Players Who Need to Step Up Their Game When The NBA Season Returns

By: Layth Dahman

Unless positive COVID-19 tests cause the season to be suspended again, the NBA is finally back on July 30. Here are the players who need to step up for their teams to remain elite or for their teams to take the next step forward.

Kyle Kuzma:

With Avery Bradley opting out of playing in the Orlando Quarantine Bubble when the NBA resumes, Kyle Kuzma's has become more vital to the Los Angeles Lakers’ success. Kuzma will dictate how far the Lakers go this postseason.

It has been a very frustrating season for Kuzma. He is used to being a main scorer, but he has been unable to adapt as a third scorer to Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Kuzma is averaging 12.5 points per game, 1.5 assists per game, and 4.5 rebounds per game. He won`t bring the mid-range shooting, three-point shooting, and defense that Bradley brings, but the Lakers need him to knock down open shots.

In the playoffs, teams will emphasize guarding James and Davis and will let other Laker players try and beat them. Kuzma will need to be a consistent third scorer who can score at least 15 points per game, for the Lakers to get past the tough Western Conference and get to the finals. Kuzma needs to step up his play, especially if they match up against the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs. The Lakers will be unable to match the Clippers’ depth and will need a third scorer to match the scoring of the Clippers’ bench. When Kuzma is not making shots, it is tough for him to get minutes as he is slow on the defensive end and guarding the perimeter. Kuzma must find a way to have a defensive impact on the game when he is not making shots. He also needs to improve his decision-making by taking fewer contested shots.

Joel Embiid:

Joel Embiid is a superstar and the best big man in the league, yet he has not been able to get past the second round in the playoffs. With the Philadelphia 76ers looking like a much different and slightly worse team than the year before, they will really need Embiid to play like an MVP candidate. Without Jimmy Butler, Embiid is going to have to take over the leadership role of the team that Butler had last year. The last two playoffs, Embiid has not played to the level he is capable of.

In the 2017-2018 playoffs, Embiid’s first-ever playoffs, he averaged 21.4 points per game, 12.6 rebounds per game in 8 games. He shot 43.5 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from three. Last year's playoffs, he regressed to an average of 20.2 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game in 11 games. Embiid had a 42.8 percent shooting percentage from the field and 30.8 percent from three. He struggled against a more experienced Marc Gasol in the playoffs. Gasol shut him down. He was very fatigued and was ill in that series. Gasol also sagged off Embiid many times, forcing him to shoot and operate from mid-range and three-point range rather than allowing him to play to his strengths and operate from inside, which limited his game. Even with the offensive struggles, he was still an elite defender. In the playoffs, Embiid had a defensive rating of 93.0 and was an elite rim protector averaging 2.3 blocks per game. Although his offense regressed from the playoffs in the year before, he showed promise on the defensive end, improving his defensive rating from a 98.6 in the 2017-2018 playoffs to 93 in the 2018-2019 playoffs. He was also blocking more shots from 2017-2018 playoffs to the 2018-2019 playoffs. He increased his blocks per game from 1.8 blocks per game to 2.3 blocks per game.

For the 76ers to take the next step and reach at least the Eastern Conference Finals, they will need Embiid to be more assertive on the offensive end and take on a bigger scoring role. Embiid will need to average at least 25 points per game and 12 rebounds per game on efficient shooting. He should take fewer threes. In the last two playoffs, Embiid has attempted 3.5 three-pointers per game. Embiid and the 76ers, are at their best when he plays inside the paint and post. He should limit his three-point attempts to 2 three-pointers per game. Embiid benefited the most from the NBA hiatus. This should be Embiid`s best playoff performance in his career, as he is fully rested and healthy for the first time.

