Who Will Take The Lead?

With the NBA two weeks away from resuming, there are specific players who will make or break the season for their respective teams.

10. De’Aaron Fox – A player who’s injuries have stunted his team’s potential the last few years, Fox will need to be efficient in his three-point shot (30.7 %), his free-throw percentage (70.3%) and command the floor like he was drafted to do.

9. Lonzo Ball – With a team built to space the floor and run the fast break, Ball has to play to his strengths to guide his team correctly. He doesn’t always set out to command the game and becomes very passive, allowing the other team to control the momentum throughout. Although, if Ball gets a head start on pushing the tempo, leads by example and trusts his own shot then the Pelicans will ease to the eighth position.

8. DeMar DeRozan – A player who always seems to sit on the bubble of “good not great”, DeRozan finds himself in the same position he was always in with his former team. He does enough for himself to maintain a good stat line, but doesn’t compliment other players as much as he needs to. He’s been a vocal leader in playoff scenarios with Toronto but has yet to create that image for his current team, the Spurs. For his team to find success in this regular eight game season, he will need to build trust in others’ playmaking abilities and be the loudest on the team.

7. Carmelo Anthony – The Blazers have never had a sustainable small forward that could ease the pressure off their all-star guards like they do now. He’s a first ballot hall of fame player for a reason. Anthony still has so much left to give, he’s proven he’s more than capable but has done so inconsistently. Anthony will need to run more with the second unit when Lillard and McCollum are resting because there he will be able to lead the play. Right now, he’s used more as a spot-up shooter and a off-the-ball player, which is fine if that’s all the team needed. However, they need other dominating scoring, specifically the mid-range game to space the floor.

6. Mo Bamba – As a 7-foot big man in this game, it’s expected that a player would command the rebound and pose as a viable threat in the paint. Although, Bamba hasn’t shown anything that translates to being a professional, he’s even been removed from the rotation on some occasions. If Bamaba learns to move his feet on defensive schemes and uses his long wingspan, he will then help the second unit control the game enough for the starting five to close out games.

5. Donovan Mitchell – The Jazz will go as far as Mitchell will take them. He has been the face of this Utah team since he was drafted, and has shown when he’s on fire the team succeeds. He needs to make sure the team is on the same page and issues that were once headline news remain in the past, so that the chemistry remains strong. Mitchell is unselfish and dominant in all facets of the game, so if he can be consistent the Jazz will have another year upsetting teams down the road.

4. Kyle Kuzma – Once thought to better than All-Star Jayson Tatum, Kuzma has yet to find an identity on a heavily pressured Lakers team. He’s shown the most impact in the stretch-four position with the starting five. He’s very capable of making transition threes, getting to the open spot, and not needing the spotlight. He needs to worry less and just play freely without walking on egg shells.

3. Ben Simmons – Recently he has been positioned at the power forward spot, which should create a better offense for the Sixers. Simmons has shown to be useless in half-court scenarios and shouldn’t be the one dictating the floor. He’s shown flashes of offensive upside when positioned at the post and he needs to make that a definitive part of his game. He has been a let down for the Sixers, who selected him first overall and in order to pass the top teams in the East he will need to be an offensive threat.

2. Jimmy Butler – Butler really showed he was a playmaker with the Sixers last year and it was what intrigued Miami so much to sign him this year. That being said, Miami has enough fire power offensively that he could focus his game elsewhere, which is on the defensive side. Miami doesn’t have enough disciplined players at the defensive end, but with Butler projected to guard Giannis, Harris, Tatum, and Siakam he will need to be.

1. Devin Booker – Finally, Booker has put his team in line to compete for the playoffs. He will need to join the 40-40-90 club in order for his team to impact this season. He needs to add better spacing when he’s off the ball and stay in front of players consistently. With efficiency and a defensive mindset, Booker will lead the charge.