The NBA regular season has come to a close. A season that featured the second-longest winning streak in league history (Miami Heat at 27); the LA Clippers’ first division championship and the LA Lakers unveiling their version of the Ringling Brothers circus now comes down to grinding out 12 more wins in four, best-of-seven series. Like other major sports, the NBA playoffs carries its own cachet and storylines created by hated teams, elite players and rising stars eager to define their own legends. While the presence of the game’s best increases a team’s championship chances a deep, post-season run may very well hinge on the contributions from these tested jugadores.
Manu Ginobili, Guard – San Antonio Spurs
How do these credentials ring when looking at this legendary Argentine player and what most consider one of the biggest steals of the 1999 draft (Manu was drafted 57th).
- 3-time NBA champion (all with the San Antonio Spurs)
- 2-time All-Star (2005 and 2011)
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2008)
- 2004 Men’s Basketball Olympic Gold Medalist (Argentina)
- Second player in history to win Euroleague and NBA championships
Time and again Ginobili has proven to be clutch, fearless and battle-tested; three attributes without which the Spurs are unlikely to hoist the franchise’s fifth championship trophy.
Pablo Prigioni, Point Guard – New York Knicks
An unusual NBA rookie at age 35, the Argentine-born Prigioni is known as a creative, pass-first player who is always looking to set up his teammates for that dime. A professional baller since 1995, Prigioni was instrumental in helping Saski Baskonia earn several titles in the Euroleague from 2004-2009 and also winning the Spanish Championship in 2008. Already a fan-favorite in New York, Prigioni’s tenacious defensive presence and floor generalship will be critical in his back-up of Raymond Felton if the Knicks wish to break their 40-year championship drought.
Brook Lopez, Center – Brooklyn Nets
Once the subject of extensive trade talks for Dwight Howard, the half-Cuban Lopez is also the twin brother of Robin Lopez and is one the most versatile big men in the NBA. Seemingly oft-injured, Lopez has elevated his game with an array of low-post moves and raised his defensive intensity averaging a career-best 2.2 blocks per game and his first All-Star appearance. Currently the team’s leader in points (19.4 per game) and field goal percentage (52.2%), Lopez, together with the starting backcourt of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, form Brooklyn’s version of the Big 3, a trio capable of upsetting higher seeds with the matchup problems Lopez creates for opposing centers with his long-range shooting prowess.
Al Horford, Power Forward/Center – Atlanta Hawks
Few low-post players in the game have the passing, shooting, rebounding and defensive versatility of this Dominican who won consecutive NCAA championships with the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007. Selected third overall by the Hawks in 2007 Horford, whose father Tito Horford played in the NBA, has progressively improved in almost every offensive category since his rookie season, especially in points scored (currently averaging a career-high 17.4 per game). A two-time All-Star and no stranger to NBA playoff basketball, Horford will need to deliver standout performances if the Hawks wish to silence the experts who have them bowing out in the first round.
Marc Gasol, Center – Memphis Grizzlies
At 7’1″, Gasol is the team’s third leading scorer at 14.3 points per game and leads the team in blocked shots at 2.0 per game. The younger brother of Lakers forward Pau Gasol, Marc, born in Barcelona, has tasted basketball success at the international level with the Spanish national team and earned gold and silver medals in the FIBA World and European Championships (2006-2011) as well as the 2012 Olympics. Playing in the relative obscurity of Memphis, Tennessee has allowed Gasol to quietly develop his game. Nearly immovable on the blocks, he has a deep shooting touch (he leads his team in free throw percentage), solid passing skills and a frame strong enough to withstand and deliver the physicality that is typical of the NBA playoffs.
Carlos Delfino, Forward – Houston Rockets
Another argentino, Delfino is the first player from his country to be drafted in the first round (selected 25th in 2003 by the Detroit Pistons). Following stops in Toronto (2007) and Milwaukee (2009-2012), where he had career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game, Delfino was traded to the Houston Rockets and is the primary player to complement the dynamic duo of James Harden and Jeremy Lin. Delfino and the 7th-seeded Rockets’ – with their high-octane, up-tempo offense – will be a nightmare opponent for San Antonio or Oklahoma City who are battling for top seed supremacy in the Western Conference.
Francisco Garcia, Guard/Forward – Houston Rockets
This is the quisqueyano’s first season playing with a new team. Garcia played with the Sacramento Kings who drafted him with the 23rd pick in 2005. Despite a downward trend in production due to injury in recent years, Garcia is a capable shooter and defender who flourishes in a fast-paced offensive system which makes him an ideal fit for this franchise. If he can regain the form that made him one of the Kings’ top players from 2007-2009 (pre-injury), he may be another reason why the Rockets pose a serious threat to upset any team in the first round and beyond.
Carmelo Anthony, Forward – New York Knicks
Last but certainly not least, this boricua baller has become the face of the revitalized New York Knicks. Anthony played one season at Syracuse University, during the 2002-2003 season, where he helped guide the Orangemen to their first ever NCAA tourney title in 2003. Anthony has seen just as much success in the pro-ranks, since entering the NBA, he was named to the All-Star team six times and to the All-NBA team five times. The 2012-13 season saw him clinch the NBA scoring title and lead the Knicks to their first division title in over 10 years. He’s on fire right now and the Knicks will need that scoring prowess to make a deep play-off run and possibly win their first title in 40 years.
If you are ever asked which animal is the most influential in all of sports, you’d be right in responding, “the monkey.” It’s the one creature that apparently keeps many of the world’s elite athletes from reaching the pinnacle of their sport by clinging desperately to their back. We’ll know in 28 games (or less) who can shake theirs.
Photo credits:
Manu Ginobli- Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
Brook Lopez- Lou Capozzola/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Al Horford- Mike Zarrilli/Stringer/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
Marc Gasol- Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
Carlso Delfino- Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images
Carmelo Anthony- Jeff Zelevansky/Stringer/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images