Biggest Concern for Every NBA Team So Far in the Season
Far enough in to find the mistakes, early enough to correct them—a few weeks into regular-season NBA action, it's become fairly obvious which teams, such as the undefeated Golden State Warriors, will be favored come the spring, and those that, like the Brooklyn Nets, are already planning their summer transactions. The majority, however, are still very much works in progress.
Squads will continue tinkering with their rosters and starting lineups (and even their head coaching position—looking at you, Houston) in order to give themselves the best possible chance to make the postseason, but what exactly does each team need?
From the early Eastern Conference favorite Cleveland Cavaliers to the emerging, young Minnesota Timberwolves, here is every team's greatest weakness (and, for optimism's sake, their season's brightest spot).
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
Biggest Concern
Center Al Horford is an All-Star, but the Atlanta Hawks aren't going after those extra opportunities on the boards. With only 40 rebounds per game, nearly last in the association, the Hawks are doing themselves a big disservice—who wouldn't want Kyle Korver to get another attempt from beyond the arc?
Saving Grace
Despite losing fifth starter DeMarre Carroll to free agency, this team is still all about team basketball, and its 26.3 assists per game, good for second in the NBA, proves it. Sticking with its identity is the surest way for a performance similar to last season's.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
Biggest Concern
Ranking in the top 11 in points, assists and rebounds per game, the Boston Celtics are a well-rounded team, but their lack of a true All-Star, despite point guard Isaiah Thomas' great play, may prove to be a downfall come the postseason (which they thus far appear to have firmly in their sights).
Saving Grace
Boston has transformed its defense into something fierce! It currently ranks fourth in opponent points allowed per game with 95.9 even after facing teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards, and small forward Jae Crowder currently leads the NBA in steals per game (3).
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
Biggest Concern
The Brooklyn Nets need to find a way to get more points on the board—badly. Currently, with only 94.3 points per game, they're second to last in the association in that category. Their mid-pack defense, which is allowing 102.2 points per game, simply isn't going to make up the difference for them.
Saving Grace
Upon further inspection of their nine losses, the Nets are not nearly as bad as they seem. After defeating the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn was a field goal away from taking down the Sacramento Kings, and it forced overtime against the defending champion Golden State Warriors on the road. A win against the Atlanta Hawks seems to suggest that things are trending up.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
Biggest Concern
Getting high volumes of both assists and rebounds has been an issue for this Charlotte Hornets team, but point guard Kemba Walker has not traditionally been a pass-first floor general. Center Al Jefferson, however, has produced double-digit rebounding seasons before (and several very close to that), but is only averaging 6.6 boards per game thus far. He and rookie Frank Kaminsky III need to pick up the slack on the glass.
Saving Grace
The other UConn man, Jeremy Lamb, is proving to be a dynamic, young piece as his involvement thus far appears to be a boost to Charlotte. The 23-year-old is averaging 13.2 points and 4.6 rebounds coming off the bench.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
Biggest Concern
Is it even worth mentioning the absence of Derrick Rose anymore? The starting point guard continues to be day-to-day with a left ankle sprain, according to ESPN.com's Nick Friedell. When he is on the floor, however, things aren't much better, as he's currently shooting 37.7 percent from the field. It beckons the question: Are the Bulls better with or without him?
Saving Grace
While it's a little jarring to see so little of Joakim Noah, averaging only 20.9 minutes per game, his fewest since his rookie season, with 8.2 rebounds per game, he's not far off from last year's average of 9.6 in around 10 fewer minutes. Starting center Pau Gasol, too, is doing a great job contributing to Chicago's fourth-place rebounding average—a strong 47.6.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
Biggest Concern
When teams are as talented as the Cleveland Cavaliers, it seems silly that they would be second to last in free-throw percentage, but they are, making just 68.7 percent of their shots from the charity stripe, particularly problematic for a team with players like LeBron James, who can gouge teams by driving inside the paint. Leaving points behind anywhere is an issue, but if the Cavs are serious about a return run to the Finals, they need to clean up what seems more like a lack of effort than skill.
Saving Grace
Kevin Love is back to his double-double averaging self! Although his 17.4 points and 11.8 rebounds are still less gaudy than they were in his Minnesota years, they're an improvement from last season—a positive sign for a team still without All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
Biggest Concern
When will Dallas find a player not named Dirk Nowitzki to lead them? At 37 years old, the power forward is still far and away leading the team at 18.1 points per game, and is even chipping in 7.0 rebounds per contest to boot. Clearly, the franchise legend is still getting it done, but with many fewer years ahead than behind him, the Mavericks should start finding a guy he can help along (and who can in turn help him).
