We are about 12 games into the NBA season, and it is great to have basketball back. Some teams have been off to a fantastic start and picking up where they left off last season, while others have underachieved and not met expectations. Whether it’s been because of injuries or simply bad chemistry, some teams are wishing that there could be a restart button on the NBA season.
NBA Teams with the Most Disappointing Starts
Dallas Mavericks (2-8)
After losing out on Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley in free agency, the Mavericks quickly reacted by signing Harrison Barnes and trading for Andrew Bogut. If there’s been one bright spot in the Mavs’ rough start, it’s Barnes. He’s averaging 22.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and he’s quickly adjusting to being his team’s top option. Unfortunately, injuries to the Mavs’ other top options have held them back. Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams have sat out the majority of the season so far, and their presence has been missed on the offensive end. While there is still time to turn it around and get back in the playoff hunt, the Mavs need Williams and Nowitzki back sooner rather than later. Things could get even worse if those two are out for an extended period of time.
Minnesota Timberwolves (3-7)
This is a surprise to some, and not as much to others. The Timberwolves hired Tom Thibodeau to be their new coach, and many felt that he would help the Timberwolves franchise get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The offense has been fine, but it’s the defensive end that has really hurt the team. The Wolves are currently 28th in Defensive Rating and 30th in rebounding. With Thibodeau being a defensive specialist, this is very surprising to see. The Wolves are a young team, and it takes a while to get a young team disciplined on the defensive end. It’s early, but we might have to add another year to Minnesota’s playoff drought.
Washington Wizards (2-8)
This one hurts. Just when it was felt that things couldn’t get worse for the Wizards, they end up losing to the Philadelphia 76ers while being blown out for the majority of the game. And once again, they have to deal with Bradley Beal already missing games due to injuries. The Wizards are in the bottom half of the league in points, assists, and opponents points per game. Marcin Gortat even came out and said that the Wizards have one of the worst benches in the league. This Wizards team has the talent to make the playoffs. The players just don’t really seem to get along with each other, and too many players are dealing with injuries. There is only so much that John Wall can do for the team by himself.
Miami Heat (2-10)
While the Heat were expected take a big step back after losing Dwyane Wade and others in the off-season, nobody really expected them to take this big of a step back. One would think that Goran Dragic and Whiteside would have the Heat in a better situation. Unfortunately, Dragic has been sidelined with an injury. The Heat are now a very young team and seem to be going through the growing pains of a young team. Erik Spoelstra is one of the better coaches in the league, but good coaching is only going to get a team so far. Scoring has been one of the biggest issues for the Heat, as they are currently 28th in that category with a mere 94.4 PPG. Luckily, the Heat have a young core that they have confidence in going forward. But for now, they might just have to deal with the losses.
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