If you've been watching the 2020 NBA Playoffs, you may have noticed that there are still a number of Canadians who have a lot to play for this season.
The list doesn't include the likes of RJ Barrett, Brandon Clarke, Dillon Brooks and Cory Joseph, but Jamal Murray is hoping to lead the Denver Nuggets to another deep postseason run while Lugentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander find themselves in a first-round battle with James Harden and the Houston Rockets.
With that in mind, two members of our NBA.com Staff have picked one stat, one play and one key question for the biggest Canadians in these playoffs.
Let's get to it.
Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets
One stat: Murray averaged 4.8 assists per game this season, matching his career-high from a season ago.
One play:
Biggest question: Can Murray be more than just a scorer? We know that he can put the ball in the basket, but if he can also help create shots for his team, the Nuggets offence gets that much better.
— Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
One stat: SGA averaged a career-high 5.9 rebounds per game this season.
One play:
Biggest question: Can SGA continue to rebound at a high level in the playoffs? If SGA can rebound as well as he has at the guard spot, it will allow OKC to play their three-guard lineup of him, Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder even more minutes. It might also allow the Thunder to match the Rockets' small-ball lineups more.
— Gay
Luguentz Dort, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
One stat: Based on data collected by Krishna Narsu of The Bball Index, nobody defended No. 1 options as much as Dort during the regular season.
One play:
Biggest question: Can Dort make life difficult for James Harden? Dort missed Game 1 of the Thunder's first-round series with the Houston Rockets, but he helped limit Harden to 21 points on 5-for-16 shooting from the field in Game 2. He's Oklahoma City's best option against the one-time MVP and three-time scoring champion.
— Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Chris Boucher, F/C, Toronto Raptors
One stat: Boucher averaged 4.3 second-chance points per 36 minutes in the regular season, the most on the Raptors.
One play:
Biggest question: Can the Raptors count on Boucher? Boucher is behind Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in the depth chart, but he proved he can change games with his energy during the regular season. Don't be surprised if he helps spark another Raptors comeback at some point in the playoffs.
— Rafferty
Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Miami Heat
One stat: Olynyk made 95 3-pointers in the regular season, ranking him ninth among centres.
One play:
Biggest question: Will the Heat need Olynyk's 3-point shooting? It could become more of a factor should the Heat and Milwaukee Bucks meet in the second round because Olynyk could help Miami neutralize Brook Lopez, who has been one of the best rim protectors in the league this season.
— Rafferty
Khem Birch, C, Orlando Magic
One stat: Opponents shot 35.0 percent from 3-point range when Birch was defending them.
One play:
Biggest question: Will Birch's defence help him get on the floor against Milwaukee? With the Magic's lack of rim protection and Birch's ability to guard the perimeter a bit more than most give him credit for, he may be able to earn some extra minutes to try and help slow down the Bucks offence.
— Gay
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