Picking an MVP for Each NBA Playoff Team Using Analytics

Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder

nERD: 14.8

If you had to choose an MVP of the Oklahoma City Thunder, it would make sense if you were inclined to pick one or both of All-Stars Kevin Durant (-1.5 nERD) and Russell Westbrook (14.2 nERD).

Yes, both guys are averaging nearly 25 points per game and otherwise filling up the box score, but they have both seen their percentages dip from the regular season to the playoffs. Durant, in particular, is shooting an uncharacteristic 39.7% from the field and 26.7% from long range through seven postseason games, down from 50.5% and 38.8%, respectively, during the regular season.

In the meantime, Serge Ibaka has had a solid impact on both ends of the floor and gets the nod by our metric. Ibaka is averaging a modest 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 32.0 minutes per contest, but his shooting split of 59.4% from the field, 54.2% from long range, and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line has been off-the-charts good.

How good? His 71.0% True Shooting Percentage ranks second in the whole NBA this postseason, while his ridiculous 148.4 Offensive Rating leads the league by almost 10.

Ibaka is known as a defensive stopper, but it's his offensive impact that has made the biggest difference for OKC so far in this postseason. To wit, the Thunder have an Offensive Rating of 117.6 in his 224 minutes of floor time through seven games, compared to the 101.7 they have had in his 112 minutes on the bench.