[tps_title]Which NBA player will shine during the NBA Playoffs?[/tps_title]
MACIAS: Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle sees something in rookie Shane Larkin, so much so that he puts him in during crucial minutes and covets over him during practices – and it’s hard to argue with a coach as strong as Carlisle. He’s clearly setting him up for something much larger in the post season.
CREASMAN: Chandler Parsons. When you think of guys like Robert Horry, Tayshaun Prince, or even last year’s Danny Green, a pattern starts to emerge that I think Chandler Parsons fits well. They are guys with length who can sink treys off of the more dramatically collapsed defenses in the playoffs and can excel in big moments.
As teams try to lock down the paint against the Rockets scary front-line (captained by Dwight Howard), Parsons will get his open looks and I’m betting he knocks them down. He also has the energy and athleticism that plays well in the intensified playoff atmosphere and is likely to get home crowds rockin’ if he gets going.
BITANGA: D.J. Augustin has made some noise in the regular season, especially with his 33 point night at TD Garden. He knows how to orchestrate the offense of the Bulls, and can get his own points when needed. Thibodeau has utilized the Kirk Hinrich and D.J. Augustin one-two punch with great success down the stretch, although Augustin shines the most in the combo. In his last 10 games, he’s averaged 19 points, 5.2 assists and 2.4 rebounds per contest, shooting 44.7 percent from the field. In the last 10 games for the Bulls, Augustin has led the team seven times in either points or assists.
MOHAMED: I love me some D.J. Augustin. I’m actually pretty surprised to see that Augustin has kept up his efficiency over a 60 game sample size for the Bulls, especially from the three point line, but it’s speaks to how Tom Thibodeau is a point guard whisperer, and the effect of having a second chance at a team that needed a specific skill set. I can’t wait for him to play in the playoffs again, particularly because he was awful last year.