Saving Grace
Head coach Rick Carlisle, recently given a contract extension, according to Bobby Karalla of Mavs.com, has done a terrific job working with some pretty average pieces, including veterans Deron Williams and Raymond Felton—both resurrecting their careers with Carlisle's help.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
Biggest Concern
The Nuggets have few real glaring needs in one particular area, ranking in the middle third of the NBA in almost every major category. Currently, they're allowing 102.5 points game while only producing 99.8 points game. They're playing above expectations at the moment, but against more talented teams, such as the San Antonio Spurs, that differential will likely be exposed.
Saving Grace
Small forward Danilo Gallinari is off to a career-best scoring start, averaging 19.1 points game, including an impressive 32-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans. With fellow forward Wilson Chandler lost for the season, it's inspiring for the .500 Nuggets to have Gallinari pick up some of the slack.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
Biggest Concern
Passing is a crucial part of success in basketball, and Detroit simply isn't doing enough of it. At dead last in assists per game with only 16.7, the Pistons, despite a 6-5 record, are demonstrating a dangerous lack of team cohesiveness.
Saving Grace
One name: Andre Drummond. The third-year center is playing at an unreal level, averaging 19.1 points and 18.9 rebounds. Detroit is third in the NBA in rebounds/game (48) despite losing Greg Monroe to free agency, and it's largely thanks to Drummond.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
Biggest Concern
The reigning NBA champions are, at 12-0, undoubtedly seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. There isn't a whole lot not going their way. If you want to get picky, Klay Thompson has yet to reach peak levels of production as the younger Splash Brother is averaging about six fewer points per game than a season ago.
Saving Grace
Take your pick. The Warriors are dominating even without head coach Steve Kerr, and it's largely thanks to Steph Curry who, thus far, appears to be gunning for a second MVP. He's averaging 33.7 points per game?! Sheesh...
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
Biggest Concern
Where to begin? The fall from grace from last season's second-place Western Conference team has been other-worldly. According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, head coach Kevin McHale has been fired meaning that, for the time being, aside from the generally low-effort performances the Houston players have turned in, the change of leadership is the most prominent issue.
Saving Grace
This season has seen last year's MVP runner-up James Harden post some awful field-goal shooting percentages, but center Dwight Howard is thus far averaging the highest percentage of makes in his career with 62.9, along with a consistent 12.6 rebounds and 15 points per game.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
Biggest Concern
Much like the Denver Nuggets, there aren't any real glaring problems for the Pacers (or any single issue that stands out). Their offense could use a little more scoring power, currently 25th in the NBA in scoring. After star Paul George, there's a 10-point drop-off in average scoring among the Pacers squad.
Saving Grace
Although he made his return late last year, George's 2015-16 season, off to a sensational start, is much more reflective of the player that fans remember. The 25-year-old is cranking out an impressive 24.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
Biggest Concern
The Clippers retained their beloved center DeAndre Jordan this summer, but their rebounding numbers have yet to impress in 2015 at just 42.4 per game, good for 24th in the NBA. Jordan, himself, is about two per game short of his last season's average so far as well. With the Clippers hoping to make a serious bid at the Western Conference crown, it's small differences that will add up in a very competitive field.
Saving Grace
Power forward Blake Griffin continues to improve (a terrifying prospect for his opponents). The fifth-year player is currently averaging 26.6 points, nine rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, all while shooting a career-best 55.8 percent from the field and 76.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
Biggest Concern
At 2-9, the Lakers have a lot of things to address, but their second-worst field-goal percentage, 41.6, not helped by Kobe Bryant's own 33.6 percent shooting, is certainly not doing them any favors. Their 28th-ranked 18.8 assists per game tell the rest of the story. The Lakers need serious help sharing and moving the ball in order to get quality looks.
Saving Grace
In his second season, Julius Randle has been a beacon of consistency for the Lakers, averaging 10.5 points and 8.1 rebounds a game along with 2.6 assists.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
Biggest Concern
For a team that has one of the best frontcourt duos in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, you would expect the Grizzlies to average better than a mere 40.2 rebounds per game, only 27th in the NBA. Both big men are thus far short of their previous seasons' marks, with a combined 3.4 fewer rebounds a game. Grabbing a few extra boards could go a ways at improving Memphis' 27th-ranked defensive efficiency.
