NBA Power Rankings: Potential Second Half Breakout Players for All 30 Teams
The NBA All-Star break is less than a week away. As we all gear up for the fun festivities, management is more concerned about the makeup of their rosters with the trade deadline quickly approaching.
As some teams make a run for the playoffs and others make a run NOT to be the worst team in the Association, one breakout player for each team always emerges as a hot ticket. Which players can you expect to help their teams win, or at least make their games closer than they have been in the first half?
Will a fourth player emerge for the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers?
Will Boston boast five studs instead of four heading into the postseason? Will the Cleveland Cavaliers actually have a player worth watching in the second half, or will he just get injured like the rest?
Here are your second half breakout players for all 30 NBA teams.
Cleveland Cavaliers: J.J. Hickson
1 of 30
Hickson was expected to be the primary building block following LeBron James’ departure.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, Hickson has failed to develop into a consistent go-to star.
He’s started to come on since February began, and I expect Hickson to average double-double numbers in the second half as he proves to everyone he is the new King in Cleveland.
Sacramento Kings: Jason Thompson
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Thompson was one of the better players last season for the Kings.
This year, he has clearly had trouble, statistically, working with DeMarcus Cousins. Thompson’s numbers are way down compared to last year. He is averaging three less rebounds and four less points.
Expect Thompson to receive more playing time in the second half, which, in turn, will improve his production.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Wes Johnson
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This first round pick is struggling mightily with his shot lately.
Once the Timberwolves field their complete starting lineup shortly, as Michael Beasley, Darko Milicic and Luke Ridnour have missed time, Wes Johnson is going to have a ton of open shots.
Without the pressure on his shoulders, Johnson is going to start knocking down his wide open treys with ease.
Toronto Raptors: Ed Davis
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Expect the rookie to receive more playing time, as the Raptors are heading nowhere but the bottom of the Association’s barrel.
As management looks to make changes to the roster, the rookie will not be one of the pieces on the way out.
Ed Davis is going to be relied upon heavily in the post. As he learns the NBA, he’s going to learn to put up stars or ride the bench.
Washington Wizards: Andray Blatche
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Just like last year, Blatche will emerge as one of the top second half players.
Anyone who was able to watch Blatche play in the second half of last season saw a player we had never seen before. He was playing like a man possessed.
You name it, Blatche did it.
He was fantastic from all over the court with terrific range and shooting touch. He hauled in rebounds and was also dishing the rock.
Watch out for Blatche once again.
New Jersey Nets: Derrick Favors
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The rookie has not proven his worth as a No. 3 overall pick. Not a single bit.
He’s going to have to soon enough, or he could very well be shipped out of New Jersey and declared a bust after just one season in the NBA.
The Nets need a big man to step up next to Brook Lopez. That’s why Favors was drafted.
Favors needs to start playing to his size and begin bullying other power forwards in the post. If he can start pulling down rebounds and putting them back up quickly, Avery Johnson will be a happier camper.
Detroit Pistons: Rodney Stuckey
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Stuckey has not shown to be the explosive player we saw a couple of seasons ago. Stuckey has fantastic potential, but he is not playing up to his abilities. We need to see Stuckey attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line frequently.
Stuckey has been injured at times this season, but now that he is officially locked into the starting lineup and healthy, he should begin to emerge as the superstar Joe Dumars believes he can be.
Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Bledsoe
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The rookie has been playing much better recently. Although Baron Davis is back and healthy, how long will that really last?
Besides, Bledsoe is the future in Los Angeles, not Davis. Expect Bledsoe to receive plenty of playing time as the Clippers look to develop chemistry between Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon and Bledsoe.
The future begins now for the Clippers.
Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings
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Jennings missed over a month of action due to injury. He is just finally starting to get his groove back.
Expect Jennings to explode in the second half as he gallops these Bucks into the postseason for the second straight season.
Jennings is one of the best young players in the game and will prove that once again in the second half as he nearly averages a double-double throughout.
Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin
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After failing to trade the young point guard, Augustin decides enough is enough and sticks it to Michael Jordan.
At least for Jordan, this is better for the team!
Augustin flips the switch and things finally click for him. Surrounded by enough talent, Augustin’s assists sky rocket, for his standards at least.
Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough
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Josh McRoberts has been a fine player recently, but he is no Tyler Hansbrough.
The Pacers have been on quite a run lately, and Hansbrough can keep that surge going with his intensity. Hansbrough will put that intensity to great use for the Pacers and start pulling down rebounds on both ends of the floor.
As the Pacers control the rebounds, the Pacers can control the flow of the game with Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert.
Golden State Warriors: David Lee
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After a freak elbow infection, Lee finally proves that he is worth every penny of that contract. Well, maybe not every penny, but most of them.
Lee is a very good, fundamental player, one that could flourish in the Warriors’ system.
Playing with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, Lee will see plenty of open mid-range shots and ones that he can knock down with ease. Expect the double-doubles to poor in.
Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner
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Turner is the future in Philadelphia, even though he hasn’t played like such just yet in his short career.
The No. 2 overall pick was a star in college, and he will finally begin to play like one in the NBA. Watch out for Turner attacking the hoop and dishing out to his fellow guards.
Expect him to average over 10 points per game in the second half.
Houston Rockets: Aaron Brooks
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Last year’s Most Improved Player of the Year has not played like one. Actually, he’s regressed.
Expect Brooks to start playing up to his talent in the second half as the Rockets look to make a run at the playoffs like they do every other season.
