Posted on 4/21/2008 3:46:59 PM

NBA Basketball Betting - X-Factor - Important Reserves in NBA

By Eric Williams

The 2007-08 NBA playoffs got off to a stupendous start in the BetUS Sportsbook online basketball betting action with a rousing weekend of first-round opening games, it’s clear to see that the outcome of many of these postseason contests could be determined by each team’s key reserve players just as well as the big-name starters that usually grab the national attention for their respective teams with their often jaw-dropping play.

With fouls being used judiciously against the star players in the postseason and games often coming down to a grinding, half-court affair, the importance of quality reserve players is usually heightened at this time of the year each season and can often be the determining factor whether a team wins its playoff series or not

Here is a look at the most important reserve players competing in the 2007-08 NBA playoffs.

Manu Ginobili

First of all, let’s be real and admit that Ginobili could start for any team in the league, including the San Antonio Spurs. However, he has taken a role off the bench in order to make his collective team better and his contributions to the Spurs in his role as a sixth-man are undeniably invaluable. He has already almost single-handedly won San Antonio one playoff game already and the postseason has just gotten underway. What’s next for the smooth lefty? Enough said.

Gilbert Arenas

Arenas likes to shoot off his mouth a lot and has nearly all of his Washington Wizards teammates following along this postseason as they play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third consecutive postseason hoping for their first win. Now coming off the bench after a lengthy absence because of a knee injury, Arenas’ offensive contributions as a reserve will be vital if the Wizards are going to upset the Cavaliers and advance.

Brandon Bass

Maybe it’s me, but I’ve been saying time and time again that the Dallas Mavericks need a much better low post presence at both ends of the floor than veteran center Erik Dampier is currently providing and power forward Dirk Nowitzki ever will. Bass is a strong, athletic power forward who has contributed steadily off the bench for the Mavericks all season and would see increased minutes in this series if it were up to me. Bass brings a presence of toughness and rebounding that the Mavericks sorely miss and clearly need. Someone please give head coach Avery Johnson my phone number!

Boris Diaw

After watching veteran forward Grant Hill in Game 1 of this series, I’m thinking Diaw, should probably be seeing more minutes with his overall ability to bring more versatility to the table than Hill can at this stage of his magnificent career. Diaw has been a key factor for the Phoenix Suns in the postseason the last two seasons but has seen some of his minutes go to Hill, which, in my estimation, is a mistake on head coach Mike D-Antoni’s part.

J.R. Smith

Everyone knows that the Denver Nuggets’ Smith has a world of talent. Until this season however, he had never shown it on a consistent basis while often times making bad decisions off the court or with management. While the athletic and still young shooting guard could use a bit more consistency, it’s hard to ignore the fact that when he is playing at a near all-star caliber level, the Nuggets are extremely tough to beat.

Wally Szczerbiak

Maybe it’s me, but I don’t understand why Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown Playing has been playing Szczerbiak less than 20 minutes a game down the stretch, despite the fact that he is undeniably one of the best catch-and-shoot jump-shooters in the game today. After seeing Szczerbiak’s contributions in Game 1 against the Wizards, he should definitely be seeing more than 20 minutes per game for the remainder of this series and could turn out to be the guy that loosens up the inside for James with his outstanding outside shooting.

Jerry Stackhouse

The Dallas Mavericks may not know it, but after watching their Game 1 thrashing at the hands of the New Orleans Hornets, I can see Stack’s offensive contributions will be needed more than ever, particularly playing with a starting point guard in Jason Kidd who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn on most days.

Jason Maxiell

Maxiell is a regular in the Detroit Pistons’ frontcourt rotation and is a guy capable of playing all three frontcourt positions if necessary. His penchant to make timely defensive plays and overall youthful hustle has allowed the Pistons to comfortably rotate older veterans Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess with Maxiell seamlessly. Maxiell averaged a solid 10.8 points per game this season off the bench in 23 minutes per game.

Jose Calderon

Calderon is the other half of the Toronto Raptors’ solid point guard tandem behind starter T.J. Ford and has shown the ability to change the complexion of any particular game by getting his teammates involved and drilling the open shot when it presents itself.

Daniel Gibson

Gibson is a guy who hasn’t been heard from much this season after becoming a hero for the Cleveland Cavaliers in last season’s playoffs by taking a ton of pressure off of LeBron James by nailing seemingly every outside shot that came his way. Like Szczerbiak, if he catches fire, the Cavaliers will become a different team and much tougher out this postseason.

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