5 Possible MVPs of the 2022 NBA Playoffs
Five of the most outstanding players throughout the NBA‘s first-round series. With a dominating appearance to bring their respective teams to the semifinals. Let’s first define the main parameters to include in this list. Their team should still be alive in the playoffs. As we set our sights on the conference semifinals, let’s point out the five MVPs from the postseason opening round.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Antetokounmpo’s post-season scoring average is down 1.3 points from the regular season. But with the Bucks’ second top scorer, Khris Middleton, out for an indefinite period with a sprained MC L, the reigning NBA Finals MVP improved his numbers in rebounds (13.4 rpg in the playoffs, compared to 11.6 in the regular season) and assists. (6.2 apg in the playoffs, compared to 5.8 in the regular season). The Celtics are well aware of Antetokounmpo’s playmaking abilities, though he likes to create his own fouls.
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Doncic missed the first three games of Dallas’ opening-round series against the Utah Jazz, but the point guard dropped at least 30 points in two of the next three games en route to the Mavs’ 4-2 series win that propelled the club through the opening round for the first time since the 2011 championship run. With strong play from Jalen Brunson, who averaged 32 points in the first three games, Dallas took a 2-1 lead over Utah at half-time despite Doncic’s absence. One encouraging sign we saw from Doncic in the first round was his ability to make the right decisions when the Jazz was filled with traps and a doubles team to stop them.
3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid drafted an MVP-caliber season only to be hit by injuries in the postseason. First, Embiid suffered a ligament injury in his thumb shooting in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Toronto Raptors. Then, on Friday, the 76ers announced Embiid would be out of the lineup for an indefinite period after suffering a right orbital fracture and a minor concussion in the team’s Game 6 win in Toronto after a 33-point, 10-rebound performance. A freak injury occurred with 3:58 left to play with Philadelphia leading by 29 points. The Sixers didn’t set a potential timeline for Embiid’s recovery, and that’s unfortunate considering they face top seed Miami on the road Monday at the FTX Arena.
4. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
Paul averaged 14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 10.8 assists in the regular season, and you can see that he improved those numbers in the playoffs.
5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Tatum averaged 31.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the three regular-season games between Boston and Milwaukee. “[They’re] the reigning champions, they’ve been there before, they get the job done,” Tatum said of the Bucks. “Obviously, it’s going to be a big challenge. I’m just looking forward to it. That would be fun.”
Read also: