NBA Restart: Three X-Factor Players to Watch

With the NBA restart just 10 days away, buzz around the eight-game regular season continues up as teams prepare themselves for their first time in action since March. As teams gear up for a potential postseason push, some interesting players have been added to rosters in the midst of certain players electing not to return to play this season.

Between these recent additions and some current role players who will be asked to step up, there are a handful of intriguing guys to keep an eye on as they could potentially be difference makers come playoff time. Here are five players who could be potential X-factors for their respective teams as the race to the Larry O’Brien trophy quickly approaches.

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1) JR Smith, Los Angeles Lakers

With point guard Avery Bradley opting out of the playing in Orlando and point guard Rajon Rondo suffering a thumb injury that will put him out for 6-8 weeks, the Lakers’ guard depth is already dwindling. It is well documented that Lebron James can act as a primary facilitator for Los Angeles as he is averaging 10.6 assists on the season, but the real issue is the team’s lack of another shot creator.

Anthony Davis is an elite big man, but he requires others getting the ball to him in his spots for him to truly be effective. Kyle Kuzma is a streaky scorer at best that has shown flashes of being able put up points in a hurry but can never seem to put two good games together back to back. The acquisition of Smith could give the Lakers that second shot creator if he turns back into the player that he was back in 2015.

 On the way to the Cleveland Cavaliers lone championship victory over the 73-9 Golden State Warriors, Smith averaged 12.4 points on 41.5% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from behind the arc. With that kind of efficiency shooting the ball from distance, Smith could help stretch the floor and be a knockdown threat from three. How Smith contributes to this team will depend on his mental state. We have not seen him play since November 19, 2018 and the last thing we remember of him was watching as he infamously dribbled out the clock with the game tied at 107 and five seconds left in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals.

 

If Smith is fully engaged, he could possibly be the biggest threat the Lakers have had in the backcourt all season. But, if he is not fully committed, Smith could be the reason why the team does not make it at least past the second round.

2) Jamal Crawford, Brooklyn Nets

If it was not already obvious, the Nets are in desperate need of players as they enter this NBA restart as one of the most handicapped teams in the bubble. No Kyrie Irving. No Kevin Durant. No Spencer Dinwiddie. Even Taurean Prince, DeAndre Jordan and Wilson Chandler have chosen to opt out of the NBA return.

With the team’s most notable returning player being a young, budding star in shooting guard Caris LeVert, the team is significantly undermanned. Brooklyn is at risk of a quick first round exit as they currently sit as the 7th seed with the potential of falling to 8th and facing the Milwaukee Bucks.

Insert 40-year-old point guard Jamal Crawford. Known for his ridiculous handles and breathtaking four-point plays, the three-time Sixth Man of the Year is a guaranteed double-digit scorer when given the green light to run the offense.

Even in his late age, Crawford’s combination of leadership, playoff experience and playmaking ability can still help this team potentially win a game or two at best in the first round depending on who they are matched up with. Nonetheless Crawford’s excitement surrounding his return to the league is great to see considering he has not been in an NBA uniform since April of last year.

 

3) Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

Out of all three players on this list, Porter Jr. may have the most potential to have a breakout postseason. Standing at 6-foot-10, 215 pounds, this 22-year-old rookie has all the tools to be a leading scorer for the Nuggets who sit one game out of second place in the Western Conference with a record of 43-22.

Porter Jr. may only be averaging 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds so far this season, but he has had some standout performances that show that he has more to offer. Most notably his game against the Indiana Pacers where he scored a career-high 25 points off the bench while chipping in 14 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. But what is the most intriguing about Porter Jr.’s game is efficiency as a scoring option. In that game against the Pacers he shot 11 of 12 from the floor with two three-pointers. He also is shooting 49.5% from the field and 42.2% from three on the season.

 

Porter Jr. has been playing in limited minutes this year (less than 15 minutes a game in 30 out 48 games played and 13 DNPs/Inactive), but when given the chance to play high minutes and get touches, he has been a dynamic scoring threat for Denver. If they get him going during this postseason, he could be the missing link that helps turn the Nuggets into a true championship contender out West.

All three of these players have the potential to provide an extra burst for their respective teams. If given the opportunity, these guys could have some great performance and maybe even provide us with highlight moments this postseason. They may not be the headlining superstars that everyone is always talking about, but in a playoff push like this coming off a near four-month hiatus, role players like these will be the difference between being swept in the first round and hoisting up an NBA championship.