NBA: New Year Resolutions for LeBron, Kobe and the Top 25 Players in the NBA

In just a few days it will be 2012 and we all know what that means.  It means the end of the world, well at least according to the Mayans it does. 

Other than that, the new year means the onset of new year resolutions that most likely won't be accomplished.  Resolutions like saving money, losing weight or proving that you're the future of a struggling NBA franchise.  

I figured I would help out some NBA stars, the top 25 to be exact (based on ESPN player rankings to avoid debate), by giving each star one new years resolution to focus on and hopefully achieve.  

Here is a list of one new year resolution for each of the top 25 players in the NBA. 

No. 25 Al Horford: First Career Double-Double Average with at Least 19.0 PPG

Al Horford is a solid young player for the Atlanta Hawks.  He bangs it in the paint. Also, he does a good job of cleaning up the glass after all of Josh Smith's wildly missed shots.  Surprisingly enough, Al Horford has never averaged a double-double in any year of his now five-year career.  

Horford has come close by averaging 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game during the 2009-2010 season.  Averaging a double-double would be a big hurdle for Horford to get over in his young career, which would in turn help out the Atlanta Hawks.

Averaging a double-double though is not enough. Horford must increase his points per game production by at least four or five points.  If the Hawks want to become a legitimate title contender they need more offensive production out of Horford.  That is exactly what his new year resolution needs to be in 2012.   

No. 24 Chris Bosh: Prove to the World He's Not Soft

Unfortunately, Chris Bosh and the word soft are synonyms in my mind.  I don't know why it's like that, but it is nonetheless.  So far in the 2011-12 NBA season, Bosh as done a good job of fitting into his role into the Heat's new fast-paced offense.  In my mind, it's helped diminish my thoughts of Bosh being a soft player.  A soft player couldn't do this could he?  

(Ignore the stupid stare that Chris Bosh has while he's laying on the ground because that's pretty soft.)

Anyway, whether Bosh likes it a lot of fans and even players think he's soft. That's got to be hard for him to hear night in and night out.  Bosh has already started his new year's resolution "I'm not soft" campaign. If he wants to help the Miami Heat make a run at the NBA Finals, he has to continue to play strong throughout the year.    

No. 23 LaMarcus Aldridge: Prove He's the Future of the Blazers

One of the earliest surprises of the 2011-12 NBA season is the fast start of the Portland Trail Blazers, who are currently one of six remaining undefeated teams in the NBA.  The Trail Blazers' start is surprising because they lost Greg Oden and Brandon Roy, which many thought would result with the Trail Blazers struggling.

LaMarcus Aldridge had different plans for the 2011-12 NBA season, and he's putting that on display by averaging 24.5 points, 7.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game this season. 

The season is young, but LaMarcus Aldridge is already solidifying himself as one of the best centers in the entire NBA.  Aldridge has an early jump on his new year's resolution of showing the Trail Blazers that he is their future by playing as well as he has so far.  

If Aldridge continues to produce at his current rate, he will accomplish his new year's resolution, in addition to helping the Trail Blazers earn a spot in the NBA playoffs. 

No. 22 Kevin Garnett: Relax a Little Bit

Kevin Garnett has always been a hot-headed player, and for a while it was something that fans appreciated about him.  Lately, Garnett's emotional and intense way of playing has been a bit overboard, which subsequently has impacted the way he's played the game.  

Garnett is averaging 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks per game on the year, which is significantly below his usual performance.

Why is Garnett's performance so low?  

I think it's because his intense style of play has reached an out of control level where he's playing with too much heart, rather than playing intelligently.  The Celtics need Garnett to relax a little bit and play with a controlled intensity that results in him being a leader on the court.  

Garnett's new year's resolution needs to be to take some time to center himself and realize that the Celtics can't win games if his intense style of play continues to spiral out of control. 

No. 21 Paul Pierce: Stay Healthy for the Rest of the Regular Season

Paul Pierce does look pretty classy in a suit, but Celtics fans want to see him in his No. 34 Celtics jersey sooner rather than later.  Without Pierce, the Celtics are 0-3, and the team isn't the same offensively without him in their stating lineup.  

