The 2019 EuroLeague Playoffs have been the best in recent memory, with three of the four series tied 1-1 heading into this week’s Game 3 action.

Normally the juggernauts like CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce sweep away lesser opponents with relative ease, but the lower seeds are scrappy this year. Baskonia became the first team to beat CSKA on the road in a EuroLeague playoff game since 2008, while Zalgiris snapped Fener’s 18-game home playoff win streak.

The 4-5 matchup of Efes versus Barcelona is the only series where both games have been decided by single-digits. And in Madrid, No. 6-seed Panathinaikos nearly stole Game 1 on the road.

There’s plenty of time for new heroes to emerge this week, but through the first two games, these have been the best players in the EuroLeague playoffs.

1. Vasilije Micic | PG | Anadolu Efes

Serbian guard Vasilije Micic played at an All-EuroLeague level this season, and he has continued to dominate in the playoffs.

Micic was the Game 1 MVP after slicing up Barca’s defense for 21 points and seven assists. He can get into the paint whenever he wants, he finishes well around the rim, and he has the vision to find open shooters when the defense collapses.

Micic was also lethal from the outside, hitting three of four 3-pointers in Game 1. He cooled off in a Game 2 loss, shooting two-of-eight from three. But he was still a huge factor, scoring 15 points, including a clutch 3-pointer as Efes mounted a comeback before eventually losing 74-72.

Micic was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014, and at age 25 he’s entering his prime. Don’t be surprised if he has another MVP-worthy performance in Game 3.

2. Vincent Poirier | C | Baskonia

Quick thread on Baskonia's Game 2 win @ CSKA, snapping their 21-game #EuroLeague playoff win streak at home

Vincent Poirier is a monster. 14 PTS (6/6 2FG, 2/2 FT), 15 REB (4 off.), 4 STL, 1 BLK in 21:43. To pull off an upset, you need guys who hustle like him. Infectious energy pic.twitter.com/DEKm8srPYK

— Austin Green (@LosCrossovers) April 21, 2019

Vincent Poirier is an absolute beast. The 7-foot French center was the catalyst of Baskonia’s upset over CSKA, going for 14 points and 15 rebounds. He won Game 2 MVP for his efforts.

Poirier dominated the game with his energy on both ends of the floor. He swatted shots and forced turnovers on defense, threw down dunks on offense and generally made life miserable for CSKA’s center trio of Kyle Hines, Othello Hunter, and Joel Bolomboy.

Poirier has games where he looks like the best center in Europe, and this was one of them. CSKA have no answer for his size and motor, which is the main reason why Baskonia stole home-court advantage. With the series shifting to Spain, Poirier might lead his team to the Final Four, which is in Baskonia’s home city of Vitoria-Gasteiz this year.  

3. Sergio Rodriguez | PG | CSKA Moscow

Sergio Rodriguez gave a vintage performance in Game 1, leading CSKA to a 26-point blowout win. El Chacho, the 2014 EuroLeague MVP, made five of six 3-pointers on his way to 19 points and five assists.

Rodriguez took over in the third quarter, hitting back-to-back threes before setting up his teammates for open looks. CSKA out-scored Baskonia 29-12 in that quarter, with Rodriguez leading the decisive run.

Game 2 looked like it was going to be more of the same, as Rodriguez made three of his first five from downtown. However, he went cold late, missing five of his last six attempts, allowing Baskonia to escape with a win.

4. Jeffery Taylor | SF | Real Madrid

Jeffery Taylor has been the best two-way wing in the playoffs thus far. He’s known as a defensive specialist, and he’s living up to that reputation. He harassed Panathinaikos’ perimeter players in Madrid, including that great block on Nick Calathes in the video above.

What’s been more surprising is his scoring. With 2017 MVP Sergio Llull out, Real Madrid needed someone to fill the void offensively. Taylor has been great on that end of the floor, making six of nine 3-pointers and averaging 12 points per game.

If he continues to play like this, Madrid should complete the sweep in Game 3.

Jeffery Taylor drives through traffic to SLAM it home ?#7DAYSMagicMoment pic.twitter.com/Yw7jCoCad8

— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) April 17, 2019

5. Shavon Shields | SF | Baskonia

Like Taylor, Shields has been a two-way monster in the playoffs. He always competes defensively and on the glass, and his scoring has given Baskonia a much-needed boost.

After scoring 17 points in Game 1, he had 15 in Game 2. He is a freight train when attacking the rim in the open court and he’s been great as a spot-up shooter. Through two games, he’s shooting 10 of 13 on twos and three of six on threes.

6. Edgaras Ulanovas | SF | Zalgiris Kaunas

After Fenerbahce spanked them 76-43 in Game 1, Zalgiris needed someone to step up and be a fearless leader in Game 2. Edgaras Ulanovas was the man who delivered, scoring 20 points in Zalgiris’ 82-80 win.

Ulanovas was active on the offensive glass, capitalizing on putback opportunities in the first half. Later in the game, he took over with his herky-jerky post-up game, and he picked off a bad pass for a crucial dunk late in the fourth quarter.

With 30 seconds left and the score tied at 80, Ulanovas grabbed a loose ball and scored the game-winning bucket on a broken play. He would be higher on this list if he wasn’t so bad in Game 1 (four points, three turnovers.)

7. Marko Guduric | SG/SF | Fenerbahce

Guduric is often overlooked on this deep and talented Fenerbahce roster, but he was their best player in Games 1 and 2.

He set the tone early in Game 1, scoring Fener’s first five points and bringing great energy on defense. He’s an elite outside shooter (50 percent on threes this season) and he had a couple demoralizing dunks. He also dished out four assists in Game 1.

In Game 2, Guduric was one of the only Fener players who showed up. He hit two threes in the first quarter on his way to 11 points.

8. Facundo Campazzo | PG | Real Madrid

Campazzo is the type of player who can kill both teams when he’s on the court. Luckily for Madrid, good Campazzo showed up in Game 2.

The little guard from Argentina controlled the flow of the game and stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and five steals in less than 23 minutes. He played pesky defense, fought for loose balls and pushed the pace whenever he could.

He also made two of three from beyond the arc, a welcome sight for Real Madrid after his zero-for-five Game 1.

9. Bryant Dunston | C | Anadolu Efes

After Poirier, Dunston has been the best center in the playoffs. His averages don’t jump off the page (nine points, 4.5 rebounds per game), but he has been a force in the paint for Efes.

He blocked three shots in Game 1, including the game-clinching swat in the video above. He was also the catalyst of a key Efes run in the third quarter, hitting just the third 3-pointer of his six-year EuroLeague career. He followed that up with an and-1 dunk and a block to keep Efes firmly in the lead.

10. Adam Hanga | SF | FC Barcelona

Raising a toast with @Efes ? to the Block of Game 2!@HangaAdamOnline with the BIG chase down pic.twitter.com/5ZRpFJFfcZ

— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) April 21, 2019

Hanga was Barcelona’s best player in their Game 2 win, scoring 17 points and coming up with big plays defensively like the chase-down block above.

He’s only shooting 27 percent from downtown this year, but Hanga hit three of five threes in Game 2. He also did a good job attacking the rim.

Hanga nearly threw the game away when he tossed the ball out of bounds up two with 0.9 seconds left instead of dribbling out the clock. Luckily for him, Efes couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and Hanga will be remembered as the hero.

Austin Green is an international journalist and scout covering EuroLeague and NBA prospects in Europe and Australia. You can follow him on Twitter @LosCrossovers.