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

3. Denver Nuggets

X-factor: Michael Porter Jr.

In a year’s time, MPJ has become a more prevalent cog within Mike Malone’s multifaceted offensive scheme. Where in the past Denver relied on Jokic and Jamal Murray to set the table for others and produce their own shot opportunities, Porter relieves a lot of their stress as a player on the wing who can create his own bucket.

The biggest imprint on his game may just be his willingness to play without the basketball. It’s rather extremely rare for a young offensive phenom to play willingly and effectively without the basketball in his hands. MPJ is able to do so with his innate basketball IQ and dead eye catch-and-shoot ability. If he stays healthy and continues to be a willing rebounder around the basket, Porter could help aid another progressive step in the evolution of the Denver Nuggets.

Houston Rockets

X-factor: Robert Covington

When the Houston Rockets mortgaged their rim-running big man Clint Capela for the likes of 3-and-D wing Robert Covington, the league saw it as another maddening small ball move to adhere to the personnel of guards, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Covington has been a somewhat solid piece in his role of being a participant in Houston’s valiant attempt of positionless basketball, but with Russ out of the lineup for the first few playoff games, such a standard won’t be enough. Harden will be manning the controls as the point guard maestro for the time being, and his playmaking ability will draw enough shot opportunities to last his teammates a lifetime.

Their biggest objective will be to hit them with volume. Covington’s impact on the defensive end will showcase itself in the team’s first-round duel with Oklahoma City. His ability to knock down the open trey will ultimately decide the fate of the Rockets within round one.