Most Important Player for Every NBA Playoff-Hopeful Team

The NBA regular season is roughly 10 games from the finish line, and the playoffs remind fans just how important stars are.

During the regular season a team with five solid starters and bench depth can really excel, especially during a 66-game shortened schedule. But come playoff time, it’s the stars that shine the brightest.

They are the players that handle the ball in crunchtime and put their reputations on the line. The ones who either soak up the praise or endure the outrage.

So who is the most important player on your team?

Follow along as we go through the most essential player on every team with playoff aspirations. 

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Chicago Bulls- Derrick Rose

Sure, the Bulls were able to go 8-4 in a recent 12-game span without their MVP point guard only to lose in his first game back, but there is no doubt who the heart and soul of this team is.

It’s Rose’s intensity and no-nonsense approach to the game that’s contagious, and his leadership skills are outstanding for a 23-year-old.

Oh yeah, his 23 points, 7.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds certainly make him important as well.

Chicago was able to survive without Rose in the regular season, but if he misses any time in the postseason the potential No. 1 seed in the East is going to have a rude awakening rather quickly. 

Miami Heat- Chris Bosh

Wait whaaaat?

Before you fill the comments section with your disgust, consider the Heat with just LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

They would have absolutely no scoring from their bigs, and everything would revolve around isolation plays.

It may only be a small sample size, but the Heat are 1-2 without Bosh this season and were outrebounded by a combined 27 boards in the two losses. Without Bosh, the Heat would not be able to overcome their height deficiencies and don’t have the shooters to bail them out. Udonis Haslem doesn’t cut it.

The Heat are 10-1 without Wade and LeBron’s game is similar enough to Flash’s to be just fine with D-Wade and Bosh.

Make fun of Bosh all you want, but the Heat don’t have championship aspirations without him. 

Indiana Pacers- Danny Granger

The 17th-ranked offense would be much worse if it wasn’t for Granger’s 18.6 ppg. While his efficiency hasn’t been ideal, fans have to love the 50-percent shooting clip he has registered in five April games.

If he keeps that up, the Pacers and their rugged defense are going to be a real pain in the side of the Heat and/or Bulls. 

Boston Celtics- Rajon Rondo

The ole’ wily Celtics have been playing their best ball of the season, and it’s thanks in large part to a rejuvenated Rondo.

Clearly all of the trade rumors began to wear him down, and the offense struggled because of it. Now he’s playing relaxed and the results have been a 9-3 mark in the Celtics' last 12 games. Rondo is averaging just under 13 assists over that time to distance himself as the NBA’s leader in the category. He is the guy who keeps everyone happy while still running an efficient offense.

Want an incredible stat? Rondo has notched 10 or more dimes in 17 straight games. Wow.

Atlanta Hawks- Josh Smith

Joe Johnson may have the fat contract, but its Smith that is the glue to the Hawks.

His stat-stuffing averages (18.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.8 bpg, 1.5 spg) not only make him a fantasy player’s dream, but any coach's dream (minus the moodiness) as well.

There is nothing Smith can’t do on a basketball court…well, except for shooting three-pointers. 

Orlando Magic- Dwight Howard

Say what you will about the ridiculous charades Howard has pulled in the last month or so, but there is no question that the Magic would approach Bobcat-like futility if Superman wasn’t around.

The two-time defending Defensive Player of the Year is the only reason the Magic ranked fourth in points allowed (92.6) on the season. Without his shot-blocking ability and discipline to not prematurely leave his feet on pump fakes, the slow-footed Magic defense would get turned into a lay-up line.

There’s a reason why the media created such a big fuss over his future. 

New York Knicks- Carmelo Anthony

This was a tough pick to make.

Jeremy Lin resurrected a stale team but is going to be MIA down the stretch. Amare Stoudemire is regressing and has lost some of the luster he had when he first signed with the Knicks.

'Melo?

He obviously can score, but so can a ton of other players on this team. His return has clogged up the offense once again, and it’s decreasing the overall production.

Chandler is the only guy that has a real impact on the defensive end of the floor. In addition to his 9.9 rebounds, he is averaging 1.5 blocks per game. He is the reason ‘Melo kept getting the ball back in the waning seconds of Sunday’s thrilling win over the Bulls.

He is misdirecting shots and being the enforcer Knicks’ officials envisioned when signing him to a mammoth offseason contract.

Is it a coincidence that the Mavericks are a shell of their former selves without Chandler? 

Philadelphia 76ers- Andre Iguodala

Iggie is the leader of the team and the guy who keeps all of the young guns in check. His points (12 ppg) may be down, but he leads the team in assists (5.5) despite playing small forward.

