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Anderson Varejao
Cavaliers
The two words that best describe Varejao are activity and versatility. When he is active and versatile, he is a thorn in the side of opponents. But when he’s not, he becomes the guy who gets in the way. In the playoffs, the Cavs need their 6-foot-11 backup center to be creating havoc and not roadblocks.
When he is on his game, watch the high level of his activity, the number of balls he saves, all the things that he makes happen that bring about wins for Cleveland, but don’t show up in the box score. When he’s not playing well, and he’s not taking charges, and not getting rebounds, then the game becomes a lot more difficult for the Cavaliers.
Varejao plays the same way all the time, but sometimes the effectiveness just isn’t there. His athleticism and mobility are rare at almost 7-feet, and he knows in the playoffs, those are weapons he has to utilize over and over again.
Matt Bonner
Spurs
San Antonio’s deal is defense, defense, defense, but with no Manu Ginobili in these playoffs, they need offense, offense, offense. At 6-foot-10, Bonner has size working in his favor. He can shoot from the outside, but he will also be sneaky and get inside to get some of his points. If he can stay out of foul trouble, he’s capable of giving the Spurs some additional offensive pop.
Bonner is a big time deep threat. That’s basically why the Spurs got him because opponents don’t pay enough attention to him from the perimeter. They basically take him for granted while getting locked up in guarding Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Ginoboli, and Bonner ends up making open shots. They will now be sticking closer to him so he must still make some outside shots, get some rebounds, and provide a physical presence. He’ll help with his rebounding, and he can play some defense.
In the regular season, Bonner averaged 8.2 points, and 4.8 rebounds a game. If in the postseason, he could get between 10 and 15 points a game than the Spurs are getting a very productive night from him, which will help offset the absence of Ginobili.
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