Ricky Rubio, Nate Robinson and the All-NBA Spark Plug Team

Every team needs a guy who can bring an instant "something" to the floor. Ricky Rubio, Nate Robinson and the rest of this list represent the best of the best when it comes to providing such a spark.

Some of these players are starters, but most are key bench contributors.

Smart coaches know that you don't always have to start your five best. Teams can "hide" a lesser player or two in the opening lineup, hoping to get any sort of contribution alongside the more talented starters.

Since a second unit is expected to provide instant energy at both ends of the floor, wise teams typically save one or two of their best players to bridge quarters. Oftentimes, this second wave of talent stays in the lineup to close out the half.

You don't necessarily start with your five best players, but you ought to end with them.

While few on this list are considered bona fide stars, one or two might have the potential. Some are well-rounded, but most are specialists in scoring, lockdown defense or glass cleaning.

Most players need to work their way into a rhythm, but spark plugs have it at a moment's notice.

Whether playing with the first or second unit, these are the guys you want when production needs to be instantaneous.

(G) Ricky Rubio: Minnesota Timberwolves

Having just logged his first NBA starts over the weekend, Ricky Rubio might be transitioning from spark plug to stardom much quicker than anyone predicted.

At the same time, the early story for the Minnesota Timberwolves has been Rubio’s ability to instantaneously whip the offense into shape every time he checks into the game.

Beyond even the highlight bounce passes and alley-oop lobs, Rubio HAS been able to create his own shots and knock them down. He’s been a surprisingly game defender too, regularly taking charges while also displaying quick hands.

Having energized the home crowd and the team so much from the bench, it appears this rookie has already sparked himself into the starting lineup.

(G) Jamal Crawford: Portland Trail Blazers

A pure quantity scorer, Jamal Crawford is one of the NBA’s premier guys at taking bench minutes and producing starter’s points.

He’s certainly not the biggest or the fastest, and no one has ever really figured out what position he plays. But like a savvy veteran wide receiver, Crawford has perfected his use of routes, time and space.

He can create shots via the dribble, coming off screens, on the perimeter or by attacking mid-range gaps.

Sure, he can be awfully streaky at times, but Crawford seems hot much more often than not. When he’s on, it seems as if everything he throws up to the basket is good from the minute it leaves his hand.

For a team like the Portland Trail Blazers, who had to grind out way too many possessions in the past, Crawford gives them the instant offense they so badly needed.

(F/C) Chuck Hayes: Sacramento Kings

"He does things that don’t always show up in the stats" is usually a clichéd way of saying, "He’s just not very good."

However, not only has Chuck Hayes proven that numbers don’t always describe full effectiveness, he has also fully embodied these time-worn phrases: motor that just won’t quit, lunch-pail defense and glue guy.

Despite ALWAYS being outsized (he’s barely 6’6”), Hayes has built a reputation for routinely thwarting the opposition’s best front line players. He doesn’t create much on the offensive end, but Hayes’ “instant hustle defense” was a constant with the Houston Rockets for the better part of six seasons.

Badly needing some glue for their disjointed roster, the Sacramento Kings doggedly signed Chuck Hayes to a deal despite some major concerns about his health.

It’s too bad that a guy with so much heart has been fighting trouble with that very organ. Now that he appears whole again, the Kings hope his grit can be contagious.

(G) Lou Williams: Philadelphia 76ers

Like many of the other combo guards on this list, Lou Williams has all the offensive tools to be a starter in the NBA. That is, if he actually had a position.

Why do "power pack" scorers seem to thrive best when playing starter’s minutes off the bench?

Were they a starter, tweener guards would be mostly stuck playing one spot while sharing shots with the rest of the first unit.

Having to concentrate at one spot often exposes such a player’s defensive limitations, the fact that they’re not big enough to be a full-time shooting guard, and that they don’t possess enough of the "pass first, see the floor" mentality to be a facilitating point guard.

A team’s second unit is usually staffed with role players, so having a quantity shooter covers up these scoring deficiencies.  By coming off the bench, Lou Williams can basically get as many shots as he wants and score points from either guard spot, while not being pigeon-holed into a specific skill set.

By the time the game is winding down, the Philadelphia 76ers hope he’s hot enough to finish the deal. By the time his career is done, Philly fans can expect Lou Williams to have been one of the best at this role.

(G) Jason Terry: Dallas Mavericks

They don’t call him "The Jet" for nothing. 

This may feel like a lifetime achievement award, but Jason Terry continues to be the gold standard when it comes to energy players.

Most spark plugs can only jump-start their teams for a mid-half bridge between the starting lineups. Terry has to keep the Dallas Mavericks energized for nearly the entire game.

The offense typically picks up the pace when he checks in off the bench midway through the first and third quarters. Terry typically plays for the rest of the half, the Dallas Mavericks run as many sets for him as they do Dirk Nowitzki, and he’s always on the floor at crunch time.

While his age continues to be an increasing concern, Terry appears to still have some nitrous left in the tank. He’s a two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, who is also now an NBA champion.

The Dallas Mavericks wouldn’t have their rings without him.

(F) Chris Singleton: Washington Wizards

Here’s another guy whose numbers don’t scream "spark."

Instead, just watch the rookie play. You'll quickly grasp what he’s bringing to the table for the Washington Wizards.

While his team has been atrociously flat all season, Chris Singleton has stood out, especially on the defensive end. He flies around the court, pokes away a lot of passes, keeps rebounds alive and is generally just an active menace from start to finish.

