NBA: The 10 Essential Players Certain Teams Can't Be Without
Every team either has one, or needs one. A "heart and soul," go-to guy is essential for success in the NBA.
While it does take a complete team to win, teams must have a guy that is the proven leader.
Whether your go-to guy is a budding superstar, a proven veteran, or an ageless wonder, their must be someone that can take control of the game when it matters.
However, what happens when your best player goes down to injury? Who will the team rely on? How many games can they realistically expect to win?
Here is a look at 10 teams who absolutely can't afford to lose their best player, especially with the playoffs coming up around the corner.
10. Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
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This year's statistics: 20.9 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Impact on the court: Can we go ahead and nickname Kevin Love Mr. Rebound? Or how about Mr. Consistency?
Kevin Love now has 50 straight double doubles, tying the all time NBA record.
Even though he is the only presence the T-Wolves have down low, nobody can stop him.
Now we all know the Timberwolves are a bad team, but just imagine them without Love. It would be Cavaliers-esque, or worse.
Love is only 22, and will continue to dominate the post for years to come.
Kevin is in desperate need of help in Minnesota. The team is just 11-39 over the span of his 50 consecutive double doubles.
If we go back to the draft where Minnesota selected Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio back-to-back, they could have made some better calls.
Swap out those names with Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry, and the Timberwolves would be a young playoff team this year, similar to the Thunder.
9. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
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This year's statistics: 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Impact on the court: Garnett's numbers do no justice to how much he does for the Celtics.
Garnett has garnered the nickname of "bully" on the court, which is just what Boston needs.
They are a veteran group of players who aren't going to beat anyone by out running them or trying to be more athletic.
They have to play smart, rebound, and intimidate the other teams into believing the Celtics are truly better.
Garnett is enjoying his best year since his first in Boston, something Doc Rivers and company needed badly.
The team has had a lack of big men this year, and Garnett has been the only constant. They have lost Shaquille O'Neal to injury, Jermaine O'Neal to injury, Glen Davis to injury, and Kendrick Perkins to trade.
Boston desperately needs Garnett to stay healthy for possibly their last playoff run.
8. LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
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This year's statistics: 22.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game
Impact on the court: In his fifth year in the NBA, LaMarcus is having his best season statistically.
However, for the Trail Blazers, it's all about what he has been doing on the court rather than what shows up on paper.
Portland lost big pieces Brandon Roy and Marcus Camby to knee injuries this year, and Aldridge stepped up in a big way.
Aldridge has been asked to play out of position at center, which he transitioned smoothly into.
He is slightly undersized verse Western Conference centers, but it doesn't show when you watch him play post defense.
After being absolutely robbed out of an All Star spot, Aldridge played like an animal. In a three game span during mid February, Aldridge scored 42, 37, and 36 points over each game respectively.
With Roy and Camby back from injury, as well as the acquisition of Gerald Wallace, watch out for the Blazers in the playoffs.
7. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
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This year's statistics: 25.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game
Impact on the court: Bryant has been under high criticism this year, from the fans and even head coach Phil Jackson.
Bryant is in his 15th season in the NBA, and it has shown in a variety of ways. He doesn't have the same lift he did in past years, quickness, or explosiveness in his all around game.
Even though we can sit here and rip Kobe for what he has lost, he's still the Black Mamba.
Bryant will never lose the clutch gene he possesses, being able to hit big time shots without even flinching.
Bryant can still score as well, putting up over 25 points per outing.
Kobe tends to play injured, which will probably be no different during the playoffs.
6. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
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This year's statistics: 22.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and and 2.5 assists per game
Impact on the court: Dirk is as much a part of the Mavs as anyone has ever been.
The big German has been the face of the Dallas franchise for over 10 years now.
While he is averaging his lowest point total in over five years, he does more than enough to help the team.
Even though his scoring average is down, his percentages are up. Dirk is shooting career best in field goal and three point percentage, at 53 percent and 42 percent respectively.
With his points down and percentages up, that means that Dirk is very efficient. He scores more often on his shots, and moves the ball around to other quality teammates when he doesn't shoot.
