The 2021 NBA playoffs are nearly here; this time around with a twist as the league has introduced a new play-in tournament to decide the seventh and eighth spots for both conferences.
A number of teams have already locked down their spots and, as it stands, things look to be pretty intriguing where the Western Conference is concerned as the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors could be headed for what would be must-see TV qualification basketball.
As mentioned above, some teams have already clinched a berth and, by virtue of this, will have an extra week to rest and prepare as the play-in teams look to book their own places. Those teams don’t get to where they are without key contributors, as we know, and this list brings a handful of them to the fore. Go ahead and check out five of the players NBA fans would do well to keep track of during the postseason.
Jimmy Butler
The former Marquette star made the Miami Heat a shock contender last season, taking them all the way to the NBA Finals. Butler’s addition, while groundbreaking, wasn’t expected to do anything past guarantee the team a spot in the playoffs, yet they nearly went all the way. Of course, he’s had lots of help from a very talented cast including the likes of Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson, Goran Dragic, and Tyler Herro.
The Heat have had a very inconsistent campaign following their run to the finals, due to players being out through either injury or COVID-19-related issues, but clinched a spot in the playoffs this week and will avoid the play-in tournament.
Butler will definitely be one to watch this postseason. The forward seems to thrive on pressure and basketball fans are now very well aware of what he brings to the table.
James Harden
James Harden returned to work on Wednesday night following a lengthy injury spell and got right back to business, showing very little signs of rust. Harden, undoubtedly one of the greatest scorers the game has ever seen, forced a trade from the Houston Rockets earlier this year and set the world alight in Brooklyn after joining the Nets.
Although known for being a bit too ball-dominant, he’s meshed pretty nicely with superstar teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and is one of the reasons why the Nets are the outright favorites for the NBA Championship this year. The Nets are 9/4 for the title per the bookmaker’s NBA odds while the Lakers are right behind at 9/2 despite not having settled their playoff position at the time of writing.
Harden also has a bit of a reputation as a choker in the playoffs but he’s in a much better position to get over that hump now. He’s going to be worth keeping an eye on.
Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is having a standout campaign in 2021. The Sixers currently lead the Eastern Conference and are among the favorites for the championship heading into the postseason.
Embiid was often criticized for his conditioning and less-than-serious nature in the past but one of his critics from last season stood out to him. Former NBA superstar center Shaquille O’Neal challenged the Cameroonian to be better with some scathing comments and, instead of reacting negatively, Embiid met it with humility.
This term, he’s been all that and more for Philly, averaging 29.2 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. He’s currently among the players being touted to win the MVP Award – let’s see how that pans out.
Julius Randle
Another player in the MVP conversation, Julius Randle is definitely one of the players set to command attention in the playoffs. The New York Knicks will be playing basketball on the back end of the regular season for the first time since 2013 and Randle is one of the biggest reasons they’re in this position.
The Knicks have changed their culture with some impressive back-office hires, as well as the appointment of respected head coach Tom Thibodeau, but no one quite saw this coming from Randle. The former New Orleans Pelicans forward is becoming a legend in New York and will probably be the player garnering the most interest in the Eastern Conference should the Knicks continue to impress.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul has undergone a renaissance these past few years and is developing a reputation as the man you need to sign to get your franchise back on track. The veteran point guard has played some of the best basketball of his career over the last two seasons, taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to within a game of eliminating the Houston Rockets from the playoffs last year before joining the Phoenix Suns and leading them back to the postseason for the first time since 2010.
The Suns had already shown signs of a resurgence after winning every single game they played in the bubble last year. However, adding Paul has been one of the best moves they’ve made in a long time.
