NBA Playoffs 2012: Each Team's Most Underrated Player

The postseason is a time when superstars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant steal the show, but what about the other guys?

Not every player can be a perennial All-NBA talent, but not every player needs to be. We often lose sight of the ones who aren't, and that's a shame.

Though it's the star athletes who sell the tickets, it's often the role players who determine playoff outcomes.

Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward

Coming into the season, Gordon Hayward was a work in progress. Well, he worked, and there's been progress.

The 22-year-old shooting guard is a stud on offense. He's a fantastic shooter, but has learned how to use his size to exploit defenders on the inside.

Most importantly, Hayward will always find ways to score. If his jump shot isn't falling, he will attack the basket, draw fouls and punish opponents from the free-throw line—just ask the Spurs about Game 1.

The Jazz have less than an outside chance of streaking past San Antonio, but their postseason cause is anything but pointless.

With every playoff game, Hayward is becoming a more experienced player, one who knows how to score and defend under pressure. That will ultimately help transform him into a household name. 

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala is an All-Star, yet he hardly receives the credit he deserves.

While many are quick to deem Iguodala overpaid, he it still one of the most versatile players in the entire NBA.

Iguodala will hardly ever blow up the stat line in a single department, but that's because he's not locked in to one particular facet of the game.

If he isn't scoring, he's passing, rebounding, blocking shots, getting back on defense or simply out-hustling everyone else on the court. 

Iguodala remains an understated powerhouse, capable of keeping the Sixers competitive in their matchup against the Bulls.

Dallas Mavericks: Delonte West

Delonte West boasts a questionable set of morals, but he is an undeniable workhorse on the hardwood.

West can not only shoot the three, post points in bunches and distribute, but he's also an exceptional defender—the kind that can excel outside of his natural position.

In West, the Mavericks have a combo guard who can slow down prolific ball-handers and disrupt the flow of spot-up shooters. He has great anticipation, fights under screens, forces opponents to the perimeter and is even a shot-blocking threat.

With West, it's hardly ever pretty—or even simple—but that's alright, because he yields results.

New York Knicks: Jared Jeffries

Tyson Chandler has been under the weather, Amar'e Stoudemire is taking his frustration out on inanimate objects and Carmelo Anthony has been inconsistent, but Jared Jeffries' absence has also hurt the Knicks. 

Jeffries is far from skilled on the offensive end, but he's willing to make the plays no one else is. He takes charges, dives after loose balls, adjusts shots and hits the glass on the offensive end.

In just four minutes of action Monday, Jeffries grabbed three rebounds; all of them came on offense, thus creating second-chance opportunities.

The 10-year veteran is a team player and brings vital intangibles to the floor that won't show up in stat lines.

And that's something you can't put a price on.

Denver Nuggets: Corey Brewer

Corey Brewer is an athletic freak, but his skills often go unnoticed—even on a Nuggets roster laden with nothing but role players.

Brewer has improved his mid-range efficiency and mastered the art of high-percentage shots. He's an explosive finisher at the rim and one of the premier perimeter defenders in the game.

His decision-making abilities have also reached new heights this season. 

With defenses primarily honing in on Danilo Gallinari, Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington, Brewer could be the X-factor in any success the Nuggets hope to have for the remainder of the postseason.

Orlando Magic: J.J. Redick

While Ryan Anderson has generated a lot of hype surrounding his drastic improvement, the same cannot be said of J.J. Redick.

Redick improved in almost every statistical category this season. He remained lights-out from beyond the arc and converted on over 91 percent of his free-throw attempts.

What the guard lacks in size, he makes up for in elusiveness. He's one of the toughest players to defend and no longer shies away from taking the big shot.

Most notably, he has improved his defense to the point of competency—a reality few could have imagined five years ago.

Redick is no superstar, but he has flashes of dominance that the Dwight Howard-less Magic are now leaning on.

Los Angeles Clippers: Randy Foye

The Clippers have Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, but they also have Randy Foye.

Foye, though inconsistent, is incredibly explosive and liable to drop 25 or more points on any given night. He is stronger than most guards his size and has a Chris Paul-like first step.

He has also improved his accuracy from three-point range a great deal.

Though Foye is no stranger to the starting lineup, he often gets lost in the shuffle behind Paul, Mo Williams, Caron Butler and Nick Young.

Not here.

Atlanta Hawks: Ivan Johnson

There's nothing particularly pretty about Ivan Johnson's game, but he is effective nonetheless.

The 6'8" Johnson utilizes his bulk to his advantage, overpowering opponents in the low post on a near nightly basis. He can rebound, defend and even step back and hit the three.

What's more, he's only a rookie at age 28. His attitude has propelled him into a stable row in the Hawks rotation and his ability to bang with Boston's bigs is imperative to Atlanta advancing through the first round.

Johnson is perseverance at its best.

