Kent Smith/Getty Photography
Denver Nuggets: Inexperience
Paul Millsap is the glaring exception, nonetheless most participants of this Nuggets core are somewhat inexperienced as postseason performers.
Nikola Jokic was shiny in the 2019 postseason, nonetheless the crew was eliminated in the 2nd round by the Portland Accelerate Blazers. And transferring from upstart to fat-fledged contender most frequently takes bigger than one 365 days of battle scars in the NBA.
It would no longer be frightful if Denver advance somewhat extra than it did final postseason, nonetheless it might presumably presumably presumably also simply hang a powerful time matching playoff nerves with Western Conference powerhouses such because the Lakers or Clippers.
Toronto Raptors: Lack of Huge title Energy
Despite the shortcoming of Kawhi Leonard in the offseason and a reputedly season-long wave of injuries, the defending champion Raptors hang the identical document (46-18) by 64 games as they did final season.
Silent, below the shiny lights and heightened depth of the playoffs, having among the simple player in a chain can trail a great design in direction of winning it. And with Kawhi, Toronto repeatedly had an argument on that front.
Here’s serene undoubtedly among the deepest and simplest-coached teams in the NBA, nonetheless one-on-one battles towards Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler or other Jap Conference stars might presumably presumably presumably imprint advanced.
Boston Celtics: Shot Option
Boston appears to be like tailor-made for a as a lot as the moment playoff bustle. Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum can pick over particular person possessions. Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis can switch one day of the ground. And Marcus Neat remains an effort-and-defensive spark paddle off the bench.
Somewhat too critical reliance on mid-vary jumpers is most frequently a anguish, though. The Celtics pick 29.3 percent of their pictures from the mid-vary (16th in the league) and hit 40.8 percent of them (13th).
Share of Tatum’s well-known particular person jump this season was cutting out a sizable chunk of his mid-vary makes an strive and upping his three-point volume. Playoff defenders might presumably presumably presumably also simply be taking a look to trail him and other Celtics off the road and into less efficient jumpers.
Houston Rockets: Playoff Demons
Statistically talking, James Harden is a critically better playoff performer than his detractors would corresponding to you to imagine. Over the route of his postseason profession, his teams are plus-3.2 aspects per 100 possessions with him on the ground and minus-8.9 with him off.
Having mentioned that, he has had some moments when he reputedly ran out of gasoline. In his final playoff sport in 2017, he scored 10 aspects on 2-of-11 capturing towards the San Antonio Spurs. In 2015, he exited the postseason with a 14-point, 12-turnover effort towards the Golden Affirm Warriors.
Perhaps smash day and a remade physique will hang such letdowns less likely, a minimal of for Harden.
His teammate, Russell Westbrook, has a dependancy of going out in critical completely different trend. In his final four postseason-ending losses (three of which came in the fundamental round), Russ has averaged 35.3 aspects on a whopping 32.3 area-aim makes an strive and 13.5 three-point makes an strive. His teams had been outscored by seven aspects with him on the ground in these games.
If Harden disappears in a sizable 2nd and Westbrook appears to be like to pick out over, the latter might presumably presumably presumably very well shoot the Rockets out of the sport.
