In NBA history, it’s common to see teams using too many stars when it comes to playoffs.
There can be some control in terms of the number of usages that estimate the share of team possessions that end while players are on the court.
Take, for example, Luka Doncic. Between the Dallas Mavericks, he has a very high usage count as he is the main star and the team relies heavily on him to produce offenses.
Meanwhile, legends like Kobe Bryant may not have the high percentage of current stars, but his time with the Los Angeles Lakers shows he has reached 31%.
“If you look at Luka’s use in the playoffs, he is currently 36.4, which is the highest in NBA history, and it’s not surprising when you think about teams.
“He made consecutive runs when he reached the Western Conference finals in 2021 and ’22,” Ryen Russillo explained in his podcast.
“What you’re going to see 40 so far is like (Russell) Westbrook when he scored a triple double crown in his MVP season,” he added.
“The KOBE usage rate in the playoffs was 31. Giannis (Antetokounmpo) has some playoff runs. He has 35. He has 39.
However, that history has not been repeated this season when you look at the Indiana Pacers.
Their success as they reached the NBA Finals may seem to be led by Tyrees Halliburton, but the numbers don’t say that.
“Harliburton, he has been using 22 on this pacer team this year through 17 playoff games.
“It’s really a small number for those who take you with you. If they win this, he’s credited with accepting it,” explained Lashiro.
Halliburton’s numbers show just how special he and his pacer are. This means that their attacks are multipurpose and collectively good, as they can be directed by any player.
Meanwhile, Halliburton also shows him as a versatile facilitator who can work with lower usages but still remains shocking at the big moments when his team needs him the most.
This approach challenges traditional wisdom that playoff success requires the use of large-scale stars and can serve as a blueprint for other teams to pursue future success.