1. Damian Lillard
Playoff Stats: 26.5 PPG / 6.3 APG / 4.3 RPG
Lillard was matched up against two of the most stifling point guards in the league, staring down Chris Paul and Stephen Curry for most of the postseason. Oh, and while Curry sat out, he had to battle with the 6’7” Shaun Livingston. For the most part, Lillard responded quite well. His 26.5 PPG were by far the most on the team and ranks fourth for all players in the playoffs so far; behind just Kevin Durant, Paul George, and James Harden.
While there is no doubting that Portland wouldn’t have even made it past the Clippers without Lillard’s efforts, he shot the ball poorly in almost every game. Perhaps it was the 40 minutes a game, but his 36% clip was far inferior to his regular season average of 42%. As the Trail Blazers get more and more acclimated with the rigors of the postseason, Lillard’s numbers and results should continue to climb.
Next: Number Two: The Most Improved Star