The Proving Ground
The Ten Players with the Most to Prove in 2008
10. Stephon Marbury: He's the motor that makes the Knicks run and he's got more talent to deal with this year. Can he run the team so the offense runs fluidly? With age catching up with him, this might be the last chance he has to show off his talents and salvage his reputation.
9. Andrea Bargnani: The Atlantic Division just got a whole lot tougher so Bargnani needs to step up his game if the Raptors are going to hold onto their division title. Also, with other Class of '06ers looking better by the day, Bargnani needs to prove that he was worth the #1 pick.
8. Kevin Garnett: He's never had teammates like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen so the excuses are gone. Then again, he has had teammates like Brian Scalabrine, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, and Leon Powe so some of the excuses are still there.
7. Greg Oden: He's coming in billed as the next championship-level big man. Anything less will be a disappointment and it seems like countless people are waiting for him to fail.
6. Kevin Durant: While Durant went after Oden the pressure is higher because he's basically all the Sonics have got. They dumped Ray Allen and put the mantle of leadership in Durant's hands. He can't just score points, he has to do it effeciently AND rebound in order to match expectations.
5. Luol Deng: The Bulls love him but they held onto him instead of dealing for some elite level players. If Deng doesn't emerge as a superstar, the love affair in Chi-town may be over.
4. Andrew Bogut: The #1 pick has been solid but unspectacular and needs to step and show that he was not only worth his #1 slot but also is good enough to man the middle for a legit playoff team. Plus, his new haircut is ridiculous and he is outspoken. You can't be outspoken off the court if you are outplayed on it.
3. Rashard Lewis: Personally, I don't think that there is any way he can truly earn the money he's making but that doesn't mean that the people in Orlando won't be expecting it to happen. Lewis is going to have to emerge as a superstar and lead Orlando to a home berth in the playoffs to live up to the contract he signed.
2. Al Jefferson: Big Al was so upset about hearing his name in trade offers for Allen Iverson last year that he recommitted himself. He improved to a point where he was impressive enough to get traded for Kevin Garnett. Funny how things work. Still, Big Al is the face of the deal that sent the best player in franchise history out of town so he has some huge shoes to fill (not to mention that he bad mouthed once and future teammate Mark Blount after Blount was shipped out of Boston.)
1. Andrew Bynum: Jason Kidd. Kevin Garnett. Possibly Pau Gasol. When a team holds onto you instead of dealing for players of that caliber, you better pan out. Especially when the Black Mamba is looming.
