Tell this man he isn't important
Jon Barry repeated the term "Star Player" at least fourteen times during the 2011 NBA draft, emphasizing that teams can't get to the playoffs and succeed without one. I have absolutely no problem with his logic. However, I think that people need to realize the significance of "Role Players."
Let me take the time to give a shoutout to the "Role Players" of the NBA. Most of the players in the NBA would be considered Role Players. If your team is blessed, you have one or two All-Star (or almost All-Star) caliber players. The rest of your team is there to serve a specific purpose. We have to understand that this is not the 2003 draft, where 4 of the first 5 picks (sorry Darko) immediately started and impacted their teams. But this draft will have it's usefulness, with young, eager players who can contribute. There is upside to having good role players/bench players on your team.
1. Role players, when plugged into the right system, can help your team flourish off the bench. When Jamal Crawford, the 6th man for the Hawks, comes into the game the offensive sets automatically speed up. Although I question his shot decisions at times, he hits plenty of clutch shots for the Hawks and gives them a lift from the bench. Having a player like him means more rest for the "Star Players" because there is not a need to play them to death. (Yes Miami Heat, I'm talking to you.)
2. Role players allow a team to switch strategies from the game to game. The Dallas Mavericks were good for this in the 2011 NBA Finals. JJ Barea sparked the Mavs offense by slashing to the basket and dishing out to the neverending list of shooters in the perimeter. He also, despite his height, took shots in the paint, causing Miami defenders to have to take him seriously. It is not always about the players on the court, but how you USE the players on the court. This is where having a good coach comes into play.
3. There is less emphasis/attention put on role players. There is more attention put towards the All-Star players. These players are double (and sometimes triple) teamed in defense schemes. They are the ones expected to take over the game during the critical portions. These are the guys who are supposed to hit the game winning shot that we all practiced as a child one time or another. It always seems to be a surprise when a role player hits that shot. A prime example of this is the man pictured above, Robert Horry. He hit so many critical clutch playoff shots that it was not even a surprise anymore when it happened. He knew his role.
4. Role players cost less money! With the impending NBA lockout on July 1st, one of the main issues of the CBA is how to implement a salary cap that does not take away from the organizations, while allowing the players to make money. There is a high possibility that teams will have less money to spend when building (or rebuilding)their teams. Coaches and GMs will have to be more critical in who they will chose for their specific systems and how much they will spend on them. This may discourage people who want to build more "Super Teams" because the money just may not be there.
So don't count out these 2011 draftee's just yet! After all, it takes about three years to determine the worth of a draft, and I hate assuming any of these players have a ceiling. There are always players in the draft that prove their critics wrong and exceed their expectations. And even if they aren't a star player, they still have the ability to be an impact to their teams.
