Best Playoff Rookies in Round 1: Where does Raptors’ Powell Rank?
By Graham Orr
The NBA Playoffs are generally speaking not a time for highly touted rookies to feature, let alone shine. Guys like Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, Nikola Jokic, and Devin Booker, the top 4 ranked rookies according to the NBA.com’s season-ending Rookie Ladder, are not featuring in the Playoffs this year. In fact, none of the first 7 players drafted in the 2015 NBA Draft made the playoffs. To add to this lack of high profile rookies, only 11 rookies even averaged 15 mpg or more during the first round.
In the current NBA, it makes sense that top draft picks would not be able to immediately bring their new teams to the promised-land of the NBA Playoffs. Even highly touted players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis could not bring their teams to the playoffs in their respective rookie seasons. What this means is that less highly touted players drafted to teams that may have made the playoffs or been much closer to them in the standings the year before have the opportunity to feature and contribute in the NBA Playoffs. This year that has been the case, with Stanley Johnson of the Detroit Pistons (8th overall) being the earliest drafted rookie to feature in this years playoffs.
With the better known rookies watching the Playoffs on TV this year, many fans won’t even recognize the names of some of the best rookies from this years instalment. Raptors fans will recognize Game 7 star Norman Powell, but some of the other rookies who have had a major impact this year are still relatively unknown entities. With that in mind, here is a summary of, and in some cases an introduction to, the top 5 rookies from the NBA Playoffs first round.
5) Justice Winslow/Josh Richardson, Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have received strong performances from both Winslow and Richardson so far in the NBA Playoffs. Neither are shooting at a high percentage, but both have provided a high level of intensity and defence that has allowed players like Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson to rest more on the defensive end. Winslow has had a major impact without contributing at a high rate on the offensive end, with an impressive 8.7 Player Impact Estimate on only 5.6 PPG. Richardson meanwhile, has seen his minutes, FG%, and 3PT% all increase in the Playoffs, showing that his play has become vital to the Miami Heat.
4) Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Raptors fans will certainly know who Myles Turner is after their first round matchup with the Indiana Pacers. Turner led all rookies in scoring in the playoffs, with 10.3 PPG, and the Pacers averaged +2.0 points over the Raptors when Turner was on the floor during the series. Turner was also very strong on the defensive end, averaging 3.3 BPG. He would certainly finish higher on this list but for his Game 7 performance, in which he scored 4 PTS on 2-11 shots from the field.
3) Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors
Casual Raptors fans have to be enjoying their “introduction” to Norman Powell, and avid fans are absolutely loving Powell’s ascension into the mainstream. Powell is second in Player Impact Estimate (10.1), first in NetRtg (7.8), and first in DefRtg (94.2), while serving as a great shutdown defender on NBA stars like Paul George and Dwyane Wade. Watching a guy selected in the second round play with such confidence against stars of the NBA has to get Raptors fans excited about his future with the team.
2) Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons
Stanley Johnson is another rookie who had to take on a massive defensive role in the first round, matching up with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although his team obviously could not pull off the monumental upset, Johnson was able to hold his own. He shot 60% from 3PT range, 52% from the field, and finished third in rookie playoff scoring, all while having to match up with LeBron James for large periods of time on the defensive end.
1) Justin Anderson, Dallas Mavericks
Justin Anderson was very impressive in the Mavs first round playoff exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He led all rookies in Player Impact Estimate (10.4), and finished second in rookie scoring while playing a major defensive role for the Mavs up against Kevin Durant. Anderson’s performance in the playoffs had many wondering why Anderson “didn’t play more minutes sooner,” and appears to be set to make major contributions to the Mavericks for years to come.