Chris Paul (photo. David Deal)

Every week during the regular season, we use this space to rank each team in the NBA from first to worst — an inexact science that combines who is playing the best in that particular week, who has the best overall body of work for the season, and who has the most talent/potential. It’s kind of like the “America’s Next Top Model” judging, without Tyra Banks and other gorgeous women involved.

For the playoffs, though, we wanted to switch it up. Instead of ranking the best teams, we’re ranking the best players. Again it’s not a set-in-stone formula: We’re taking into account who’s playing the best at the moment, who has the best overall body of work, who has the most ability and who has the most potential to make this postseason their personal “Where [Fill-in-the-name] Happens” showcase.

With everyone having two playoff games in the books, here’s our Top 25 postseason performers this week:

1. Chris Paul (33.5 points, 13.5 assists, 3.5 steals) — Even with CP coming off the best all-around season we’ve seen from a point guard since Jason Kidd’s heyday, what he’s done to the Mavs (and J-Kidd himself) has still been something of a surprise. Not to sound like everyone who was all over LeBron last year, but Chris is only 22 years old! And this is his first postseason! And did we mention he’s shooting 64 percent from the field?

2. Dwight Howard (27 points, 21 rebounds, 4 blocks) — No, those aren’t Dwight’s totals for his first two games. Those are his averages. Granted, the Raptors haven’t had a real tough interior presence since the days of Antonio Davis, but Dwight has been rampaging them something serious.

3. LeBron James (31 points, 7.5 rebounds, 8 assists) — The Wizards have tried to employ the Jordan Rules on ‘Bron, who has a little cut on his arm, but otherwise nothing to show for it but psychologically broken Stevensons, Haywoods and Soulja Boys in his wake.

4. Kobe Bryant (40.5 points, 5.5 assists) — The only reason Kobe doesn’t crack the top three is because Cedric Ceballos could probably go out right now and drop a cool 25-30 points on the Nuggets defense.

5. Tim Duncan (29 points, 16 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3 blocks) — He’d also be higher except for two things: a poor shooting performance in Game 2 (8-for-20) and he’s kinda been getting beasted by Amare on the defensive end.

6. Deron Williams (21 points, 7.5 assists) — A critic would say Deron’s taking advantage of a Houston team that doesn’t have its starting point guard in Rafer Alston. A realist would know that Deron would give Skip work anyway.

7. Manu Ginobili (26.5 points, 4 assists, 2 steals) — He’s been living in the paint this entire Spurs/Suns series. And when Pop moved Manu to point after Tony Parker fouled out in Game 1, he got even better. Whether it’s a bucket or an assist, Manu has been damn near flawless in crunch-time.

8. Tony Parker (29 points, 6 assists, 2 steals) — The littlest and allegedly least-toughest guy in San Antonio’s main rotation is taking a beating in this series, but has nonetheless been relentless in attacking the basket.

9. Pau Gasol (27 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2 blocks) — When was the last time you saw someone hang 36 points, 18 boards and 8 dimes on Marcus Camby? Pau took a backseat in Game 2 while Kobe toyed with Denver’s perimeter D.

10. Amare Stoudemire (33 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks) — No, the defense hasn’t been there. (When is it ever?) But dropping 33 a game on Tim Duncan can’t be overlooked. Amare would rank higher, plus his team would have a W under its belt, if he’d made just one or two more plays in the clutch.

11. Tracy McGrady (21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 8 assists) — This is where it gets tough. Clearly T-Mac is carrying a subpar supporting cast and has made the Rockets/Jazz series at least competitive almost on his own while putting up close to triple-double numbers. But there’s that glaring stat that no one will let him forget: 1 point combined in the fourth quarter of both games so far.

12. Steve Nash (24 points, 11.5 assists) — Like Amare, his offense has been as good as his defense has been bad. These next two games is where we’ll see what kind of leader Nash is. Right now you can’t tell if this is his team or Shaq’s.

13. Allen Iverson (30.5 points, 6.5 assists) — This must feel like Philly all over again for A.I., just with more talented teammates.

14. Ray Allen (16.5 points, 50% 3PA) — The C’s haven’t really been challenged and they’re spreading the wealth, so it’s kind of tough to pick one guy as the standout. But one thing that definitely stands out for us is that run where Ray scored 10 straight points in a key stretch in the third quarter of Game 1. Plus he’s been stretching out Atlanta’s defense like Sally O’Mally.

15. Kevin Garnett (17.5 points, 10 rebounds) — He’s already copped the League’s Defensive Player of the Year, but he’s locked in on a bigger, shinier trophy.

16. Chris Bosh (25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.5 steals) — Had that jumper gone down at the end of Game 2, he’d rank much higher. Bosh hasn’t had a problem scoring against Orlando’s front line, plus he’s 23-for-24 from the stripe, but he has to be held at least partially accountable for the destruction Dwight Howard’s inflicted on the Raps.

17. Rasheed Wallace (20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks) — He had to redeem himself after the whole Sixers huddle/clowning incident in Game 1, and he did. Eventually Sam Dalembert will decide to step out and guard ‘Sheed on the perimeter.

18. Dirk Nowitzki (29 points, 7.5 rebounds) — The numbers look great, but Dirk’s squad has been on the business end of two double-digits losses so far. Once again his heart has come into question.

19. Rajon Rondo (13.5 points, 6 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 3 steals) — Forget the Boston fans jumping on Mike Bibby’s back; Rondo’s been trying to end Mike’s career.

20. Paul Pierce (15 points, 1.5 steals) — He’ll become a bigger factor once the C’s get into some closer games.

21. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (19 points, 10 rebounds) — You know the drill: Big Z picks you apart with mid-range jumpers and volleyball-style tip-ins, all done at a snail’s pace.

22. Hedo Turkoglu (16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists) — Even on a bad shooting night (4-for-15), you knew who the Magic were going to when they needed a big bucket at the end of Game 2.

23. Tayshaun Prince (14 points, 5 rebounds) — His slashing offense was key in Detroit getting their swagger back in Game 2, but more important was the way Tayshaun locked Andre Iguodala in a box.

24. Andre Miller (17 points, 4.5 assists) — He killed the Pistons in the Sixers’ Game 1 upset (20 pts, 6 asts) to the point where Detroit specifically focused on getting the ball out of his hands in Game 2.

25. Peja Stojakovic (18 points, 60% 3PA) — A notoriously shaky postseason performer, Peja has been automatic with the ratchet so far, looking as good as he ever did in his prime with Sacramento.