We’re a couple of month into the NBA season, and whereas the damage bug has bitten practically each crew in a method or one other, there are different worries which might be value … effectively, worrying about.
The Athletic requested its NBA employees for every crew’s greatest concern at this level. The responses coated the complete spectrum, from free-throw taking pictures and poor depth to well-known names not but producing on the ranges we’ve come to count on in recent times. (Stats and data are via Wednesday’s video games.)
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
Rim safety: It is a contemporary concern. It is perhaps a short-term one because the Celtics ranked close to the league leaders in rim safety final season and may quickly welcome again 7-foot-2 shot blocker Kristaps Porziņģis. However Boston has been gashed for layups and dunks not too long ago, particularly in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks and an all-too-close win in opposition to the Toronto Raptors. Joe Mazzulla mentioned his crew wants to enhance its particular person protection and rebounding. The Celtics would possibly simply be struggling signs of a gentle championship hangover. — Jay King
Brooklyn Nets
Nic Claxton’s again concern: The Nets obtained off to a surprisingly strong begin, whilst Claxton slowly labored his means into the rotation after a preseason hamstring damage. However now he’s out once more with a lingering again pressure. The crew desires to construct an identification whereas the entrance workplace ideally desires to get the highest decide within the draft. They’re attaining each in the meanwhile, and there’s a lot to be enthusiastic about if Cam Thomas is making a leap. However Claxton is among the Nets’ cornerstones, and so they want him to remain wholesome and hold bettering if this rebuild goes anyplace down the highway. — Jared Weiss
New York Knicks
Lack of free throws: I may go together with the protection right here, however I feel that’ll enhance with extra time and the eventual return of Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks rank twenty ninth within the NBA in free-throw makes an attempt per sport (19.1). For a crew that shoots a whole lot of 2-pointers — effectively, I ought to add — and has a head coach who emphasizes taking pictures 3s, attending to the rim and free-throw makes an attempt, it’s a bit regarding New York doesn’t go to the charity stripe extra. Mikal Bridges has solely taken 11 free throws this season, regardless of the vast majority of his shot makes an attempt coming from contained in the arc. — James L. Edwards III
Philadelphia 76ers
Can they get wholesome and on the identical web page?: The Sixers are caught in a spiral that appears inescapable in the meanwhile. Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey shared the ground collectively for the primary time Wednesday, a sport that George left early due to an damage to the identical knee he damage within the preseason. Their solely two wins got here in time beyond regulation, so they’re just a few bounces away from being fully winless. They’re already on the crew assembly stage of the season. The supporting solid has struggled to shoot and rebound. There merely has not been the spark to beat adversity that defines a season. — Jared Weiss
GO DEEPER
‘Seems like negativity retains following me’: Joel Embiid on Sixers’ crew assembly, criticisms
Toronto Raptors
No likelihood to construct chemistry: RJ Barrett had an AC joint damage. Pelvic and elbow accidents have saved Immanuel Quickley to 2 and a half video games. Scottie Barnes suffered an orbital bone fracture early within the second week of the season. The Raptors schedule was all the time going to be robust to start out the 12 months. Nonetheless, the presumptive beginning lineup, which additionally options Jakob Poeltl and rising sophomore Gradey Dick, has performed zero minutes. Even in case you are rebuilding, you need your core items to get massive minutes in opposition to good groups. The Raptors are lacking out on that chance. — Eric Koreen
Central Division
Chicago Bulls
Crew protection: After buying and selling Alex Caruso this offseason, the Bulls knew their protection would undergo, however Chicago is on the cusp of rating among the many bottom-three groups in protection. With out a single elite defender, and absent applicable dimension, Chicago is aware of its fortunes will likely be tough to vary. The Bulls are trying to beat their defensive limitations by enjoying sooner and launching extra 3-pointers. However they’ve compounded their points with turnovers and chilly taking pictures nights. — Darnell Mayberry
Cleveland Cavaliers
How about … none?: Significantly, they deserve this second. Just a few groups have performed what the Cavs did — win their first 15 video games — and traditionally talking, these groups wound up within the NBA Finals. It’s OK to say this crew has no obvious issues. Take a bow. In case you insist, there are some points to keep watch over, like wing depth (the Cavs have a bunch of them, however will they maintain up within the playoffs?), defensive rebounding and serviceable bigs off the bench. We simply can’t, with a straight face, name any of these things issues proper now. — Joe Vardon
Detroit Pistons
Turnovers: The Pistons entered Thursday tied with the Bulls for Twentieth within the NBA in turnovers per sport. Cade Cunningham is Detroit’s major ballhandler and fourth within the league in assists per sport, however he leads the NBA in whole turnovers. Turnovers are to be anticipated with a crew this younger, however Cunningham is the pinnacle of the snake. As soon as he and the Pistons worth the basketball on every possession, there ought to be fewer shut video games that hold Detroit followers on the sting of their seats. — Hunter Patterson
Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton: My man can’t shoot proper now. Haliburton is making simply 37.5 p.c of his photographs total and is chucking it at an abysmal 28.4 p.c from 3-point vary. These are each, simply, profession lows, and for what it’s value, his 82 p.c taking pictures on the foul line is also a profession worst. The Pacers have higher gamers and extra depth, and Haliburton’s potential to push the tempo and discover the open man are nonetheless paramount (his assists are down too). However for the Pacers to be good, he has to play at his standard All-Star stage. — Joe Vardon
Tyrese Haliburton has struggled taking pictures within the first month of the season. (Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Photographs)
Milwaukee Bucks
Khris Middleton’s well being: Throughout coaching camp, Middleton instructed The Athletic that he wanted to play in not less than 70 video games to think about this a profitable season for himself. The Bucks are 15 video games via their schedule and he has nonetheless not felt assured sufficient to get on the ground for five-on-five actions. The Bucks have rebounded effectively from their 2-8 begin by successful 4 of their previous 5 video games, however it is going to be tough to compete for a championship and not using a wholesome Middleton. — Eric Nehm
Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks
Trae Younger: You possibly can nitpick about Atlanta’s protection or the taking pictures on the wings or the backup level guard state of affairs, however none of that issues if Younger isn’t enjoying at an All-Star stage. And whereas he’s main the league in assists, he’s additionally struggled mightily to attain, taking pictures simply 38 p.c on the season and failing to get off a shot in two last-shot conditions that each led to Hawks losses. Whereas Younger traditionally has been a sluggish starter, his Achilles tendinitis to start the season provides to the priority stage this time round. — John Hollinger
Charlotte Hornets
When will Mark Williams play once more?: The Hornets are reaching an anniversary they don’t need: Dec. 8 will mark a 12 months since Williams final performed in a sport. The fifteenth decide within the 2022 draft has performed in simply 62 video games in his profession. He missed most of final season with a again damage. This 12 months, it’s been a left foot concern. Williams has been productive when he has performed and could possibly be a key piece for Charlotte in its rebuild, however the Hornets have to see him again on the ground to know that. — Mike Vorkunov
Miami Warmth
Terry Rozier’s begin: After their failed pursuit of Damian Lillard in the summertime of 2023, Miami’s massive transfer to bolster its backcourt was buying and selling Kyle Lowry and a lottery-protected 2027 first-round decide to Charlotte for Terry Rozier. The 30-year-old obtained off to an honest begin after his arrival in South Seaside, however he missed the 2024 playoffs as a result of a neck damage, and he’s off to a tough begin this season because the Warmth have stumbled to a 6-7 mark. Rozier’s averaging 12.9 factors and three.7 assists on 38 p.c taking pictures. Miami must be extra explosive on offense to compete with groups similar to Boston and Cleveland on the prime of the Japanese Convention. Rozier has to play a key position within the offense taking one other step. — Will Guillory
Orlando Magic
3-point taking pictures: Orlando has performed an admirable job overcoming the absence of injured star Paolo Banchero. However the crew nonetheless struggles to attain within the half courtroom and struggles to hit long-range photographs. The Magic rank final in 3-point taking pictures share, making solely 30.5 p.c of their makes an attempt. They continue to be aggressive due to their excellent protection, teaching, cohesiveness and home-court benefit. They’ve a whole lot of positives going for them. However as their taking pictures woes in final 12 months’s playoffs demonstrated, their incapability to transform from past the arc is an Achilles heel. — Josh Robbins
Washington Wizards
Can they hold gamers engaged?: Nonetheless early of their rebuild, the Wizards want to complete at or close to the underside of the NBA standings to reinforce their 2025 draft lottery probabilities. It sounds ghoulish to say, however they’re heading in the right direction with a 2-11 file. That mentioned, for any crew, shedding a whole lot of video games (and by large margins too) may cause collateral injury, particularly to veteran gamers who develop impatient with shedding and doubtlessly with younger gamers who may fall into unhealthy habits. Can coach Brian Keefe and the crew leaders hold Washington’s older gamers optimistic and the younger gamers on the best developmental observe? — Josh Robbins
Northwest Division
Denver Nuggets
Similar tune: The Nuggets are going to win 50 video games and be related come playoff time. However can they recover from the hump this season? Have they got the standard depth to outlive when all-everything Nikola Jokić isn’t on the ground? That’s what terminated their playoff run final season. Can it’s totally different this time round? — Tony Jones
GO DEEPER
With out Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets have appeared alarmingly helpless
Minnesota Timberwolves