Memphis Grizzlies: Marreese Speights

Even after the return of Zach Randolph, Marreese Speights has proven to be a valuable pickup for the Grizzlies.

Speights has impressive range on the offensive end and is a rebounding connoisseur. He's quick for his size and has an even quicker release, making his shots tough to block.

He has also taken great strides on the defensive side of the ball since being traded to Memphis.

While he has done it rather quietly, Speights, along with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, has given the Grizzlies one of the deepest front lines in the entire league.

Boston Celtics: Avery Bradley

Avery Bradley has generated a fair amount of buzz heading into the postseason, but his two-way impact remains undervalued.

Bradley can play both guard positions and is physical enough on defense to take on most small forwards. He has great control and is adept at creating separation between him and his defender.

Though the second-year swingman is a natural fit at shooting guard, he has honed his playmaking abilities quite a bit over the last year, rendering him an ideal fill-in for Rajon Rondo.

If the Celtics are serious about making another championship run, they will need strong play from Bradley, just as much as they will need it from Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. 

Los Angeles Lakers: Devin Ebanks

Much like Metta World Peace, Devin Ebanks is a defensive enforcer. Unlike World Peace, though, he knows where to draw the line.

Ebanks, despite his skinny frame, is a tenacious defender. He forces opponents into low-percentage shots and uses his impressive wingspan to outrebound players with better height and positioning. 

While Ebanks is not a bona fide offensive threat, he moves well without the ball, often putting himself in position for easy baskets. The small forward's average of four points and just over two rebounds per game during the regular season is hardly indicative of how talented he truly is.

With World Peace serving his seven-game suspension, the Lakers have asked Ebanks to step up.

And thus far, he has.

Indiana Pacers: Leandro Barbosa

Leandro Barbosa is one of the streakiest scorers in the NBA.

The combo guard can create for himself off the dribble, finish strong at the rim, spot up from beyond the arc and make defenses pay with the three-ball.

Although Barbosa thrives at the 2-guard slot, he has the necessary instincts to spend some time at the point if needed. He's a superb ball-handler who can get into the lane and kick it out to the open man or draw contact and get to the foul line.

Defensively, he leaves much to be desired. Still, he has improved his anticipation on the ball, which has allowed him to spend more time on the court during crucial junctures in the game.

Barbosa was a steal for the Pacers at the trade deadline and, without a doubt, will be a key part of any postseason success they have moving forward.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Thabo Sefolosha

Thabo Sefolosha is perhaps the most underrated player in the Western Conference.

While Sefolosha is hardly a statistical machine, he is one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA. He bodies up, takes away the strong side and rarely allows a shot to go uncontested.

Coming into the league, Sefolosha's lack of offensive coordination hindered his value. However, he now boasts a quick first step and has developed into an efficient long-range threat, shooting 43.7 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season.

James Harden will continue to receive a majority of the minutes at shooting guard, but there's no denying the positive defensive impact Sefolosha has on the offense-heavy Thunder.

Miami Heat: Mario Chalmers

If your name isn't Chris Bosh, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, you don't receive much attention outside of South Beach. That is a shame when it comes to Mario Chalmers.

Chalmers has evolved into a solid two-way point guard. He's a lethal shooter who can catch fire on any given night and has thrived off the open three-point looks—38.8 percent during the regular season—he receives courtesy of James and Wade.

While Chalmers is not the playmaker James is, he has improved his leadership abilities. He's become a better lead passer and can be entrusted to direct the offense with King James on the bench.

Defensively, Chalmers is a stud. He has quick hands that generate a lot of steals, and he defends well against the pick-and-roll.

Currently, the Heat seem poised to make a second straight play at an NBA title, and Chalmers is a huge part of that reality. 

San Antonio Spurs: Danny Green

After two straight seasons that suggested Danny Green's days in the NBA were numbered, the combo guard finds himself starting for the Spurs.

Green is a Gregg Popovich specialty—a pesky perimeter defender who feasts off open looks from downtown. He is tied for the 34th-best true shooting percentage (TS%) in the NBA and has posted a PER of 15.55.

He has also proven to be a solid rebounder for his position and skilled at preventing opposing offenses from entering the paint.

His emergence has spread the floor on the both sides and helped make the Spurs one of the deepest and most efficient teams in the league. 

Chicago Bulls: Luol Deng

Despite being named to his first NBA All-Star Game this season, Luol Deng remains underrated.

The small forward averaged 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and one steal per game over an injury-riddled regular reason, furthering his record as one of the most versatile players in the league. 

He is a reliable outside shooter, aggressive rebounder on both ends, understated passer, exceptional ball-handler and defensive stalwart.

And while Tyson Chandler won the Defensive Player of the Year award (per ESPN), Deng and his 103 defensive rating undoubtedly merited serious consideration.

Though the Bulls are fresh off an embarrassing Derrick Rose-less home loss to the Sixers, there is no need to panic. Deng is more than capable of assuming the primary leadership role in Chicago.

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