Player from Every NBA Team Bound To Regress in 2011-12

Let's be honest, folks.  Every player in basketball and every other sport tends to be overhyped to a certain degree.  For example, in basketball, Kobe Bryant is a great shooter, but he also takes his fair share of bad shots.  New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire (pictured) is great when he's at 100 percent, but we also spend a lot of time placing bets as to when he'll be injured next.

We, as fans, overhype certain players, and when they regress a year or so later, we're all let down.  Looking at the potential NBA rosters for next year, many players will see their stats decrease in production next year.

That being said, let's look at the player from each NBA team bound to regress in 2011-2012.

Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague

To put it bluntly, Jeff Teague was kind of the Hawks' savior in the playoffs last year.  Regular point guard Kirk Hinrich was out with an injury, and the rarely used point guard out of Wake Forest stepped up in a tremendous way despite averaging just 13.8 minutes per game on the regular season.

In the playoffs, Teague logged 29.8 minutes per contest and averaged 11.8 points as he showed tremendous athleticism and drive in an effort to prove he was worth being drafted in the first round in 2009.  Given how the Hawks are more than likely about to lose Jamal Crawford to free agency, it's realistic to think that Teague could step in as the alpha dog off the bench.

Yet, fans should not let Teague's performance from last postseason get them all fired up about him.  Keep in mind, he is just 6'2" and without the explosiveness of Crawford.  While he surely will get more minutes off the bench, there is simply no way he will match Crawford's numbers.

Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is one of the game's best power forwards and a future Hall of Famer, but I have a feeling that next season will be the one where he starts to slow down a bit.  He's still in great shape at 6'11" and 253 pounds but is also 35 years old and will turn 36 next May.

On top of that, it should be noted that KG hasn't played a full 82-game season since 2004-2005, when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Since then, various injuries have slowly started to take their toll on him.

Don't get me wrong, he'll still be a solid contributor on the Celtics in 2011-2012.  He'll just start showing signs of age and not be the man we're used to watching.

Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin

Ever since being drafted ninth overall in 2008, D.J. Augustin hasn't exactly been the electrifying shooting point guard he was for the Texas Longhorns.  Last year was his first season starting for the Charlotte Bobcats, and he put up decent averages of 14.4 points and 6.1 assists per game.

Yet, new Bobcats owner Michael Jordan wants to win now and call me crazy, but I think that his drafting Kemba Walker in this year's draft was his way of sending a message to Augustin.  That message is simple: "Start producing or find yourself a new team."

Augustin will be a restricted free agent after this season, so he still has a shot at redemption.  Yet, with the pressure on from an owner who also happens to be the greatest player of all time, don't be surprised if he cracks under the pressure just a little bit.

Chicago Bulls: Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah is a talented center who can certainly be one of the premiere shot-blockers and rebounders.  His only problem is that he is injury-prone and has a tendency to play with his head.  Over the past two seasons, Noah has played in just 112 games and as evidenced in last season's conference finals against the Miami Heat, he needs to learn some self-control when it comes to hecklers.

To be honest with you all, I hope I'm wrong.  I've been following Noah since he started playing high school basketball in New York City and have admired his talent for a long time.  Hopefully, he can get his head in the game and have an ultimate breakout season.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Baron Davis

Ever since signing a lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Clippers back in 2008, Baron Davis has looked like a shell of his former self.  His scoring has been down, injuries have hampered him and he has not been the leader he was with the Golden State Warriors.

Currently, he is one of three talented point guards the Cleveland Cavaliers have—the others being Ramon Sessions and reigning first-overall pick Kyrie Irving.  Considering how the Cavs are looking to bounce back from an abysmal season and both Sessions and Irving are significantly younger than the 32-year-old Davis, the former UCLA Bruin could become expendable if he doesn't make positive contributions from the get-go.

He is on a team that is used to winning, and with the pressure mounting, don't be surprised if the numbers drop.

Dallas Mavericks: Too Soon To Tell

Going into free agency, the Dallas Mavericks could potentially lose six players.  Combine the fact that the team could look completely different next season along with their just winning an NBA championship, it's safe to say that they'll all be playing hard to defend their title.

That being said, I'm going to let them enjoy the rest of the offseason (however long that lasts) and not label one of the many talented players who will be on the team next year as someone who will regress.

Moving right along...

