X-Factor Players (9) | Favrefan's Graveyard Blog

Every team in the playoffs has its stars, but they also have their guys that give to the team without much recognition. Certain players often determine the fate of a team in the playoffs, so I will highlight a key player for each NBA playoff team

EAST

Boston Celtics- Rajon Rondo. The Big Three will get theirs. Rondo needs to hit open jumpers, make smart passes, and drive defenses nuts with his drives.

Detroit Pistons- Rasheed Wallace. Who will show up? The man with the great post up game and interior defense? Or the man who ranges too deep and loses his temper? Pistons need the former to make it back to the Finals.

Orlando Magic- JJ Redick. Just kidding. Jameer Nelson. He's been a bit up and down this year, though having Dwight Howard makes you look good. He needs to be able to find his own points and keep setting up Howard down low.

Cleveland Cavaliers- Wally Szczerbiak. James will create a lot of open shots. The Cavs issues have been his teammates knocking them down. Wally is the best shooter on the team, he has to hit his shots.

Washington Wizards- Gilbert Arenas. He is usually a star, but how will he rebound from his injury against his greatest rival?

Toronto Raptors- Rasho Nesterovic. While no human came hope to stop Howard, Rasho can at least be a presence. He averaged a surprising 16 and 8, so he will force Howard to play defense and possibly get in foul trouble.

Philadelphia 76ers- Samuel Dalembert. Their surprise upset of the Pistons was fueled by their fast break in the third and fourth, and Dalembert started a lot of those with his rebounding and outlets. He also is a presence for Wallace and McDyess to work with on both ends of the floor.

Atlanta Hawks- Mike Bibby. They got him to help is a playoff push, but he's been very inconsistent. If they are to have ANY shot against Boston, Bibby will need to emerge as a leader and a performer.

WEST

LA Lakers- Lamar Odom. When he wants to he can be one of the best players on the floor, but he seems to disappear at key times. If the Lakers are to emerge out of the murderous West, Odom will need to be the former.

New Orleans Hornets- Peja Stojakovic. He's the guy who gives points to the Hornets when Paul to Chandler and Paul to West isn't working, and teams will find a way to stop that at some point in a seven game series.

San Antonio Spurs- Brent Barry. Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan will give consistent numbers, but when Duncan is doubled down low Barry needs to knock down the big three.

Utah Jazz- Kyle Korver. Like Barry, someone needs to hit the outside shots when the post is doubled. Korver is the guy.

Houston Rockets- Rafer Alston. When he is on, he is a borderline star. The Rockets are essentially T-Mac and a bunch of role players, and if Alston is on it takes a lot of pressure of McGrady.

Phoenix Suns- Boris Diaw. He is far removed from his MIP award of two years ago, but can still be a great distributor and becomes exponetially more important when Nash is on the bench.

Dallas Mavericks- Josh Howard. I know he is already established, but for the Mavs to make a serious run he needs to waken his inner Pippen, which he is capable of.

Denver Nuggets- J.R. Smith. He's been the x-factor all years for this team. If he can give them consistent scoring and play something that resembles defense on Kobe, the Nuggets have a shot.