Biggest X-Factor for Every NBA Team – Western Conference
November 16, 2022
Memphis Grizzlies: Dillion Brooks
When it comes to Dillion Brooks, the fans have a love-hate relationship with him. He will either shoot 1-12 and play good defense or shoot 12-12 and play good defense. It is difficult to truly hate Brooks because of the value that he brings defensively, but man, sometimes fans will yell at the tv screen telling him to stop shooting the ball. Whenever Brooks can score, it is almost guaranteed that the Grizzlies will win.
Dallas Mavericks: Spencer Dinwiddie
For Dallas, my pick for their x-factor would be Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie was an all-star caliber player just a couple of seasons ago, when he was in Brooklyn, and we have not seen that version of him since then. You will see flashes of the Dinwiddie-of-old from here and there, but it is not consistent. The Mavericks traded their all-star level talent in Kristaps Porzingis to get this man, so you know that they believe that he can produce same quality of play that he did in Brooklyn.
New Orleans Pelicans: Herbert Jones
Herb Jones IS the Pelicans defensive identity. When he is holding things down defensively, this Pelicans team is SCARY. Whenever the team is without his presence, the team looks lack-luster. This season so far has been a down year for him, but the team and the organization are counting on him to get back to his high-level basketball.
Houston Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr.
The biggest question mark for this team is the point guard position. Right now, Kevin Porter Jr. is in that position, and his quality of play has been higher than what the team expected when they first acquired him. When it comes to scoring, he will give you what you expect, 18 points per game, with decent efficiency. The only thing about his game to question is his passing ability, which this season he has been averaging 6 per game, but the team must see if he can continue to play like this, to see if he is the answer.
Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson
Once upon a time, Klay Thompson was seen as one of the best players in the NBA, he once scored 37 points in a single QUARTER. But ever since his ACL injury in the 2019 NBA Finals, he has not nearly produced the same quality of play that he did before, but he has still produced quality play, as he is putting up 15 points per game. He has become the highest level of role player that this Warriors team relies on to help them win.
Los Angeles Clippers: John Wall
For the Clippers, they have not had a true point guard since Chris Paul. It has been a real issue for this team; people have blamed the Clippers’ lack of playoff success on this factor. This past offseason, the Clippers signed John Wall who has barely played over the last couple of seasons, and they hope that he can be the answer at the point guard position for this team.
Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis
You are probably wondering why the Lakers superstar in Anthony Davis is considered their x-factor; well, that is because he has been a shell of the man he was since his days with the Pelicans, even since his first year with the Lakers. If this man can stay healthy and even produce a fraction of the play he did with the Pelicans, this team has good things coming.
Phoenix Suns: Chris Paul
I know Chris Paul is one of the stars on this Suns team, but he has not been the same player that the team heavily relied on just a season ago. He has become a glorified role player. That is not to put down Paul, he is still very much relied on to be the facilitator and play great defense. Whenever he does not do that, this Suns team is just mediocre.
Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray
Keegan Murray, who the Kings just used as the 4th pick in this previous NBA draft, has shown that he can score at a high level and with high efficiency. He is only the 3rd option, or maybe even the 4th, behind De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, or Kevin Huerter, but he is still highly relied on to get buckets. Whenever he does not do so, the Kings “scrape the bottom of the barrel,” that is their bench, for the type of instant offense that Murray brings.
Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray
Once upon a time, Jamal Murray was seen as an all-star caliber player when he was averaging more than 20 points per game. After an injury, Nikola Jokic had to carry the entire team, and he did an excellent job at that. The team was able to secure a playoff spot without Murray, they lost in the first round, but it showed how incredible Jokic is. Just imagine this team with Murray added back, and that is exactly what the Nuggets front office is imagining.
Minnesota Timberwolves: DeAngelo Russell
The Timberwolves have a lot of star power in Karal-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Anthony Edwards, sometimes one or more of them is not producing the level of play that they are expected to. When that happens, the Wolves look towards DeAngelo Russell to fill in that role. Normally Russell is just a facilitator and shooter, but he is very capable of producing all-star level of play when the Wolves need him to.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Luguentz Dort
The definition of a 3-and-D player is Lu Dort. He hits threes consistently with good efficiency and plays impeccable defense. If he is having an off night, the whole team will fall apart. He is vital for their success and the team relies on him.
Portland Trailblazers: Jusuf Nurkić
For Nurkić, it is a weird case. This man used to be seen as an up-and-coming star after he averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game, while also have 4 assists, with good shooting splits. Then he had a terrible leg break which took him out for a year, and since he has been back, we have not seen the same version of him. We do see glimpses, but it has not been consistent. All the Blazers can hope for is to see that glimpse of the past, and he is the real factor that has the potential to take this team to the next level.
Utah Jazz: Kelly Olynyk
For the Jazz, this was an easy pick here. As of November 9th, Olynyk is averaging 12.2 pts, 4 trb, and 3.3 ast, on 56.7% from the field and 58.8% from three. With Olynyk, he will either score 20 points on great efficiency or put-up 4… Whenever this man has one of those killer games, the team wins – it is as simple as that.
