Across the NBA: Every team’s largest issue heading into next season (Atlantic Division edition)

Each crew all through the league will face a specific amount of adversity they didn’t think about heading into the season. In October, the slate is cleaned. Each crew is a clean canvas with a gimmer of hope, and aspirations they would be the final standing.

Till that first domino begins to fall.

Final yr the Denver Nuggets appeared to lastly maintain the best items for a championship run, gliding via every opponent then bam—Jamal Murray hits the hardwood. The Brooklyn Nets marched into the postseason with confidence solely awaiting their demise with the accidents to Kyrie and Harden.

Many count on the eventual collision between the Lakers and Nets within the Finals come April. As we witnessed final yr, we don’t know what’s going to occur. We might imagine we all know, however typically we discover ourselves amazed at what’s to return.

With that, I launched a brand new collection through which I analyze every crew’s largest query mark heading into subsequent season. Categorized by division, I give my opinion on what may find yourself being the Achilles heel to every crew’s potential. First, we start with the Atlantic division.

New York Knicks

Can they put factors on the board?

It sounds easy. Simply put the ball within the hoop Knicks that’s all it’s important to do. We all know it’s not that straightforward, particularly for a crew just like the Knicks the place they focus most of their consideration on the defensive finish of the court docket. Tom Thibodeau is renown for his defensive prowess as a coach, and he has reunited the New York devoted with a well-recognized rugged angle to their model of basketball.

The issue with the Knicks is that they don’t have an elite scorer and a constant quantity two possibility. Some would possibly say Randle is an elite scorer, he made the All-Star crew, he gained Most Improved Participant. I nonetheless don’t assume he’s an elite scorer and I believe his manufacturing relative to his crew’s success was evident as we watched the Knicks rating 89 factors in an elimination sport.

Again within the day, 89 factors had been greater than sufficient to get the job carried out however that’s not the case anymore. These offenses are too high-powered comprised of scorers who’re unguardable a majority of the time. The Knicks want to search out constant game-in and game-out scorers.

Though Randle isn’t an elite scorer, he’s a constant one. He wants a companion. RJ Barret confirmed flashes of his potential however it stopped at simply that—flashes. Alec Burks performed very properly in spots through the postseason, however he hasn’t historically been a man you possibly can depend on for 20 factors a sport. Derrick Rose was an enormous vivid spot for this crew and held them in competition throughout that Hawks collection, however he’s extra of a supporting participant at this stage.

They signed Kemba Walker through the low season which might convey them a critical increase within the scoring division, however his largest query has at all times been availability. Final yr, the Knicks had been 26th in the league in scoring at 107 PPG. Their protection brings sufficient punch to the place they don’t have to be within the high 15 and even 20 to be a great crew, but when they wish to make a deep playoff run they want fixed manufacturing.

So the place do they get it from?

Photograph by Dustin Satloff/Getty Photographs

Brooklyn Nets

Well being.

It’s fairly easy right here, in my view, if the Nets keep wholesome they’re an absolute lock to a minimum of go to the Finals. When you could have a trio of scorers the sport has by no means seen earlier than, I simply don’t see how one can beat that except you could have the scorers and defenders to match and no person else does.

Essentially the most vital issue in my view right here is the play of James Harden. He’s typically identified to be an isolation, ball-dominant participant, however his play in direction of the top of the season was the most effective I had ever seen him. Sure, we’ve seen the miraculous 50 level triple-doubles, however with the Nets, he was being a improbable ground normal and when you could have KD and Kyrie to move the ball too it’s nearly unimaginable to cease.

As I stated earlier than, the accidents to Harden and Kyrie derailed their championship probabilities, so in the event that they keep wholesome they are going to be proper again on observe. Sadly for small market followers like myself, the crew holding the trophy on the finish is often probably the most gifted crew. Now that doesn’t at all times occur. There are a couple of anomalies at the moment, however that is probably the most gifted threesome of athletes presumably in all crew sports activities.

They’re at a championship or bust degree. Will probably be a whole failure if they do not seize a hoop and what stands between them and that ring is well being.

Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

Philadelphia 76ers

What are they going to do with Ben Simmons?

This query has been looming ever for the reason that conclusion of final season. Numerous reviews floor every week about how they may transfer him, however it’s changing into fairly clear they want to transfer on. Now, reviews are circulating that Simmons doesn’t wish to be in Philly and doesn’t intend to report back to coaching camp if they can’t transfer him.

Philly stays assured they may get a star or an unbelievable package deal of property in the event that they transfer him, however groups appear to be cautious as they give the impression of being to accumulate Simmons. His playoff performances had been disappointing final yr, however he’s nonetheless seen as an elite participant and I believe he can flourish given a brand new atmosphere.

Either side would profit from a commerce. Simmons must play in a system that caters to his skillsets and Philly wants one other scoring companion to pair with Embiid. They want to get a confirmed, veteran star together with different property however their asking worth is approach too excessive at the moment.

If they don’t make a commerce that is certain to trigger turmoil within the locker room so if they need continuity as they method subsequent season, they should outline their roster pretty quickly.

Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs

Boston Celtics

The place will their inside presence come from?

The Celtics are a gifted group headlined by their two stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum is popping right into a generational kind expertise with annually and Brown seems to be to progress into among the finest two-way gamers within the league. Additionally they signed Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson so their backcourt is shaping properly however their heart place is a query mark up to now.

Robert Williams III fills that position proper now, and he displayed flashes of the middle Boston hopes him to be. He’s an athletic huge with shot-blocking skill, however he nonetheless has not confirmed to solidify that spot for the upcoming years.

Boston additionally introduced over Enes Kanter and Al Horford to assist bolster their inside presence however these are two seasoned gamers properly out of their prime nearing retirement. Their wing and backcourt manufacturing appear to be ok to make an honest playoff run however Schroder, Richardson, and Good usually are not at all times probably the most dependable choices.

The Celtics do have two principal stars however they’re used to taking part in crew basketball. Every bit within the rotation has to do its job properly as a way to snag a victory. Tatum and Brown will win video games nearly alone within the common season, however when the true battles start they want manufacturing from each spot.

If they’ll manufacture a constant output from that heart place, it is a harmful crew and one no person will wish to face come playoff time.

Set Quantity: X163485

Toronto Raptors

Will see the All-Star model of Pascal Siakem?

Siakem had a pleasant season final yr should you base it solely on stats. He averaged 21 factors, 4.5 assists, and seven rebounds a sport final yr which is unbelievable contemplating he was a really late 1st spherical decide. In 2019, he averaged 23 factors a sport together with an All-Star look and was seeking to be the star to interchange Kawhi Leonard.

His stats are good on paper, however many instances all through the season he would simply disappear. Even his coach known as him out to the media implying he wanted to play higher for them to win ball video games. He’s undoubtedly not a sniper-type shooter so when he depends on his leap shot, he isn’t using the most effective a part of his offensive sport and that’s what appeared to occur final season.

The Raptors shall be an underrated crew this yr. I believe they fly underneath the radar and after we take a look at the standings in April they are going to be proper there combating for seeding. Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., Siakem, and 4th general decide Scottie Barnes are all very gifted gamers. You pair that with an excellent coach in Nick Nurse and you’ve got a profitable system evening in evening out.

They’re nice on the defensive finish however they only want that one chief to set the usual each evening. Many assume it’s Siakem since he’s probably the most gifted, however it may find yourself being a number of fellows on this crew. They’ve about 6-7 guys that may common 10-15 factors a sport however when the sport clock approaches zero, they want Siakem to go get a bucket.

Photograph by Abbie Parr/Getty Photographs