Every season, there are a few surprise teams in the league that make the playoffs when no analysts think they would ever have had a shot. This usually occurs when the team’s best players play like All-Stars, but it really comes down to replacement level players upping their game to a whole new level. Names that come to mind from this past season are Khris Middleton of the Bucks, Jonas Valancuinas of the Raptors, and even somebody like Draymond Green. Figuring out who those X-Factors are that balance a roster can help one figure out if a team is playoff ready. All of the following teams failed to make the playoffs this past season, but with desperate fan bases becoming anxious, the pressure is on for these average players to have fantastic seasons.
Teams are listed based on how many wins they had this past season.
NBA X-Factors for the 2015-2016 Season
Oklahoma City Thunder
2014-2015 record: 45-37
X-Factor: Enes Kanter
When the Thunder matched the Portland Trail Blazers offer of four years and $70 million to restricted free agent Enes Kanter, Thunder general manager Sam Presti had to have been excited to lock up the franchise’s first offensive minded center in the past decade on a multi-year contract. Kanter, the third overall pick in the 2011 draft, has run into problems throughout his entire basketball career since coming to the U.S. It started when he was deemed ineligible by the NCAA to play for Kentucky. The Jazz had to trade Kanter last season to gain maximum value due to the emergence of Rudy Gobert knowing that Kanter would be unhappy sitting on the bench. The Thunder weren’t sure what they were acquiring in Kanter, but he showed up every night to the tune of averaging 18.7 points in 26 games for the Thunder. Because the Thunder have so many dominant offensive forces on their team, they’ve resorted in the past to playing hard nosed defensive-minded centers like Steven Adams and Kendrick Perkins. But with the lack of low post scorers in today’s game, Kanter adds a unique facet to a team that has two of the best five players in the league. If Kanter develops his post-up game and commands a double team, more opportunities will be available for a sniper like Durant and a cutter like Westbrook. The Thunder just missed out on the postseason because of health issues, but the time is now for the Thunder to win as their window is closing due to impending free agencies. Kanter will be the biggest X-Factor on this team not only to make the playoffs, but also to elevate the team to the Finals in a brutal Western Conference.
Phoenix Suns
2014-2015 record: 39-43
X-Factor: T.J Warren
Entering his sophomore campaign, T.J Warren has to prove that he’s ready to become the full time starting small forward for the Suns. The 14th overall pick in last year’s draft, Warren looks ready to take the next step in his game as he impressed in the summer league averaging 18.7 points while shooting 54%. P.J Tucker is a great player to have on a roster, but the Suns need somebody like Warren to take the reigns and produce like Kawhi Leonard if they want to return to the postseason. After a disappointing campaign last season, the Suns added Tyson Chandler and resigned Brandon Knight. Now that they have the foundation and leadership in place, the Suns are a major threat to take over someone’s spot in the playoffs. If Warren can average between 14-18 points a game and play tough D on the opposing team’s best wing, the sky is the limit in the dessert.
Indiana Pacers
2014-2015 record: 38-44
X-Factor: George Hill
After an injury-riddled season, it’s time for George Hill to prove to the Pacers that trading for him in exchange for Kawhi Leonard wasn’t the worst trade of all time. In a weak yet improving Eastern Conference, Hill has a chance to be a top 5 point guard with the likes of John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, and Jeff Teague (Derrick Rose just pulled his hamstring arguing the prior statement). In 43 games last season, Hill averaged roughly 16 points and 5 assists. It’s possible that Hill will feel pressure from Monta Ellis joining the squad and become more pass-oriented. Hill won’t immediately feel comfortable knowing that the team’s shooting guard always needs the ball in his hands to be effective. It will be Hill’s responsibility this season to set up the team’s big men for easy buckets now that Roy Hibbert is gone. Jordan Hill is not a playmaker, and Ian Mahinmi needs to show drastic improvement finishing this season. If Hill can bump his assist numbers up to 8 a game, the Pacers will be a dangerous first round matchup for any team. However, if he can’t handle the point guard duties and not scoring as many points a game, look for Hill to be traded at the deadline.
Utah Jazz
2014-2015 record: 39-43
X-Factor: Alec Burks
The Utah Jazz are quietly becoming the league’s most intriguing team. They have solid young players like Gobert, Favors, and Burks, and are developing players like Dante Exum and Rodney Hood. But for this upcoming season, Burks holds the key to the success of the Jazz. The Jazz are going to be one of the best defensive teams in the league with Gobert dominating in the paint, so the question becomes where they’ll get their scoring from. Burks is entering his fifth season in the league and seems poised to produce enough scoring to win some of the close games that the Jazz lost last season. In his first season with the Jazz, Burks only averaged 7 points, but nearly doubled that in his limited time playing last season. If he can stay healthy, the Jazz will become a team that people in the league have to start worrying about on a nightly basis.
