The NBA season is underway and there are already more winless teams than undefeated. The Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors represent the cream of the crop with no losses. Filtered in with the bottom of the pack, here is a look at the five most disappointing teams thus far.
Houston Rockets
After an 0-3 start, the Rockets have won their last two games, one of which was in overtime against the 1-4 Orlando Magic. After losing each of their first three games by 20 points, the Rockets are tied with the second-worst point differential in the Western Conference (minus 10). They have yet to hold an opponent under 100 points and Kevin McHale's offense has largely sputtered. It took the Rockets four games to reach 100 points and they only cracked 90 once in their first three contests.
Their defensive struggles can be attributed to the departure of Josh Smith and limited contributions from Dwight Howard. After being suspended for the season opener, Howard did not play against the Miami Heat as part of an effort to ease his way back into the lineup while he continues to deal with back problems. James Harden, who dealt with an injury in the preseason, is also off to a slow start.
Harden is shooting under 30 percent from the field for the first time in his career and has made just 16 percent of his shots from long range, including an 0-for-10 performance in Miami. Yet, The Beard leads the team with a 23.8 point-per-game average. Marcus Thornton is second (17.0ppg), which could be an indication that the Rockets will struggle to find scoring away from Harden.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have led for just 10 minutes and 20 seconds through four games. Granted, two of those contests were against the undefeated Warriors, who appear to be on a quest similar to the New England Patriots as they defend their title. But, in the other two games, the Pelicans played the Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic, with the Magic getting their lone win of the season in The Big Easy.
The Pelicans rank 29th in the NBA in both points allowed and point differential. Anthony Davis has not lived up to MVP caliber and is averaging just 20.8 points-per-game. The integration of a fast-paced offense has clearly not meshed well with Davis, whose 37.9 field goal percentage is the worst of his career.
Alvin Gentry will not stray the course just four games into the season, but Davis's struggles coupled with insufficient defense would give reason to do so. Their schedule does not get any easier with the red-hot Atlanta Hawks coming to town before a home-and-home against the Dallas Mavericks is followed by a road trip to Atlanta.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are one of four winless teams remaining. They have had one of the tougher schedules, however, as all five of their games have been against teams who made the playoffs last season. But the Nets do not appear to be the playoff team they were a season ago with Deron Williams.
Now, without Williams, Joe Johnson has faltered. The 34 year-old is fifth on the team averaging just 8.4 points-per-game. It is Johnson's worst start through the first five games as a Net. Lionel Hollins does not have many other options on offense. Brook Lopez is a cut above the rest with 20.0 points-per-game, but needs Johnson to help share the load. The Nets rank last in point differential (minus 14.6) and 29th in points-per-game (89.8). As much as they wanted to rid themselves of Williams, their lineup did not improve by waiving him.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been one of the greater disappointments in the league in Kobe Bryant's demise. He claims to be the "200th best player" in the league and continues to be more harm than good inside the locker room. In what may very well be his last season in the NBA, Bryant continues to get the celebrity treatment, missing practices to rest his old legs.
Meanwhile, rather than teach his young teammates, who were supposed to rise the Lakers off the bottom of the NBA hardwood, Bryant sites lack of experience for their early struggles. Granted, there certainly is a lot of learning to do for a team that is relying on two top-ten draft picks under the age of 21. D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle have had solid offensive starts to the season, but have been incapable of getting stops on defense. The Lakers have given up the most points-per-game to opponents this season (116.8).
They have the lineup to be successful and, dare I say a playoff team, but their defense has largely failed them in the four games in which they played teams who currently hold a combined record of 7-9.
San Antonio Spurs
High standards can be a you-know-what. The Spurs could easily have been expected to be unbeaten through five games as a result of their weak schedule. While they have been on the road for four of their five games, the Spurs wins were unimpressive against the Nets, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks.
A 102-99 defeat against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday was served up on a silver platter by a Bradley Beal buzzer-beater. So, while the Spurs are 3-2, they have been disappointing. Kawhi Leonard is looking like he could make a case for MVP and could also make a captivating duo with LaMarcus Aldridge once the big man settles in.
But two early losses should be a bit worrisome for a Gregg Popovich-led team which seamlessly coasts into the postseason every year. After they play the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this season on Thursday night, the Spurs' schedule should allow them to make up lost ground and quiet the disappointment talk.