Rajon Rondo has done a great job of stepping up and producing offensively more than he ever has, but running the offense through Rondo can't last throughout the season.  

Paul Pierce is slated to return within the next few games.  I'm sure the Celtics will find their winning ways once he steps back on the court.  What I'm worried about is the health of his bruised right heel throughout the entirety of the 2011-12 season.  

Bruised heels are the kind of injuries that can linger throughout the year and hinder the production of a player.  Paul Pierce's new year's resolution needs to be to ensure his heel is healed before he returns, and remain healthy throughout the season.  If he can do that, the Celtics will be able to find their winning ways.    

No. 20 Zach Randolph: Pick Up the Play on the Defensive Side of the Ball

During the Memphis Grizzlies' improbable stomping of the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs and their heartbreaking series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Zach Randolph was undoubtedly the Grizzlies' most valuable player.  

Randolph was most valuable because he produced to the tune of 22.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.  Randolph however, wasn't valuable at all for what he brought on the defensive side of the ball, and that is what the Grizzlies need him to change in 2011-12.

Randolph has never averaged more than 0.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game in a season, and that must increase if he wants to help the Grizzlies become a legitimate contender this year.  At 6'9'' and 260 pounds, Randolph should be able to impose his will on smaller offensive players, but he doesn't.  

Randolph is known for his lazy defense, and in the new year's his resolution needs to be to change that perception.   

No. 19 Tim Duncan: Return to His Prime Form

Tim Duncan is one of the best to every play the game, with career averages of 20.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.  Unfortunately for the Spurs and for Duncan, he hasn't played with even close to that production the past two years.  That's why the Spurs have made early exits in the playoffs each of the last two years.  

Last year, Duncan accounted for a weak average of 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.  That can't happen again this year if the Spurs want to reach the NBA Finals.

Duncan must get more touches on the offensive side of the ball this year, and he must take advantage of his increased opportunities by returning the 20-plus points per game average this season.  Duncan's new years focus must be to return to being the center of the Spurs offense, in turn returning to his prime form from a few years ago.   

No. 18 Manu Ginobli: Increase His Shooting Percentage to Above 46.8%

Manu Ginobli is one of the most under-appreciated players in the NBA.  He's quietly averaged 15.3 points for his career and has won three NBA championships.  In the Spurs two most recent championship years, 2004-05 and 2006-07, Ginobli averaged his highest shooting percentages of his career, with 47.1 percent and 46.4 percent respectively.  

I know it's a stretch to say this, but a large piece of the the Spurs success is placed on Ginobli's ability to hit shots resulting in an increased shooting percentage.

Ginobli's career shooting percentage is 44.9 percent, which isn't bad.  Now, if he and the Spurs want to make a run at another NBA title, his shooting percentage must go back up to what it was when they won their past NBA championships.  Ginobli's new year's resolution must be to take wise, open shots, resulting in an increased shooting percentage and, hopefully, a Spurs run in the NBA playoffs.   

No. 17 Rajon Rondo: Average 19.5+ Points Per Game for First Time in Career

After watching the Celtics' first few games, they will need Rajon Rondo to step his game up if they want to be competitive this year, especially in the points per game category, and he has done just that thus far.  

Rajon Rondo is currently averaging  22.0 points, 10.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, which is a huge spike in production when compared to his career averages.  The most impressive part of Rondo's improved game is his stellar 54.8 percent field-goal percentage, which shows he's taking smarter shots. 

While the Boston Celtics have started the season off slow, with a 0-3 start, they have been competitive in 2 out of their 3 games.  That is in large part to the aggressive play of Rajon Rondo.  

If the Celtics want to remain competitive—especially without Paul Pierce—Rajon Rondo needs to continue to play aggressive and put up at least 19.5 points per game for the first time in his career.  

Rondo's new year's resolution must be to become a scoring point guard because that is what the Celtics truly need.    

No. 16 Kevin Love: Make His First/Second/Third All-NBA First Team in 2012

In his first two games this season, Love has averaged 26.5 points and 16.0 rebounds per game, which is absolutely absurd.  If Love can continue to produce at that high of a level, and the Minnesota Timberwolves can actually win games and make the playoffs, Love will be an MVP contender and earn a spot on his first All-First/Second/Third team NBA honor.  

