Great Playoff Performances

The NSL Playoffs have drawn to a close, with the Finals matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs being all that separates this season from the offseason. As the pinnacle of competition still awaits us with the Finals games, we take a look back at some of the best individual performances of the 2021 NSL Playoffs.

Stephen Curry – West First Round, Game 1

65 points, 25/38 FG, 7 threes, 8/8 FT, 10 assists
 

It took just one game of his first round series for Steph to remind everyone just how amazing of a player he is and just how much 2k21 loves him. The Nuggets were matched up with the higher-seeded Pelicans, but that means little when you have the greatest shooter that ever lived. Denver would eventually triumph 150-143, on the back of a 43-point final quarter that had Stephs fingerprints all over it, being responsible for 90+ of his teams points. Although the Nuggets would lose in six, Steph added to the legacy.

LeBron James – ESF, Game 2

66 points, 26/45 FG, 4 threes, 10/13 FT, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 blocks

After jumping the Bulls in game one, the 76ers and King James made us think that they were going to win the series easily, with a commanding Game Two victory and a truly special performance from LeBron. In 43 minutes, LeBron scored over 50% of his teams points, lead the team in rebounds, assists and blocks. The Bulls had no answer, as James torched McGee play after play. Unfortunately for 76ers fans, the Bulls figured it out and would take the series in six.

Damian Lillard – WCF, Game 5

68 points, 26/43 FG, 9 threes, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

Pretty tough to write about, but if I am being totally honest, I knew it was coming. It was an inevitability, and whatever my reaction was to being eliminated, it was muted due to the inevitability of Dame and the Spurs. He is impervious to a bad performance. Never has a bad shooting night. A perfect storm of GM moves, players, great rotations and settings (in the NSL and 2k, too) came together to unleash the Damian Lillard that can arguably be called the equal-greatest scorer in the league. Down, heading into the last quarter, Lillard scored 29 points in the last quarter (LOL) to vanquish Caesar and march onto the Finals.

Joel Embiid – East First Round, Game 3

45 points, 16/25 FG, 11/12 FT, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks

Embiid was Neo to the Wizard’s Agent Smith and was inside the game for this series. He was unstoppable and could read the language, with the highly favoured Washington team getting swept and spanked out of the playoffs. I think Embiid deserves MVP-love, and this game is a marvel – contributing across the board, incredible efficiency and a devastating impact on his Wizards’ opponents. The Wizards had made changes in Game Three after the first two games, with hope of slowing Embiid down. Nope.

Kyrie Irving – ECF Game 2

46 points, 18/33 FG, 8 threes, 18 assists, 4 steals

Kyrie Irving has had the best year of his career in terms of impact on the game (notice a trend here at all with the short, shoot-first point-guards?), health and consistency, and has lead his team to the NSL Finals for the first time. Before that, he came up against the Chicago Bulls in the Conference Finals – a team that had been there before and appeared to match up well with the Pistons. Kyrie, however, snuffed out any chance of the Bulls evening the series at one a-piece with this maestro demonstration of scoring and playmaking. 18 assists is a rare sight. Kyrie’s on a mission.

Kevin Durant – West First Round, Game 5

51 points, 21/31 FG, 9 threes, 9 rebounds, 6 assists

My favourite player, Kevin Durant, had a tough matchup with Giannis and the Clippers in the first round. The series was 3-1 in favour of the Mavericks, with the potential closeout game back in Dallas. Durant wasn’t about to get on a plane back to LA, barely missing a shot on track to a 50 piece on just 31 shots. On top of that, he torched Giannis as a shooter and a playmaker, too, with six assists pivotal in setting up the other shooters on his team. It’s so great to see him back; basketball is a better place.

Paul George – East First Round, Game 3

72 points, 27/50 FG, 7 threes, 11/12 FTs, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

Sure, we have seen scores in the 60s, and that’s impressive, but we absolutely can’t overlook a 70 piece; a rare occurrence only seen once or twice a decade. Paul George has been huge for the Raptors all season, but no bigger than in this series and statistically, in this game. The Pistons threw everything they could at George but it didn’t faze him at all, with his elite inside and outside game on full display. In another reality, the Raptors could have upset the Pistons and George would be a Canadian Hero. Instead, he will hold the record (for now) for the most points scored in a playoff game.