With OTAs and training camp around the corner, teams are set with their individual rosters. They are ready to see what lineups will work and who will make the final rosters. There are many teams that are hoping to compete for a championship. Some are hoping for a playoff spot. The rest are ready for the ping pong balls in 2020. Though the league is driven by superstars, championship-contending teams need other players to step up as well. Last season, even though the Toronto Raptors had Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry, the player that stood out for them in the playoffs was Fred VanVleet. Each team in the Atlantic Division has a player that needs to stand out for their team in 2019.
Players that Needs to Step Up in the Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics – Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward received a massive contract when he jetted from the Utah Jazz to reunite with his college coach on the Boston Celtics. He then went on the miss the first year with the gruesome injury he suffered on the first game of the season. After a year of recovery, the Celtics were expected to come out of the East. With the problems in the locker room and Kyrie Irving having one foot out the door, the 2019-20 season is an important year for Hayward to live up to that contract he received.
Many times throughout last season, Hayward struggled to find his place on the court. While averaging 25.8 minutes a game and he put up 11.5 points a game. He needs to bring his numbers up to his last couple of years in Utah before the Celtics faithful demand that Ainge ship him out. With Kemba Walker in the fold, Hayward doesn’t have to be the main focus of this offense. However, he needs to improve his game.
Brooklyn Nets – Caris LeVert
Caris LeVert missed half of the season when he had a devastating injury last year. Lucky for him, he was able to return close to the end of the season. When he went down, he was averaging 19 points per game and starting for an up-and-coming Brooklyn Nets team. The void that was left by Levert wasn’t bad. D’Angelo Russell was starting to improve his game and push them to the playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs to losing the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.
For Levert to make an impact for the Nets the season. He needs to improve his three-point ability. He shot 31 percent from long range. With Kyrie Irving in the fold and Kevin Durant watching from the sideline, he needs to improve his game to stay in the starting lineup. Realistically, he may produce better off the bench with Spencer Dinwiddie when most teams put out their second units.
New York Knicks – Julius Randle
Julius Randle has had a very interesting career so far. Los Angeles Lakers fans were expecting him to produce with the rest of the young core after Kobe Bryant‘s retirement alongside Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson. That, obviously, did not work out.
After a stint with the New Orleans Pelicans, Randle has now become a main piece for the New York Knicks. After striking out on Durant and Irving, Randle was the blue-chip signing of the offseason. With a very inexperienced team, Randle will need to produce as he did in the lone season in New Orleans, putting up 21 points a game while Anthony Davis was riding the bench. This team will struggle, but with Randle, this young team will grow.
Philadelphia 76ers – Al Horford
Al Horford shocked the NBA when he opted out of his contract with the Celtics and didn’t re-sign with the team. All signs were pointing to him signing a three-year contract back in Boston. After spurning the Celtics, Horford was linked to the Nets and Dallas Mavericks. The shock came when he signed with the 76ers who are already set at the center position.
With Joel Embiid playing center, Horford will have to play at the power forward. Having two bigs has been a struggle for some teams that play small ball. Horford has been able to stretch the floor offensively, but defense will be the bigger issue when he and Embiid are on the floor together. This team has the ability to go far this year. It will depend on how quickly they gel as a team.
Toronto Raptors – Kyle Lowry
It may be shocking to see Lowry on this list, but the Raptors lost their most important player from the NBA Finals this year in Leonard. If this team wants to be a dominant force and defend their title, they need Lowry to be the leader he has been before while being more efficient on the floor.
With a team loaded with good to great players, being able to get them to play efficient, sound basketball will be on Lowry running the floor. They don’t need him to be a stat-stuffer. The Raptors need him to get the plays running and set up plays for Marc Gasol, Pascal Siakam, and Serge Ibaka.
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