NBA has never lacked legends. In the era of popular small ball, scoring feasts of 50+ are common. However, most of the crazy performances are just short-lived and cannot continue their peak state. There are even some superstars who are completely disappointing. During the long series, their status declined due to various objective factors, or even completely lost. Not only did they lose their peak competitive state, but they also found themselves trapped in a trap from which they could not extricate themselves.
Today, we take stock of the six major players who may be doomed this season.
Sixth place: St. Paul
Paul , who averaged 9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, 36.6% field goal percentage, 25.7% three-point field goal percentage, and 88.2% free throw percentage.
Paul was selected by the Hornets with the fourth overall pick in the first round of 2005. As the five-time assist king, Paul can be called the last swan song of the traditional defender. Paul's organizational ability to strategize and win thousands of miles is absolutely unparalleled in the active league. At the same time, as a mid-range master, Paul has a stable shooting ability. can use his personal ability to score in the deadlock, and can also use his excellent vision to organize and connect the team. Friends score, as a historical organization master, from the Hornets, Clippers , Rockets to today's Suns , Paul's teams can be called wealthy teams, and Paul is undoubtedly the absolute leader of the team, and even the most powerful brain in the league's organization, a historical ball control master .
In the 2022-23 season, this ball-handling master who once led the Suns from a weak team to a championship team encountered the biggest dilemma of his career. At the beginning of the season, Paul was subject to controversy and doubts due to his sluggish state.
Facing the game against Philadelphia , Paul completely disappeared. scored 2 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Not only that, Paul was also troubled by injuries again, and thus began a truce journey on the sidelines.
After a 15-game truce, Paul came back again, but after his return, Paul's condition was still sluggish and he completely lost his superstar style. Not only was the offensive end still extremely inefficient, but the organizational end was also affected by mentality and injuries. It was completely restricted. Without ghost passing, Paul spent more time on the edge of making mistakes or even making mistakes, completely losing his peak .
Facing the Celtics game, Paul felt like he was sleepwalking. This strong dialogue between the East and the West completely turned into a one-sided massacre when Paul was in no condition. In the whole game, Paul scored 4 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 2/6 from the field, 0/2 from the three-point field goal percentage, sluggish touch, and no aggressive performance. This game has also become the epitome of Paul's poor state this season .
In the game against the Pelicans, Paul was not only in poor condition, but also caused an uproar in public opinion with his elbow to the Pelicans at the last moment. Paul lost the game and had to change sides to fight again. Paul failed to recover and was beaten by the Pelicans in a consecutive double-play situation. The Suns have lost all three of Paul's recent games since his return, which shows that Paul's attributes are holding him back in the Suns.
As a slot master with an annual salary of 30 million, Paul's sluggish performance this season is indeed disappointing . Compared with the aging of his body, Paul's mental ups and downs, as well as his endless remarks during the offseason, have had a huge impact and fluctuation on him. It is reported that after Paul's extreme slump, The Suns have started to sell this former hero. After all, the Business Alliance They only look at results, not to mention that Paul and the Suns are only getting what they need. Now, Paul can no longer provide the necessary help to this giant ship, and it has become a matter of course to send him away. And once Paul cannot return to his peak, the former point guard god may once again face a wandering career. Not only that, once Paul leaves the Suns, his dream of winning a championship in his career may be shattered, and this veteran who once created legendary moments may end in despair.
Fifth place: Bench bandit Poole
Poole, who averaged 18.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, 42.7% field goal percentage, 32.4% three-point field goal percentage, and 86% free throw percentage.
Poole was selected by the Warriors with the 28th overall pick in the first round of 2019. As a bench bandit, Poole has outstanding athletic ability and excellent scoring ability. At the same time, Poole has excellent vision and can create scoring opportunities for his teammates through passes and cuts. His super three-point shooting range and big heart attributes once made Poole the successor of Curry .
In the 2022 offseason, Poole signed a four-year 133 million maximum salary contract with the team. As a bench gangster, Poole can also be regarded as a leader of the younger generation..
In the 2022-23 season, after Poole got a big contract, he not only failed to continue his peak, but because Cole put him on the bench, he was once dissatisfied. Different performances have further intensified conflicts in the team's locker room. Even the starting dispute between Poole and Clay once affected the team's overall record. It also caused huge ups and downs in Clay's mentality, leading to frequent shots, so that the team was completely trapped in the starting battle between the two.
