Tavares delivers best playoff performance for 27 years
His average PIR of 27.3 in the semifinals series is the highest for any madridista since the 1994-95 campaign.
Walter Tavares' performance in the league semifinals against Bitci Baskonia has gone straight into the history books. The center was crucial to our team's qualification for the final, averaging 27.3 PIR across the three wins. The number is the highest for a Real Madrid player in a playoff series since club legend Arvydas Sabonis hit 31 in the quarterfinals in 1994/95. His PIR of 36 in the win at the Buesa Arena also equals the numbers posted by Herreros quarterfinals in 2000 and Tomic semifinals in 2010 as the best madridista display in a playoff clash since 2000.
Tavares enjoyed an incredible semifinal series, being the best performer in all three games with an average of 16.6 point 67% on two-pointers and 70.5% free-throws, 11 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 27.3 PIR in 24.9 minutes. In the first game 12 points and 13 rebounds and the third 23 and 12 he posted double-doubles in points and rebounds. The Cape Verde-born ace stepped up in offense, hitting increasing numbers with each game 12, 15 and 23. We have to go back to the quarterfinals of the 1994-95 season against Zaragoza to find higher averages. Sabonis totalled a PIR of 93 across three wins, an average of 31 per game. That same year, the Lithuanian center averaged 27.8 in the semifinals against Barcelona.
Tavares enjoyed an incredible semifinal series, being the best performer in all three games with an average of 16.6 point 67% on two-pointers and 70.5% free-throws, 11 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 27.3 PIR in 24.9 minutes. In the first game 12 points and 13 rebounds and the third 23 and 12 he posted double-doubles in points and rebounds. The Cape Verde-born ace stepped up in offense, hitting increasing numbers with each game 12, 15 and 23. We have to go back to the quarterfinals of the 1994-95 season against Zaragoza to find higher averages. Sabonis totalled a PIR of 93 across three wins, an average of 31 per game. That same year, the Lithuanian center averaged 27.8 in the semifinals against Barcelona.
Among legends
This incredible performance sees Tavares write his name alongside players like Sabonis, Arlauckas, Tanoka Beard, Bodiroga, Herreros and Llull, who have averaged 20 or more in a playoff series. The last madridista to top this figure was his teammate Randolph. The American power forward totalled an average PIR of 23 in the semifinals against Valencia Basket in 2018-19. Tavares also joins Sabonis and Arlauckas as the only three madridistas to post more than 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in a playoff game over the last three decades.
The best playoff averages over the last 27 years
-Sabonis: 31 PIR quarterfinals 1994-95
-Sabonis: 27.8 PIR semifinals 1994-95
-Tavares: 27.3 PIR semifinals 2021-22
-Tanoka Beard: 25.3 PIR quarterfinals 1998-99
-Arlauckas: 25 PIR semifinals 1996-97
-Arlauckas: 24.6 PIR quarterfinals 1994-95
-Bodiroga: 24 PIR semifinals 1997-98 y 1996-97
-Randolph: 23 PIR semifinals 2018-19
-Llull: 22,2 PIR final 2016-17
This incredible performance sees Tavares write his name alongside players like Sabonis, Arlauckas, Tanoka Beard, Bodiroga, Herreros and Llull, who have averaged 20 or more in a playoff series. The last madridista to top this figure was his teammate Randolph. The American power forward totalled an average PIR of 23 in the semifinals against Valencia Basket in 2018-19. Tavares also joins Sabonis and Arlauckas as the only three madridistas to post more than 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in a playoff game over the last three decades.
The best playoff averages over the last 27 years
-Sabonis: 31 PIR quarterfinals 1994-95
-Sabonis: 27.8 PIR semifinals 1994-95
-Tavares: 27.3 PIR semifinals 2021-22
-Tanoka Beard: 25.3 PIR quarterfinals 1998-99
-Arlauckas: 25 PIR semifinals 1996-97
-Arlauckas: 24.6 PIR quarterfinals 1994-95
-Bodiroga: 24 PIR semifinals 1997-98 y 1996-97
-Randolph: 23 PIR semifinals 2018-19
-Llull: 22,2 PIR final 2016-17