NBA Swing: The Worry Scale

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So far this season, there have been several teams that have struggled right out of the gate. Some teams have gone through ups and downs, while others look nothing like they were just a season ago. Even though the NBA is in its third week of the 2023-24 season, the season moves fast, and these teams should be worried. How worried should they be though? On a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the worst), we look at several teams and just how worried they should be this season.

Los Angeles Lakers-3

The Los Angeles Lakers have had an up-and-down start to their NBA season. Coming off a three-game losing streak before beating the Suns Friday, there are several reasons for the team’s early struggles. Many of the offseason additions to the Lakers have had rough starts to their season. Gabe Vincent has averaged just 6.0 PPG in the four games he’s played but is currently out with a knee injury. Cam Reddish has only averaged 4.4 PPG in the games he’s played for far this season. After re-signing with the team in the offseason, Austin Reaves has taken a while to get going. Currently shooting 41% from the field and 27% from three, Reaves has fallen below the expectations many had for him after a strong 2022-23 season. Another issue the Lakers face is their superstars. Even though LeBron James and Anthony Davis are averaging 24.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 5.4 APG, and 23.9 PPG and 12.0 RPG, respectively, 38-year-old LeBron still has to be the number one option on the team, and Davis is already missing games. Rumors of the Lakers being interested in several superstars have already begun to circulate. With the Lakers currently sitting in 11th in the West and several teams on the rise, the Lakers should be concerned, but not in absolute panic mode yet. They could make a trade this season to add another star, but it all depends on LeBron or AD. If either one of those two gets injured, it could spell true disaster for the Lakers.

Los Angeles Clippers-4

In the same arena, the Clippers are in a tough spot. At the time of this writing, the Clippers are 3-5 and on a four-game losing streak. They have lost their last two games after acquiring James Harden in a trade with Philadelphia. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have both looked healthy to start the season, with PG and Kawhi averaging 25.4 PPG and 21.4 PPG respectively. Russel Westbrook has had a strong start to the season averaging 15.1 PPG as a starter. In his two games with the Clippers so far, James Harden has averaged 14.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.5 APG. Many have been concerned about the baggage Harden has brought with him and fear it could have long-term effects on the team. Like the Lakers, they sit in the lower half of the conference with many teams on the rise above them. There are major injury concerns for PG and Kawhi knowing an injury to either one could set the team on a downward spiral. Unlike the Lakers, almost all of the big names for the Clippers could leave this offseason. PG and Kawhi both have player options on the contracts with reports stating PG and the Clippers may not be on the same page and there’s nothing on Kawhi. Harden will be a free agent as well, with the expectation being that he’ll want another big-money deal. If the Clippers continue to struggle, they may not be able to retain their core. It’s possible one or all of those players could leave. With the team set to move into a new arena next season, the future of the organization depends on this season. There is a major concern for the Clippers this season, especially after the Harden trade.

Memphis Grizzlies-5

If there is one team that should be in absolute panic mode this season, it is the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis currently has the worst record in the league with a disappointing 1-7 record. The big story continues to be the absence of Ja Morant, who is out for another 17 games minimum. While Desmond Bane has stepped up and Marcus Smart is averaging a career-high in points, they haven’t been able to fill the void left by Morant. The team has continued to struggle on the defensive end, with Steven Adams out for the entire season. Jaren Jackson Jr. has never been the greatest rebounder and no one on the team can rebound like Steven Adams does. They signed veteran big man Bismack Biyambo, but that hasn’t had much of an impact on the team. While the team has an average defense, they have one of the worst offenses in the league. Between now and December 23rd (the first game Ja is available to play), they face numerous tough opponents including Phoenix, Dallas, OKC, and Boston. After being a top-two seed in the West each of the last two seasons, it’s likely the Grizzlies will be out of both the playoff and play-in picture by the end of the season. It’s unlikely that while Ja will give them hope upon his return, the fate of the 2023-24 Grizzlies may already be sealed.

Miami Heat-3

After having one of the worst offseasons possible, Miami is not in the worst spot possible. After a slow start to their season and four straight losses, Miami is in the middle of a four-game winning streak. A big part of their winning streak was Tyler Herro, who suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain in Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies. Now Miami will not have their leading scorer for the next few weeks at a minimum. Bad Adebayo has had a strong start to his season averaging nearly a double-double while Jimmy Butler is taking some time to get into form. The team is missing Caleb Martin, who was a big part of their playoff run last season. Kyle Lowry has not been much help as a starter but is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. For now, Miami sits in 10th place in the East. Last season, Miami proved that the regular season did not matter after a tremendous run to the finals. While they would be in the play-in tournament if the season ended today, anything could happen during the season. With several teams on the rise and a team or two behind them underperforming, Miami could potentially be in danger. There is some room for concern in Miami, but a couple of players returning from injury should help the team stay in playoff and play-in contention all season.