New Year's Resolution for Each NBA Team's Star Player

As we start a new NBA season, we also look to start a new year as well.

Many stars in the NBA will need to step up their games if they want to please their fanbases.

Whether or not they will remains to be seen, but no matter how this year plays out, it should be very interesting.

Here's a New Year's Resolution for each NBA team's star player.

Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford

New Year's Resolution: become “the man”

It was never a lock that Horford was going to become a great player in this league; however, it seems as though the time has come for Al to step up and be “the man” for the Hawks.

Horford is one of the more underrated offensive players in the game today and if given the opportunity, he could put up bigger numbers.

The Hawks are a talented team, but they need an identity and a player they can build around. Horford should look to be that player.

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo

New Year's Resolution: develop a perimeter game

Rajon Rondo is undoubtedly one of the top guards in the game and is able to drive at will. However, if he truly wants to make defenses nervous, he’ll need to develop a more consistent outside shot.

Because of his speed, many defenders will play off him and force Rondo to beat them with his jumper.

Should he develop such a game, he could challenge Paul, Williams and Rose for best young point guard in the game.

Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker

New Year's Resolution: ROY

Few rookies will be given as much freedom as I expect Kemba Walker will have this season.

He’s one of those players with just enough confidence that players will inherently trust him to make the right choices.

I think he’ll impress a lot of veterans with his poise and skill as he leads the Bobcats this season. Kemba will be a big part of everything the team does this year, and he should aim to be this season’s top freshman.

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

New Year's Resolution: bring home the title

There’s very little Derrick Rose didn’t accomplish last year, but one thing was he didn't end the season with a title.

There will be plenty of pressure for the young point guard to lead his team to the promised land and he’ll have plenty of challengers.

With the Heat and Knicks getting better this offseason, the task will be more difficult than it was last year. Hopefully, Derrick Rose will have what it takes.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving

New Year's Resolution: bring hope back to Cleveland

With the lack of talent on the Cavs, Kyrie Irving’s main focus should be on staying healthy and developing his game.

Few people expect the team to make a playoff run, so there’s little pressure on Kyrie to produce right away.

However, if the team can develop on par with the 2007-08 Thunder and set themselves up for a great 2012 draft, perhaps people in Cleveland will begin to have hope again.

Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki

New Year's Resolution: defend the throne

Dirk will have his work cut out for him this year as he experiences life as a defending champion.

Without key role players like Butler, Chandler and Barea, Dirk will have to rely on newly-acquired Lamar Odom to help shoulder the burden.

As the team looks to repeat as champions, Nowitzki will have to work harder than ever as every team will be gunning for the Mavs.

Denver Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari

New Year's Resolution: develop an inside presence

At 6’10”, Danilo Gallinari needs to understand that he must develop some form of an inside game.

A player that big can help out his team so much more than Danilo has been able to do thus far in his career, and it starts on the glass.

If Gallinari can start to grab around seven or eight rebounds a game, as opposed to four or five, he can really help his team offensively and defensively.

He may not have the attitude to bang with the big boys down low, but it might be exactly what his team needs.

Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe

New Year's Resolution: patrol the paint 

Despite being the one bright spot on the Pistons last season, Monroe will need to continue developing if he wants to become a top player in the game.

I fully expect Monroe to be a big part of the offense this season; however, he might need to focus most on his ability to control the paint on defense.

Guys like Dwight Howard, who can seemingly come out of nowhere and send back shots, are rare these days, but if Monroe has the right mentality, he could develop into that kind of presence.

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

New Year's Resolution: become a veteran leader

This year, Monta Ellis turned 26 years old as he enters his seventh year in the NBA.

No longer is he an up-and-coming star, and he needs to establish himself not only as a top talent in the league, but as a smart leader who can be the face of an organization.

I have no doubt that Mark Jackson will be looking to Ellis to help run the team, but it’s up to Monta whether or not he steps up to the challenge.

Houston Rockets: Luis Scola

New Year's Resolution: get to the playoffs

It seems like every year the Rockets fall just short of the playoffs despite being a talented team.

This year, Scola should do all he can to ensure the Rockets are able to make a serious push to get into the playoffs.

