Cleveland Cavaliers' Top 5 X-Factors Entering 2017 NBA Playoffs

The Cleveland Cavaliers' regular season has officially come to an end, although most players appeared to have checked out by the All-Star break.

Entering the postseason with an 11-14 record over their past 25 games, the Cavs are expected to slowly crawl out of hibernation and perhaps begin acting like they want to win basketball games again.

While LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will lead the way, no team wins a championship without plenty of help from its X-factors.

Luckily for Cleveland, it has more than enough options outside of the Big Three to help out in a plethora of situations.

Whether it be during the opening round or another NBA Finals rematch, these five players all have the potential to play crucial roles this postseason.

No. 5. Deron Williams, PG

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

2016-17 Stats Per Game: 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 41.5 3P%, 20.3 minutes.

X-Factor Skill: Shot creation

Williams has been a steadying force in the Cavaliers' second unit since signing with the team in late February.

He's been more than good enough to earn playing time in the first few rounds, but what about the NBA Finals?

Last season, head coach Tyronn Lue all but abandoned backup point guards Matthew Dellavedova and Mo Williams against the Golden State Warriors, using LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to handle the ball on nearly every possession. James finished the series with a 33.4 percent usage rating, Irving a 30.9. The next closest starter was Kevin Love at 18.2 percent.

Despite his preference to keep the ball in James or Irving's hands, Lue said Williams has already earned playing time if Cleveland should reach the finals again.

"Oh yeah, for sure," Lue told Bleacher Report. "He's a savvy vet who knows how to play. He can play pick-and-roll, shoot the basketball. He just knows how to play. Starting out in Utah, where he had a great system and was able to run a lot of pick-and-rolls and know all the reads to the pick-and-rolls. He's been phenomenal, and it's great that we have him here."

Williams isn't just a relief pitcher for James, either. The four-time MVP is thriving playing off the ball next to the veteran point guard, making 68.2 percent of his two-pointers (30-of-44) and 40.0 percent of his threes (8-of-20) off passes by Williams.

When Irving and Love need a rest, Williams and James can keep the offense humming.

No. 4. Derrick Williams, F

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

2016-17 Stats Per Game: 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 50.5 FG%, 17.1 minutes (with Cavs).

X-Factor Skill: NBA Finals defender

The younger Derrick Williams won't see the court as much as his floor general teammate, but his impact may be more important.

At 6'8" and 240 pounds, Williams represents a hybrid defender who can play any role the Cavaliers ask of him. This would especially come in handy during a rematch against Golden State.

Williams, a free agent last summer, watched Cleveland win the NBA Finals and couldn't help but notice ways in which he could contribute.

"What Golden State does with their second unit, playing small ball, using Shaun Livingston, playing Draymond Green at the 5, Andre Iguodala—they have so many versatile players," Williams told Bleacher Report. "I felt like if I were put into myself into one of the defensive positions, I could have definitely helped guard them."

Part of Cleveland's 6'7"-plus Death Lineup that was used with tremendous success throughout February, Williams is ready to contribute in whatever way Lue wishes to use him.

"I feel like that’s where I’m most valuable, just not necessarily at one position but doing multiple things out there," Williams said.

Don't be surprised if the 25-year-old is benched for the first three rounds before popping up as a versatile, multi-position defender come Finals time.

No. 3. Iman Shumpert, G

2016-17 Stats Per Game: 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 36.0 3P%, 25.5 minutes.

X-Factor Skill: Wing defense

Cavs fans still long for the Iman Shumpert of the 2015 NBA Finals, the one who played through a shoulder injury to disrupt, frustrate and disparage Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with his tenacious defense.

Since that time, they've witnessed an extremely streaky shooter whose reputation as a defender far exceeds his production. While Shumpert has still excelled when guarding his man in isolation (26.2 field goal percentage allowed, 0.63 PPP), his ball-hawking ability and overall effort has slid.

Cleveland doesn't need him to be much of an offensive threat on the perimeter but instead to contain his shot selection and work to find better options on every possession.

On defense, you'll see Lue pair Shumpert with Irving in the backcourt so as to save his star point guard from taking on the tougher defensive assignment.

If Shumpert can play anywhere near the level he did in the 2015 Finals, he'll instantly become one of Cleveland's best reserves.

No. 2. Kyle Korver, SG

2016-17 Stats Per Game: 10.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 three-pointers, 48.5 3P%, 24.5 minutes (with Cavs).

X-Factor Skill: Instant bench offense

Thanks to a blistering-hot performance from outside the arc while in Cleveland, Kyle Korver's 45.1 percent overall success rate from deep led the NBA this season.

Korver gives the Cavs some much-needed shooting and offense in its second unit, one that's regularly sputtered when the Big Three sit together.

As one NBA scout recently told Bleacher Report: "The addition of Korver was huge. You've got two players (along with Deron Williams) in spots that are better now than last year, and they won the championship. Korver is an X-factor. He can be great."

As predicted, he's fit in beside James as well. Korver is canning over half his three-point attempts (50.6 percent) off passes from James, who studies how his teammates like the ball delivered.

Even with their ability to stretch the rotation to 10 or more, Korver is perhaps the only reserve who's a lock to play a big role in every postseason series. When he scores more than 15 points, the Cavs have gone 5-1, with the lone loss coming with a resting Big Three.

Cleveland will always need floor-spacing for James and Kyrie Irving to operate, and having the NBA's most accurate marksman provides just that.

No. 1. J.R. Smith, SG

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

2016-17 Stats Per Game: 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 35.1 3P%, 29.0 minutes.

X-Factor Skill: Two-way wing

From holding out for his $57 million contract during the preseason to breaking his thumb and missing half of Cleveland's games, it's been a fairly miserable season for J.R. Smith.

Mix in the lowest shooting mark (35.2 percent) of his career and some lackluster defense, and the 31-year-old hasn't even come close to resembling the terrific three-and-D star of the past few seasons.

Still, Smith could make up for everything now.

Cleveland needs his focus and intensity on defense and to knock down open shots when given the opportunity. Lue still refers to Smith as the team's best wing defender, a status he's certainly proved capable of deserving.

"Playing both sides of the floor, guarding, his energy level is high, knocking down shots, and it's another threat on the floor for our team, and that works out wonders for our ballclub," LeBron James said, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.

While Shumpert can defend wings and Korver can hit threes in their face, only Smith can do both when locked in.

The team's ultimate X-factor, Smith needs a strong postseason to bounce back from an otherwise forgettable year.

Stats via Basketball Reference and NBA.com and are accurate through April 12.

Greg Swartz is the Cleveland Cavaliers Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.