Every season, an unsung star steps up in the playoffs to swing a series or change the course of a game. Last year re-introduced us to the versatility of Andre Iguodala as he helped swing the NBA Finals on his way to a Finals MVP award. Guys like Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, and countless others have stepped up throughout NBA history on their road to a championship. Who will be that X-Factor this season? Let’s take a look at one player from every playoff team that needs to step up for their team to put their hands on the trophy in June.
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love
Last year, Kevin Love was injured in the first round against the Boston Celtics, and though the Cavaliers made it to the finals, many were left wondering just how good they might have been if he was healthy. Now is his time to prove it what he means to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Can he become the difference maker that pushes his team to the top? He’ll have to prove he isn’t a defensive liability and that he can consistently make open shots that come from playing with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James.
Toronto Raptors: DeMarre Carroll
Toronto was a tough team to beat all year, and that is why they are the second seed in the east. Much of that had to do with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, and now the Raptors will need Carroll to live up to the money they gave him in the offseason. Carroll was hurt for a long stretch, but returned to bolster the wing position. Should they eventually meet, Carroll will draw the assignment of guarding LeBron James, and Toronto will need him on top of his game to win that matchup.
Miami Heat: Joe Johnson
The Nets bought out Joe Johnson during the season to allow him to compete for a championship that has eluded him for his entire career. In Miami, he has been a valuable offensive weapon. Now Miami needs his veteran presence, leadership, and crunch-time scoring to show a very young team how to win. If he can be a complementary piece alongside Dwyane Wade, Miami could make a deep playoff run.
Atlanta Hawks: Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver had one of the great shooting seasons last year with the Hawks. For whatever reason, his shot hasn’t been as silky smooth this year, and his game has dipped as a result. Atlanta needs 2014-2015 Kyle Korver to stand a chance. When he stretches the floor and warps the opponents’ defensive structure, it opens lanes for the other Hawks to attack. Atlanta is still a dangerous team to play in the playoffs, but they aren’t a legitimate threat without vintage Kyle Korver.
Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart
Boston has a litany of guards at their disposal, with Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley leading the way. Their bench needs a point guard to lead the way too, and Marcus Smart needs to step up to lead them. He is a great defender, but his offense has lagged, and Boston will need a go-to rotation in the postseason. Brad Stevens likes to play 10 or more players, but he’ll need to trim that, as the games get tighter. If Marcus Smart can step up and bridge the gaps between when the first unit plays, the Celtics are as dangerous a team as any.
Charlotte Hornets: Jeremy Lin
Charlotte shocked a lot of people this year on their way to a convincing playoff birth. Their revamped offense and propensity to shoot threes led the way, but an unheralded signing also proved to make a difference. Jeremy Lin has thrived in Charlotte, and the Hornets will need him to continue to play at a high level to stand a chance. Kemba Walker is the unquestioned leader of the team, but without solid production from the supporting cast, especially Lin, he can only take the Hornets so far.
Indiana Pacers: Monta Ellis
Monta Ellis signed in Indiana this offseason as part of a total roster reset by the Pacers. They moved to small-ball, and Ellis was the linchpin of the entire operation. The results have been mixed, as the Pacers haven’t been very consistent, but still snuck into the postseason. If the Pacers can get Dallas-esque Monta Ellis production in the postseason, they’ll have a great shot at advancing. If not, they just don’t have enough offensive firepower to hang with the east’s elite, and won’t be around very long.
Detroit Pistons: Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris was a midseason acquisition from Orlando in a surprising move that landed Detroit a talented swingman who can play the three or four. Harris is extremely versatile, and he’ll need to do it all in a first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. If Harris can assert his will and keep LeBron honest, Detroit has enough weapons to make it a series. If he can’t, then Detroit’s surprising playoff inclusion will be gone in an instant.
Western Conference
Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes
The Warriors are on another level right now, and have been all season. Going 73-9 will earn you some high praise, of course. One player that needs to step up and play an important role this postseason is Harrison Barnes. Barnes is a key player for the Warriors and their small-ball and super small-ball lineups. He can play out of the post and space out to hit threes against bigger power forwards who match up against him. When he is on, he can swing a game, and something tells me he’ll have to for Golden State in the playoffs.
San Antonio Spurs: Danny Green
Last year Danny Green was a steady hand for most of the season, hitting a high percentage of threes and playing excellent defense on the guards he matched up against. This year, the defense has still been there but his shot has been hot and cold. Against the Warriors, he and Tony Parker were dominated by Golden State’s backcourt. That simply can’t happen if and when the Spurs meet the Warriors again. San Antonio is going to need Green to find his stroke and step it up to win a title.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Dion Waiters
The Thunder have one of the most potent one-two punches in the NBA. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are two of the top 10 players in the league, and are dominant enough to keep OKC in any game. However, the supporting cast has been less than stellar all year, and it has served as a weak link for a potent Thunder team. Waiters can change that conversation if he can prove to be a reliable third option and a difference maker on both ends of the floor. If he can change his own narrative of being a shot taker and not a true x-factor, the Thunder can prove that they're a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers: Jeff Green
Jeff Green has been a mystery throughout his career. He has all the physical tools and abilities to be a star, but has never found that next level and imposed his will on opponents for a consistent stretch. Doc Rivers traded for him because he’s seen that talent before and hopes he can catch lightning in a bottle for a playoff run. Can Green deliver? He’ll play an important role alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin if he can provide the wing threat that Los Angeles hasn’t been able to find. That is, however, a mighty big “If.”
Portland Trail Blazers: Al-Farouq Aminu
The Trail Blazers have been one of the surprising, inspiring stories of the season. After losing four starters and a few key bench players, Portland wasn’t supposed to be this good, this quickly. Instead, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum made it their personal mission to prove the doubters wrong. One key player who has to rise up alongside them is Al-Farouq Aminu. Aminu can certainly defend, but his scoring has been inconsistent. If he can win his matchup night and night out, and provide stellar defensive play, Portland has the firepower with Lillard and McCollum to outscore its opponents and advance.
Memphis Grizzlies: Lance Stephenson
When Memphis traded for Lance Stephenson, many analysts regarded the move as a head-scratcher. Stephenson didn’t seem to mesh for much of the season, but now has picked up his play recently. Part of this is due to the many injuries Memphis has endured this year, but now with Mike Conley and Marc Gasol out for the remainder of the year, Stephenson has to elevate his game even more. We know he can score in bunches, but he’ll have to prove he can handle a starring role and make an impact on both sides of the ball.
Dallas Mavericks: Justin Anderson
Dallas is like a basketball zombie. Every year you think they’re on their way to the NBA cellar, and every year they muster up enough fight and magic to make the playoffs. Dirk Nowitzki is still playing at an extremely high level, and the additions of Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews have certainly helped. One player who has stepped up and will have to continue to step up is Justin Anderson, the rookie out of Virginia. Chandler Parsons went down for the season a few months ago, but Anderson stepped in and the team hasn’t skipped a beat. He can defend and he can score in the flow of the offense, two vital roles for someone on a Rick Carlisle team. If he can keep it up, Dallas at least has a puncher’s chance against the Spurs in round one.
Houston Rockets: Dwight Howard
Finally, Houston snuck into the playoffs by the skin of its teeth on the back of James Harden. The Rockets will, however, need a throwback performance from Dwight Howard if they want to have any chance of making noise in the playoffs. If Dwight can make teams respect him offensively like the old Dwight who commanded defensive attention, the Rockets will at least have more than one option on offense. Otherwise, defenses can focus their attention on Harden, making his life miserable and his postseason stay a short-lived one.