Protection: The Timberwolves had the perfect protection within the NBA by a rustic mile final season, using all of it the way in which to the Western Convention finals. Rudy Gobert was Defensive Participant of the 12 months and flanked by a trio of the perfect perimeter defenders within the league in Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Anthony Edwards. Of these 4 gamers, solely Alexander-Walker has resembled what he was final season. Gobert has mentioned he isn’t enjoying as much as his requirements on the rim, McDaniels hasn’t been anyplace near the disrupter on the perimeter and Edwards has usually appeared inattentive and unfocused on that finish. If the Wolves are going to beat a sluggish begin, these three guys should get their defensive tooth again. — Jon Krawczynski
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Alex Caruso’s taking pictures: Caruso scored a season-high 17 factors throughout the latest win over the Path Blazers. The Thunder are hoping that pattern continues. For all of the discuss of the Caruso-for-Josh Giddey swap in Oklahoma Metropolis, neither facet is seeing dividends but. Giddey has struggled main the Bulls offense and Caruso can’t discover the online from past the 3-point arc, taking pictures simply 21 p.c from deep. And worse, defenders are straying all the way in which off him when he strains the perimeter. Caruso made greater than 40 p.c of his 3s in Chicago a season in the past. If he continues to overlook at this charge, he may change into ill-fitting on a roster with taking pictures all over the place. But when he begins to appear to be himself once more, at a naked minimal hitting open jumpers, the Thunder are in a greater place. — Fred Katz
Alex Caruso places up a jumper in opposition to the Hawks final month. (Joshua Gateley / Getty Photographs)
Portland Path Blazers
Deni Avdija’s shot: The Blazers massive offseason acquisition is off to a flat taking pictures begin, which performed an element in him shedding his beginning job 10 video games into the season. After making a career-best 37.4 p.c of his 3-pointers final season in Washington, Avdija has made solely 13 of fifty in Portland (26 p.c). With Shaedon Sharpe flourishing now that he’s again from damage, Avdija’s minutes even have dipped barely. He has supplied worth together with his smarts, protection and passing, however when the Blazers gave up two first-round picks, two second-round picks and Malcolm Brogdon, they thought they had been additionally getting a shooter on the rise. And possibly that’s coming: Avdija within the final 4 video games has made practically half (7 of 15) of his 3-pointers. — Jason Fast
Utah Jazz
Will Hardy: The Jazz coach is so good at his job that, one way or the other, he nonetheless has a zombie roster aggressive sufficient to solely have the fourth-worst file within the league. It bodes effectively for when the Jazz have sufficient expertise to win that Hardy will maximize that expertise. He’s an exceptional coach. However proper now, the Utah entrance workplace wants about three extra losses than the Jazz at present have. — Tony Jones
Southwest Division
Dallas Mavericks
Crunchtime conundrum: Who knew having too many closers could possibly be this clunky? Whereas the Luka Dončić-Kyrie Irving-Klay Thompson trio has principally labored effectively, it’s nonetheless fairly shocking to see these Mavs drop so many shut video games with all these elite shot-makers on the payroll. Six of their seven losses have been by seven factors or fewer, together with a stretch of 4 in a row (in opposition to Phoenix, Denver, Golden State and Utah) by which they misplaced by a mixed eight factors. Whereas that’s counterintuitive, to make sure, it’s additionally a reminder there’s just one ball and their late-game chemistry must come over time. That course of will likely be slowed a bit with Dončić sidelined for not less than per week as a result of a wrist damage. The numbers, nonetheless, point out Dallas has been higher than its file. — Sam Amick
Houston Rockets
Murky offensive identification: There aren’t many issues with an 11-5 Rockets crew inside putting distance of first place within the West, however Houston’s lack of an offensive hierarchy is puzzling. The Rockets need to management the glass, run the ground in transition and defend aggressively with out fouling, however the absence of a real pecking order rears its head on the mistaken instances, particularly in crunchtime. 4 of their 5 losses have come within the clutch when their tempo and ball motion grinds to a halt. It’s laborious to be a pace-and-space unit while you’re fifteenth in tempo and twenty seventh in 3s made per sport, and people points could possibly be fastened with a defined construction. — Kelly Iko
Memphis Grizzlies
Well being: The Grizzlies’ depth has vastly improved from a 12 months in the past, enabling Memphis to outlive — and even thrive at instances — and not using a full complement of gamers. That mentioned, the core trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. has performed precisely one sport collectively, with Morant’s most up-to-date hip damage once more elevating the query of simply how usually the Grizzlies can unite their three stars. Morant solely performed 9 video games a 12 months in the past and simply eight up to now this 12 months, whereas Bane has performed 58 and 42 the previous two campaigns and solely seven up to now this season. — John Hollinger
New Orleans Pelicans
