NBA Playoffs 2011: LeBron James and the Most Important Players in the Postseason
The NBA regular season is slowly winding down, and the contenders for the 2011 NBA Championship have begun to distinguish themselves from the pretenders.
In the East, Chicago, Boston, Miami and Orlando have to be considered the only real threats to reach the NBA Finals, and in the West, most observers give the nod to San Antonio, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City.
Each of these teams has a very strong argument as to why it belongs in the championship conversation, but in order to prove it, certain players will have to step up and make their presence known in the playoffs.
I have compiled a list of the seven players who may be most responsible for their team's chances for success in June, and in some cases, the player listed may not be the team's most talented.
But in all instances, unless the players on this list are performing at their best in the postseason, then their respective teams have absolutely no chance at all of hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June.
I welcome any friendly debate, and please feel free to offer any players that you feel may be more important to their team's quest for the 2011 NBA Championship. Please enjoy!
7. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Thunder forward Kevin Durant may receive top billing in his team's quest for its first trip to the NBA Finals, but if the young Oklahoma City team advances that far, it will be because of the performance of point guard Russell Westbrook.
Few people mention Westbrook when discussing the NBA's top point guards, which is strange considering that he may be the most impressive physical specimen of them all.
His size makes it hard for smaller guards to defend him in the post, and Westbrook has the speed to blow past a defender off the dribble, or he can muscle him with his extraordinary upper-body strength.
Westbrook is also a great individual and team defender, as he has displayed great range of motion, and he plays the passing lanes well.
Last season, Westbrook was the Thunder's best player in their first-round-series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and in order for Oklahoma City to improve on last season's finish, Westbrook must elevate his game once again.
6. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
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There are very few people who would even consider the Orlando Magic to be serious contenders in the East, but center Dwight Howard is arguably the one player in the NBA who is capable of carrying his team beyond expectations.
Miami, Chicago and Boston may all be better teams than Orlando, but none of them have a player quite like Howard.
Howard's ability to dominate on the offensive end of the floor allows the Magic to stay competitive when their outside shots are not falling, but his presence on defense is what makes Orlando a contender.
Howard's 14 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game illustrate how complete his impact really is on defense, and the knowledge that Howard is lurking near the rim allows his teammates to take more chances on defense.
Howard's efficient offense and ferocious defense give the Magic a chance against any opponent in the postseason, and if his teammates' perimeter shots are falling, Orlando could surprise a few teams in the East.
5. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
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San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan may be having the worst statistical season of his long, illustrious career, but he is still the centerpiece of a potentially deep Spurs playoff run.
Duncan recently returned from a sprained ankle, and if his injury becomes a lingering issue, then San Antonio and Duncan can kiss any hopes for a fifth title goodbye.
Even though Duncan's skills have been diminished by age, he is still one of the top power forwards in the game, and the lack of quality post players behind him should frighten Spurs fans.
Tiago Splitter is a reliable backup, but he is a poor interior defender, and his offensive game has not developed to the point that he can be considered a consistent scoring threat.
Antonio McDyess and Dejuan Blair are both tough, sturdy players, but they are also undersized and vulnerable to taller, quicker players.
A healthy Duncan enhances the play of everyone around him, and he can make a mostly average group of interior players look dominant at times.
4. LeBron James, Miami Heat
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There is a continuing debate about whether Dwyane Wade or LeBron James is the Miami Heat's best player, but there is no debating James' importance in the Heat's quest for an NBA title.
Wade's 2006 championship season and Finals MVP trophy confirmed what he is capable of doing in the postseason when surrounded by comparable talent, and this season, James will finally get his chance.
James does not receive enough credit for his performance in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals when he averaged 38 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and he is often over-penalized for the Cleveland Cavaliers postseason implosion against the Boston Celtics in 2010.
In truth, James did look mortal in a few of the Cavaliers' losses to Boston, and in one game in particular, he was atrocious. But the fact that James was able to carry a roster of mostly marginal players to the top of the Eastern Conference is impressive.
However, his performance in the playoffs last season did leave some observers with questions about James' leadership, passion and dedication to winning.
This season, James is surrounded by superstar talent, and he has the chance to put any questions about his commitment to rest, but will he capitalize on the opportunity?
The answer to that question could mean the difference between a Miami championship and another disappointing postseason for James.
3. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
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I'm willing to bet that few people imagined that the Chicago Bulls would be firmly rooted as the East's top seed at this point in the NBA regular season, and even fewer thought that point guard Derrick Rose would be the runaway favorite for the NBA's MVP award.
The Bulls just about wrapped up the regular season conference championship with their victory over the Boston Celtics last night, but because of the play of Rose, fans are anticipating much bigger things in the postseason.
New coach Tom Thibodeau deserves credit for instilling a defensive mentality, but Rose is the engine that makes the team go, and the Bulls are capable of advancing as far as Rose can lead them.
Rose has been very impressive this season, and he seems to handle the pressure of late-game situations very well, but of course, the playoffs can be a different animal.
Rose has performed well in his two playoff appearances, but he has not been surrounded with the type of talent necessary to advance deep into the postseason.
This year, Rose controls one of the more complete teams in the East, but he and his team will still face questions about their inexperience, since they have yet to prove they can advance past the first round of the playoffs.
The Bulls and Rose will get their chance to silence their critics in due time, and thanks to Rose's talent, Chicago will likely begin the postseason as the top seed in the East.
2. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
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If the Boston Celtics hope to return to their third NBA Finals series in four years, then point guard Rajon Rondo will have to be at the top of his defensive and distribution game.
Some people feel that the Celtics nullified any hopes of a championship when they decided to trade center Kendrick Perkins away to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it will be difficult to replace the tough, physical attitude that Perkins provided.
But I wouldn't be too quick to write the Celtics off just yet, despite their recent struggles, because they still have the experience, talent and leadership to make a deep postseason run.
And the Celtics have Rondo, who is capable of dictating the outcome of a series with his ability to defend, distribute and control tempo.
Rondo has arguably assumed the title of the Celtics' best player, and although aging veterans Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce command key roles, it is the youth and energy of Rondo that can potentially carry Boston back to the Finals.
Boston is awfully thin in its frontcourt, and the center position remains a question mark, but if Rondo is at his best, the Celtics still have a decent chance to return to the Finals.
1. Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers
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Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol get most of the recognition, but if the Los Angeles Lakers hope to realize their goal of a three-peat, they will likely depend on the health and performance of center Andrew Bynum.
Bynum, Gasol and Lamar Odom form what is arguably the NBA's biggest and most talented front line, and Bynum provides a defensive edge and mean streak to what is generally seen as a finesse team.
The Lakers have reached the last three NBA Finals, but Bynum's ability to play through injury the past two seasons was the major reason for the Lakers' consecutive championships in 2009 and '10.
Bynum's tough-nosed interior play allows Gasol more freedom to roam the post, and his 12-rebound average over the past 20 games shows how dominant Bynum can be on the boards.
Lately, Bynum has ramped up his intensity in anticipation of the postseason, and he is playing the game with an understanding, focus and motivation that he lacked before.
Bryant and Gasol may still be the two players most responsible for leading the Lakers back to the NBA Finals, but their hopes of accomplishing history may rest on the broad shoulders of Bynum.
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