NBA

Picking an MVP for Each NBA Playoff Team Using Analytics

Russell Peddle  —  @rustypedalbike May 6th, 2016
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Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks

nERD: 5.8

If you're picking an MVP of the Atlanta Hawks, you might be inclined to name Paul Millsap (4.3 nERD), Al Horford (4.0 nERD), or even Jeff Teague (-2.1 nERD) before you'd even consider thinking about Kyle Korver, three-point specialist.

Think again.

Korver's averages of 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per contest seem modest enough, but his shooting split of 46.7% shooting from the field, 44.2% from long range, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe is anything but. That's what's made him extra valuable for Atlanta.

The resulting True Shooting Percentage from that split of 65.3% places him ninth in the NBA this postseason. He might only have a Usage Rate of 12.1%, but when the Hawks call his number, he's making the most of his opportunities.

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