Brooks will finally learn to play with Kevin Martin, and his assists should jump.
Phoenix Suns: Marcin Gortat
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Gortat is one of the best backup centers in the league. He can be a powerhouse in the middle with his size and strength.
Watch Steve Nash get him the rock to allow him to throw it down with ease.
With the lack of size in Phoenix, expect Gortat to be the man relied upon to pull down the rebounds.
New York Knicks: Timofey Mozgov
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We knew Mozgov was a raw talent, but a talent nonetheless.
The Knicks desperately need Mozgov to turn it on in the second half to take some of the pressure and punishment off Amar’e Stoudemire as the Knicks head into the postseason.
Just as important, New York also desperately needs a defensive presence in the post. That is where Mozgov is supposed to shine. This is his chance, and he will make due.
Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet
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As the Grizzlies head towards the postseason, they will need a stronger presence in the paint with the amount of big men in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies took Thabeet with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft, and it is finally time that they use him to his potential: a defensive threat in the paint.
Thabeet has the talent but lacks the opportunity.
Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy
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Roy has missed most of the season with a knee injury but is finally expected back this week.
As long as Roy stays healthy, he will surge for the Trail Blazers, as he is one of the most talented young players in the league.
Roy will once again prove that he is the true building block in Portland as he powers the Trail Blazers into the playoffs as one of the teams others hope to avoid in the first round.
Utah Jazz: C.J. Miles
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Watch for Miles to be inserted into the starting shooting guard position, which has been lacking for the Jazz this season.
Miles is a fine young player and will do better with Deron Williams giving him open opportunities.
Without the guidance of Jerry Sloan, every player is going to be expected to step up heading in the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson
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Lawson is the future in Denver and will continue to see a great deal of playing time in the second half. Management is going to look to see if Lawson can truly take over the starting point guard duties once Billups is shipped away or his contract expires, whichever comes first.
Look for Lawson’s assists to rise.
New Orleans Hornets: Marco Belinelli
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The Hornets need a three-point specialist to compliment Chris Paul and David West.
Insert Belinelli.
Belinelli has disappointed a bit this season, but as crunch time approaches in the NBA season, watch for Chris Paul to find Belinelli more often for big three-pointers.
Belinelli has it in him. Now is his time to shine.
Orlando Magic: Brandon Bass
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Bass is one of the best backup forwards in the game.
With the lack of size up front for the Magic, Orlando will need Bass to step up big time to produce in the paint. We’ve seen Bass do it before, but now he will do so on a more consistent basis.
Watch Bass eat up other forwards in the paint and hit a bunch of double-doubles.
Atlanta Hawks: Zaza Pachulia
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The Hawks’ size will hold them back in the playoffs. That is, unless Pachulia can somehow step up.
Pachulia will be relied upon heavily in the second half as a rebounding and defensive threat to keep the pressure off Al Horford and Josh Smith.
The Hawks need Horford and Smith fresh for the postseason, so Pachulia will have to step up in the post.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Thabo Sefolosha
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The Thunder needs more production from the bench if they hope to live up to their preseason hype as the potential No. 2 team in the Western Conference.
Sefolosha has the talent to come off the bench and explode for his team, even during crunch time.
Sefolosha can drive to the basket with efficiency and will be a bonus for the Thunder.
Chicago Bulls: Ronnie Brewer
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Brewer is a fine young guard in this league but has not received adequate playing time.
Watch for him to start next to Derrick Rose a majority of the second half as the Bulls look for a surge on the offensive side of the ball.
Brewer has the ability to put up over 10 points a game.
Watch him do so.
Los Angeles Lakers: Andrew Bynum
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If the Lakers want to win its third Championship in as many seasons, Bynum may just be the new catalyst for the team.
Bynum can be a force in the NBA, but he just needs to stay healthy.
Now that he has returned, he will be looked to provide a huge spark from the center position.
Bynum should rack up the rebounds and score some easy buckets for the Lakers.
Dallas Mavericks: Peja Stojakovic
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Stojakovic has been in the shadows of the NBA in the past few years after being with the Pacers, Hornets and Raptors. Now that he is back in the forefront with the Dallas Mavericks and on a Championship caliber team, watch Peja rain down wide-open three-pointers standing still behind the arc with Jason Kidd running the point.
Stojakovic is going to provide a huge spark for the Mavs.
Miami Heat: Udonis Haslem
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Haslem will prove to be one of the most important players for the Heat and could very well be inserted into the starting lineup once healthy.
Haslem is one of the toughest and grittiest players in the league. He is not afraid to do the dirty work and usually manages to come up with a big rebound or defensive stop.
Haslem will provide a huge spark of intensity for this Heat squad and will have the team even more focused than they are now.
Haslem will provide invaluable grit for this team.
Boston Celtics: Kendrick Perkins
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Perkins recently returned from knee surgery and has the Celtics in prime position to win the East.
Perkins provides great intensity, size and strength for the Celitcs down low in the post.
Perkins helped power Boston in the Championship last season, and they probably would have won had he not been injured for Game 7.
San Antonio Spurs: DeJuan Blair
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How Blair ever fell to the second round is beyond me.
As the Spurs cruise to the postseason, Gregg Popovich will look to decrease Tim Duncan’s minutes to keep him fresh for a Championship run.
This is where Blair comes in to keep the Spurs on cruise control.
Blair has great size in the post and will bring down rebounds. Even better, Blair has fantastic athleticism, and working with the talented mix of veteran and young guards, Blair will see a ton of easy shots.
