The 2015-16 NBA season is just a few weeks old but already we have a big enough sample size to break down notable trends and how teams have performed overall in certain areas. One of the most important factors in fantasy sports is the matchups. We’ve previously gone over the five best defenses in the NBA that you want to avoid. Now we’ll take a look at the five worst that you’ll want to start players against many times.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans entered this season with high hopes coming off their first playoff appearance in franchise history but they have been abysmal. Part of it is injuries but they’re also breaking in a new coach and a new system that isn’t working. Anyone miss Monty Williams?
New Orleans has just one win through its first 12 games and while injuries are a factor, their effort and performances have been pathetic. Their defense is the worst in the NBA as they’re giving up 109.9 points per game, which 1.8 points worse than the second-worst team. This team’s a mess in what is quickly becoming a lost season.
Houston Rockets
Unlike New Orleans, Houston has no excuse for how terrible it has performed at the defensive end of the floor as the Rockets have allowed an average of 108.1 points per game – second-worst behind only the Pelicans. Houston dropped seven of its first 11 games, which led to head coach Kevin McHale being fired. Ultimately this game is about the players performing and they will have to turn things around on the floor in order to get back on track in the standings. We’ll see if the McHale firing makes a difference. This is a team that was in the middle of the pack defensively last season at 100.5 points per game allowed.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings are another team that has underachieved in big part due to its poor defensive play early on as they rank 28th in the NBA with an average of 107.5 points allowed per game. Sacramento has assembled some quality scorers this season but it will take some time for them to gel. Their poor play at the defensive end has put even more pressure on them at the offensive end. The Kings ranked 27th in points allowed per game last season as well so it looks like this early trend of them struggling at their own end. They have been slightly better over their last six games, giving up just 102.3 points per game, but we’re not banking on that continuing.
Washington Wizards
Washington’s head coach Randy Wittman seems to always be on the list of NBA coaches on the hot seat and that is certainly the case right now with the Wizards struggling early on at the defensive end of the floor (and in general). While the other teams on this list are not known for defense, that’s what the Wizards have been built around the last couple of seasons.
Washington has opened the year with a 5-4 record and while part of the problem is an injury to a key player in Bradley Beal, the team has really struggled at its own end of the floor with an average of 106.4 points allowed per game. That’s 8.6 more points per game than they allowed last season. The Wizards will have to be better at their own end of the floor in order to have sustained success. A slow start has Wittman back on the hot seat in the nation’s capital.
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Los Angeles Lakers / Oklahoma City Thunder
The Lakers and Thunder are tied for 25th in the NBA in points allowed per game this season with an average of 105.5 against per contest but the difference is that Oklahoma City has more than made up for its defensive inefficiencies at the offensive end of the floor while Los Angeles has not. The Thunder will have to find a way to tighten things up at their own end in order to be a legitimate NBA title contender this season but with Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and company putting up some big point totals, they have the luxury of time to turn things around while the Lakers clearly do not. Either way, these are both good teams to start fantasy players against.
