Picking an MVP for Each NBA Playoff Team Using Analytics

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

nERD: 13.8

We all know that the Cleveland Cavaliers' title hopes live and die with LeBron James (10.2 nERD), but it's Kyrie Irving's additional contributions that are currently making the Cavs' 15.43% chances of becoming NBA champs (the third best mark in the Association, according to our algorithms) look like a distinct possibility.

Through six playoff games, Kyrie is averaging a team-best 25.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest, while shooting 47.4% from the field, a blistering 52.3% from deep, and 79.2% from the line.

His PER of 28.2 is fourth in the league and tops in the Eastern Conference, while his 1.1 Offensive Win Shares place him third in the NBA.

If you consider what LeBron was able to accomplish during Cleveland's run to the NBA Finals last year without a healthy Irving in the Finals and Kevin Love (3.9 nERD) for the majority of the playoffs, imagine how much damage they'll be able to do with all three healthy and playing at peak form this year.