Nate Robinson had one of the best performances of the 2013 NBA playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets. Photo Credit: Shinya, Flickr.com
We’re just shy of halfway through the playoffs and we’ve seen plenty of amazing performances already. Players have come through for their teams and given us moments that we’ll be discussing for years to come. As a tribute to all the great thing we’ve seen so far, let’s take a look at the best performances of the 2013 NBA playoffs so far.
5. Zach Randolph – Memphis Grizzlies – Game 5 Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | +/- |
| 41:07 | 8 | 17 | .471 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 16 | .750 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 28 | +14 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/17/2013.
Throughout these playoffs, the Grizzlies have basically had a leader-by-committee system, with Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley all taking over in various games. When the Grizzlies closed out the Thunder, it was Z-Bo’s turn, as he made tons of great plays in the post and drew free throws all night. While Randolph did miss three out of four free throws in the final minute of the game, everything he did up to that moment was positive and without him, this series would likely still be going on. Instead, Z-Bo shut the door and reminded us why he is one of the best power forwards in the game.
4. Chris Bosh – Miami Heat – Game 3 Vs. Chicago Bulls
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | +/- |
| 42:08 | 8 | 16 | .500 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 3 | 4 | .750 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 20 | +10 |
| 240 | 35 | 70 | .500 | 8 | 20 | .400 | 26 | 30 | .867 | 9 | 30 | 39 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 20 | 104 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/17/2013.
With the series tied at 1-1 and Dwyane Wade clearly not 100 percent, the Heat needed someone to step up. Sometimes this would involve a game where LeBron James goes off for 45 points and a triple-double, but this time around, it was Bosh who picked up the slack, putting in 20 points and 19 rebounds and reminding us that he is capable of being a leader. His altercation with Mario Chalmers may have drawn some sarcastic applause from Joakim Noah, but in this game, Bosh proved that he is more than a mere hanger-on and in fact, he’s truly essential to the Heat and what they do.
3. Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder – Game 1 Vs. Memphis Grizzlies
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | +/- |
| 43:42 | 13 | 26 | .500 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 9 | 10 | .900 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 35 | +2 |
| 240 | 33 | 80 | .413 | 5 | 15 | .333 | 22 | 25 | .880 | 7 | 36 | 43 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 93 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/17/2013.
As we would find out in this series, Kevin Durant can’t do it all by himself and the Thunder found themselves really missing Russell Westbrook by the time this series was over. Still, Durant tried his best to carry the team to victory without his sidekick and in Game 1 against the Grizzlies, he was magnificent. Even as the Grizzlies’ tough defense was stifling the rest of the Thunder, KD was unguardable, hitting everything in sight, including a bucket in the last minute that practically wrapped up the game. Durant may have been unable to take down the Grizzlies on his own, but he still put in some excellent performances and this was by far his finest moment.
2. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors – Game 4 Vs. Denver Nuggets
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | +/- |
| 33:06 | 10 | 16 | .625 | 6 | 11 | .545 | 5 | 5 | 1.000 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 31 | +21 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/17/2013.
Curry has had multiple brilliant performances in these playoffs, but none more memorable than this one. In this game, Curry absolutely exploded in the fourth quarter, draining every shot in sight with complete and utter ease. His performance was otherworldly, dominating in a way even LeBron is rarely capable of. Curry’s excellent performance enabled the Warriors to take a 3-1 lead over the Nuggets, all but assuring they would win the series.
1. Nate Robinson – Chicago Bulls – Game 4 vs. Brooklyn Nets
| Basic Box Score Stats | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | +/- |
| MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | +/- |
| 28:32 | 14 | 23 | .609 | 3 | 7 | .429 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 34 | +19 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/17/2013.
Nate Robinson had been playing well most of the season for Chicago Bulls, giving some much-needed energy to one of the league’s more dreary offenses. This hadn’t gotten much national attention, however, until Robinson’s brilliant performance in Game 4 against the Nets. With the Nets up by 14 with less than three minutes to play, Robinson took over. He hit shot after shot and somehow managed to even the score, sending the game to overtime. The Bulls would eventually win a triple-OT thriller. Robinson fouled out before it was over, but it didn’t matter; his whirlwind performance in the fourth quarter was the only thing that gave them a shot to begin with.
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