BY CHRIS LEWIS

The NBA playoffs are here, and my Sixers are in it! For the first time since 2012, the team I root for is in the field of 16. The prior five years, I’ve gotten used to watching the great players in the league without having to worry about my team running into them. With that in mind, I decided to compile a list of the top 10 players you would want on your side in a playoff game.

1. LeBron James – How many historic playoff games does he need to play before we accept that he’s the GOAT? He impacts the game at a high level in more ways than anyone before him. He’s mastered every type of defense. No debate here.
2. Kevin Durant – Reigning Finals MVP gets this spot. He’s atop the list of players who I want to give the ball to if I want an isolation bucket. That skill is extremely valuable in the playoffs. The efficiency of scoring combined with the size to not be affected by any defensive player is deadly. Plus, when he’s engaged, you’re getting a high-level, versatile defender.
3. Stephen Curry – He’s an offensive cheat code. He’s a scheme within himself. Curry bends and dictates the defense in ways that haven’t been seen before. The type of pressure he puts on opposing teams as an on-ball and off-ball player creates havoc. It’s insane that he wasn’t the Finals MVP in 2015, because even when he wasn’t scoring, everyone else had so much space to operate because of Curry. He’s the most impactful offensive player in basketball.
4. Anthony Davis – When Davis is locked in, he’s unstoppable. There’s nothing you can do about his combination of size, strength, quickness, handle and touch. He carried the Pelicans this year once DeMarcus Cousins was out for the season. He scores from the perimeter, from the mid-range and from the block with high volume. He’s also a fantastic shot blocker as an on-ball defender and a weak-side defender. Plus, he can dominate rebounding. Once he becomes more reliable at playmaking for others, look out.
5. James Harden – Nobody in the NBA is better at being a ball-handler in isolations and pick-and-rolls. Harden’s bag of dribble moves, step-backs, herky-jerky drives, and fakes that draw fouls makes him impossible to guard. His playmaking ability has skyrocketed the last two seasons under coach Mike D’Antoni. He reads the floor excellently, and makes sharp passes if he’s doubled. I’d vote for him as the MVP of this season. Those are also the reasons why some of his high-profile playoff failures are so confusing. Last season, he under-performed against the Spurs late in the series, Houston’s epic comeback in 2015 against the Clippers was triggered once Harden went to the bench. He’s way too talented to have those mishaps.
6. Kyrie Irving – The most iconic shot in the NBA over the last five years is from Irving in the 2016 Finals. Game 7 against the 73-win Warriors, the stepback, game-winning three was incredible. And it highlights exactly what makes Irving so valuable in the playoffs. He can create his own shot off the dribble, and that’s a huge trait to have against the elite defenses. His handle and touch around the basket, combined with a reliable jumper, makes Irving someone you trust with the ball in big spots.
7. Kawhi Leonard – What a disaster of a season for Leonard. For the sake of this exercise, I pretended he is a healthy/happy player. However, if the injury is as serious as Leonard’s team thinks it is, who knows what he’ll look like when he returns next season. When Leonard is right, his two-way impact on the game is nearly unmatched. He’s the best perimeter defender in the NBA with his long arms and quick feet. Last season, he become an elite scorer in isolation and catch-and-shoot situations. The only hole in his offensive game is his low assist numbers. Hopefully, he’s back to himself next season.
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo – The Greek Freak is an incredible talent. Nearly 7-feet tall with an enormous wingspan, long strides and great quickness. He can be a point guard on offense, and a center on defense. That type of versatility makes him the most unique player in the NBA. The lack of reliability on his jump shot prevents him from being higher on the list, but that is the only true hole in his game.
9. Joel Embiid – The Process hasn’t even played in a playoff game, but he warrants a spot on the list. He is the only true center in the NBA who dictates play on offense and defense. He’s one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, and has enough speed and quickness to handle himself on the perimeter if teams go small. Plus, he’s enough of an offensive force down low that teams are hesitant to have a smaller guy defend him on the post without a double team. Therefore, he dictates who the other team puts on the floor. Embiid also has mobility and 3-point range, so there’s nothing he takes off the table while providing elite defense at the anchor position.
10. Paul George – Similar to Leonard, George gives you two-way impact at the wing position. His on-ball defense might be a small notch below Leonard, but he’s just as good off-ball getting deflections and steals. PG13 isn’t an elite shot creator for himself and others, but he’s certainly above average. He’s also a streaky shooter, but when he’s on, his size at the wing spot makes him a tough cover. We’ve seen him have incredible playoff performances in big spots as well.

Chris Lewis, the play-by-play voice of Boise State women’s basketball and Olympic Sports, co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk with Bob & Chris weekdays from 1-3 p.m. on KTIK 93.1 FM The Ticket. He can be found @ChrisLewisTweet (Twitter).