In the playoffs and play-offs, sometimes the main players are limited and don't play at their normal level, which requires role players to step up. As far as the play-offs are concerned, it is also a stage for role players. For example, in the game between the Kings and the Warriors, the X-factor of the Kings is Ellis. During the regular season this season, the guy averaged 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. It is such a small person who played extremely high value in the play-offs. The guy got 15 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks, and hit 3 three-pointers. At the same time, he also locked Curry on the defensive end, which made Curry quite uncomfortable. This is the impact that role players have on the game and indirectly changes the outcome of the game.
In the game between the Heat and the 76ers, the 76ers were able to win hard, also because the role players stepped up, and this time it was Batum who stepped up to help the team. How fierce Batum's game is, let's first look at a few statistics for comparison. The 76ers made just 36 of 86 shots as a team, a 41.9 percent shooting percentage. Batum himself hit 7 of 12 shots, a shooting rate of over 50%. The team hit 12 of 35 three-pointers, a 34.3 percent shooting percentage. Batum hit 6 of 10 three-pointers for a 60 percent shooting percentage. It is precisely because of Batum's efficient shooting that it became the key to the 76ers biting the game. What's more, Batum also has key defense, and the block directly makes the game out of suspense.
Batum has become the X-factor, and it has to be said that the Clippers veteran is also really useful. How do you evaluate a deal sometimes, and it can show value in key games and when it counts. Batum was traded to the 76ers early in the season and an asset left to Embiid by Harden's trade. In this win-win game, Batum exerted great energy and helped Embiid very well. So, Embiid is thankful for the deal. Without Batum, this game would have been over. Embiid sleepwalked most of the time, and there was nothing he could do about the defense. If you lose this game, then you will have to play a play-off game, and the result is unknown.
This season, Batum is averaging 5.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25.4 minutes per game while shooting 45.3% from the field and 39.5% from three-point range. In terms of these statistics, it is not very eye-catching, but for players like Batum, the data sometimes really does not reflect their value. Batum is a veteran who knows what to do and when. During the 76ers' late-season winning streak, Batum's play was also crucial. To say that Batum has gas in the tank, there is really gas. However, Batum announced before the start of this season that this is his last season and will retire after playing this year. In fact, Batum can still play 1-2 seasons and get a veteran base salary. But Batum has made up his mind, and his entire career is relatively bright, and he has made a lot of money.
For the 76ers, in the next playoffs, Embiid is still the target of key defense, especially since the Knicks have a heavy center. In this case, veterans of Batum's role are very crucial, and it will be interesting to see if Batum can continue to play in the play-offs in the next games. For Embiid, he needs a tough round of playoff to prove himself, after all, after so many years of playoffs, Embiid has no masterpieces.