Here we are, pretty much at the point in the NBA Playoffs when true contenders separate themselves from the pretenders.
Seven of the eight first-round series currently stand at two games to zero. Wins by the teams leading in those respective matchups will likely put the other squad to rest.
Here’s our look at four players that must step it up in order to help their team overcome 2-0 deficits and advance to the conference semifinals.
1. Damian Lillard, Guard, Portland Blazers
This is even more magnified when we take into account the injuries that have ravished Portland’s roster over the course of the year. With Arron Afflalo (questionable for Game 3) and both Wesley Matthews and Dorell Wright out, the onus in on Lillard to actually act like an elite No. 2 scoring option.
That has not happened in the team’s first two games (both losses) against the Memphis Grizzlies. Lillard is shooting a horrendous 27 percent from the field, including nine percent from beyond the three-point line. The Blazers are also -35 with him on the court. Even if both Chris Kaman, who also missed Game 2, and Afflalo return, Lillard needs to pick his performance up big time moving forward.
2. Tyreke Evans, Guard, New Orleans Pelicans
Evans is dealing with a knee injury that forced him to be a game-time decision when these two teams last met on Monday. New Orleans is going to need Evans to not just get healthy, but step up as well if the team is going to have any shot against the Golden State Warriors. He’s shooting a ridiculously low 27 percent from the field (4-of-15), and is coming off a horrible 4-of-13 performance in Game 2. And while Evans did bring down 10 boards and dish out seven assists in the losing effort, New Orleans needs him to help Anthony Davis out in the scoring column. Anything close to his 16.6 average from the regular season would come in handy here.
3. Monta Ellis, Guard, Dallas Mavericks
With both Chandler Parsons and Rajon Rondo out for the remainder of the series, the onus now falls on Ellis to save a suddenly free-falling Mavericks squad that finds itself in a 2-0 series deficit. Ellis may be averaging 20 points per game in the series, but he’s shooting just .333 percent on 39 shot attempts from the field. The streaky shooter was 8-of-23 in the Mavericks 12-point loss on Tuesday night. Unless Ellis gets that number up near 50 percent, especially with his reputation as a volume shooter, the Mavericks are going to go down in four here.
4. Deron Williams, Guard, Brooklyn Nets
This is mainly shooting related. Williams actually averaged seven rebounds and five assists in the first two games of the series (both losses). However, he’s shooting 33 percent from the field, and had a game-tying baseline jumper rim out late in the team’s Game 2 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite falling down 2-0 in the series, Brooklyn has been competitive against the top-seeded Hawks. It now needs Williams to regain old form if the team is going to get back in this series on its home court.
Photo: USA Today Sports