2019 NBA Playoffs: Player power rankings
No. 24-21
24: Nikola Vucevic – Although a fringe All-Star candidate in the Eastern Conference for years, Vucevic clearly took a big step forward to earn his spot on the team this season.
His shooting ability has devastated unprepared or ill-equipped defenses all season, forcing less mobile centers off the floor. If a smaller player is placed on him he just takes them into the post.
Yet his biggest improvement has been defensively, where new head coach Steve Clifford has helped him become an excellent team defender. Vucevic ranks fourth in the league in Defensive Real Plus-Minus, a staggering stat for where Vucevic was a couple of seasons ago.
His first postseason will be a test for the Orlando Magic’s leader.
23: Donovan Mitchell – The Utah Jazz guard is higher than Ben Simmons on this list not only because he is a better player at this stage in his career — he probably is, although it is close — but because he has no glaring weakness that can be exploited in the postseason.
Last year he was pivotal to the Jazz not only making the postseason but then winning their first-round series.
Called upon to play point guard frequently this season Mitchell has continued to grow as an offensive player, and he looks like a truly special force on that end. Defensively there are still gaps, but his context surrounded by elite defenders has helped insulate him.
22: Eric Bledsoe – Based on this season alone Bledsoe would deserve to be this high or higher, so this is a bit of a projection of sorts. The Milwaukee point guard is a bulldog at the point of attack, forcing teams out of their natural sets.
Offensively he has taken to the Bucks’ new spacing and been a frequent eater at the rim. Last year’s playoffs represent an anomaly where he was absolutely roasted by Boston’s Terry Rozier. If he can put that behind him and perform at a high level he will justify this ranking.
21: Kyle Lowry – If Bledsoe has to prove his poor performance in last year’s postseason was a fluke, Lowry has to prove his excellent performance was not a fluke. For years Lowry underperformed in the postseason with Toronto, going cold or suffering minor injuries.
Yet whe healthy he is one of the league’s best defensive point guards, with excellent passing vision and a solid outside shot. If he can build on last season’s success he will be in position to help Toronto get over the playoff hump.