NBA Playoffs 2018: 5 biggest x-factors

It’s often the little things that decide a playoff series. Here are the x-factors who will shape the 2017-18 NBA postseason.

When J.R. Smith hit the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer off a pass from LeBron James, it felt like it would be different for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and the Cavaliers were down three games and staring down the barrel at being eliminated by the Golden State Warriors. After losing Game 3 at home, the Cavaliers knew they couldn’t give up the championship belt in Cleveland. After hitting his first 3-pointer, Smith came back a couple minutes later to make his second and give the Cavaliers a14-5 lead.

When Steve Kerr took Golden State’s first timeout with 9:22 left in the first quarter, it was already too late. Cleveland would outscore the Warriors 49-33 in the first period and never look back. They won the game 137-119–their only win of the series.

Smith ended up with 15 points in the game, making five of his nine 3-point attempts. James and Kyrie Irving carried the Cavaliers most of the season but, to beat the Warriors, they needed key contributions from role players. J.R. Smith, just as he had been for the 2016 championship team, was Cleveland’s x-factor.

Here we’re going to take a look at who the x-factors for the 2017-18 playoffs will be.

Before we begin, players dealing with or recently returning from an injury won’t be included. Obviously if Curry’s ankle remains an issue, the Warriors have a worse chance of repeating as champs. Guys like Jimmy Butler, John Wall, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Smart won’t be talked about here. That’s too easy.

Now let’s look at five of the biggest x-factors of these playoffs.