NBA Playoffs: 10 Players Who Need to Step Up Big
We are a little over a week away from the start of the NBA Playoffs and there are only three playoff spots remaining. Home court advantage has almost been locked up in the East and the West, as it appears San Antonio and Chicago will play at home for as long as they are around. While there has been some surprise teams, such as Philadelphia and Memphis, the usual suspects are heavily favored to win it all.
Here is a look at the 10 players who need to step up big in the playoffs if their team wants to have a chance to be the last team standing.
10. Landry Fields-New York Knicks
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While some might say that Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire or Chauncey Billups would be a better choice for the New York Knicks, Landry Fields is my pick. The East is loaded with potent shooting guards, such as Dwayne Wade, Joe Johnson, Ray Allen and Jason Richardson. If the Knicks want to make it past the first round, Landry Fields is going to need to play like a seasoned veteran instead of a rookie. The Knicks are currently in seventh place and are looking to play either Boston or Miami in the first round.
Fields has had a phenomenal rookie season for New York and will probably finish in the top five for Rookie of the Year. Fields has a good amount of scoring options at his disposal, as he has good three point range, but can also slash to the hoop and finish inside. He is great at rebounding for his size and averages nearly seven a game. If he is matched up against a smaller guard, he is comfortable backing down in the post.
There is no doubt about his ability and Fields looks like he will certainly be a quality player in the league for a long time. Where he will need to step up his game is on the defensive end of the floor. If he is saddled with the burden of guarding Dwayne Wade or Ray Allen for an entire series, he could be in some trouble. Although he has great size for the two guard, he doesn't have the quickness to keep up with either Wade or Allen.
If the Knicks look to make a deep run with their new crew, Fields is going to need to have a huge opening round series.
9. Tyson Chandler-Dallas Mavericks
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Once again, you might say that Dirk Nowitzki or Jason Kidd is more important to their teams success in the playoffs, but in the West, it is necessary to have a dominate force in the paint. For the Dallas Mavericks, that dominate force needs to be Tyson Chandler. As the Lakers showed us in last years playoffs, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom can be devastating to opposing teams. If the Mavericks want to be the team to make it out of the West, Chandler needs to continue to play at the high level he has played at for much of the season.
Chandler has been a decent center, but the move to Dallas in the offseason has seemed to re-energize his career. The past two seasons in New Orleans and Charlotte were disappointing and filled with injuries, but Chandler has been able to stay healthy this year for the most part. He can be a dominating force in the paint on defense, due to his amazing athletic ability for a player with his size. He is also good at running the fast break on offense and throws it down with the best of them.
Chandler is going to need to bring his A game to the playoffs if he is going to bang down low with the likes of Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Kendrick Perkins and Nene. He doesn't need to be the top scorer, but he will need to grab rebounds and play stellar defense.
If Chandler is consistently getting beat down low, the Mavericks might be swept in the first round by a lesser team.
8. Ty Lawson-Denver Nuggets
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Nobody thought the Denver Nuggets were going to be able to compete after trading away their franchise player in Carmelo Anthony and arguably their second best player in Chauncey Billups. However, the Nuggets have the third best record since the trade going 15-4 since February 21st. Most thought that the newly acquired Raymond Felton would takeover as starting point guard, but Ty Lawson has been playing so well that Felton has been relocated to the bench. Lawson is going to need to continue to play at a high level if Denver wants to continue their hot streak through the playoffs.
In only his second year, Ty Lawson is becoming one of the better young point guards in the league. He is lightning quick and nearly unstoppable in the open court. He is fantastic at running the fast break for Denver. He is a good man-to-man defender and uses his quick hands and feet to make defensive plays. Since taking over as starting point guard, his assist total has gone up to nearly seven assists per game.
The Nuggets are playing some of the best basketball in the league right now and Ty Lawson is the man who is running the show for them. He needs to continue to be a floor general.
If Lawson can penetrate at will and cause other teams to get into foul trouble, look for Denver to make a deep run in the playoffs.
