Preaching Panic or Patience with Every NBA Team Thus Far

Now that the eternal optimism that surrounds training camps across the league is a thing of the past, fanbases everywhere are either praising or criticizing their favorite team. 

Because the regular season is still so young, it's important to remember that there is still more than 90 percent of the season to be played. 

Playoff berths are not clinched in November, although strong starts for underestimated organizations are often necessary for them to make substantial runs at a playoff berth. 

With every team still in contention and NBA fans in evaluation mode, this is truly an exciting time to be following the association. 

There is no set of guidelines on when a team should panic, as each team and situation is unique depending on the upcoming schedule, personnel and the aggressiveness of their front office. 

Preaching patience or panic to fanatical fanbases is always a fun task, so let's get started. 

Atlanta Hawks

Verdict: Panic 

It's hard to evaluate the Atlanta Hawks after their first two regular-season games, as they lost their home opener to the Houston Rockets and followed that performance by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road. 

While the loss to the Rockets could be written up to the brilliance that is James Harden, that loss also pointed out one of the Hawks' most glaring weaknesses: perimeter defense. 

By game's end, the Rockets had amassed 109 points with Harden scoring 45 on his own. In the Rockets win, Harden had no problem taking advantage of DeShawn Stevenson and Devin Harris on the perimeter and drove past them with ease.

Against the Thunder, the Hawks were able to snag the victory without Josh Smith, who was forced to miss the game due to an ankle injury.  

With wing players such as Stevenson, Kyle Korver and Anthony Morrow, it's hard to see the Hawks finding any success defending explosive wing players that can also handle the ball. 

The question is, can a frontcourt of Smith and Al Horford dominate in such a way to make up for the potential liabilities that the wings will bring present?

It's honestly too early to come to a confident verdict on the Hawks, so they will remain one of the league's most interesting teams to watch. 

Boston Celtics

Verdict: Patience 

I'm going to give Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics the benefit of the doubt, but the C's have not played very good basketball thus far. 

The Celtics currently rank 21st in scoring offense, 26th in rebounding and 21st in scoring defense. 

While it's too early to panic about a team with so much experience, it is alarming to see the Celtics in the bottom third in both scoring offense and defense. 

The poor start could be attributed to the changes in the rotation, the loss of Ray Allen or the absence of Avery Bradley due to injury, but none of those excuses change the fact that the Celtics are 1-2. 

Without Bradley, the Celtics had no answer for Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat in the season opener or for the quickness of Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks in the home opener in Boston. 

It was also a bit concerning to see the Washington Wizards outscore the Celtics in each of the final three quarters, even if the guys in green were able to hold off the Wizards for the victory. 

The Celtics will be a better team once Bradley returns and Jeff Green works himself into game shape, but until then, Boston may be vulnerable to a host of upset bids. 

Boston's season will be defined upon whether or not they can overcome the Heat in the postseason, and I'm sure they will be a much better team come playoff time. 

Brooklyn Nets

Verdict: Panic

The Brooklyn Nets will make the playoffs this season, but will struggle mightily to get out of the first round of the postseason due to their deficiencies on the defensive end of the court.

The Nets should be in panic mode because the trajectory of their season appears to be easily predictable. 

I can easily see the Nets winning between 48 and 52 games to lock up the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference before their players begin their postseason lives after getting knocked out in the first round. 

With Brook Lopez and Kris Humprhies tasked with defending the paint, it's hard to have any confidence in the Nets defense. 

Deron Williams is perhaps the best healthy point guard in the Eastern Conference, but his play won't be enough to make up for the liabilities that Lopez and Humphries bring forward. 

Lopez is a capable scorer, but has proven to be inept on the glass and on defense. Because he is not necessarily strong or quick, Lopez has a hard time slowing down opposing big men who have decent post moves.

For example, Minnesota Timberwolves starting center Nikola Pekovic scored 21 points in 26 minutes in a game that took place on November 5. 

Because the Nets will struggle defending the opposition, no lead that their offense creates will be safe, which will put incredible pressure on the Brooklyn offense. 

Charlotte Bobcats

Verdict: Patience

The Charlotte Bobcats opened up their season with a victory!

Yes, you read that right. The Bobcats actually won a basketball game, with the win being even more impressive considering it came against the Indiana Pacers. 