The young talent is plentiful, but the veteran presence of Iguodala is essential for any sort of playoff success in a season that is beginning to spiral out of control. 

Milwaukee Bucks- Monta Ellis

The Bucks are a lifeless team short on talent that would be swept if they were able to sneak in the playoffs.

Ellis is the pure scorer the team desperately needs, and the sooner Brandon Jennings gets traded the better. 

San Antonio Spur- Tony Parker

Parker is quietly having his best season ever as a pro.

He is averaging 19.1 points in addition to 7.6 assists on a 48 percent shooting clip. He is driving to the paint at will and creating tons of open looks for his young teammates.

Tim Duncan is still a very valuable asset, but his lateral quickness is extinct and he can no longer play with the intensity on a regular basis that Parker does.

Parker is the new team MVP for a team that quietly owns the best record in the Western Conference. 

Oklahoma City- Kevin Durant

One of the favorites to win the MVP is playing like a man who wants to hoist the championship trophy.

He is second in the league in scoring (27.8) while shooting over 50-percent from the field. Take that, Kobe!

Oh, and he also does it with a bottle-rocket for a point guard that somehow believes he is as good as Durant. Yet the Durantcula is able to take it all in stride and ensure his team stays off the same tabloid page as the Knicks and Magic soap operas.

And he’s only 23.

Best player in the league? Yes. 

Los Angeles Lakers- Kobe Bryant

There are endless examples and reasons why Bryant is essential to the purple and gold, but it’s as simple as the Lakers' performance in his absence.

With the league’s leading scorer (28.1) on the sidelines with a bruised shin this weekend, LA was embarrassed by the Phoenix Suns by 20. No way would that ever happen if Kobe was playing. 

Los Angeles Clippers- Chris Paul

Blake Griffin is nothing more than a highlight machine that can’t play defense consistently.

Paul is the anchor on offense throughout a ballgame, disturbing the ball and ensuring the team is running the fastbreak. But with the game on the line, Paul takes over, and his clutch gene is one of the best in the league. He can create his own shot a will with his quickness, and that’s absolutely terrifying to opponents.

There is no doubt in my mind CP3 is still the best point guard in the NBA. 

Memphis Grizzlies- Marc Gasol

Gasol continues to get better as the best all-around player on the Grizz.

Fresh off beating both NBA Final teams in back-to-back days, Gasol and the Grizzles are one of the most dangerous teams in the league heading down the stretch.

Not only does Gasol average over 15 points a game, but he’s pulling in 9.5 rebounds and blocking just under two shots per game as well (seventh best in NBA). His presence on defense allows Zach Randolph to save his energy for the offensive end.

Few players possess the all-around impact on every possession that Gasol does with the Grizzles.  

Houston Rockets- Luis Scola

The bruiser is a perfect example of the team ball Houston plays. He dives for every loose ball and isn’t afraid to get a scrap on his knee.

He is averaging 16 points a game in addition to being the leader on defense. Nobody will ever out-hustle this guy, and that seems to have rubbed off on the scrappy Rockets, who have no business being the No. 6 seed with 10 games remaining. 

Dallas Mavericks- Dirk Nowitzki

The floundering Mavs need their leader to step up.

It seems as if Dirk has endured a season-long hangover after playing the best basketball of his career to earn his first-ever title. The Mavs have underachieved and are in danger of facing the Spurs or Thunder in the first round.

Yet Dallas still has a shot to make some serious noise in the postseason, as long as Nowitzki can regain his incredible form from last year.

It’s a big if, but is certainly in the realm of possibilities. 

Denver Nuggets- Ty Lawson

The biggest problem with the Nuggets is their lack of a star.

Nobody knows what to do when the game is on the line, and it’s the No. 1 reason this team will never win a playoff series until they get a big-time clutch scorer.

Lawson is one of the most underrated players in the league, but you don’t want that to be said about your best player.  

Phoenix Suns- Steve Nash

#FreeSteveNash

Utah Jazz- Al Jefferson

The future is bright for Utah, and sporting a player like Jefferson is a big reason why.

The center is averaging 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds on a team that is overloaded with productive big men.

His defense (1.6 bpg) is what makes him the more valuable player over a guy like Paul Millsap. 

Portland Trail Blazers- LaMarcus Aldridge

Averaging 21.7 points while shooting 51 percent from the floor is a small miracle with the point guards Portland trots out on the floor.

The Blazers should not be anywhere near a playoff spot, but Aldridge keeps his team breathing with All-Star play.