20 Gifts Santa Should’ve Brought NBA Stars This Year

The holidays are officially here! ‘Tis the season for snow, holiday cheer and all that other good stuff. For a child, is their any greater moment than waking up early Christmas morning to open up the presents Santa brought the night before? Sentimental memories popping into my head as I write this.

Christmas represents one of the most anticipated days of the year (closely followed by the day they lowered the basketball hoops in middle school, allowing a vertically challenged young version of me to feel like Dr. J for a day). For basketball fans, it’s another day of great games too.

But what does Santa bring millionaire, superstar NBA athletes for Christmas? What if Santa could skip the Dolce and Bentleys this year and bring something meaningful, like improvements to their game? Yes, this list is essentially a “How to Make Dominant Players Even More Dominant”-For Dummies Edition.

Don’t get it twisted; these guys are already great, but nobody is perfect. So, let’s take a look at what improvements Santa hopefully brought these stars for Christmas this year.

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20. JOHN WALL
What’s Santa Bringing: A Midrange Game
Wall, now in his fourth season, is having a career year for the Washington Wizards (career-high 19.6 PPG, 9.1 APG, and 2.2 SPG to go along with 4.3 RPG). He has even improved his shot from beyond the arc, shooting 32 percent from three. But Wall — like most super athletic, young guards who can seemingly score at will — still loves the pull-up midrange two (AKA the least effective shot in basketball). To take the next step towards superstardom, Wall needs to improve on his 43.6 percent shot from inside the arc. According to SportVU, Wall averages the second most touches per game (97.6 times per game), but is only making 31.3 percent of his pull-ups. Watch a Wizards game and you’ll see defenders staying behind picks and playing off Wall, begging him to pull up (and rendering his game-changing speed useless). Santa should bring Wall an effective midrange shot so Wall can force defenders to guard him up close, which will allow him to use his speed to beat them to the hoop more often.

19/18. KOBE BRYANT/DWYANE WADE
What’s Santa Bringing: An Improved 3-Point Shot
Both players’ age and injuries have sapped their game-changing athleticism and forced them to change the way they play. Bryant, who made his return from a torn Achilles tendon only to injure his other leg a short time after, has suffered another major setback. Do I put it past the second biggest “Eff You” player of all time (behind Jordan) to come back and act like nothing has changed? No. But there’s also a part of me who saw Kobe’s dunk highlight from practice and a few of his first games back and said, “Uh-oh, he isn’t doing a whole lot of that jumping thing…” and “Why isn’t he blowing past Gerald Henderson?”

Sure it was a small sample, but even Kobe has to age, and coming off an injury, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he comes back a step slower. I mean he’s 35 years old and has played over 1,200 games in his career; eventually he has to slow down, right? Already a master of the post-up, and a player whose footwork is second to none, Bryant can force his relevance by adding a lethal three-point shot (he wouldn’t be the first aging player to develop a better three. Remember coach Kidd did it.). He’s not in the same category as Rondo or Wall, but a career 33.6 percent isn’t exactly deadly either. Santa is bringing Nash’s three-point excellence to the Black Mamba.

Wade isn’t as old as Bryant, but injuries have forced him to sit out numerous games this season. Like the Mamba, Wade has primarily relied on athleticism and a crafty post-up game to score the ball. But the career 28.9 percent three-point shooter’s best days are behind him. While he’s still an effective player (read: when healthy), a reliable three-point shot would make life a whole lot easier for the Heat leader. Santa should bring a nicely wrapped three-point shot to Wade as well.

17. DERRICK ROSE
What’s Santa Bringing: Clean Bill Of Health
Santa tells me he wanted to avoid offering health-based presents, but Rose is a clear exception. The former MVP finally returned from his torn ACL, and while things weren’t quite right, there were flashes of the old Rose. Now with a torn meniscus (and resulting surgery) forcing Rose to miss the rest of the season, who knows what’s next? Will he return to greatness, or will his career be cut short like Brandon Roy‘s? Santa has to bring Rose a strong recovery, for the sake of the NBA.

