NBA Playoffs 2021: A look at the most valuable stars during the conference semi-finals

Let us take a look at the Top 6 players who have been the most influential for their teams' run to the Conference Finals.

Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo battle it out during their semi-final series, Image credit: Twitter
By Amruth Kalidas | Jun 23, 2021 | 5 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The NBA conference semi-finals had a bit of everything. We witnessed to two thrilling Game 7s, with the Milwaukee Bucks coming through the Brooklyn Nets in overtime and the Atlanta Hawks stunning the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. We got another historic comeback from the LA Clippers – who were down 2-0 against the Utah Jazz – with four straight wins to eliminate the No.1 seed. The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, swept the 2021 MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.

But which star was most valuable during the NBA conference semis?

After their respective Game 7 duels, we take a look at the Top 6 players who have been the most influential for their teams.

CHRIS PAUL – PHOENIX SUNS

Chris Paul against the Denver Nuggets was a masterclass on how to control a series. He had some spectacular offensive moments, when he erupted for a flurry of midrange jumpers early in fourth quarters to take the game away from the Nuggets. But what stood out for Paul was he showcased his elite level in game management. His experience and skill along with the young Suns roster sliced the Nuggets apart on almost every possession.

Paul’s numbers were MVP-like, especially with intensity levels that come in a postseason series.

He averaged 25.5 points on 62.7% shooting, 75.0% from three-point land, 22 for 22 from the free throw line and an astonishing 41 to 5 assists to turnover ratio. He took over games from the midrange, pushing and pulling Denver’s defense. Paul himself made more midrange jumpers (22) in the series than the entire Nuggets team (15).

At 36 years old, there was a perception that Paul was coming to the Suns to be the mentor, the talisman, the leader. To enhance the knowledge of a young team as he managed the game. But as he showed against Denver, the Point God endures.

KEVIN DURANT – BROOKLYN NETS

It’s rare that a player performs to such a level in the playoffs that he is elevated when his team loses the series.

Durant couldn’t have given more than he did in this Eastern Conference semi-final. He played the entire of Game 5, scoring 49 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, when he nearly outscored the Bucks by himself. He followed that up with another 48 points in Game 7, playing all 53 minutes and setting an NBA Game 7 record with 48 points.

Durant’s status as an elite player was questioned entering this season. He spent 18 months on the side-lines after tearing his Achilles tendon during Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals. From the moment Durant stepped on the court this season, he came back better than what most optimistic people expected.

After Game 5, Antetokounmpo summed up Durant’s performance. “He’s the best player in the world right now,” Antetokounmpo said. After Game 7, he said the same thing. And, after seeing how Durant played in this series, it’s hard to come up with a reasonable argument.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – MILWAUKEE BUCKS

After leading the Bucks past the Nets in seven hard-fought games, he’s on the path towards erasing the questions about his ability to lead a team to a championship.

With the Bucks falling down 3-2 to Brooklyn in the wake of Durant’s iconic Game 5, Antetokounmpo went for 30 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Bucks to a win in Game 6. Then dropped 40 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists in 50 minutes in Game 7. In Game 7, he hit the game tying shot over Durant to send it to overtime.

It wasn’t always pretty. Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks got annihilated in Game 2. He struggled with his foul shooting, finishing 29 for 60 (42.5%).

In Games 6 and 7, Antetokounmpo was aggressive and in attack mode. The Nets had no answer for him. When he is playing that way, he’s unstoppable.

TRAE YOUNG – ATLANTA HAWKS

Young’s 10.9 Assists Per Game led all players in the conference semi-finals. He recorded double-digit assists five times. During Game 4, he couldn’t get his shot right, but the 34 assist opportunities Young created for his teammates, were the most in a playoff game since camera tracking began in 2014, per ESPN Stats & Information research.

Young was key down the stretch. He hit 21 points in clutch situations (final five minutes, gap within five points) tied Durant for most in the conference semi-finals and accounted for 41% of the Hawks’ total scoring in those key moments.

Young went 11 of 12 in clutch situations, but his deep three-pointer to give Atlanta a 93-87 lead with 2:31 left in Game 7 stands out as the biggest shot of the series sending the Hawks to the Conference Finals.

JOEL EMBIID – PHILADELPHIA SIXERS

Don’t blame Embiid for the Sixers’ second-round loss to the Hawks. He played the entire series with a small meniscus tear in his right knee, still he was easily Philadelphia’s best player.

Embiid dominated the first halves of games as Sixers gained big leads. The Sixers needed finishers. Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons struggled to provide in clutch moments.

The meniscus tear forced him to miss the closeout game against the Washington Wizards. He came back with a vengeance. In the first two games combined, he went for 79 points on 25 of 46 shooting as Philly went up 2-1 against the Hawks.

Embiid got three 30-point games in losses. Tied along with Durant and Donovan Mitchell in the conference semi-finals, for the most points in a series this postseason.

PAUL GEORGE – LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

George proved the haters wrong during the Clippers’ four consecutive victories to win the series after falling in a 2-0 hole for the second straight round. He averaged 31.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals in the Clippers’ four-game run to get rid of the Jazz.

The pressure on George picked up significantly due to Kawhi Leonard’s knee injury. He responded to that with perhaps the best playoff performance in his career. He stuffed the box score with 37 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in the Clippers’ pivotal Game 5 win on the road.

That’s a pretty good way to shut up your rival fan base.





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