Is Dwyane Wade still a top ten player?

Thunder forward Kevin Durant was quoted in an interview saying that Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade should be replaced in Sport’s Illustrated’s top ten list of NBA players.

While Durant’s comments sparked a little back and forth between he and Wade on Twitter, Durant raised a viable question. Is Wade still a top ten player?

Dream matchup: Heat's LeBron James versus Thunder's Kevin Durant

The NBA couldn't have asked for a better scenario than to have the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat meet up in the NBA Finals. Kevin Durant versus LeBron James and OKC's big three versus Miami's big three are the matchups that everyone will be dying to watch.

And there's no denying that how Durant and James play each other will be a big factor in deciding the outcome of this series as well as how Russell Westbrook matches up against Dwyane Wade and which player out of Chris Bosh and James Harden has a bigger impact off the bench. But while those matchups will be important, the outcome of this series could hinge even more on how the role players perform.

Thunder’s James Harden is the ‘Closer’

James Harden had his best game of the playoffs in Game 4 of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first round series against the Dallas Mavericks. Harden totaled 29 points, five boards, five assists and three steals off the bench as his hot fourth-quarter shooting effectively ended the Mavericks’ season.

Harden’s fourth-quarter performance was needed because the Mavericks weren’t going down without a fight and neither of the team’s two biggest stars was playing well enough to put Dallas away. Harden erupted though pouring in 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.

Could Derek Fisher help tame OKC's Russell Westbrook?

LeBron James publicly stated that he wanted Derek Fisher in Miami but it seems that Fisher is set to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder once he clears waivers. While his skills have eroded, players all over the league know how invaluable Fisher’s leadership and experience are to a team. Russell Westbrook and the Thunder are about to find out for themselves.