Recently, I took a look at 7 players that I thought could have breakout years in the 2017-18 season, which you can read by clicking here. However, there are more than 7 players who I think can shine this season. So with that being said, here are 6 more players who I think could have break out years in the 2017-18 season.
Jusuf Nurkić
In the last post, I took a look Nerlens Noel & Willie Cauley-Stein, two players who were in bad spots, but after a change saw improvement, with Noel getting traded to another team and Cauley-Stein getting moved to the starting line-up after the DeMarcus Cousins trade. Another player like them is Jusuf Nurkić. Starting the season on the Denver Nuggets, Nurkić found himself playing back-up to Nikola Jokić. Coming off the bench, played around 18 minutes a game and averaged 8 points & 5.8 rebounds per game on 51% shooting. However, he then found himself traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Mason Plumlee, and that was all he needed to show what he could do. In the 20 games he got to play with the Trail Blazers before getting injured, Nurkic averaged 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field. Along with that, Nurkić improved his free throw shooting in Portland, going up from 50% at the start of the season in Denver to 66% in Portland. It's still not great, but it's an improvement. If Nurkić continues to put up numbers like he did after his trade and stays healthy, he could be a huge asset to a young Trail Blazers team with a lot of potential.
Glenn Robinson III
Is this year going to be bad for the Indiana Pacers? Probably. They lost both of their best players in Paul George & Jeff Teague, Myles Turner is still developing and not ready to lead a team just yet, and Victor Oladipo, while a good addition, isn't as good as George is. This season is going be a trial run for the Pacers to see who could be key players on the team. One player who has a lot to prove is Glenn Robinson III, who could be the replacement in the starting line-up for Paul George. Last season, Robinson acted as the backup small forward for George and played 20.7 minutes per game. He averaged 6.1 points & 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47% from the field and 39% from three point range. Going by per 36-minute stats, Robinson's stats go up to 10.6 points & 6.2 rebounds per game, which is pretty solid. Will Robinson be as good as Paul George one day? Probably not, but he has potential to be a good fit for a rebuilding Pacers' team, at least for now.
Dejounte Murray
Dejoune Murray did not get much of a chance to play in his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs. Playing in only 38 games last season while averaging 8.5 minutes per game, Murray only averaged 3.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 43% from the field and 39% from three-point range as the third option at point guard behind Tony Parker & Patty Mills. However, with Parker expected to miss the first four months of the season, the starting job is open for the time being. Mills will probably get the starting spot to start the season, but if given the chance, I think Murray could take that spot and excel in the role. Looking at Murray's per 36 minutes stats, they jump up significantly, going up to 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. A point guard who can score, rebound, and pass the ball well is a great thing to have. If given the chance to start and plays at the pace he did last year while working on things like ball security (he averaged a turnover a game last year despite only playing 8 minutes per game.) he could prove to be a valuable backup, and maybe even a starter after Parker retires.
Joe Ingles
Another team that could struggle this year after losing their star player is the Utah Jazz. Without Gordon Hayward, the team lost their best scorer and their starting small forward. Luckily, they've got a solid replacement in Joe Ingles. Last season, Ingles played a respectable 24 minutes per game off the bench as the backup to Hayward. For that season, Ingles averaged 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 45% from the field and 44% from three point range, the third best percentage in the NBA last year. Going by his per 36 minutes stats, his averages go up to 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. On top of that, Ingles was a solid defensive player, holding a 1.8 defensive plus-minus during the regular season and an astounding 5.2 during the playoffs. Ingles most likely won't be able to provide the scoring numbers that Gordon Hayward was able to, but he is a solid player who is very reliable on defense, especially when it matters. For now, he is a valuable member of the Utah Jazz.
Dewayne Dedmon
I don't know if a lot of people realize this, but Dewayne Dedmon is actually pretty damn good. After three uneventful seasons, mostly playing for the Orlando Magic, Dedmon got his first chance to really play with the San Antonio Spurs. Maybe it's because Gregg Popovich is literally the best and could make pretty much anyone good, Dedmon went from an expandable 7 footer who could barely grab 4 rebounds a game to a perfectly reliable big man who is fantastic on the defensive end. Last season with the Spurs, Dedmon played 17.5 minutes per game and averaged 5.1 point, 6.5 rebounds, and .8 blocks per game while shooting 62% from the field. Going by his per 36-minute stats, his numbers go up to 10.5 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. On defense, he's almost unbeatable. Dedmon held a great 3.2 defensive plus-minus rating and is widely considered one of the best defenders at the center position. This offseason, he signed a multi-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, where he could be the starting center for years to come. If that happens, he could develop into a valuable player to the franchise.
Clint Capela
In the last post, I gave my prediction that D'Angelo Russell will win the Most Improved Player of the Year award. This guy is my backup pick. Last season, Clint Capela showed that he can be one of the league's better centers. Playing almost 24 minutes per game, Capela put up solid numbers as the starting center for the Houston Rockets, averaging 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 64% from the field, third best field goal percentage in the NBA. Capela truly shined on the defensive end in the playoffs as well, averaging 2.5 blocks in the 11 playoff games the Rockets played. With the addition of Chris Paul, this year is set to be huge for the Rockets as they try to knock the Golden State Warriors off their pedestal. Clint Capela should be a huge part of that run, and if given even more minutes, he has the potential to win the Most Improved Player of the Year.
Thanks for reading.
wow! great blog!
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