The Bobcats finished the lockout-shortened 2012 season with the worst winning percentage in NBA history, so any small victory should be celebrated as a potential catalyst for change. 

Say what you want about the ineptitude of Michael Jordan as an owner, but it appears as if the Bobcats hired the right coach when they scooped up Mike Dunlap. 

In Dunlap's first game on the Bobcats bench, Kemba Walker scored a career-high 30 points and showed that he could score the ball efficiently against a solid Pacers defense. 

Progression will be a slow process for the Bobcats this season, but any type of progression is a thing of beauty for the Bobcats. 

Bobcats fans have no reason to panic because there is no possible way that this season could be more embarrassing than their 2012 campaign.

Chicago Bulls

Verdict: Patience 

When Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the first game of the first round of the 2012 postseason, it marked the end of the Chicago Bulls' chances to lay claim to either of the next two NBA championships. 

Without Rose, the Bulls succumbed to the Philadelphia 76ers in six games and they will be without Rose until the All-Star Game at least. 

If at any point Rose suffers a setback, then the Bulls front office would likely shut him down as a precaution. 

With a healthy and explosive D-Rose, the Bulls will be a perennial contender, so it would not make much sense for the Bulls to push Rose to return and risk further injury. 

Even if he were to return at full strength after the All-Star break, would you give the Bulls a legitimate chance to upset the Miami Heat in a seven-game playoff series? 

I wouldn't, especially when you consider that it will take Rose time to get his full burst back after suffering such a serious knee injury. 

Even without Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer and Rose, the Bulls will once again play elite defense, which will keep them in the majority of their games. 

Since they will be competitive on a nightly basis, the Bulls have a good chance of returning to the playoffs despite the fact that they will be without their leader and best player for the majority of the regular season. 

The Bulls will be respectable, so Bulls fans will have to be patient and await the return of their MVP. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

Verdict: Patience

When LeBron James left Cleveland for the Miami Heat, it appeared as if the Cavaliers were destined to be among the league's bottom dwellers for a number of years. 

Since James left for South Beach, the Cavs drafted another franchise player and surrounded him with two other top five draft picks with potential. 

Kyrie Irving is the most exciting young player in the NBA today, something that he proved throughout his Rookie of the Year campaign during the 2012 season. 

After the Cavaliers front office selected Irving with the first pick in the 2011 Draft, they took power forward Tristan Thompson to complement and develop alongside Irving. 

After suffering through a 21-45 record in 2012, the Cavs surprised many when the drafted Dion Waiters out of Syracuse with the fourth overall selection. 

While the Cleveland front office was criticized for reaching on Waiters, the young shooting guard has performed very well thus far. 

In the Cavs' first four games of the 2012-13 season, Irving has led the team to victories over the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers while losing to the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks. 

Against the Clippers, Waiters led the game in scoring with 28 points and Irving added 24. 

If that performance is indicative of what is to come for the Cavaliers' young backcourt, then they will likely be making a playoff push as early as next season. 

Dallas Mavericks

Verdict: Patience 

The Dallas Mavericks have raced off to a 3-1 start while the face of their franchise, Dirk Nowitzki, recovers from a knee injury. 

The Mavericks were one of the hardest teams to judge prior to the regular season because of the their new-look roster and the impending absence of the player that makes their offense successful. 

Through their first four games, the Mavs are ranked third in scoring and third in assists, as OJ Mayo has gone off for at least 30 points twice and Darren Collison is averaging 16.5 points and 8.5 assists. 

As long as Rick Carlisle is the head coach of the Mavericks, they are going to be a competitive team over the course of a season. 

Carlisle proved that he was one of the best coaches in the NBA when the Mavericks overcame the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. 

While this season's team is nothing more than a makeshift unit to ensure that the franchise fields a respectable team, the future of the Mavericks franchise will become more clear in the upcoming offseason. 

Denver Nuggets

Verdict: Panic

When the Denver Nuggets acquired Andre Iguodala in the Dwight Howard mega-deal, it appeared as if head coach George Karl had the final piece he needed to make the Nuggets a title contender. 

If their first four games of the season are any indication, the Nuggets are not even a legitimate contender for the Northwest division, let alone the NBA title.

The Nuggets lost all three games of their season-opening road trip, as they succumbed to the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. Surprisingly, Denver lost to the Magic by a larger total than their losses to the 76ers and Heat combined. 

