Fansided

NBA Week 2 Rewind: Pistons, Rockets rise, Warriors dominate

By Tom West

Nov 3, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) high fives guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) high fives guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
Nov 6, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and associate head coach Darren Erman on the bench during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Smoothie King Center. The Hawks defeated the Pelicans 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and associate head coach Darren Erman on the bench during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Smoothie King Center. The Hawks defeated the Pelicans 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Who’s Struggling?

Besides the always-tanking Philadelphia 76ers and the airballs of Kobe Bryant, here’s a look at a couple of teams who need to turn things around before they find themselves trapped at the bottom of their conferences.

The New Orleans Pelicans are 0-6. Seriously, what has happened to Anthony Davis and company? Of course, we’re not even 10 games into the season, but their early struggles don’t give fans much promise. Because even though it’s only six games, it still means they have a bigger hole to dig themselves out of as the season progresses. You simply can’t afford to start your season at the bottom of the Western conference if you want a chance of contending later in the year.

Davis is carrying a lot of the load with 25.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, and that’s not the end of the world. Lots of team rely heavily on one player. The problem, though, is that you can’t compete against any top teams without a total team effort. Right now, it’s the Pelicans’ pathetic performance on defense that’s held them without a win so far. They’re allowing opponents to shoot 63 percent within five feet (the 26th worst mark in the NBA), 41.2 percent from 15-19 feet (23rd in the league), and are dead last defending the three point line (allowing 46.4 percent shooting from 25 feet out).

That poor effort all around has resulted in them sitting way beyond anyone else in 30th place for defensive efficiency, and they simply won’t get anywhere until that improves. Besides the fact they’ve faced the Warriors twice, they still won’t win if they can’t get a stop on defense.

The Brooklyn Nets don’t have much expectation (if any) surrounding them this season. However, as one of only three teams unable to earn a win so far, they’re at the depths of the NBA with the likes of the 76ers. From their attempt to challenge the Spurs in their second game (which they lost 75-102), to their recent 104-98 loss to the Lakers on Friday night, the Nets’ struggles are obvious.

Similarly to the Pelicans, their defense is letting them down. Their star center Brook Lopez has never excelled defensively as a rebounder, and they have no one to look to as a lock-down perimeter defender either. At 27th in the NBA, the Nets are only just ahead of the Pelicans in defensive efficiency, and their offense is even worse. Brooklyn rank dead last in offensive efficiency, and key starters such as Jarrett Jack and Joe Johnson shooting 37.3 and 32.9 percent respectively doesn’t help matters. 16.2 turnovers a night doesn’t exactly help either.

Counter in their league-worst point differential of -12.4 and it’s clear the Nets haven’t even come close to being competitive yet.

Next: The NBA's Best Highlights of Week 2

Home/Brooklyn Nets