By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
The NBA playoffs are here. The 16 best teams of the two conferences will compete, starting on Saturday (14/04) for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, and European players are a huge part of it.
In all 16 teams, there is at least one international player and this year, a record number of 62 international players (36 from Europe) will play in the 2018 NBA playoffs.
Moreover, Eurohoops presents the European player who is expected to have the bigger possible impact on each playoff team, starting with the Eastern Conference and the #1 seeded Toronto Raptors.
Eastern Conference
#1. Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas
- Country: Lithuania
- Stats: 12.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG
Playing for the best team in the Eastern Conference, the #1 seeded Toronto Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas is leading this team in rebounds. His presence down low affects the game positively, especially on the offensive side of the court. He can score from the post, from the free-throw line (80%), but occasionally he can also hit the three-pointer (40.5%).
The Raptors want to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East and go as deep as they can in the playoffs. Their journey starts on Saturday (14/04) when they host the Wizards in Game 1.
*The Toronto Raptors will face the Washington Wizards in the first round of the playoffs.