7. Dwight Howard-Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic were part of a huge trade earlier in the season and even though it took the team some time to get it all together, they are in prime position to make some noise in the playoffs. They have arguably the best center in the league in Dwight Howard and quality role players in Jameer Nelson and Jason Richardson. The Magic are thin when it comes to big men, so keeping Dwight Howard on the floor will be essential to the Magic's postseason hopes.
Dwight Howard has been the best defensive player in the league for the past few seasons. He is physical, athletic and has great instincts on the defensive side. Where he has really improved this season is on the offensive end. He worked on his post game during the offseason and the result has been a career high scoring average. He still dominates the glass and with his added post moves, Howard is very dangerous on both ends of the court.
Where the East lacks is in quality centers. The only other center worth anything in the East is Joakim Noah, and he is way behind Howard in the talent level. Howard is going to need to stay out of foul trouble and more importantly, Howard is going to need to stay away from technical fouls.
If the Magic can pound the ball down low to Howard, there isn't a center in the East who can keep up with him.
6. Tim Duncan-San Antonio Spurs
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If I was San Antonio, I would keep Tim Duncan on the bench for the rest of the season. With Duncan, the Spurs are a threat to win it all. Without Duncan, the Spurs don't stand a chance to make it out of the first round. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are having great seasons for the Spurs and DeJuan Blair is having a quality sophomore season, but playing without one of the best players to ever play the game would hurt any team.
Tim Duncan has been one of the best players in the NBA for over a decade now and has been the key component to San Antonio's success during that time. He plays great offense and defense. He can play inside or step outside and hit the open jumper. He is a very fundamentally sound basketball player. He hasn't quite been his normal self this year, but he has been no slouch either. He continues to play at a high level and is still considered one of the top big men in the league.
If the Spurs want to be able to stick around with teams like the Lakers, they are going to need Tim Duncan to play like he was three years ago. DeJuan Blair is a good rebounder, but he would get dominated inside by the combination of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. Duncan is the key to a San Antonio playoff run.
If Duncan can do what he does best–rebound and score–the Spurs might be able to take home court advantage straight to the NBA Finals.
5. Kendrick Perkins-Oklahoma City Thunder
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have been playing great basketball all season long. While Perkins is overshadowed by superstar Kevin Durant, up-and-comer Russell Westbrook and even James Harden, his importance to Oklahoma City making it out of the opening rounds is vital. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you need a big body down low to win in the West. Oklahoma City is hoping that Kendrick Perkins is that big body.
Kendrick Perkins won't overwhelm anyone with his scoring ability. The Thunder have plenty of scorers, but what they need is a guy who is willing to bang down low, grab rebounds and out-hustle opposing players. Perkins is a quality rebounder, averaging nearly eight boards a game with Oklahoma City. He has a great motor for his size and he seems to get to more loose balls on the floor than you would expect with a center. His main downfall has been injuries, but it appears that he is finally healthy and hopefully, he will stay that way.
The Lakers appear to be the favorite in the West again and last year, Oklahoma City was close to taking them out in the first round. They won't meet in the first round this year, but when they do meet, Oklahoma City is going to need a presence in the middle. The Thunder haven't had a player like Perkins to team up with Durant, Westbrook and Harden and Perkins might just be the final piece of the puzzle in Oklahoma City.
If Perkins can stay healthy, the Thunder will look to take some revenge on a Lakers team that put them out of the playoffs last year.
4. Glen Davis-Boston Celtics
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The Boston Celtics have their big four in Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett and any of those players would have been deserving of this spot, but the nod goes to Glen "Big Baby" Davis off the bench. When Boston traded Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City, the only centers left on Boston were Shaquille O'Neal and Nenad Krstic. Well, Shaquille O'Neal is injured, and Boston doesn't know when he will be back and there is no way Nenad Krstic is going to be a force in the middle during the playoffs, so that leaves us with Glen Davis roaming the middle for Boston.
