NBA: 7 Teams That Should Start To Panic

Keep calm and carry on… Unless you’re one of these seven NBA teams, then you should definitely start to panic.

Though I normally would suggest keeping cool and remaining calm ten games into the NBA season, this season feels different.

The league’s top teams– most from the Western Conference– have the ability to break away from the pack and lead the rest of the league in the dust. Getting off to a good start is always important. Obviously, it doesn’t make or break the season, but all these losses and squandered opportunities are going to make all the difference by the end of the season.

Teams that have apparent flaws must also consider making adjustments, even if those flaws are minute. Every team has problems and every team will continue to have problems throughout the season. There’s no 1995-96 Chicago Bulls in 2014-15; no team is finishing 72-10 this season.

Teams can fix problems by playing together, finding a rhythm, and getting players back from injury.

Flaws, however, at least the ones I’m interested in discussing, can’t be simply fixed by playing a different way. They have more to do with roster construction that leave teams with weaknesses in certain areas. Those flaws have to be addressed by changing the roster, making trades or finding a solution within the team. These flaws create panic when they’re exposed.

Panicking, at least this early in the season, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It leaves time for the weaknesses to be fixed. Making panic deals or signings at the trade deadline or even after never work. The sooner the issues get addressed the better the chance the team has at making all the pieces fit together for the playoffs.

Because, when you get down to it, that’s what it’s all about anyway, right, the playoffs?

Here are the seven teams that should start to panic, even if it’s just a little bit, starting with the Los Angeles Clippers:

Next: L.A. Clippers: Finding Defensive Help