Six Biggest X-Factors After The All-Star Break (wcgoldberg on the outsized roles played by Durant, Kyrie, A.D., Kawhi, KAT and Ingram to close out the season)
Every team has important players to that franchise’s own goals, but when considering the most important players to the NBA’s final stretch, as we’ll do here, we need to take a step back. Let’s take a look at which players can swing championship expectations or, based on these next couple of months, impact the shape of the league. Here are the six most important players after the All-Star break.
Over 16 games before posting a dud in the Clippers final game before the All-Star break, Leonard averaged 28.3 points on 52.9% shooting , 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists. If this is a sign of what Leonard will do after the break, the Clippers are nothing short of title contenders. The Nuggets and Suns should still be considered the favorites in the West, but the Clippers are a threat if Kawhi and Co. keep playing like this into the postseason. Since Kyrie Irving joined the Mavericks, he and Luka Doncic have run only three pick-and-rolls between them through two games. Beyond that, it’s mostly taking turns smacking the same piñata.
During the Lakers’ best stretch of the season – when they won 8 of 10 in November and December – he averaged 35.3 points on 64.8%/45.5%/88% shooting splits, 15.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.9 blocks and 1.2 steals. Nothing short of MVP-caliber play. The Pelicans are 7-15 since Zion’s injury – a stretch that included a 10-game losing streak – and have tumbled to seventh place. Fortunately for the Pels, Brandon Ingram recently returned from a toe injury and helped lift the Pelicans to a game over .500 coming out of the All-Star break. After Ingram injured his toe on Nov. 25, Williamson led the Pelicans into the thick of the playoff race. Now it’s up to Ingram to return the favor.
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