New Year's Resolutions for NBA Contenders

Daniel Waddleton

Jan 1, 2025

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WHAT'S JANUARY FIRST without some good old-fashioned New Year’s resolutions?

The Fast Break Forums New Year’s resolution for 2025 is to share more fun, gimmicky posts like this one on the blog. It’s a change of pace from my usual deep dive and analytics-heavy content, something that can maybe draw in the more casual fan.

Don’t worry, if you haven’t settled on yours yet, feel free to borrow one from the ten NBA contenders featured here. I’m about to assign these "contenders" real world resolutions, with a basketball twist. These teams would be wise to stick with them for the remainder of the season, with the hopes of climbing the ladder and hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.

East: Boston Celtics / Cleveland Cavaliers / Milwaukee Bucks / New York Knicks / Philadelphia 76ers

West: Oklahoma City Thunder / Dallas Mavericks / Denver Nuggets / Memphis Grizzlies / Los Angeles Lakers

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Boston Celtics - Make Your Bed Every Morning

It might seem like a victimless crime to leave your bed unmade in the morning -- after all, "nobody sees it" right? But starting your day with a small, disciplined task like making your bed sets a tone of organization and productivity that can carry through the rest of your day.

The Boston Celtics, widely regarded as the best team in basketball, occasionally lose their rhythm when they get too carried away with firing up threes and playing hero ball. This tendency can leave their offense feeling disjointed and inconsistent even with such elite personnel. If the Celtics can "make their bed" by prioritizing consistency and staying disciplined in their offensive approach, they’ll find their game flowing more productively for all four quarters.

And if the Celtics can avoid their offense from falling into the abyss for stretches, they are going to be no match for any of the other contenders on this list assuming health.

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Oklahoma City Thunder – Become a Plant Owner

Plants are great. Studies show that simply having plants around can help lower human stress levels. Studies also show that working around plants can help assist concentration, increase satisfaction, and create better air quality. Plus, caring for a plant can add a sense of routine and organization to your day. You know what could bring the Oklahoma City Thunder similar benefits? A backup point guard.

When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander heads to the bench, OKCs half-court offense often becomes disorganized, leaning too heavily on the defense to create turnovers for easy points. SGA is a brilliant offensive player, but the drop-off from 120 points per 100 possessions to just 104 when he sits shouldn’t happen given the amount of talent on this roster.

Investing in a reliable floor general for the second unit would reduce the teams stress and help everything flow more smoothly. If OKC wants to thrive in the playoffs, it’s time to grow their Point Guard "plant" at the trade deadline.

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Cleveland Cavaliers – Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal is all about reflection and growth. It’s a daily practice that builds self-trust and helps you stay focused on long-term goals, even when things get tough. It's a way to keep the demons of your past out, and focus on staying the course. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the rest of this season is all about trusting the process they’ve built through team chemistry and player development that currently has them on a staggering 72 win pace.

Kenny Atkinson has transformed the Cleveland Cavaliers, unlocking their stars and crafting an offensive system that thrives without sacrificing the teams defensive identity. His impact has been nothing short of a masterclass, and it deserves recognition with a Coach of the Year nod at the conclusion of the season. But the playoffs are always a different story. When defensive intensity ratchets up and the stakes rise, the real test begins.

Will the Cavaliers still shoot a league-leading 40% from three under postseason pressure? Can Darius Garland overcome the physicality that has caused him struggles in past playoff runs? And will the Evan Mobley tailored offense remain as effective when opposing teams have two weeks to dissect and scheme against him?

At the start of the season, I wrote about how the Cavaliers process works. That process will face its share of bumps during a postseason run, including questions like these. The key however, is to stay the course, trust in their growth, and believe that their players are built for this moment. The Cavs have proven they belong, so when the going gets hard they will need to reflect and trust what they got and not let the previous playoff demons get in the way.

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Dallas Mavericks - Achieve a Workout Goal

The resolution to "get in shape" is a classic, but it means something different for everyone. For some, it’s about building a sculpted physique with 3D shoulders and giant lats; for others, it’s simply shedding a few pounds to downsize their wardrobe.

For Luka Doncic, it’s not about "getting in shape", no NBA superstar who routinely terrorizes defenses is to be categized as in bad shape. However, the small, nagging lower-body injuries he’s been dealing with are starting to pile up, and it’s clear he sometimes looks physically worn down during games (OKC NBA Cup game, for example).

This is about optimizing Luka’s conditioning to prepare for the long grind of the playoffs. If he can use his recovery from this calf injury to achieve a targeted workout goal and return in peak condition, the Mavericks could become an unstoppable force. This team has the infrastructure to compete with anyone, and when Luka is at his best he’s the second-best offensive player on the planet leaving opposing playoff matchups scrambling for answers.

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Milwaukee Bucks – Leave Your Ex in the Past

Sure, things were amazing when you two were clicking. But that was 2021, and now it's 2025, it's time to move on. You're over her, but it's complicated. Maybe you reach out to her over the holidays, try to spark back that old magic. Deep down though, you know this is only prolonging the damage to something that’s already run its course.

The Bucks are in a similar situation with Bobby Portis. Back in 2021, he was instrumental in their championship run -- a beloved spark plug off the bench. But this isn’t the '21 Bucks roster construction anymore. The current team doesn’t need a bench cooker like they once did; they need a versatile wing defender who complements the Dame-Middleton-Giannis core and keeps the offense flowing instead of halting it.