Denver's problems currently lie on the defensive end of the court and in their inability to take advantage of their transition offense through four games. 

Since Karl will have the Nuggets playing at one of the league's fastest paces, it is crucial that they become more efficient in transition. 

The Nuggets currently rank 23rd in scoring offense, 21st in scoring defense and 26th in assists, all of which must drastically improve if they hope to contend with the elite teams in the Western Conference. 

Without a superstar to take over games when momentum swings toward the opponent, the Nuggets are forced to rely on a more balanced approach from their entire rotation. 

Detroit Pistons

Verdict: Panic

The Detroit Pistons are one of the worst teams in the NBA and it is going to be a very long season for all of those who frequent The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons are currently 0-4 with only one of their losses being a close game.

Greg Monroe is one of the most talented young centers in the league today, but he can't do it all by himself. So far this season, Monroe has struggled to regain the form that he showed during the lockout-shortened 2012 season. 

Brandon Knight is a promising young player, but he is shooting just 31.4 percent this season and is not scoring with any efficiency. 

The Pistons are on a one-way trip to another lottery selection, but it will likely be higher than the ninth selection that they had during the 2012 Draft. 

It has been a long road back to relevance for the Pistons, but they haven't reached the end of their rebuilding effort yet. 

Golden State Warriors

Verdict: Patience 

The Golden State Warriors need patience as their season unfolds because of potential injury concerns. 

Andrew Bogut is still fighting his way back from an ankle injury and Stephen Curry has suffered with his own ankle ailments in the past. 

If Bogut and Curry are able to stay healthy, then the Warriors should be adequate on both ends of the court. 

So far this season, Golden State is middle of the road in scoring offense, defense, rebounding and assists. While being a well-rounded team is important for success, it is not easy to maintain success over a rigorous regular season without having a strength to fall back on. 

The Warriors are currently tied with the Los Angeles Clippers atop the Southwest division, although they will have a very hard time holding off the Los Angeles Lakers as the regular season continues to unfold. 

With Curry, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes in the backcourt, the Warriors could have the most potent long-range attack in the league. 

Houston Rockets

Verdict: Patience

The Houston Rockets changed the direction of their franchise in the short- and long-term when they traded for James Harden prior to the start of the regular season. 

In his three games since joining the Rockets, Harden has emerged as a bona fide superstar. In that span, Harden has averaged 35.3 points, 6.3 assists and 6.3 rebounds while shooting an amazing 52.9 percent from the field.

The arrival of Harden has alleviated the pressure on Jeremy Lin, which should in turn aid in Lin's progression as a starting point guard.  

The state of affairs in Houston are in a much better place now than prior to the Harden trade, as GM Darryl Morey finally acquired a superstar. 

With Harden on the roster, the Rockets are no longer one of the bottom feeders in the Western Conference. 

The future is bright for the Rockets,  as they will have the cap space to sign a free agent to a maximum contract offer next summer. 

Looking into my crystal ball, I see Josh Smith joining Lin and Harden in Houston. 

Indiana Pacers

Verdict: Panic

Danny Granger has been unable to suit up for the Indiana Pacers this season, as he is struggling with a with a knee injury. 

Without Granger, the Pacers have struggled on offense. They are currently averaging 91 points per game, which is ranked 25th in the league. 

With Granger out of the lineup, David West is the only Pacers starter that has posted a PER over the league average. 

The Pacers are also missing Darren Collison, as they are only dishing 17 assists per game, which is ranked 28th in the NBA. 

Indiana is 2-2, with their losses coming to the laughable Charlotte Bobcats and via a blowout at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. 

When the Pacers faced off with the Spurs, it was clear that Indiana will continue to struggle without Granger because they lack another player that can create a quality shot on their own late in the shot clock. 

Under Frank Vogel, the Pacers have been successful as evidenced by their competitive six-game series with the Miami Heat during the 2012 postseason. 

Los Angeles Clippers

Verdict: Panic 

The Los Angeles Clippers had a very successful 2012 season; Chris Paul and Blake Griffin made LA's other team relevant for the first time in years. 

The Clippers remodeled their bench during the offseason as they signed Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes and traded for Lamar Odom.

