Fred VanVleet has seen his efficiency plummet this season. Still, the scrappy and ultra-composed veteran can still bomb 3s and provide a steady hand at the helm of an offense. His on-ball defense is not as unreliable as it once was, but he competes hard and he brings every intangible to the court.
Probably the best sixth man in basketball right now, Malcolm Brogdon has settled comfortably into his new role for the 1-seed Celtics. A hyper-efficient shooter and turnover-averse facilitator, Brogdon has proven that he can oscillate between elite role player and genuine offensive centerpience based on need.
CJ McCollum continues to shine offensively as one of the NBA’s best pure shot-makers. He can operate without the ball as floor-spacer and play connector, or he can take over possessions in isolation. The lack of defense continues to hold McCollum back, but he’s quite the No. 3 star for a very good Pelicans team.