Player from Each NBA Team with the Most Pressure Heading into 2011-12 Season

Looking forward to the new NBA season means lots of excitement. It also means lots of expectations. Some players thrive on the pressure, while others are destined to crumble.

Who will overcome the pressure and who will succumb to it this season? That remains to be seen.

Who is going to be subject to the most pressure from the very beginning?

Read on to find out.

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson

Many Hawks’ fans are growing tired of Joe Johnson’s inability to bring real success to this team. If you get paid a max contract, there are expectations to produce, and Joe Johnson simply has not been the franchise player he was supposed to be.

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo

This team belongs to Rondo, and that means the team’s success falls on his shoulders. Rondo has had the privilege of coming up in this league with three All-Stars on his team and relatively low expectations. Now that he has demonstrated that he is one of the top Point Guards in the league, the Boston faithful will be looking to him to lead the way.

Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker

A team in desperate need of an identity may have found one in this year’s draft. Kemba Walker has the opportunity to be the leader of this team from the very first game. If not, he may struggle to get time and the fans in Charlotte could become restless. Not to mention he's going to be under the watchful eye of Michael Jordan, who isn't known to have much patience with his players.

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

After becoming the youngest player to ever win the MVP, everyone in the league will be wondering what this kid has as an encore. Not many teams win 60 games two seasons in a row, but that will be Derrick Rose’s task as he gets going this season. Not to mention the championship aspirations the city of Chicago now has.

Since Michael Jordan retired, Bulls fans have looked for a replacement. Some think they have found it in Derrick Rose. No pressure right?

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving

The last time the Cavaliers got the first pick in the draft they got Lebron James. Now it is up to Kyrie Irving to not just live up to Mr. James, but to fill the mammoth void that was made when he took his talents to South Beach.

How on earth can Irving live up to the expectations? Should make for an interesting season.

Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki

To win a championship is difficult, to repeat as a champion is an entirely different animal. After reminding the entire NBA world that he's still one of the top talents, it is up to Dirk to back it up. While some may think that Dirk's legend is now sealed, I would argue that Dirk has to show no only that he's a champion, but that it wasn't just a fluke. If Dirk wants to reach that top tier of great players, he'll need to do more than have one successful season.

Denver Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari

The Denver Nuggets had some surprising success towards the end of last season. However, if they want to continue to be successful, they will need more out of Gallinari. I see this as the season where we find out what Gallinari is truly made of. He’s now on a team with a great coach, in George Karl, who is looking for a first option.

Can Gallinari step up to the plate?

Detroit Pistons: Rodney Stuckey

He was supposed to be good enough to allow the Pistons to deal Billups. Since then, the Pistons have been a disaster. Whether or not Stuckey is an All-Star quality guard has yet to be determined, but if he is going to breakout, this is going to be his year.

Until then, Piston fans will be left dreaming of the good old days.

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

Many people question whether or not Ellis and Curry can truly coincide on the same team effectively. With a new owner and a new coach, look for Ellis to be on the trade block most of the season. Should things with the team head south, Ellis will be gone.

Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris

After being drafted behind his brother, look for Morris to have a chip on his shoulder. Clearly there were questions on whether or not Marcus was the more talented of the Morris brothers, and this season, eyes will be on Marcus to prove the doubters wrong.

Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger

Danny Granger has been the one bright light in Indiana for quite some time. Not any more. This team played well at the end of last season as well as the first round of the playoffs. Granger has never been called upon to win big games. Look for high expectations this season for Granger and his squad.

LA Clippers: Blake Griffin

No one was quite sure just how good Griffin was going to be. Now everyone knows and there’s nothing he can do about it. It was enough to play well individually last season, but this year, Clipper fans are going to want to see some wins. The sky’s the limit for Griffin, it’s up to him to continue to impress and perhaps give Clipper fans hope they haven’t had in quite some time.

LA Lakers: Andrew Bynum

When is Bynum going to play a full season? When will he become an All-Star Center? It seems as though the past three years everyone has been looking for him to dominate, though he has yet to do so. During the playoffs, he played well, but can he be consistent enough to help this Lakers team reach the promise land once again?

Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay

Much like Caron Butler, Gay had to watch from the bench as his team exceeded all expectations. As the first option on this team, Gay will no longer have the support of the Memphis fans if the team struggles early. These Grizzlies have already proven they don’t need Gay to be successful. Gay will have to prove that he will add to the Grizzlies’ success, not take away from it.

Miami Heat: Lebron James

Has there ever been more pressure on an athlete?

Ever?

It’s championship or bust for Mr. James and so far he’s had plenty of busts. When everyone outside of Miami wants to see you fail, there’s plenty of pressure. Not to mention the pressure of living up to the legends of the game. Lebron has to be perfect. At all times. Anything short of that allows him to be analyzed and scrutinized till the cows come home.

