Post your "breakout" player(s) of the year.

[Cry Havoc]

With a lot of negative threads lately, and Free Agency/smack talk dominating this board, I thought I'd try to change the tone a little with a thread that's a little more focused on in depth knowledge of the sport rather than "my team can beat up your team" kind of speculation that won't be settled until late this year, at the earliest.

So, who do you guys see having a really positive upswing this year? You don't have to list rookies, since judging their progress can be tough, rather I'm looking more for veteran players who have been around at least a few years and will have a much better season than expected this year.

If you'd like, pick a player at each position, or each position from both conferences.

Let's have some good discussion here!

[Dunc n Dave]

Anthony Randolph, GS Warriors

Dude is a HELL of an athlete! Reminds me of Amare, but hopefully with a better brain!

[BlackBellamy]

O.J. Mayo, kid's sick.

[Dunc n Dave]

Brook Lopez is another guy who is gonna be close to a 20-10 guy this year. The Nets have paved the way for him shipping out Ryan Anderson and Vince Carter. Someone besides Devin Harris has to score for that team.

[BlackBellamy]

Arenas comeback... thoughts? Is he the balls, or the bust?

[DAF86]

Courtney Lee will get all-star game consideration.

[BlackBellamy]

Stuckey had better keep elevating his play. The Piston's really need him to have a breakout season this year.

[BUMP]

Al Jefferson will emerge as maybe the best center in the NBA with his offensive arsenal far superior to Howards

[KidCongo]

Julian Wright

[Reeko_Htown]

Aaron Brooks baby!

[Pistons < Spurs]

Roy Hibbert
Yi Jian Lian
Nick Young
Jason Thompson
Mareese Speights
Marc Gasol
Rodney Stuckey
Eric Gordon
Andrea Bargnani

[cherylsteele]

I know this may sound like I am being a homer, but I think Geroge Hill could have a breakout year.

[Leetonidas]

Russel Westbrook

[Ghazi]

Ryan Hollins!

[Cry Havoc]

Anyone want to list the reasons why they feel the player will have such a good year? As opposed to the past few years?

[23LeBronJames23]

Russell Westbrook.that boy got talent!

[Lars]

Brooks or Scola since there are 40 extra shots to go around.

[Halberto]

Kevin Durant. He'll score 27+ ppg, maybe in the 30's.

hell, he's not even old enough to drink and he scored 25+ last season

[23LeBronJames23]

Kevin Durant. He'll score 27+ ppg, maybe in the 30's.

hell, he's not even old enough to drink and he scored 25+ last season

2nd year in NBA and averiging 25 PPG is Amazing!

[NIH]

Marc Gasol
Jeff Green
Anthony Randolph

[23LeBronJames23]

Russell Westbrook
Jeff Green
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Shaquille Oneal
Anthony Parker

[RsxPiimp]

http://mattlarsen.com/images/c_boozer.jpg

[spursfan1000]

George Hill :toast

[spursfan1000]

Russell Westbrook
Jeff Green
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Shaquille Oneal
Anthony Parker

How can Shaq have a breakout year at 38?

[23LeBronJames23]

How can Shaq have a breakout year at 38?

haha im jus playin wit u!

[spursfan1000]

haha im jus playin wit u!


Yeah because hes just going to get more annoying,slower and fatter.

[23LeBronJames23]

Yeah because hes just going to get more annoying,slower and fatter.
haha i hope he wont be saying that LeBron couldnt do it witout me(Shaq)

[DJB]

George Hill

[Dunc n Dave]

George Hill

Sorry, I love the guy... but no way George Hill has a breakout year statistically this year when you are competing for shot with Parker, Manu, Jefferson, and Mason. Oh, and don't forget Pop's secret love affair with Finley...

If for some reason the Spurs don't re-sign Manu next summer, 2010-2011 could be Hill's breakout year, but not this year. There's only so many shots to go around, and he ain't the second coming of John Stockton when it comes to passing...

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Goran WHITE MAGIC Dragic

[LnGrrrR]

Rondo
Rose
Joakim
Durant
Foye
Horford
Gay
Marc Gasol
Al Jefferson
Bogut
Nocioni

Not Oden

[Spurs_210]

Kevin Durant. He'll score 27+ ppg, maybe in the 30's.

hell, he's not even old enough to drink and he scored 25+ last season

[Dunc n Dave]

Rondo
Rose
Joakim
Durant
Foye
Horford
Gay
Marc Gasol
Al Jefferson
Bogut
Nocioni

Not Oden

Unless Arenas is hurt again all year, I don't see Foye even matching last year's numbers. The Wizards have a crowded back court with Arenas, Nick Young, Mike Miller, Stevenson, Foye, Mike James, and Crittenton.

Same with Gay and Gasol now that they added Thabeet and Randolph. Gasol might not even start after Thabeet gets up to NBA speed, meaning less pts and rebounds. And Gay will lose touches to Randolph and Mayo. Gay was already deferring to Mayo during the second half of the season in a lot of games.

