NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Role Players Who Hold Keys to 2nd Round

Stars carry their teams but, in the intense battles of the playoffs, it is often the emergence of a role player that can push a team to a series victory. 

The second round of this year's playoffs will be no different. While the first stage is not complete, the lackluster opening set has left little drama as to who will emerge to advance. 

At this point, it is a safe assumption that the teams leading their series will advance. In the light of that, here are three role players who will have to step up to help their team advance. 

Jordan Hill, PF, Lakers

When the Lakers traded Derrick Fisher and a first-round pick to Houston for Jordan Hill, the move garnered little interest, and the buzz it did generate was due to the fact that the Lakers were parting ways with their extremely veteran point guard. 

That is proving to be one shrewd move. Hill has quickly turned into a key player on the Lakers' bench, and is providing the Lakers with the frontcourt depth they needed since parting ways with Lamar Odom. 

He is capable of spelling either Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol, and he brings energy, rebounds and a few points. 

This is going to be key for the Lakers against the Thunder, as they are going to have to dominate the boards. Through the Lakers first four postseason games, Hill is averaging 9.3 rebounds and 7.0 points while playing 20.5 minutes a game. 

Kendrick Perkins, C, Thunder

The Thunder-Lakers matchup is going to be the highlight of the second round. So it is only appropriate that we feature a key role player from each team. 

The Thunder are at a huge disadvantage in the paint in this matchup. They are going to need someone with muscle to get Bynum out of his post position. 

Serge Ibaka will certainly play a big role in this, but it is Perkins that will be called upon to flex his muscle, and make it known that if a player wants to get deep in the lane, he is going to have a say about it. 

Perkins won't have to fill up the stat sheets. In fact, the better he does at getting his body on someone, the better Ibaka's stats will look than his, and the better his team's results will be. 

Paul George, SG, Pacers

The Pacers are going to be outgunned in this series. They play a solid brand of team ball, but they need a perimeter scorer to step up and create points for himself when the offense stalls out. 

George has shown he can do this on occasion, but he is going to have to do it on a more consistent basis. The Pacers need George to mature in a hurry. He has to be aggressive, and he has to look to get his shots. 

The other thing is that George is a solid defender and rebounder. And he is going to have his work cut out for him in this regard going against Dwayne Wade. 

George doesn't have to win this matchup, and it would be foolish to expect him to, he simply needs to have stretches where he wins this matchup.