The Biggest Early-Season Concern Facing Every NBA Team
Even LeBron James and his much-anticipated new-look Cleveland Cavaliers aren't immune to slow starts.
In November, James told reporters patience was his "biggest test" while noting that his ostensible contender is still "coming together and going through a new system."
"We have a new coach, we have a new staff, we have new players," he added. "The problem with everyone is everyone wants overnight success, and no one wants to work for it. So, you put in the hard work, you get the satisfaction of it later."
Indeed, this is a long season, and getting through it is a process. But with just over one month in the books, we now have enough information to sound some alarms and highlight warning signs. Here's a rundown of what's weighing on each team as December gets underway.
All statistics and record information are current as of games that occurred on Dec. 3.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
The Concern: Defense
Now in his second year at the helm after serving as an assistant under Gregg Popovich since 1996, head coach Mike Budenholzer has to be pretty happy with what he's seen from his Atlanta Hawks so far. They're healthy, reasonably deep and keeping pace with the Chicago Bulls for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference, all while ranking fourth league-wide in offensive efficiency with 107.5 points per 100 possessions, according to Hollinger Team Statistics.
It's the defensive end where a few questions lie. The 104.9 points per 100 possessions Atlanta is yielding ranks 21st, and most of the problems appear to be on the perimeter. While the Hawks rank 13th in points allowed in the paint, they rank 23rd in points allowed from three-pointers, according to TeamRankings.com.
With swingmen DeMarre Carroll and Thabo Sefolosha known for their defensive effort, the Hawks should be able to tighten things up, in theory. And for the moment, they're scoring enough points to get by.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
The Concern: Size
Starting big men Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk are combining for about 27 points per contest through their first 16 appearances this season, but that doesn't mean the Boston Celtics should be entirely satisfied with their interior rotation.
The team's giving up 106.4 points per 100 possessions, the fifth-worst mark in the league, according to Hollinger Team Statistics. Opponents are making 46.6 percent of their field-goal attempts, which ranks a lowly 26th.
One of the reasons is Boston's lack of paint protection. The Celtics block just 4.0 shots per game, which ranks 25th in the NBA, and Sullinger leads the team with just 0.8 swats per contest. The 49.6 points in the paint they're allowing ranks dead last, according to TeamRankings.com.
The rest of the league knows it and is taking full advantage. Per NBA.com, the Celtics allow 32.6 field-goal attempts within five feet per game, tied for the most in the league. Though they're defending those attempts reasonably well, that's still a high volume of efficient shots for the other team. And from five to 14 feet out, Boston's defense yields among the five highest opponent field-goal percentages in the league.
Put simply, Boston's interior isn't big or athletic enough to consistently deter penetration and mid-range scoring. While the club is still rebuilding and patience remains in order, it will struggle to make serious strides without improved rim protection.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
The Concern: Mediocrity
The Brooklyn Nets aren't terrible, nor are they even close to contending. A losing (8-9) record in the comparatively weak Eastern Conference is telling. The Nets have become the league's most expensive bid to be completely average.
They rank 21st in offensive efficiency and 13th in defensive efficiency. None of the regular contributors has a player efficiency rating above 20, and no one averages more than Deron Williams' 17.9 points per contest. It's an unholy combination of overpaid stars and an unremarkable supporting cast.
And there's little hope for dramatic improvement anytime soon.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
The Concern: A Third Option
Who do the Charlotte Hornets turn to when Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker have done all they could?
Lance Stephenson was supposed to be that guy, but he's only averaging 10.1 points through his first 19 appearances. Sixth man Gary Neal is currently the team's third-leading scorer with 12.3 points per contest, but the Hornets need some reinforcements. Given that neither Jefferson nor Walker is a truly dominant scorer, another weapon or two may be appropriate.
The Hornets' 97.5 points per 100 possessions rank 27th, and their 46.0 effective field-goal percentage ranks 28th, according to Hollinger Team Statistics. While there are some real problems on the defensive end as well right now, Charlotte has only reached 100 points twice during its 10-game losing streak.
