NBA Playoffs 2012: 5 Players Who Need to Show Up Big in Conference Finals

The NBA Conference Finals have featured some of the most breathtaking performances in NBA history by individuals who told their team, "Get on my back, and I will carry us to the NBA Finals."

In NBA Conference Finals history, there have been players that had to show up big to indeed carry their team in critical games or big moments.

There were a couple of Boston Celtic greats, Larry Bird in 1987 and John Havlicek in 1965, who stole the ball with seconds left to secure a victory in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

Moreover, big-time players show up in big spots. For example, in 1994 of the Eastern Conference Finals Reggie Miller had a 25-point fourth quarter against the New York Knicks carrying his team for the victory.

Then it was in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals when LeBron James, as a Cleveland Cavalier, scored 25 consecutive points against the Detroit Pistons en route to 49 points for the game and a win.

These players have proven they can step up in big moments, big games and get their team the win in the NBA Conference Finals.

Here's who will be this year's five players who need to step up big in the NBA Conference Finals. 

Tony Parker

Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs has been to the Western Conference Finals four times in his 11-year career, playing in 21 conference finals games.

Even more impressive for Parker is in those 21 conference finals games he has scored at least 20-plus points and dished out five assists on 10 different occasions.

Many critics think Parker is on the downside of his career at age 30, he has already four games of 20-plus points and five assists in only eight games in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. As a result, the magic number for Parker in this year's Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder will again be 20 and five.

Parker has always has been one of the quickest point guards in the NBA, utilizing his quickness to get high-percentage layups and floaters in the lane.

Additionally, Parker has been just as effective as dribbling through double-teams to find an open shooter or cutter in the lane.

This 2012 Spurs team has the perfect blend of youth and veteran leadership and it all starts with Parker running the show.

If older veterans are running the floor, Parker slows it down and speeds it up as soon as the younger guys come in.

Parker's play elevates everyone else on the Spurs and that is why Parker will have to show up big if the Spurs want another NBA title.

Parker will definitely elevate his game especially with Russell Westbrook of the Thunder guarding him in the conference finals.

We know Parker will use his quickness to get by Westbrook to score some easy baskets and draw fouls. But Parker is equally as brilliant finding his veteran teammates like Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. 

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder went to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 2011 and put up about 24 points per game and about five assists a game.

The problem for Westbrook during that conference finals series against the Dallas Mavericks is he shot under 40 percent from the field in three out of the five games and averaged six turnovers a game during the series.

Westbrook is an athletic point guard that can attack the basket at will, dunking with force, drawing fouls and creating havoc on opposing defenses.

In addition, Westbrook can also pull up and hit a mid-range jump shot. He can pass but is very turnover prone and is terrible from three-point range.

It is amazing what one year can do for a player like Westbrook putting the 2011 conference finals behind him and buying into the team concept, knowing his limitations and what his role is on this team as scorer/distributor.

In the 2012 NBA Playoffs, Westbrook is averaging 24 points a game, four assists a game and only one turnover a game.

Additionally, Westbrook has shot over 50 percent from the field in three of those games.

Westbrook is bigger and more athletic than Tony Parker, and as a result Westbrook will have to show up big for the Thunder and win the point guard battle with Parker for the Thunder to win the Western Conference Finals. 

Kevin Durant

Like Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, went to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 2011 against the Dallas Mavericks.

During the series against the Mavericks , Durant put up 28 points a game with nine rebounds a game. However, Durant struggled from the field as well shooting 40 percent or under in three out of the five games.

Additionally, Durant had one game in the series where he had nine turnovers.

Like Westbrook, Durant worked hard this past season and developed his jump shot; it's deadly from anywhere on the court, and he can shoot over anyone.

In fact, in the 2012 NBA Playoffs Durant has averaged 27 points a game, eight rebounds a game and most importantly has shot 50 percent or from the field in six out of nine games thus far.

Moreover, Durant has definitely elevated his game and proved he also has the clutch gene when it comes to taking over games in the fourth quarter or a game-winning shot like he did earlier against the Mavericks in these 2012 NBA Playoffs.

Furthermore, Durant will need to show up big for the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals as San Antonio will use a variety of defensive schemes to force Durant to shoot pressured jump shots. 

Dwayne Wade

Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat has been to the Eastern Conference Finals three times and has played in a total of 18 conference finals games. In five of those 18 conference finals games, Wade has scored 30-plus points.

In contrast, in the 2012 NBA Playoffs Wade has been battling injuries and deferred to teammate LeBron James and has not been his usual explosive self.

However, in the last series against the Indiana Pacers down 2-1 and without Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade erupted in the last three games of the series, as the Heat won all three games and Wade averaged 33 points per game during that three-game stretch.

Moreover, Wade has once again turned on the clutch switch and is attacking the basket more than ever. Wade understands just how much he has to take over and show up big for the Heat, now that Chris Bosh is out for the rest of the playoffs.

When Wade gets in attack mode watch out and when he forms the dynamic duo with LeBron James then its just a matter of time before we advance the Miami Heat from the conference finals to the NBA Finals. 

LeBron James

LeBron James of the Miami Heat, like Wade, has also been to three Eastern Conference Finals (two with Cleveland and one with Miami) and has played in a total of 15 conference finals games.

In five of those 15 games, LeBron scored 30 or more three times and 40 or more twice. LeBron just so happens to be the most polarizing figure in sports and in the NBA so he is the No. 1 guy that must show up big in the conference finals.

LeBron has had his share of moments when he supposedly gave up in the Boston playoff series when he was in Cleveland or when he played terrible against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals.

No one in this world needs to show up big in the Eastern Conference Finals than LeBron with Chris Bosh out. Wade has stepped up his game but LeBron has also been forced to defend all five positions from point guard to center on the court at times because of his height and ability to defend.

Moreover, in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, LeBron has been in takeover mode and has had four games of 30 points, five assists and five rebounds.

He also recorded one of the most impressive stat lines in NBA Playoff history wherein the Heat needed LeBron most in a pivotal game four against the Indiana Pacers he put up 40 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists.

Furthermore, LeBron is on fire right now and will finally prove his critics wrong in these Eastern Conference Finals and carry that momentum into the NBA Finals to win his first title.