NBA Playoffs 2012: X-Factor for Each Championship Contender
The NBA playoffs are down to the final eight teams, but there are only six teams with a real shot at reaching the NBA Finals.
My apologies to the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers, but realistically, you guys have to know your teams aren't good enough to advance past the second round, let alone good enough to reach the NBA Finals.
That leaves the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and all four teams in the Western Conference: the L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Each team has a resource that they must take advantage of to reach their ultimate goal. These teams aren't always willing and able to use these resources, but they are at their best when they do.
Here are the x-factors for each team:
Miami Heat - Dual Closers
No team has two players on their roster with the ability to take over games like the Heat with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Miami gets into trouble when they go exclusively to Wade in these situations, as this team will only go as far as the NBA MVP takes them.
Handicapping the more talented of the duo because of past failures makes the Heat like every other team. Throughout this season and this postseason, LeBron has proven he is capable of closing teams out. Most nights, he should have the ball with the option to feed Wade.
Putting James in the corner and allowing Wade to go isolation is ridiculous, and it cost the Heat a Game 4 victory against the Knicks.
Boston Celtics - Experience
The C's have an unmatched level of experience on their roster. The best way for them to use this advantage is to keep games close. In crunch time, they will execute better than almost any team in the NBA.
Much of that credit goes to Rajon Rondo, who is one of the best pure point guards in the NBA right now.
However, Rondo is not the only Celtic with a well-defined role. Paul Pierce is the man for isolation plays, Kevin Garnett is the low-post option, and Ray Allen is the bomber.
The roles haven't changed throughout their time together, and now that they are healthy, they are as dangerous as ever.
L.A. Lakers - Inside Game
Kobe Bryant is an all-time great, but what really makes the Lakers a scary team is their frontcourt. When Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are playing well they can beat any team in the NBA.
Los Angeles certainly needs Bryant to put up points, but when the team's bigs are scoring, rebounding and clogging the middle on defense, they are at their best.
There are other players in the league capable of huge scoring explosions like Bryant, but no other team has a frontcourt capable of matching Gasol and Bynum when they are on.
L.A. Clippers - Chris Paul's Leadership
The Clippers barely made this list, but they are long-shot contenders. And Chris Paul is the biggest reason why.
The Clippers bench was great in Game 7 and serviceable in Game 6 vs. the Memphis Grizzlies, but CP3 is what makes them go.
He has had this team playing unselfishly and with confidence down the stretch. Paul is a winner and he has been successful bringing that disposition to a franchise that has never seen the like.
Oklahoma City Thunder - Chemistry
The Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are the closest duo in the NBA to the Heat's James and Wade. Both are capable of huge scoring performances, even though I think their offense depends too much on isolation plays.
Still, Durant and Westbrook are capable of taking over a game and getting to the free-throw line almost at will. These are valuable assets for any team to have in one player, let alone two.
To compound that, they have the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in James Harden. There are three players on this team with the ability to stuff the stat sheet on any given night.
Moreover, all of them could be the No. 1 option on several teams, yet you almost never hear of ego issues. This team has great chemistry and it is fun to watch.
San Antonio Spurs - Balance of Youth and Experience
The Spurs are flying under the radar right now. Despite finishing with the best record in the Western Conference, they aren't getting the same type of attention other teams are receiving.
But don't be fooled, they are for real.
Last year, their old nucleus was run off the court by a young and spry Grizzlies team, but this year the Spurs have a healthy mix of youth and experience.
Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are not depended upon to carry as much weight as they did at the peak of their careers, and Tony Parker has been playing at an All-NBA level this season.
Add in young players like DeJuan Blair, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and suddenly the Spurs are much more deep and athletic. This team will be tough to beat the rest of the way.
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