This season the Bucks are over five points worse per 100 possessions with Portis on the floor, and their defense rating is a 116.3 in his minutes. Sure, there are moments when Portis reminds you of the good times, like dropping 35 on a night Dame and Giannis sit, or scoring 10 straight off the bench to shift momentum in a game. But just because it’s nostalgic and fun doesn’t mean it’s good for them in the long run.

It’s time for the Bucks to move on, and find a partner who fits their current needs -- a healthier and more sustainable option for the future as we enter 2025.

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Denver Nuggets - Fix a Broken Friendship

You can try to replace what that one friend brought into your life -- their energy, their support, and the way you felt when you shared special moments together. But deep down, you know it’s irreplaceable. In 2025, it’s time to mend that friendship. And for the Denver Nuggets, it’s time to figure out what’s wrong with Jamal Murray and fix it.

The team can explore trade options at the deadline, or continue to attempt to patch together the offense that Murray once spearheaded through other players. But at the end of the day, this teams ceiling is capped if they can’t recapture his magic of 2023. Murray averaged over 26 points a game on 50/45/90 shooting splits during that finals run, and with the teams current balance sheet combined with the new CBA they aren't finding that production elsewhere.

With that strained friendship, the key is to swallow your pride, address the issue head-on, and focus on rebuilding what made the relationship so special. For the Nuggets, that means getting Murray healthy, confident, and back to being the player who lit up the playoffs. Without him at his best, their hopes of another championship in the Jokic era takes a big hit.

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New York Knicks - Practice an Old Passion

Life often leads us away from old passions. Maybe you outgrew them, thought they weren’t "acceptable" anymore, or simply got too busy. Perhaps you’ve found success in something else and devoted all your energy there. Whatever the reason, 2025 is the perfect time to rekindle those passions and rediscover the joy they once brought.

For the Tom Thibodeau-coached Knicks, it’s time to reignite their passion for defense -- a hallmark of Thibodeau teams that has hit its lowest point during his tenure in New York. The Knicks aren’t lacking defensive talent. The wing tandem of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are two players who’ve made their mark on the league through defense, and Josh Hart has the versatility to defend both smaller guards and bigger wings. Turning this to at least a top third defensive team should be more then actable.

The Knicks have shown this season they can light up the scoreboard and run teams out of the building offensively, but to reach their full potential, they need to embrace what made Thibs-led teams so formidable: gritty, tough, and relentless defense. By revisiting this old passion, the Knicks can balance their game and become a true championship contender.

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Memphis Grizzlies - Embrace What Makes You Unique

In a society that's heavily influenced by social media -- and the endless comparisons it creates -- a good New Year’s resolution is to "embrace what makes you unique." It’s about recognizing your individuality, celebrating your quirks, and striving to become the best version of yourself. This is a great resolution for the Memphis Grizzlies, who need to become a master of what makes them unique.

In each of their last two playoff appearances as a two-seed in 2022 and 2023, the Grizzlies offense collapsed compared to their regular-season numbers, ultimately leaving them overmatched against their opponents. As I discussed in one of my Starting Five pieces, this season the team has shifted its offensive philosophy, using the fewest pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs in the league by a wide margin. This new approach has produced great results thus far, but it will need further refinement to become truly playoff-ready if the Grizzlies hope to finally make a deep run.

The Grizzlies have always been unique, and that’s part of what makes them special. But in the playoffs, when opposing teams have time to deeply scout them over a series, their distinct style has often faltered. To change that narrative, they’ll need to master their new identity, preparing it to withstand and counter any adjustments thrown their way.

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Philadelphia 76ers – Leave 2024 in the Past, Start Fresh

A great New Year’s resolution -- whether to achieve a specific goal or simply reset your mindset -- is to leave a tough year behind and embrace a fresh start. For the Philadelphia 76ers, this advice couldn’t be more relevant. Outside of an exciting week in July when they acquired Paul George, the year 2024 was filled with setbacks.

As we roll into January of the current season the team only has 12 wins, a number that finds themselves outside the play-in picture. But their Christmas performance was a loud reminder that, when healthy, this team is still incredibly talented and capable of competing with anyone.

It’s time to leave the negativity of 2024 behind and start fresh in 2025. If Embiid gets injured again, focus on the other talented players who can step up. If Paul George has an off night, reflect on his strong performance the game prior. The Sixers need to approach 2025 with the same positivity and optimism that surrounded the team when George signed last summer. A fresh attitude could be key to unlocking their potential and turning things around.

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Los Angeles Lakers – Stop Procrastinating on a Tough Decision

The stress of a major life decision can paralyze us. Prolonging what needs to be done only adds to the anxiety, creating a vicious cycle that feels impossible to break. For the Lakers, this cycle looks all too familiar: LeBron and AD play well - Fans demand help - LeBron posts cryptic tweets about the front office - The team exits the playoffs because of an inferior roster.

The Lakers have clung to their future draft picks for years, waiting for the perfect moment to cash them in. But time isn’t on their side. LeBron James clearly isn’t getting any younger, and the window to contend in the LeBron-Davis era is about to close. It’s time to stop procrastinating, make the tough call, and part with those picks to bring in difference-makers.

The Lakers owe it to themselves -- and to the greatest player this game has ever seen -- to assemble a roster that can legitimately compete with the likes of Denver and Oklahoma City. The time is now. Let’s give LeBron one last shot at ring number five with a team built to win like the 2020 team was.