There aren’t any one man shows in the league. NBA teams need reliable role players to win championships.
Looking at the first week of the NBA Playoffs, there have been some unexpected and unfamiliar heroes. Troy Daniels of the Houston Rockets single handedly saved the Houston Rockets season last night with the biggest shot of the playoffs (next to Kevin Durant’s unbelievable 4-point play). Simply put, you’re not winning any championships, let alone any playoff series without reliable, confident role players playing at a high level.
Last years NBA Playoffs proved this point when Ray Allen hit arguably one of the greatest shots in NBA history with his late three pointer in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. His clutch shot gave the Miami Heat the victory, saving LeBron James’ legacy and forcing a Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat went on to win the 2013 NBA Title with Allen’s incredible shot. Ray didn’t crack the top 10 but he is a hired gun for the Heat and will be there when they need him the most. Definitely an honorable mention.
These guys might be overlooked, but they certainly aren’t undervalued. You may not be familiar with some of these guys, but NBA GMs, head coaches and most importantly their teammates know their worth.
Here are the 10 most important role players in the 2014 NBA Playoffs.
-Patrick Hazel (@pattywack25)
