The first round of the 2022-23 NBA playoffs is nearing its end, with six teams already advancing to the next round. So, who is the MVP of the current playoffs? In this issue of "Data Don't Lie", let's talk about this topic. Whether it's in terms of personal data, impact on the team or the quality of the opponent, I think Heat star Jimmy Butler deserves it.
Butler ranks first in many statistics
To become the MVP of the playoffs, excellent individual performance is naturally essential, and this is also reflected in the data. So far, whether it is basic data or advanced data, Butler has led in many ways.
The most obvious one is the average points per game. Since the start of the playoffs, a total of 5 players have averaged at least 30 points per game, and Butler has averaged 37.6 points per game, ranking first. Some people may say that the gap between Booker and him is minimal, indeed, Booker averaged 37.2 points per game, only 0.4 points, but if you look at the output per unit of time, Butler's advantage is actually more obvious.
Here we compare using the score data every 36 minutes. The playoffs currently have 102 players playing at least 100 minutes, with only Butler and Booker scoring more than 30 points per 36 minutes, Butler with 36.3 and Booker with 31.
Of course, scoring is only one aspect of basketball. When combined with other data to evaluate a player's performance, we more often use the PER value (player efficiency value). The PER rankings so far in the playoffs show that only Butler and Booker are more than 30, Butler is 33.5, Booker is 30.6, and the same Butler has the advantage.
In addition, Butler also leads high-level statistics such as victory contributions per 48 minutes. In the competition in terms of personal data, he is undoubtedly the first so far!
Butler had a bigger impact on the team
At critical moments, the true colors of heroes are revealed. To be called an MVP, you naturally have to help the team at key moments and have enough shining performances. Butler is also second to none in this regard.
The data shows that so far in the playoffs, Butler's total points in key moments (the period of the last 5 minutes of the game with a difference of 5 points) is 21 points, which is also the first in the league, and he shoots 6 of 12, 2 of 5 from three-point range, and 7 of 8 free throws in this period, which is really a big heart.
The NBA began to select the key player of the year this year, and the first winner was Fox, but in terms of performance so far in the playoffs, Fox is inferior to Butler. Fox scored 20 points in key moments in the playoffs, but he shot 6-of-17 from the field for 35.3 percent.
Butler had too many classic moments in this series, especially the G4 and G5 games, where he scored 56 and 42 points in quick succession. G4 one, his dunk and three-point shot in the fourth quarter; In the G5 game, he dragged into overtime to catch a layup, which brought the Heat closer step by step and finally achieved the "Black Eight Miracle".
Booker also had a good first-round performance, but certainly not as much impact on the team as Butler.
Butler's opponents are even better
You have real kung fu, and you have to have enough opponents to set off. At this point, Butler is even more difficult to meet opponents. He led the Heat to stage the 6th "Black Eight Miracle" in history. They overturned not only the first place in the East in the regular season, but also the first in the league, and ended the Bucks in five games.
Also 4-1, Booker and the Suns overturned a Clippers without George and Leonard. From the point of view of color, naturally Butler's opponent is more challenging. The Bucks are the team with 58 wins, while the Clippers are the team with 44 wins. In addition, with Paul, Ayton and Durant by his side, the overall strength originally prevailed, and the series was optimistic before it started. Butler's Heat is a proper "lower dog", no one is optimistic about them, they all think that the Bucks can easily advance, the result? Slap in the face.
The conclusion is obvious, Butler is the current MVP of the playoffs, who else can fight against one?