The playoffs are the time when good players become great players, great players become superstar players and superstar players become legendary. This playoff season hasn't been any different. While some superstars are putting up similar numbers to the regular season, other players are shining brighter in the spotlight of the playoffs. Following is my list of the players who are taking their games to another level this post-season.

Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs- He's always been one of the most consistent players in the NBA and he's always been a winner; but this post-season he's carrying the Spurs like never before. In the second round (before Monday's game), Duncan is averaging nearly 32 points and over 15 rebounds a game with his plethora of offensive moves and his ability to force the opposition to foul him. Duncan has been a superstar for a long time, but if he wins his 4^thNBA Title, he may become a legendary figure.(20.0 ppg, 10.6 rpg and 3.4 apg in regular season) (24.5 ppg, 12.4 rpg and 3.6 apg in playoffs)

Baron Davis - Golden State Warriors- Everyone has seen the dunk and heard about the Warriors home crowd, but it is Davis' all around play that has enabled the Warriors to play so well in the playoffs. A player who was known to take off plays from time to time and be injured; Davis has been the player the Warriors have counted on the past few months as they made their push to the playoffs and won in the first round over the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks.(20.1, 4.4, 8.1 - regular season) (25.7, 4.8, 6.4 - playoffs)

Carlos Boozer - Utah Jazz- After his unique exit from Cleveland and injuries in his first few season in Utah, I don't think very many people expected Boozer to be a bust out player this post-season. While normally Mehmet Okur lines up along the perimeter it has been up to Boozer to carry the load in the post and he has been up to the challenge. Initially it seemed that Boozer didn't get along with Head Coach Jerry Sloan, but his production has helped soothe any conflict they might have had.(20.9, 11.7, 3.0 - regular season) (24.7, 12.1, 3.4 - playoffs)

Jason Kidd - New Jersey Nets- Just when you thought he was nearly finished at the age of 34......Kidd is averaging a triple double this post-season. Is he just improving his trade value (possibly to the Lakers?), or is he just stepping up his game in the playoffs once again (16 ppg, 7 rpg, 9 apg in playoffs for his career)? Kidd has always been one of the best all-around players in the league while being one of the few players who can impact a game without scoring points and it's been no different in the playoffs.(13.0, 8.2, 9.2 - regular season) (14.6, 10.3, 12.2 - playoffs)

Chauncey Billups - Detroit Pistons- While Billups puts up good statistics, his greatest value seems to be in his leadership and ability to put his teammates in a position to succeed. With a first round trouncing of the Orlando Magic and a demolition, so far, of the Chicago Bulls in the second round, Billups has taken his game to another level....while at the same time earning himself a big raise this off-season. Billups is a free-agent after the playoffs end and while the Pistons have said repeatedly that they will sign him, the better Billups plays, the higher his price tag becomes. More importantly, with his stellar play, Billups has helped put the Pistons in position to make another run at the NBA Finals.(17.0, 3.4, 7.2 - regular season) (20.9, 3.1, 7.1 - playoffs)

Deron Williams - Utah Jazz- If you watched the regular season you could see Williams was making huge strides in his game after struggling at times in his rookie year. In just his second year in the league, the point guard who people thought would be overweight his entire career has shone under the spotlight of the NBA Playoffs. Much like Billups, Williams' major skills have to do with leadership and putting his teammates in a position to succeed in the complex Utah offense. Supposedly the second best point guard taken in the 2005 NBA Draft, behind Chris Paul, Williams has shown an ability to lead his team to important victories in the playoffs.(16.2, 3.3, 9.3 - regular season) (17.8, 4.8, 9.1 - playoffs)

Luol Deng - Chicago Bulls- With his sweet shooting touch, extreme length on defense and an added responsibility to rebound in the post-season, Deng has taken his game to another level. At only 22 years of age, Deng has the work ethic and skill set to become a superstar player in the NBA for years to come. In a league where hitting a jump shot seems to be tougher at times than winning the lottery, Deng is shooting 52% from the floor in the post-season and mixing up his jumper with slashing drives to the hoop.(18.8, 7.1, 2.5 - regular season) (23.1, 9.4, 2.0 - playoffs)

Two other players to note are Zydrunas Ilgauskus and Drew Gooden of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Without their tireless efforts on the offensive boards, the Cavs wouldn't be strolling through the playoffs. On top of that, each player has increased their scoring output in the post-season. They were left off this list because they aren't the 'focal points' of their offense. 

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