There are six NBA players with annual salaries of more than $40 million this season, in order of annual salary, from high to low, namely Stephen Curry ($45.78 million), James Harden ($44.31 million), Russell Weisbrook ($44.21 million), John Wall ($43.85 million), Kevin Durant ($42.02 million), and LeBron James ($41.18 million).
Among these 6 players, Westbrook, Wall and James did not enter the playoffs, and Curry, Durant and Harden, who led the team to the playoffs, performed differently, who disappointed the fans, and who played worthy of the high annual salary?
James Harden: The organizational ability was not reduced that year, but the offensive performance was sluggish
The 76ers finished fourth in the East with a record of 51 wins and 31 losses this season, and their first-round playoff opponent was the Toronto Raptors.
The two teams have played 4 games so far, the 76ers have taken a 3-1 lead, Harden has averaged 40.5 minutes per game in the past 4 games, averaging 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, his passing, stealing and blocking are excellent, but the average score per game in the playoffs is a new low after leaving the Thunder, and the shooting percentage is only 37.5%, which is a new low in the playoff career, fortunately, his three-point shooting rate reached 39.1%, It feels good outside the three-point line.
Although the 76ers have scorers like Embiid, Harden still has to find his offensive form, and when he has a huge threat on the offensive end, he can create more scoring opportunities for his teammates, and the 76ers can go further.
Kevin Durant: Offensively inefficient, poor defensive, many turnovers
The Nets recorded only 44 wins and 38 losses in the regular season, and only finished seventh in the East after playing a play-off, and their first-round opponent was the second-place Celtics in the East.
The Celtics are a team with a full defensive resilience, the starting five are relatively tall, the shortest Smart is also 1.91 meters tall, and he is also the best defensive player this season, facing such a defensive top team, Durant and Irving' two super scorers are too defensive to find the north.
The two teams have played 3 games, the Nets are 0-3 behind the Celtics, Durant averaged 43 minutes per game, averaged 22 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1 steal and 0.3 blocks, shooting only 36.5% from the field and 40% from three-point range, which is his only fig leaf.
His average of points per game is a new playoff career low, and his shooting percentage is only higher than in the season when he first entered the playoffs, so Durant has disappointed fans who expect him. While he was inefficient on the offensive end, his performance on the defensive end was also a disaster level, the first game was because of his eye defense that caused the Nets to be killed by Tatum, he often lost his mind when defending, Tatum was not afraid when facing him, and repeatedly made Durant's mentality collapse.
In addition, Durant has also made a lot of mistakes this year, in the past 3 games, he has averaged 5.7 turnovers per game, ranking second in the league after Trae Young, such a Durant is extremely disappointing, and the Nets are likely to be swept out by the Celtics.
Steven Curry: Aggressive on the defensive end and exceptionally efficient on the offensive end
Curry was injured in the final stages of the regular season, but he did not miss the playoffs, he returned as a substitute, even if not 100% healthy, but he did not drag his legs on the defensive end, his physical fitness was not dominant, but his defensive awareness was good, his defensive attitude was very positive, and his performance on the offensive end was extremely efficient.
In an average of 25 minutes per game, Curry averaged 25.7 points, 3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks per game, shooting 55.3% from the field and 44% from three-point range. His offensive efficiency ranks first in the league, his defensive efficiency ranks 43rd in the league, and his net efficiency ranks first in the league, and he uses his outstanding performance to help the Warriors lead the Nuggets by 3-0, just one win away from advancing to the second round.
Curry, 34, Durant, 33, and Harden, 32, all have more than $40 million in annual salaries this season, but only the oldest Curry has the performance of playoffs with an annual salary of 40 million, and Durant and Harden need to continue to work hard.