NBA Playoffs 2012: Players Set to Be This Year's Dirk Nowitzki

Last year we saw the Postseason of Dirk, as Dirk Nowitzki gave a performance for the ages in leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA title.

Dirk didn't just average 27.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the postseason, he outplayed superstars such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

But that was last year, and this year the Mavs appear to be a longshot to reach the NBA Finals. So who could be this year's Dirk? Which player has the ability to lead his team to a championship with an other-worldly postseason performance?

There are a few players I've left off who may surprise you, such as Kobe Bryant (the Lakers need a big postseason performance from Andrew Bynum more than they need it from Kobe).

Let's take a look at those who made the cut.

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

If the Spurs are going to make any noise in the postseason, it will be because of Parker, who very quietly posted an MVP-caliber season this year.

His 18.3 points and 7.7 assists per game don't tell the full story—Parker has had to carry this team for much of the year, with Tim Duncan no longer the dominant force he once was and Manu Ginobli missing nearly half the season.

Parker has the ability to take over a game, and if the Spurs are going to win a championship this season, it will be on the back of their point guard.

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

As good as Russell Westbrook is, it's Kevin Durant that has the ability to not just take over a game, but an entire postseason.

We all know that Durant can dominate a game by scoring—his 28.0 points per game this regular season attest to that—but he also has the ability to take it to the next level and string together 40 and even 50-point evenings.

Oh, and the fact that he chips in with 8.0 rebounds per game doesn't hurt.

His consistency as a player is impressive, and I think he's primed to lead OKC to a championship this season.

LeBron James, Miami Heat

It's pretty simple, really—if LeBron James decides he wants to dominate all phases of the game and doesn't become small in the clutch, it's unlikely anyone will beat the Heat.

There is no player in the league with more talent than LeBron, and his ability to impact every aspect of the game makes him the NBA's ultimate weapon.

But as is always the case, the question with LeBron is whether he will stand tall or wither in crunch time. If he faces his past failures head on and isn't affected by the pressure, he can't be stopped, and Miami won't be.

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

In the regular season, the Bulls won with defense.

They'll win games with defense in the playoffs as well, but they'll win a championship if Derrick Rose wills them to one.

The difference in last year's Eastern Conference Finals between the Bulls and Heat last season was that LeBron shut down Rose late in games and late in the series. The Bulls simply didn't have another player step up.

Frankly, I don't see much changing this year. The Bulls will keep games close with their defense in the postseason, and it will ultimately fall on Derrick Rose to win those games in the clutch.

He's capable of doing so. But is he capable of doing so with LeBron smothering him?

The Bulls championship hopes hinge on the answer of that question.

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