It scored fewer than 90 points four times during that span.
If the Hornets have any chance to build upon last season's playoff return, these kind of scoring droughts aren't sustainable.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
The Concern: Health
No mystery here. The Chicago Bulls have already battled injuries on a number of fronts.
Though Derrick Rose's eight absences have grabbed most of the headlines, big men Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson have missed another 13 games combined. Thanks in large part to Jimmy Butler's emergence, Chicago has weathered the storm thus far.
None of the injuries has been especially serious.
But this club can ill afford a protracted setback for Rose or any other key contributor. The Bulls are deep, but they know the dangers of season-ending injuries all too well and are looking for their luck to change.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
The Concern: Defensive Pedigree
Though there have certainly been flashes of defensive life, the Cleveland Cavaliers are pretty much the team we saw coming.
As ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin recently put it, "Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were considered offensive maestros yet defensive dunces, and if the Cavs were going to achieve the success they aspired to, both would need to start getting some stops."
Instead, Cleveland is giving up 104.7 points per 100 possessions through its first 16 games. That ranks 18th, according to Hollinger stats, which—while not terrible—is hardly the kind of result you'd expect from a legitimate contender.
"In order for our team to win, I have to be that kind of guy on the defensive end," Irving recently conceded to reporters. "You can only talk about it so long. At one point it just has to be done."
Cleveland kicked off its four-game winning streak by holding both the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards under 90 points. Should that become the norm, the Cavs will be well on their way to discovering their newfound potential.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
The Concern: The Rest of the West
The Dallas Mavericks are as talented as they've been in a long time. Even with forward Chandler Parsons still finding his rhythm, head coach Rick Carlisle's club leads the league in offensive efficiency with a gaudy 113.4 points per 100 possessions, according to Hollinger stats.
Dallas' defense has been less formidable, but, frankly, it can afford to be.
The Mavericks may not be sitting atop the Western Conference standings at the moment, but they've gotten off to a strong start. The real concern is that the rest of the West remains just as hot as Dallas.
At the moment, seven teams in the conference have won 70 percent of their games. That's seriously stiff competition. Even though Dallas already looks good enough to secure home-court advantage in the opening round (with a top-four seed), beating out the other would-be contenders looks more difficult by the day.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
The Concern: Getting Stops
No season has been more topsy-turvy than the one the Denver Nuggets have had so far. After a 1-6 start, they've quickly marched their way back to .500 ball. With this summer's return of shooting guard Arron Afflalo, the Nuggets' depth and offensive production are starting to come along.
The defense, however, has serious holes. Denver has already allowed at least 110 points six times this season. Through 18 games, they're allowing 105.3 points per 100 possessions, which ranks 22nd league-wide, according to Hollinger stats.
It's hard to pin the ineffectiveness on any single variable. The Nuggets have been middle-of-the-road when it comes to transition defense, points allowed in the paint and opponents' field-goal percentage.
For what it's worth, they do lead the league in fouls with 24.3 per contest. According to TeamRankings.com, opponents are tallying 21.2 percent of their points on free-throw attempts, the second-highest mark in the league. Nine different players average at least two fouls per game, including backup point guard Nate Robinson, who somehow manages to collect his in just 13.2 minutes per contest.
The fouls are more of a symptom than cause of Denver's defensive woes. They're a consequence of things like late rotations and bad positioning, systemic but correctable issues with which head coach Brian Shaw will have to contend.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
The Concern: Josh Smith
Things couldn't be much worse for the Detroit Pistons, and it wouldn't be fair to pin that entirely on Josh Smith.
He's the poster boy for everything wrong on a team that hasn't lived up to its potential despite a talented front line and some up-and-coming guards. Through his first 19 appearances, Smith is only making 37.3 percent of his field-goal attempts, including an even more dismal 23.1 percent mark from behind the three-point arc.