Is it too late to make noise?: The Pelicans are going via an unprecedented stretch of unhealthy damage luck that’s left the roster decimated the previous few weeks. After beginning the season 2-0, New Orleans solely has two wins in its final 14 video games. There will likely be just a few key items getting again on the courtroom within the subsequent two weeks. There’s a very good likelihood CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins and Herb Jones will all be again within the lineup earlier than the tip of November. The Pelicans might begin turning issues round very quickly. However the West is so extremely deep that it may not matter. That is the mistaken season to be enjoying catch-up. — Will Guillory
GO DEEPER
Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced faces crossroads as injured stars close to their return
San Antonio Spurs
Lack of ball penetration: Practically half of Victor Wembanyama’s photographs are coming from the perimeter, up from simply 30 p.c as a rookie. The Spurs hoist the ninth-most 3s within the league, however to enhance on their Twentieth-ranked offense, they’ll have to diversify their method. A few of it’s circumstantial: Rookie Stephon Citadel, a bodily downhill menace, continues to be studying; Tre Jones and Devin Vassell, San Antonio’s most frequent drivers final season, have solely not too long ago returned from damage; and Jeremy Sochan, who was fourth, has been sidelined since early November. Possibly reserve Keldon Johnson, who leads the way in which with 6.6 drives per sport, will get extra minutes, nevertheless it begins and ends with Wembanyama. The Frenchman must set the tone. — Kelly Iko
Victor Wembanyama is taking pictures practically 34 p.c from 3 this season. (Daniel Dunn / Imagn Photographs)
Pacific Division
Golden State Warriors
Free-throw taking pictures: The final time an NBA crew shot under 70 p.c from the road for a season was 5 seasons in the past when the Knicks did it. The final time a crew with a successful file did it was 9 seasons in the past, when the Pistons did it. The 11-3 Warriors have made solely 69.5 p.c of their free throws. Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Inexperienced, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandin Podziemski and Kevon Looney are all struggling from the road to various levels. They went 9 of 19 collectively in a three-point loss to the Clippers not too long ago. In a convention the place the standings margins are anticipated to be slim, just a few free-throw-related losses within the center months could possibly be the distinction between a number of seeding slots — the third to the seventh, for instance — come April. — Anthony Slater
LA Clippers
Turnovers: One of many causes the Clippers are hovering round .500 is as a result of they donate possessions like a pink kettle is on the ground. Solely the Path Blazers and Jazz common extra turnovers per sport. And it’s the mistaken type of turnovers, as opponents steal the ball from the Clippers greater than another crew. The Clippers will be higher than league common on offense in the event that they take higher care of the ball, particularly in fourth quarters. — Legislation Murray
Los Angeles Lakers
Depth: The Lakers’ depth was a priority coming into the season, and it has grown extra problematic since coaching camp. Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wooden have but to return from offseason surgical procedures. Jaxson Hayes is out with an ankle damage. Anthony Davis is battling plantar fasciitis, an damage that has bothered him since final season. Gabe Vincent and Max Christie have underperformed preseason expectations. Los Angeles is successful sufficient to remain aggressive within the West, nevertheless it’s largely been due to manufacturing from the starters and D’Angelo Russell. Long term, the Lakers have to get wholesome and/or enhance their roster through commerce(s). — Jovan Buha
GO DEEPER
Dalton Knecht is on fireplace — and so are the Lakers
Phoenix Suns
Staying wholesome: By way of 9 video games, Phoenix appeared nice. Then misfortune hit. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal suffered calf strains, and a crew that opened 8-1 dropped six of seven. Fully wholesome, this crew appeared like a title contender. Durant performed like an MVP candidate. Beal excelled in his position. A rebuilt bench contributed. However it’s not even Thanksgiving, and the Phoenix damage report has change into a essential storyline. The excellent news: The Suns confirmed what was attainable. They weren’t good, however that they had one thing strong from which to construct. The unhealthy: Because the league’s second-oldest crew at 28.26 years, per NBA.com, the well being issue might not go away. — Doug Haller
Sacramento Kings
Star workload: De’Aaron Fox is averaging 37.4 minutes per sport. Keegan Murray is at 36.7. Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan are each at 36.5. That provides the Kings’ 4 out of the NBA’s prime 14 gamers in minutes per sport. That’s a ton to ask over the course of an 82-game marathon, particularly with Sabonis (in his ninth season) and DeRozan (in his seventeenth season) already lacking time as a result of again accidents. However that’s the difficulty for the Kings, who’ve injured bench gamers (Malik Monk, rookie Devin Carter), questionable depth and a voracious starvation from Mike Brown and the group to wrestle away each attainable regular-season win to keep away from the Play-In Event. Fox, Murray, Sabonis and DeRozan have been very sturdy gamers traditionally. That will likely be examined. — Anthony Slater
Signal as much as get The Bounce, the important NBA publication from Zach Harper and The Athletic employees, delivered free to your inbox.
(High picture of Paul George and Joel Embiid: Invoice Streicher / Imagn Photographs)
