All these years later, though, many don't even remember Steve's big shot. All they can remember is Michael Jordan (and sometimes Scottie Pippen gets an honorable mention). But who was it who actually hit the game-winner? Not Michael Jordan.
Role players are important.
So, who are the role players in the NBA today who aren't getting enough credit?
#1 on my list is the Trailblazers' second option, C. J. McCollum.
C. J. doesn't get enough credit due to the fact that he shares a backcourt with Damian Lillard. Many casual fans would be able to pick Dame Dolla out of a crowd, but have no idea who C. J. McCollum is. The stats, though, speak for themselves: in 81 games played this season, C. J. averaged 21.4 points, 4 rebounds, 3.4 assists. He shot 44.3% on field goals and 39.7% from 3.
Lillard's stats tell just about the same story: in 73 games played this season, the Dame averaged 26.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. His field goal % was 43.9%, and just 36.1% from behind the arc.
Sure, McCollum scores less, but both his field goal % and 3 point % are better than Lillard's. If McCollum had the ball in his hands as often as Lillard does, I'm sure he would score the same amount of points or more than Lillard.
When the Blazers play against my team, I feel more threatened when McCollum has the ball than when Lillard has the ball, and that should tell you something
#2 on my list is Al Horford from the Boston Celtics.
I, personally, am not a fan of Al Horford. This dislike probably has more to do with Horford's sister than it does with Horford himself, which isn't all that fair to Horford, but who cares? Why don't I like Horford's sister, you ask? She spouts her mouth off on Twitter worse than Ayesha Curry!
Cavs fans keep calling Al my husband. He's my brother. Im sure that kind of thing is allowed in Ohio but it's frowned upon most other places
This is just one of many, many examples of Anna Horford's asininity. If I was Al, I'd tell her to Tweet under a different name, please.
Anyways, back to the topic at hand. Al Horford doesn't get enough credit. It's easy to get overshadowed by players like Kyrie Irving, and even Gordon Hayward, who only played a few minutes this hole season, is always mentioned when fans speak of the Celtics. Not Horford, though. His style of play isn't at all flashy, so he goes largely unnoticed. He's like a Tim Duncan: workhorse, fundamental style basketball. He can get it done.
Also, in case you missed it, he hit a big game-winner, followed up with a game-sealing steal to put the Celtics up 3-0 over the Sixers just a few days ago.
Even though I don't like him, I have to give the man credit.
#3: Channing Frye
Many will probably disagree with this one. Frye's career stats are nothing special (in fact, they're pretty lame), and now he's just getting old. He barely played at all for the Lakers this year after being traded from Cleveland mid-season.
So why is Channing (not Tatum) so important to a team?
Frye is what NBA players refer to as a 'glue guy.' Glue guys are exactly what the name implies: they hold the team together.
It's a huge stretch to say that Frye was the most important part of the Cavs championship run in 2016, because to say that it wasn't Lebron would be unpardonable. But I honestly believe Frye was the second-most important part of that team. Before Frye was traded from Orlando, the Cavs' locker room was a nightmare; Lebron and Kevin Love could hardly stand each other. They tolerated one another for the sake of the team, but outside of practice or games they never said a word to each other. All of that changed when Frye hopped on board.
Specifically, what Frye did was as simple as starting a group chat with all of the teammates. The title of the chat was 'Bored' and he would often pose silly questions to his teammates when he was bored. This might sound like a little thing, but it was huge for team chemistry. As an added extension of the group chat, Channing would often post questions about dinner plans and could get everyone on board to go to the same place, something that rarely happened before his arrival.
Team chemistry can never be overestimated. And Channing Frye brings it hardcore.
#4 on my list goes to another Lebron teammate, Kyle Korver.
Kyle is amazing. I mean, just the fact that he could double as Ashton Kutcher gives him plenty of street cred, but to be good at basketball on top of that? The dude's got it all.
Not many people, though, realize just how much credit Korver deserves on the basketball court. Korver is, obviously, one of the greatest 3 point shooters of all time. He is 4th in all-time three pointers made, trailing only Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and Jason Terry. That's pretty good company to be in (other than Jason Terry, who is a shrew). Korver's value, however, is so much more than his shooting ability.
Lebron James plays a very specific kind of game, and that game requires elite shooters for him to have maximum efficiency. Lebron loves to drive the lane. It's been his bread and butter from the moment he picked up a basketball. When he drives the lane, he has two options: take the ball to the rack, or dish it out for an outside shot. With Korver on the floor, the lane becomes a highway. Defenders are forced to stick to Korver, so they can't sag and give help after Lebron blows by his man. And then, after Lebron makes two or three easy finishes, defenders have to start sagging to slow him down. Luckily, Lebron is one of the best passers in the league, and he will find Korver for the open three all night.
Kyle's game was made to supplement James.
And last, but not least, #5 on my list is anyone on the Rockets not named James Harden or Chris Paul.
The Rockets are obviously really good. The best record in the league speaks for itself. Most of the credit goes (rightly so) to James Harden and Chris Paul. However, their supporting crew is deserving of a considerable amount of credit as well.
If you've watched the Rockets play this season, you know that either Harden or Paul is on the court at all times. Coach D'Antoni has given them the green light to do whatever the heck they want. A lot of times, Harden will dawdle around the 3 point line, play some iso ball, then either take the ball to the hole or shuffle back (traveling about 90% of the time) for his newly-patented step-back jumper. Harden lead the league in points per game this season, so he's obviously doing something right. Chris Paul plays a similar game, but he isn't quite as confident from 3 point range and prefers the 15 footer from the free-throw line extended.
So what are their teammates doing while Harden and Paul are doing everything by themselves? Well, usually nothing. Capella will set a whole bunch of illegal screens, but most of the rest of the team will just camp out on the three point line waiting for an unlikely kick out. Some of them are lucky to take 2 or 3 shots per game.
Why, then, do I believe that these players deserve more recognition? Because of the sheer amount of patience and humility it would take to play in this system. No plays ever get called for them. Their stats are never going to look impressive. They probably get bored watching Harden shoot 30 free throws per game. Honestly, it would suck being on the Rockets. But somehow, these guys put up with it. I think that if they go all the way this year, it will have been worth it. But if they get beat by the Warriors next round, I can see a revolt developing. D'Antoni's system might just come crashing down around him, similar to his failed experiment with the Phoenix Suns last decade.
Honorable Mention: Zebow! the Alien here rarely gets the credit he deserves for playing the greatest
2v2 season of all time. Somehow, despite Zebow!'s obvious superiority, Kemp was named MVP. What a rip off.
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