The NBA playoffs are different from the regular season, and it's a stressful game. Recently, the American media B/R reporter Andy BAILEY named five major stars, believing that they had to prove themselves in this year's playoffs, including Harden, Paul, Irving, Jokic and Gobert.
TOP5: Nikolai Jokic
To be honest, Jokic's selection is a bit far-fetched. Murray Anderson Jr. is absent, a major pressure relief for the Nuggets and Jokic. This will cause fans to lower their performance requirements for them. Jokic averaged 25.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game in the playoffs, but as an MVP candidate, he deserved to lead the team a little further. Even if you don't win the championship in the end, at least you have to go through the first round, right? For now, it's hard for them to beat the mighty Warriors.
TOP4: Kyrie Owen
Irving was a contender in the 2016 Finals G7. But since then, Owen's series of operations have put him back on the path of needing to prove himself again. This season, Irving experienced a suspension and part-time job at the Nets, and did not return to full-time status until the eve of the playoffs. Irving needs to prove himself in the playoffs, to prove that his desire to win is still online.
TOP3: Rudigobel
For years, there have been rumors circulating online that Rudy Gerbert can't play brilliant games in the playoffs. In last year's playoffs, the Jazz lost 2-4 to the Clippers, which was even more disappointing. As long as the Jazz lose, Gobert will become the object of criticism from the outside world. As the league's highest-paid No. 5 player, Gobert needs to prove his worth in the playoffs.
TOP2: Chris Paul
Whether he wins a championship or not, KePaul will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest point guards of all time. Even so, Paul had to make a final effort for the championship.
This season, Paul has a great chance to achieve that goal. The Suns are the only team in the regular season to have 60 wins, and they are expected to reach the Finals for two consecutive seasons. In today's game against the Pelicans, Paul scored 19 points in the final quarter to show his determination to the outside world.
TOP1: Harden
Since leaving the Houston Rockets, Harden's competitive form has begun to decline, which is an indisputable fact. In the past two seasons, Harden has played for the Nets and the 76ers, which are all teams with the strength to compete for the championship.
Especially for this 76ers team, interior star Embiid is the MVP hot candidate, and the young defender Maxi on the guard line is also amazingly talented. After leaving the Nets, Harden, who is bent on fighting for the championship, has no way back. If Harden fails to win the championship again this year, the criticism of him will directly drown him.