Ultimately, the Clips are hoping that their veteran bench will be enough to give them an advantage over the benches of the rest of the Western Conference's elite teams. 

I could see the Clips' plan going either way at this point, as an injury to Crawford or a letdown from Odom could cripple the bench. 

The Clippers have lost home games to the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors already this season, and have struggled on the glass and on defense through their first four games.

Their season may be ruined by the poor management of Vinny Del Negro, and Clipper fans should certainly be wary about how he could curtail the progression of the team as a whole. 

At times it appears as if Paul is more qualified to be the head coach of the Clippers, and it is extremely difficult for NBA teams to succeed in the postseason without an adequate head coach

Los Angeles Lakers

Verdict: Patience

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Steve Nash and Dwight Howard during the offseason, the expectations for their 2012-13 season went through the roof. 

With Howard still suffering lingering effects from his back injury and Nash suffering a small fracture in his left leg against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Lakers have already struggled through their fair share of injuries early in the season.

The Lake Show started off their season by dropping three straight games to Western Conference foes before blowing out the winless Detroit Pistons at the Staples Center.  

Nash will be out for up to four weeks, so the Lakers will have to refine the Princeton offense with their starting point guard watching from the bench. 

While the absence of Nash will stunt the growth of the team in the short run, the Lakers should have more than enough time to come together as a team once Nash is healthy enough to play again. 

LA was fortunate in the short term when the Oklahoma City Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets because the Lakers don't have the personnel to slow down both Harden and Russell Westbrook. 

The Lakers' goal is to win the NBA title, but in order to do so, they will need to win the super-competitive Western Conference first. 

With the top-end talent that the Lakers have, it is only a matter of time before they become an excellent basketball team. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Verdict: Panic

If the Memphis Grizzlies were in the Eastern Conference, their potential ceiling would be much higher due to the make-up of their roster. 

With a frontcourt of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay on the wing and Mike Conley running the point, a strong case could be made for the Grizzlies being the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. 

Alas, the Grizzlies aren't in the East and are forced to compete with the powerhouses in the Western Conference. 

While Memphis remains a formidable challenger, it is hard to imagine a situation in which they could beat a member of the Western Conference's elite trio of the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game series. 

Through their first three games, the Grizzlies have been one of the NBA's most well-rounded teams. They are currently ranked 10th in scoring, sixth in rebounding, 12th in assists and 14th in scoring defense. 

While Grizzlies fans shouldn't panic based upon this season's results, it is very troubling when you consider that this team may have already peaked. 

When Memphis lost the Los Angeles Clippers to open their season, it served as a reminder that the Grizzlies still have a hard time against the elite teams in the Western Conference. 

If the Grizzlies have already peaked, then their fans have good reason to panic as they will be a middle-of-the-road team for the foreseeable future. 

Miami Heat

Verdict: Patience

The defending NBA Champions will be even more dangerous this season due to Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis spreading the floor. 

As long as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh manage to stay healthy, it's hard to concoct a scenario in which the Heat aren't the top seed in the Eastern Conference 

As defending champs, the Heat will receive every team's best shot, but that won't be something new.

Since James and Bosh took their talents to South Beach, the Heat have always had a target on their back. In fact, the Heat seem to thrive in that role now as evidenced by their run through the 2012 postseason. 

Miami's "Big Three" will always be the driving force for success, but the progression of Mario Chalmers as a point guard could take the Heat to an even higher level. 

The Heat won't be judged based upon their regular-season results, but a strong campaign would only add to the legend that is currently being created by MIami's "Big Three". 

Milwaukee Bucks

Verdict: Patience 

The Milwaukee Bucks employ one of the NBA's most explosive and exciting backcourts in Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

While that duo struggled to gel at times after Ellis was traded during the lockout-shortened season, it appears as if they just needed more time to get on the same page. 

With Jennings and Ellis getting the ball to the rim off the dribble, Ersan Ilyasova and Mike Dunleavy will each get their fair share of open looks from behind the arc. 

The final few playoff spots in the Eastern Conference appear to be up for grabs, and if the Bucks continue to lead the league in assists, then they will be among the favorites to sneak into the postseason. 

The story of the Bucks' season will be the play of Jennings, as he is currently averaging 17 points, 13 assists and four steals per game.

The way in which Jennings has played sends a strong message, as he was clearly the best guard in contests that included Boston Celtics starting point guard Rajon Rondo and Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving. 

