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The NBA season is often a major part of a player’s road to greatness. However, the toughest part of the road comes during the NBA Playoffs. People often forget that the postseason is a grueling environment that turns players into champions. Because of this, it is quite common to see players shine brightly during the regular season, and only to disappear during the playoffs.
The playoffs are a different animal, as the playing field only involves the best teams in the league. Furthermore with the stakes involving the elusive crown, the best players are simply hungrier to go all-out on the hardwood. Unfortunately, not all great players could take the pressure that comes with the bright lights of the postseason. For this piece, let’s take a look at five great players who have a poor NBA Playoffs history.
Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond is considered to be one of the best rebounding machines of the league. He has made two All-Star appearances and led the league in rebounds in four different seasons. While suiting up for the Pistons, Drummond has been to the postseason twice. But believe it or not, the two time All-Star has never won a single playoff game. In fact, he hasn’t had a lick of the postseason past the first round.
Although his stats aren’t entirely too bad during the playoffs, he hasn’t been great in the playoffs. Aside from having a winless record in the NBA Playoffs, Drummond is also the player with the lowest +/- in playoff history. In the Game One loss to the Bucks in the First Round, Drummond registered a horrendous – 45. He was also ejected that game after shoving MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the third quarter.
Now with the Lakers, Drummond has a great chance to redeem his playoff history. By playing for the defending champs, his rebounding prowess and size will be key in the Lakers’ hopes to repeat this year alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Damien Lillard
Everyone knows how Damien Lillard can be dangerous on the court especially comes up clutch during Dame Time. Unfortunately, Lillard’s NBA Playoffs history has been less than spectacular.
Although he has had memorable playoff moments where he dropped some of the best game winners of the past decade, Lillard’s ability to take his team to a championship has been questioned. In fact, sports columnist Skip Bayless criticized the Blazers star.
In a tweet, Bayless said “Since Damien Lillard entered the league, he has the worst playoff winning percentage of any player in the NBA and the 2nd worst playoff plus-minus. Yet all I hear is what a clutch superstar he is. SHOW ME NOW. BACK UP THE HYPE. DAME TIME, NOT DAMN TIME.”
Unfortunately, Lillard has never got past the Western Conference Finals. Furthermore, his numbers often plummet during the postseason. In fact, Lillard only shoots 40% from the field throughout his playoff career. With the Blazers securing the sixth seed , there is no doubt that Lillard will be raring to help his team a deeper run in the NBA Playoffs this year.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is no doubt a top three big man in the league with his ability to play bully ball at the post combined with the skillset of a modern center. He is also considered to be one of the favorites in the running for MVP honors this season. Although Embiid has lived up to the bill of becoming one of the best centers in the league, he still has a lot to prove during the postseason.
The 7’0 center hasn’t found much success in the playoffs, as he hasn’t advanced past the Eastern Conference Semifinals. One of the reasons could be is his dip in numbers come playoff time. Embiid only averages 22.3 points per outing and shoots at 43.7% from the field overall which are drop-offs compared to his season averages. His dip in the playoffs could be traced to his ability to stay healthy. During the 2019 NBA Playoffs, Embiid saw his health record stacked with multiple ailments. He sufffered knee issues and respiratory infection.
With the Sixers entering the postseason as the top seed of the East, there is no question Embiid will be out to atone for his past playoff failures. It also helps that his partner Ben Simmons will be in perfect condition as well.
James Harden
Although Harden is the most successful player in the list with a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012, it is worth noting he has never had a sniff of the NBA Finals again ever since he became the main player of the Houston Rockets. Harden is no doubt one of the most unstoppable players during the regular season. Ever since he was crowned the star for the Rockets, Harden has had a MVP under his belt alongside three scoring titles. Unfortunately, his greatness in the regular season hasn’t translated to playoff success.
In his nine years with the Rockets, he never led them to the Finals. Individually, Harden’s production haven’t been as great in the postseason as well. He only puts up 23.5 points per outing on an underwhelming 42.5% shooting from the field. Aside from his dip in numbers, it is worth noting that Harden also has trouble showing up when facing elimination. In the last six elimination games of his career, Harden has put up 23.8 points per game on 38% shooting from the field and 25% from deep alongside 6.7 turnovers per game.
Although the West has been tough on Harden, Harden’s inability to overcome his struggles in the NBA Playoffs prevents him from elevating his career to the next level. Now with the Nets, Harden has a great chance to finally win a chip this year after teaming up with superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. If the team remains healthy and maximizes their talent, Harden will have plenty of help to win his first championship.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul is considered to be one of the best guards to ever play the game, especially during the regular season. And so far, he has been giving Father Time a workout. CP3 has been stellar this season. Aside from being considered a MVP candidate this season, he has also powered the Suns back to relevancy by ending their playoff drought since 2010. However, Paul has a lot to prove once the NBA Playoffs commence.
Like his previous seasons, CP3 has been stellar. Unfortunately, his playoff stints often result in disappointment. The All-Star playmaker is considered to be one of the best players that hasn’t won a ring and this could be traced to his sudden disappearances in the postseason. It is worth noting that CP3 has never gotten past the Western Conference Finals.
Aside from this, CP3 also found himself in the negative end of postseason history. While playing with the Hornets, Paul was part of the team that suffered the biggest playoff loss in history when they were outclassed by the Nuggets, 121-63. Furthermore, Paul was also part of the Clippers team that unexpectedly blew a 3-1 lead against the Rockets which was the first time in NBA history.While CP3 suffered some postseason slip-ups, he also suffered a couple of untimely injuries during the postseason. In fact, when his Rockets was one win away from marching to the 2018 NBA Finals, CP3 was sidelined with a strained hamstring which denied him of a Finals appearance.
CP3 has been great this year, and will have a reliable partner in Devin Booker. As a result, there is a decent chance he can improve his playoff record this year and make a run for a championship.
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