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Most stats the sports world go by are only the regular season stats but playoff stats should be more important when trying to see how good a team or player actually is. So how do they differ?
The charts below show every playoff team’s average stats over the last five years in the regular season, the post season, and how they differ. Take a look for yourself to see what changes and what stays the same between different teams.
(In order to better display the data, I did some make-shift normalization. FG%, 3P%, FT% have been multiplied by 10. ORB, DRB, AST, TOV have been divided by 4. STL and BLK are unchanged. PTS have been divided by 10. Disclaimer: some teams have only been to the playoffs once or twice in the last five years, 2018-2022. Stats are according to basketball-reference.com)
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The 76ers have had a decently strong playoff performance in recent years due to their dominant defense and efficient offense. Key players contributing to their success include Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and Danny Green, who have all made significant contributions on both ends of the court. The team’s success has been built on their defensive prowess, as they are one of the best teams in the league at preventing opposing teams from scoring, while their offensive efficiency has been fueled by the trio of Embiid, Simmons, and Harris.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been a strong playoff contender in recent years due to their efficient offense and stout defense. Key players contributing to their success include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday, who have been instrumental in the team’s offensive firepower, while Brook Lopez and PJ Tucker have provided solid defensive contributions, tapping into a new gear in the playoffs. The team’s balanced approach on both ends of the floor has been critical to their playoff success, even winning a championship.
The Chicago Bulls were a decent playoff team in 2022 due to their increase in shooting and shot-blocking abilities. Key players contributing to their success include Zach LaVine, who has been a consistent scorer from beyond the arc, while Nikola Vucevic has been a reliable contributor in the paint. The team’s shot-blocking is surprisingly higher in the postseason as they haven’t had an elite rim protector playing large minutes. Overall, the Bulls stepped up their combination of shooting and shot-blocking in the playoffs but still couldn’t get out of the first round.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a strong playoff performance in 2018 thanks to their sharpshooting, team-play, and ability to generate steals. Key players contributing to their success included LeBron James, who was a dominant scorer and facilitator for the team, while Kevin Love and George Hill also provided key contributions on both ends of the court. As a result of playing small ball, the team was not as strong in terms of shot-blocking and rebounding compared to the regular season. However, their ability to generate steals helped to compensate for these weaknesses, allowing them to stay competitive in the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics have been a strong defensive team in the playoffs over the past five years, with a focus on generating steals and blocks, improving on their already impressive regular season defense. Key players contributing to their success include Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown, who have been instrumental in the team’s ability to force turnovers and disrupt opposing offenses. On the inside, Al Horford and Robert Williams have been critical shot-blockers for the team, helping to prevent opponents from scoring in the paint. Overall, the Celtics’ defensive prowess has made them a formidable team in the playoffs, allowing them to stifle opposing offenses and generate opportunities on the defensive end of the court.
The Clippers have been known for their defensive prowess in recent years, leading to more blocks and rebounds in the playoffs than the regular season. However, they have struggled with turnovers and have not been able to generate as many steals, which has hurt their chances of winning a championship. Key players such as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Ivica Zubac have contributed to the team’s strong defensive play, but their turnovers and injuries have been a significant factor in their lack of true championship contention.
The Memphis Grizzlies have shown improvement in the playoffs in the last two years, thanks in part to their strong defensive play and the development of young talent like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. However, the team has struggled with turnovers, giving up possession too often and limiting their offensive output. Despite this weakness, players like Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson provided steady scoring and defensive contributions for the team, while Steven Adams has been a force on the boards and in the paint. If the Grizzlies can clean up their turnovers, they have the potential to be a dangerous team in the playoffs in future years.
The Atlanta Hawks have shown steady improvement in all statistical categories in the playoffs in recent years, thanks to a balanced and talented roster. Key players contributing to their success include Trae Young, who has been a dynamic scorer and facilitator for the team, while John Collins and Clint Capela have provided strong rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. On the defensive end, De’Andre Hunter has been alright, while Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter added firepower from beyond the arc. Overall, the Hawks’ balance and depth made them a pretty decent playoff team.
