The NBA playoffs are very different than the regular season in that the parity and the level that teams play at improves dramatically. That means that every player has to be at his best in order to thrive. The general expectation is that players are more likely to break out during the regular season where the talent pool is thinner and there are more opportunities for players to put up big numbers against weaker opponents, but so far in these playoffs, we have seen at least a handful of players raise their game to another level. Here is a quick look at four players that have improved their fantasy stock this postseason.
SF: DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta
Atlanta already has a number of All-Star players that fans expected to lead the way for them this postseason and yet it’s been Carroll that has been their best player in these playoffs. Carroll has averaged a team-leading 18.9 points per game along with 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The 28 year old has learned how to maximize his potential by using his massive size and strength from the small forward position and with opposing teams paying attention to Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague and Al Horford, he has proven that he can exploit the extra room created for him. It helps that Teague is battling an ankle injury, Millsap is recovering from a shoulder pain, Horford is battling finger issues and Korver’s shot has gone awry. That’s opened up opportunities for Carroll to step up.
Carroll was pretty consistent throughout the regular season but his performance during these playoffs has really helped to improve his fantasy draft stock looking forward to next season.
PG: Isaiah Thomas, Boston
The Celtics are still a team in transition but they have a number of quality young players that showed signs of their future potential this postseason. At the top of that list is the point guard Thomas. The 26 year old led Boston with 17.5 points per game with 7.0 assists, 3.0 assists and 3.5 three-point shots per game in their opening round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. With a smart head coach that knows how to maximize the potential of his players in Brad Stevens and another year to become familiar with his supporting cast and develop chemistry, it’s clear Thomas has improved his fantasy draft stock this postseason.
PF: Josh Smith, Houston
Just when it seemed as though Smith had become completely irrelevant from a fantasy perspective, he found the perfect fit in Houston and has absolutely thrived for the Rockets in the playoffs. Only James Harden and Dwight Howard have a higher points per game for Houston this postseason than the 16.0 points per game that Smith has averaged in just 26.2 minutes per game. Factor in that he has averaged 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 three-point shots per game and that he could be rewarded with a bigger role on next year’s team – especially when you factor Howard’s constant injury concerns. Suddenly, Smith is a player whose fantasy value has dramatically improved this postseason.
PG: Patty Mills, San Antonio
Tony Parker is still the starting point guard in San Antonio but considering his veteran status, nagging injuries and the way that he struggled in the Spurs opening round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he gave way to more playing time for the backup. Parker has missed at least 14 games in each of the last four seasons, so there is plenty of room to fill in.
That means the backup becomes valuable and that role belongs to Mills, who averaged 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.3 three-point shots while averaging just 16.0 minutes per game. The 26 year old is definitely ready for a bigger role and whether it’s with San Antonio or another team, his fantasy stock has definitely improved based on his performance for the Spurs in the playoffs.
