Fansided

NBA: 5 disappointing teams so far this season

By John Buhler

Nov 16, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and guard Jason Terry (31) sit on the bench watching the Boston Celtics in the second half at Toyota Center. Celtics won 111 to 95. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and guard Jason Terry (31) sit on the bench watching the Boston Celtics in the second half at Toyota Center. Celtics won 111 to 95. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 10, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

1. New Orleans Pelicans (3-11)

All the talk about superstar power forward Anthony Davis being limitless had many to believe that the New Orleans Pelicans would not only make the Western Conference Playoffs again, but possibly as a top four seed. Though Davis is one of the best players in the NBA today, his team is certainly holding him back.

Outside of Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans have an odd combination of often-injured starters and players that wouldn’t make the bench rotation of competitive teams. General manager Dell Demps has made some head-scratching moves in constructing a team around Antony Davis.

The strangest move the team made was firing former head coach Monty Williams at the end of last year, despite getting the Pelicans into the playoffs for the first time since drafting Davis. Williams had a 2014-15 New Orleans Pelicans team that went 45-37, earned the eight-seed in the Western Conference, and were eighth in the NBA in team offensive rating (108.2).

What supposedly did Williams in was that his defense finished 22nd (107.3), despite having an all-around talent in Anthony Davis. The Pelicans front office opted to hire former Phoenix Suns head coach and Golden State Warriors defensive guru Alvin Gentry as their new head coach. Gentry was able to bring with him top defensive guru Darren Erman as his lead assistant.

Not only have the Pelicans been worse on offense (104.0, 14th in the NBA), but are actually worse defensively under their new coaching staff. Only Milwaukee is worse defensively than the New Orleans Pelicans (111.0). Outside of the Los Angeles Lakers, the New Orleans Pelicans are possibly the worst team in the Western Conference.

Worst of all, they could have had defensive master Tom Thibodeau as their head coach. Hiring Alvin Gentry over Tom Thibodeau is the biggest blunder made by any team in the NBA during this first part of the season. At least New Orleans has a shot at the lottery.

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