Mercifully, the 11th-year veteran is only attempting 1.4 long balls per game so far, down from his ludicrous rate of 3.4 attempts last season.
Smith has never looked right at the small forward spot, but new head coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't have many options given the need to play big men Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe big minutes. Van Gundy once again experimented with a smaller lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, and that could mean more time in the painted area for Smith.
The lineup remains a fluid situation.
Van Gundy told reporters before Tuesday's contest:
"To say we (have) found an answer and this is where guys are — that's way, way off base. Starting (big) hasn't been any better than starting small. ...We are just trying to get a little bit better ball movement, a little bit better spacing on the floor — and hopefully defend and rebound well enough to make the changes worthwhile. Nothing is set in stone; we haven't found the lineup to say that one works really well.
"
Instability is nothing new for this club, and that hasn't helped Smith's case.
The issues here are deep-seated, and Van Gundy hasn't had long to address them. That means showing some patience for Smith and his teammates alike.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
The Concern: Getting More From Andre Iguodala
Let's be honest. Given how the Golden State Warriors have been playing under new head coach Steve Kerr, any concerns at the moment are pretty mild. You don't win 10-straight games in this league without doing a few things right.
In a perfect world, however, swingman Andre Iguodala would be making a bit more of an impact in his 27.4 minutes per game off the bench. He's only averaging 6.8 points and 2.4 assists per contest, which is explained in part by the fact he's attempting just 5.8 shots per game.
The logic behind benching Iggy was simple enough. He's a talented playmaker who should theoretically benefit from more opportunities with the ball in his hands. Perhaps more inclined to adopt a supporting role alongside starters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Iguodala can be more of an initiator as Golden State's sixth man.
That's the idea, anyway.
The 30-year-old remains one of the league's premier perimeter defenders, but his offensive production has been underwhelming. It isn't cause for alarm, but it's a situation worth monitoring when the postseason nears.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
The Concern: Keeping Howard on the Floor
It hasn't taken Dwight Howard long to rack up eight absences on account of a knee injury. There's no reason to believe the situation has any potential to become a catastrophic one, but there's also little certainty about when the eight-time All-Star will get back to contributing double-doubles on a near-nightly basis.
Howard told reporters on Tuesday:
"I want to get back out there now if I could, but I don’t think it's smart, uh for me to try to rush anything. You know, when I'm 100 percent or when I'm close to it, that's when I'll play. I don't wanna give my teammates or this city nothing but the best, so I'm not gonna go out there until I'm ready to do everything I can do.
"
It's a completely reasonable decision. Houston just has to hope his knee's inflammation and discomfort begin to dissipate sooner rather than later.
"It's basically the second day I was able to get out and do some sprints on the floor," Howard added. "Other than that, it's just been on the treadmill and doing some court work. So, today was a lot better than the past couple of days.
"A lot of the stuff is going away. We have to keep doing what I've been doing. The trainer (Jason Biles) has been doing a great job trying to get rid of the pain that I'm having around my knee, and we'll go from there."
Injuries to starters Terrence Jones and Patrick Beverley have compounded matters, but the Rockets have somehow remained highly competitive in the West in the meantime. The big question is just how much longer they can keep it up.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
The Concern: Lacking Weapons
With Paul George out for the season and Lance Stephenson trying to make it work with the Charlotte Hornets, the Indiana Pacers are a shell of their former selves. Making matters worse, starting point guard George Hill has yet to make his season debut due to knee and quad injuries, and starting power forward David West missed the first 15 games with an ankle sprain.
A season ago, those were the four guys carrying this team alongside center Roy Hibbert.
From that perspective, it's borderline amazing that the Pacers have already won seven games this season. Head coach Frank Vogel is working miracles with a roster that's been led by the likes of Chris Copeland, Solomon Hill and Donald Sloan.
