(Photo : Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Russell Westbrook (#0) of the LA Clippers drives to the basket after drawing a foul in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on February 05, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
With the NBA Playoffs tipping off on Saturday, many groups all through the league will compete for an opportunity to win an NBA Championship.
Each of the seeded groups do maintain a participant who may also help flip any collection of their favor.
Here are some X-Factors for every Eastern and Western Conference workforce within the NBA playoffs from the primary to the seventh seed.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Eastern Conference
NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Boston Celtics Kristaps Porzingis | Power Forward
For the Boston Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis has been a difference-maker this season.
The Latvian massive man, who has been comparatively wholesome this season, is coming off a powerful yr averaging 20.8 factors and seven.2 rebounds per sport.
He has supplied the Celtics with measurement up entrance, defending the rim and rebounding whereas stretching the ground by taking photographs.
Porzingis ought to proceed to be a dual-threat ahead for the Celtics, and stay a dependable third possibility scorer for Boston when Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown aren’t performing effectively.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: New York Knicks Josh Hart | Small Forward
The New York Knicks have managed to lock up the second seed in a very good NBA Eastern Conference this season. New York completed this behind fairly a little bit of grit and toughness, and Josh Hart has been on the forefront of this.
Josh Hart has come up massive on offense, being one of many higher scorers on the ground for the Knicks. Hart can also be a large contributor in protection and rebounding, crashing the boards and clogging the lanes.
His relationship with Jalen Brunson, on and off the courtroom, has paid dividends for the Knicks; and because it appears to be like with out Julius Randle, Josh Hart might be a significant offensive contributor for New York within the NBA Playoffs.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Milwaukee Bucks Khris Middleton | Small Forward
Lost within the drama of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2023-24 season was Khris Middleton, who quietly put collectively a stable yr.
When wholesome, the 12-year vet shined as a secondary possibility behind the Bucks’ two-headed monster of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Finding his spot within the rotation and infrequently exhibiting flashes of what made him a two time All-Star; Middleton was a key element for the Milwaukee Bucks NBA Championship run and will nonetheless be counted on regardless of being a number of seasons older.
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will likely be out for 2-4 weeks attributable to a calf harm, Khris Middleton will likely be compelled to step up offensively for the Milwaukee Bucks in opposition to the Indiana Pacers.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Cleveland Cavaliers Evan Mobley | Power Forward/Center
It’s no secret that the 22-year-old massive man Evan Mobley has proven flashes of greatness all through his younger profession, however nonetheless has but to place all of it collectively really.
This season’s playoffs appear to be a wonderful alternative for him to claim himself as a cornerstone of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ future.
The Cavaliers have proven to be higher within the lineup with him quite than with out him; as he has proven the power to protect the paint effectively, whereas being a put up and lob pick-n-roll presence for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Evan Mobley might be the piece the Cavs want within the NBA Playoffs. Especially that successful within the postseason is extra important than ever for Cleveland with Donovan Mitchell’s potential free-agency standing looming over the franchise’s head.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs | Point Guard
This season, the Orlando Magic have constructed their identification on the defensive aspect of the ground, and Jalen Suggs is a major cause why.
The Magic’s third-year guard has been a pest on protection, with the third-best defensive area purpose share in shut video games at 23.1%. Jalen Suggs has helped the Magic turn into a prime defensive workforce within the league by forcing turnovers, getting steals, and locking down opposing guards.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers developing with their elite backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, two of the best-scoring guards within the league; Jalen Suggs will likely be a significant component of their collection relying on if he might include them.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Indiana Pacers Pascal Siakam | Power Forward
The commerce for Pascal Siakam that despatched the All-Star energy ahead from Toronto to Indiana has been a major improve for the Pacers this season.
Since being traded to Naptown, Siakam has been glorious, becoming right into a run-and-gun Pacers workforce led by Tyrese Haliburton.
Pascal Siakam will likely be heading right into a collection in opposition to Milwaukee, as he might be the difference-maker being that the Bucks might be with out Giannis Antetokounmpo for the collection.
Coming into the NBA Playoffs, Siakam is a significant X-Factor, having received an NBA Championship in 2019 and having probably the most postseason expertise over anybody on this younger Pacers workforce.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Philadelphia 76ers Tyrese Maxey | Point Guard
So far, 76ers level guard Tyrese Maxey has had one among his greatest seasons in his younger profession.
Maxey initially elevated the extent of his play when Joel Embiid was out attributable to harm. And since then Tyrese Maxey has solely proven indicators of enchancment, changing into a good higher playmaker and scorer.