Serge Ibaka:

Serge Ibaka was having a tremendous season before the pandemic and was on a roll. He was having a career year averaging 16 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game. He was very efficient shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three-point range, ranking 30th in the league for three-point percentage. He also became the first player in NBA history to have 500 three-pointers and 1500 blocks. Ibaka has been spectacular from mid-range, three-point range, and scoring inside. He plays with physicality. He is also an elite defender, anchoring the second-best defensive team in the league. He has a defensive rating of 105 to go along with 1 block per game. Although he can’t defend the rim at the level he used to earlier in his career, he is still an effective rim protector. The problem with Ibaka’s game is consistency. He is very streaky. This pandemic hurt his rhythm, especially with his level of play being the highest of his career. To be successful, the Toronto Raptors will need Ibaka to maintain the level of play that he was playing before the pandemic, especially now that they play team basketball rather than relying on a superstar player. Ibaka is required to make his open shots and anchor the interior defense for the Raptors to get past teams with more star power.

DeMar DeRozan:

With LaMarcus Aldridge being out, DeMar DeRozan is going to have to do what he does best and take on a larger scoring role. DeRozan will have more spacing to operate from the mid-range and inside with Aldridge out of the line-up. DeRozan is having another consistent year in his career, averaging 22.2 points per game, 5.6 assists per game, and 5.6 rebounds per game. He is an efficient inside scorer with a field goal percentage of 52.6 percent. DeRozan is going to have to find a way to translate his efficient regular season play to the playoffs. He has struggled to be consistent from game to game in the playoffs. He crumbles down the stretch with high-pressure moments when his team needs him the most. DeRozan also is a defensive liability and struggles to guard stronger players, so the Spurs will have to find a way to hide him on the defensive end. The San Antonio Spurs currently have a record of 27-36 which is four games back of the eighth seed, which means that they would just qualify for the play-in tournament. They cannot afford to head into the Bubble and go on a slump. For the Spurs to have a chance they will need DeRozan to play at a high level, especially with them going up against much superior teams. They will need DeRozan to facilitate the offense and score at an even higher level than he is right now. They also need him to play through the contact when refs don`t give calls. He is going to see a lot of defensive pressure especially with Aldridge being out. With DeRozan being a potential free agent as he can opt-out of his player option, he is going to be more motivated than ever to perform to raise his free agency value. The concern with DeRozan`s game has been his ability to perform in the playoffs and execute when needed. For him to get paid, he is going to have to show teams that he can be a consistent star player in the playoffs that can efficiently score when needed.

Eric Bledsoe:

Eric Bledsoe is a player who has struggled mightily in the playoffs the past two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. For the Bucks to take the next level and reach the finals, he needs to be a consistent third scorer behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

There has been a huge discrepancy with Bledsoe’s regular-season play and playoff play in the past two seasons. Bledsoe needs to find a way to translate his regular season play into the playoffs. In the regular season, Bledsoe is more aggressive driving to the rim and able to connect on more threes, but in the playoffs, when there is more pressure, he has a sub-par performance.

In the 2017-2018 season, after Bledsoe was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Bucks, he averaged 17.7 points per game, 5 assists per game, and 3.8 rebounds per game. He shot an efficient 47.3 percent and a respectable 34.7 percent from three. Bledsoe was a solid perimeter defender that year. He had 2 steals per game which was third-best in the league.

In that post-season, Bledsoe was outplayed by his matchup Terry Rozier in all facets of the game. In that series, Bledsoe dropped to an average of 13.6 points per game, 3.7 assists per game, and 3.6 rebounds per game in 7 games. He was very inefficient, shooting 44 percent from the field, and 31.8 percent from the three-point line. This has put more pressure on Middleton and Antetokoumpo, on the offensive and defensive end. This is a series the Bucks should have won, especially with the Celtics missing key players like Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. The Celtics were also an inexperienced young team in the playoffs and won all their games at home. Had Bledsoe upped his game, it could have given the Bucks a better chance to win a road game which could have led to a series win.

In the regular season of 2018-2019, Bledsoe averaged 15.9 points per game, 5.5 assists per game, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He had an efficient field goal percent of 48.4. He also shot 32.9 percent from three. He was also a good defender in the regular season and had 1.5 steals per game.