It is reported that after Poole’s mindless remarks and actions caused constant conflicts in the team, the Warriors gradually lost their patience with this city hero. Poole once again turned from Curry’s successor to a precarious trade victim. As a representative of the younger generation, Poole was not only obsessed with interests, but also almost caused a conflict with htm The huge conflict between l3 Green and even the competition for the starting position caused turmoil in the team. Poole continued to cause trouble for the team and completely lost his personal competitive state. If Poole cannot regain his past peak performance, not only will his starting position gradually fade away, but Poole is also likely to be abandoned by the Warriors. This bench gangster who does not know the heights of the sky will once again start a wandering career..
Fourth place: Rising star Bridges
Bridges was selected by the Clippers with the 12th overall pick in the first round of 2018. As a young player with outstanding physical condition, Bridges was once known for his explosive first step. As a player at the 3rd and 4th positions, Bridges is physically strong and has stable shooting ability. At the same time, on the defensive end, Bridges is extremely aggressive and has excellent defensive awareness. He is an all-round offensive and defensive star who is on the rise .
After Bridges entered the league in 2018, as the game progressed, this young man with great potential gradually adapted to the NBA's whistleblowing standards and physical confrontation intensity, and completed its evolution year by year..
In the 2021-22 season, Bridges once reached the peak of his career, and various statistics continued to soar. As a young team, Bridges' outstanding performance has made him a core player of the team. He was also a young player that Mr. Joe focused on training. Even before the end of the season, Bridges was once expected to get a super contract worth more than 100 million..
During the 2022 offseason, due to the exposure of the scandal of Bridges' domestic violence against his wife, the star of this promising young man was dimmed, and the expected big contract was also ruined. After the incident, Since Bridges is likely to go to jail, the Hornets are only willing to offer a qualification with an annual salary of less than 10 million, making the young man a restricted free agent..
But since Bridges is likely to go to jail, no team is willing to take the risk. Even after the expiration of his qualifications, the Hornets did not choose to extend. This also means that this young man who was once a star has plummeted due to the exposure of the scandal. Although there are still many teams expressing interest in this young man, in the face of Bridges who may go to jail at any time, such an idea may only be defeated by reality .
As a young man, Bridges is definitely expected to become an enviable superstar, but now not only is it difficult to get a salary, but he has even ruined his entire career. It can be said that the gain outweighs the loss..
Third place: The everlasting Reggie
Reggie, who averaged 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4 assists per game in the 2022-23 regular season, 40.9% field goal percentage, 35.6% three-point field goal percentage, and 90.2% free throw percentage.
Reggie was selected by the Thunder with the 24th overall pick in the first round of 2011. As an excellent combo guard , Reggie's breakthrough is very lethal. He has a quick start in the first step and can easily get rid of defenders by changing directions. Even when facing tough defensive players, Reggie can still finish at the basket. He is a scorer with great offensive ability. As a star with excellent insight, Reggie can use his outstanding organizational skills to create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates on a tightly defended battlefield, so that the team can easily tear apart the opponent's defense. On the defensive end, Reggie is extremely active and has excellent defensive awareness. He is a veteran star who is good at both offense and defense.
In the 2022-23 season, the Clippers' record was extremely volatile with the Big Three in charge. Reggie, as a veteran who performed at his best last season, is in poor form this season. After wall joined the team, Reggie was completely disappointed. The old cannon's strength and scoring data have also dropped significantly, and he has completely lost his ability to be one man. Reggie's ups and downs have also caused the Clippers' record to fluctuate significantly, and they have completely lost their ability to compete for the championship. As a blue-collar star, Reggie has also completely lost his key ability as a leader last season, and has completely become an out-and-out blue-collar star .
After Reggie's condition declined, the Clippers were extremely disappointed with Reggie's performance and once put him on the trading shelf. This veteran who once performed at his peak with the Clippers has now completely lost his motivation and vitality and has once again become a mere loser. A dispensable blue-collar star, if Reggie is unable to bottom out as the game progresses, not only will his next contract worth tens of millions of dollars be ruined, but Reggie will even be traded again by the Clippers. This veteran who once hit his peak will once again start a wandering career.