If Maxey might proceed his nice play into the postseason, taking a number of the offensive load off Embiid’s shoulders, then there are causes to consider the Philadelphia 76ers might win all of it behind the 2 stars.
NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Western Conference
NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Oklahoma City Thunder Jalen Williams | Power Forward
The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the No.1 seed out West behind an MVP-caliber season behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Rookie of the Year worthy season from Chet Holmgren.
However, Jalen Williams has been one of many many surprises for the Oklahoma City workforce, who received 57 video games this season.
The dynamic ahead has been massive in scoring the basketball, averaging 19.1 factors per sport. Williams took a number of the offensive load off of Gilgeous-Alexander and stepped up as a stable third possibility for the younger Thunder.
If Jalen Williams manages to maintain it going within the postseason, then there are causes to consider that the Oklahoma City Thunder might go all the best way.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Denver Nuggets Jamal Murray | Guard
The Denver Nuggets will look to defend their NBA title this yr, coming into the postseason as the percentages on favourite to win all of it once more.
An enormous cause for the Nuggets being favorites is due to the play from Jamal Murray.
The 2023 NBA Playoffs served as a reminder of what Jamal Murray is and the way good he’s, as he torched the Timberwolves, Suns, and Lakers on the best way to the NBA Finals final yr.
Murray has been a powerful supply of offense for the Nuggets that has stored them formidable this season together with Nikola Jokic, who’s main the pack within the NBA MVP race.
If Jamal Murray might repeat what he did final season, then it’s secure to imagine the Denver Nuggets might go back-to-back.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Minnesota Timberwolves Naz Reid | Forward
In a season filled with surprises, one among them being the Minnesota Timberwolves and one other one being Naz Reid.
The Timberwolves completed the yr sturdy, successful a complete of 55 video games this season. They spent the yr hanging across the prime of the Western Conference and Naz Reid has been a part of the explanation.
Reid grew to become a breakout star the Timberwolves wanted, rising as a candidate to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.
He helped the workforce keep a pressure on protection within the entrance courtroom, stepping up in video games the place Karl Anthony-Towns was out.
Naz Reid might probably swing a collection for the T-Wolves with the correct quantity of minutes and relying on their matchup.
NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Los Angeles Clippers Russell Westbrook | Point Guard
The Los Angeles Clippers curler coaster of a season might probably finish with the franchise successful their very first NBA Championship.
They survived a mid-season droop after buying and selling for James Harden, now completed prime 4 within the West.
Going into the NBA Playoffs, one participant who might make an enormous distinction for them is Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook has proven that he nonetheless has lots left within the tank and is among the higher bench gamers within the league. Russell Westbrook might be good for one or two massive video games within the postseason.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Dallas Mavericks Daniel Gafford | Center
The Dallas Mavericks’ dynamic backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic will look to steer the Mavs to their first championship for the reason that 2011 season, the place Dirk Nowitzki carried them to the promised land.
The Mavericks managed to climb out of the NBA Play-In with a powerful month of April. The Daniel Gafford acquisition was a cause for his or her second half season growth.
Since being traded from the Wizards to the Mavs, Gafford has immediately given Dallas the increase on protection that they wanted.
If Daniel Gafford’s infectious affect can carry over into the postseason, then it is easy to think about a world the place the Mavericks are champions but once more.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Phoenix Suns Grayson Allen | Small Forward
In a Western Conference that’s extra guard-oriented than ever, Grayson Allen might be the important thing to the Phoenix Suns’ success within the NBA Playoffs.
Allen, who not too long ago re-signed a four-year take care of the Suns, has grown a repute across the league as one of many higher defensive hustle gamers who might additionally knock down a shot, spacing the ground.
Grayson Allen performs effectively off the Suns three headed monster in Booker-Beal-Durant, being one other taking pictures possibility. He might additionally assist take some defensive load off the three in any collection.
Allen’s protection alone might assist the Suns swing a collection in opposition to guard-heavy groups just like the Thunder and Mavericks.
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NBA Playoffs X-Factor: Los Angeles Lakers D’Angelo Russell | Point Guard
The Los Angeles Lakers common season was filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and the drama of the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The Lakers managed to show issues round, ending 46-36 behind one other banner yr from Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
One participant who managed to carve out an enormous position and be a pivotal half of their second-half of the season success was D’Angelo Russell.
Russell elevated his scoring numbers progressively and have become a 3rd possibility behind James and Davis, whereas additionally enhancing his protection.
If D’Angelo Russell continues his high-end play, the Los Angeles Lakers might seemingly make one other deep postseason run.
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