Most, not all.
There is always that other guy – or maybe guys – who turn the team into a contender. There are people who, despite being number two on the team, are indispensable.
This year, among the seven teams left fighting, this is still the case. Each team has a player it can’t win without.
Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade: Dwyane Wade has the talent to be a franchise guy. He has proven he can carry his team with Shaq injured (they played the last two games in Washington and both times Wade came up big and destroyed the Wizards even without The Diesel). Dwyane, like Kobe, has the talent to be the franchise guy. Dwyane, unlike Kobe, is smart enough to take a backseat to the most dominating force of this era, Shaquille O’Neal.
Indiana Pacers’ Reggie Miller: A couple of years ago, Reggie would have been considered as the franchise guy. The last few years though, as age kicks in Miller has relinquished his role as superstar in favor of Jermaine O’Neal. They still look to him to hit the big shots and the fourth quarter will always be Miller time as long as he is in the game. This surefire future hall-of-famer provides the Pacers with the experience and leadership that they need.
Seattle Supersonics’ Rashard Lewis: Few people in the NBA can claim to have scored 50 points in one game. Named an All-Star for the first time this season, Lewis has given the Supersonics that rare mix of size and deadly outside shooting. Rashard has flourished in the Seattle has set-up, which is highly dependent on three-point shots and perimeter jumpers. Rashard’s size (6 feet 10 inches) makes him a difficult match-up at the small forward position. Lewis’ inside-outside threat has clearly been a big boost in freeing Ray Allen for more open looks.
Dallas Mavericks’ Michael Finley: Finley is also in the decline of his career. A former All-Star and, once upon a time, the Mavs leading scorer, Finley provides his team and star player Dirk Nowiztki with solid outside shooting and leadership. Finley was a guy that used to rock rims with high-flying dunks early in his career. As he grew older, he shied away from the high-wire act and settled into a more perimeter oriented game. This season, when both Finley and Nowitzki scored 20 or more points, the Mavericks are undefeated. And, as seen in his 31-point performance in game two against Phoenix, he can still carry the offensive load for his team from time to time.
Phoenix Suns’ Amare Stoudemire: Stoudemire really looks like he’s the franchise guy because he leads his team in scoring and is the number one option on offense. However, he’s playing alongside the league’s MVP point guard Steve Nash so Amare has to be seen as the second fiddle. Amare is probably the second most dominant player in the league next to Shaq. Stoudemire has that combination of size, speed, strength and ridiculous jumping ability that has been responsible for all his monster dunks.
San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili: It’s really a coin flip choice between Ginobili and Tony Parker but Manu is an All-Star and Tony isn’t. Manu has that crazy, reckless game that seems to be contradictory to the personality of the Spurs, who are slow, methodical and business-like in their approach. Even though Manu has such an unusual game, it seems to be effective. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a Spurs game where Manu didn’t sink an acrobatic, trick-shot lay up. Ginobili serves as the spark for a team that can get stagnant on offense. He drives the lane with abandon and can knock down the outside shot.
Detroit Pistons’ Rasheed Wallace: Detroit is really a team full of sidekicks and role players. That’s the way their team was built. It’s obvious though that the Pistons’ heart and soul is Ben Wallace, and, as a team, they have taken on his personality. Rasheed, though, is the Wallace that put them over the top. He’s the guy that turned Detroit from good to great. His presence and demeanor provide Detroit with more of that toughness they exude. Also, let’s not forget that Sheed was once a 20 point 10 rebound guy in Portland and was an All-Star. For the Pistons to repeat as champs, they need Sheed to be productive.