Five Players to Watch in the NBA Playoffs
Added on Apr 19, 2013 by Scott in
No Comments
The NBA postseason will officially tip off tomorrow when the Celtics and Knicks take the court at 3pm. That series, and a few others, contain intriguing storylines and no shortage of drama. Will the Heat lose a game? Are the Warriors for real? Can the Kobe-less Lakers bounce the Spurs? How dangerous are the Knicks? Everyone will be paying attention to LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, but here are five under the radar players worth monitoring.
Luol Deng (Bulls) – With Derrick Rose a likely scratch, Deng will again be asked to lead the offensive charge. He logs a ton of minutes, contributes all over the floor and brings it on defense. However, his shot has been off most of the season and he is far from dynamic. This Chicago team wins with tenaciousness and patience, which perfectly describes Deng. If he plays to his potential, the Bulls should march on.
Paul George (Pacers) – No Danny Granger, no problem. That’s what budding star Paul George has been proving since last November. Like Deng, George is a do-it-all Swiss Army knife player who prides himself on being unselfish. However, he may have to be much more assertive on offense to raise the Pacers from trendy pick to legit contender. A strained abdomen won’t help his cause, though.
Marc Gasol (Grizzlies) – The Clippers like to run and gun, while the Grizz prefer a slower half-court tempo. The key to beating L.A. is forcing Blake Griffin out of the paint and limiting Chris Paul’s fast break opportunities. Gasol, the league’s most consistent low post defender, has the strength and shot-blocking skills to give scorers fits. He’s a savvy player who excelled versus the Clippers this season, averaging 16.8 points, 9 rebounds and 1.8 steals in four meetings.
James Harden (Rockets) – Okay, so Harden isn’t exactly under the radar anymore, but the fact that he gets to face the team he spurned and was eventually traded from only adds to the hype surrounding a Rockets-Thunder showdown. His dropped 46 on his ex-mates in Houston’s only victory versus Oklahoma City on February 20th. For the Rockets to have any shot, Harden will have to carry the load. An upset is unlikely, but it will be fun to watch.
Manu Ginobli (Spurs) – The veteran shooting guard returned to action in the Spurs season finale, but his health is still in doubt after missing the previous nine games with a bad hamstring. Besides Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, San Antonio lacks a proven offensive threat in the lineup. Ginobli must be in shape and on target for San Antonio to claim its fifth championship.