16/15/14. DWIGHT HOWARD/ANDRE DRUMMOND/DeANDRE JORDAN
What’s Santa Bringing: Free Throw Shooting
The league’s second (Howard with 13.3 per game), third (Jordan with 13.1) and fourth (Drummond with 12.5) best rebounders all suffer from the same major flaw: free throws. Seriously, these guys can’t buy a bucket from the line. I have real concerns that they will all develop the instinct to shy from contact so they don’t get fouled (like Antoine Walker did), which won’t help their respected teams in the least. Howard is shooting 57 percent on his free throws, and is the subject to constant late game Hack-A-Dwight sessions now. But compared to Drummond, Howard looks like Steve Nash out there. Andre is making a sad 37.1 percent of his free throws, making him nearly unplayable down the stretch. Jordan, who has been pegged as the third man in the Clippers big three, looks more like their weakness, making only 40.7 percent of his free throws, and getting subbed out for the likes of Ryan Hollins late in games. Ryan Hollins. Santa needs to bring these three wisemen the gift of improved accuracy from the line.

13. KEVIN LOVE
What’s Santa Bringing: Post Defense
The leagues leading rebounder (13.9 RPG) is having a quasi-MVP caliber season, averaging 25.9 PPG and 4.2 APG to go with all the rebounds. He’s also the best outlet passer, good for one incredibly difficult long toss a game. Love scores on exactly half of his close range shots, and according to SportVU, he has a higher EFG percentage (which makes three-point shots more valuable than twos) than the likes of Kevin Durant! So what doesn’t he do? Well, the ground-bound big man isn’t exactly an enforcer on the defensive side of the ball. SportVU says he allows opponents to score on 58.5 percent of their field goals at the rim on defense, worse than the likes of Al Jefferson and Byron Mullens. Love would be a menace if he magically added post defender to his resume. Look, I’m not asking for him to be Serge Ibaka over here, but geesh you’d think he’d be able to prevent the occasional close range shot. Santa, bring the man some defense!

12. KEVIN DURANT
What’s Santa Bringing: Post Offense
Nowadays, what doesn’t Durant do? We know he scores (28.1 PPG this season), he rebounds (8.1 RPG) and now he even passes (averaging a career-best 4.7 APG). But Durant, who makes 50.0 percent of his shots on drives, and over 41 percent from three, can still add to his game. For a player who is averaging 67.6 touches per game, Durant only gets 1.9 touches within 12 feet of the hoop. This means he hasn’t taken the next step and fully developed a great, complementary post-game. A go-to move with his back to the basket (opposed to a simple turnaround jumper, which he still hits more often than not) would open up his game even more. I can’t fathom his numbers if he added a little bit more of that aspect of his game. An athletic in-and-out 7-footer, would he be unstoppable? I am begging Santa brought it this Christmas.

11. JOSH SMITH
What’s Santa Bringing: Any Sort of Jump Shot. Or Conscience. Or A Paper w/ his shooting chart on it.
Since we just talked about an efficient shooter, let’s go the opposite direction and talk about the mass clunker that is Josh Smith. Smith is making just 30.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot two-point jumpers, and 30.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-point jumpers. He chucks up over four three-pointers a game, and makes just 26.6 percent! One more wonderful stat: he makes just 22.2 percent of his pull-up jumpers. JOSH, STOP SHOOTING THE DAMN BALL! The thing is, he’s lethal inside (he’s making 60.9 percent of his close range shots). Am I harping on him? Yes. But Smith is one of my top five favorite players, and I take it personally every time he chucks up a fadeaway two from the top of the key. It hurts me deep down to watch him waste his freakish athletic ability by standing on the perimeter.

But there is more at play here: I feel bad for Santa. I don’t know if there is enough power at the North Pole to give Smith a decent jumper (Would he have to cancel Christmas for everyone else? Would he run out of power?), so I’m resorting to asking for Claus to bring Smith a detailed chart showing his ineffectiveness. I’m 100 percent confident that Smith must have no idea he is shooting so poorly, otherwise why wouldn’t he have stopped by now? Someone have an intervention. Until then, Santa has got to help J-Smoove out.

