6 NBA Teams Showing They Have Identity Issues
Nearly a month into the 2013-14 NBA season, there are a half-dozen teams struggling with serious identity issues.
Several of these clubs in crisis are dealing with new head coaches or rookie head coaches. It's not always easy to arrive at a franchise and establish a definitive, successful basketball culture, and some of these skippers are learning the hard way.
A couple of squads are plagued with major injuries, and they're having a rough time trying to stay the course and compensate for the losses.
If early-season identity crises aren't solved, it can severely jeopardize playoff chances.
Which clubs are still fighting to define themselves, and why?
*Statistics accurate as of 11-25-13
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Mike Brown's Cleveland Cavaliers entered 2013-14 as one of the most highly anticipated clubs in the Association. A few key veterans were surrounded by a bevy of young talent, and they looked to have the foundation for an unstoppable force.
While the pillars for future success might be there, the near future is no guarantee, as Brown is still figuring out how to use his cast of weapons.
The coach's attempts to improve the defense have yielded mixed results. Just when we thought the Cavs were dialed in last week, they subsequently surrendered 328 points in a three-game skid.
On the other end, Cleveland hasn't found the optimal rotation to maximize the talents of Kyrie Irving.
Brown told reporters he's getting closer to molding a worthwhile group, but he's still looking for answers (via Associated Press).
"I'm not sure. I've put guys in and out of the lineup. I'm still searching. Every time we step on the floor, I feel like we're getting closer to a group of guys I think can play together for an extended period of time.
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There's still time for Cleveland to make noise in the East, but a 4-10 start and 93.2 points per game dug a sizable hole.
Brooklyn Nets
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After losing eight of their last nine, it's clear that the Brooklyn Nets have more to blame than just injuries.
The offseason additions of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were supposed to bolster the defense and create more flexibility and fluidity on offense.
Instead, the Nets are giving up 102.5 points per game, and the offense lacks the chemistry and consistency necessary to compete at the top of the East. All too often, Brooklyn's attack slowed down to a screeching halt in the form of isolation attempts.
Jason Kidd is getting a massive share of the blame thus far, as he was tasked with directing this group of veteran stars toward a title.
I'm not ready to write off his coaching career, but we can't ignore that he and his staff have failed to keep the Nets afloat—especially against mediocre or below-average opponents such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats.
If Brooklyn continues to stumble through its next stretch of games, there will be even more questions and second-guessing of the offseason plan. It will also need to map the difficult path to stability.
New York Knicks
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Not wanting to be outdone by their crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks have launched their own campaign of underachieving.
Part of the abysmal 3-9 start can be attributed to the absence of Tyson Chandler, but the Bockers have identity confusion with or without him.
They're not sure what lineup works best. They can't consistently rebound (39.7 boards per game) or move the ball (19.1 assists). They're not sure how many shots Carmelo Anthony should take, and they're not sure about the future of 'Melo or Amar'e Stoudemire.
And they're on different pages when it comes to panicking. J.R. Smith readily admitted that he was panicking in light of New York's five-game losing streak, per Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
"We're frustrated," Smith said. "Like you say, it's too early to panic, but me, personally, I'm panicking. I don't like this."
When told about Smith's remarks, coach Mike Woodson dismissed them and said it's too early to panic.
While Woodson is a good coach, and he's smart to not advocate panicking, Smith's comments revealed a disconcerting level of confusion and distress in Madison Square Garden.
Chicago Bulls
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With Tom Thibodeau at the helm, there's never going to be a true identity crisis for the Chicago Bulls when it comes to playing style, priorities and nightly goals.
However, the loss of Derrick Rose to his meniscus tear puts this team in an early-season crisis in the backcourt.
Crisp ball movement and balanced scoring helped the Bulls overachieve without Rose last year, but the team also had Nate Robinson to generate offense and present a triple threat on every possession.
Without Robinson to fill the gap, Thibodeau needs to get upgraded production from Kirk Hinrich and Marquis Teague. In Chicago's first game sans Rose, the two alternate point guards combined for nine points and seven assists. Teague went 0-of-7 from the floor with one assist in 20 minutes.
Beyond the positional issue, the Bulls' derailed hopes may spark a willingness to restructure the roster and the franchise. The front office could find itself dealing with an identity crisis until it confidently decides what direction to take moving forward.
Chicago is one of the strongest organizations in the NBA, but this is a particularly tricky time for it.
Denver Nuggets
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Although they've played respectably on both ends for the last couple of games, the Denver Nuggets have struggled to carve out their identity this season.
It's not shocking that this group hasn't found their groove yet. After all, they lost their general manager, head coach and premiere swingman during the offseason.
Nevertheless, it's disappointing to see Denver give up 103.6 points per games to opponents, which is a regression from last season. They were aiming to be a stronger, more physical defensive club in 2013-14, but they're in the middle of the rebounding pack.
Let's give Brian Shaw some leeway, because it's early in his head coaching career, but we also can't pretend that there haven't been significant problems this fall.
Once he molds the interior defense to protect the paint more consistently, this squad will look much different. Then the overall results won't look so much like a roller coaster.
Milwaukee Bucks
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"The Bucks aren't trying to tank. They're trying to get better. Just failing at it right now."
ESPN's Chad Ford tweeted those comments about the Milwaukee Bucks over the summer, and the words are just as true now as they were back then.
They had no intention of performing in the NBA cellar in 2013-14, yet they find themselves near rock bottom through a series of injuries and weak chemistry.
Even if Milwaukee lucks into a top draft pick, this roster is miles away from being ready to support a winning style of basketball.
For example, it has a mini-identity crisis in the frontcourt. This team was constructed with a surplus of post players, yet it can't rebound consistently at all. The Bucks are the second-worst rebounding unit in the league (39.0 per game) despite having guys like John Henson, Ekpe Udoh, Zaza Pachulia and Ersan Ilyasove to compensate for the temporary loss of Larry Sanders.
Until the team finds a concrete personnel plan and playing identity, both the near future and the long term will be bleak.
Follow Dan O'Brien on Twitter: @DanielO_BR