Saving Grace
The trade for point guard Mario Chalmers is and will continue to prove to be a great one. While franchise floor general Mike Conley is terrific, Chalmers will provide the higher scoring numbers off the bench than the starter. He's already giving the Grizz 18.7 points per game on about 20 minutes of play in three outings.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
Biggest Concern
The Miami Heat are paying point guard Goran Dragic $85 million, yet the seventh-year player doesn't really seem to be fitting in. Currently, he's averaging 11.1 points and 4.5 assists per game, his lowest marks since the 2011 season. It hasn't necessarily had a detrimental effect on the team, but it certainly might be holding them back.
Saving Grace
The stout Miami defense is out on the prowl, in large part because of standout center Hassan Whiteside, who's posted an average of 4.6 blocks a game. The team's defensive efficiency is behind only to the Spurs, and it is second in the NBA in points per game allowed with 91.5.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
Biggest Concern
Woe is the Milwaukee defense. After going out and signing center Greg Monroe, the Bucks are dead last in rebounds per game with a mere 38.6, and as a result, their defensive efficiency rating is 28th in the NBA—106.3. While the Eastern Conference isn't as competitive as the West, defense still remains a crucial part of success in any sport. The Bucks want to be more successful than their 2014-15 campaign, but at this rate, they won't be able to stop anyone for very long.
Saving Grace
Ball movement has continued to be productive, just as it was a season ago. The young Bucks are fifth in the association in assist percentage at 17.6. While the scoring could be better, helping teammates get good shots is the surest path to improved offense.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
Biggest Concern
There may be better point guards in the Western Conference, but the Timberwolves need Ricky Rubio. In his four-game absence due to a hamstring strain, Minnesota went winless after a 4-2 start with the him in the starting lineup. Upon his return against the Miami Heat, the T-Wolves secured another victory. The correlation between the team's success and Rubio's presence is worrisome considering that, in his fifth season, the point guard has only played a full 82 once.
Saving Grace
Second-year forward Andrew Wiggins is having a solid sophomore season, but the biggest story out of Minnesota is by far rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns. The first overall selection is averaging a double-double—15.4 points and 10.5 rebounds.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
Biggest Concern
The Pelicans have the most porous defense in the association. Period. Their defensive efficiency rating? 110.1: dead last. Their opponent field-goal percentage? 47.9: dead last. At 1-10, they face a terribly treacherous climb back to even .500 in the Western Conference a year after they fought their way into the postseason as the eighth seed.
Saving Grace
As always, Anthony Davis (sort of). The famous power forward left the matchup against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter to a shoulder injury, according to ESPN.com. It's hard to believe that the injury will keep him out of commission for too long, and he should be back to posting massive numbers like 22.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game again.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
Biggest Concern
The cohesiveness in the Knicks lineup simply isn't there yet. At .500, the team is defying many initial predictions for its season, but, as evidenced by its 22nd-ranked assists (19.9) and points (98.8) per game, New York could be doing a better job distributing the ball, as well as finding and creating better shots.
Saving Grace
It has to be him, the new phenomenon—Kristaps Porzingis. From booed on draft night to heaps of praise. Porzingis is proving his doubters wrong and inspiring Knicks fans with his performances, averaging 12.8 and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
Biggest Concern
How healthy can former MVP Kevin Durant stay? A year after missing 55 games, the small forward encountered a small setback, straining his hamstring. According to CBSSports.com's James Herbert, Durant will likely return after the Thunder take on the New Orleans Pelicans, but the early tweak raises questions about the star's long-term longevity.
Saving Grace
Russell Westbrook is making a serious case for Oklahoma City's No. 1 spot. Without Durant starting beside him, the electrifying point guard is averaging nearly a triple-double: 26.7 points, 10.6 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
Biggest Concern
Like the Pacers and Nuggets, the Orlando Magic are actually a fairly well-rounded, average team with many equally mediocre areas needing improvement rather than a single, glaring issue. Certainly, in order for the Magic to strike forward from their 5-6 record, they'll need to work on their offensive efficiency rating, currently 98.3, ranked 26th in the NBA.