10. ROY HIBBERT
What’s Santa Bringing: Scoring Efficiency
The early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, Hibbert has been downright dirty on the defensive side of the ball so far this season. Big Roy is holding opponents to 37.8 percent at the rim, and blocking 2.8 shots per game. He’s also grabbing 8.6 rebounds per game, and scoring 12.4 PPG on 47.6 percent shooting. Neither of these are slouch numbers, but for a 7-2 big man you would hope for a little higher field goal percentage. While Roy isn’t the first, second or maybe even third option within the Pacers offense, a higher efficiency would make the already lethal team unstoppable. It isn’t too much to ask for a little better shooting for the big man, is it, Santa?

9. JAMES HARDEN
What’s Santa Bringing: Perimeter Defense
Santa’s NBA look-alike exploded onto the scene after going from third option in OKC to first option in Houston last season. Harden has continued his ascent to the top of the upper-tier of guards (when healthy that is, a nagging foot injury threatens to slow him down). While Harden is currently fifth in scoring (23.9 PPG), his numbers aren’t as good as they look: Harden is shooting 44.1 percent from the field, and only 31 percent from three-point range. He also leads the NBA in turnovers, with 4.0 per game.

I think those numbers will return to normal once a healthy Harden returns and fully adjusts to playing with Dwight Howard and friends. Where Harden needs help right now is on the defensive side of the ball. Harden averages 1.5 steals per game, but is prone to frequent bouts of gambling, many of which don’t pan out. His defensive rating is at 102.9 (which is offset by his high offensive rating of 109.3).

Remember on November 4 when coach Kevin McHale sat Harden the entirety of the fourth quarter of a close matchup with the Clippers? How many superstars sit the entire fourth of a close game? I get it; he’s asked to do so much offensively, and the Rockets play at such a frantic pace, that Harden doesn’t have a lot left in the tank for defense. But for Harden’s sake, Santa should bring his fellow Beard some improved defensive ability.

8. SERGE IBAKA
What’s Santa Bringing: Go-to-offensive move
You can make the argument that nobody has added as much to their game over such a short span as Ibaka. Always one of the best shotblockers the NBA has to offer (2.4 BPG, holding opponents to 45.7 percent at the rim… although Aldridge just tore him up recently), and now taking another step with his rebounding (averaging 9.3 a night this season) Ibaka is developing into a major player down low. He’s even improved his midrange jumper, extending all the way to the three-point line (next step, adding a reliable three?).

But I want Santa to bring Ibaka a go-to move on offense; most of his 14 PPG come off of easy dunks, putbacks, and catch-and-shoot jumpers. Ibaka is making 75.0 percent of his close range shots (75 percent!!) and 45.5 percent of his catch-and-shoot field goals. But he struggles when he has to make a move on his own, shooting only 33.3 percent on drives. An added jab step, hesitation move, or even a lethal back to the basket shot would help Ibaka and the Thunder take the next step. Santa, hook em’ up!

7/6. JAMES DOLAN/MIKHAIL PROKHOROV
What’s Santa Bringing: A Total Re-Do
What a start for the state of New York. Both Dolan and Prokhorov started the season with dreams of championships, not sugar plum fairies in their heads. Instead, both owners find themselves in a nightmare of a season. The Knicks are 9-19, and have had their fair share of drama. First there was the preseason “We’re a championship contending team this year” talk by Dolan himself, followed by rumors of an Iman Shumpert trade, followed by a frustrated Iman screaming at star Carmelo Anthony. Then, news came out that Metta World Peace and Kenyon Martin got into a verbal confrontation over… pasta? Regardless of the cause, things aren’t looking good for the Knickerbockers. Sure they have Carmelo Anthony (who is putting up 26.3 PPG, and a career-high 8.8 RPG this season), but even with Tyson Chandler returning from injury, Carmelo isn’t getting much help.