The Miami Heat have been a strong offensive team in the playoffs in recent years, with players like Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic providing consistent scoring and playmaking abilities. The team has also benefited from the emergence of young players like Tyler Herro, who has shown the ability to hit big shots in clutch situations. However, the team’s defensive play has not been as consistent as in past years, with key contributors like Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler struggling to match their previous levels of defensive intensity. Despite this weakness, the Heat remain a dangerous playoff team thanks to their strong offensive play, making a finals appearance.
The Utah Jazz have been a strong offensive team in the playoffs in recent years, thanks in part to their excellent ball movement and shooting ability being augmented in the playoffs. Key players contributing to their success include Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley, who provided dynamic scoring and playmaking abilities, while Rudy Gobert was a force on the defensive end of the court. However, the team has struggled with turnovers, giving up possession too often and limiting their offensive output. With an almost entirely new team filled with young players and draft capital, it will be interesting to watch how their next playoff run goes.
The New York Knicks have shown improvement in all statistical categories in the playoffs in recent years, thanks to the development of RJ Barrett and Julius Randle. The team has been particularly strong in generating blocks, with players like Nerlens Noel and Mitchell Robinson providing a strong defensive presence in the paint. However, the team has struggled with consistency on both ends of the court, and will need to continue to improve if they hope to make a deep playoff run in the future. Maybe this year is the year with Jalen Brunson showing up on a nightly basis.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been a strong all-around team in the playoffs in recent years, thanks in part to the presence of superstar players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The team has been particularly strong on the defensive end of the court, with players like Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who provided a strong presence in the paint and on the perimeter. In addition, the Lakers’ size and athleticism have made them a difficult team to score against, with players like Dwight Howard and other vets providing additional defensive depth. Overall, the Lakers’ combination of offensive firepower and elite defense made them a dominant playoff team. This year they seem to once again be stepping up to an elite defense for the postseason.
The Orlando Magic showed improvement in all statistical categories in the playoffs in 2019 and 2020 even though they fell short both years. The team was particularly strong in generating blocks and rebounds, with players like Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon providing a strong presence in the paint. However, the team struggled with consistency on both ends of the court, and will need to continue to develop their young talent if they hope to make a deep playoff run in the future.
The Dallas Mavericks have been a strong all-around team in the playoffs in recent years, thanks in large part to the play of superstar player Luka Doncic. The team has been particularly strong in generating blocks and rebounds, with players like Kristaps Porzingis and Maxi Kleber providing a strong defensive presence in the paint. However, a lack there of resulted in them not making the playoffs this year. In addition, the Mavericks’ offensive firepower, led by Doncic, has made them a difficult team to defend against. Overall, the Mavericks’ offensive firepower have made them a dangerous playoff team and just need more defense to be back next year.
The Brooklyn Nets have been a strong statistical team in the playoffs in recent years, with players like Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving providing a potent offensive attack. The team has been particularly strong in generating assists and rebounds compared to the regular season, thanks in part to the play of players like Joe Harris and DeAndre Jordan. However, despite their impressive statistics, the Nets have been unable to win a championship, in part due to injuries and a lack of overall team cohesion. As they go through a retool/rebuild, a focus on consistency will help them become a playoff contender.
The Denver Nuggets have been a strong statistical team in both the regular season and playoffs in recent years, with players like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray providing a potent offensive attack. The team has been particularly strong in generating assists and steals compared to the regular season, but have struggled with consistency in the playoffs. Injuries have also played a role in the team’s struggles, with key players missing games at crucial moments. If the team can stay healthy and deliver consistently, this could be their year to really make some noise.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a strong statistical team in generating assists and steals in the playoffs over the last five years. However, the team has struggled to advance beyond the first round in part due to a lack of overall depth and consistency. Key players like Russell Westbrook and Paul George provided a potent offensive attack, but injuries and a lack of support from role players have hindered the team’s playoff success. The Thunder are now full of upcoming stars and draft picks and could easily be a playoff contender in the future.
