NBA Playoffs 2012: The Biggest X-Factor in Every First-Round Matchup

Every team has a player who can either make a huge contribution or be a non-factor. It is these players who become key in the playoffs. If they can play to their full potential, then they give their teams a great chance of winning. However, if they fail to make a contribution, then they make it a lot harder for their team to win. In the end, these players will be just as important as the superstars.

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

Evan Turner

For the 76ers, if they want to have any shot of beating the Bulls in the first round, they will need Evan Turner to step up. Turner is, without a doubt, capable of making a huge impact in this series, but whether or not he will is not certain. Some games Turner will score four points and some games he will score 24 points. Obviously, the Sixers will need to have the 20-point Turner to have a shot against the Bulls.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks

Steve Novak

This one is more on the Knicks themselves, because if they can find Steve Novak open for three, he will hit the shot. It's that simple because Novak can flat out shoot, even if that is the only thing he can really do. His three-point shooting can swing momentum and even take over games. If the Knicks can get him open and get him the ball for open shots, then they may have a legitimate shot at sending the Heat packing.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic

David West

The Pacers should have no problem against the Howard-less Magic, but in future rounds at least, David West will be the biggest X-factor for this team. Throughout this season, he has shown that he is capable of scoring 30 points but, at the same time, prone to single-digit games.

For the Pacers to make a big playoff push, they will need him to be in attack mode and, if not score 30 a night, at least get up close to the 20-point mark nightly. If he can do that, the Pacers will have a legitimate shot at a second-round upset.

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Avery Bradley

Few players in the NBA have the potential to affect a game in as many ways as Bradley does. With Bradley, you know what you are going to get on the defensive end: 94 feet of pure frustration for opposing guards. However, his offense is a bit more of an X-Factor. Bradley can score 15 points a game with ease through constant cutting and an improved jump shot.

However, besides the month of April when he tore up the offensive stat sheet, he has yet to prove that he can consistently put up those big scoring numbers. If he can continue on this hot streak of his, though, he could be key in a big Celtics playoff run, especially if Ray Allen cannot play.

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Utah Jazz

Gordon Hayward

The Spurs are more vulnerable than they may seem and could face a first-round exit for the second straight year. If the Jazz want to end the Spurs' season early, though, they will need a big contribution from Gordon Hayward. Scoring 10 points a game won't be enough; Hayward needs to score in the high teens if the Jazz want to win. If he can do that, the Jazz may have a legitimate shot at an upset.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

Shawn Marion

It seems highly unlikely that the Mavs will repeat as NBA champions. In fact, they probably won't even escape the first round against the Thunder. If they want to beat the Thunder, they will need Shawn Marion to be on his A-game.

His most important, and hardest, job will be covering Kevin Durant. If he can shut Durant down (relatively speaking) and efficiently score on the other end of the floor, then the Mavs' chances of repeating may not be all that far-fetched.

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

JaVale McGee

Javale McGee may be one of the most frustrating players in the NBA because you can see all of the potential there, but he just never seems to tap into it fully. If he can finally put all the pieces together in this series, then the Nuggets could have a serious shot at beating the Lakers.

He will need to block shots and defend Andrew Bynum well on the defensive end, as well as try to create his own offense on the other end while rebounding on both ends of the floor. McGee could be an All-Star, and he will need to be one in this series if the Nuggets are to have any shot at winning.

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

Randy Foye

Clippers-Grizzlies will most definitely be the best matchup of the first round. I would not be surprised to see it go to seven games. If you are going to try to predict a winner in this series, you might as well just flip a coin because it could really go either way.

If Randy Foye steps up, though, the Clippers will definitely have the edge. In the month of April, Foye has had five 20-point games. If he can have a few 20-point games in this series, then the Clippers will advance to the next round.