In last year's postseason, his play diminished from his regular-season form again. In that postseason, he averaged 13.7 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, and 3.7 rebounds per game in 15 games. He had an abysmal shooting percentage of 41 percent and one of the worst three-point percentages in the NBA of 23.6 percent. There was a tremendous drop-off in percentages from the regular season. His field goal percentage dropped by 7.4 percent and his three-point percentage dropped by 9.3 percent. This playoff run showed Bledsoe`s inability to make shots under pressure. The Bucks lost in the Eastern Conference Final to the Toronto Raptors in six games and Bledsoe was unable to step up when the Bucks needed him most. It was the Bucks’ depth that allowed them to get as far as the Eastern Conference Finals.

For the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo to reach their ultimate goal of winning a championship they will need Bledsoe to be a consistent third scorer who can average between 15 to 20 points per game on respectable field goal shooting similar to his regular-season field goal shooting percentage.

Gary Harris:

Gary Harris is the ideal defender in the league. He is averaging 1.4 steals per game and 2.6 deflections per game. He brings the defensive intensity and effort from game to game. However, for the Nuggets to go deep this year in the playoffs, he needs to improve his offense. The past three years Gary Harris has regressed on the offensive end. Harris lost his offensive rhythm after he suffered a knee injury in 2018, and he has never been the same since.

In the 2017-2018 season, Harris had a career season. He averaged 17.5 points per game, 2.9 assists per game, and 2.6 rebounds per game. He shot a high field goal percentage of 48.5 percent and 39.6 percent from three. On the defensive end, he was sixth in steals per game averaging 1.8.

In the 2018-2019 season, Harris regressed. He averaged 13 points per game, 2.2 assists per game, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He shot 42 percent from the field and 34 percent from three. However, Harris turned it around in the playoffs averaging 14.2 points per game, 2.3 assists per game, and 4.1 rebounds per game in 14 games. He shot 46.2 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three. He became a more efficient player in the playoffs and was perfecting his role. He was able to knock down open shots at a better rate and was making an impact for the Nuggets on the defensive end. He was able to help the Nuggets get to the second round of the playoffs and force a seven-game series against a tougher, more experienced Portland Trail Blazers.

This season however, Harris has struggled, averaging 10.4 points per game, 2.1 assists per game, and 2.9 rebounds per game. His efficiency has stayed the same at 42 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. The one thing that has always been consistent with Harris is his defense. Even with the offensive struggles, he can still find a way to have an impact on the defensive end. He is not letting his offensive frustrations affect his defensive play.

For the Nuggets to make a deeper playoff run and reach at least the Western Conference finals, Harris needs to keep up his defensive effort and improve his offense. Harris is required to be a three and d player who can make open looks from three and play defense, as well as improve his three-point percentage to be more effective. He needs to stay healthy. Injuries have been a setback to his career. In the 2017-2018 season, Harris had a career year, but it was cut short by a knee injury that allowed him to play only 67 games. He came back that season but lost his rhythm and the team was unable to make the playoffs. This season, Harris has played 56 games out of 65 games which is an improvement from the past season.

Mike Conley:

Mike Conley is one of the best point guards in the league, but is underperforming this season. He is having an abysmal season averaging 13.8 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, and 3.2 rebounds per game. With Bojan Bogdanovi? being out for the season after suffering a wrist injury and requiring surgery, the Utah Jazz will need to find a way to replace his production. Bogdanovi? was having a career year before his season ended due to his injury. He averaged 20.2 points per game, 2.1 assists per game, and 4.1 rebounds per game. He was shooting 44.7 percent from the field. He is also one of the best three-point shooters in the league shooting 41.4 percent from deep on 7.3 attempts. He ranked thirteenth among three-point percentage leaders in the league. Bogdanovi? has been healthy and has been there when his team needs him. This is the first time he has suffered a major injury in his career forcing him to miss time. It will be hard for the Utah Jazz to find someone to replace Bogdanovi?. Finding an elite three-point shooter and floor spacer like Bogdanovi? will be hard for the Jazz to do. However, the most likely candidate to step up and replace his scoring is veteran Mike Conley Jr.

