1 key number to know for every opening round NBA Playoffs series

The eye test may tell one story, but the numbers tell another. Take a look at one standout stat for each playoff series.

-8.3% – Jrue Holiday had a usage rate of just 16.1% this season, the lowest mark of his career and down from 24.4% in 2022-23. That (8.3%) was the biggest drop, by a wide margin, among 209 players that played at least 1,000 minutes in each of the last two seasons. The two-time All-Star has embraced a smaller role in a stacked starting lineup with a new team, and it’s worked for both him and the Celtics. Read the full article...