Though their surprising production has all the makings of a compelling feel-good story, the Pacers aren't going anywhere without some more established options on the offensive end. West's return will help, but lasting solutions are likely a season away.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
The Concern: Dominance
The Los Angeles Clippers don't have many signature wins on which to hang their hats this season. Outside of wins against the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and shorthanded Houston Rockets, most of the team's success has come against relatively weak teams.
So losses to the Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are perhaps reason for pause.
The Clippers once again look entirely capable of claiming home-court advantage in the opening round on the strength of what promises to be another compelling regular-season march. The question is whether head coach Doc Rivers can do what predecessor Vinny Del Negro never could and lead this team beyond the first two rounds to which it's become accustomed since 2012.
At the moment, Los Angeles doesn't seem much closer to making that happen.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
The Concern: Same Old Defense
According to the Los Angeles Lakers' math, things should be different. They added a healthy Kobe Bryant. They subtracted former head coach Mike D'Antoni and replaced him with Byron Scott. And they've talked a whole lot about fixing a defense that became a laughing stock during L.A.'s 27-win 2013-14 campaign.
But after 19 games, this season's Lakers are giving up a league-worst 115.8 points per 100 possessions. They yielded an average of 131.5 points in two losses to the Golden State Warriors and allowed 140 points on Nov. 21 in a 34-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
After the second loss to Golden State on Nov. 16, Scott told reporters, "patience is running thin" and hinted at the need for some adjustments to the status quo.
"You either want to do it, can't do it or won't do it," he added of the club's defensive performances. "I got to assume that when I see guys jogging, that you're tired. If I assume that, I have to make changes."
By now, it's probably fair to question the team's effort. Though the team isn't overflowing with defensively minded personnel, there's little excuse for a 28th-ranked transition defense that allows 15.3 fast-break points per game, according to TeamRankings.com. It's a slight improvement over the league-worst 16.7 transition points L.A. yielded a season ago, but it's also a microcosm of this club's lack of success on the defensive end.
Short of a radical roster overhaul or yet another coaching change, this franchise seems to be fresh out of options. These Lakers may have to solve this one on their own.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
The Concern: History
At the moment, the Memphis Grizzlies may be playing the best basketball in the NBA. They're beating good teams (Wednesday's 105-96 loss to the Houston Rockets notwithstanding), they're beating bad teams and they're only giving up 98.3 points per 100 possessions—which ranks fourth in defensive efficiency, according to Hollinger stats.
November and December have thus far offered little reason for worry.
But April and May will be a different story.
The Grizzlies have suffered opening-round defeats in two of their last three postseason appearances. Even in the event they hold on for a No. 1 or 2 seed, they'll face stiff first-round competition once again this season—to say nothing of what will be waiting for them in rounds to come.
Memphis' trip to the conference finals in 2013 (which resulted in a sweep by the San Antonio Spurs) had a lot to do with the Oklahoma City Thunder missing Russell Westbrook in those semifinals.
Until the Grizzlies actually make another deep playoff run, the regular-season heroics won't count for much.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
The Concern: Depth
The Miami Heat's once-questionable backcourt suddenly seems like the rotation's biggest strength. Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier have done their jobs, but there are some serious questions on the wing and in the paint—particularly in the second unit.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra's bench ranks 27th in scoring, tallying just 25.4 points per contest, according to HoopsStats.com.
Behind Chris Bosh, Luol Deng and Shawne Williams, Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem and Josh McRoberts have provided mixed results. Small forward Danny Granger has only played in three games.
Though LeBron James' departure claimed most of the headlines this summer, he isn't the only one Miami misses. Guys like Ray Allen and Shane Battier were difference-makers who ensured a capable and well-rounded supporting cast.
Without a four-time MVP leading the way, those reserves and role players are all the more vital.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
The Concern: Inexperience
The Milwaukee Bucks are surpassing virtually all expectations and showing signs they could very well remain a .500 club when the playoffs roll around. New head coach Jason Kidd has elicited exceptional effort from his young squad and overseen something of an emergence by point guard Brandon Knight.
