MVP Contenders of the NBA Playoffs: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jalen Brunson Lead the Way
As we approach the final stretch of the NBA playoffs, we are once again tasked with ranking our top MVP candidates. This time, we have three players who have stood out in their respective postseasons, each with their own unique story and impact on their teams. First up is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder's star guard has been a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs, scoring 25 or more points in 13 of his 16 games, including 11 games where he scored 30 or more points. He has led the Thunder to series victories over the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves, and with four more wins against either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, they could be crowned champions. Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency and excellence at the league's highest level has made him a legend in real time, and it is beginning to feel inevitable that he will become the first player since Stephen Curry to win the MVP award and a championship in the same season. If he were to win the title, it would be hard to imagine anyone else capturing Finals MVP honors, making him the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to accomplish that feat. Next is Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers. Who could have seen this coming? At the start of the postseason, Haliburton was a fringe All-NBA candidate who cracked the third team for a second consecutive season. He was nobody's idea of a superstar who could carry a team into serious contention, especially in an Eastern Conference that featured a pair of 60-win juggernauts. But Haliburton slayed one of those giants, the weary Cleveland Cavaliers, in five games. He is now in the process of defeating the New York Knicks, leading comeback after comeback after comeback and making game-saving shot after game-saving shot. In Game 4 against the Knicks, he posted a 32-12-15 triple-double with zero turnovers, making it hard to argue that he is not one of the two most impactful players of this postseason. Finally, we have Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks. Brunson has been a key contributor for the Knicks all season long, but his impact in the playoffs has been particularly notable. He has been a consistent scorer and playmaker for his team, and his leadership and resilience have helped them overcome adversity and stay in the hunt for a championship. With two more wins against the Indiana Pacers, they could force a Game 7 and potentially steal the Eastern Conference title from the Pacers. Brunson's performance has been a major reason why the Knicks are still alive in this postseason, and he deserves recognition as one of the top MVP candidates. In conclusion, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jalen Brunson have all had outstanding postseasons and deserve to be considered for MVP honors. As we wait for Saturday's main course to begin, let us enjoy this edition of Playoff MVPs as an appetizer for what is sure to be an exciting and competitive Eastern Conference finals.
