The data is not scammers! OKC defenders have the second highest average value in the playoffs - Zhan Yo Yali Andy Lau is all behind

This year, the Thunder locked Caruso Caruso as one of the best role players in the NBA with a contract of 81,000,000! At that time, all the fans of the tennis team said that the Thunder were going to break up because they didn't have the money to renew their star player Williams or Te shouldn't spend money on such role players!

But compared to his peers, Caruso is more than an elite defender; it is no exaggeration to say that he is one of the best defenders of the 21st century.

The most valuable defenders in the game-by-game era (since 1996-97) are: Kevin Garnett, Deakinbe Mutombo, Caruso, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert, Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace. Caruso is surrounded by defensive player of the year winners, and he and Tony Allen (No. 18) are the only guards in the top 25.

The Thunder knew what they got when they traded Josh Gidey for Caruso last summer. Caruso won't release stats as gorgeous as Gidey -- but the former Los Angeles Lakers champion is more suitable as a key postseason option.

If anything, Caruso should play a greater role in the future. According to box plus-minus, Caruso is the second highest-value player in this year's playoffs, second only to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Thunders scored a +22.7 points on his field.

Offensive and Defensive Score Contribution Statistics at Critical Moments Bald Mamba ranked second in the Caruso game, the only problem with the game was that he was vulnerable to injury throughout his NBA career due to his extreme hustle and body style. So the Thunder have adopted a personalized load management approach for him this season, as Caruso has played the least amount of time since the 2018-19 season. He took a lot of days off (as a part-star player, he is not bound by the policy of participating players in the league).

Caruso's season-high play time was 31 minutes, in a two-point victory over the Clippers in March; it was his only regular season game with more than 27 minutes of playing time. By comparison, Caruso played over 27 minutes last year as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

coach Mark Daigneault continues to keep Caruso in the playoffs.

After all, his body has only so many jumps, lunges and hustle and bustle; why waste them in the game that the Thunder have already guaranteed to win?

In Game 1 against Memphis, Caruso scored 30 points in 12 minutes of the first half, even though he didn't try to shoot. The Thunder won in a blowout, so Caruso didn't come out after halftime. Similarly, Caruso played 10 minutes in the first half in Game 2 of the Thunder’s defeat of the Nuggets before sitting down for the rest of the game.

But in a close match, Caruso looks brand new, playing more and shines. He caused several key turnovers in the Thunder’s big reversal victory in Memphis in Game 3. He scored 20 points, 6 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks in Game 1 against the Nuggets. He helped the Thunder stabilize on both offense and defense in Game 4 of Denver. The Thunder ended that game with a lineup of Caruso, Schey Gilgius Alexander, Jay Williams, Chet Homgren and Isaiah Hartenstein—their starting lineup, but Caruso took over Lugentz Dort. That particular five didn't play together for a minute in the regular season, but it's probably the best lineup under Degno