Bring the shots: Volume in the NBA playoffs
One year ago, a line chart of LeBron James' field-goal attempts per game in the NBA Finals resembled the outline of the Rocky Mountains rising out of the foothills. Injuries to the Cleveland Cavaliers forced James into more isolations, and by the time the Warriors topped he and the Cavs for the title, James had recorded a postseason usage percentage of 37.6.
This spring the Cavs are healthier, and as a result James didn't make the cut for the most shot-happy player in the playoffs. It must be noted that the Dubs' dynamic duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are combining for an average of almost 40 shots a game in the postseason, but their efficiency keeps them away from the term "volume shooter."
Damian Lillard
According to most pundits, the Portland Trail Blazers were supposed to be in the lottery. Instead, they made it to the second round of the playoffs and took a game from the Warriors. A big reason was heavy reliance on Damian Lillard, and to a slightly lesser extent, C.J. McCollum. For players on this list, Lillard is by far the most effective 3-point shooter, his accuracy from deep helping offset his below-average field-goal percentage.
FGA | FG% | 3P% | PTS | USG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Damian Lillard | 22 | 36.8 | 39.3 | 31.8 | 29.6 |
DeMar DeRozan
Toronto Raptors fans have grown accustomed to DeMar DeRozan's isolation-heavy style, honed from growing up in the Los Angeles area idolizing Kobe Bryant. DeRozan's numbers are heavily reflective of his up-and-down postseason, but they are also indicative of the player he is: A shooter who seeks out contact and doesn't possess a reliable outside stroke.
FGA | FG% | 3P% | PTS | USG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DeMar DeRozan | 19.9 | 39.4 | 15.4 | 20.9 | 30.5 |
Kemba Walker
The Hornets only lasted one round and Kemba Walker appeared in less playoff games than the others on the list, but the point guard was as shot-happy as anyone this spring. Some of it had to do with Charlotte missing Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lamb for swaths of their seven-game defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat, but Walker's usage percentage from regular to postseason shot up higher than anyone else's.
FGA | FG% | 3P% | PTS | USG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kemba Walker | 21.9 | 36.6 | 32.6 | 22.7 | 33.2 |
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
One of the narratives of the Oklahoma City Thunder's failing to take out the Warriors after holding a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals was Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook reverting to some of their less-efficient habits of yesteryear. Things run a little deeper than stats, but through three rounds of the postseason Durant and Westbrook combined for exactly 800 shots. Durant leads the NBA playoffs with 407, with DeRozan sandwiched between him and Westbrook.
FGA | FG% | 3P% | PTS | USG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kevin Durant | 22.6 | 43 | 28.2 | 28.4 | 31.9 |
Russell Westbrook | 21.8 | 40.5 | 32.4 | 26 | 33.7 |