One of the most intriguing elements of the NBA playoffs is what the spotlight reveals about certain players – especially those who weren’t expected to be in the spotlight at all.
We expect established superstars such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant to welcome the pressure of the postseason and elevate their play. That is part of the reason they are among the game’s best players.
It is also not that surprising to see very good players such as Stephen Curry and Mike Conley lift their games. The only doubts we may have had were created by the fact that their previous postseason experience was limited.
But when rookies, role players, reserves and benchwarmers step up and win games for their teams, they leave an indelible memory when we recall postseasons past.
From Glenn McDonald to Robert Horry to Steve Kerr, NBA history is littered with otherwise forgettable players who have used the game’s biggest stage to become unforgettable. And this postseason has been no exception, with five clear standouts.
HARRISON BARNES: After an extremely solid but unspectacular season somewhat mitigated by his flagging defense, it was unclear how big a role Barnes would have in the playoffs. In fact, he was on the bench at the end of Golden State’s postseason opener as coach Mark Jackson – as he did throughout the season – inserted fellow rookie Draymond Green for defense.
But Barnes has been a godsend for the Warriors in the postseason, sliding to power forward to replace the injured David Lee and elevating his game. He is playing huge minutes – topped by his 51 on Sunday – and averaging nearly 16 points per game. In 81 regular-season games, Barnes had four double-doubles and three 20-point games. In 10 playoff games, he has two and three.
“I know I’m going to make some mistakes,” Barnes said. “I do the best I can when I’m playing the four.”
“He’s a guy that’s not afraid of the moment,” coach Mark Jackson said. “Obviously a guy that embraces the bright lights.”
REGGIE JACKSON: No player still in the postseason has seen his role increase more since training camp than Jackson. In October, he was Oklahoma City’s third-string point guard. His progression to second string made GM Sam Presti comfortable enough to move Eric Maynor at the trading deadline, likely with the knowledge that All-Star starter Russell Westbrook had never missed a game in his career and was virtually indestructible.
But when Westbrook was lost for the postseason with a knee injury, Jackson suddenly became the starting point guard for a team with NBA Finals aspirations. While productive veterans Kevin Martin and Serge Ibaka have struggled to compensate for Westbrook’s absence, don’t blame Jackson. He has scored in double figures in every game since becoming a starter, averaging 15.3 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Thunder coach Scott Brooks is using Kevin Durant and the automatic double-team he commands as his primary playmaker. Even without the ball in his hands as much as usual, Jackson is finding ways to score and keep his team afloat.
NORRIS COLE: When Nate Robinson stole Game 1 for the Bulls by torching a Miami defensive unit that included Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen, it became obvious that Erik 
Spoelstra had to pull at least one of those players in favor of Cole, whose quickness would be a better deterrent against Robinson in the pick-and-roll. But there is no way Spoelstra could have expected what the second-year guard has provided on offense.
In each of Miami’s two wins, Cole has continued to back up Chalmers but has gotten the majority of the minutes to counter Robinson, who scored 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting with nine assists in the opener but has 28 points on 8-of-23 shooting with nine assists since. Meanwhile, Cole scored 18 points in each win, shooting 13-of-16 with a blistering 7-of-7 from the arc.