5 players who need to raise their game for their team to be a title contender

The current NBA champions San Antonio Spurs showed everyone how the title is to be won with team work. However, an eternal tradition in the league involves one or two more gifted players leading their team and calling all the shots. More recently teams have been found feeling more confident building teams led by a Big 3 which consist of three All-Stars coming together for a common cause to win the championship.These players are expected to put up big numbers and at the same time carry their team to victory in clutch situations.While some players rise to the occasion and use the opportunity of being the team leader, others fail to deliver under pressure and take their team down with them. Some players become a superstar and lead the team from a young age, some evolve into a player much greater than they were at the beginning before they start leading their team.The NBA is the most competitive basketball league in the world and only the best of the best taste success. It is all about being that one team that remains standing in June as champions; the important word there being “team”. There is a reason why rarely the team with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the season wins the title. Here are the top 5 players in the league that are must up their game further to make their teams legitimate title contenders:

#5 Russell Westbrook

The reason Russell Westbrook is at the bottom of the list is cause of how great a player he is even with the potential that he has still left to utilise. His speed and quickness equips him with the agility to play defense that will force the opponents into making turnovers. He uses the same quickness on the offensive end to blow past his defender and lay the ball in or dunk it. He is the best combo guard in the league right now, so what does Westbrook need to work on?

Passing?

In the last full NBA season that he played he averaged 7.4 assists a game, which is not bad considering how many points he scores himself. During the Thunder’s most recent post-season, he averaged 8.8 assists per game over 19 games. So its certainly not his passing.

Then what?

It’s his decision making and maturity. It has happened more than once when his team has just got an offensive rebound and instead of using the newly acquired 24 seconds, Westbrook simply tosses up a wild shot in haste which misses its mark. His skill set allows him to drive past the defense to the basket which should ideally make him avoid unnecssary long shots however he continues to throw up long balls at questionable moments in the game.

Once he brings maturity to his game, it will make things easier for him to help his team win some silverware.

#4 LaMarcus Aldridge-Portland Trailblazers

The one and only notable area that the Portalnd Trailblazers lacked as a team was a lack of productive talent on their bench. Less than a month into free agency, the front office of the Blazers has covered up that weakness and it now the turn of the players to take over.

The team is led by the trio of Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. Batum is often times found doing the little things so it is left down to the duo of Lillard and Aldridge to carry the team. Although he is already a sensation in the league, Lillard is only in his thrid season, which leaves Aldridge, a seven-year veteran to pick up the slack.

He did do much of the heavylifting of the offense in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets but he struggled against a much more focussed and better defensive team of the Spurs in the second round. This summer would one of the most fruitful off-seasons of his career with the franchise registering their first playoff series victory since 2000 but with the current roster, the team is capable of much more.

Aldridge must work on his offensive game in the post to counter tough defenses, which might try to get him off his game by being more physical.

#3 Serge Ibaka-Oklahoma City Thunder

Part of a team consisting of reigning MVP Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook you would figure Serge Ibaka doesn’t need to lift much of the load. Well it is true that he doesn’t need to do much to the carry the team, but his game is certainly an essential part of the team’s play.

His defensive presence is monstrous in the paint but it is on the offensive end of the things where Ibaka can really help his team. When he starts knocking down shots from mid range off pick and rolls with Westbrook or Durant, the defense is forced into a dilemma as to who do they double off.

Rotating off Durant or Westbrook would cost the opponent dearly and if they don’t rotate at all Ibaka can continue to punish them. With his lack of consistent offense, the Thunder have nobody to turn to when Durant and Westbrook are having an off-game.

No doubt defense is his stronghold but working on his offensive game from mid range and in the post will make life easier for Durant, Westbrook and the rest of the team.

#2 DeAndre Jordan-Los Angeles Clippers

The arrival of Doc Rivers to Los Angeles as a Head Coach has seen the evolution of DeAndre Jordan from just any big man to a defensive juggernaut for his team. Learning how to use his gifted agility at his size and length is what has changed and transformed Jordan into a legitimate paint protector.

Having said that, his contribution to the team on the offensive end could use some help. A majority of his points still come off alley-oops or putback slams pointing towards a weak one on one offensive game.A rise in his offensive game along with superstars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will see the dawn the era of Clipper domination not just in Los Angeles but in the entire league.

Griffin seems to be heading towards the prime of his career, Paul is doing his duties of a leader to perfection which leaves Jordan to step up and help his team to the top of the cliff. A new Big 3 to watch out for in Los Angeles.

#1 Dwight Howard-Houston Rockets

He has been in the league for over 10 years now, won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and has yet to show the leadership skills or the one on one game to command respect from his teammates. He is 30 years old, he has had one year with his current team, the Rockets and his partner in crime James Harden, resulting in a perfect scenario for him to work on his game and bring maturity into his character.

Howard has no one go-to move in the post, he gets called for offensive fouls while trying to post-up and worst of all fails as the superstar of the team fails to step up in situations when the team needs him the most. Only because of his numbers is he called the most dominant current big man in the league otherwise the troubling signs mentioned above provide no support.

Everything is on the table for Howard to pick up and work on however somehow year after year he fails to take his game to a next level. Now that he has fully healed from the back surgery he had close to two years ago and chosen to play with the team of his choice, he has no excuses for not bringing championship back to Houston.

Edited by Staff Editor