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NBA Playoffs 2018: 5 players facing the most pressure

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 13: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets passes the ball away from Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on February 13, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 13: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets passes the ball away from Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on February 13, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The NBA Playoffs raise the stakes for players around the NBA. They get put under the microscope and the pressure increases. Here are five feeling the heat.

The NBA season is a long and winding road. The 82-game schedule tests everyone’s endurance, stamina and focus in the course of seven months. The team that is able to do the best consistently is the one that usually comes out on top.

It leads to that greatest reward — the playoffs.

Of course, the playoffs are a completely different animal. The daily grind of the season goes away. And all that is left instead is the mano e mano battle of the playoffs. This is where defenses load up against players and force them off their first option. The playoffs are the time to step up. Here are the players who have the most riding on the postseason. These guys are under the microscope as they define their career legacies.

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