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings

Jennings had the league’s attention when he dropped 55 points his rookie year. Since then, he has yet to become the Superstar some thought he could be. With the talent on this team, the Bucks should be making the playoffs every year. If the team should fall short again, look for fans to grow impatient with Jennings.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio

Perhaps the most famous player yet to play a single NBA game, Ricky Rubio will need to prove himself this year. After his controversial decision to stay in Europe the last two years, Rubio needs to prove to the league that he made the right decision. He has a great coach and a fantastic target in Kevin Love, but if he fails to get off to a fast start, there are plenty of Point Guards on the Wolves willing to take his spot.

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams

The pressure will be on this season for the Nets’ star. Can he make this team exciting enough to gain a following for when they move to Brooklyn in 2012? Plenty of people will be watching the Nets to see if Deron can turn this team around. If he can do so, it will be the mark of a new era in Nets’ history. If not? The apathy will continue in Nets Nation.

New Orleans Hornets: Emeka Okafor

He’s been a bit of a disappointment so far since coming to New Orleans from Charlotte. The truth is the Hornets need players that will entice Chris Paul to stay, and if they struggle early, Okafor will find himself on the trading block. If he can produce more in the vein of Al Horford, he may help this Hornets team to overachieve and make some noise in the West.

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony

Before he got to New York, Amare Stoudemire was an early MVP candidate. When he left the Nuggets, they played better than they had all year. Anthony needs to prove that he can make his team better. He says that he wants to compete with the best in the East, but in order to do that, he’ll have to play better than ever.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant

He’s considered one of the best players in the game. Now it’s time for him to prove it. He needs to make a serious bid for the MVP this season or people are going to begin to question his abilities. I think many people got swept up in the Derrick Rose story and forgot that last season was supposed to belong to Kevin Durant. He’s not a kid anymore. He’s a mature player on a team that can win. This season he’ll be judged like a seasoned pro, and whether he wins or not will greatly affect his reputation.

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard

Other than the obvious fact that there will be Lebron-like speculation about his upcoming free agency, Dwight also has pressure on him to produce on the court. He averaged a career high in points last season, but there was still something left to be desired. If Dwight wants to be considered a great player, he needs to be more of a force on the offensive end. If he can become as dominant on offense as he is on defense, the wins will come a lot easier.

Philadelphia Sixers: Jrue Holiday

After a disappointing rookie season Jrue Holiday found his stride in his second year. There were huge expectations for Jrue coming out of high school, and it seems like those expectations are coming back. With the possibility of Iguodala being traded, Holiday has the safest spot on the roster. Look for the offense to go through the kid more often this season, and to go with it much more pressure.

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash

Is this Nash’s last year?

With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, there will be plenty of speculation about his future. If the team struggles, look for the Suns to contemplate trading their franchise player. If this is his last year in a Suns uniform, he is going to want to make it count.

Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy

He went from franchise player to benchwarmer, to somewhere in between. It will be interesting to see how Portland’s rotation issues play out. If Roy can be the player he was before, he’ll silence all the doubters. If not, he will likely be at the center of all Portland trade talk.

Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans

After a dominant rookie season, Tyreke Evans’ stats dipped in his sophomore year. On a team that may be on the move, Evans needs to bring excitement and hope to this troubled franchise. If he can emerge as a top player in this league, he might just be able to salvage this franchise. If not, the Kings may have to pack their bags.

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan

When you win 61 games in a season, no one expects you to be knocked out in the first round. What was supposed to be a renaissance for the Spurs turned into an embarrassment at the hands of the Grizzlies. The pressure will be on Duncan to show the NBA that his team can still compete in a very competitive Western Conference.

Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani

In his first season without Chris Bosh, Bargnani played decently. However, as the first pick in the 2006 draft, people in Toronto expected a lot more. It’s his team to lose, but if he can’t figure out a way to be more productive on the court, look for the Raptors to begin to look elsewhere for leadership.

Utah Jazz: Devin Harris

Many fans in Utah were heartbroken when Deron Williams was traded to the Nets. However, with Sloan gone, this marks new territory for the Jazz and an opportunity to redefine itself. Devin Harris has the chance to win over the hearts of the Jazz loyal if he can turn this group into a team that competes for the playoffs. Either way, many fans in Utah will expect Harris to fill the void that Williams left.

And that is a tall order.

Washington Wizards: John Wall

After a solid freshman year, the Wizards have plenty to be excited about with John Wall. However, Mr. Wall has to take his game to the next level if he wants to live up to the lofty expectations of the fans in Washington. More responsibility will be given to Wall, which means more pressure. With the remnants of the Arenas years almost gone, it is up to Wall to decide the future of this franchise.