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The thrilling 2021 NBA playoffs have thrown up some unexpected results. Despite being reigning champions, the LA Lakers fell in the first round, while their opponents in that series, the Phoenix Suns, have reached the Finals despite not appearing in the postseason since 2010.
Unexpected outcomes have been brought on by disappointing performances from individuals or entire lineups. In this article, we will examine five stars who failed to show up on the biggest stage and performed below their usual standards.
The quintet which struggled to live up to expectations in the 2021 NBA playoffs
The NBA playoffs require elite performances in order to make a deep run and challenge for a title. Phoenix have shown that in abundance this campaign and their roster has contributed consistently.
Some players may find it tough to get going in the NBA playoffs. It can be so daunting for some players that they that they may fall way short of their regular season statistics.
Let's take a look at five players who disappointed in this year's postseason.
#5 Kyle Kuzma
Defending their crown was far more difficult than expected for the LA Lakers. Injuries hampered their regular season consistency and continued to plague them in the NBA playoffs.
More worryingly though for Lakers fans was the team's lack of offensive options in their series against the Phoenix Suns. Without LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the floor, the team lacked creative flair or scoring consistency.
One player they had hoped would step up was Kyle Kuzma, who continued to provide effective points and rebounds off the bench during the regular season. However, in the playoffs, Kuzma struggled to rise to the occasion when called upon by his team.
The 25-year-old forward averaged just six points and 3.8 rebounds across the six contests, playing 21.6 minutes per night. He will have also lost a lot of confidence in his ability to step up in the NBA playoffs after connecting with just 29% of field-goal efforts and 17% of threes.
#4 Kristaps Porzingis
Both the Dallas Mavericks and Kristaps Porzingis were left frustrated as they crashed out of the NBA playoffs in the first round again at the hands of the LA Clippers. Porzingis failed to live up to his status as the Mavs' secondary star, averaging just 13 points and 5.4 rebounds during the 7-game series.
While he did shoot at 47% from the floor, the Latvian big man connected with just 30% of three-point efforts and lacked the aggressive edge to his game needed in the playoffs. He was frequently targeted as a weak defender and finished the series with a negative +/-.
Porzingis' disappointing performances in the NBA playoffs could spell the end of his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks. If the franchise has a desire to lift another championship with superstar Luka Doncic, they need to bring in a more reliable option and have already been linked with Kawhi Leonard this offseason.
#3 Julius Randle
There was little expectation of the New York Knicks heading into this year's playoffs. After all, the franchise hadn't reached the postseason since 2013 and they had little experience on their roster.
One player who had shone all season, though, was All-Star Julius Randle. However, the 26-year-old was unable to maintain the terrific performances that he produced every night during the regular season in the playoffs, and the Knicks ultimately crashed out after five games.
Although Randle grabbed more boards per game in the series than in the regular season with 11.6, he averaged six fewer points and dished out two fewer dimes. For somebody who shoots so consistently, the power forward connected with just 30% of field-goal efforts and 33% of three-point attempts.
#2 Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler was unable to orchestrate another unexpected run this season after guiding the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals last year. The Heat struggled all year through injuries and inconsistency and were no match for the Milwaukee Bucks as they got swept away in the first round.
Butler was unable to find his shooting touch throughout the series as the Bucks put on a defensive clinic to limit his effectiveness. The 31-year-old shot just 30% from the field and 27% from deep as he saw his output fall from 21.5 points per game in the regular season to just 14.5 in the playoffs.
Despite still being solid defensively and averaging more than seven rebounds and assists per encounter, Butler finished the playoffs with a +/- of -21.5.
#1 Ben Simmons
No player has faced more backlash for their performances than the Phialphia 76ers' Ben Simmons in the NBA Playoffs. The rumor mill began whirring immediately following the Sixers' elimination to the Atlanta Hawks and they have already fielded bids for the young guard, including one from the Indiana Pacers.
Simmons averaged 11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.8 assists for the 76ers across the twelve games he played in. While these stats weren't exactly terrible, the 24-year-old went from being a 61% free-throw shooter to one who hits 34%. Moreover, all those numbers became worse in the series against the Hawks and he was unable to keep Trae Young quiet despite Simmons' elite defensive ability.
The Sixers young star looked a shadow of himself on the big stage and received considerable criticism after passing up wide open looks, afraid instead of his shooting accuracy. While Simmons is an All-Defensive team member and a naturally gifted creator on offense, he needs to work on his shot-making if he is to compete for a championship in the coming years.
