NBA Playoffs, Brackets & Schedule 2015: Top 5 Players to Watch
It's almost time to tip-off the 2015 NBA playoffs.
While most NBA fans are focusing on highly notable superstar players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and James Harden, there are several Latino players you should be watching. Both the West and Eastern Conference are filled with Latino basketball players who will help determine the outcome of this year's postseason.
Latin Post brings you the top five Latino players you should keep an eye this postseason:
1. Manu Ginobili
Arguably the greatest International player in NBA history. Manu Ginobili knows what time it is, having won four NBA Championships with the San Antonio Spurs. Ginobili is one of the best clutch shooters in recent memory having made big pressure shots for the Spurs postseason after postseason. Ginobili will not only play a huge role coming off the bench much of time against the Los Angeles Clippers, but he is also a great ball handler who sometimes takes over the point guard position for Tony Parker.
The Spurs open their series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, April 19, at 10:30 p.m. EST.
2. Gasol Brothers
Okay, we lied. There's six must watch Latino players on our list.
Pau Gasol leads the Chicago Bulls into battle against the Milwaukee Bucks where they will have home-court advantage. With Derrick Rose's health always in question, Gasol and Joakim Noah will have to provide a powerful front-court going forward. The Bulls should be able to take care of business against the Bucks, but we also have another Gasol playing over in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Memphis Grizzlies stumbled down the stretch, thus surrendering the No. 2 seed away to the Houston Rockets. Marc Gasol could very well be playing his last set of games for the Grizzlies, as he is set to become a free agent this summer. The Grizzlies elite defense will take on the powerful Portland Trailblazers offense.
The Bulls open their series against the Bucks on Saturday, April 18, at 7 p.m. EST. The Grizzlies and Trail Blazers will begin their series on Sunday, April 19, at 8 p.m. EST
3. Tiago Splitter
The Spurs will not win the 2015 NBA Championship unless Tiago Splitter stays healthy and plays a big role. It's just that simple. No, he's not an elite center who puts up huge Fantasy Basketball statistics, but he alters shots, gets blocks and plays great defense. Last season Splitter became the first ever Brazilian-born player to ever win the NBA Championship when he dominated the Miami Heat offense led by LeBron James. He is currently listed as "questionable" for Game 1 against the Clippers.
4. Nene
Over in the nation's capital, the Washington Wizards will open their series against the Toronto Raptors as the No. 5 seed in the East. Nene is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history among Brazilian-born players with more than 9,000 career points. He also has the most career rebounds by a Brazilian-born player with nearly 5,000. The Wizards didn't exactly end the season on a high note, but they can still right the wrong this postseason. Don't count out Nene and the Wizards just yet.
The Wizards open their series against the Raptors on Saturday, April 18, at 12:30 p.m. EST.
5. Al Horford
Let's not forget who the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference is. The Hawks owned the East during the regular season with an impressive 60-22 record, their best season in franchise history. Dominican center Al Horford ranked second on the team in rebounds per game this season, and led the Hawks to the No. 5 ranked defense in the league. According to league statistics, Horford actually had the highest win share rating of an Hawks player this season, 8.7.
The Hawks open their series against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. EST.
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