NBA: One x-factor for every team heading into the 2020 playoffs

One x-factor for every team heading into the 2020 NBA playoffs

The times of normalcy are no longer a common basketball staple in the NBA’s restart bubble. Various teams such as the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers have had a consistent brand of success for an eight-game quarantine regular-season stretch that they didn’t feature in the season’s regular start-up.

Just like those respective teams are a bevy of prospects on various playoff participants that will have startling impactful moments in the postseason. Here below are the 16 x-factor prospects from every playoff-bound team that can pay impactful dividends throughout their squad’s postseason run.

Milwaukee Bucks

X-factor: Brook Lopez

It’s always puzzling that head coach Mike Budenholzer doesn’t use Brook Lopez’s innate back-to-the-basket skillset more consistently. Yet, as much as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s consistent ability in playoff crunch time will dictate the trajectory of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brook’s inclusion within the offensive gameplan will be just as vital.

When the game itself slows down in the postseason, a team presenting a big they can utilize in the post serves as more of a benefit than a burden. Lopez has altered his game from his Brooklyn days towards being a competent stretch five to elongate his career.

For Milwaukee to surpass the likes of Boston or Toronto in a potential conference final, using Brook’s old-fashioned offensive roots could help them separate from the rest of the East.

Toronto Raptors

X-factor: OG Anunoby

OG Anunoby was a no-show last postseason due to an injury ailment, but in a much healthier third season, he’s been a more than serviceable two-way wing for Toronto. While he’ll never fully replace the looming ghost of Kawhi Leonard at the forward spot, he truly won’t be asked to on an offensive basis.

That aspect of basketball will be done collectively by the Raptors like it’s been done all season. Where OG can deliver is with his on-ball defensive ability which he spearheads on the best defensive unit in basketball. Anunoby’s career-high in steals per game (1.4) and blocks per game (0.7) have been the proverbial status quo for the young two-way wing.

However, his double-digit scoring average in a shortened NBA season shines an even brighter light. If his 10.6 points per game average on 50 percent shooting and 39 percent from 3-point land can carry over into the playoffs, his impact for the playoff Raptors will be hard to ignore in the bubble.