Top 20 Players in the NBA Bubble Playoffs

We made it NBA fans the 2019-2020 NBA playoffs have finally arrived! Its been a season unlike any other and getting to this point is an accomplishment in itself. The NBA has handled this season the best they could and credit to them because now we are in for what will be a great postseason. With the matchups set and games tipping off later this evening let’s take a closer look at the top 20 players that will be must-see TV as the journey to the finals begins.

Lebron James

Without a doubt, King James is number one on the list of the top 20 players in the bubble. Bottom line is his statistics speak for themselves, and if all you had to go by was his on-paper performance, there are very few to ever compare:

• 4th all-time in total points at 32,543 (1st overall in the playoffs)
• 10th all-time in assists at 8,662 (3rd overall in the playoffs)
• 1st in overall playoff minutes played at 10,049
• 1st in overall playoff steals at 419

King James has the most impressive playoff stats of anyone in the bubble in terms of career achievements in the playoffs and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Although he didn’t seem to be as aggressive as we all know him to be I expect Lebron to turn it up another level come playoffs as he always does. The King is eager for the playoffs to start and what separates LeBron from a lot of other greats is his will to win and his level of focus come playoff time. Ecpetd Lebron to be locked in and poised to put up big numbers in his first playoffs with the LA Lakers.

 Giannis Antetokounmpo

Another player with an incredible will to win is the reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo better know as the Greek Freak. Giannis Averaged 30 points 13 rebounds and 6 assist this season for the Bucks leading them to first place in the East. He has improved statistically in every category to follow up his MVP season and is now attempting twice as many threes as a year ago and shooting 5% better from distance. The Bucks matchup with the Magic who don’t seem to pose any real threat to the loaded Bucks. I expect Giannis to try to make a statement in the first round to set the tone for the playoffs that he is determined to get his team to the NBA finals.

Damian Lillard

Dame has easily been the best player in the bubble. Putting up back to back 50 + point games and achieving an accomplishment that only the great Wilt Chamberlin had done before in history speaks for itself. He’s also had the most pressure since entering the bubble because Portland wasn’t even in the playoff picture coming into the bubble. Dame led the Blazers to a 5-2 record in this restart and as if his determination and attitude in these games leading up to the playoffs we not enough now he gets to match up with the great Lebron James. This series will be a good one and even if the Blazers do go down one thing is for sure, Dame Dolla does not go down easy …

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi hasn’t quite had as impressive of a season as last but similar to Lebron, his playoff rep speaks for itself. He’s spent a large portion of this year managing his minutes after playing so much in last year’s NBA playoffs and Finals. I’m confident that Leonard will return to his MVP caliber performances when these playoffs start because not only is he now much recovered from any nagging injuries because of the NBA’s hiatus but he’s also on the best team he’s ever been on and are the favorites to win it all. Kawhi doesn’t even have to do as much as he’s done in years past in trying to get to the finals but he’s defiantly going to need to be effective in the moment ts that the Clippers do need him to come up big and he’s shown in multiple playoff series that he can be relied on when he’s called upon in the playoffs.

Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic is must-see TV. I’m very excited to see him perform in a 7 game series. In arguably the best sophomore NBA season ever Luka plays with the poise of a 10 year NBA veteran. He has put up big numbers all year long and this year with an improved Mavericks roster they have found themselves in the playoff picture. He plays the game with such finesse and we just haven’t seen a player like him in the modern era. He plays so aggressively but is always under control. He’s a tough guard because he’s so good at getting his teammates involved that he’s not just a threat scoring-wise. I think the most impressive stat that stems from Doncic’s playmaking ability is the fact that this season they became the Most Efficient offense in NBA history, even ahead of the 73-9 Warriors team.

James Harden

The Beard has been sensational this year. The questions surrounding if he and Russell Westbrook could gel in their primes and get the Rockets into a position to make a run to the finals have been answered. Harden has shown that playing alongside a dynamic athlete like Westbrook again actually enhances his playmaking ability. The former MVP is really getting buckets this year and has even shown tremendous improvements with his ball-handling ability that was at a high level, to begin with. Harden has always gotten buckets in the playoffs but his play is cause for concern in the playoffs just because he has a history of going cold for a game or two. That cannot happen in the bubble if the Rockets hope to finally advance to the conference finals. He’s been shooting at a high volume but we all know the playoffs are about efficiency and that every possession matters.

Without Westbrook in Game 1 vs the Thunder expect Harden to go off! is he establishes some high volume scoring early in this series and can consistently put up his league-best 34 a game then The Beard and the Rockets will be really dangerous in this year’s Playoffs?

Nikola Jokic

Jokic is the best point-center in the league. Averaging 7 assists a game this year he is the reason for so much of the Nuggets success this year. Much like Doncic, he plays so under control and at such a controlled pace that he’s so difficult to guard. He’s a 7 footer with great touch around the basket, runs the floor well and can knock down the 3 ball consistently. There are not many like him in the NBA and far fewer as effective as he is. He’ll be a great asset in the playoffs because as I mentioned we know that in the playoffs every possession matters and Jokic already understands that. Jokic seems to try to get the easiest possible basket for the Nuggets every time down the floor and in their matchup with the Jazz which could really go either way having a star like Jokic is going to go a long way.

Paul George

There is no denying that Paul George is a top 10 talent in this league and no denying that he is a top 10 player in these playoffs but now its time for PG to really show that he can perform come playoff time. George has looked great when active this year for the Clippers. Although he’s doesn’t have to carry the load as much as he once did in Indiana and OKC because this Clippers team is so deep George will still have to perform at an all-star level on both offense and defense if this team is going to get to the finals. I expect big games from George early if the Clippers are going to establish they are truly a contender this year. He’ll need to have the type of playoffs he once had in Indiana when he was just a rising star for this team to advance. He’scapable of scoring in bunches and making it look easy and if he establishes this sooner than later the Clippers are going to be lethal.

Russel Westbrook

Westbrook will be out for the first game against his former team the Oklahoma City Thunder with a strained quad. There is no doubt that Houston will need him to be at his best for The Rockets to even advance past a talented OKC team that has found ways to win some big games this year. Hopefully, he returns after only one game without any lagging effects from the strain so that this team is at full strength in their quest for a championship.

The most impressive part of Westbrook’s play this year is his offensive rebounding. A highly underrated part of his game he has now capitalized on since the Rockets play small-ball lineups. He attacks the glass like an energizer bunny, its actually really cool to watch. He times up put back dunks like LeBron times up chase-down blocks. Looking forward to Westbrook getting back on the floor and giving it his all in his first playoffs with his new team.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul has shown that he’s still got a lot left in the tank and he’s still one of the best point guards in the game today. Putting up an impressive almost 20 a game this year isn’t even the best he has done for this young and talented Thunder team. What makes CP3 so great is his ability to give the players around him confidence and get the most out of everyone he plays with. He’s helped balance this Thunder team that was not predicted to do as well heading into this season. He’s solidified his role as the leader of this team but he’s also left room for the young and talented pieces of this team like Shai Gilgous- Alexander to flourish in his role. I expect CP3 to really come up big for this Thunder team and Matching up against the small ball Houston Rockets is something I can really see him exploiting.

Here is a look at the rest of the players in the top 20 heading into the Bubble Playoffs.

Donovan Mitchell

Jayson Tatum

Jimmy Butler

CJ Mccollum

Caris Levert

Khris Middleton

Jaylen Brown

Kyle Lowry

TJ Warren

Statistics and Photos all Courtesy of ESPN