NBA Castoffs with Chip on Their Shoulders Heading into Playoffs

The NBA playoffs provide a chance at redemption for a series of forgotten players.

Every team will need a lift at some point, and that help may come in the form of a minor role player. 

These players are typically forgotten signings that occurred at little cost to the team, sometimes in the middle of the season. They are able to give their team an edge because they are playing with a little extra juice in the tank.

That fire can come from playing for a contract, or some previous slight by another team. Whatever the reason, these guys could be more important over the next month than you might think.

Thanks to the chip on their shoulders, their team's previously pedestrian signing could prove the difference between a first-round exit and a lengthy playoff run.

Note: Statistics used in this story are accurate as of April 9.

Chris Andersen

Chris Andersen really had to work to earn his spot on the Miami Heat this season.

He worked through two 10-day contracts before being signed for the remainder of the year. Since joining the Heat, he has filled a void that has been there for a while. Andersen is an active and athletic reserve big, which separates him from the likes of Joel Anthony.

With Andersen on the floor this season, the Heat are an incredible 33-3. During the month of March, which featured a chunk of Miami's 27-game win streak, he was averaging 15.2 minutes a night.

Andersen adds just enough to the Heat, while taking nothing off the table. He's averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. His 56.4-percent shooting is great for a reserve big, and he is an acceptable 68.2 percent from the free-throw line. There is nothing about Andersen that is detrimental to the Heat.

Since it took until late January for him to find an NBA job, the fire has been burning for quite some time. 

There is nothing that will stop Andersen in the postseason from continuing to earn his keep.

Kenyon Martin

Since the New York Knicks brought in Kenyon Martin on Feb. 21, they are 18-6.

Why it took any NBA team until late February to sign the veteran forward is still a mystery. What isn't a mystery is what Martin has meant to the Knicks. 

Martin has completely devoted himself to making the Knicks a better defensive team. With him on the floor during their current win streak, New York is allowing just 90.4 points per game. That is 5.2 less points per game than their season average.

Overall, Martin is averaging 7.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Martin is only two years removed from averaging 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in the postseason with the Denver Nuggets.

The Knicks are in line to face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. This only adds fuel to Martin's fire, as the Celtics were close to signing him but backed out at the last minute.

Martin told ESPNBoston's Jackie MacMullan that he was definitely using his lengthy free agency period as motivation. "So now I'm here and I'm going to make them pay -- I'm going to make all the teams that passed on me pay," said a vengeful Martin.

It sounds like Martin will have a lot to play for this postseason, and that chip on his shoulder will only motivate him further.

Monta Ellis

This is year eight in the NBA for Monta Ellis, and while he is hardly a castoff, this will be just his second postseason appearance.

In 2007 with the Golden State Warriors, Ellis tanked in the playoffs. He shot 39 percent from the field and scored 8.5 points per game less than his regular season mark of 16.5.

Ellis is already one of the more questionable stars in the league, and his lack of postseason work is a big reason why. He'll have an opportunity to prove a lot about the kind of player he truly can be, when the Milwaukee Bucks head into the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

The Bucks appear to be in line to face the juggernaut Miami Heat in round one. An upset may be out of the question, but if Ellis can get the Bucks to be competitive in the series, he'll look a lot better when hitting the free-agent market either this summer or next.

Ellis has an $11 million early-termination option for next season. It is still unclear if he will be in Milwaukee long-term, or if he is even worth a big, long-term deal.

He should have a lot to play for in a couple weeks. 

Nate Robinson

While replacing Derrick Rose has been a complete team effort for the Chicago Bulls, Nate Robinson's presence has meant more than most.

Kirk Hinrich, Rose's main replacement, has been in and out of the lineup and missed 22 games this season. Robinson, on the other hand, has not missed a single game. 

The Bulls point guard is averaging 12.8 points per game, but has upped that to 16.3 since March 1. He has provided excellent scoring off the bench and even filled in superbly in 23 starts. Robinson has hit a bunch of big, crunch-time shots this year, as well.

Because his career has been so up and down, Robinson has been playing on a series of one-year contracts recently. His current deal with the Bulls didn't even become guaranteed until mid-season.

When the postseason rolls around, Robinson will be looking to prove himself on a grander stage in order to earn his next deal. More than that, Robinson will be looking to earn some real respect in the NBA.

Kyle Korver

After playing in all but one game with the Chicago Bulls last season, Kyle Korver was essentially shown the door.

The Bulls cut ties with him by shipping the forward off to the Atlanta Hawks for some cash and a trade exception. 

In two seasons with Chicago, Korver averaged 8.2 points per game, while shooting well over 40 percent from beyond the arc. Korver averaged 22.6 minutes a night for the Bulls last season, but suffered a nasty slump in their 2012 postseason loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

It has to hurt a bit whenever you are traded, but to be traded for no other tangible player could truly offend someone. Korver is now also playing for a contract, as he will become a free agent at season's end. 

Korver has come at this season with a new outlook and has performed extremely well in added playing time. He is getting 31 minutes a night and shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc, averaging 11 points and four boards. 

Korver has the kind of game that can definitely win the Hawks a game or two in a playoff series. If he gets hot from deep, he has the potential to go off for seven or eight threes in a game. 

With the added juice of proving Chicago wrong, Korver could be a big factor in the playoffs.

Jordan Crawford

What did the Boston Celtics give up to bring in Jordan Crawford? 

The Washington Wizards received Leandro Barbosa, who is out for the season with an ACL injury. They also got back Jason Collins, who has played in just five games since joining the team.

Crawford is playing 20.1 minutes a night over 23 games with the Celtics. He is contributing 8.1 points per game to the team. While it hasn't been perfect—he's shooting 38.7 percent—Crawford has helped the Celtics win games.

What Boston will need in the postseason, is for one of its background players to win them a game. Its stars are aging and dinged up, and the rest of the team is shrouded in inconsistencies. Crawford has the offensive firepower potential to be that guy.

Unfortunately, there is no chance for Crawford to get up for a big game against the Wizards in the postseason, as Washington is headed to the lottery. Instead, he'll have to draw that extra motivation out on the rest of the league in general.

Crawford has a lot to prove, as this will be his first foray into playoff basketball. He's under contract for another year, but if he wants to remain with a successful franchise, he'll have to prove he's worthy.