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Wc – NBA rookie ranking: Facundo Campazzo and Desmond Bane step up their first playoffs

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We’re right in the thick of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, and while plenty of rookies are making it from home, there are a handful of freshmen who really make an impact when they come into the playoffs. Some players have heavy minutes on the bench or as a starter, while others make the most of the opportunity given to them when recording the match. These are perhaps the most rookies we’ve seen playing in the playoffs lately, showing just how deep the 2020 NBA Draft really was despite discussions that they weren’t a ton of power. star.

This group of guys have the potential to have long careers in the NBA as role players in this league, and they certainly prove it with their playoff performances so far. Here are the top five freshmen who shine so far in the playoffs.

Campazzo has been a mainstay of the starting lineup since Jamal Murray’s season-ending ACL tear in mid-April, and got the sign to start the playoffs due to his performance at the end of the regular season. Although he has been a devastating regular season defense, however, he is put to the test against the Portland Trail Blazers as he was tasked with guarding Damian Lillard.

In addition to 13 minutes to keep Lillard through the three games, Campazzo let up 29 points as the Blazers toss him into pick-and-rolls to create space for their star playmaker. This forced Nuggets coach Mike Malone to replace forward Aaron Gordon against Lillard in Game 2, which ended up being a significant difference factor and one of the main reasons Denver won this. match. Campazzo always gives Lillard and the rest of the Blazers a headache when he keeps them. In Game 3, he had two interceptions, both against Lillard. But understandably, there have been times when Lillard just does punches, which is okay on the part of the superstar.

Even though Campazzo exerts a ton of energy on defense, he also manages to be a big positive on offense. Just watch this Nutmeg Assist on CJ McCollum for the Easy Nikola Jokic Bucket from Game 2.

What a DIME from Facundo Campazzo ????It ends with 12 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and 33.6 fantasy points in the @nuggets Game 2 W! Pic.twitter.com/FYmd5yLyg4

In Game 3, he was just shy of getting a triple-double, scoring 11 points and eight rebounds and assists each. Campazzo has been solid for the Nuggets in the starting lineup in the first three games, and although he’s not Jamal Murray, he’s still able to bring him on both sides of the floor and have a positive impact on the game for Denver. He’s easily been the most impressive rookie in the playoffs so far.

Bane’s 3-point shot has been essential to the Grizzlies’ success this season, and in his first playoff appearance he makes sure to let everyone know he hasn’t lost touch. In Game 1, with Memphis ahead of the Utah Jazz, Bane drained a 3-point over Utah forward Georges Niang on the buzzer to increase the Grizzlies’ lead in the fourth quarter.

This led to an exchange of words between Bane and Niang, as the rookie was showing no sign of curling up at the moment. He followed that up with another solid performance in Game 2 despite the loss, and while he doesn’t get as many touches as some of the other rookies on this list, he makes sure that when he gives the ball open on the wing, he’s gonna knock down those blows.

Quickley saw his minutes go down in Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks, but that was mainly because reserve goalie Derrick Rose had a hot hand and was the reason the Knicks were able to tie the series. However, in Game 1, Quickley continued to be the consistent and consistent player he has been all season in New York. He came up a 3 as soon as he moved to the half court, and put the moves on Hawks star guard Trae Young for a few easy buckets from the midrange.

Some rookies would have a hard time playing in an atmosphere like Madison Square Garden, especially in the playoffs, but Quickley has remained as cool as a cucumber on the bench for the Knicks. He could see more minutes in Game 3, depending on whether Tom Thibodeau starts Derrick Rose after seeing how well he played with the starting unit in the second half. If so, we may get to see more of what Quickley brought in Game 1.

Heading into the playoffs, I was a little unsure of how many minutes Toppin would see in this Knicks rotation, especially since he averaged just 11 minutes per game in the regular season. In the first game he made a few good plays when he was on the ground, but it was in the second game that he really made an impact on the almost 12 minutes he played. Early in the fourth quarter, he caught a lob pass from Alec Burks for a thunderous dunk that sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy and helped extend the Knicks.

Prior to that, however, he was active on the boards and made a 3-point wide open in the corner to bring New York to one point in the second quarter. He doesn’t impact play at the same level as Campazzo for the Nuggets, but he excels in the minutes he’s been given, which could increase playing time as the series progresses if Thibodeau sees that. he can trust him on the pitch.

Maxey got a lot more playing time in Game 2 (13 minutes) and was incredibly efficient in his ground time. He put in 10 points, three blocks and two rebounds and assists each. Granted, it’s against the Washington Wizards, but Maxey shows no fear at his first taste in the playoffs. He’s aggressive on offense when he’s there and takes punches that some rookies can dodge. Look at this ridiculous reverse lay-up.

It’s not just his offense, either. In defense he was even better – did I mention he had three blocks in Game 2? Watch his recovery on that defensive possession when he’s stuck through a screen but still manages to block Cassius Winston’s shot. Or that piece where he shows great footwork and fundamentals to stay ahead of Ish Smith and get some of the shot for another block.

These games are largely in the trash as the Sixers have already finished the game by this point, but Maxey is still showing he can make a difference.

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