The 8 Weakest Defenses in the NBA

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Most teams in the NBA have already played about eight to 10 games each already.

That's enough to get a good read on teams and see developing trends. In the shortened 2012 season, it's also time for some teams to panic and realize that they have problems.

Especially on the defensive end, where some teams can't stop anyone.

Here's a look at the eight worst defensive teams in the NBA.

Charlotte Bobcats

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It's amazing that Charlotte has won two games, considering they are allowing a league-worst 105.8 points per game.

That number alone is shocking because the Bobcats are a very good rebounding team.

Allowing opposing teams to shoot 48 percent from the field doesn't help, as that's one of the worst numbers in the league as well.

Sacramento Kings

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Young teams usually aren't very good defensively.

The Kings are young and won't get any better until they can commit to playing on the defensive end.

Allowing 102.3 points per game is not going to produce many wins.

Houston Rockets

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Kevin McHale's team is shockingly bad on the defensive end.

The Samuel Dalembert signing should be paying bigger dividends, but opponents are shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor against them.

That's hands down the worst number in the league.

Washington Wizards

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There is a reason why the Wizards are winless.

They are dreadful on the offensive end, but not a whole lot better on the defensive end.

They don't get stops and they don't rebound—definitely not a good mix for winning.

Oklahoma City Thunder

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It's rare for a winning team to be below average on the defensive end, especially a Scott Brooks-coached team, but that's where the Thunder are.

They have all the parts to be a very good defensive club, but aren't playing as such, allowing an average of more than 97 points per contest.

The Thunder won't be legitimate title contenders unless that number comes down a bit.

New Jersey Nets

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The Nets allow more than 11 more points per game (96.7) than they score, and opposing teams shoot the ball from the floor at over a 10 percent better clip (47 percent) than the Nets offense shoots it.

Sure, that says New Jersey is a bad offensive team, but they aren't very good defensively, either.

New York Knicks

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The Tyson Chandler signing has had an impact. 

The numbers suggest that the Knicks are a much better defensive team compared to a season ago.

That doesn't mean they are good, though.

But they are slowly getting better.

A couple causes for concern is that opposing teams are shooting 46 percent from the floor against them, and overall, the Knicks aren't rebounding well as a team.

Dallas Mavericks

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Speaking of Chandler, he's had the opposite effect on the Mavericks, as they've turned into a bad defensive team.

They miss him, as they've become a below-average team on the glass and have had a hard time stopping anyone in the early going.

They've got a bit better of late but still have a long way to go to turn the corner.