His game certainly needs a few more coats of polish, but Chris Singleton’s energy has single-handedly snuck him into the Wizards’ starting lineup as of late.

He’s been the only inspiring thing to watch in Washington so far.

(G) Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson: New Orleans Hornets

Unless you’ve watched the New Orleans Hornets this year, you probably have no idea who this guy is.

However, if you have caught a Hornets game, then there’s just no forgetting the jitterbug experience that is Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson.

He’s only just beginning to gain traction in coach Monty William’s rotation, but he also moves like few NBA players I’ve ever seen.

This diminutive point guard is absolutely frenetic; Johnson's feet don’t ever appear to stop bouncing, while he doggedly pursues and pressures opponents the full length of the floor.

No one really knows what he’ll bring to the table offensively yet, but the home crowd can’t seem to get enough of the little guy’s hustle. Soon enough, the Hornets will harness the boundless energy he’s so far displayed.

(G) Toney Douglas: New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have to hope that Toney Douglas really is a younger version of Jamal Crawford.

While he hasn’t been as prolific offensively, Douglas is a better defender who has shown the ability to occasionally score in bunches.

Like Crawford, he’s not an imposing figure or skill set. He’s undersized, doesn’t have a clear position and can look positively awful when cold.

And then? Out of nowhere, he’ll catch fire, nailing everything he launches, regardless of where it came from on the floor.

Because his production doesn’t necessarily increase when starting, Douglas seems like another classic bench energizer. The Knicks hope that this combo guard will develop a bigger switch and be able to flip it even more frequently.

(F/C) Tyler Hansbrough: Indiana Pacers

He still makes WAY too many "heads-down" plays, but Tyler Hansbrough’s energy has never been in question.

For as many little mistakes as he still makes, he’s often the guy cleaning up the garbage, even if it’s his own miss. A relentless "camper" at the basket, Hansbrough’s best trait is often his worst enemy: He bashes his head into the strong side of the defense and just won’t quit.

The Indiana Pacers made the right move by upgrading to David West at the power forward spot. They were equally spot on by retaining Hansbrough on the roster.

His edges may be too rough to trust with a consistent starting gig just yet, but the guy is already a double-double machine whose energy can’t be duplicated by anyone else on the squad.

Every team needs somebody like this.

(F) Ivan Johnson: Atlanta Hawks

Ivan Johnson was going to be another sleeper for this list. That is, until Al Horford just went down for a few months with his torn pectoral muscle.

Now, Johnson has already begun to turn a few heads.

Good thing too, as this chiseled freight train sets vicious screens, has unbelievably quick hands and feet for his size and plays with the passion of a guy who’s finally getting his shot at the big time.

The Atlanta Hawks needed another enforcer whose name wasn’t Zaza Pachulia, and Johnson certainly brings some additional toughness to the roster.

He’s not starting material at the moment, but Ivan was well on his way to carving out a consistent rotation spot due to his grit. Now that Al Horford is out, people are going to figure out who this guy is real quick.

(G/F) Alonzo Gee: Cleveland Cavaliers

He’s shooting over 50 percent, knocking down open threes and slashing to the basket with reckless abandon. For a team seriously devoid of explosiveness, Alonzo Gee has been an absolute godsend.

He’s already outplayed starter Omri Casspi in nearly every facet, but coach Byron Scott has wisely kept Gee with the second unit. 

If Casspi is on one night, then he’ll play a few extra minutes. If not, then the Cleveland Cavaliers can sit him early in each half, opting for the higher energy Gee instead.

Gee is finishing games and helping the Cavs to be surprisingly competitive during the early season.

The franchise probably won’t be able to keep him out of the starting lineup in future years, but Alonzo Gee is already a nice off-the-bench pairing for explosive rookie starter Kyrie Irving.

(G/F) Reggie Williams: Charlotte Bobcats

We haven’t gotten to see him play yet this year, but the Charlotte Bobcats hope Reggie Williams is just what the doctor ordered…once he’s done with the doctors that is.

Williams proved to be an instant offensive injection for the Golden State Warriors over the past season and a half.

He shoots good percentages from both sides of the arc, can finish in traffic, and he scores in bunches. With a 6’6” frame, he’s the perfect swingman for a Bobcats team that can have a hard time generating individual offense.

With Gerald Henderson taking a noticeable step forward, but Corey Maggette already hurt this year, Charlotte has to hope that Williams can get healthy as soon as possible.

If so, the Bobcats could actually have a sneaky exciting backcourt rotation with Williams, Maggette, Henderson, D.J. Augustin and Kemba Walker.

(G) Nate Robinson: Golden State Warriors

Some might feel that this choice is based more off reputation than tangible production.

After all, Nate Robinson has bounced around between three teams in the past three years, struggling to gain consistent minutes with the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors.

However, with the recent reinjuring of Steph Curry, Mr. Robinson is quickly reminding us just how much offense is bundled up in that tiny 5'9" frame.

It may happen only a few times per season, but when Nate Robinson gets hot, especially in a fourth quarter, he’s absolutely engulfed. After all, this is a guy who averaged 17 points per game off the bench (mostly) in 2009.

True, he’s already almost 28, past the "upside" portion of his career, a rather weak system defender and too much of a reckless gunner to trust with a starting role.

On the other hand, opponents better call the fire department, because this spark goes inferno awfully quick.