How new coach Kevin McHale plans to run the team remains to be seen; however, Scola will be a big part of the equation either way.

Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger

New Year's Resolution: make the Pacers contenders

This might sound crazy to some, but while everyone has been focusing on the Chris Paul and Dwight Howard drama, the Pacers quietly became the Grizzlies of the East.

Without having to give up much, the team added stud forward David West and few people have talked about it.

As the center of the franchise, Granger will have the responsibility of taking charge of this young and very promising team.

Don’t be surprised to see Granger and the Pacers get out of the gates very fast this season.

LA Clippers: Blake Griffin

New Year's Resolution: develop a spot-up jumper

Everyone knows how dangerous Blake Griffin can be when he’s in the open court or under the basket, but the young star can still improve many facets of his game.

There’s nothing I would love to see more than Griffin develop a nice go-to jump shot a la Duncan, Dirk and Gasol.

Whether it’s a little bank shot, a jumper from the elbow, or a 15-footer from the baseline, adding a little range to his game will make Griffin all the more unstoppable.

LA Lakers: Kobe Bryant

New Year's Resolution: learn from Duncan

Kobe Bryant is one of the best players in the NBA. As one of the top talents, it’s crucial that the Lakers make sure he is in top form for as long as possible.

This means that Kobe must follow in the path of Tim Duncan in understanding how to preserve his talents for as long as possible.

If that means resting an extra minute, or not playing a back-to-back, so be it. Kobe is going to have to let some of the other talent around him shoulder the load so he’s able to deliver when the team really needs him.

Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Randolph

New Year's Resolution: stay hungry (pun intended)

The word is that Zach Randolph has entered training camp in as good of shape as ever.

This is good news, as the Grizzlies’ best player needs to stay motivated, even though he now has a nice, big contract.

The Grizzlies over-achieved last season and surprised everyone, but this year people will be looking out for them.

It’s up to Randolph to lead by example and stay hungry, as a playoff berth will not be enough anymore.

Miami Heat: Lebron James

New Year's Resolution: learn from Magic, not Jordan

LeBron James is essentially the 2011 version of “Tragic Johnson.”

While LeBron may idolize Michael Jordan, that should not be his role on the team.

Due to his incredible talents, he’ll always have the pressure on him no matter how hard he tries to defer to Wade.

Even if Wade takes control of the team, he can’t win it alone, and LeBron will have to step up to the plate if the Heat want to win the title.

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings

New Year's Resolution: respect the vets

Brandon Jennings is in a unique position this year with Stephen Jackson coming aboard.

I really like the addition, especially since it sounds as if he will embrace his role on the team. With that in mind, Jennings should still understand that if he needs it, Jackson will be there to help him out on the court.

Stephen Jackson has been on a few teams in his day and has plenty of wisdom to give. It’s up to Jennings to understand his role as scorer as well as facilitator and get Jackson the rock.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love

New Year's Resolution: surprise the league once again

Few people saw Kevin Love becoming the star he is in the NBA today, and I don’t think he’s done surprising people.

This year, however, it will be more about the team’s performance than his own.

With Rick Adelman at the helm, this team has the possibility of winning a few more games.

If Kevin Love can continue to improve and involve his teammates, the 'Wolves could be a dark horse for the playoffs.

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams

New Year's Resolution: make the Nets relevant again

We didn’t really get to see Deron in full force last season, so no one quite knows what this team has yet.

Williams is such a talented point guard that even without improving the team, they currently have enough depth that they should make a decent run for the playoffs.

Should the team over-achieve, the sky is the limit as the team moves to Brooklyn and becomes a top destination for free agents.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul

New Year's Resolution: make the best of any situation

This is a difficult one to write, seeing as it’s uncertain if come morning, he’ll be on a different team.

However, such uncertainty speaks to a bigger theme that Paul must embrace. Even if he doesn’t land on his favorite team or if he stays in New Orleans, he needs to make the best of any situation.

While it seems unlikely that he stays on the Hornets the whole season, if he does, he needs to maintain the professionalism he has had up to this point.

