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NBA Playoffs: How much does a good bench matter?

By FanSided Staff

Feb 22, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) comes off the bench reacting to guard J.R. Smith (5) reverse dunk during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Cleveland Cavaliers won 101-83. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) comes off the bench reacting to guard J.R. Smith (5) reverse dunk during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Cleveland Cavaliers won 101-83. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 17, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Nate Robinson (8) reacts after being called for a foul during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Nate Robinson (8) reacts after being called for a foul during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Role Players Make The World Go ‘Round

Even if you have a player who can do it all- defend, score, and rebound, you still don’t want them doing it all in the same game. In the playoffs, it just fails to work over a seven game series. Even the youngest and most in-shape players get tired. So why make a player like Jimmy Butler or Kawhi Leonard both guard LeBron James and be expected to put up 20 plus points a game? Have some role players in there to take the work load off.

This doesn’t just work for defending either. If you need a good free throw shooter at the end of the game, a role player can be huge. If you have a mismatch in the post and you need to throw and extra big guy in there to capitalize, why not do it if you have the depth?

These are all just a few scenarios that come to mind where a bench filled with guys who specialize in a specific role are huge down the stretch.

One of my favorite performances from a role player in recent memory came from Rajon Rondo’s backup point guard, Nate Robinson. After the Lakers realized that they didn’t need to guard Rondo from beyond the arc, they sank back in below the three point line and forced Rondo to shoot. Head Coach, Doc Rivers realized that this was the case so he threw Nate Robinson in there, a prolific three point shooter when hot, and he made the Lakers pay in game four with 12 points off the bench.

Having those go to guys you can throw in the mix of a do or die situation in the playoffs is of huge importance if you plan on winning. The Boston Celtics were able to do it in game 4 of the NBA Finals in 2010, just like so many others have filled roles similar to that of Robinson in the past. Just another reason why the bench is so important in the playoffs.

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