I know it's a long shot for the T'Wolves to make the playoffs, but it's possible with the talent they have on their roster.

WIth the addition of Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams, Kevin Love has the talent around him that can compliment his style perfectly.  Kevin Love must develop into a leader if the T'Wolves are going to fight for a playoff spot this year. That will begin with him continuing to dominate on the court.  

Kevin Love's new year's resolution needs to be to make either an All-NBA roster.  If he does that, the T'Wolves will be contending for a playoff spot late in the season.   

No. 15 Russell Westbrook: Less Turnovers and Better Shot Selection

Russell Westbrook has caught a lot of heat over the past few years for his turnover-prone playing style and his inability to wait for clear scoring opportunities.  For his career, Westbrook averages 3.5 turnovers per game.  That number looks like it might increase after this season because he is currently averaging 6.0 turnovers per game.  

Westbrook can't continue to play as whimsically as he does if he wants to help the Thunder become a legitimate contender.  

In addition to cutting down on turnovers Westbrook needs to increase his shooting percentage.  Westbrook is notorious for rushing shots and trying to create opportunities for himself when there aren't any, leading to his low career shooting percentage of 42.0 percent.  

This year, Westbrook's percentage is a measly 31.4 percent. That must increase or the Thunder won't be able to win.  Westbrook's new year's resolution needs to be to cut out turnovers and take better shots, which is easier said than done.     

No. 14 Steve Nash: Return to NBA MVP Form

Just like weight loss, this new year's resolution is going to be tough to accomplish, mainly because Steve Nash just doesn't have the talent around him that he used to.  Steve Nash has been loyal to the Phoenix Suns, even after they traded away Nash's favorite teammate Amare Stoudemire.

That is admirable. Nash's loyalty has resulted in his hopes of winning an NBA championship in his career all but fading away.

The Suns aren't off to a great start this year, losing their first two games, and if that isn't enough, their leading scorer is Hakim Warrick, who is averaging an underwhelming 14.0 points per game.  The Suns' only hope is if in some miraculous turn of events Steve Nash returns to playing like he did in the 2005-06 season, making the talent around him look a lot better than they actually were.  

Steve Nash's new year's resolution needs to be to focus on playing like he did when he won the NBA MVP trophy.  If he does that, the Suns might stand a chance of at least making the playoffs.     

No. 13 Amare Stoudemire: Average the First Double Double of His Career

Amare Stoudemire is a great player.  He's dominated power forwards and centers throughout his career, but he's never averaged a double-double for the entirety of a season in his career.  Stoudemire came close in the 2006-07 season with the Phoenix Suns when he averaged 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.  

How did the Suns fare that year?  They made it to the Western Conference semifinals.  

If the Knicks, with Stoudemire and Carmelo, want to make a run in the playoffs this year, it must begin with Stoudemire upping his productivity to something around 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.  

If Stoudemire can average that kind of production, it will mean that Stoudemire is playing physical and solidifying the Knicks exciting frontcourt.  Stoudemire's focus in the new year needs to be on earning a double-double average for the 2011-12 NBA season.   

No. 12 Carmelo Anthony: Take His Game to the "Next Level"

Carmelo Anthony came into the league with just as much hype as other players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal, but he's never truly lived up to that hype.  Anthony is a few more points per game and a couple big playoff wins from being considered one of the truly elite players in the league.

That is what he should be focusing on this year.

What he has lacked his whole career, until this year, is a supporting cast that can help him reach the the NBA Finals.  Anthony reached the playoffs every year of his six seasons with the Nuggets, but his team bowed out each time.  If Anthony wants to be remembered in the same group as Jordan, Kobe, Magic, LeBron and others, he must start making runs in the playoffs.

That is what he needs to make his new years resolution, to take his game to the next level by making a run in the 2011-12 playoffs 

No 11. Pau Gasol: Make Los Angeles Forget About Lamar Odom

This one is a bit odd because Lamar Odom meant so much to the Los Angeles Lakers, and it's not like Pau Gasol can actually replace Odom on the court because they play different positions.  What Pau Gasol can do is play just as good, if not better than last year and produce at such high rate that Lakers fans stop caring about losing Lamar Odom.  

