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Christmas day, the biggest marquee matchups day of the season in the NBA, has just ended with a thrilling chippy finale between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers. After Thanksgiving, for a second time this season, there were no matches scheduled on Christmas Eve. Maybe a much needed break for teams to access their situation and position.
There are all sorts of teams right now in the NBA, ones who pulled a number on everyone by putting up an impressive record, ones that have been delivering the goods night in and night out just as expected and ones whose performances have gone from bad to worse with each game.
So compiling a certain category out of the above, here is a list of the four most disappointing teams this season till Christmas.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
An efficient shooting Kevin Martin joined a finally healthy duo of Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio in Minnesota from Oklahoma City Thunder during the offseason and starting center Nikola Pekovic’s 5 year 60 million dollar contract extension certainly caught the attention of Timberwolves fans prior to the start of the season.
A good bench line-up and a seasoned coach in Rick Adelman were among the other great things the franchise had in store but the team has failed to stand up to the expectations of fans and the front office and has fallen way below the predictions of many analysts across channels.
They currently stand 10th in the West with a record of 13-15.
Their biggest concerns have been inconsistency as a team and their performance on the road. They have failed to win more than 2 games on the trot and their 5-11 road record is second worst in the West.
In terms of game changing performances Love is their only superstar but they need the role players to step up and they have failed to do so. In their recent overtime loss against the Clippers Love had a huge game with 45 points and 19 rebounds but couldn’t carry his team over the line.
Positive: Their positives start and stop with Kevin Love. He ranks third in points per game average with 25.9, leads the league in rebounding average with 13.9 and also leads the league in most number of double doubles with 25 in 27 games played.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
A change in the head coach position has led to a rather unsuccessfull change in the style of play for the Grizzlies
The past season was by far the best ever in the Grizzlies history. So with not a lot of changes in the roster the team was set for another strong and long run into the post-season. The fans were also upbeat about the upcoming season.
But a change at the head coaching position meant the Grizzlies failed to be successful in the season so far despite having the same roster that made it to the Conference Finals in the Playoffs last season.
To make matters worse the team lost their defensive pillar in Marc Gasol with a MCL strain midway through November and Mike Conley was listed day to day after suffering a left thigh contusion during the second week of December.
One of the best defensive teams in the league, the Grizzlies relied on Gasol and Conley for offense and in their absence their offense has struggled to help them register wins. Although they still have a stellar defensive player in Tony Allen, their defense has also slid downwards with Gasol sitting on the bench in a suit.
They are currently 13th in the league with a record of 12-15. Only the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz have worse records.
Positive: A good road record. Surprisingly they have struggled more at the FedEx Forum than on the road. They are the only team in the West who has a better record on the road (6-5) than at home (6-10).
2. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets first star acquisition in the last 5 years Deron Williams has spent more time on the bench than on the court.
Big money spent to get big players to the franchise to fulfill dreams of a championship which led to huge hopes before the season began. Reminds you of Hollywood from last summer doesn’t it?
Well the only other addition to the above similarity was the appointment of Jason Kidd as head coach just 9 days after retiring as a player.
Although a similar devil as the Lakers was haunting them, their future was destined to be much worse. Injuries to number of key players forced them to go deep into an inexperienced bench which failed at achieving the desired result.
Big Ticket Kevin Garnett and The Truth Paul Pierce acquired along with Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko have had to play reduced minutes even after returning from injury. Deron Williams has spent more time on the bench than on the court. They most recently lost Brook Lopez to a foot injury.
Positive: None.
A lone game altering performance by Joe Johnson cannot be considered as a positive but he has delivered in clutch in their few nail bitter wins. But their nine wins have been as unpredictable as Johnson’s performance. The team needs him needs him to deliver more consistently in order to put some positive momentum behind them.
1. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks
Injuries, Lack of effort, Chemistry issues, Disappointing performances. You name your problem and the Knicks have striked it off the list.
After a great first season under Mike Woodson, the basketball educated fans of New York expected more or less the same thing from the team. Although they were defeated comfortably by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the Playoffs last season, the Knicks had a great regular season. They were the second seed and led the league in three pointers made.
So there was no second guessing the support from the fans. But what did they get in return for their support?
A record of 9-19 also consisting of 2-11 month of November is all the Knicks could do to repay their fans with.
An injury to Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler and J.R.Smith has seemed off ever since making his return after a 5 match ban have been the major reasons behind the Knicks
Positive: None other than Carmelo Anthony. His outstanding performance has not been able help Knicks capture wins but does not stop us from highlighting his personal improved performance.
He leads the East in scoring averaging 26.3 points per game and is averaging a career high in rebounds with 8.8. He has recorded 12 doubles doubles so far this season