Denver Nuggets: Andre Miller

On draft night, Andre Miller was traded back to the Denver Nuggets to fill the void left by Chauncey Billups.  Given the fact that Ty Lawson did a great job of stepping up last season, not to mention the fact that he is only 23 years old while Miller is 35, I wouldn't be surprised if the veteran was relegated to a bench role.

On top of that, Nuggets coach George Karl likes a point guard who can also shoot.  First, he had Billups and then Lawson.  Miller has a decent shot, but let's not forget that he has never been known for it.  Last year, he only shot 10 percent from downtown.

With his minutes about to decrease combined with the fact that he isn't getting any younger, Miller will surely regress next season.

Detroit Pistons: Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace's decline has been going on for the past three seasons.  In 2011-2012, it will reach its lowest point.  He only appeared in 54 games last year for an absolute mess of a Detroit Pistons roster and posted his lowest average for blocks per game (a whopping one) since his rookie season.

Throw in the fact that he is 37 years old and is playing behind the talented Greg Monroe, and Wallace's regression is all but a certainty.

Golden State Warriors: Dorell Wright

Considering how I probably have limited time before all Warriors fans come banging on my door and barge in with torches, I'll keep this brief.  I was happy that Dorell Wright finally broke out last year and established himself as a talented offensive forward on a Warriors squad put together by the legendary Don Nelson.

Yet, Nelson's apprentice Keith Smart is out and rookie head coach and former NBA point guard Mark Jackson is in.  Here is a man who played on teams that emphasized defense, so I can only assume he will bring that approach to the Warriors.

Given how the rest of the roster is used to starting and could adjust better to change, Wright is my pick as the man who will regress.

Houston Rockets: Chase Budinger

Over the last two months of last season, Chase Budinger starred in what were essentially throwaway games for the underachieving Houston Rockets.  A product of the offense-based University of Arizona, this is a man whose style of play in college was very similar to that of Dorell Wright last season.  Considering how Rick Adelman was his coach last year, Budinger's play towards the end of last year was respectable.

Yet, Adelman is now in Minnesota, and Kevin McHale is in the driver's seat in Houston.  It's too early to tell what kind of offense he will employ, and until we get an inkling of his system, we can only assume that Budinger's numbers last year were a fluke.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, but it's easy to say that he overachieved last year.

Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough

In four years at North Carolina, Tyler Hansbrough was an absolute beast.  He was a dominant big man who averaged 20 and 10 a game his junior year, and despite being undersized for the position at the NBA level (6'9"), the Indiana Pacers took him in the first round of the 2009 draft.

Hansbrough was effective off the bench most of last year, averaging 11 points and 5.2 rebounds.  Yet, while he has potential, he still is raw and could take a few steps back before taking that giant step forward.

Next year, I'm thinking he'll take a small step back.

Los Angeles Clippers: Mo Williams

The Los Angeles Clippers are a team looking to get younger, and while Mo Williams is an effective point man, he is going to be 29 soon.  That isn't old at all, but a more electrifying player will be needed at that position, one who can better complement Blake Griffin.

That being said, I'm thinking that head coach Vinny Del Negro will slowly start to give second-year player Eric Bledsoe some more starts next season as the front office sees him having more of a future with the team.  If that does indeed happen, look for Williams' numbers to slowly go down.

Los Angeles Lakers: Andrew Bynum

It seems that Los Angeles Lakers fans are running out of reasons to root for Andrew Bynum.  The man has such good size at 7'0" and 285 pounds as well as tons of potential.  Yet, despite putting up decent numbers, he has not played a full season since 2006-2007, and even I am starting to get fed up with his being injured all the time.

To add insult to injury, Bynum appears to have developed an attitude problem.  Last offseason, he opted to delay surgery on his knee and ended up missing the first month and a half of the season, not telling the team that his recovery would be longer until hours before training camp started.

On top of that, Bynum earned a label as a dirty player when he clotheslined Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea in the playoffs and since then (even before then), there have been rumors swirling about him being shipped to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard.

If those talks gain momentum, look for Bynum to get his head out of the game and his numbers to subsequently suffer.

Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Allen

Tony Allen stepped in last season when the Grizzlies' regular small forward, Rudy Gay, went down with a shoulder injury.  He averaged 12.1 points in Gay's absence and was an integral part of the team making the Western Conference semifinals.

Yet, Gay will be back in the starting lineup next season, and that means Allen will be back on the bench.  Unless he is the new sixth man, don't expect to see him put up amazing numbers.