Second place: Nerve Knife Middleton
Middleton, in the 2022-23 regular season, averaged 11.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, 32.5% field goal percentage, 26.8% three-point field goal percentage, and 89.5% free throw percentage.
Middleton was selected by the Pistons with the 39th overall pick in the second round of 2012. As a low-ranking legend, Middleton once completed reverse growth. As the second leader of the Bucks , Middleton's excellent shooting ability once became the key player of the Bucks. At the same time, Middleton has an excellent sense of the ball and can obtain better scoring methods by taking advantage of the opponent's mistakes. Middleton is also a star with a big heart at critical moments. On the defensive end, Middleton is extremely active in defense and can cause trouble for the opponent through his good defensive effect and defensive awareness. He is a super scorer with both offense and defense.
In the 2021-22 season, after Middleton won the championship, 's competitive form declined significantly. The decline in form also caused Middleton to suffer from injuries. During the playoffs , Middleton suffered injuries and was reimbursed for the season. Middleton's injuries also became an important factor in the Bucks' failure in the playoffs..
In the 2022-23 season, Middleton sat on the sidelines for a long time and faced the Lakers game. Middleton ushered in a comeback. However, Middleton was not in good form after being away from the team for a long time.
In the game against the Grizzlies, Middleton even lost his position during a confrontation with Dillon. After fell, Middleton even deliberately tripped Dillon with his foot. It can be said that he lost the game and lost the game. He completely lost his status as a superstar and his demeanor as a gentleman, and he was completely reduced to a blue-collar star who played a little dirty.
As a superstar, after Middleton's condition declined, the team once put him on the trading shelf. After all, is an upper-level industry league. No one can continue to live a long life after a downturn in form. Naturally, Middleton cannot change this. In fact, as a low-ranking legend, Middleton is likely to be completely reduced to a dispensable blue-collar star after winning the championship due to his ups and downs in mentality and the attributes of the glass man system. He may even be traded by the team again after his state is sluggish or has a negative impact on the team, starting a wandering career .
First place: scoring machine Bill
Bill, in the 2022-23 regular season, he averaged 22.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.4 rebounds per game, 52.2 field goal percentage, 35.2% three-point field goal percentage, and 87.3% free throw shooting percentage.
Bill was selected by the Wizards with the third overall pick in the first round of 2012. As a top scorer with outstanding physical fitness and superb skills, Bill has lightning speed and kaleidoscope-like scoring ability, excellent vision and good insight, allowing Bill to make plays for his teammates, thus activating the team and bringing greater improvement to the team. On the defensive end, Bill has outstanding athletic ability. Once he defends seriously, is still a physically strong defensive player in the same position. His performance in both offense and defense made Bill once one of the few superstars on the back line.
In the 2022-23 season, Bill, who received a big contract, returned from injury. However, after a few games, Bill failed to perform like Lillard and Harden. After bottoming out and performing sluggishly, even made Bill's overall condition worse than last season, completely losing his personal ability as a superstar. In some stages, Bill's overall performance was not as good as Kuzma's, completely losing his super personal ability and leadership ability as a team leader .
Facing the Thunder, Bill scored 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. As a leader, Bill's performance was not enough to support the team to win. He was weak at critical moments, which once became a key factor in the team's inability to win..
Facing the Lakers, Beal retired due to injury within 3 minutes of playing. Beal's injury completely ruined the Wizards' victory in the game. As a result, the team suffered a setback and once again replicated the sluggish performance of last season. After Bill was on the quake due to injury, the Wizards suffered a long seven-game losing streak. The Wizards' experience of such a situation will be inseparable from Bill.
As a superstar, after Bill won the big contract, not only failed to help the team make a comeback , but instead made the team slump. In addition to injuries, the competitive state was sluggish, and has become an important factor in Bill's sluggishness. It is reported that after the Wizards suffered consecutive losses, the team had the idea of rebuilding . All of this is closely related to Bill's sluggish performance. In other words, the big deal of not only failed to give the team a rebirth , but also completely defeated him. The Wizards' deal not only confirmed the fact that Bill had a high salary and low ability, but also brought devastating damage to the team. Even the Wizards may not see the light of day again within 5 years.