The Lakers picked up some nice talent that can help Gasol with this new year's resolution, like Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy.  Ultimately, Gasol will have to outproduce what he did last year to make this new year's resolution become a reality, with an average 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.

No. 10 Blake Griffin: Make "Lob City" into "Ring City with Improved Post Play

Is it time to panic for the Clippers?  

I mean they lost a game, something a lot of people thought they wouldn't do.  In all reality, the Clippers actually do look like a solid and complete team, but to become even more complete and move closer to their goal of taking over Los Angeles, they will need Blake Griffin to continue to build on his post game.

In his first two games, Griffin averaged a stellar 25.0 points on a stellar 54.1 percent field goal percentage.  That high points per game average is mainly related to the work he put into his post game this offseason. His new year's resolution should be to continue working on that post game.  If Griffin can become more of a complete player, the Clippers have a good shot of actually becoming "ring city"

No. 9 Deron Williams: Lure Dwight Howard to New Jersey

Yep, it's time to panic for New Jersey Nets fans.  The Nets have already reverted to last season form with a 40-point home blowout loss to the Atlanta Hawks, followed by a 16-point loss to the Orlando Magic.  I sure hope Deron Williams took some time after the game to talk to Dwight Howard and attempted to lure him to New Jersey because that is really all that matters for New Jersey now. 

Deron Williams is a good player, and he will never move past only being a good player until he gets another franchise player alongside him like Dwight Howard.  Deron Williams would benefit from having a player like Howard on the roster, and getting him to New Jersey should be his new year's resolution. 

No. 8 Derrick Rose: Play with More Aggression

Derrick Rose plays his best basketball when his back is against the wall.  Against the Lakers in the 2011-12 season opener, Derrick Rose looked like an absolute beast when he hit the game-winning floater over Pau Gasol with seconds left on the clock.  The rest of the game he looked good, but not great, because he didn't play with the aggression he had during the game's final minutes. 

Derrick Rose needs to play like he's behind all the time, because when he does, he plays with tenacity and aggression that makes him unstoppable.  When he plays conservatively, he's a different player, and he's nearly as good.

Rose's new year's resolution needs to be to play the game with an aggressive mentality so that he can earn his second MVP trophy. 

No. 7 Kobe Bryant: Return to His 30+ Points Per Game Form

If there's been one year within the past five years that the Lakers needed Kobe to return to his 2005-2007 form of scoring 30-plus points per game, it's this year.  The Lakers lost a tremendous talent when they traded away Lamar Odom. They will definitely feel the impact of losing Odom's production throughout the season.  

The impact of losing that production will be lessened if Kobe can return to his pure scorer form.

I never thought I'd say this, but the Lakers need Kobe Bryant to demand the ball on offense.  If the offense doesn't run through Kobe the Lakers will not lose, and Kobe must realize that.  If Kobe demands the ball, he can average 30-plus points per game this year.

That needs to be his new year's resolution because if he does that, the Lakers have a shot at the NBA title. 

No. 6 Kevin Durant: Mature as a Leader for the Thunder

Durant could score 40-plus points per game, but that isn't what the Thunder need from him.  If the Thunder want to turn the corner and become a legitimate title contender, they need Kevin Durant to develop into a leader both on and off the court.  

The Thunder are a very young team, and their "court general" Russell Westbrook doesn't have nearly the maturity he needs to lead the team, so Durant needs to step up and do that. 

Kevin Durant will score 30-plus points per game this year and win the NBA scoring title, but that won't get the Thunder any further than they got last year in the playoffs.  Durant's new year's resolution needs to be to mature into a leader so that he can truly help the Thunder reach that next level of elite NBA teams.  

No. 5 Dirk Nowitzki: Bring the Mavericks New-Look Roster Together

It's not time to panic for the Mavericks just yet, even after an 0-3 start, but it's getting there.  Dirk Nowitzki isn't necessarily to blame for the Mavericks' early season losses.  What is to blame for the Mavericks' slow start is the lack of chemistry between new Mavericks players Lamar Odom and Vince Carter.  

