Early-Season Panic Meter: The Most Disappointing Starts to 2019-20 Season
Even this early into the 2019-20 NBA season, it's time for some teams to hit the panic button.
This isn't meant for rebuilding franchises like the Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks or Washington Wizards, who were expected to get off to sluggish starts, but rather for those considered postseason locks or in possession of serious playoff aspirations.
Of the teams that have come tripping out of the gate, which starts should be considered minor bumps in a long road? Which teams should already be seriously concerned for their season?
Let's check the panic meter on the most disappointing starts to the NBA calendar.
Brooklyn Nets
1 of 5
Record: 1-3
To a certain extent, Brooklyn gets to play with house money this season while waiting on the eventual return of Kevin Durant from a ruptured Achilles. But this is still a team expected to at least make the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference.
Kyrie Irving has looked more than capable of carrying the scoring load in Durant's absence, averaging 35.3 points and 6.3 assists while slashing 47.5/40.0/91.2. At 27, he may finally be entering his prime and could be in the MVP conversation should Brooklyn turn its early-season woes around.
A 1-3 record is tough to look at, but it doesn't show how easily this team could be 3-1. Brooklyn went to overtime with both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies, losing by just a single point each time. A 10-point loss to an Indiana Pacers team hungry for its first victory is its only regulation loss.
Outside of Irving, Brooklyn is getting positive contributions from the rest of its young core, including Caris LeVert (18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists), Spencer Dinwiddie (17.5 points, 5.5 assists) and Jarrett Allen (8.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks).
A 21st-ranked defense is concerning, especially on the perimeter where opposing teams are torching Brooklyn at a 43.3 percent rate.
But given how easily two of the Nets' losses could have been wins and the expected time it will take for Irving to acclimate to his new team, there's no reason to panic...yet.
Panic Meter: Low
Golden State Warriors
2 of 5
Record: 1-3
Where to start?
We knew coming into the season that Kevin Durant was gone, Klay Thompson could be out for the entire campaign with a torn ACL and the new backcourt of Stephen Curry and D'Angelo Russell could take some time to gel.
As if a 1-3 start to the season wasn't bad enough, now Curry will be sidelined "from a few weeks to a few months" with a broken bone in his left hand. That leaves a once-All-Star-studded lineup with just Russell, Draymond Green and a collection of young role players to try and pick up the pieces.
Perhaps Russell will get the ultimate green light he had in Brooklyn, as the Warriors are down their top four scorers (Curry, Durant, Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins) from last season. Russell has struggled to share the court with Curry thus far, and his numbers have dipped to 16.3 points per game on 39.0 percent shooting from the field this season.
Even with a healthy Green, the Warriors are last in the NBA in defensive rating (118.1), a mark that, if sustained, would be the worst in league history. They've already allowed 141 points to a Los Angeles Clippers team without Paul George, 120 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123 to the then-winless New Orleans Pelicans and 121 to a Phoenix Suns team without Deandre Ayton.
The ability to upgrade the roster is severely limited, as the Warriors owe seven draft picks to other organizations over the next seven years and have none coming in.
This was already a team headed toward the lottery before Curry was injured. After just four games, Golden State should already be thinking about next year.
Panic Meter: Extremely High
Indiana Pacers
3 of 5
Record: 1-3
Indiana began the season 0-3 with losses to the Detroit Pistons (twice) and Cleveland Cavaliers—not a good sign for a team that needs to tread water until Victor Oladipo can return from his ruptured right quadricep tendon.
They've since defeated the Brooklyn Nets to put a mark in the win column, but even that came at a price. Starting center Myles Turner sprained his right ankle, meaning his return to the court will be evaluated on a
"week-to-week basis." Offseason pickup Jeremy Lamb only recently returned from a hip injury.
But let's not give up hope on these Pacers just yet, especially in this Eastern Conference.
Losing Turner likely means more minutes and time at center for Domantas Sabonis, who is the superior overall player of the two. After signing a four-year, $77 million extension right before the season, Sabonis is averaging team highs in points (22.8) and rebounds (10.0) while slashing 56.3/42.9/88.9.
Malcolm Brogdon has been fantastic early in his Pacers career, averaging 22.0 points, 11.3 assists and 1.5 steals, while Lamb has put up 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in his first two appearances.
The Pacers still do a great job taking care of the ball (12.2 turnover percentage, fourth-best in the NBA) and will get a shot of energy and talent when Oladipo eventually makes his return.
For now, all Indiana has to do is hover around .500, a mark that should be good enough for playoff contention in the East.
Panic Meter: Mild
New Orleans Pelicans
4 of 5
Record: 1-4
With the exception of Thursday night's 122-107 victory over the Denver Nuggets, knee injuries have grounded these Pelicans.
Zion Williamson is out, potentially until Christmas, with a torn meniscus, and veterans Jrue Holiday and Derrick Favors have missed games with knee soreness, as well. Even with so much additional young talent, New Orleans still needs those vets and its marquee rookie.
Nowhere does the Pelicans' youth show up more than on the preventing end, where a defensive rating of 114.2 is good for 28th in the league. With no Williamson and just three games from Favors, New Orleans is also 28th in rebounding percentage (46.9 percent) and 25th in free-throw attempts per game (21.0).
The saving grace for the Pelicans is that this was supposed to be a young, fun and competitive team that's just scratching the surface of what it can become. Sure, making the playoffs would be nice, but this season certainly wouldn't be a failure if they fall short.
The primary objective should be to get Williamson on the court and find out the best methods to keep him there while developing the other young talents with the help of Holiday, Favors, JJ Redick and others.
Brandon Ingram has been outstanding as the team's leader in points (26.8) and rebounds (8.2). He's also chipped in with 4.8 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the three-point line.
Josh Hart (13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) has been better than expected, and Lonzo Ball (12.4 points, team-high 7.2 assists) has helped fuel the NBA's sixth-best offense (112.2).
Head coach Alvin Gentry should be considered safe for now. Until Williamson comes back, judgment should be reserved.
Panic Meter: Very Low
Sacramento Kings
5 of 5
Record: 0-5
Unlike the Pelicans, the Kings should have serious playoff hopes, especially coming off a season in which they were the first team out.
Even with Marvin Bagley III sidelined by a fractured right thumb, the Kings have no reason to be winless five games into the 2019-20 campaign, especially when they've played the Charlotte Hornets at home.
"We should be ashamed with the way we played, especially at [our] home court," Bogdan Bogdanovic said after the seven-point loss to Charlotte, per Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. "We have to find energy inside of the locker room and definitely step up and get together. … We just need one win, I think, to start, and we don't want to create that losing mentality."
The Kings aren't just losing, either. They're getting crushed.
Sacramento is dead last in the NBA in net rating (minus-16.5) and has lost its five games by an average of 17 points. De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Trevor Ariza, Bogdanovic and Dewayne Dedmon are all shooting under 40.0 percent from the field.
This team needed big performances from its rising stars and newly signed veterans to have a chance at the playoffs. Thus far, both groups are either underperforming or hurt.
Ending a 13-year postseason drought seems highly unlikely. But perhaps worse, all the positive momentum this franchise finally seemed to be gaining after so many years of ineptitude is slowly fading away.
Panic Meter: Dangerously High
Stats courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball Reference unless otherwise indicated. Accurate through games played Thursday, Oct. 31.