Amar’e Stoudemire‘s most memorable moment has been getting caught looking the wrong way on defense (possibly debating whether to celebrate Christmas, or perhaps follow his roots and celebrate Hanukkah this year?), and nobody outside of Tim Hardaway Jr. has stepped it up. Sure, they can eke out an eight seed in the lowly Eastern Conference, but what will that do? The Knicks would be better served throwing in the towel and building through the strong 2014 Draft. Too bad they don’t own their pick! (Remember the Nuggets got it for Carmelo).

The Knicks are hurting, and their slow start has probably cost Mike Woodson his job. I doubt Santa can give Dolan a re-do all the way back to signing an injury prone big man for $100 million, but maybe he can erase this year from Dolan’s memory.

Brooklyn, on the other hand, pulled out all the stops this offseason, and I can’t deny I thought they were a legitimate contender following the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade. But injuries to star point guard Deron Williams, super-sub Andrei Kirilenko, and Pierce has prevented any stability with the rotation. Then the news of yet another foot injury for Brook Lopez came about. Combine that with a lackluster year for Garnett (6.7 PPG-7.1 RPG, playing like he aged ten years over the offseason) and you get a 9-19 record.

To make matters worse, there is the Jason Kidd coaching saga, which started with veterans like Pierce telling the media no adjustments were made during halftimes of games (never mentioning Kidd though), followed by an unnamed scout saying that Kidd “doesn’t do anything” and then we had Spill-Gate. To top things off, Kidd demoted lead assistant and former Nets head coach Lawrence Frank to errand boy because of rumored friction and differences in coaching philosophy. (I’m assuming Frank’s philosophy is to actually run plays… All jokes aside, during Spill-Gate, didn’t Frank look like a father whose son is acting up at the grocery store, and can’t do anything but watch with a look of utter embarrassment? Am I the only one who thinks that?)

Like the Knicks, the Nets don’t own their first-round pick for the upcoming draft. (Atlanta has the rights to swap it with their own) Brooklyn’s roster is full of high-priced veterans, meaning now is the time to win. But, so far, the results haven’t shown up. Santa offers a re-do on this offseason.

5. MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS
What’s Santa Bringing: Shot Selection
MCW has been the bright spot of an otherwise very, very disappointing rookie class. Starting from his incredible first game, Carter-Williams has been on a tear even 76ers fans didn’t expect. MCW leads the league in steals per game (3.0), and is averaging 17.6 PPG, 7.8 APG and 5.5 RPG. Those are not your typical rookie stats. Those are grown man numbers, regardless if they are coming as a result of the 76ers’ rebuilding project.

According to SportVU, Carter-Williams possesses the ball the sixth most in the half court (76.4 frontcourt possessions a game), meaning that he obviously has the ball in his hands a lot. While he’s turning over the ball 3.67 times per game, that’s to be expected from a rookie point guard. If Santa is going to bring an improvement to MC-Dubs game, it should be his shot selection. While he has shot the ball as expected from three-point range (only 31.5 percent, but we knew that was his weakness), his overall shooting numbers are subpar: 40.8 percent overall, 44.2 percent from inside the arc, and 68.1 percent from the line. Carter-Williams is making only 28.3 percent of his pull-up jumpers, many of which are early in the shot clock and from right near the three-point line. He’s making a much more respectable 46.5 percent of his shots on his drives, but is only making 40 percent of his shots up close. Improved shot selection (shooting spot-up jumpers with his feet set, his most accurate), and less long-range twos would make Carter-Williams much more effective.

4. DeMARCUS COUSINS
What’s Santa Bringing: Leadership
My favorite player, DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins, is having a career-year. Averaging a career high 22.5 PPG, to go with 10.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG and 1.1 BPG, Boogie has solidified his spot as the top young center in the NBA. (Anthony Davis is a four man, in my mind) Seriously though, the Kings new ownership put a lot of faith in the young big, rewarding him with a massive extension before the season, when the Maloofs (the old owners) looked ready to deal the troubled player at any moment.