Miami Heat: Chris Bosh

The moment that Miami put together its Big Three last offseason, I immediately knew that one of them would underperform.  It's extremely rare to have three egotistical superstars on one team and have them absolutely dominate from the get-go.  My revelation came true as Chris Bosh posted the lowest scoring average out of the trio of himself, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

On top of that, Bosh openly complained about his role in the offense last season, and while the Heat made the NBA Finals, his play during the regular season was criticized.  That being said, let's be honest about the situation in Miami.

No matter how well the team does, Bosh is always going to be stuck in the shadow of his teammates James and Wade.  Here is a man who was the top dog with the Toronto Raptors, and now, he's playing The Joker (or maybe even Alfred the Butler) to Wade and James' Batman and Robin.

Thus, unless Erik Spoelstra completely redesigns the offense, I'm anticipating that Bosh's numbers will take a dive again next season.

Milwaukee Bucks: Beno Udrih

On draft night, Beno Udrih was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in the deal that gave the rights to Jimmer Fredette to the Sacramento Kings.  He was a starter on the West Coast, but I'm anticipating that he'll be coming off the bench for Scott Skiles in the Midwest.

There's the slight chance that Udrih will be a decent bench shooter for the Bucks, but I'm not anticipating it.  Skiles has a reputation as a defensive coach, and Udrih will be expected to provide a decent defensive spark off the bench.

The only problem is that Udrih doesn't really play great defense, and thus, his numbers as a whole will go down.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley is a talented shooter whose skills sometimes border on the electrifying, but his attitude always gets in the way of his game.  Minnesota team management seems to have noticed this, as GM David Kahn drafted forward Derrick Williams out of Arizona.  It is assumed that the rookie could possibly take Beasley's spot at small forward.

Considering how no teams have inquired on Beasley's services and attempted to work out a trade for him, it appears that he could be relegated to the bench if Williams is as great on the professional level as he was in college.  Once Beasley ends up on the bench, just watch as he regresses from decent starter to average bench player/shooter.

New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez

Although Brook Lopez is a great scoring presence in the middle, having averaged 20.6 points per game last season, his defense isn't nearly good enough for someone 7'0" and 265 pounds. 

He is a restricted free agent after next season, and considering how Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has been open about wanting to bring All-Star center Dwight Howard to the team, Lopez could slowly find himself expendable.

That being said, put yourself in the man's position right now.  You're on the last guaranteed deal of your contract playing on a pretty bad team, and the man who signs your paychecks has basically implied that he wants to replace you with a better man.  I don't know about you, but that would mess with my play a lot.

Thus, I'm guessing that Lopez's stats will take a dive this year.

New Orleans Hornets: Too Soon To Tell

The New Orleans Hornets are just a mess.  Save for Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor, we have no idea as to what the starting lineup will look like next year or if the Hornets will even exist in a year or two.

Until the roster is finalized and the futures of the club's eight impending free agents resolved, I'm not touching this team with a 10-foot pole.

New York Knicks: Landry Fields

Knicks fans fell in love with Landry Fields last season when he came out of nowhere and provided clutch three-point shooting and some of the best rebounding some of us have ever seen from a guard.  Then, the Carmelo Anthony trade happened, and he slowly became a non-factor.

WIth the team looking to build around a core three of Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, I'm guessing that Fields' shooting percentages will come back down to Earth next season.  He is talented, but he'll have a hard time getting shot opportunities when having to share both the floor and the ball with three NBA legends.

Oklahoma City Thunder: None

At least for me, the Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the most fun teams to watch.  Over the past few seasons, they have gotten better and better and might find themselves in the NBA Finals soon.  Two seasons ago, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and last year made it all the way to the Western Conference finals.

Simply put, this team just keeps getting better and better, and I don't think any of the guys on this squad will regress next year.  If anything, I expect them to equal last year's success and possibly improve upon it.

Orlando Magic: Gilbert Arenas

Despite his recent drama, I legitimately feel bad for Gilbert Arenas.  Here is a man who went from being one of the NBA's top shooters to a complete and utter pariah who was more or less banished out of Washington last season.  Once in Orlando, he became a second-banana bench player in an offense that I like to call "The Dwight Howard Show."

Given how this season is Howard's contract year, I'm expecting him to set career highs in both shooting and defense.  This means that offensive juggernauts like Arenas will be left begging for scoring opportunities and as a result will have low scoring averages.

