NBA Sleepers: Five Guys Who Will Have a Breakout Year
Each year there are guys who bust out for a big season. Or improve a lot and shock people. The next five players, could each compete for the 2011 Most Improved Player. Or they could also compete for the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Aaron Brooks, The 2010 Most Improved Player.
These next guys could be the 2011 Most Improved Players.
Jeff Green
1 of 5
2009-2010 Averages—15.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists
These stats are not too bad, considering Jeff is playing along Kevin Durant, who averaged 30.1 points per game. But Jeff has showed a lot of improvement from the first round of the playoffs until now. So far in the Thunder’s two preseason games, Jeff has had 25 points and then four. The first going 5-7 for the three and 9-14 total for a really good game, but then he had an off night.
I think overall though Jeff will show a big improvement for last season. In the playoffs everyone was saying that Green and Harden needed to step up more. They took it as a challenge.
They both worked hard from what I have read and seen. Green could be the Most Improved Player of the year, just as all the other players on this list could be.
Expect him to have numbers close to these: 19 points a game, eight rebounds, and two assists. Not a huge increase, but that will help out the Thunder because they were dominated all season because of poor rebounding.
Terrence Williams
2 of 5
2009-2010 Averages—8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Williams did pretty well last season in his rookie year. Playing behind veteran point guard Devin Harris on the team with the worst record in the NBA isn’t how a player wants to start his career.
This season Williams will get more playing time and will be able to show that he has improved. I watched his Summer League games and noticed that he is a great leader. This is essential for a point guard. Even though Williams usually plays the shooting guard position, he still has great ball handling skills.
Williams also has a great shot, and with Derrick Favors' future in NJ uncertain, Williams can look at working alongside Harris a lot this upcoming season.
Expect numbers close to these: 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Chris Douglas-Roberts
3 of 5
2009-2010 Averages—9.8 points, 3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Chris was another Net who didn’t get much playing time last season. Now with the Bucks, Chris should get more playing time. With the Bucks starting lineup looking like this: Brandon Jennings, John Salmons, Corey Maggette, Drew Gooden, and Andrew Bogut, Chris will likely be the sixth or seventh man.
He is already showing signs of knowing the Bucks system. He even tweeted it after their last preseason game against the Pistons. I have watched highlights of Chris and noticed that he has a really good floater. He can attack the hoop but then at the same time can knock down three-pointers.
This is the type of player the Bucks need—someone who has a few different weapons and can be taken off the bench and put into the game, knowing he will produce for them.
Another about CDR is that he is very athletic. Bucks fans will be able to see that athleticism this season because Brandon and Chris will be able to run the fast break together.
Expect numbers close to these: 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists. With the new situation and new teammates, CDR will play very well.
Darren Collison
4 of 5
2009-2010 Averages—12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists
Darren filled in some HUGE shoes last season. Starting at point guard as a rookie for the injured Chris Paul, Collison played really well. Now this summer he got traded to the Pacers, a team that struggles every year. It is already looking like Collison has the starting job locked up.
The Pacers, unlike past years, look like they have a pretty solid team. Collison, Hibbert, Granger, and if you have read my other articles, you would know that I think Paul George will start and be really good.
Collison may have found the best situation for him. He is surrounded by players who can make him better. His assists will go up because he has an outside shooter in Danny Granger. He will also get more shots because teams will be focusing more on guarding Granger and worrying about him shooting. He will also keep up the rebounding, since Darren is a decent rebounder for a guard.
Expect numbers close to these: 17 points, three rebounds, and seven assists.
Kyle Korver
5 of 5
2009-2010 Averages—7.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Korver is known throughout the NBA as a three-point MACHINE. Remember when he went 5-5 for threes against the Lakers? Yeah, who doesn’t? That was Korver showing us what he does. This season he will be a part of the newly dominant Chicago Bulls. (I still think the Bucks will get first in the Central though.)
He will get a chance to shoot even more threes because he has a point guard named Derrick Rose. We all know who he is and how good he is. Rose drives to the basket a lot, and that means Korver can stand around behind the three-point line and wait for Rose to kick it out to him.
Korver’s three-point percentage was 53 percent last season. This season he will have more open space between him and his defender, this means that 53 percent could go up to 60 percent.
If Kyle gets enough playing time he could be a threat to win the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Depending on if they start him or Luol Deng at the small forward.
Expect his numbers to be close to these: 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and 58 percent for three-pointers.
