Eastern Conference 15 Teams' X-Factors: Role Players Could Decide the Season

With just over a month remaining before the 2026-27 NBA season begins, the success or failure of the 15 Eastern Conference teams often will not depend on their star players, but on the role players known as the "X-factors."

Atlanta Hawks: Rookie Flemings must take on ball-creation duties earlier than expected

The Hawks' roster does not lack shooting, size, athleticism, or physicality, but it is missing the most crucial element — ball creation. They selected Kingston Flemings with the eighth pick in the 2026 draft, a player regarded as one of the best ball handlers and creators in his class. The team re-signed CJ McCollum, but he is about to enter his age-35 season and has never truly been able to serve as a first option. The Hawks understand that Flemings will go through growing pains, while current core players Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Onyeka Okongwu are also young enough to give him time. However, the Eastern Conference improved significantly this offseason, and if the Hawks want to make the playoffs for a second straight year, Flemings must get up to speed faster than expected.

Boston Celtics: Pritchard must embrace a bigger role

Is Payton Pritchard a "white version of Jalen Brunson"? Celtics fans have been asking that question for years. He does not have ideal size, but he is calm, crafty, and highly skilled, making him nearly impossible to stop in isolation. Over the past few years, he has consistently given way to more established scorers on the team. Last season, he finally received a larger role, averaging career highs of 17 points and 5.2 assists per game, with a true shooting percentage of 58.4%. Now the real test has arrived: Jaylen Brown is not injured; he has left completely. Replacement Paul George is already past his prime. For the Celtics to remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, Pritchard will almost certainly need to take another step toward becoming a star. Is he ready? Or is there a reason he has spent these years coming off the bench?

The landscape of the Eastern Conference has changed. The Hawks and Celtics are just examples. What truly determines the direction of the season is not the stars who produce consistently every night, but whether these "lubricating gears" — the role players — can step up at critical moments. If one part gets stuck, the entire machine could lose speed.