NBA Playoffs 2012: Stars Who Must Step Up in Second Round
If the following three stars shine in the second round, their respective teams are going to be sitting pretty.
These guys are going to play pivotal roles, and it will be up to them to lift their entire team.
The first round isn't over yet, but it might as well be. Other than the Grizzlies-Clippers series, the outcomes of these series are forgone conclusions.
So let's start getting into the second round.
Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers
Bynum is the key for the Lakers in every series, and their likely second-round matchup with the Thunder is no exception.
It is on defense where Bynum will have to be really tuned in. He doesn't draw a tough head-to-head matchup in the front court, but with a penetrating point guard like Russell Westbrook, Bynum will have to own the paint.
If he can do that, it alters the way the Thunder can attack the Lakers. Bynum's rebounding and offense will also be huge.
He has to focus on getting good position, and then have his teammates get him the ball at the right moments.
More than any other player on the court, he can alter the way this series plays out.
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
No one is going to give the Sixers a chance of beating the Boston Celtics in the second round, and for good reason—they are the No. 8 seed.
The only reason Philadelphia leads the Bulls 3-1 is because injuries have turned the Bulls into the minor league version of themselves.
That doesn't mean they can't give Boston a run for their money. To do that, Iguodala is going to have to play the series of his life.
He is an excellent defender, and he will be charged with the task of shutting down Paul Pierce. If can consistently frustrate Pierce, it will go a long way toward disrupting Boston's offense.
Offensively, Iguodala likes to get his points in the open court. He is too inconsistent with his jumper to be an effective half-court scorer.
If he can get hot from mid-range for a few games, the Sixers will be tough to beat.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
The Heat lost their first game of the playoffs to the Knicks this past weekend, and Dwyane Wade was at the root of the fourth quarter struggles.
He was off with his shot—both from the field and the free-throw line.
The Heat have clearly decided that Wade is going to fill the closer role for this team. He needs to show he is the man for the job the next opportunity.
Otherwise, they are going to be surrounded by the demons that plagued them in their fourth quarter collapses from the playoffs last year.
The Heat can still beat the Pacers, their almost certain second round opponent, without Wade dominating every game, but they are going to struggle if they suffer any more late-game failures like they did in Game 4 against the Knicks.
