2016 NBA Playoffs: Each Team's Week 1 MVP

2016 NBA Playoffs: Each Team’s Week 1 MVP

April 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) celebrates after making a basket against the Indiana Pacers in game two of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas

It’s hard to find a good candidate for a Toronto Raptors team that’s somehow underwhelmed despite its 2-1 series lead. Kyle Lowry is averaging a team-high 16.7 points per game, but it’s come on 31.9 percent shooting from the floor. DeMar DeRozan is still shooting 30.4 percent from the field, even after a bounce-back 21-point performance in Game 3.

Cory Joseph has been terrific off the bench and Patrick Patterson has been a revelation soaking up Luis Scola‘s minutes (well, not really, if you’ve been paying attention all season long), but we’ve got to go with Jonas Valanciunas since he’s provided the Pacers with their biggest headache of the series thus far.

Jonas Valanciunas has a 34.6 TRB% which is insane. Most through three playoff games in the last 20 years. (Min. 20 MPG). #WeTheNorth
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) April 22, 2016

Through the first three games, JV is averaging 14.7 points and a whopping 16.0 rebounds per game, absolutely demolishing Ian Mahinmi and Myles Turner on the boards. His 6.7 offensive boards per game have led to a total of 42 second chance points for We The North, and if he just stays out of foul trouble, his mere presence on the glass could be enough to give Toronto the edge to confidently finish this thing off.

Next: Indiana Pacers