The Games Have Begun
The first round has a bunch of exciting matchups. Only one game in and we’ve already witnessed some epic game winners with Khris Middleton knocking down a fadeaway jump shot for the win against the Heat & then Trae Young silencing Madison Square Garden with a floater over Julius Randle in the final seconds. We’ve also seen some juicy upsets with the 8th seed Grizzlies taking down the Donovan-less Jazz as well as the Mavericks defeating the Clippers with ease. Statistics prove that the team that wins Game 1 end up winning the series nearly 75% of the time… meaning game 1 is the most crucial in the entire series. It puts a lot of pressure on the opposing team, especially if it was a home game.
Now that the Playoffs have begun – who are the most important players playing in the first round?
3.) Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is the cornerstone of the Miami Heat. While the Heat have a pretty loaded roster, Jimmy is the glue that brings everything together. The Heat are 7-13 this year when Jimmy doesn’t play. Jimmy played decent in the first game, but he has got to go into the playoff mode that he was in last year if this team wants any chance at making another championship run. Jimmy had sort of a quiet season, but everyone knows that he is able to kick it into another gear come playoff time. I think that there is still a possibility that this team could make at out of the East again, but they have absolutely no chance unless Jimmy Butler plays at an elite level.
2.) Anthony Davis
If the Lakers want to make it out of the first round then this guy has got to play like the best Big Man in the league. At 28 years old Anthony Davis is in the midst of his prime while also coming off an NBA championship. He should feel like he is the best player in the world. As LeBron is dealing with an ankle injury and his older age is starting to show, Bron needs AD to play at the highest level that he can. After losing game 1, the pressure is on and if Anthony Davis doesn’t show up soon the defending champions are in jeopardy of taking a first round exit.
1.) Luka Doncic
While the other two players are coming off of game 1 losses, Luka is coming off of a win. He carried the entire Mavericks offensive, finishing with a 31 point triple double. This guy is amazing to watch. He is so gifted offensively at such a young age… there is truly no telling what he will become. The only area he could use some improvement is the defensive side, but with such amazing offensive capabilities, it really doesn’t even matter. The Clippers have NO answer for this man which is kind of scary because when you look at the Clippers roster they have some high level defenders in Kawhi, PG, Pat Bev, etc. Luka picked apart this entire team and was making plays happen with ease. Without Luka, the Mavs are undoubtedly getting swept, making him the most important player in the first round of the playoffs.
Who’s the most important player in the first round for you/why?
