NBA 2018/19: 5 Most Disappointing Teams at the Quarter-Mark of the Season

The Golden State Warriors were the favorites to win the NBA championship for the third consecutive time heading into the 2018-19 season. The Warriors still boast Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, two former MVPs, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, while also adding another All-Star in DeMarcus Cousins.

Many fans thought that the NBA would be boring but it’s quite the opposite. Games have been exciting this season with the booming offense taking over every night. All 30 teams are averaging more than 100 points per game and three-point shots have been taken at a record phase.

We first took a look at the five most surprising teams of the season so far, which was topped by the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, we are going to take a look the five most disappointing teams in the quarter-mark of the 2018-19 season. It should be noted that the Warriors are not included despite some turmoil and the unexpected start of 16-9.

#5. New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans v Charlotte Hornets

The New Orleans Pelicans started the season scorching hot, winning their first four games. However, they lost their next six games before going 6-1 from November 8 to 20. The Pelicans have been very inconsistent especially on the road and there seems to be a problem within the team.

Anthony Davis is no longer a one-man wrecking machine for the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday is playing like an All-Star while Julius Randle is one of the front-runners for Sixth Man of the Year. Also, Nikola Mirotic looks like the perfect partner for Davis in the frontcourt.

However, the Pelicans are among the worst defensive teams in the league despite having Davis and Holiday, two All-NBA Defensive first team last season. Head coach Alvin Gentry is in the hot seat again and the Pelicans have to win now. Davis has been linked with the Lakers and Celtics, and him leaving in the next two years is a complete possibility.

#4. Utah Jazz

At the start of the 2018-19 season, many predicted that Utah will be a top three team in the Western Conference, at best. The Jazz has a complete lineup with a pass-first guard in Ricky Rubio, a scorer in Donovan Mitchell, a glue guy in Joe Ingles, and a defensive presence in Rudy Gobert.

Utah currently has a record of 12-13, which is good for 11th in the West but not good enough at the quarter-mark of the season. The West is very competitive at the moment and a slow start like this could mean that the Jazz might not make the playoffs.

The Jazz’s defense, which is their identity last season, is gone and they can’t seem to make any threes. Mitchell is also struggling in his second season and the team has to be better at home, wherein they have a record of 3-6. Utah has addressed their three-point shooting need when they acquired Kyle Korver from the Cleveland Cavaliers but they have a lot of work to do in order to salvage their season.

#3. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics pushed LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers to the limit last playoffs. The Celtics were one win away from the NBA Finals and they were doing it without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, who out due to injuries.

Many people expected the Celtics to be the best team in the Eastern Conference this season but their offense has been subpar despite having a complete and healthy roster. The re-introduction of Irving and Hayward in the rotation has affected Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who were the main focal point of the offense in the playoffs.

The Celtics are too good to not be in the top four in the East and they still have time to make it work. Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the NBA today and he can use their disappointing start as motivation, which seems to be lacking from the Celtics.

#2. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets were one win away from dethroning the Golden State Warriors and earning a berth in the NBA Finals. However, Chris Paul suffered an injury and the Rockets were sent home. Heading into this season, the Rockets were expected to be the second-best team in the Western Conference behind the Warriors.

However, the opposite has happened since the Rockets are tied with the San Antonio Spurs with the second-worst record in the West at the quarter-mark of the season at 11-13. The loss of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute were huge. The Carmelo Anthony experiment was a complete disaster and Chris Paul does not look like himself.

James Harden is still putting up numbers but he is also playing a lot of minutes, which means he could be gassed come playoff time if they even make it. The Rockets tried to acquire Jimmy Butler but they failed. Now, they have to acquire a wing defender so a reunion with Ariza is likely to happen.

#1. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-97 season, which was Gregg Popovich’s first season as head coach. The Spurs are currently tied for second at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with an 11-13 record.

But what really is wrong with the Spurs? They were without Kawhi Leonard for 73 games last season but they still made it to the playoffs. First, they are not playing defense and they are prioritizing the two-point shots rather than the three points.

DeMar DeRozan is no Leonard on defense and the loss of Danny Green and Kyle Anderson was big. Add the fact that DeJounte Murray, who was an All-NBA Defensive team last season, is out for the season with a knee injury. Also, LaMarcus Aldridge has been inconsistent in the quarter-mark of the season.

If the Spurs cannot adapt to the evolving NBA, their 21-year streak of making the postseason is over. But one thing is for sure, never doubt Coach Pop and the Spurs.

Edited by Nishant Jayaram