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NBA Playoffs: 3 players who have enhanced reputation

By Luke Duffy

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 30: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts prior to an interview after their 113-96 win over the New York Knicks in game four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at State Farm Arena on May 30, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 30: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts prior to an interview after their 113-96 win over the New York Knicks in game four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at State Farm Arena on May 30, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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L.A. Clippers
NBA playoffs (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Players whose stock has risen in the NBA playoffs 2. Kawhi Leonard

If you were to make a list of players who are capable of taking the souls of opponents, Kawhi Leonard would surely top it. Kobe Bryant may have the mamba nickname for eternity, but there is something snake-like in Leonard’s ability to suffocate the opposition until they submit. He is mechanical, robotic in how he gets up and down the court and does what he is supposed to do.

Leonard might seem an odd choice here because it took him seven games to get rid of Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, all while playing for the better team in the LA Clippers. But Leonard has had to hear chatter since the NBA’s bubble about how he is no longer the two-way destroyer who led the Toronto Raptors to the championship in 2019.

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Being up 3-1 and losing to the Nuggets in last year’s playoffs didn’t help matters either. But when the Clippers needed him most against the Mavericks, and when it was unsure what their best lineups were or how to deal with the incredible Doncic, it was Leonard who stepped up to do all that was necessary to win the series.

His Game 6 performance will go down as one of the most underrated all-time great playoff performances. Right now Kevin Durant is looking like the best player in the world, it is hard to argue with that. But after him, if you needed one player to win you a game, or a series, Leonard would have to be the number two choice. Ahead of Giannis, and LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic.

In the postseason so far, he is posting averages of 32.1 points on 42.5 percent from deep. Winning three championships as the best player on three different franchises is an insane achievement. To do it while banishing the setbacks of last year, as well as crowning the Clippers champions for the first time in their history, would take it to another level. All in a day’s work for Leonard, whose vice-like grip of opponents in the playoffs is back and as strong as ever.