Although Conley is having a tough year finding himself in Utah and being injured on two different occasions with a left hamstring injury, he is an experienced veteran and has had some big playoff performances. This hiatus has benefited him as he gets a chance to fully heal and find himself again. Last time Conley got a chance to be in the playoffs with the Memphis Grizzlies, he had a career year averaging 24.7 points per game, 7 assists per game, and 3.3 rebounds per game in six games. He shot a career-high 48.5 percent field goal shooting and 44.7 percent from three. This playoff, Conley will be motivated to win as he has not had a chance to compete in the playoffs since the 2016-2017 season.

Conley is built for the playoffs and plays with intensity. The Jazz need him to be a solid third scorer who can boost his scoring from 13.8 points per game to 20 points per game on efficient shooting. Conley will need to find a way to be more assertive on the offensive end with scoring the ball. The main reason the Jazz traded for Conley is that he was supposed to be the point guard to take them to the next level with scoring the ball, which was something that they have been looking for, for many years. Conley also must improve his playmaking ability, as his assists have fallen from 6.4 assists to 4.3. His assists should have gone up since he went from a rebuilding team in Grizzlies to a contending team in the Jazz but that has not been the case. Conley also has to find a way to get his teammates more involved. This is the third-worst season in Conley`s career with finding his teammates and getting them more involved on the offensive end.

Caris LeVert:

With the Nets missing DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Taurean Prince, Caris LeVert has a chance to do something special and finally break out as a consistent star. He will need to take on a large scoring load with all those players sitting out to keep the Nets in the playoffs and avoid the play-in tournament. LeVert needs to average at least 30 points per game and initiate the Nets’ offense. He is one of the few players right now on the Nets who can help create shots for others and himself. This season LeVert is currently averaging 17.7 points per game, 4.1 assists per game, and 4.1 rebounds per game on 41 percent field goal shooting and 38 percent from three. Although these stats aren't appealing, LeVert has had to adjust playing with Irving this year in the backcourt. He was stepping up when Irving was out keeping the Nets afloat. LeVert thrives being the number one option. Last year in the playoffs LeVert averaged a career-best 21 points per game, 3 assists per game, and 4.6 rebounds per game in 5 games against a tough Philadelphia 76ers. He was an effective and efficient player shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 46 percent from three. He was able to score many ways in that series from three-point range, mid-range, and driving inside. The only concern is that with his injury history, this added pressure may increase the risk for other injures. Many teams are going to focus on stopping LeVert and let other players beat them. LeVert is going to see a lot of teams putting pressure and double-teaming him.

Deandre Ayton:

Deandre Ayton has had a rough sophomore year on and off the court. Off the court, he took a diuretic which is a violation of the terms of the NBA and NBPA Anti-Drug Program, causing him to be suspended for 25 games. He also has had multiple foot and ankle injuries. As a result, he has only played 30 games out of the Suns’ 65 games. This hindered his development and cost him playing time he needed to develop his play. On the court, Ayton has the potential to be a dominant force at the center position. He can be one of the best centers in the league in the future. During this season, he is averaging 19 points per game and 12 rebounds per game on 54.8 percent shooting. He is a double-double machine. Ayton can score in many ways, inside, in the post, catch lobs, and shoot from mid-range. Ayton is a dominant defensive player. He has shown growth on the defensive end. Last season he had a defensive rating of 113.3 to go along with 1 block per game while this year in a small sample size he has improved his defensive rating to 108.4 to go along with 2 blocks. However, Ayton needs to develop his consistency from game to game. In some games, Ayton looks dominant, while in others, it looks like he puts up empty stats. He will also need to keep himself out of trouble off the court and stay healthy. He is critical for the Suns going forward.