Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook and Young Stars Who Will Choke in NBA Playoffs

It's one thing to turn heads with highlights and superior production over the course of a regular season—it's quite another to show up for the playoffs.

The opposition is hungrier, more talented and dedicated to a grittier brand of defense rarely on display throughout an 82-game campaign...or even one with just 66 games.

Aside from the stiffer challenges young stars must face in the postseason, there are also internal obstacles to overcome. Even elite up-and-comers sometimes lack the mental discipline to consistently rise to the occasion.

The ability to do just that is what turns fresh faces into hardened NBA vets. Here are a few guys that aren't quite there yet.

Blake Griffin—PF, Los Angeles Clippers

Griffin's biggest challenge may simply be inexperience. He's not used to the defensive intensity he'll see against veteran teams like the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers or feisty teams like the Grizzlies. If the Clippers wind up facing Memphis in the first round, Griffin will contend with a big front line and a number of guys who can double-team effectively with length and quickness.

An inconsistent mid-range jumper and a still-nascent post game could become problems for the highlight-prone superstar. Griffin will produce his fair share of posters, but he may not be able to put his club over the top.

Russell Westbrook—PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant's dynamic sidekick is easily one of the best second options in the league, but his distribution has tailed off this season while his scoring has improved. There's a difference between being a superstar and being the right fit for a contender playing at the highest level.

Westbrook's assist-to-turnover ratio worsened in each of the Thunder's three playoff series last year, bottoming out at dead even by the conference finals. He managed to average at least 23 points in each of those three series, but only shot the ball at 36 percent in those finals (and just 39 percent in the first round against Denver).

Westbrook will make better decisions this time around, but if the Thunder come up short, it may be because they needed a pass-first point guard instead of a streaky scorer running the show.

Andrew Bynum—C, Los Angeles Lakers

Yes, we saw Bynum rack up 30 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs this April, but we also saw him manage just seven and two rebounds in 33 and 30 minutes against those same Spurs. Scoring won't be a problem for Bynum—he's just too big and talented for most front lines to cope.

Consistent effort and mental focus may be another story, however—Bynum can be beat down the court on the fast break and has been known to make mistakes. The numbers will be there, no question. But, Los Angeles might need more if it wants another title.

Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari—Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets don't have a single, defining star—but their young duo of Lawson and Gallinari has taken on lot of responsibility lately. Lawson is quietly having an excellent season, averaging an efficient 16.3 points and 6.7 assists.

Lawson had two great games against the Thunder in last year's first round, including 27 points in the Nuggets' only win. He'll need to do that every night, though, if this team has a chance to pull off an upset.

Meanwhile, Gallinari is shooting well under his average for the season over his last eight games and has struggled to remain consistent in a season derailed by injury.

Josh Smith or Rajon Rondo—Atlanta Hawks/Boston Celtics

Both of these young stars are crucial to their respective teams' postseason hopes, and they'll face off in the first round. Whoever blinks first might lose what could be a closely contested series.

Boston has played incredibly well of late, but the Hawks have made it to three consecutive conference semifinals. If Al Horford can return to duty during the series, Atlanta has a real chance to reach their fourth. But, it will desperately need Josh Smith playing at his absolute best.

Smith has had an All-Star season—whether it was acknowledged or not—and this will be his chance to make a statement. His mid-range jumper could spell doom for the Hawks if it's not falling.

Meanwhile, Rondo is the engine that keeps Boston going. If he falters at all, the Celtics won't last long.