2019 NBA Playoffs: Player power rankings
No. 40-25
Missed the cut: Marc Gasol. Andre Drummond. Spencer Dinwiddie. Gordon Hayward. Lou Williams. Malcolm Brogdon. P.J. Tucker. Serge Ibaka. Danny Green. Gary Harris.
40. D’Angelo Russell — Narrative has outstripped his actual positive impact, but he is still a capable playmaker who is no longer a sieve defensively.
39. J.J. Redick — Still one of the league’s deadliest sharpshooters, his floor-spacing is vital to a spacing-challenged 76ers lineup. While at a disadvantage defensively he plays hard and executes, and is surrounded by strong defensive talent.
38. Clint Capela – The Rockets’ center has taken a step back this season, but he’s still a valuable piece for Houston. He’s solid defensively, cleans the glass and is the perfect complement to Harden. In last year’s postseason he showed that he can hang with most matchups.
37. Steven Adams — A defensive bruiser who anchors a high-level defense, Adams’ offensive game is underrated due to low usage. He can score in the post, sets crushing screens and isn’t a terrible passer either.
36. Bojan Bogdanovic – From one-way inefficient gunner to, amazingly, solid wing defender and top offensive option in the wake of Oladipo’s injury. Few players have risen as much this season as Bogdanovic.
35. Brook Lopez – Splash Mountain has revived his career, spacing the court on offense with an NBA-record 187 for a center. Defensively he is a strong rim protector at the center of the league’s best defense.
34. Jamal Murray – “Maple Curry” continues to improve as the Robin to the Joker’s Batman (how’s that for a confused metaphor). His ability to space the court is even more valuable in the playoffs, and he is not awful defensively.
33. CJ McCollum – During the regular season McCollum is a talented offensive weapon who helps the Trail Blazers go. In the past few postseasons he has proven vulnerable to good defensive teams, which the Blazers should see plenty of this postseason.
32. Andre Iguodala – The Warriors’ best lineup still contains Iguodala, who is having an excellent season despite his age. For one possession of playoff defense he might still be the best choice out there.
31. Pascal Siakim – On the basis of this season Siakim deserves to be even higher, as he has truly broken out as a defensive menace with solid playmaking and scoring skills. Yet he has no history of helping the Raptors advance in the playoffs, so there’s a little of wait-and-see needed here.
30. Paul Millsap – Offensively Millsap has taken a back seat to his talented teammates, but defensively he remains as solid and important as ever. For the Nuggets to make the Western Conference Finals they will need Millsap to be sharp defensively — and available.
29. DeMarcus Cousins – Next season DeMarcus Cousins should be even better when he is further removed from his Achilles injury. But even without the lift he is an excellent post passer who can hang inside with the West’s bruising centers.
28. DeMar DeRozan – DeRozan has again proved many doubters wrong and had an excellent season in San Antonio. They were the 4th-best offense in the league! Yet every season DeRozan has fallen apart in the playoffs, so he has to prove it first.
27. Tobias Harris – On the Clippers as the man or on the 76ers as the fifth-option, Harris has been solid at whatever asked of him. His talents are best suited for a larger role, but even so the 76ers have a very talented forward in the starting lineup, one whose ability to space the floor may decide whether they can make the Conference Finals.
26. Ben Simmons – The reason the 76ers need shooter, Simmons is one of the most terrifying players in transition. Yet get into the half-court and Simmons either needs the ball or is a major negative in scoring points.
25. Danilo Gallinari – When healthy he is one of the most versatile offensive power forwards in the league, and is the centerpiece of what the Los Angeles Clippers are doing.