The players looking to enhance their reputation in the NBA Finals

With the 2021/22 NBA Playoffs now well underway, fans are already clamoring on which names are expected to be the ultimate ones to watch during the post season in the aspirations that they can help deliver their respected franchise towards an NBA Championship.

The NBA postseason is the premier stage for any franchise superstar caliber name to announce themselves as one of the league’s best talents as they aim to contest for a chance to lift the coveted Larry O’Brien championship trophy.

As the 2021/22 rendition of the NBA Playoffs rolls into fruition, these are the top names to keep a watchful eye on from varies contending teams, some of whom may surprise you!

Jordan Poole – Golden State Warriors:

The Warriors are certainly not shy of talent, but with the absence of superstar point guard Stephen Curry, fans are expecting one name to shine the brightest in the Warriors aspirations to return back to the top without the services of Steph.

That name appears to be in the form of 22-year-old Jordan Poole who showed great flashes of brilliance throughout the NBA regular season since being drafted back in the latter stages of the 2019 NBA Draft first round.

However, Poole has taken his game to another level in the opening contest of the Warriors series against the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

He finished game one with a tremendous 30 point showing before following that up with 29 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a block in game two as the Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the series as they aim to bounce back once again to Finals contention with the latest NBA playoffs betting odds touting the Warriors at +175 to make the finals.

Joel Embiid & James Harden: Philadelphia 76ers:

It can be argued that the entire Sixers organization is under immense pressure to bring a championship to the city of Brotherly love given the major acquisition of James Harden during the trade deadline and Embiid entering his prime years as a franchise player.

Harden himself is looking to win his first championship and sweep off the narrative as a “Playoff chocker” following on from numerous poor showings in major postseason outings in prior years.

Doc Rivers will also be hoping that he can earn his first championship as a head coach since the 2007/08 season when he coached the Celtics to their first championship since 1986.

Harden and Embiid have already staked their claim in the postseason with two comfortable wins against the feisty Toronto Raptors but will face a major challenge on their road trips to Scotiabank Arena without the services of defensive specialist guard Matise Thybulle.

Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics:

Tatum has already established himself as one of the league’s brightest talents and following on from his empathic buzzer beater winner against the heavily favored Brooklyn Nets, Tatum has certainly fallen into the category of ones to watch in what could turn out to be a series for the ages.

The Celtics are one of the NBA’s most inform sides and have numerous talents to keep a watchful eye on including Jaylen Brown and Defensive player of the Year Marcus Smart, but with Tatum’s size, athleticism and sublime shooting touch, he is the premier option on the Celtics roster and is the most impactful player to watch across a series that includes the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and potentially Ben Simmons on a stacked Nets roster.

Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves:

The first pick of the 2020 NBA Draft has already left a positive outlook on the future of a Wolves franchise that has often been amongst the worst managed teams in the league, and alongside former All-Stars Karl Anthony-Towns, D’Angelo Russell and defensive stalwart Patrick Beverly, the Wolves are on course to be a potential sleeper hit heading into the postseason.

In his first-round matchup against the second seeded Memphis Grizzlies, Edwards scored an outstanding 36 points in his playoff debut as the Wolves scored a shocking upset over Morant and the Grizzlies before they were comfortably beaten in game two.

With the Timberwolves now heading back to Minneapolis to host games three and four, Edwards could feed off a wild Minnesota crowd and lead the Wolves to their first playoff success since the days of Kevin Garnett back in the early 2000s.

Some honorable mentions also include Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Paul of the top seeded Phoenix Suns, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Kyrie Iring of the Brooklyn Nets.

There are many names that could have been selected for this ranking but with the NBA playoff spotlight now shining down on each major contending team, these could be the best names to keep all fans entertained and intrigued throughout the highly anticipated NBA playoff matchups.

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Dan Dunn

Executive Managing editor

Editor and Admin at MarkMeets since Nov 2012. Columnist, reviewer and entertainment writer and oversees all of the section's news, features and interviews. During his career, he has written for numerous magazines.

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