Bogut is a nice choice though with Jefferson gone.

[Brazil]

I can see TP having a better year. Dice and RJ will take scoring off Manu TD Finley but TP is in prime he won't receive talent wise Dice or RJ to back up him. I hope Hill being a good back up at the point but with Pop risk is important to let Hill with limited minutes. I think TP won't see his mpg decrease and having an healthy manu and RJ will open the game for him.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I can see TP having a better year.


Gee what a shocker.

[DxB]

I second the Al Jefferson vote... dudes a beast with solid post moves unlike dwight, deserves more credit than he gets!

[Hornets1]

Jason Thompson
Anthony Randolph
Rose
Green
Hopefully Julian Wright
Arenas will be a beast again
Devin Harris
Beasley
White Magic
Aaron Brooks
Stuckey
Gasol
The two white underacheiving recent 1st overall pick(Bargs and Bogut)
Marvin Williams

[ffadicted]

Kevin Durant will be top 2 in scoring this year.

[dirk4mvp]

Mayo, OJ and one Randolph, Anthony

[bdictjames]

Andrea Bargnani
Andrew Bogut
Boris Diaw

[Brazil]

Gee what a shocker.

stat wise not so evident to see him progress, you can argue that RJ and Manu will eat a litle bit of scoring but also assists

[024]

brook lopez.

[Showtime24 LAKERS]

http://blogs.bet.com/news/playahater/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/andrew-bynumftr.jpg

[DPG21920]

I agree with Bynum.

[galvatron3000]

http://mattlarsen.com/images/c_boozer.jpg

How many DNP's will he have this season or will he magically be well once leaving Utah?

[Killakobe81]

Russ Westbrook & Durant
Bynum
Nick young
Al Thorton and Eric gordon
George Hill
Rudy Gay & Mayo

[Killakobe81]

I think Randoplh has GREAT potential but I did not put him onlist due to Nellie's love of small ball and he hasto share forward mins with Magette, SJAX, Turiaf, Biedrins and Wright how can he breakout GState needs to malke some moves much like the Clips lose some talemt to make room find better fitting pieces ...amare trade would work give up either Biederons or Turiaf and 2 of the young scorers Bellinelli and Morrow or even SJAX they have great offensive talent little defense need more post scoring ...

[Killakobe81]

By the way Gstate will be sick on offensive this year defense worst in teh league even with two great shotblockers Biedrins & turiaf ...

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

stat wise not so evident to see him progress, you can argue that RJ and Manu will eat a litle bit of scoring but also assists


He was a way better player than I thought he'd ever be last year, but now he's 27, which means he's probably plateaued.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Parker is not a good passer. He's an elite scorer. His court vision is pretty terrible. He can make simple passes out of simple penetration, but he's never going to make the pass that is going to wow you, or make you say "Now that guy is a point guard.". He also routinely misses open players.


IMO, having Matt Boner at center sucking a big man out of the paint is why his passes out of penetration were so much better this year because of how good the spacing was. It's a great strategy to rack up regular season wins, but it usually falls apart in the playoffs.

[carrao45]

Durant will break out enough to lead the league in scoring either this year or next

[DPG21920]

Yall are wrong on so many levels about TP. He is a much better passer than you guys are giving credit for.

[Kai]

Aaron Brooks by default, with no Yao or T-Mac.

[j-money24]

Kwame Brown will average 20-10

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Kwame Brown will average 20-10


That was probably a joke but I actually think Kwame will have a good season.

[Vinnie_Johnson]

Al Jefferson will emerge as maybe the best center in the NBA with his offensive arsenal far superior to Howards

It's breakout player not Come out player.:lol

[Rogue]

Ericka DamPEER will definitely bloom out next season, book it. Although his contract lasts till 2011, the final year is not guaranteed if he can not make the all-star game next season. Further more, Ericka needs another contract after the current one expires in order to make his life more enjoyable after he retires. For that reason, he has got to work his butt off next season even if he fails to make the all-star game.

Dampier played 80 games last season, that said, he just missed only 2 games throughout the entire season. He seldom scores in the paint but his FG% is absolutely top level, not to mention he can also grab over 7 rebounds per game. Even at such an age which is relatively old, Dampier remains healthy and consistent. For the bottom line, he can still play games after all unlike a 7'6 piece of ****.

[scottspurs]

Malik Hairston

[Girasuck]

Carl Landry. Dude is a fucking STUD. Quite possibly the best power forward in the NBA if you ask a certain fan base.

[afireinside20]

Ericka DamPEER will definitely bloom out next season, book it. Although his contract lasts till 2011, the final year is not guaranteed if he can not make the all-star game next season. Further more, Ericka needs another contract after the current one expires in order to make his life more enjoyable after he retires. For that reason, he has got to work his butt off next season even if he fails to make the all-star game.

