He moseys around the court, nonchalantly making jumpers as if he's offended by the idea that a player such as himself needs to shoot around before games. There are few players capable of credibly guarding Embiid as it is. Prior to Jamal Murray's emergence, Harris served as the Nuggets' primary perimeter scorer, and now that the two are both healthy and comfortable sharing the ball, Denver's offense should be more dangerous than ever.Drummond can be a tricky player to place on these sorts of lists because he puts up monster numbers but isn't always the most impactful in terms of winning.
Although he’s clearly overpaid and unequipped to be a playoff team’s best, second-best or third-best player, Bazemore is a solid 3-and-D wing with good size and motor. Ball is already a big-time defender, a great passer, and his court feel and instincts have been the foundation of his game from the start. By the time Conley’s defender realizes they’re stuck in the blender, it’s already too late.There’s no weak hand to shade, and no range at which you can give Conley space. At 33 and eligible for an extension, his future with the Raptors is in question, but he has already demonstrated that he's willing to take a step back as a scorer and help his team win in other ways. Their own injury histories work as an equalizer. Branded a snake and a bandwagoner for leaving Oklahoma City to join Golden State in 2016, Durant has struggled to shake those labels despite winning two titles, making two iconic three-pointers in the Finals, and claiming two Finals MVPs.Indeed, the relative ease of Durant’s two Finals victories over James has only hardened the resentment. Last season, he missed just one game, he made Charlotte better both offensively and defensively when he was on the court, and he was one of only five NBA players to average 12 points and 12 rebounds. Gasol is a 33-year-old center at an especially difficult time to be a 33-year-old center. Instead, the two wings emerged in sharp contrast: If Wiggins’s empty minutes were a watery broth, Butler’s were a chunky stew. Leonard is a perennial MVP candidate, he’s the best player in Raptors history even though he hasn’t played a game yet, and he would be the best teammate LeBron James has ever had if he joins the Lakers next summer. A workhorse in the load-management era, Beal played all 82 last season at a career high 36.9 minutes per game. You can use Davis in all the ways you’d use a high-scoring wing, save that he also has the face-up game to rule the mid-post and the finishing ability to dominate out of the pick-and-roll. Still, he's a super talented young player who can contribute on both ends of the floor, and it will be fascinating to watch how he develops this season.After putting together an average rookie season, Fox took a huge leap in his sophomore season, showing improvement across the board from his shooting to his decision making. People with the Heat rave about his work ethic. Jokic, though, averaged more assists per game than any other center in the three-point era, and has the receipts to prove his passing’s effect. Can his length and quickness translate to real defensive benefit? He'll provide much-needed veteran leadership to an incredibly young core, and his defensive intensity will hopefully inspire others to bring it on that end of the floor as well.A vital part of the Raptors' run, Fred VanVleet plays with the moxie you'd expect from an undrafted 6-foot point guard.
An easy chemistry formed between Sabonis and Victor Oladipo.
— RM.In the past year, Harris (17.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.9 APG) proved that he can not only produce within an offense but give it structure. The 29-year-old guard, who went undrafted in 2012, arrived on the scene with the Warriors just before Stephen Curry and Co. rocketed to dynasty mode. While his assist rate improved dramatically in 2017-18, so did his turnover rate. There’s still a battering ram quality to how he plays, though every drive is more pointed than before. A team can run its offense through Gasol by stationing him at the elbow or at the three-point line and running guards around him. — BG.This was a stretch season for Beal (22.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.5 APG), who not only played all 82 games for the first time in his career but went half that time without John Wall.
2 guy next to Irving? The subtle refinement of his off-the-dribble game has made Walker a better creator and the transformation of his jumper has made him a bigger threat; together, that combination has cinched his reputation as one of the most prolific pull-up jumpshooters in the league.
On some level, Batum was surely less comfortable after undergoing surgery on his left elbow last October. Maybe the most underrated part of Beal’s game is the sheer accessibility of his scoring. What he can do, however, is spread the floor (he's a career 36 percent 3-point shooter) and play lockdown perimeter defense (he was First-Team All-Defense two seasons ago) as one of the league's better two-way perimeter players.Gordon is a bucket-getter, and he's one of the main reasons why the Rockets have been so deadly on the offensive end over the past few seasons. 8 in defensive rating, he dramatically increased his FG% around the basket, he cut his turnover rate, and he learned to swallow his pride when pulled for match-up purposes in late-game situations. 2 pick, he faced extra scrutiny on a high-profile franchise that had one eye on LeBron James, he faced derision for his unsightly jumper and fading confidence, and he faced second-hand disdain thanks to the ramblings of his infamous father and his immature brother.
He had a higher field goal percentage on such shots last season than James Harden. — BG.Kudos to Lowry (16.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.9 APG), the sole remaining survivor in Toronto’s triumvirate of blame. — RM.All Sabonis needed was room to play his game. John Wall might be faster and more explosive than Lillard, but his shot selection and questionable leadership are unavoidable concerns.