Saving Grace
Small forward Evan Fournier has recently taken it upon himself to improve that offense—single-handedly. Playing an average of 10 more minutes than his previous career-high averages (now 38), the former first-round pick is posting around 18 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
Biggest Concern
At 0-11, there exists no worse team in the NBA than the Philadelphia 76ers. Naturally, without a win in the left-hand column, there are a multitude of issues going on, most notably a stuttering offense. The 76ers are only putting an average of 90.6 points on the board every night on 41.5 percent shooting from the field—both areas in which they rank at the very bottom of the association.
Saving Grace
A winless team is likely not where rookie Jahlil Okafor wants to be, but there's no doubt that Philadelphia is thrilled to have him. The third overall selection is leading the team in scoring with an average of 19.2 points per game and is second to only Nerlens Noel in 76ers rebounds, grabbing 7.6 a night.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Biggest Concern
Assists are hard to come by in Phoenix, where the Suns rank second to last in the NBA in assist ratio with 14.3. The team dishes out about 19.4 dimes a night, good only for 24th in the association. Their leader in assists, point guard Eric Bledsoe, only averages about 5.9 a game.
Saving Grace
Ironically, despite having few assists, the team ranks third in points per game with an average of 105.8 (though instead of assists, it seems the team benefits from extra opportunities on the boards—grabbing a second-best 48.4 rebounds a game).
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
Biggest Concern
Even at 4-8, the Trail Blazers are defying expectations. By all accounts, after losing four of their five starters to free agency, they should be much worse than they are. Overall, the team's struggles are fairly evenly spread, but defense sticks out from the rest. With a defensive efficiency rating of 105.3, Portland ranks 25th in that category while also ranking 21st in points allowed with an average of 102.9.
Saving Grace
Naturally, the one starter that didn't leave—Damian Lillard. Averaging 25.3 points and 7.1 assists per game, the point guard leads his team in both categories, and, as many expected, is by far the most important player in Portland, the linchpin to a pieced-together team.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
Biggest Concern
Surprisingly, Sacramento ranks top 10 in many of the NBA's major categories, but its defense falls way short. Currently, it's allowing opponents a generous 107.9 points a game, third-worst in the NBA. Its defensive efficiency, ranked 24th, tells the same tale; it's 104.4.
Saving Grace
Who else but the man who leads the Kings in points (28), rebounds (11) and blocks (1.3) per game? DeMarcus Cousins has been nothing short of dominant thus far in the season, and he's a large part of the reason why the Kings are sixth in the NBA in points per game.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
Biggest Concern
There's not much to scrutinize here, so it'll just have to be the worst of the best. The Spurs rank in the top 10 in nearly every major NBA category except for one—points per game, where they rank just outside of the mark at 12 with 101.4.
Saving Grace
Now for the exact opposite. This is really a take-your-pick situation. Ball movement? Assists? Rebounding? Defense is San Antonio's most impressive trick. It ranks first in opponent points allowed with a stingy 90.6, and its defensive efficiency also leads all teams with 93.2.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
Biggest Concern
The Raptors at 7-5 fall short in really only one area—assists. With an assist ratio of 14.7, they share 27th place in that category with the Los Angeles Lakers and rank 27th in assists per game with only 18.8.
Saving Grace
Much like the Suns, despite a low number of assists, Toronto ranks high in points per game, eighth overall with 102.7—capitalizing on rebounds, just like Phoenix, it grabs 46 per game, also eighth-best.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
Biggest Concern
Unlike San Antonio, this is sort of a take your pick in the negative way. Even at .500, the Jazz rank fairly low in multiple categories, including assists and points per game, 29th and 28th respectively, clearly indicating that there are some offensive ball-movement issues.
Saving Grace
Despite the scoring woes, Utah finds itself at 5-5 because of the team's stout defense, which ranks third in points allowed with 91.8 and sixth in defensive efficiency with 96.6, in large part because of center Rudy Gobert's team-leading average of 3.4 blocks per game.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
Biggest Concern
The 5-4 start is not the one the Wizards had hoped for, in part because of the temporary (and continued) loss of shooting guard Bradley Beal, but Beal, now in his fourth season, has never once played an entire 82 games. No, the biggest reason for the Wizards' downfall is their slow-paced defense, ranked 27th in points allowed with 106.4 and 19th in defensive efficiency with 102.7.
Saving Grace
John Wall is by far Washington's most important player, arguably the reason why they've stayed above .500, and he continues to prove it. The point guard currently leads the Wizards in averages in assists, with 8.6, steals, with 2.0, and blocks, with 1.6, per game. His impressive 17.6 points per game are second on the team only to Beal.
Advanced stats courtesy of ESPN's Hollinger Stats.
