This is your post-NBA playoffs edition of the Studs and Duds. Even though a team that is historically irrelevant and flawed won the NBA Championship essentially due to the country’s economic crisis and the teams not spending money to add the extra pieces that they needed to become truly great and therefore robbing us of some of the best basketball possible, I’d like to remember this playoff season for the best. Therefore, we are skipping the Duds. Only Studs today. We are going to take a look back through the top 10 statistically great performances of this year’s playoffs. If you feel like arguing them, and I’m not sure why you would since they are numbers, feel free to comment below. On to the list!

1. LeBron James at Atlanta Hawks, Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 3
15/25 FG, 5/10 3PT, 12/16 FT, 12 REB, 8 AST, 47 PTS

This game was simply incredible to watch. The Cavs beat the Hawks 97-82 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. This was the first game in Atlanta and LeBron just completely took it over. I remember watching this game and thinking that LeBron was definitely going to annex the city of Atlanta and possibly the entire state of Georgia. The shooting was also just incredible. He was hitting from deep, he drove at will, he was even shooting from mid-range. For anybody who would like to disagree with this as the #1 on the list, there’s always this stat: No player has ever matched a 47/12/8 in the history of the NBA playoffs. Here’s an NBA.com clip that was made about the game.

2. LeBron James vs. Orlando Magic, Eastern Conference Finals – Game 1
20/30 FG, 3/6 3PT, 6 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 3 BLK, 49 PTS

This was a classic game of LeBron vs. the Magic and the rest of the Cavs. LeBron shot the lights out, the Magic shot 55% and the rest of the Cavs shot less than 40%. Any normal player in such a circumstance has no chance for winning. Not LeBron. He pushed it all the way to the end where Rashard Lewis hit a game-winning three-point jumper to win the game at 107-106. LeBron got Delonte a wide open jumper to win it, he missed, then LeBron forced a jump ball on the rebound, he then manages to tip an alley-oop jumper to Mo Williams who misses at the buzzer. Remembering this game makes me mad at the rest of the Cavs. Here’s another small NBA.com video that was put together about the game.

3. Dirk Nowitzki vs. Denver Nuggets, Western Conference Semifinals – Game 4
14/25 FG, 16/17 FT, 13 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 44 PTS

Dirk and his Mavs were down 3-0 to the Nuggs and Dirk really didn’t want them to get swept. I mean, really. He scored 19 points in the 4th quarter to lead the Mavs past the Nuggs 119-117. Dallas was actually down five to start the quarter. Before we get to the clip, I should note that Dirk didn’t take a three the entire game. I’m not really sure what that says since Dirk is actually best as more of a shooting guard than a power forward (though he’s played at small forward). Maybe the Nuggets just let him drive too much because they were already up 3-0 and it was a road game. Regardless, this was impressive.

4. Dwight Howard vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Eastern Conference Finals – Game 6
14/21 FG, 12/16 FT, 14 REB (6 OFF), 4 AST

This was a great game by Dwight Howard that sent the Magic to the finals. Most people came out against Mike Brown after this game for letting Dwight attempt 21 shots (rightfully so) and having only used 9 of his 24 fouls (6 each for Varejao, Z, Big Ben, and Joe Smith). Smith didn’t even play (who knows why) and Ben played but committed no fouls. Watching this game did give me the feeling that the Cavs just decided that LeBron was going to win this for them (which apparently is impossible with no help). Dwight managed to only miss 4 free throws (very impressive) and kept the game out of reach with easy buckets.

5. Ray Allen at Chicago Bulls, Eastern Conference First Round – Game 6
18/32 FG, 9/18 3PT, 6/7 FT, 5 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL

So, this is the game that was 128-127 in 3OT. Hard to remember, but the Bulls actually won this game despite the 51 by Ray. This was the only 50-point performance of this season’s playoffs. Oddly enough, Ray’s big shots were pretty scarce in this game. He had only 10 points in the last 20 minutes of clock time. But the two big shots he hit were a jumper to cut it to one in 2OT with 20 seconds left and then (after Brad Miller hit two free throws) a big three to tie it at 118-118 with 7 seconds left. For those wondering, I did adjust for the fact that there were three OTs. I never do that, but figured three OTs probably pushed the limit of it being a normal game. Strangely enough, the adjustment didn’t change its spot on the list. Here’s a video with all of Ray’s field goals from that night. It’s not short.

6. Dwight Howard vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Eastern Conference First Round, Game 1
11/13 FG, 9/12 FT, 16 REB (5 OFF), 2 AST, 2 BLK, 31 PTS

What’s so sad about this making the list is that it’s part of a game that the guy’s team lost to the Sixers. Even so, statistically it was the 6th best performance of the playoffs. You can chalk that up to the incredible shooting on the night by Dwight, although I think we all know it was more layups and dunks than actual shots. And I know that Philly didn’t have the people to actually guard Dwight, but let’s just say that it’s hard to win a game when Dwight has more FG attempts than FT attempts. There weren’t any YouTube videos devoted to Dwight’s performance. That’s assuming we aren’t counting the ones detailing his bad defense on the last play that lost them the game.