Cousins has taken major steps forward this year in his maturity, but now and then the old Boogie comes out. Cousins leads the league in fouls per game (4.0, way too many for a player the Kings need on the floor to win the game) and his eight technical fouls are most overall. He’s also been involved with controversial situations, like taking an apparent jab at the injured Derrick Rose (saying that he might nurse his injured ankle the whole season so he can get his own “Comeback Commercial”), and the wonderful, made-for-Vine video of him stopping Isaiah Thomas from shaking Chris Paul‘s hand. This was followed by Cousins himself refusing to shake J.J. Redick‘s hand the next game. The point is, Cousins is the franchise centerpiece for an improving Kings team, and needs to act like it, both on and off the floor. A motivated and lead-by-example version of Cousins would be the best present anyone in Sacramento could ask for (other than a new arena maybe…).

3. GORDON HAYWARD
What’s Santa Bringing: Better Finishing
Hayward, in a contract year in Utah, has had little to no choice but to shoot and shoot some more this season. As the primary option in Utah, Gordon has done an admirable job: 16.4 PPG, 4.7 APG and 5.5 RPG so far. His shooting percentages are way down (39.7 percent FG, 27.4 percent from three), but what else do you expect from a third or fourth option disguised as a number one?

While Hay would benefit the most from a proven scorer or two joining the Jazz, that’s way out of Santa’s control. What Santa can bring Gordon is some better one-on-one moves.

At 6-8, Hayward is taller and more athletic then he looks, and can be a tremendous dunker when he gets a full head of steam. But with added attention being paid to him, Gordon is making only 38.2 percent of his drives. His inability to beat a player off the dribble is forcing him to prematurely pull up for jumpers, and he’s making only 33.6 percent of his pull-up twos, and only 16.7 of his pull-up threes! That’s worse than Josh Smith! If defenders were forced to respect him on the drive, he’d have more room to work out on the perimeter. Utah could use a bunch of presents, but a good start would be helping out Hayward.

2. RUSSELL WESTBROOK
What’s Santa Bringing: Better Offensive Awareness
Russ is one of the most dynamic scoring threats in the league: strong going to the rim, great pull-up game, and a somewhat improving three-point shot. On the season, Westbrook is averaging 21.6 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.7 RPG and 1.8 SPG. While he works his way back from last year’s torn meniscus, Russell is looking better every game (see last week’s game-winning three versus the Warriors if you don’t believe me). But one of his greatest strengths, his super-competitive nature, can also be his biggest weakness.

While Russ has matured since entering the league, he’s still prone to the “EFF You” bout, where he plays one-on–one ball, ignoring the rest of the team (Watch some of him versus Damian Lillard recently, and you’ll see him occasionally try and attack Lilliard over and over). Fine, I get we can’t change his nature; it’s who he is. But, excluding the occasional heat check, Westbrook is past the point of having to prove himself. When the Thunder offense is run properly, it can be one of the most dynamic and effective in the league. That’s just what happens when you have as much talent as them. Cutting down on some of the “me ball” would benefit the West’s best team.

1. LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE
What’s Santa Bringing: Passing Ability
After the Trail Blazers 111-104 victory over the Thunder, a game in which LA put up 38 points and 13 rebounds, there has been talk of a possible MVP run for Aldridge (assuming the Blazers keep this up). While that might be a little out of the question, LaMarcus is playing lights out: 23.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, making 51.4 percent of his catch and shoot opportunities, 40.2 percent of his pull-ups, and 50.0 percent of his drives. Remember, he’s a face-the-basket four; those numbers are incredibly efficient for his style of play.

So what should Santa bring LA? Well, Aldridge averages 2.8 assists per game, which falls somewhere in the middle for a big man. With a bevy of spot-up shooters surrounding him (Lillard, Matthews, Batum, Dorell Wright and Williams are all above-average shooters) an improved passing game would be the gift that really does keep on giving. There is something special going on in Portland this season — watch a Blazers game for yourself, those guys are playing for each other. They are quickly developing chemistry, a very underrated and important trait champions have (yes, I think they are fringe contenders after watching them play the past week). If Santa brings Aldridge some passing chops, could this team be like that championship-winning Dallas team? With LaMarcus replicating Dirk? It could happen, and if it does it will be behind the play of Aldridge. If Santa stops out in Portland, he should make sure to reward Aldridge with a well-deserved gift.

What do you think?

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