In the NBA playoffs this year, there are many stars who have played well, such as Brunson of the Knicks, Edwards of the Timberwolves, Doncic and Irving of the Mavericks, and their statistics and performances are outstanding and impressive. Are there any role players who have played particularly well in this year's playoffs? There are, for example, DiVincenzo and Hart of the Knicks, Washington of the Mavericks, Reed and Alexander Walker of the Timberwolves, among others. It's not easy for an All-Star player to score 30+ in the playoffs, but who is it for a role player to score a record 30+ points in a row? 35 points + 28 points! First in the league! The Warriors veteran broke out wildly, and the 50 million signing in 4 years made money.
The Knicks have the second-best regular season record in the East this season (50-32) behind the Greens, and they eliminated the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs and faced the Pacers in the second round of the playoffs. The most important core of the Knicks is Brunson, who is the leading scorer in the playoffs this year, averaging 34.6 points (first in the league) + 3.9 rebounds + 7.9 assists + 1.0 steals per game. Randle missed the playoffs due to injury issues. As a result, the Knicks need role players to step up and help Brunson lead the team to victory. As a result, Anunoby, Hart and DiVincenzo naturally burst into the ranks of the team's leading scorers.
Lakers veteran Hart, he averaged only 9.4 points + 8.3 rebounds + 4.1 assists per game in the regular season, but he averaged 17.1 points + 13.3 rebounds + 5.2 assists + 1.1 steals + 1.0 blocks per game in the playoffs, and his three-point shooting rate was as high as 45.2%. Warriors veteran DiVincenzo is even sharper, he is the second scorer of the Knicks in the playoffs this year, averaging 17.8 points + 3.6 rebounds + 2.6 assists + 1.0 steals + 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 45.1% from three-point range, and he has made 32 three-pointers in the playoffs (the most in the league). Can you believe it? It's unbelievable that such humble role players like Hart and DiVincenzo are able to play so efficiently and with such good numbers.
Knicks head coach Thibodeau has been using role players like Hart, Anunoby and DiVincenzo in the playoffs this year because they are really easy to use, with efficient offensive scoring, strong defense, and both offense and defense, which is very suitable for Brunson's help. NBA reporters reported that DiVincenzo recently played 20+ in 4 consecutive playoff games, constantly refreshing his personal career high scoring record: 23 points + 4 rebounds + 7 assists + 2 steals + 3 blocks in a single game, 25 points + 3 rebounds + 2 assists + 1 steal + 2 blocks in a single game, 28 points + 6 rebounds + 4 assists + 1 steal in a single game, 35 points + 3 rebounds + 2 assists + 1 steal + 1 block in a single game.
DiVincenzo's 35 points in a single game set a new career high in the playoffs, and he made seven three-pointers in a single game to set a new record in Knicks history. In the last four games, DiVincenzo has made a total of 24 three-pointers, which directly set a record in Knicks history. In this year's playoffs, DiVincenzo has repeatedly scored three points at the last critical moment to help the Knicks win and win the game. Many people don't know that DiVincenzo played in the Warriors, showing his big heart ability, he is a high-quality 3D master, three-point accuracy, good defense, and the Warriors gave up renewing DiVincenzo's contract because of the ultra-high total salary and luxury tax.
DiVincenzo joins the Knicks in the 2023 offseason with a four-year, $50 million contract, and the Knicks have made money by signing DiVincenzo at this price. Now DiVincenzo and Hart are both crazy and shining in the playoffs, and their strength and value are super doubled. The Knicks' signings in the last two seasons are indeed a bit of a god, signing Brunson for $104 million in 4 years (blood earnings), poaching Hart and DiVincenzo at a low price (big earnings), and trading for excellent 3D forward Anunoby. So, there's a reason why the Knicks have been super rising this season.