Without Dirk, the Mavs would have no identity. His all around style of play makes him very difficult to guard, which opens up opportunities for his teammates.
5. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
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This year's statistics: 24.6 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game
Impact on the court: Rose is generally regarded as this years front runner for MVP, all for good reason. He has done anything and everything for the Bulls.
Rose is probably the most potent point guard in the NBA. He can shoot, drive, dribble, pass, defend, and dominate the game in so many ways.
It is rare to see an NBA team with a point guard as their best scoring option, but Rose is the epitome of that.
Nobody can guard him effectively, so he routinely takes advantage of smaller and less physical point guards.
Rose is a new breed of point guard, and the Bulls will need him fully healthy if they want a shot at a deep run in the playoffs.
4. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
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This year's statistics: 15.9 points, 9.6 assists, and four rebounds per game
Impact on the court: Chris Paul is the definition of court general for the Hornets.
New Orleans is probably the most overachieving team in the NBA this year. Besides Paul and David West, there is very little firepower in New Orleans.
New head coach Monty Williams has turned the focus to defense, which has worked very well for them.
They are beating teams by stopping them, instead of trying to outscore them.
Paul is easily regarded as one of the best point guards in the NBA, and this year is no different. He literally does it all at point guard, commanding and controlling the game every time he touches the ball.
Unfortunately for New Orleans, Paul is already the talk of speculative trade talks for next year. The Hornets will have to make some moves this off season to prove to him that they are serious about contending.
Besides that, Paul and the Hornets are good enough to hang with the elites in the Western Conference. If they can just let CP3 control the game, good things will happen.
3. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
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This year's statistics: 16.1 points, 11.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game
Impact on the court: Steve Nash has been the heart and soul of the Suns for years now.
The way he commands the game, pushes the ball while under control, knocks down open shots, and finds open teammates is just amazing.
Even though the Suns have had their worst year in quite some time, Nash has remained the constant.
At 37 years of age, Nash has been able to play at a very high level. Most guys in their upper 30s barely have anything left in the tank, while Nash shows that he plans on being in the NBA for years to come.
Phoenix is currently in ninth place in the West, just on the fringe of a playoff berth. It's almost impossible to imagine that Phoenix would be anywhere near that spot if Nash wasn't manning the offense.
Rumors of Nash being traded surfaced this season, but Phoenix did the right thing in not letting the stud go free.
Nash is the face of Phoenix basketball, and hopefully that will be the case for many more years.
2. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
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This year's statistics: 23.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game
Impact on the court: Dwight Howard has the ability that almost no one else in the NBA has. He can literally take over a game and win it by himself.
Howard is an absolute monster in the low post, and cannot be contained on a regular basis.
His body and frame are so strong and powerful that he simply bullies his way around for position. Nobody in the NBA has a body even comparable to Howard's, which makes him impossible to stop.
The Magic are very weak at power forward, which doesn't seem to slow Dwight down. It's basically him down low, followed by four guys around the perimeter that he can kick the ball to.
Without Dwight down low in that offense, Orlando would have nowhere to go.
Howard is constantly drawing double and triple team defense against him, opening up opportunities for his teammates.
Orlando would have no chance of doing anything in the playoffs unless Dwight Howard is healthy and ready to go.
1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
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This year's statistics: 28.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game
Impact on the court: The "Durantula" in Oklahoma City is Mr. Do-It-All.
He is a 6'10 small forward that creates match up nightmares for opposing teams. Not only is he tough to guard form a height stand point, his abilities make it nearly impossible.
Durant can dribble, shoot, drive to the basket, shut down opposing wing players, and make big shots when it matters.
Oklahoma City is sitting at fourth in the Western Conference, sandwiched between several veteran-led teams.
Durant and the Thunder had a scare earlier this week, when the youngster went down with what looked like a nasty ankle injury.
Fortunately for both, Durant is still young and can recover very quickly.
Don't take this pressure the wrong way Kevin, but you are the most important player in the NBA to your team.
