[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Every season, we see a team make the playoffs that has nothing but role players.  They compliment themselves very well and none of them want all the glory to themselves.  They play together as a group of veterans.

In 2004, we saw a team of role players win the title.  Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Wallace and Wallace were no stars in any way.  But they were tough role players that complimented themselves very well.

Since then, there have been a couple of teams with role players that have caused problems in the playoffs

• 2005:  Indiana Pacers made it to the 2nd round and took the eventual ECC to 6 games with only a young Jermaine O’Neal, a 39 year old Reggie Miller, and a young Stephen Jackson.
• 2006:  L.A. Clippers went to the 2nd round and took the Suns to 7 games with Brand, Maggette, Cassell and Mobley.
• 2007:  Golden State Warriors were the ulitmate upset and ultimate role player team.  Loaded with talent, Davis, Jackson, Richardson, Barnes, Harrington, Ellis, Biedrins, Pietrus, and Azuibuke, the Warriors beat the best team in the league in the first round.
• 2008:  No big upsets, except maybe an aging Pistons team making the ECF.
• 2009:  The Houston Rockets rocked the Lakers in the 2nd round, taking them to game 7 and wearing them down game after game with Ron Artest as their best player.  The Chicago Bulls with a rookie Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon nearly beating the Celtics in the most memorable series of all time.
• 2010:  The Milwaukee Bucks took it to Atlanta and made sure they weren’t going to lose without giving it all they had.  Losing in 7 games.

This year, we have the Denver Nuggets.  Stacked with talent.  Their bench of Felton, Smith, Chandler, Harrington, and Andersen.  Any of their bench players would make a great 6th man for several teams and would start on other teams.  A very deep team that plays together and compliment eachother very well.  They are literally 12 deep in terms of talent.  At this rate, they’ll play either the Thunder or Mavericks and can really cause matchup problems for either.  Kenyon Martin has played good defense on Dirk in the past and with many fresh legs in Danilo, Chandler, and Afflalo, Durant will have a tough time getting going.  Not to mention, speedy guards Felton and Lawson to play defense on the quick Westbrook.

This team, in my opinion, is going to be a tough out.  They can make the 2nd round of the playoffs where they’ll meet another elite team and make it a tough series.

[JoeWolf1]

 I loved that 07 Warriors team, they were a lot of fun to watch.

Wouldn’t you consider pre knee injury Elton Brand a star?  Especially in 06, He was an all-star in 06 and averaged 25 and 10 and was 2nd team all-NBA that was argueably his best season…he got MVP votes

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Yeah, I would consider him a star but I don’t think anybody thought they would go 2nd round and nearly knock off the heavily favored Suns.  That team was the closest thing to a role player team than any other team with post season success.

[The lake show2]

That Orlando team that made the playoffs when Tmac and Grant Hill were hurt is the ultimate role player team. I dont think there was any team with worst role players than that. Darrell Armstrong was there top scorer if I’m not mistaken

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 I think both Denver and Philly will be a very tough out in both conferences.

[SteroidParticipant]

Not only did those Pistons compliment each other well, but they played amazing team defense, and they had two of the best post defenders in the league on their team, let alone one of them was the best defensive player and rebounder at the time. That is what made them so good. I wouldn’t go as far as calling them a team full of role players… They were just a solid team. A team full of role players is something like a Cavs team without LeBron or the Magic without Dwight. I get the point you’re trying to get across though.

[nateoak10Participant]

 Denver, Philly and Portland are all teams with just solid players. No huge stars but just real solid players. I think the Blazers and Nuggetsget past the 1st round 

[Author]

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