Losing Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler and J.J. Barea was a much bigger deal than most realize, as all three of those players fit perfectly into the Mavericks offensive system, whereas Carter and Odom do not.

Dirk Nowitzki doesn't need to increase his production, because he will undoubtedly produce at a similar rate to last year.  What he does need to focus on, however, is figuring out a way, as the leader of the Mavericks, to get the new-look Mavs to gel together because if they don't, they will have a tough season. 

Nowitzki's new year's resolution should be to bring some chemistry to the Mavericks lineup, and he needs to accomplish that relatively quick. 

No. 4 Chris Paul: Live Up to the Hype

Chris Paul has a long season ahead of him.  The Clippers have started out to a confusing 1-1 start.  They beat the young and athletic Golden State Warriors.  Then, they followed that up with a 25-point loss to the veteran San Antonio Spurs.  

Beating an athletic team and then losing to a veteran team is reason for concern because it points to the belief that the Clippers might struggle against teams with more experience, which is a lot of them.

All Chris Paul has to do is single handily save the Clippers franchise, not a lot of pressure, right?  

The good news for him is that he has some nice talent around him by the names of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chauncey Billups.  What Chris Paul's new year's resolution needs to be is to try and live up to the hype that people have built around him.  

He can do that by averaging 18.5-plus points and 10.5-plus assists per game, which shouldn't be too hard, right? 

No. 3 Dwyane Wade: Stay Healthy Throughout the Entire 2011-12 Season

Dwyane Wade hasn't had too many serious injuries, aside from his 2007 shoulder injury which cut his season short.  The problem for Wade however is that he seems to get small, nagging injuries that linger with him throughout the season. 

In only his third game, Wade missed some time due to a foot injury.  While he still came back into the game and hit the eventual game winner, it still is concerning that he's already a little banged up.

Dwyane Wade's nagging injuries haven't kept him from being a great NBA player, but just imagine how great he could be if those injuries didn't exist.  I know all NBA players fight through injuries, but Wade seems to do so more than most players.

 Wade's new year's resolution needs to be to stay healthy, avoiding nagging injuries as much as he can, throughout the season.  He can do that by relying on the talent around him more.  Wade must use LeBron James and Chris Bosh when he's even a little injured so his injuries go away sooner.  

No. 2 Dwight Howard: Get Traded to the Lakers or Nets

Dwight Howard isn't having a bad year so far, with current averages of 16.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.  However, Howard does seem to be lacking that physicality and intensity that usually defines his game, and I think that reflects his desire to be traded out of Orlando sooner than later.  

The talent around Howard isn't getting any better, and that is what Howard said he needed to see if he was going to stay in Orlando.

Dwight Howard needs to do himself and the Orlando Magic a favor by persuading the Magic's front office to trade him before the trade deadline this year.  If the Magic trade him, they can at least get something in return for him.

If not he will be leaving Orlando this summer and the Magic will get nothing for him.  Howard's new year's resolution needs to be to pack his bags and fly out of Orlando with the destination of New Jersey or Los Angeles sooner rather than later. 

No. 1 LeBron James: Win MVP, Scoring Title, NBA Championship ...

LeBron James's legacy is on the line this year.  If he wants to be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play the game and have his name used in the same way as Michael Jordan's he must win an NBA title this year.  LeBron can win his first NBA championship this year by continuing to play the way he has so far, putting up 32.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.  

LeBron James has definitely stepped up his game this season, helping the Heat run to a 3-0 start.  If LeBron wants to continue that hot start and help the Heat win the NBA championship this year, he will have to do so by continuing to produce at an elite rate as he's done so far this year. 

James's new year's resolution should be to win either the NBA MVP trophy or the NBA scoring title because if he does it will undoubtedly result in the Heat winning the NBA championship.  That way, LeBron can add multiple accolades to his hardware trophy case and accomplish his new year's resolution at the same time. 

Have a Happy New Year

Thanks for reading and enjoy 2012.  Make sure you set realistic resolutions.  It's more fun to actually see your new year's resolution come to fruition.  

Happy New Year!

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