7. LeBron James vs. Detroit Pistons, Eastern Conference First Round – Game 1
13/20 FG, 11/14 FT, 8 REB, 7 AST, 38 PTS

For those who don’t remember, this was LeBron’s first game, and only America’s second, of this year’s playoffs. LeBron came out with a bang. As I’m sure Sparty can attest to, the King and his men came out gunnin’ and controlled the game from the tip. LeBron’s performance was simply LeBronesque. This game was actually only 4 more points and one less rebound than his average for the entire postseason yet it makes #7. So basically, the average LeBron game from this year’s playoffs is better than just about anything that anybody else has. Why then, you might ask, did this game get in over the others? It’s a matter of shooting (very good) and lack of turnovers (he had none) that push this ahead of the rest. People might best remember this game as the one where LeBron hit the running half court shot to end the half. Here are some highlights courtesy of ESPN.

8. LeBron James vs. Orlando Magic, Eastern Conference Finals – Game 5
11/24 FG, 15/19 FT, 14 REB, 12 AST, 37 PTS

This seems like an outrageously low position for such a good game, but he didn’t shoot 50% and had some turnovers. Nevertheless, the last player to post a 37/14/12 or better in a playoff game was Oscar Robertson in 1963, so it was still pretty good. In this game, LeBron needed to win the game to extend the series. He made sure to take care of that personally. LeBron scored or assisted on ever point that the Cavs had between the start of the 4th quarter and the one minute mark on the clock. 29 points in a row to start the 4th after his team trailed? There’s a reason this guy was the obvious MVP. Here are some highlights of that game.

9. Kobe Bryant at Denver Nuggets, Western Conference Finals – Game 6
12/20 FG, 2/4 3PT, 9/9 FT, 6 REB, 10 AST, 35 PTS

There really isn’t that much to say about this game other than Kobe wanted to get to the finals and the Nuggs were between him and his goal. Kobe went to Denver and put on a show that eliminated the Nuggs. The Lakers won the game by 27 and were cruising pretty much the whole way. This is of course the fault of the Nuggs, who have now lost eight straight playoff elimination games. Watch the highlight, I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

10. LeBron James at Detroit Pistons, Eastern Conference First Round – Game 4
10/24 FG, 16/17 FT, 13 REB. 8 AST, 2 STL, 36 PTS

Another over 30-point, near-triple-double by LeBron gets him the last spot on the list. This was an example of LeBron not having too good of a night shooting the ball. Unlike most players, LeBron can’t simply have off-games though because he is the majority of the talent on his team. LeBron therefore takes off on a tirade of passing, rebounding, and getting to the line. It’s not like the Pistons put up much of a fight, the Cavs won by 21, but this game was still very impressive. LeBron sent the Pistons home from the playoffs once again. These highlights have the great plays from the game by LeBron but unfortunately don’t have the “M-V-P!” chants that could be heard in Detroit at the end of the game. That’s a shame.

Honorable Mention (in order):

Chauncey Billups vs. New Orleans Hornets, Western Conference First Round – Game 1
10/15 FG, 8/9 3PT, 8/8 FT, 8 AST, 2 STL, 36 PTS
Rashard Lewis at Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Finals – Game 2
12/21 FG, 6/12 3PT, 4/4 FT, 11 REB (5 OFF), 7 AST, 34 PTS
Carmelo Anthony vs. Dallas Mavericks, Western Conference Semifinals, Game 4
15/29 FG, 2/5 3PT, 9/11 FT, 11 REB, 3 AST, 5 STL, 41 PTS
Kobe Bryant vs. Orlando Magic, NBA Finals – Game 1
16/34 FG, 8/8 FT, 8 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 40 PTS

Guyinthecorner is an author here at spartyandfriends.com. He writes the NBA section, X-Games section, and contributes to College Basketball and MLB. He doesn’t watch hockey except when the circumstances are dire. He’s not sure how to rate Michael Phelps on the scale of athletes not only because he doesn’t directly compete against people, but because he is a fish. He doesn’t understand the hate for the 2002 National Champion Maryland Terrapins and wishes everybody would just shut up by now. He is known for having statistical formulas and might be Bill James or Joe Lunardi depending on who you ask. His identity is as hidden as many times over as the number of internet memes he employs in his comments. Some have called him “The Riddler.” He can be reached at gitc@spartyandfriends.com. “GITC” is an acronym for guyinthecorner in case you aren’t that perceptive.

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