The Bucks have the potential to give an elite team in the Eastern Conference a scare in the first round of the playoffs, but they will need Jennings and Ellis to get them there in order to do so. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Verdict: Patience

The two best players on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster are both injured, as Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love are still waiting to make their debuts this season. 

In their absence, Wolves head coach Rick Adelman has gotten his team to play good defense and to hit the boards with vigor. 

Even without one of the league's premier rebounders in Love, the Wolves still rank sixth in the league in rebounding, as they have hauled in an average of 45 boards per game. 

In terms of scoring defense, the Wolves have held opponents to an average of 93.7 points per game, which ranks seventh in the NBA. 

So far this season, Minnesota overcame the Brooklyn Nets in the new Barclays center and won their home opener against the lowly Sacramento Kings. 

It is encouraging to see the Timberwolves with a 2-1 record because they will become a better team the moment that Love is fit to return to the court. 

If the Wolves manage to keep their record around .500 until Love returns, then one has to like their chances to qualify for the postseason for the first time in the post-Kevin Garnett era. 

New Orleans Hornets

Verdict: Patience 

The New Orleans Hornets have had to deal with injuries as the regular season opened, but that hasn't stopped them from playing extremely hard on the defensive end of the court and on the boards.

Eric Gordon, who received a maximum contract extension from the Hornets in the offseason, is still struggling with a knee injury and does not know when he will be able to return to the court. 

The No. 1 pick in June's draft, Anthony Davis, suffered a concussion against the Utah Jazz and hasn't passed the concussion tests that he must in order to play. 

Even without Gordon in the lineup, the Hornets have managed to win two of their first three games, with the only loss coming via a 88-86 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. 

The Hornets have struggled to score, as they are averaging just 90.7 points per game, which is ranked 26th in the NBA. 

As bad as the Hornets have been on offense, they have been even better on defense. After three games, New Orleans ranks third in the NBA in scoring defense, surrendering just 89 points per game. 

It is too early to state that the Hornets have a chance to compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they are receiving strong performances from the majority of their rotation. 

Six of the Hornets rotation members have PERs over the league average of 15, which is among the highest number among all NBA teams. 

New York Knicks

Verdict: Patience

The New York Knicks have had no problem in the post-Jeremy Lin era, as they have won each of their first three games by double-digits. 

After their season opening game on November 1 against the crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets was postponed due to the damage done by Hurricane Sandy, the Knicks have played extremely well on both ends of the court.

The offense is currently ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring and first in scoring defense as they have surrendered an average of 85.3 points per game thus far. 

Carmelo Anthony has clearly heard the criticism that has been directed toward him since his arrival in the Big Apple in February 2011, and he has responded well so far this season. 

With Amar'e Stoudemire on the shelf due to a knee injury, Anthony has had no problem scoring enough points to overcome Stoudemire's absence. 

Under Mike Woodson, the Knicks will play great defense and will give Anthony plenty of opportunities in isolation on the offensive end of the court. 

The return of Iman Shumpert around the All-Star break will make the Knicks defense even better, as his backcourt defense along with Tyson Chandler interior defense will be very formidable come playoff time. 

It has been a great start to the season for the Knicks, and it will be very interesting to see if they can maintain their current level of play throughout the entire season. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Verdict: Patience 

When Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti traded James Harden before the start of the regular season, he changed the landscape of the entire NBA. 

Since the trade occurred after the preseason, the Thunder have not had much practice time to integrate newcomer Kevin Martin into the system. 

As the season progresses, Martin will become more comfortable with Scott Brooks' system, which may be scary for the rest of the Western Conference.

Through his first four games with the Thunder, Martin has averaged 18.2 points per game and he is firmly OKC's third offensive option. 

While Martin doesn't offer much outside of a scoring punch, the Thunder may be able to score enough with him to blow the majority of opponents out of the water. 

The Harden trade diminished OKC's opportunity to win an NBA Championship this season, but all hope is not lost as they are still one of the four most likely contenders for the crown. 

As long as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are healthy, the Thunder will have no problem taking care of inferior teams during the long regular season and should have no problem winning at least a round in the postseason.

The loss of Harden isn't likely to be fully felt until the playoffs when Durant and Westbrook are on the bench and the Thunder are struggling to score. It will be in moments like that in which Martin's tenure with the Thunder will be defined. 

