Everything in the NBA playoffs is magnified. A big missed free throw here and a blown coverage there can make all the difference in the outcome of a series.
And like those handfuls of plays that swing the pendulum one way or the other, a viewer can often directly pinpoint which players are impacting wins and losses. It could be as simple as the star player either taking the game over or underwhelming. And other times it’s the role players who either rise to the occasion or don’t.
Such is the case for tonight’s three-game NBA slate. Let’s highlight a few guys who have not been good enough but could help their teams get back on track with big games Thursday.