5 NBA Teams That Will Not Reach Their Win Total

In February, the Brooklyn Nets’ roster was initially put together with all the hallmarks of a championship contender.

Following the unsuccessful James Harden experiment, the Brooklyn Nets traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers and paired Ben Simmons with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. With Simmons known for his playmaking and defensive skills, this new Nets team was expected to be among the NBA’s best.

As of now, the Nets have yet to find success this season. They have lost six of their first eight games, with Simmons, Durant, and Irving all facing challenges. Despite being expected to win 50 games, their poor start has them at the top of the list of teams at risk of falling short of their preseason expectations.

During a recent appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast, NBA analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was unfiltered in his comments.

Barkley described the team as having three incredibly intriguing personalities that make watching them like witnessing a trainwreck you can’t look away from. Their unpredictable performances each night make them one of the most fascinating teams he’s seen in his 40 years in the NBA. He wouldn’t be surprised if they won the championship or if their coach was fired by Christmas.

Barkely arrived nearly two months ahead of schedule. The Nets decided to remove Nash from his position on Monday, adding another dramatic twist to a tumultuous period that shows no signs of calming down.

The journey begins with Durant, who remains one of the best players in the league. Despite his greatness throughout the years, there are whispers that he may have slowed down. Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas emphasized this on a recent NBA TV appearance, suggesting that Durant no longer dominates the game as he did in previous seasons.

Thomas said, “In the past, when he scored 30 points it meant he was dominating the game. But now, scoring 30 points is just another average performance for him.”

For the Nets to have a shot, Durant must be at his best, especially since Simmons has been struggling. Simmons has fouled out in two of his first three games and is only averaging 6.2 points per game. It is clear that Simmons has been dealing with confidence issues for the past two seasons, which is not what you want from a primary ball-handler.

ESPN analyst Tim Legler expressed understanding that the player currently lacks confidence and aggressiveness. While he acknowledged the need for patience as the player works through these issues, Legler emphasized the importance of having a strong primary ball handler who can create threats on the court. Without a reliable threat at the initial action, Legler believes that time is being wasted on the court.

The Nets have ample time to solve their issues, but they must do so quickly in a competitive Eastern Conference. If not, the criticism will continue to mount.

Following their most recent defeat, Kendrick Perkins of ESPN criticized the Nets’ defense, describing it as atrocious. The team has already permitted five opposing players to score 30 points or more.

Perkins tweeted after Luka Doncic scored 33 points, “It seems like the Nets don’t mind getting schooled every night. They couldn’t even defend senior citizens at a Nursing Home during recess! Keep it up… By the way, Luka is truly exceptional!”

Here is a brief overview of other teams that have started the season slowly in the first two weeks or more.

Los Angeles Lakers (44.5 wins)

If the Nets are a trainwreck, then the Lakers are a catastrophic 20-car pileup on Southern California’s I-405. They weren’t predicted to be contenders, but no one anticipated such a disastrous start.

The Lakers struggled with a 22 percent shooting rate from the 3-point line in their first four games of the season, all of which were broadcast on national television for the world to witness.

LeBron James, now 38, can no longer single-handedly lead a team. He will require support from Anthony Davis and the involvement of Russell Westbrook, who has been discontented. The team’s performance may improve once Denis Schroder recovers from thumb surgery next month.

However, if there is no progress, the focus of this Lakers’ season will shift to James’ pursuit of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record.

Philadelphia 76ers (50.5)

The Sixers lazily strolled through the first five games, barely breaking a sweat.

StatMuse’s Twitter account reports that the team is currently playing at the slowest pace seen in the past six years. This could be a disadvantage in a league that has been progressively speeding up each season.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where forward P.J. Tucker, who was brought in from Miami in the offseason, is already resorting to yelling at teammates just a few months into his time with the team. Despite having Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tobias Harris, this was supposed to be the Sixers’ best opportunity to compete, but they have already suffered a loss to the struggling San Antonio Spurs.

Coach Doc Rivers was already under pressure at the start of the season, and that pressure will only increase if there are no improvements soon.

Los Angeles Clippers (53)

The Clippers may not yet belong in the group as they are still adapting to the injuries of key players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Their early absence is hindering their ability to build chemistry. Since forming two seasons ago, this duo has not had many opportunities to play together.

The Clippers must also determine their full-time starting point guard, with Reggie Jackson initially expected to fill the role but John Wall showing promise early on.

Miami Heat (49.5)

The Heat have demonstrated that their low-key offseason approach could make a difference. Instead of making big moves to bring in new talent like other teams, they chose to stick with their current roster and “run it back” for another season.

In the early stages, Jimmy Butler has often found himself shouldering the burden alone. His teammates, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, have struggled with inconsistency. Adebayo must step up as a reliable second scorer, while Herro needs to justify his big offseason contract. When all three are firing on all cylinders, they prove to be a formidable force that is hard to defeat.

The Heat have a noticeable weakness at power forward, despite Caleb Martin’s strong performance in their win against the undefeated Portland Trail Blazers. If Martin falters, the Heat may consider shifting Adebayo to power forward and starting Omer Yurtseven at center.