But outside of a slim 93-92 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies and Wednesday's narrow 107-105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, this team hasn't fared especially well against the league's better teams—twice losing to the Washington Wizards and suffering a 124-82 blowout at the hands of the Toronto Raptors.
It's the kind of uneven output one should expect from a franchise in transition. Rookie Jabari Parker is earning just under 30 minutes per game, and 19-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging nearly 27 minutes of playing time.
There's no getting around those learning curves.
But after winning just 15 games a season ago, the start to Milwaukee's 2014-15 campaign has been an unequivocal success.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
The Concern: Getting Rubio Back
Fourth-year point guard Ricky Rubio severely sprained his left ankle during just his fifth appearance of the season and has been sidelined indefinitely as a result. While it's not as though the setback has any bearing on the Minnesota Timberwolves' already nonexistent playoff hopes, one would like to see this club commence its post-Kevin Love rebuilding process at full strength.
His absence has created some additional opportunities for rookie Zach LaVine, but it's important that Rubio builds some chemistry with other new additions like Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett.
Whatever the future for this organization looks like, that young core will probably be a big part of it.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
The Concern: A .500 Record
As good as Anthony Davis has been so far this season, one would expect a bit more from the New Orleans Pelicans. The 8-8 start is fine, but it doesn't scream playoffs. And with six of those first eight wins coming against teams with losing records, the Pels are hardly on the brink of altering the league's balance of power.
Though shooting guard Eric Gordon has been sidelined for the last four games by a shoulder injury (that may require surgery), New Orleans has been otherwise healthy and presumptively better than ever with this summer's addition of center Omer Asik.
Things could certainly change for the better.
This is still a young core that's really only in its second season together, so it's entirely possible the Pelicans hit their stride as the season progresses. Otherwise, they may be crowded out from a playoff hunt in which a .500 record almost certainly won't cut it.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
The Concern: Nothing's Working
It's impossible to boil down the New York Knicks' slow start to any one factor. They're struggling on both ends of the floor under new head coach Derek Fisher and don't appear any closer to a playoff berth than they did a season ago.
Whether the reason is the introduction of a new triangle-based offense or a simple slump, Carmelo Anthony's supporting cast has been unimpressive. Swingmen J.R. Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. are both making less than 40 percent of their field-goal attempts, and starting shooting guard Iman Shumpert is only cashing in 42.5 percent of the time.
When asked about the trio's issues, Fisher pointed the finger at psychology.
"With our struggles, guys I think are pressing," he told reporters this month. "And I think that's really what it's about. I don't think that we don't have guys capable of shooting the basketball. But I think it's more mental than physical right now."
New York's shaken confidence may have something to do with the 107.2 points it's allowing per 100 possessions, a mark that ranks the club 27th in defensive efficiency through its first 19 contests, according to Hollinger stats.
The Knicks have dug themselves a hole, and the prospects of a turnaround aren't encouraging.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
The Concern: Making Up For November
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have returned from their respective injuries, but the Oklahoma City Thunder now find themselves in a 5-13 hole that likely precludes the elite seeding to which they've become accustomed. OKC only lost 23 games a season ago, which puts the current record in perspective.
Last season's Dallas Mavericks claimed the No. 8 seed with a 49-33 record, and it will likely require around 50 wins to secure that position in the standings this season.
Assuming this club remains healthy, odds are it makes the playoffs one way or another. But there's now precious little opportunity for head coach Scott Brooks to rest key contributors or take his foot off the gas between now and April.
Given the risk Oklahoma City will enter the postseason overworked and on the road, this season's injury-plagued start could have lasting implications.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
The Concern: Growing Pains
The Orlando Magic's 7-14 start is better than expected, and a recent one-point loss to the streaking Warriors was something of a statement in its own right.
Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris are both averaging more than 18 points per contest through the club's first 21 games, and they're getting plenty of help from Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier. It's almost impossible to be disappointed by Orlando's progress. Notwithstanding its losing record, good things are clearly happening.
But there's a long way to go. That probably shouldn't be much cause for concern, but it should temper any premature playoff ambitions. Despite the additions of veterans Channing Frye and Ben Gordon this summer, this roster's core is still ridiculously young.
Whatever success it has in the short term is a bonus.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
The Concern: Morale
Coming off a season in which the Philadelphia 76ers tied a league record with 26-straight losses, they've already gotten off to a franchise-worst start. They were on the verge of the NBA's all-time worst start before pulling off a futility-staving 85-77 win over the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night.
There's been a whole lot of rock bottom in Philly lately.
"I'm fine, and I don't want those guys worrying about any record," head coach Brett Brown told reporters after the club's 16th loss. "We just have to keep our group together and move them along. I have so much respect for that group because their spirit has not been broken."
No one's expecting much from the rebuilding Sixers, but their consistent lack of tangible progress has to become trying at some point. Moral victories sometimes seem every bit as elusive as real ones.
"Down deep I feel like I know something that's going on that I like," Brown said. "I think they will be rewarded for the work they're putting in. I hope it's sooner than later to validate their efforts."
General manager Sam Hinkie will collect another premium draft pick, and the young talent will continue its development over time. But his refusal to bring in immediate help via either the draft or free agency this summer could gut this club's already strained resolve.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
The Concern: Too Many Point Guards
The Phoenix Suns are very good, but they're not yet great. Part of that is youth. Part of it is the more established opposition often encountered in the West.
But there are also questions about the composition of this roster. With three starting-caliber point guards vying for minutes and touches alike, general manager Ryan McDonough may be testing just how many cooks one kitchen can tolerate.
When asked why the arrangement hasn't gone more smoothly, starter Goran Dragic cited a sometimes-forgotten law of basketball physics.
"Because there's only one ball and we're all point guards," Dragic told reporters this month. "That's an easy answer.
"It's hard. That's sacrifice. If Isaiah [Thomas is] playing well, he's going to stay in. Me and Eric [Bledsoe], it depends who is playing better and who is going to be on the court. The other guy is going to be on the bench. It's the way it is. We need to embrace that."
Through 19 games, Dragic's 15.5 points and 3.2 assists are down significantly from the 20.3 points and 5.9 assists he averaged a season ago. Perhaps that's an unavoidable side effect of having such a talented three-guard rotation, but one wonders whether the Suns might be better off trading one of those floor generals for a frontcourt star.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
The Concern: Still That Second Unit
Give Chris Kaman some credit. He may not be the kind of player one would typically peg as a sixth man, but he's averaging 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds off the bench through his first 18 appearances.
With the Blazers having lost spark plug Mo Williams to the Minnesota Timberwolves via free agency this summer, Kaman's production is critical. Unfortunately, the second unit at large still ranks 25th in scoring with just 27 points per contest, according to HoopsStats.com.
In fairness, Portland's starting five is exceptional. To some degree, their ability to play big minutes obviates the need for a consistent nine- or 10-man rotation.
Those minutes may, however, begin taking a toll at some point. These Trail Blazers may be in the primes of their careers, but no one's immune to wear and tear after an 82-game season.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
The Concern: The Suns, Pelicans and Thunder
The Sacramento Kings are playing .500 ball and seem to be maturing before our eyes. And yet, there's a pretty good chance it still won't be good enough.
The Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans and now-healthy Oklahoma City Thunder are all in the running for that No. 8 seed, and the Kings' chances in that crowd probably aren't very favorable. Making serious strides in this Western Conference won't be an overnight endeavor—no matter how good DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay look right now.
Sacramento's defense (22nd in efficiency) still has its problems, and that doesn't bode well for a playoff race given the firepower out West.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
The Concern: Three-Point Shooting
The San Antonio Spurs' three-point shooting is starting to come around, ranking 10th at 36.5 percent through the club's first 18 games. But there's no doubt head coach Gregg Popovich's offense is most lethal when the long-range game is firing on all cylinders.
