NBA Playoffs: 10 best players this postseason after Round 1

NBA Playoffs: 10 best players – 6. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Until the award is handed to a shuffling Serbian big man sometime this month, Giannis Antetokounmpo is still the reigning MVP. He had another dominant regular season leading into this postseason, where he has continued to be brilliant in leading his team to a four-game sweep of last year’s Eastern Conference champions.

Offensively Antetokounmpo is an elite force inside, with length and strength that overwhelms most opponents. When he misses a shot inside he often gets his own rebound and puts it back in. He averaged 23.5 points and a whopping 15 rebounds in the first round this year.

He also has grown as a passer, both making plays on the move and passing out of help inside. Antetokounmpo averaged 7.8 assists per game against the Heat; together he and Jrue Holiday combined for 17.6 assists per game, which is only one assist per game fewer than the entire New York Knicks team.

Defensively Antetokounmpo was a monster, enveloping Jimmy Butler and essentially removing him from the series altogether. Last season Butler averaged 22.2 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting. In the first round, he averaged 14.5 points per game on just 29.7 percent shooting. He was erased! Antetokounmpo brought it on both ends of the court every night and led his team to the fastest victory of the entire first round.