In It to Win It: Five of the eight teams remaining in the 2007 NBA Playoffs have players who took the court in Las Vegas. Below are summaries of each VSL veteran’s postseason performances.

 

Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson: Rookie guard Gibson (6-2, 190), who played his first NBA basketball last summer in Las Vegas, has appeared in all six of the Cavs’ playoff games. He is averaging 3.7 points in 10.3 minutes off the bench.

 

Cleveland’s Sasha Pavlovic: Forward Pavlovic (6-7, 210), now in his fourth NBA season, is enjoying an outstanding postseason. After averaging 9.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 67 regular season games, he is posting averages of 10.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 28.7 minutes in the playoffs. In the Cavs’ second round series vs. New Jersey, Pavlovic is averaging 16.0 points through two games.

 

Detroit’s Carlos Delfino: This 2005 Vegas Summer League alum is averaging 3.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 11.0 minutes in seven games off the bench as the Pistons are on the brink of sweeping their second straight series of the postseason. The 6-6 Argentinian guard averaged 5.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 16.7 minutes in 82 regular season games.

 

Detroit’s Jason Maxiell: A two-time VSL veteran, this 6-7, 260-lb forward averages 4.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.0 minutes through five postseason appearances.

 

Golden State’s Andris Biedrins: Though the 6-11 forward’s scoring average has fallen by from 6.7 points to 4.0 points between the first and second rounds, Biedrins’ presence near the basket cannot be denied. His presence near the visiting basket that is. Through eight postseason games, the Latvian averages 1.4 blocks a night (ranking sixth among players still in the playoffs).

 

Golden State’s Monta Ellis: The NBA’s Most Improved Player has struggled during the Conference Semi-Finals. After contributing 8.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 26.0 minutes during the six-game first round series against Dallas, Ellis’ averages have fallen to 1.0 points and 0.5 assists in 6.5 minutes in two games at Utah.

 

New Jersey’s Antoine Wright: Texas A&M alumni Wright, in his second playoffs, averages 3.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 13.6 minutes in eight postseason games. The forward has improved his playoff averages by 2.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 11.6 minutes between 2006 and 2007.

 

Phoenix’ Leandro Barbosa: As the Suns continue their second round series with the San Antonio Spurs (tied 1-1), guard Barbosa showcases why he was named the 2007 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. In seven games off the bench, the 6-3, 191-pound native of Brazil is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 19.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 32.3 minutes a game.

 

Phoenix’ Amaré Stoudemire: After spending the 2005-06 season rehabilitating a pair of knee surgeries, the 6-10 center blew up the 2006 Vegas Summer League, averaging 20.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 29.7 minutes in three games. Back to form this season, the four-year NBA veteran earned an All-NBA First Team nod and is currently the Suns’ leading scorer in the playoffs (24.0 ppg) while shooting 52.1 percent from the field.

 

One and Done: Below is a list of former Vegas participants who appeared in the NBA’s postseason.

 

Dallas’ Maurice Ager

Dallas’ Jose Juan Barea

Denver’s Linas Kleiza

Denver’s J.R. Smith

Houston’s Chuck Hayes

Houston’s John Lucas, III

Orlando’s Dwight Howard

Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani

Toronto’s Joey Graham