Glen Davis is one of the better bench players in the league, as he brings instant energy and hustle to the court when he enters a game. He has a knack for finding ways to score around the rim. He certainly won't overwhelm anyone with this athleticism, but he has a high basketball IQ and knows how to use his body on both offense and defense.
Losing Shaquille O'Neal to injury and trading Kendrick Perkins really hurt Boston's chances of getting back to the NBA Finals. They were manhandled by the Lakers in the post last year and if Shaquille O'Neal doesn't come back from injury, Glen Davis is their only big body who can bang down low.
Glen Davis doesn't need to score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds a game for Boston to make it back to the Finals this year, but he will need to play quality minutes for them to have a chance.
3. Chicago Bulls-Derrick Rose
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The Chicago Bulls have been the surprise team of the NBA this season. No one expected them to be looking at home court advantage in the East. The majority of the credit for this feat can go to third year guard Derrick Rose, who has been sensational. Yes, the Bulls added Carlos Boozer in the offseason, but Rose has stepped his game up and become the leading candidate for MVP.
Derrick Rose is having career years in scoring (25.1), assists (7.9), and rebounds (4.2). He has improved his outside shooting and his free throw percentage. He is most dangerous when he gets to the rim, which seems almost too easy for him at times. He is nearly impossible to contain in the open court, as he looks like he is twice as fast as any other player. He has become the true leader for the Bulls and is looking to lead them back to the Finals for the first time since Michael Jordan retired.
In Chicago, basketball begins and ends with Derrick Rose. He has looked like the best player in the league at times and when he is on the court, he makes his entire team better. He still struggles with his outside jumper at times, but if he can get to the rim at will, Chicago has a great chance to win it all.
Derrick Rose needs to assert himself as an offensive threat early and often in games for the Bulls to not disappoint in the playoffs. He has had a great season and I expect him to be even better for Chicago in the playoffs.
2. Andrew Bynum-Los Angeles Lakers
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Andrew Bynum is not the best player on the Lakers roster (Kobe Bryant). Andrew Bynum isn't even the best big man on the Lakers roster (Pau Gasol). However, Andrew Bynum is the key to the Lakers repeating as NBA Championships. The young center has been ravaged with injuries during his short career, but when on the floor, he gives the Lakers a frontcourt like none other in the league.
Andrew Bynum hasn't played more than 65 games during a season for four years, so to say he gets injured often might be an understatement. When Bynum is on the court, he teams with Pau Gasol to make a ferocious pairing in the post. He is a dynamic rebounder, a good post defender and has good post moves. He is only 23 years old and appears to be headed for a long career.
When the Lakers put Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol,and Lamar Odom on the court together, there is no team that can match-up evenly with them. All three players can rebound, score and play defense, but the key to the trio is Bynum staying healthy. If he remains healthy and continues to improve as he has been doing, the Lakers might be unstoppable.
Andrew Bynum has plenty of time left to be a dominating force in the NBA, but look for him to have a breakout postseason and lead the Lakers to another title.
1. LeBron James-Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat were supposed to tear through the regular season, win 70 plus games, and demolish everyone in their path to give LeBron James and Chris Bosh their first NBA Title. Even though things haven't gone as planned in South Beach, the Heat are still very good and certainly have the most collective talent than any other team. LeBron James is the one who will burden the blame if the Heat don't win it all, so you can bet he will come out to play during the playoffs.
LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. Period. There is no other player in the league who is even close to LeBron when it comes to athleticism and talent. When he wants to be and that is a big when, LeBron James is completely unstoppable. He is a 6'8" 220 pound beast of a man who can play every position on the court. He is a fantastic scorer, underrated passer and tenacious defender. There is nothing that LeBron James doesn't do well on the basketball court.
Teaming with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, LeBron James has the talent surrounding him that he has always wanted. Now, he needs to step up his game like he never has before and lead this super team to an NBA Championship.
If LeBron James plays at the level that we all know he can, there is no team that can touch the Miami Heat.
