Post by eric on May 16, 2018 20:28:02 GMT
Here are the players who have led the NBA playoffs in minutes played many times:
6 - Lebron James
5 - Bill Russell
4 - Wilt Chamberlain
3 - Magic Johnson
3 - Michael Jordan
Pretty good list. Pretty solid. I bring it up because LeBron James is currently leading the playoffs in minutes played and not looking too terribly likely to make it to the Finals. It's rare but not impossible for a player to lead without making the Finals. The last three times:
2014 Kevin Durant
1989 Michael Jordan
1961 Elgin Baylor
More importantly, the no.s 2-4 in MP are currently Celtics, the closest of whom is only 12 minutes behind LeBron, and if he doesn't get to the Finals they will, so there's no way he'll end the season as #1.
However, if he does get to the Finals the highest Western Conference MP is currently Klay Thompson who is 108 minutes behind, and even if the WCF goes seven for LeBron to get to the Finals the ECF will have to go at least six, so he would almost certainly remain ahead of any Westerner and further extend his record in playoff minutes played crowns.
So he's got that going for him.
.
Here's the list of all other current active players with at least one playoff MP lead:
1 - Draymond Green
1 - Kevin Durant
1 - Rajon Rondo
1 - Dirk Nowitzki
So it's not looking like anyone's threatening his record any time too terribly soon.
6 - Lebron James
5 - Bill Russell
4 - Wilt Chamberlain
3 - Magic Johnson
3 - Michael Jordan
Pretty good list. Pretty solid. I bring it up because LeBron James is currently leading the playoffs in minutes played and not looking too terribly likely to make it to the Finals. It's rare but not impossible for a player to lead without making the Finals. The last three times:
2014 Kevin Durant
1989 Michael Jordan
1961 Elgin Baylor
More importantly, the no.s 2-4 in MP are currently Celtics, the closest of whom is only 12 minutes behind LeBron, and if he doesn't get to the Finals they will, so there's no way he'll end the season as #1.
However, if he does get to the Finals the highest Western Conference MP is currently Klay Thompson who is 108 minutes behind, and even if the WCF goes seven for LeBron to get to the Finals the ECF will have to go at least six, so he would almost certainly remain ahead of any Westerner and further extend his record in playoff minutes played crowns.
So he's got that going for him.
.
Here's the list of all other current active players with at least one playoff MP lead:
1 - Draymond Green
1 - Kevin Durant
1 - Rajon Rondo
1 - Dirk Nowitzki
So it's not looking like anyone's threatening his record any time too terribly soon.
