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The 2021 NBA Playoffs are coming to an end, and the Phoenix Suns could be crowned the new champions as early as July 14, unless the Milwaukee Bucks can launch a fightback. It's been an unpredictable season so far and one with lots of excitement and thrilling performances.
Teams in the NBA are loaded when it comes to offensive talent. Only three teams scored below 100 points per game during the NBA Playoffs this year, with others scoring a minimum of 106 points per game.
The LA Lakers, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks were the three teams that averaged under 100 points per game, which proved to be a major reason behind their early elimination. In the modern NBA, which revolves around 3-point shooting, these teams' inability to get buckets at will bogged them down.
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Meanwhile, the other teams have some lethal shooters in their ranks, which has allowed them to flourish in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. On that note, we list five of the most efficient scorers in the postseason.
*Note: Only players who have started all games for their team and attempted a minimum of eight field goals per game in the 2021 NBA Playoffs have been included in this list.
#5 Jonas Valanciunas (2021 NBA Playoffs FG%: 56.9)
Memphis Grizzlies big man Jonas Valanciunas had a terrific 2020-21 NBA season. He averaged 17.1 points and a career-high 12.5 rebounds on 59.2 % shooting from the floor (also a career-high). He played a crucial role for the team early in the campaign after stars like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were sidelined by injuries and Covid-19.
Valanciunas led the charge on the scoring end, shooting brilliantly from the field. He carried over his good form into the postseason, averaging 15 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest on 56.9% shooting from the floor. He attempted close to 11.6 shots per game, playing five matches in total as the Grizzlies lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz.
#4 Kawhi Leonard (2021 NBA Playoffs FG%: 57.3)
Kawhi Leonard saw his 2021 NBA Playoffs campaign end early because of an unfortunate knee injury that ruled him out for the last eight games of the LA Clippers' postseason. There is reason to believe that if he had been fit throughout, the LA Clippers would have had a solid chance of making it to the NBA Finals.
The form he was in during the 11 games he played for the side was tremendous. Kawhi averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest on 57.3% field goal shooting. He played key roles in the team's comeback wins in both their opening two rounds of the NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz. The Clippers were down 0-2 in both.
#3 Seth Curry (2021 NBA Playoffs FG% - 57.8)
Seth Curry made sure a player with "Curry" as his last name made a top five list in the 2021 NBA Playoffs after his brother Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors failed to make it to the final 16, losing in the play-in tournament.
Seth Curry played for the Philadelphia 76ers this campaign and continued to justify his reputation as one of the best shooters in the league. The shooting guard averaged 18.8 points on 57.8% field goal shooting, on 12 attempts per game.
He was the team's third-highest scorer during the 2021 NBA Playoffs and was one of the rare bright spots in their disappointing Conference Semi-Finals loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
#2 Rui Hachimura (2021 NBA Playoffs FG% - 61.7)
A surprising entry on this list, Rui Hachimura flourished for the Washington Wizards in his sophomore year in the NBA. The Japanese forward has given his side a lot to be excited about, especially after his postseason performances.
Hachimura averaged 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in the five matches they played in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, shooting 61.7% from the field on 9.4 attempts. He also shot 60% from the three-point line on three attempts. Hachimura seems likely to only improve from here on now that the Wizards have found a proven leader in Russell Westbrook.
He will definitely be one of the best young players to watch out for the 2021-22 NBA season.
#1 Deandre Ayton (2021 NBA Playoffs FG% - 69.5)
Deandre Ayton's presence at the top of this list comes as no surprise. The 2018 NBA Draft's No.1 pick has had a historic NBA Playoffs debut so far and is continuing to deliver for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. He has arguably been as important to the side as Devin Booker and Chris Paul and is slowly making it look as if the Suns boast a "big three" in their ranks as well.
Averaging a double-double (16.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest), Ayton has been a brilliant player for the side on both ends of the floor. He limited the likes of league MVP Nikola Jokic and veterans Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, putting the league on alert about his rising potential.
He has been fearless in the playoffs, breaking multiple records due to the high impact he has had on his side's NBA Finals run. Ayton has shot 69.5% from the field on 10.6 attempts per contest so far. He shot over 50% for 17 consecutive games, with Game 2 being his worst in that regard in which he shot 40%.
Nonetheless, Ayton has proved to be one of the best two-way centers in the league and is one of the brightest rising stars now.
