Best player in the Eastern Conference? Kyrie Irving shows playoff value for Boston Celtics in win over Toronto Raptors

Kyrie Irving, may not be an MVP candidate this year, but he showed off how valuable he can be in a playoff setting Wednesday.

As much as we debate and obsess over the MVP conversation every year, the award is more of a narrative than anything else. If it was truly a prize for the league’s most valuable player, LeBron James or Stephen Curry would have claim to it every year.

So when Kyrie Irving puts on a performance like he did Wednesday night, going for 27 points, 18 assists and five rebounds on 12-19 from the field, it makes you think he belongs in the MVP conversation. Instead of experiencing that kind of headache, why don’t we call it how it is? Irving showed last night why he’s the best player in the Eastern Conference.

Everyone has a different definition of what makes a player better than another. Whether the edge is given to the better scorer, all-around player or clutch performer, it’s hard to zero in on a clear-cut criteria. It depends on what you value more. For me, I tend to give more weight to playoff value over most. When the game gets tight and more physical, when the other team knows all your plays, can you do what’s necessary to put your team over the top?

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On Wednesday night, Irving showcased his ability to win games purely on his creation alone. Irving had great individual defenders on him down the stretch of the game, such as Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. But it didn’t matter. Irving could get to his spot whenever he wanted to lift the Celtics over Toronto.

We touched on this earlier in the week, but Marcus Smart’s ability to handle the primary ball handler duties has opened up Irving’s opportunities off the ball. In a playoff setting, it’ll be even harder to contain Irving when he’s on the move with a reacting defense. Here he gets Green on his hip, keeps him there and finishes through contact. Leonard hesitated to help with Gordon Hayward in the corner as a three-point threat.

Later in the fourth quarter, Irving’s gravity opened up a wide open three for Al Horford. This wasn’t a set play, just a simple pick-and-pop. Irving attracted two defenders deep enough for Horford to have a clean look.

This is hard to stop if you’re the Raptors, because if Serge Ibaka doesn’t step in to contain Irving’s drive he’ll finish the same way he did in the first clip. All Horford has to do is hit an open three, something he’s more than capable of.

Another potential playoff setting finds Irving hunting a switch for Ibaka. After he gets the man he wants, Irving dances and drills a step-back jump shot like it’s a free throw.

Last year’s playoffs saw more mismatch hunting than any other season. More and more teams are switching everything, so players like Irving need to make teams pay for putting centers on him. If the Celtics keep the floor spaced with shooters, the only counter for opposing teams is to not switch, which should make for more plays like the two before this one.

Don’t let the bad man get hot. When the best player on the floor gets hot, all bets are off. In a playoff setting, having a player who can create like Irving can at will is immensely valuable.

Leonard is  the better all-around player, who hit a ton of big shots to keep his team close in a game they were out-played in, but Irving was better down the stretch. When you talk about the best player in the East, remember what happened Wednesday and think about what’s going to happen in the playoffs. When things get tight, when the other team has an answer for your set plays, that’s when Irving’s greatest value shines through. There aren’t many players I’d take in that situation.