years old, he should only improve.
6. Kelly Olynyk Fake Screens
The Kelly Olynyk game will live in infamy amongst D.C. sports fans for years to come. When he was not erupting for 26 points, he was faking out defenders by unexpectedly cutting to the basket, even catching the likes of LeBron James off guard. Kelly’s fakes were a smart adjustment to punish sleeping defenders expecting another lackluster screen.
Honorable Mention: Thon Maker PNR Hedges
Maker, at just question mark years old, was a surprisingly solid player for the Bucks during the 2017 NBA Playoffs. His defense was the most notable. Agile, long, and head smart, he proved perfect for Milwaukee’s aggressive hedging style defense. He completely shut off the ball handler in the pick and roll while also being able to seamlessly shift back to the open offensive player. This is a skill not many have in the NBA and was a great sign for his development.