Orlando Magic

Verdict: Patience 

Orlando Magic fans should be patient with their team because it remains unlikely that they will be able to maintain their fast start over the course of the rest of the season.  

When the Magic traded Dwight Howard, it was assumed that any chance they had of making the playoffs this season went up in smoke.

While the promising start has led to optimism for the Magic, they simply don't have the talent to compete against the better teams in the Eastern Conference. 

New head coach Jaques Vaughn has done an excellent job thus far in getting the most out of his players, but opposing coaching staffs will find a way to slow down the Orlando offense that is too predictable at times. 

While running JJ Redick off screens is effective, opposing defense will focus on taking that away when he is on the floor, which will make it much more difficult for the ex-Duke star to maintain his current scoring production. 

It is clear that the Magic players want to be in Orlando and will give their all on a nightly basis, and that will be enough for Magic fans this season after suffering through the "Dwightmare". 

It's refreshing to see the Magic being competitive after losing the face of their franchise, as Howard held the franchise and the fanbase hostage. 

Philadelphia 76ers

Verdict: Patience 

The Philadelphia 76ers deserve patience until Andrew Bynum returns from injury because upon his return, the 76ers will become a much different team. 

With Bynum posting up in the paint as the focal point of the 76er offense, open looks from behind the arc will become easier to find for Jason Richardson, Nick Young and Jrue Holiday. 

The 76ers are currently 1-2, with both of their losses coming against Atlantic Division rival the New York Knicks.

Since Philly has only played one team other than the Knicks and haven't been able to get their best player on the court, their fans will have no choice but to remain patient. 

Phoenix Suns

Verdict: Panic

When Steve Nash was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for draft picks during the offseason, it marked the beginning of a new era for the Phoenix Suns franchise. 

The Suns were aggressive in free agency, signing Michael Beasley, Goran Dragic and Luis Scola. While those signings made the team better, they won't be enough to make the Suns competitive in the Western Conference. 

So far this season, the Suns have only been able to triumph in one game, and that win was by a three-point margin against the winless Detroit Pistons. 

The Suns have five players on their roster that are currently averaging double digits in scoring through four games, as Dragic, Scola, Beasley, Marcin Gortat and Shannon Brown have all gotten off to solid starts offensively. 

Through four games, the Suns are ranked 24th in scoring and 28th in points allowed. 

If Phoenix continues to rank in the bottom third in both scoring and scoring defense, then it will be a very long season for the Suns. 

Suns fans shouldn't fret about having a losing season, as it will give the organization a chance to secure a high lottery pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. 

Portland Trail Blazers

Verdict: Patience 

The Portland Trail Blazers are going to be one of the more exciting teams to watch this season, and the play of rookie sensation Damian Lillard is a key reason. 

Lillard has emerged as one of the premier candidates for Rookie of the Year; he has averaged 19.3 points, eight assists and 3.8 rebounds on 40.6 percent shooting from the floor. 

The Blazers split their first four games and currently boast victories against the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets on the road and losses on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. 

Two of the Blazers' five starters currently are posting PERs over 18.5 as Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge are showing the potential to be one of the NBA's most explosive duos. 

Portland has had little trouble scoring the basketball, but have struggled to play consistent defense. 

The Blazers have allowed opponents to score more than 100 points in three of their first four contests, so they need to find a way to improve on that end of the floor as the season progresses.

Entering the season, the expectations weren't very high for the Blazers. This year was viewed to be a growing experience for Lillard and fellow 2012 first-round pick Meyer Leonard. 

The future is bright for the Trail Blazers, and they might be better off adding one more lottery pick to their roster as they make a push to become a perennial contender in the Western Conference. 

Sacramento Kings

Verdict: Panic

The Sacramento Kings have the talent to push for a playoff spot in the deep Western Conference, but they have proven time and time again that their roster doesn't have the mental toughness to reach their potential. 

The Kings are off to a 1-3 start and have yet to cross the 100-points scored plateau, and that includes an overtime loss against the Indiana Pacers.

All three of the Kings' losses have come on the road and they haven't shown the propensity to improve on the 6-27 record road record that the put together during the 2012 season. 

