NBA Finals 2012: Top 5 Players to Watch in Championship

The 2012 NBA Finals is going to be a matchup for the ages as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade take on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Could you ask for more?

It's the battle of the big guns as James looks to finally put a championship ring on his finger.

Everyone will be talking about those top guys for the duration of the finals and for years to come, but there a bunch of other key role players who will make or break this series.

Let's take a look at some of the guys who will be serious game-changers for both teams.

Mario Chalmers

Outside of the Big Three, no one else plays as many minutes for the Miami Heat as Mario Chalmers.

He averages nearly 10 points a game and is a three-point threat.

Despite the fact that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade do a lot of the ball-handling, Chalmers is the team's starting point guard. He'll need to do an excellent job of setting up his star players and distributing the ball for this team to bring home its second championship in franchise history.

Serge Ibaka

The 22-year-old power forward from Congo brings a presence down low to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Serge Ibaka averages more than three blocks and nearly 10 points a game. His defensive presence and ability to stop LeBron James and Dwyane Wade when they drive the lane will be a major factor in how this series plays out.

Shane Battier

Shane Battier has seen a lot of playing time this postseason with the injury to Chris Bosh.

He is an excellent defensive player who has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. He's a 38.2 percent career three-point shooter who deserves the opportunity to take at least three to five shots from deep each game.

He's one of those guys that defenses lose track of easily when they're so heavily focused on stopping the Big Three.

James Harden

James Harden is the best sixth man in the NBA.

He also has the best beard.

Harden is deadly from behind the arc, shooting nearly 45 percent from three-point land during the playoffs thus far. And not only is he a threat from deep, but he also knows how to attack the basket with authority.

If the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to win this series, he'll need to step up big time.

Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh is the biggest X-factor in the 2012 NBA Finals.

He is finally getting back to full strength from his abdominal injury that sidelined him for a good chunk of the playoffs thus far.

Bosh averaged 18 points and 7.9 rebounds per game during the regular season.

He needs to put numbers like that, if not better, for the Miami Heat to have a chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Without his strong presence down low, it's hard to imagine this Miami Heat team coming out on top.