NBA Playoffs 2012: Top Players with the Most to Prove

With the 2012 NBA playoffs rapidly approaching, several top stars around the NBA have a ton to prove throughout the postseason. 

It's these stars who can make or break their respective teams' potential playoff success.

Whether it be injuries, below-average seasons or past playoff failures, each guy on this list can exercise past demons by stepping their game up when it counts the most.

Here's a look at a few superstars with the most to prove in the 2012 NBA playoffs.

Amar'e Stoudemire

Stoudemire has a ton of pressure on him to fit into what has become an outstanding Knicks offensive attack. 

Without him in the lineup, Carmelo Anthony has excelled at the 4, averaging 30.9 PPG in Stoudemire's absence.

Yet to win in the postseason, both Anthony and Stoudemire must coexist, and Stoudemire must improve upon the 17.1 PPG and 8.0 RPG he's averaged this season.

LeBron James

If there's one guy who has the most to prove this postseason, it's LeBron.

Sure, he's had an MVP season, averaging 26.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG and 6.0 APG, but many agree that none of that means anything if James doesn't lead the Heat to a championship.

If he starts to struggle in the playoffs, all the critics will come out of the woodwork, and it could turn into another circus for LeBron.

Chris Bosh

With all of the focus on LeBron and Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh is the forgotten man of Miami's Big Three.

Bosh has put together a decent 18.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG season, but is he really viewed as an NBA superstar anymore?

He can change that image with a huge postseason and help lead the Heat to a title.

Kobe Bryant

Bryant also has a ton to prove, as he returns to the Lakers' lineup just in time for the postseason to begin.

Kobe's had a fantastic season, leading the NBA in scoring at 28.1 PPG, but since he's been out of the lineup, center Andrew Bynum has become the focal point of the Lakers' offense.

There's been a ton of drama in Los Angeles, and it has been a roller-coaster ride of a season, but Kobe has the chance to prove that the Lakers are still his team and he's capable of leading them to a championship once again.

Ray Allen

It's been a rough season for Allen, as he's been hurt often and lost his starting job to Avery Bradley. Nevertheless, this postseason is huge for Allen, as he can not only prove he still has a lot left in the tank, but he's also playing for a contract.

The same can be said for Allen's teammate Kevin Garnett, but it's even more important for Allen to step things up once the playoffs begin.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

The Oklahoma City Thunder have basically been pencilled into the NBA Finals since the season began, and they've delivered—despite having a target on their back all season long—by posting one of the best records in the Western Conference.

Durant has delivered an MVP-like season, but now, it's up to him and Westbrook to prove that they can lead the Thunder to a championship.

Rudy Gay

The Grizzlies opened up some eyes last postseason with a first-round upset of the San Antonio Spurs and followed that up by taking the Thunder to seven games.

Yet they did it without Gay, who missed the postseason with an injury.

He's had a great season, averaging 19.1 PPG, and now, he gets the opportunity to show that he can lead the Grizzlies on a playoff run.

Chris Paul

The Clippers went out and got the guy they wanted before the season began, and now, Paul must show that he can lead them in the postseason.

He's had an MVP-type season, but a quick, first-round exit won't be acceptable. There will be some pressure on his shoulders to lead.

Let's see how far he can lead them.

Carmelo Anthony

Finally, there's Anthony, who was brought to New York to do one thing: lead the Knicks to a championship.

He didn't play well early on and was a big part of why Mike D'Antoni is no longer on the Knicks' sidelines.

'Melo got what he wanted, and he's responded by playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 32.2 PPG in the month of April. If the Knicks fail in the postseason, the finger will be pointed directly at 'Melo.

Anthony may have more to prove than even LeBron in the playoffs; let's see if he can rise to the occasion.