To win the NBA Finals, you have to have multiple players that are on their game. Without that, there is no way that you can win a championship. Below are seven players that I believe NEED to ball out for their teams to have any chance of finishing the playoffs on top, starting with the least needed, and ending with the most needed.
1. Clint Capela
Capela is the only real rim protector Houston has and has stepped up his defense and shot blocking to a whole new level in the playoffs. Capela is going to have to defend Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the pick-and-roll, and how well he does that is going to influence how the series unfolds.
2. Draymond Green
Green is the heart and soul of the Warriors. His defense and effort propel the Warriors to another level. I think Draymond is the x-factor of this series. If he can make his three-point shots, that will force Capela to defend him on the perimeter, and open space on the floor for the other players on his team, the Warriors will pick Houston apart. It all starts with Draymond Green.
3. Chris Paul
The second member of the dynamic duo in Houston, Paul has been a welcome addition to the Rockets. However, he also has a reputation for choking in the big moments. When Harden failed to show up in Game 5 against Utah, Paul exploded for 41 points and 10 assists. It's going to be important that Paul be able to pick up the slack when Harden can't.
4. Jayson Tatum
Tatum, even as a rookie, has been a stabilizing force on such a young team. He's been a consistent scorer on a team that has needed one. If Boston is going to succeed, Tatum will have to be even better than he has been. He'll also have to defend LeBron James.
5. Kevin Love
Love is the only viable scorer on the Cavaliers apart from LeBron. While he has taken a back seat recently, Love reminded us all why he was a 3 time All-Star in Minnesota, averaging 20 points a game against Toronto. Love will have to keep that up if Cleveland wants a shot against Boston.
6. Al Horford
When the Celtics needed a basket, they always went to the veteran presence of Horford. He has been an anchor on this young team that really needed it. If Boston is going to have any chance against such a stacked Cavs team, they'll need their dependable big man to step up.
7. LeBron James
Let's face it: the Cavaliers live and die by LeBron James. If he doesn't play up to snuff, the entire team will go up in flames. He has averaged 34 points a game in these playoffs, including winning two games by himself with incredible shots at the buzzer. The Cleveland wants any hope of winning the series, let alone a single game, LeBron has to play, and on top of that, he needs to play his butt off.