Unless he can successfully step into the two-guard spot held last year by Jason Richardson and provide the explosive scoring we fell in love with years ago, Arenas could regress the worst out of any player in the NBA.

Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand

I don't like to hate on someone from my home state, but Elton Brand is running on borrowed time in the NBA.  Various injuries have robbed him of the dominance he once displayed with the Los Angeles Clippers, and at age 32, he moves more like someone pushing 40.

While I still think he'll be a great leader and positive influence on a young Philadelphia 76ers team, I have a feeling that injuries will catch up with him, and he will find himself sitting on the bench in a suit for a handful of games next season.

Phoenix Suns: Channing Frye

As much as I like Channing Frye, I can't help but think that he's been overachieving the past two years.  He's been playing for the Phoenix Suns and for a coach who knows how to utilize each individual player's talent.  Unfortunately for Frye, his talent seems to be more shooting and less using his 6'11", 245-pound frame to be a dominant force on the inside.

On top of that, the Suns kind of need a makeover.  They are a shell of the team that made the Western Conference finals two years ago, and it's time to rebuild from the ground up.  That means putting Frye on the bench and finding someone else to replace Amare Stoudemire.

If he is indeed benched, it could be shocking how much he regresses.

Portland Trail Blazers: Marcus Camby

I'll admit it.  I'm pretty damn impressed that Marcus Camby was able to average 10.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season at age 37.  Yet, considering how he is no stranger to the injury bug, I'm picking next year to be the one where his body finally breaks down.

Keep in mind, Camby has only played one full season in 15 years in the NBA.  The man is practically made of chalk, and despite being possibly one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game, trusting his production has always been risky.

He turns 38 in March, and while I certainly hope that I'm wrong, I wouldn't at all be surprised if his numbers took a nose dive.

Sacramento Kings: Francisco Garcia

Mark my words.  2011-2012 will mark the season when the Sacramento Kings put Francisco Garcia on the bench and out of the rotation once and for all.  His three-point shooting is effective, but John Salmons will prove to be the leader the team needs at small forward.

On top of that, Garcia's inconsistency just won't fly anymore.  This is head coach Paul Westphal's make-or-break year, and if he wants to save his job, he'll keep Garcia on the bench.

Naturally, with being benched, there comes regression of numbers.

San Antonio Spurs: Richard Jefferson

Ever since the New Jersey Nets traded him back in 2008, Richard Jefferson's scoring production has rapidly decreased.  Last season, his 11 points per game were his lowest average since his rookie season back in 2001.

He is still an effective three-point shooter, having made 44 percent of his shots last year.  Still, the Spurs will be looking to reestablish the dominance of Tim Duncan next season as well as that of Tony Parker.

With those two men plus Manu Ginobili standing in the spotlight, Jefferson will get lost in the shadows and continue to regress.

Toronto Raptors: Linas Kleiza

Last offseason, Linas Kleiza signed a four-year deal worth $18.8 million to play for the Toronto Raptors.  The team did not get much return on its investment as the Lithuanian forward appeared in just 39 games before missing the rest of the season with a knee injury.

This team just needs a makeover in the starting lineup, and with Kleiza out for potentially a year, he might not see much playing time no matter when he comes back.  Thus, it seems to be a safe bet that his numbers next season will not equal the 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds he averaged last year.

Utah Jazz: Mehmet Okur

Once a top big man in the NBA, Mehmet Okur is a shell of what he once was.  Two years ago, he tore his Achilles tendon.  Last season, he appeared in just 12 games due to a bad back.

Even if the Turkish big man does come back at full strength next season, his production will regress quite a bit.  Al Jefferson has done a fine job in the middle, and second-year player Derrick Favors has a boatload of potential.

To take away playing time from one of those two and replace them with an aging Okur is just silly.  Thus, I expect him to regress and quickly too.

Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis

Rashard Lewis used to be one of the NBA's most electrifying three-point shooters.  Then, he signed a long-term deal with the Orlando Magic, and while he was decent with them, his defense just was not there.  Last year, the team traded him to the Washington Wizards for Gilbert Arenas.

Long story short, Lewis was a disaster for the Wizards last year, and I expect him to be the same next year.  I know he was injured last season, but I can't help but think that the man is done.

He has no leadership skills, unacceptable given the youth of the Wizards now.  I expect him to possibly be relegated to a bench role and his numbers to regress as the team's young core learns how to play together and ultimately brings the Wizards back to the playoffs.