Dampier played 80 games last season, that said, he just missed only 2 games throughout the entire season. He seldom scores in the paint but his FG% is absolutely top level, not to mention he can also grab over 7 rebounds per game. Even at such an age which is relatively old, Dampier remains healthy and consistent. For the bottom line, he can still play games after all unlike a 7'6 piece of ****.

Dude, Erick Dampier?!! Are you serious, I've been hearing "oh he's gonna breakout for a long time"!!! That dumbass is never gonna be that good, just get over it!!!

[LnGrrrR]

Unless Arenas is hurt again all year, I don't see Foye even matching last year's numbers. The Wizards have a crowded back court with Arenas, Nick Young, Mike Miller, Stevenson, Foye, Mike James, and Crittenton.

Same with Gay and Gasol now that they added Thabeet and Randolph. Gasol might not even start after Thabeet gets up to NBA speed, meaning less pts and rebounds. And Gay will lose touches to Randolph and Mayo. Gay was already deferring to Mayo during the second half of the season in a lot of games.

Bogut is a nice choice though with Jefferson gone.

I don't know... I've just got a feeling with Foye. We'll see if Arenas is all healed up, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that he will get injured again, and I trust Foye more than the others (though Crittenton's ok, IIRC.)

You think Thabeet will be a force in his first season? I think it will take him a season or so before he starts significantly cutting into Gay's points.

Good point on Mayo. I don't get to see many games they're on, so I have to go by stat lines pretty often.

[Killakobe81]

Parker is goo d a top 5 PG but that is more for scoring than court vision ...I think he is better than Rondo but i Would stilltake DWill,CP3 amd Chauncey before and Drose is gaining on him ...I say he's 4th in NBA but narrowing on Chauncey but can he hold off Rose and Rondo?

[iggypop123]

westbrook will be an all star in the east

[Kai]

It's breakout player not Come out player.:lol

Sounds like someone got their Jefferson's mixed up.

[Dunc n Dave]

I don't know... I've just got a feeling with Foye. We'll see if Arenas is all healed up, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that he will get injured again, and I trust Foye more than the others (though Crittenton's ok, IIRC.)

You think Thabeet will be a force in his first season? I think it will take him a season or so before he starts significantly cutting into Gay's points.
Good point on Mayo. I don't get to see many games they're on, so I have to go by stat lines pretty often.

I don't think Thabeet will take points away from Gay, he's a defensive center and very RAW offensively, but he will take minutes away from Gasol. When you're the #2 pick in teh draft, the fans want to see you play.

It Mayo that will take points away from Gay. Gay's stats were down from the year before (his late season stats in 2008) after Mayo came along , and they will continue to drop with Randolph in the lineup now.

[holcs50]

this parker talk i always LMAO at. Yes parker has been part of great teams with TD at the helm and has benefited from that, but the whole parker is just up there because he has TD is stupid. IDK why people put him really behind anyone...yes the trendy thin to do is throw dwill and cp3 above him, im over that. They each have their strengths but until cp3 or dwill can win a chip or even be a finals mvp i gotta say parkers up on them. And seriously he's gotten better every damn year he's been in the league. That's rare-not one year has he not made progress.

[Lars]

Carl Landry. Dude is a fucking STUD. Quite possibly the best power forward in the NBA if you ask a certain fan base.

Why don't you approach the discussion with a level head and try and contain your emotions. Grab a cup of cofee :wakeup

[redzero]

this parker talk i always LMAO at. Yes parker has been part of great teams with TD at the helm and has benefited from that, but the whole parker is just up there because he has TD is stupid. IDK why people put him really behind anyone...yes the trendy thin to do is throw dwill and cp3 above him, im over that. They each have their strengths but until cp3 or dwill can win a chip or even be a finals mvp i gotta say parkers up on them. And seriously he's gotten better every damn year he's been in the league. That's rare-not one year has he not made progress.

Yeah, because Chris Paul and Deron Williams have Tim Duncan on their teams, right? Tony Parker doesn't have shit on Paul or Williams.

[urunobili]

Haisilip

[Girasuck]

Why don't you approach the discussion with a level head and try and contain your emotions. Grab a cup of cofee :wakeup

lol...


Source: Gar is active n 3way trade wit Htown and Utah: TyThomas, KFesenko to Htown. CBoozer to Chi. SBattier, JJames, and CLaundry to Utah.

http://twitter.com/SportsUnplugged

[afireinside20]

Yeah, because Chris Paul and Deron Williams have Tim Duncan on their teams, right? Tony Parker doesn't have shit on Paul or Williams.

Dude wtf have you been smoking?!! Some of that New Orleans Voodoo herb? Paul doesn't have shit on Parker!! Parker will tear him up. I do agree Deron Williams being pretty good with Parker though, cuz of his size.

[DPG21920]

Yeah, because Chris Paul and Deron Williams have Tim Duncan on their teams, right? Tony Parker doesn't have shit on Paul or Williams.

Ya, because Boozer, Okur, Milsap, AK47, Ronnie Brewer is nothing to work with :sleep