This year’s NBA playoffs are as tough to predict as any other in past years. There are many teams who have the potential to win it all and others have the potential to surprise some people. That being said, each team has an ‘X-Factor’ that could pay dividends when it comes down to deciding a series. That one guy who can change the course of a game or series and might need to in order to swing the momentum in favor of their team.
Brooklyn Nets: Bojan Bogdanovic
Nets rookie Bojan Bogdanovic quietly begun to come to life late in the season. In his last 10 games he averaged 13 points and 2.3 rebounds. The impressive part is his efficiency. Bogdanovic has shot 52.6% from the field and an impressive 48.8% from deep. The Nets likely will fall to the Hawks in the first round, but if Bogdanovic can keep his hot shooting going then his team should be able to put up a fight.
Boston Celtics: Isaiah Thomas
6th Man of the Year candidate Isaiah Thomas could give the Celtics a shot against the Cavaliers. He’s averaged over 19 points per game since being traded to the Celtics. Thomas is capable of going on hot streaks and can go for 30 any given game. If he can play to his potential the Celtics could manage to steal a couple games from the Cavs.
Milwaukee Bucks: Michael Carter-Williams
Since the 76ers sent Michael Carter-Williams to Milwaukee, he hasn’t really turned many heads(other than the game in which he dropped 30 on his old team). Carter-Williams flat-out can’t shoot, so the team will have to rely on Khris Middleton and Jared Dudley to stretch the floor. However, at 6’6″, Carter-Williams has great size and length for a point guard. He also has solid passing instincts. Carter-Williams is still getting used to the Bucks, but if he can start to mesh with the rest of the team, the Bucks may be able to challenge Chicago.
Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal
If the Wizards want to make a run for the championship, they’re going to need Bradley Beal to play at his best. Beal has averaged 15.3 points per game this season and has shot over 40% from 3. His numbers are respectable, but if the Wizards want a shot at the championship Beal will need to play a huge role. He’s the best shooter on the team, and can stretch the floor for John Wall to drive. A runner-up for this award is Paul Pierce, because that clutch gene of his could prove very helpful, even if he’s on the wrong side of 35.
Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas
The Raptors offense is their team’s cornerstone, due to their poor defense(23rd in the league this season). Their strong suit is guard play, with Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan handling much of the scoring load. However, they have a capable young big man down low in Jonas Valanciunas, and they need to mix it up and go to him in the post more often in order to keep the defense on their toes.
Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose
This one is obvious. If Derrick Rose can play anywhere near the MVP-caliber level he once played at, the Bulls will be huge contenders to win it all. However, Rose hasn’t been at that level since his injury. If Rose can stay healthy through the postseason and play at an elite level the Bulls will be hard to stop.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Team Chemistry
I was tempted to put Kevin Love for this one, but I feel that he essentially falls under this category. There has been tons of drama in the news surrounding LeBron and Love’s relationship, and while it is almost certainly being overblown, there is most likely some sort of rift between the two that started the rumors. The Cavs have arguably the most talented lineup in the NBA, and if they can play as a team, they can definitely win a championship.
Atlanta Hawks: DeMarre Carroll
Despite being the only non-All-Star in the Hawks’ starting lineup, DeMarre Carroll has a large role on this team. He’s a good 3-and-D player and the Hawks use him to play tough defense and spread the floor(39.5% from 3 this season). There’s no one superstar player in Atlanta, and they succeed just fine that way. All of their players are going to need to step up and play good, efficient basketball if they want to win it all. Carroll will be a big part of that. When Carroll plays well the Hawks play well.
New Orleans Pelicans: Jrue Holiday
The Pelicans will have their hands full in the first round, having to take on the best team in the league – the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis will be the most important player in this matchup, but if the Pels want to have a chance at an unlikely upset, all of their players are going to need to get involved. When healthy, Jrue Holiday is a good shooter, facilitator, and perimeter defender. He is a leader for this team, he just hasn’t been able to show it much lately due to injury. Holiday has averaged under 19 minutes per game in the three games he’s played since returning. The team will need him playing big minutes, and he will have the difficult task of guarding Stephen Curry.
Dallas Mavericks: Rajon Rondo
Nobody really knows what to expect from the Mavs this postseason. They’ve had a bit of difficulty with team chemistry since acquiring Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics. However, in past years Rajon Rondo has come to life in the postseason, playing his best in the big moments. If he can do that this year, as well as play good defense on James Harden, the Mavs have the potential take down the Rockets in the first round, and who knows how far they could go from there? In a way, Rondo is the biggest X-Factor of any team in the playoffs.
San Antonio Spurs: Danny Green
The Spurs have the same identity this year that they have every other. They play unselfish basketball. They make great cuts and gorgeous passes. Two years ago, in their heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat, Danny Green was on fire for the entire series. He made an NBA Finals record 27 threes in that series. Although the Heat went on to win the championship, there’s no denying that Green had the hot hand that series. If he can shoot like that again this postseason, the Spurs will be hard to beat.
Memphis Grizzlies: Jeff Green
When the Grizzlies acquired Jeff Green from the Boston Celtics, it was clear that they traded for him for his scoring ability. That’s exactly what they are going to need from him in the playoffs if they’re going to have a shot at winning. Green is clearly willing to do what it takes to win. He even requested to be benched in order to help team chemistry. Well, the Grizzlies are going to need Jeff Green to do what he does best this postseason: score.
Portland Trail Blazers: Nicolas Batum
The Blazers’ chances at a championship were decreased when Wes Matthews went down with an injury. Matthews brings a lot to the Blazers, and they will miss him sorely. Matthews’ injury means that Nicolas Batum will need to step up. Batum is a big part of Portland’s team. He’s sort of like a poor-man’s LeBron James: He’s a jack of all trades. He can shoot, drive, pass, and play defense. The Blazers will need him out there doing it all. This season, Batum has struggled with his shooting. He’s shot just 32.4% from deep, well below his career mark of 36.3%. His field-goal % is also down to 40% from his career mark of 44.6%. Batum will need to raise those numbers during the playoffs to help his team.
L.A. Clippers: Matt Barnes
Matt Barnes brings defense to the Clippers on the wing, which is something they desperately need, as J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford aren’t exactly lockdown defenders. The Clippers boast the best offensive rating in the NBA, but defense is half the battle. The Clippers will need Barnes’ defense to be there, and be excellent.
Houston Rockets: Dwight Howard
With all of the injuries the Rockets have struggled through this season, they will need Dwight Howard healthy and at his best. In the past few years the big man has gone from being the unquestioned best center in the league to maybe a top-5 center. Much of his decline has been due to injuries, and Dwight is still capable of being a dominant center. The Rockets will really need him to show up.
Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes
The Warriors have easily been the best team in the NBA this season. They have the second-best offensive rating in the league, behind MVP-candidate Stephen Curry and fellow Splash Bro Klay Thompson. They also have the top-rated defense in the league, bolstered by Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut. The Warriors(in my opinion) have the best shot at a title this year, and it would be hard for them to get any better. Harrison Barnes though, has quietly had a phenomenal season. The third year swingman out of North Carolina shot 48.2% from the field and 40.5% from deep. Both of these are by far career-highs. Barnes had a reputation of being a bit of a streaky shooter his first 2 years in the league, but not this year. If Barnes can keep playing his role and shooting efficiently, the Warriors will be even tougher than they already are.
