Stars of the NBA Playoffs

SI Staff | May 27, 2009

Stars of the NBA Playoffs /

Stars of the NBA Playoffs

LeBron James

The leading scorer in the postseason hit the biggest shot of his career in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, a buzzer-beating three-pointer that kept Cleveland from having a 2-0 defict against Orlando.

Kobe Bryant

After averaging 27.4 points in each of the first two rounds, Bryant scored at least 40 points in two of the Lakers' first three games in the Western Conference finals against Denver. This is the first time that Kobe has reached 40 twice in a playoff series.

Carmelo Anthony

In advancing past the opening round for the first time in his six-year career, Anthony has scored at least 20 points in every outing except Game 1 of the first round. Carmelo nailed the game-winning three-pointer in Game 3 of the conference semifinals against Dallas.

Dwight Howard

His offensive game has come under some fire, but Howard is the playoff leader in rebounding and field goal percentage and he anchors a defense that has allowed at least 100 points only three times.

Rajon Rondo

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen had some electrifying games, and Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins were solid up front, but Rondo was the Celtics' standout during their title defense. The third-year point guard averaged 16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 14 games.

Chauncey Billups

Billups set the tone for Denver's run with a combined 67 points, 12 assists and no turnovers in two opening victories against Chris Paul and the Hornets. The veteran point guard also had 28 points and 12 assists in a Game 5 victory against Dallas that clinched his seventh consecutive trip to the conference finals.

Hedo Turkoglu

Though his home struggles have brought down his overall numbers, Turkoglu has delivered in key moments for Orlando. He made the game-winning three-pointer to beat Philadelphia in Game 3 of the first round; collected 25 points and 12 assists in the Game 7 victory at Boston in the second round; recorded 15 points and 14 assists in the Game 1 victory at Cleveland in the conference finals; and would've been credited with the game-winner in Game 2 at Cleveland had LeBron James not one-upped him in the final second.

Dirk Nowitzki

Nowitzki averaged 34.4 points (on 53.4 percent shooting), 11.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in Dallas' second-round loss to Denver.

Derrick Rose

The Rookie of the Year was up and down in the Bulls' epic first-round series against Boston. But Rose had one of the most memorable performances of the playoffs, going for 36 points and 11 assists in Chicago's 105-103 overtime win in Game 1. Rose, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft, matched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for most points in a playoff debut.

Tony Parker

A rare bright spot for the Spurs, the All-Star point guard averaged 28.6 points and 6.8 assists in the first-round loss to Dallas. In Game 2, the Spurs' only playoff victory, Parker scored 27 of his 38 points in the first half. Parker improved on both those totals in Game 4, erupting for 31 in the first half and 43 overall.

Rashard Lewis

A consistent 15-to-20-point scorer throughout the postseason, Lewis stepped forward to hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 14.7 seconds left in Orlando's Game 1 victory at Cleveland.

Aaron Brooks

The speedy second-year point guard had two 20-point games against Portland in the first round and averaged 26.3 points in Houston's three victories against the Lakers in the second round. Brooks' play (as uneven as it was sometimes) helped injury-plagued Houston push the Lakers to the brink of elimination.

Ben Gordon

Gordon helped make Bulls-Celtics a classic by engaging Ray Allen in a memorable Game 2 duel (Gordon finished with 42 points), hitting a game-tying three-pointer at the end of the first overtime in Game 4, and scoring a game-high 33 points in Game 7.

Deron Williams

In Utah's five-game loss to the Lakers in the first round, Williams averaged 10.8 assists (a playoff high) and connected on the game-winning jumper in Game 3.

Pau Gasol

Just like in the regular season, Gasol has been a strong No. 2 option behind Kobe Bryant and a consistent double-double man for the Lakers.

Published May 27, 2009

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