The Indiana Pacers made a strong statistical improvement in the playoffs, especially in generating rebounds and blocks over the last five years. However, the team has struggled to advance beyond the first round due to inconsistencies on the offensive end of the court. Key players like Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis provided a solid foundation for the team, but injuries and a lack of depth hindered their playoff success. With a developing roster and star Tyrese Haliburton, they could be a threat in the playoffs as soon as next year.
The New Orleans Pelicans have been able to generate more steals and blocks in the playoffs over the last five years due to the athletic ability of players like Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis. However, the team has undergone significant changes since their 2019 playoff appearance, with key players like Holiday and Davis moving on to other teams. The Pelicans have since acquired new talent like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, who bring their own strengths to the court. If the Pelicans can continue to develop their young players and improve their overall team chemistry, they could be a team to watch in next years playoffs.
The Raptors had a strong defense in the playoffs, with players like Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol, and Pascal Siakam contributing to their high number of steals and rebounds. They were also able to overcome their high number of turnovers through strong offensive performances, particularly from Leonard. Additionally, their team chemistry and depth played a key role in their championship run. Great coaching and great effort goes a long way.
The Rockets had a better offense in the playoffs due to their strong perimeter shooting and their ability to score at a high pace. They were able to run an efficient offense that centered around the scoring of James Harden and the playmaking of Chris Paul. Their small-ball approach allowed them to space the floor and create mismatches. Clint Capela was also an important contributor with his rebounding and rim protection. Despite not winning a championship, the Rockets had some playoff success in recent years, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2018.
The Spurs have been known for their strong defense in the playoffs, which is due to their emphasis on team defense and coaching strategies. However, the team has struggled with turnovers and lack of offensive production, which has led to their recent lack of success in the playoffs. Some notable players on the Spurs during this period include Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and DeMar DeRozan.
The Phoenix Suns have had better performance in both defense and offense during playoffs in the last five years, which could be attributed to the team’s strategic changes and the arrival of new players like Chris Paul. Additionally, Devin Booker’s consistent performances and Deandre Ayton’s solid play have contributed to the Suns’ success in the playoffs. Despite some ups and downs, the Suns have achieved some notable success in the playoffs during this period. With the addition of Kevin Durant, the time is now for Phoenix.
The Timberwolves have had somewhat limited results in the playoffs over the last five years. However, having more steals and offensive rebounds in the playoffs shows their increased defensive intensity and effort on the glass. Their lack of shooting definitely hindered the team’s success in the playoffs, as did other factors such as turnovers and injuries. With young talents like Anthony Edwards and Jaden Mcdaniels combined with stars like Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns, the future is bright for Minnesota.
The Portland Trailblazers have been a strong rebounding and shot-blocking team in the playoffs over the past five years, with key players like Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins making significant contributions in the paint. While the team has not been as strong in generating steals, players like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have helped to offset this weakness with their ability to score at will. Overall, the Trailblazers’ strength in rebounding and shot-blocking has made them a difficult team to score against in the playoffs, while their ability to generate turnovers has helped them to create scoring opportunities on the offensive end.
The Warriors have been one of the best rebounding teams in the playoffs over the last five years, particularly on the offensive end. This has given them more second-chance opportunities to score, which is crucial in high-pressure playoff games. Players like Draymond Green and Kevon Looney have been key contributors to their success on the glass. Additionally, the Warriors’ fast-paced and unselfish style of play has allowed them to generate a lot of scoring opportunities, making them one of the most feared teams in the playoffs. Even this year, their offensive rebounds are guiding them through the playoffs.
The Wizards had more steals and assists in the playoffs than the regular season in recent years could be due to the increased intensity and focus in playoff games. However, the team’s limited success in the playoffs could be attributed to their lack of depth and defensive presence in the paint, resulting in fewer blocks. Players who contributed to the Wizards’ steals and assists include Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook, while the team’s lack of depth and blocks may be due to injuries to key players such as Thomas Bryant and Daniel Gafford.