The Spurs led the league with a 39.9 percent mark from beyond the three-point arc a season ago. And while they're still taking roughly the same number of attempts per contest, they haven't fallen quite as regularly.
The culprits?
Manu Ginobili (32.3) and Kawhi Leonard (33.3) are both down from their respective marks last season. And after making 43 percent of his three-pointers last season, marksman Marco Belinelli is struggling at 30.8 percent for the moment. Presumably, these numbers will come up as rhythms improve.
Backup point guard Patty Mills (sidelined for another few weeks while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery) made 42.5 percent of his three-point attempts last season, so his eventual return should infuse some life into the Spurs attack as well.
It's far too soon to worry about a team that's historically flipped a switch when the time comes, but San Antonio isn't as sharp as it could be right now.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
The Concern: It Might Not Last
How long will the Toronto Raptors sit atop the Eastern Conference? The Chicago Bulls haven't been completely healthy, and the Cleveland Cavaliers haven't been totally right. And at the moment, the Washington Wizards aren't far behind.
On the one hand, Toronto boasts the second-most efficient offense in the league, scoring a whopping 112.4 points per 100 possessions through its first 19 games according to Hollinger stats. Seven of the club's first 15 wins have come against competition with at least a .500 record—including a 96-92 victory against the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies.
Coming off a 48-win season that earned a No. 3 seed, there's an undeniable sense that the Raptors just might be for real.
Now we'll see how they deal with a little adversity.
Swingman DeMar DeRozan tore a groin tendon and is set to be out for a long time. In his first absence, Toronto lost to the struggling Los Angeles Lakers in overtime, hinting at potential difficulties to come.
"Offensively, I thought that we were a little out of rhythm," head coach Dwane Casey told reporters after the game. "This is who we are and who we're going to be [playing with DeRozan], so we have to get it together. Everyone is happy during good times. We lost a couple games, and now we'll see what we are made of."
With DeRozan's return at least a month away, the Raptors will have an opportunity to make a statement about their depth and fortitude. But they also face some danger that their high-powered offense could malfunction.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
The Concern: Becoming a Two-Way Team
Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors have really come into their own this season, but the Utah Jazz are still a long way from relevance.
Through its first 19 games, Utah has the league's third-worst defensive efficiency, allowing 110 points per 100 possessions, according to Hollinger stats. It's yielding a 52.8 effective field-goal percentage to opponents, which ranks 28th, according to TeamRankings.com.
It takes time for teams to develop a defensive identity, especially when so many key contributors are under age 25. And we should probably give new head coach Quin Snyder some time to cultivate first principles and implement a system. There's all kinds of transition happening in Utah at the moment.
Fortunately, there's also a fair amount of continuity on the personnel front. The Jazz may be young, but the organization has successfully kept its emerging core together—most recently by agreeing to new contracts with Hayward and swingman Alec Burks. In time, the familiarity should pay off, and we'll see some results on the defensive end.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
The Concern: Still Awaiting the West Test
It's awfully hard to find fault with anything the Washington Wizards are doing right now. They've claimed the second-best record in the East despite starting shooting guard Bradley Beal missing his first nine games, and they've done it primarily at the defensive end.
Through 17 contests, Washington has only allowed 99.6 points per 100 possessions, giving it the league's fifth most efficient defense, according to Hollinger stats. Even without Trevor Ariza's defense on the perimeter, this club is showing the kind of defense that could pay serious dividends come playoff time.
But there are still some serious question marks about how the Wizards will fair against the league's very best.
Just three of the club's first 17 games have come against Western Conference competition, and one of them was a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Six of Washington's first 11 wins came against sub-.500 competition, while two others were against the young Milwaukee Bucks.
There's a lot to like about what Washington's done so far, but it's too soon for title talk.