While DeMarcus Cousins and Marcus Thornton have posted PERs over the league average, Tyreke Evans and Isaiah Thomas are both well below the league average in that category.

If the Kings were going to have a successful season, they were going to need Cousins and Evans to post All-Star worthy numbers. 

Cousins has lived up to that expectation thus far, as he is averaging 17.3 points and 9.8 rebounds through four games. I wouldn't be surprised if Cousins finished the season averaging a double-double, but if Evans can't make similar strides, it will all be for naught. 

San Antonio Spurs

Verdict: Patience 

The San Antonio Spurs are off to a quick start, as they won each of their first four games, including a 86-84 victory against the defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Through four games, the Spurs defense has been stout as they have allowed an average of just 89.5 points per game. 

Tim Duncan continues to prove that he is still one of the most efficient big men in the NBA, posting a PER of 25.5 while playing an average 31.3 minutes per game. 

San Antonio opened the season on the road against the New Orleans Hornets before heading home to host three straight games. Now that Greg Poppovich's team swept through the home stand, they will go on the road for a four-game road trip against Western Conference foes. 

Surprisingly, this is the first time in franchise history that the Spurs have started a season off at 4-0. 

The Spurs are on well on their way to having another excellent regular season, and it should surprise no one if they are the No. 1 seed in the postseason when April rolls around. 

Toronto Raptors

Verdict: Panic 

While Kyle Lowry has had a spectacular start to his tenure with the Toronto Raptors, his strong play has not been enough to keep the Raptors from getting off to a slow start. 

Through the first four games, Lowry is leading the Raptors in points (23.7), assists (7.0), rebounds (7.3) and steals (3.7) while posting a PER of 26.6.

If there were every any questions about whether Jose Calderon should start over Lowry, they have been answered because Lowry is looking like a preferable option to even Steve Nash thus far. 

Lowry is not the only Raptor that has performed well; DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19 points per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. It must be encouraging to the Toronto front office to see DeRozan playing well after signing an extension with the team. 

The Raptors problem is that outside of Lowry and DeRozan, only Amir Johnson has a PER over the league average of 15. 

Toronto has struggled on the boards, as evidenced by their league ranking of 25th in the category. It is telling that the Raptors' starting point guard is currently leading the team in rebounds and is averaging two times the defensive rebounds as any of his teammates. 

The Raptors needed to get off to a hot start in order to become a legitimate playoff contender, and with a record of 1-3, that has not happened. 

Utah Jazz

Verdict: Patience 

The Utah Jazz overcame the Dallas Mavericks 113-94 in their season opener, but then dropped their next three games. 

It should be noted that all three of Utah's losses came on the road, which should surprise no one that has followed the franchise. 

During the lockout-shortened 2012 season, the Jazz compiled a 25-8 record at home versus a 11-22 record on the road. 

The Jazz will continue to field one of the NBA's biggest home-court advantages. Their strong play at home will represent itself in their record when they hit the part of the schedule in which they play strings of games at home. 

On a personnel level, Jazz fans should be excited about the play of new comer Mo Williams at the point guard position. In his first four starts with the Jazz, Williams is averaging 20.8 points and 6.8 assists while posting a team high PER of 20.2. 

If Williams is able to maintain that level of production, then the Jazz will be a tough out on a nightly basis when the frontcourt duo of Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap rediscover the form that they showed during the lockout-shortened season. 

Washington Wizards

Verdict: Panic

The Washington Wizards have had a rough start to the season as they have stumbled to a 0-2 record out of the gate. 

With John Wall and Nene out with injuries, the Wizards don't have an adequate point guard to run the offense and also lack a legitimate post presence of offense. 

In the losses to the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Wizards failed to score more than 86 points in either game. Their scoring average of 85 points per game is currently last in the league, and there are not many reasons to assume that their offense will improve prior to Wall's return to the court. 

The Wizards first-round draft pick in June, Bradley Beal, has had a hard time transitioning to the NBA, averaging just five points per game while shooting a paltry 15.4 percent in the floor. 

Beal is only 19 years old, so his slow start shouldn't concern Wizards fans in terms of his long-term prospects. Expectations for Beal's rookie year should be lowered, and his Rookie of the Year odds are long.

The Wizards haven't qualified for the playoffs since Gilbert Arenas led them there in 2008, and they will have to wait at least another year to reverse that trend.