Substitutes may be the most important players on an NBA team. The five starters cannot all contribute 48 minutes to their teams' effort. It is key for championship teams to have players who can step up and give their all in limited playing time. The most important substitute is referred to as the sixth man, as they are the first option after the five starters. Which of the four substitutes are most likely to leave a lasting impact on their dynasties' runs at history in the 2022 NBA Playoffs?
Western Conference Finals:
Jordan Poole:
Image via Blue Man Hoop
Jordan Poole would be starting for any other team left in the playoffs but Golden State's roster is just too deep. Called up from the G-League near the end of last season, Poole was an instant impact player who filled the spot of Klay Thompson until his return in the middle of this season. Poole stepped up big time for the Warriors, averaging 19.5 points per game this regular season and playoffs. Poole jumps off the page as a player that could be a kick starter and lead his team to major victories in these playoffs. This will only be possible, however, if he can manage to keep up his offensive efficiency of this successful season, Poole will be the difference maker off the bench in Western Conference Finals and possibly onward.
Spencer Dinwiddie:
Image via ESPN
Dinwiddie may be the bottom of this list, however, he is also probably the most underrated. Averaging 13.7 PPG, Spencer Dinwiddie was often times a starter but has cooled down during the playoffs and now resides as the Mavericks' sixth man. He must step up big time as his counterpart in the series will be playing impeccable basketball throughout the seven games. Dinwiddie has stepped it up as of late and is stroking it at about 39% from distance. Throughout the end of the season Dinwiddie came in clutch multiple times making shots just before the buzzer to knock off both the Nets and Suns. Hopefully some of these heroics shine through in the conference finals, as the Mavericks need their bench to play extremely well to take down the Warriors and that fuse must first be lit by Spencer Dinwiddie.
Eastern Conference Finals:
Tyler Herro:
Image via Local 10
Surprisingly, the sixth man of the year is actually a dark horse candidate as the best substitute of the playoffs. Herro's effort and stats have significantly dropped coming out of the regular season and into the postseason. He was by far the most efficient substitute during the regular season, averaging over 20 PPG and making nearly half his shots from the field. He is now averaging about 13 PPG and shooting a putrid 25.4% from long range. With this decrease in offensive efficiency, Tyler Herro has seen a decrease of about five minutes of playing time every game. Herro must find his stroke if the Heat want to take down the Tatum led Celtics and advance to the NBA Finals.
Grant Williams:
Image via Hoops Habit
On a team that has no cemented sixth man, this article will look at the most likely to find that role during the Eastern Conference Finals. Grant Williams has started the last few games but is actually sixth on the depth chart of the Boston Celtics. He is taking the place of Robert Williams III, who's injury status has been recently updated to day-to-day, meaning that Williams will be playing from the bench for the remainder of the conference finals series. Williams has significantly stepped up his play during the playoffs, showing the true role of a sixth man. He is averaging about 5 more PPG than the regular season and about 7 more minutes of playing time. While Herro has been declining, Williams has stepped into the spotlight and may just be the difference in the Easter Conference Finals.
As the postseason begins to wind to an end, every game holds much importance. The teams are fighting to stay alive and continue in pursuit of a championship. Each team will need somebody unexpected to step up big time if they want to secure victories moving forward and the sixth man of each team might just be the ones to light that spark.
jordan poole best on the list tho