Aussies in NBA: All-time playoffs record holders
We've gone back into The Pick and Roll archives to find which Australian NBA player holds the record in each major statistical category during the playoffs.
Update: We're only one round into the 2017 playoffs and two records have been broken, with another two tied.
Points:
Patty Mills – 20
vs MEM – 25 April 2017 – Game 5, 1st Round
After a quiet start to the series, Mills exploded upon the Grit in Grind Grizzlies in Game 5 and helped the Spurs to a 3-2 series edge.
Mills netted his 20 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting in just 22 minutes, and his five 3-pointers matched his Aussie playoff record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuueO3wdCEc
Matthew Dellavedova - 20
vs GSW – 9 June 2015 - Game 3, Finals
It was the game that spawned a legend (also a burger, a wrap and some coffee).
Delly replacing the injured Kyrie Irving played himself to exhaustion to help the Cavs to the unlikely 96-91 win and a 2-1 series lead against the mighty Golden State Warriors.
He added 4 assists and 5 rebounds, 20 loose ball dives and 1000 whinges that he plays too hard.
With his teammates leaving the arena in their Ferraris and Lamborghinis - Delly fittingly hopped into an ambulance and went to hospital suffering from dehydration.
Dehydration was then out-hustled by Delly who suited up for game 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf2V0E8S-hw
Rebounds:
Andrew Bogut - 21
vs DEN – 2 May 2013 – Game 6, 1st round
Bogut was a power in the paint for the no.6 seeded Warriors in getting the 92-88 win and upsetting the no.3 seeded Nuggets 4-2.
It was a crucial victory as it saved the Warriors from going back to Denver for Game 7.
Bogut also added a season-high 14 points, 4 blocks and 3 assists in a splendid all-round performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwOMYq0JTy4
Assists:
Joe Ingles – 11
vs LAC – 24 April 2017 – Game 4, 1st Round
This was the definitive Joe Ingles NBA experience.
Ingles picked up the playmaking slack for the food poisoned Gordon Hayward, and dished up a big-time playoff performance.
Ingles kept the Jazz's offense engine humming by driving into the teeth of the defense and repeatedly finding his bigs for easy buckets.
Then down the stretch, he put on his clutch pants and nailed two huge 3-pointers to ice the game.
Add some solid defense on Chris Paul to 8 points, 2 steals, 6 rebounds, 1 block to go along with his assists. It’s no wonder the Clippers are thinking 'this could have been us'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=898nOcT46LE&t=25s
Steals:
Joe Ingles – 4
vs LAC – 1 May 2017 – Game 7, 1st Round
Ingles had a terrific series against the team which once waived him. Breaking two Aussie playoff records and playing big in big moments.
In Game 7 he played the perfect glue-guy game, with 12 points, 5 boards, 1 block and 0 turnovers to accompany his sticky-handed defense.
He’s always been a sneaky good thief on the court, using guile to read the play and disrupt passing lanes. Ingles now holds the Aussie regular season and playoff records for steals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58knQ8ILhg4&feature=youtu.be
Blocks:
Luc Longley - 6
vs MIA - 28 may 1997 – Game 5, Conference Finals
Longley got long around the rim against the Miami Heat, helping the Bulls take the series 4-1.
Going head-to-head with Alonzo Mourning, Longley produced a great all-around game, with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals added to his block tally.
The Bulls would go on to win the middle Championship of their second Three-Peat during the 90's (please don’t tell Pat Riley I used his word).
Note: The clip of the game is mostly Michael Jordan doing awesome Michael Jordan stuff, but that's always fun to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XED_f-RpZpo
3-pointers:
Patty Mills - 5
vs MEM – 25 April 2017 – Game 5, 1st Round
Mills equalled his own Aussie 3-point record en route to matching the points record.
Mills’ picture-perfect stroke rarely missed its target in the game, hitting 5-of-7 from downtown. Four of his 3’s came in the 4th quarter, helping stave off a Grizzlies comeback.
vs MIA 15 June 2014 – Game 5, Finals
Mills put the Miami Heat out of their misery after experiencing death by 1000 passes from the Spurs orgasmic ball movement.
Mills scored 14 of his points during the 3rd quarter which put the game and series to bed. He finished the game with rapid-fire 17 points (5-of-8 3PT) and 2 assists in his 18 minutes of work.
Afterwards, Patty and Banger were free to terrorise Julian de Stoop, who mistook them for just another couple of Collingwood bogans running around town with the Larry O’Brien trophy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_F3uS3Dh0
Regular season record holders can be seen here.