Five players set to break out this postseason

Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) calls for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) calls for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 2, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

John Wall – PG, Washington Wizards

There’s a crime taking place in the NBA right now. A horrible robbery occurring in our nation’s capital. John Wall has no respect. None. The seventh-year guard from the Wizards probably won’t make an All-NBA squad and hasn’t been talked about much outside of D.C. and Atlanta.

That’ll change in the coming days.

Wall, the Eastern Conference Player of the Month back in December, averaged a career-high 23 points, a career-high 10.7 assists (second in the NBA) and a career-high 2.1 steals. Wall shot a career-high 45 percent from the floor and averaged career highs in both free throws attempted and made. His PER was the highest it’s ever been (23.3) and his VORP was top-20 in the NBA.

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In other words, Wall is coming off the best season of his career.

With head coach Scott Brooks at the helm for the first time this season, the Wizards won 49 games, the most since the 1978-79 season. Washington fans can thank Wall for that. And if the Wizards, a trendy pick to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, are going to make noise in the postseason, it’ll be because Wall is going nuts.

Wall hasn’t been great in the postseason so far in his career. In 18 career playoff games, he’s shot 38 percent from the field and averaged almost four turnovers per game. He’s found his way onto this list because after this postseason, when people talk about the top point guards in the NBA, they’ll finally mention Wall’s name.