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony

New Year's Resolution: pick up the defense

I understand that Mike D’Antoni couldn’t care less about defense, but that doesn’t mean Carmelo has to follow suit.

Hopefully the addition of Tyson Chandler will encourage Carmelo to commit more to the defensive end.

However, the other side of that coin is that now with Chandler in the paint, Anthony will be lazier than ever. If he truly wants to bring a title to the Knicks, he’ll have to do more than just put up points.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant

New Year's Resolution: MVP

There’s no more excuses for Durantula.

He’s the best player on one of the best teams in the league, and the pressure is on.

I think last year was a bit of a disappointment for Thunder fans, meaning that anything less than the conference finals will be a failure.

If Durant wants to be considered one of the best players in the game, his team will have to start dominating.

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard

New Year's Resolution: lose the smile

Whether he’s in Orlando or elsewhere, Dwight needs to stop being Mr. nice guy.

While plenty of players respect Howard, I’ve never heard of anyone fearing Dwight. That needs to change.

One of the things that I like about the idea of Dwight coming to LA is that Kobe could teach him a thing or two about intimidation.

If Howard wants to take his game to the next level, he needs to be able to strike fear in the hearts of his opponents.

Philadelphia 76ers: Jrue Holiday

New Year's Resolution: become a franchise talent 

The Sixers are complied of a bunch of solid players. However, the team doesn’t quite have that go-to scorer.

It seemed like for a while that might be Iguodala. However, he doesn’t seem to be in the Sixers' plans these days. Jrue understands that this is his team for the taking and in his third year, I expect him to make the jump from stud to star.

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash

New Year's Resolution: one last hurrah

While I don’t think this has to be Nash’s last year, I do think it’ll be his last season in a Suns uniform.

I doubt the Suns will deal him before the deadline, and so it’ll be up to Nash to lead this team once again.

Whether or not Phoenix has what it takes to make noise in the West remains to be seen. However, you know that Nash will do his best to develop the young talent and hope for the best.

Portland Trailblazers: LaMarcus Aldridge

New Year's Resolution: keep hope alive

After years of struggle with Oden’s health issues, many were blindsided by Roy’s decision to retire.

Now it’s up to Aldridge to pick up the pieces and keep this team in contention. 

Now the clear star of the team, Aldridge has what it takes to be dominant in this league despite getting very little love from the media.

If he continues to produce and the Trailblazers are relevant come playoff time, he could be an MVP dark horse.

Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans

New Year's Resolution: get more involved

All too often, Tyreke was not the center of the Kings’ offense.

After such a surprising freshman season, he really fell off last season. This year he needs to get back in the mix and become the focal point of the offense for the Kings.

Between Evans and Cousins, the Kings can have a nice duo that will give plenty of defenses trouble. However, if Tyreke doesn’t remain aggressive, the Kings will continue to struggle.

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan

New Year's Resolution: one last push 

This very well could be the last year for Duncan.

In what will likely be a brutal NBA season for the veteran, Duncan will need to give it everything he’s got. After such a successful regular season, his team fell very short of its final goal.

With the title window quickly closing, Duncan will have to do all he can to give his team another chance.

Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani

New Year's Resolution: learn to rebound

Nothing upsets me more than seeing a seven-footer that doesn’t hit the boards.

If you’re going to be a big man in the NBA, you need to grab more than five rebounds a game.

It’s nice to see Bargnani get more touches offensively, but no one will ever consider him a great player until he learns to put in effort on both ends of the court.

Utah Jazz: Devin Harris

New Year's Resolution: get back to winning ways

When Jerry Sloan left last year, he left a team that had consistently won for more than 20 years.

While no one expects this team to have that same kind of consistency, Devin Harris can certainly help the Jazz get back on track.

Since being an All-Star in 2009, he has yet to come close to relevancy. This season he’ll need to help redefine this franchise as it enters a new era.

Washington Wizards: John Wall

New Year's Resolution: live up to the hype

John Wall had a great rookie season; however, the pressure is now on for him to join the ranks of the top point guards in the league.

Whether or not he’ll make that jump this season remains to be seen, but many in Washington will hope he does.

If he can help this young core to get some wins, the Wizards could develop into one of the more exciting teams in the East.