5 NBA X-factors for the 2023 playoffs who aren’t superstars

We’ve all heard the tropes and the widespread sayings: star gamers win championships. The NBA season is lengthy and infrequently a struggle of attrition, the place the healthiest and most steady star groupings are those slicing down the nets in June.

Stars don’t get there alone, although. The postseason is unrelentingly brutal on function gamers, guys who both get picked on by these superstars or are tasked with stopping them. A playoff sequence is lots like a sport of chess: even when the queens, bishops, and knights are doing a lot of the harm, the pawns make for an important protection and might swing the battle in your course.

For groups with title hopes, there are a couple of function gamers on their group — both within the beginning lineup or off the bench — who can have a significant swing on the result of their sequence.

Steven Adams, Memphis Grizzlies

By most on-off metrics and different analytic indicators, Steven Adams has been the Memphis Grizzlies most essential participant. Adams has been out since January twenty second, and the Grizzlies are 4-7 in that span. They’re 9.2 factors per 100 possessions higher when he’s on the court docket than when he sits, and particularly stronger on the glass. Adams swings the rebounding margin of their favor drastically; the Grizzlies are one of many worst rebounding teams within the league when Adams isn’t on the court docket.

All of this stands to make Adams an extremely essential piece for the Grizzlies. On offense, he’s a relentless screener, an efficient finisher, and has improved this season as a playmaker atop the important thing when he will get touches. On protection, he patrols the paint and locks down different bigs down low, permits Jaren Jackson Jr. to chase blocks as extra of a assist defender, and is a good accomplice for Ja Morant in Drop protection.

On the flip aspect, Adams is a dreadful free throw shooter. He’s a profession 53.6% shooter and is right down to an abysmal 36.4% mark on the season. Opponents may need to contemplate embracing a hack-a-Shaq technique with him (outdoors of the ultimate two minutes) to see if the Grizzlies counter by taking him off the ground. From a pure metrics foundation, two free throws for Adams this yr leads to 0.72 factors per possession (PPP), a mark far decrease than their anticipated half-court creation.

How Taylor Jenkins balances Adams’ minutes — that are clearly optimistic however have an space to be exploited — may decide if the Grizzlies win a couple of shut video games in April and Might. The Grizzlies should survive the remainder of the common season first and monitor his minutes as he’s near getting back from a knee harm.

Donte DiVincenzo, Golden State Warriors

In his first yr within the Bay Space, Donte DiVincenzo has been a silent murderer for the defending champions. He’s averaging 9 factors a sport, capturing over 40% from 3 on excessive quantity, has over a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio, and is the group’s chief in steals. DiVincenzo had a sensational string of video games heading into the All-Star Break as nicely, averaging 13 factors and capturing 53.3% from deep over his remaining seven contests.

Whereas the Warriors are considerably small, they don’t pressure a ton of turnovers, rating center of the pack in steals. DiVincenzo brings the offensive firepower as a floor-spacer to go together with much-needed aggression on protection. He shoots passing lanes and is seeking to get out in transition, an space the Dubs haven’t hit as exhausting as they usually do that yr.

A wholesome Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole doubtless limits the minutes that Donte will play in a postseason sequence. However he’s earned at the very least a key spot within the rotation, and his championship expertise with the Milwaukee Bucks may also help stabilize a bench unit out of the blue skinny on offensive manufacturing.

Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers

Right here’s a [not so] trick query: which Cleveland Cavalier, with a minimal of 100 minutes performed, has one of the best internet on/off ranking this season?

Sure, it’s Dean Wade, the backup ahead the Cavs had been so assured in that they benched (after which launched) Kevin Love. Wade has been improbable by virtually each metric. He’s drilling 42% of his nook 3-pointers, has sensational defensive metrics when he’s on the ground, and is wise when attacking closeouts. Wade’s offensive function is considerably restricted because the fifth cog within the wheel, however he’s been actually good for the Cavs this yr and doesn’t get a ton of consideration.

Whereas Wade was out with an harm this winter, former third total decide Isaac Okoro stepped in a giant means. He’s shot 44.4% from 3-point vary since January eighth. Though it’s on pretty low quantity, his affect within the corners is essential round Cleveland’s pick-and-roll assault. When opposing defenses promote out to assist on Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley’s rolls to the rim, Okoro would be the open one within the nook and will get tons of seems to be as groups ignore him in favor of defending the basket:

The Cavs have been 10-4 since Wade made his return and are 22-9 total in video games he performs (they’re 16-14 when he’s out). Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Allen, and Mobley are the clear stars in Cleveland, however Okoro and Wade are needed items to flank them with environment friendly, mistake-free play. The role-playing wings holding up within the playoffs might be what permits the Cavs to tug off a shock run deep into Might.

Reggie Jackson, Denver Nuggets

Whereas a lot of the headlines talk about Russell Westbrook’s new arrival with the Los Angeles Clippers, the signing of Reggie Jackson by the Nuggets might be a significant game-changer for them. Simply two years in the past, Jackson was averaging 18-3-3 within the playoffs for the Clippers and going nuclear from 3-point vary. The minutes dipped this yr within the Metropolis of Angels, however his manufacturing as a spot-up shooter was official. Based on Synergy Sports activities Tech, R-Jax drilled 42.5% of his 175 catch-and-shoot jumpers this yr and 47.4% of his photographs off screens.

Taking part in in Denver’s Nikola Jokic-centered offense, Jackson will doubtless play off-ball extra in minutes when he’s with the primary guys whereas getting the lengthy leash to go rating it on his personal with the second unit. His expertise makes him a sneaky good acquisition and an essential piece for a Nuggets group starved for bench manufacturing.