Interbasket

In my previous post, I wrote about the important roles international players will have on this year’s NBA Playoffs — particularly the western conference. Each series has now played at least 2 games, and we’re going to assess the most valuable international players that have stepped-up and made crucial plays for their respective team.

We’ll also list the least-valuable international players in a later post detailing the players that haven’t shown up and have been detrimental to their team when they’ve been on the court. So without firther delay, I present you with are:

1. Manu Ginobili - The herky-jerky Argentine shot terribly the first game thanks to the defense of Raja Bell, but still found a way to tally 24 points and the game-winner in a two-overtime game for the history books. In game two, Manu went for 29 points in 33 minutes. The Spurs are up 2-0.

2. Pau Gasol - Pau is this high up on the list mostly for his first game domination against the defensively and offensively clueless Denver Nuggets — 36 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocks - ending his streak of 12 playoff games without a win. His second game wasn’t nearly as spectacular but was definitely solid — 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers are 2-0 and Gasol is shooting 65% from the field (20-31)

3. Tony Parker - With Ginobili on the list already, we cannot forget Tony Parker’s immense contributions to the Spurs - 26 points and 5 assists in game one and a whopping 32 points and 7 assists in the Spurs second game win.

4. Steve Nash - The only player on this list that is 0-2. It should be mentioned that the two losses totaled 8 points. In comparison, Dirk has fared well statistically, but his Mavs have been blown out by an average of 18 points.

You can’t fault Steve Nash for Phoenix’s woes (that will become more clear when I list my invaluable players later on) as he’s turned it up to the tune of 24 points, 11.5 assist on 54% from the field in Phoenix’s first two games. And that includes hitting a clutch three to tie the game before Ginobili’s left-haded winner in game one.

5. Peja Stojakovic - Peja hasn’t quite dominated as the other four have been, and he isn’t the first or second guy behind New Orleans dismantling of the Mavs, but his contributions should definitely be highlighted. His outside shooting keeps the defense honest and the under-rated ability to know how to space out the floor allows CP3 and West to operate their magic in the paint. That intangible understanding of knowing where to be doesn’t ever show up in the boxscore.

* I don’t consider Tim Duncan an international player