NBA Finals 2012 Predictions: 5 Bench Players Who Will Make the Biggest Impact

While the starters are going to get the majority of the hype for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat during the 2012 NBA Finals, it's the bench players who may decide the series. 

When two teams are fairly evenly matched, as these two teams are, it's the unheralded players who need to step up and provide the contributions necessary to steal a game or two. 

These are the five bench players who will make the biggest impact. James Harden is not being considered here because, despite the fact that he does begin the game on the bench, he is simply too good to be considered just a "bench player." The same is true for Chris Bosh, assuming he continues to come off the pine to start the games. 

Joel Anthony

As long as you don't pass the ball to Joel Anthony, you'll be fine. However, if you do chose to loft the ball into his massive mitts, you'll have to pause and cross your fingers to give him enough luck to catch it. 

Basically, don't expect much offense from this big man for the Miami Heat.

What Anthony can and will do is provide a defensive spark off the bench. If Serge Ibaka or Kendrick Perkins (unlikely as that may be) starts to heat up, expect Anthony to come trotting into the game ready to shut down the opposing big man.

Norris Cole

The rookie from Cleveland State has fallen far and fast ever since his stellar introduction to NBA fans just a few days into the 2011-2012 season, but he's shown that he has the moxy necessary to come up big when it matters most.

Cole has averaged 8.4 minutes and 1.4 points per game during the postseason thanks to an even more diminished role. However—and I really don't have much more than a gut feeling for this one—I can see him having one big game for the Heat during the NBA Finals. 

The little rationale I have goes as follows: Cole loves shooting and scoring. He doesn't hesitate to try to take over the game when he feels it's necessary. 

When the moment is biggest, Cole is going to want to shine the brightest. For just a short time, he might. 

Nick Collison

This backup big man for the Thunder knows his role and sticks to it. 

As his 9.1 usage rate and 3.4 points per game indicate, Nick Collison isn't made to be used on the offensive end of the court.

When Collison enters the game, it's primarily to fill in as a big body while Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins need rest. He's a decent rebounder and a terrific hustle player who won't hesitate for even a fraction of a second from throwing  his body in the way of an oncoming offensive player to draw the charge. 

Glamour is not the name of Collison's game, and it doesn't need to be. 

Derek Fisher

The lefty point guard may no longer be the decent floor general that he was when he won title after title with the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, I like to refer to him as the corpse of Derek Fisher.

However, Fish still has a flair for the dramatic and isn't ready to call it quits quite yet. He understands that his role on the Thunder is primarily to provide veteran leadership for the young members of the squad.

That said, he still has the ability to come into the game and hit one or two big three-pointers when the Thunder need points the most.

It would be a mistake to expect a 20-point explosion from Fisher, but he's almost guaranteed to make an impact in at least one contest.  

Mike Miller

Mike Miller has struggled immensely throughout the postseason, but he finds himself on this list for two primary reasons. 

If Miller does find his stroke, he has the ability to simply catch fire and drain one shot after another from behind the three-point arc. Miller can provide the quick scoring punch off the bench simply by standing on the perimeter and waiting for Dwyane Wade or LeBron James to drive into the lane before kicking out to him.

That said, he'll only be effective if he can start shooting better than 37 percent from the field. 

Additionally, Miller plays big for his size and can provide a nice rebounding boost for the Heat, assuming that LeBron James doesn't continue to gobble up every one in sight.