League's top Sixth Man not just any ol' guy off the bench

Basketball celebrates the bench more than any other sport. The "sixth man" is the label bestowed on the best of the bench brigade, even if he's not technically the first reserve to check in.

What does it take to be a solid sixth man? For some teams, it's firepower. Others look for energy. Defense and rebounding fit in there somewhere, too. Not all the best sixth men do everything, but the guys on this list do enough of something really well.

"It's one of the hardest jobs to do in the NBA," Mavericks super sub Jason Terry said. "You can have to come off the bench and produce right away. You don't get any warm-up shots. You don't have time to run up and down the court. They need you right away."

The following are NBA.com's top five candidates for the Sixth Man of the Year Presented by Kia Motors (stats through Wednesday):

Key stats: 77 games (38 starts), 8.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 54.2 FG%, 28.6 mpg.

Of the five included here, Varejao is the closest to losing his sixth man status. Going into Thursday, he had come off the bench in less than half of his games (barely), so the Brazilian still qualifies. That could change before the end of the season. For our purposes now, he's still a sixth man.

Whatever you want to call Varejao, you can't deny he's all hustle and heart. That floppy hairdo isn't fake hustle. Sideshow Jao gets a lot of his points by cleaning up missed shots around the basket. The 6-foot-11 forward hits the boards, and his length and quick hands lead to key blocks and steals.

LeBron James justifiably receives the vast majority of the pub, with Mo Williams carving out his niche in his first year with the Cavaliers. Still, championship-caliber teams need "glue guys." Varejao is the one in Cleveland.

Key stats: 77 games (5 starts), 12.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 45.2 FG%, 27.9 mpg

The 6-foot-9 swingman keys one of the most productive benches in the league. Portland's second unit outscores the opposition by nearly eight points per game, and accounts for nearly 35 percent of the team's scoring. Only Dallas' bench scores at a higher rate.

Outlaw has scored in double figures 56 times this season, including nine games of at least 20 points, and has paced the bench in scoring 37 times. He's also continued to improve his jumper, knocking down 85 3-pointers. Outlaw had only 68 in his first five years.

The Blazers also have clinched a playoff berth and are in the running for a top-four seed in the Western Conference. Outlaw's contributions are one of the main reasons. "Travis Outlaw has really done an outstanding job," Terry said.

Key stats: 78 games (18 starts), 14.9 ppg, 44.5 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 27.8 mpg

The star-crossed shooting guard isn't a big fan of his sixth-man duties. "I hate sitting on the bench, actually," Smith said recently. "It's something I have to do." If you have to do something ... might as well do it with some flair.

Smith has put together the best all-around season of his young career, averaging career-highs in points, minutes, rebounds (3.7) and assists (2.9). He's hit 20 points on 17 occasions and 30 on three, with a season-high 40 in 35 minutes against Washington a few weeks back.

The long-range bomber has connected on 166 3-pointers, with 129 of those coming as a reserve. The team record for 3-pointers is 168. Smith ranks fourth in the league in scoring for those with fewer than 20 starts.

Though he wants to start regularly someday, Smith acknowledged the logic of his current role: "It's best for this team right now."

Key stats: 71 games (11 starts), 17.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.9 rpg, 24.8 mpg

Robinson may be vertically challenged, but his hops and stature on the Knicks are not. The reigning slam dunk king is on one serious tear in just his fourth season overall and first under New York boss Mike D'Antoni.

Robinson is averaging about 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, 32 minutes and shooting 45 percent over the last 28 games. Included are 14 20-point performances, eight of at least 30 and another at 40. He's in the top 20 in scoring for all players after the All-Star break.

"Nate has been playing great," Hawks guard Joe Johnson said. "He gives the Knicks so much energy off the bench, and from what I've been seeing, he's been very efficient. He's making a good case for himself to get that Sixth Man award. He is making everyone take notice."

Even at 5-foot-9, Robinson is hard to miss. He tied the franchise record for most points off the bench (41) first set by Bob McAdoo in 1978. Robinson ranks second in bench scoring, and finished ninth in scoring for February at 23.9 points a game. He's also the first player since Magic Johnson in 1981 to record at least 30 points, 15 assists, nine rebounds and five steals in the same game, doing so earlier this season.

Key stats: 70 games (11 starts), 19.6 ppg, 46.7 FG%, 88 FT%, 33.6 mpg

The clear-cut favorite all season has yet to slow down. After transitioning to sixth man on a semi-permanent basis last year, Terry is racking up big-time numbers in his first full season as Rick Carlisle's designated assassin off the bench.

"I'm fortunate to have a guy like this in the prime of his career who is not only willing to make the sacrifices, but embrace the challenge," Carlisle said.

The high-spirited 10-year vet is averaging more points than each of the last 18 Sixth Man winners. Milwaukee's Ricky Pierce was the last Sixth Man recipient to average more than 20 points a game (23.0), in 1989-90. Manu Ginobili and Leandro Barbosa, two of the players Terry uses as a guide in this role, averaged 19.5 and 18.1, respectively, in winning the award the last two years.

"I'm not really sure where we would be without Jason," Dirk Nowitzki said. "Averaging 20 points in this league is tough ... It's even tougher when you are doing it off the bench. Every time he shoots it, I think it is going in. He is having a phenomenal season."

Terry has scored at least 20 off the bench 31 times, including 21 on Wednesday when the Mavericks clinched a playoff spot in the win over Utah. He's single-handedly matched or outscored the opposing bench 24 times this season, with Dallas sporting a 17-7 record.

Add it up and Terry appears to be a lock to join Antawn Jamison (2004) and Roy Tarpley (1988) as the third Maverick to claim Sixth Man of the Year honors.

"It's more of a fans' award," Terry said. "I always feel part of them. They're the sixth man. It is my role for this team and I try to be my best I can be at it, knowing that if I'm good, the team is going to be good."

If you have a question or comment for Art Garcia, send him an email.