NBA Playoffs Picture: 4 Players Who Will Cost Their Team in Playoffs

Russell Westbrook will derail Oklahoma City’s chances of advancing in the NBA playoffs this season. Luckily, he’s not the only one who will be responsible for sending his team home.

Whether it’s an injury, the pressure of the postseason or simply inefficient play, some players will be unable to deliver a championship to their team’s city.

Here are four players who will squash their squad’s championship hopes in 2012.

Amar'e Stoudemire

The fate of the New York Knicks’ season rests on Amar'e Stoudemire’s back. If that back can’t hold, his team will come crashing down in the first round.

This season has been a roller coaster of sorts for Stoudemire, one where he went from star forward to almost an afterthought during Linsanity. Injuries aside, his numbers haven’t been this underwhelming in six years, posting career lows in points, rebounds and PER. Now his back injury has derailed a midseason comeback of sorts during New York's six-game winning streak. 

Once again, the Knicks will have to quickly fit Stoudemire into the rotation when he’s healthy enough to come back. Will that be enough time for sustained postseason success? This writer doesn’t like New York’s chances.

Ty Lawson

The Denver Nuggets are the NBA’s circus: They have tons of performers with something for everyone.

Therein lies the rub: NBA teams need an alpha dog. Ty Lawson has taken on the role of closing number thus far, but his first season in this role will be his team's undoing.

Lawson has enjoyed a career year as the Nuggets’ point man, shooting 48 percent from the field in his first season as a starter. He has a bright future ahead with Danilo Gallinari and Javale McGee around to receive his pin-point passes. Going up against the likes of Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant in crunch time when Denver needs a bucket, is another story.

This 10-man band in Denver is talented, but their one trick pony isn’t ready for a crunch-time role. Not yet, anyway.

Jameer Nelson

You would think Dwight Howard committing to the Orlando Magic after the NBA trade deadline would light a fire under his teammates. Jameer Nelson must be playing with a sour taste in his mouth.

Nelson has regressed from his best years on the hardwood, shooting 37 percent from the three-point line and posting his lowest marks in PER and True Shooting Percentage in five seasons.

Granted, he’s performed better since the All-Star break, posting 27 points and 5 assists last Sunday against Denver, but time will tell whether Jameer can get back to his former self.

Without consistent production from their point guard, the Magic lack a consistent penetrator. Smart defensive teams, such as Chicago, Miami and Boston, will merely guard the three-point line.

Without Nelson at his best, it could be a short postseason for Stan Van Gundy’s bunch. 

Russell Westbrook

While he is one of the most exciting players in the NBA today, Russell Westbrook will need to defer to Kevin Durant come playoff time. I’m not so sure he’ll play second fiddle.

The NBA postseason is full of timeouts, half-court sets and "hero ball" in the last two minutes. There will be no room for Westbrook’s 20-foot heaves early in the shot clock in the playoff's second round. Westbrook wants to be the hero, but he’ll need to set up Durant by penetrating and looking his way late in games. 

There may be times this postseason when Westbrook has the hot hand. By all means, he should continue to fill it up until the buzzer sounds. When his shot isn’t falling, he’ll need to be level-headed and realize he has No. 35 on his side.

That’s a good side to be on, Russell.