The Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic have all been pleasant surprises out of the gate this season as all four teams currently occupy playoff spots in the Eastern Conference standings right now, despite the fact that none of those three made it in to the postseason a year ago. Every year there are teams that rise and fall in the association, and so far this season has been no different with a handful of tames that have underachieved out of the gate. Here is a closer look at the four most disappointing NBA teams so far this season.
Utah Jazz (12-15)
Utah was one of the most impressive teams in the NBA down the stretch last season and many NBA experts expected them to build on that success this year with a roster that could at least compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz are still currently the eighth seed in the West but that is more a testament how disappointing that side of the grid has been this year as Utah is still two games below .500 through its first 26 games. A big part of the problem for the Jazz is their 3-8 record without Rudy Gobert in the lineup and it’s obvious how important he is to their overall success. Utah still has plenty of time to get its season on track but they need to start putting together some win streaks and the key could be figuring out how to improve the league’s 24th-ranked offense without compromising one of the best defensive units in the NBA.
Washington Wizards (13-14)
The Wizards are coming off a playoff series win last year and they are one of five teams in the NBA to hit a triple-digit point total in a win over the San Antonio Spurs this season so there is no doubt about their potential to contend in the Eastern Conference this season. The problem has been a major lack of consistency and that has been the most disappointing aspect of Washington’s season to this point. The Wizards have been far too inconsistent overall and the emergence of the Magic and Charlotte Hornets has left them as the only team in the Southeast division with a sub-.500 record. Something will have to give soon in Washington and if the Wizards don’t turn things around soon there is a good chance it will be head coach Randy Rittman who pays the price with his job.
Houston Rockets (15-15)
Nobody expected the Rockets would struggle out of the gate the way they did and while they have turned things around somewhat to climb back above the .500 mark it wasn’t before Kevin McHale was fired as head coach. There was no excuse for Houston’s slow start as a loaded cast led by James Harden, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza and Ty Lawson stumbled early on and while they have won three straight and seven of their last 10 games they are still just one game above .500 overall and that is a major disappointment for a team that was expected to contend for an NBA title after reloading this past offseason.
Memphis Grizzlies (16-15)
The fact that only the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers have more double-digit losses than the Grizzlies this season is absolutely shocking and a testament to how disappointing Memphis has been early on this season. A team that has a reputation among the elite defensive squads in the NBA has struggled in that aspect and they haven’t been any better on offense either where head coach Dave Joerger continues to search for the right lineup combinations. The Grizzlies certainly have the talent to contend in the Western Conference but they have been among the biggest disappointments early on this year and they will need to play with a sense of urgency as they look to get their season on track.
