Look, James Harden. I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.
The MVP-caliber shooting guard leads the Houston Rockets, but he guided them down a losing path during the first week of the season, while a few other NBA teams underwhelmed, too.
Though a slow start doesn’t doom a given franchise, some playoff contenders like the Rockets must dig themselves out of a small hole. Each team will bounce back. The question is how soon?
New Orleans Pelicans
Injuries are a serious problem in New Orleans. Tyreke Evans is sidelined, Jrue Holiday is on a minutes restriction and Omer Asik is limited. But Anthony Davis and the Pelicans shouldn’t be 0-3.
While two losses to the Golden State Warriors is acceptable for a short-handed squad, the way New Orleans lost isn’t. The team had to know what was coming when Stephen Curry stepped on the floor, yet the Pelicans did nothing about him. Curry averaged 46.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals.
Additionally, the Portland Trail Blazers 112-94 and once again an opposing guard—this time C.J. McCollum—torched the backcourt, netting 37 points. New Orleans needs to find some defense.
Milwaukee Bucks
Defense was supposed to be this team’s calling card. After giving up 122 points to the New York Knicks on opening night, that certainly wasn’t the case. Milwaukee, which finished sixth in the East last season, has surrendered a conference-worst 110.5 points per outing.
The most disappoint part about the slow start is the franchise improved its roster during the offseason, adding Greg Monroe for his offensive skills to complement a defensive-minded team. When Jabari Parker is completely comfortable after returning from an ACL tear, the Bucks should be able to truly test any opponent.
But that’s going to take more defense, because Milwaukee’s offensive pace is among the NBA’s slowest. The Bucks’ margin for error is small.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers might have undergone the biggest changes from 2014-15 to 2015-16. Not only did Paul George return from his horrific leg injury, but Indiana traded its longtime center, watched a veteran presence depart for a better chance at a ring and the team shifted to a faster offensive pace that would atone for defensive woes.
Well, the adjustment period is taking some time. George and offseason signing Monta Ellis are both shooting below 35 percent, and the Pacers have managed a meager 92.7 points per game—which ranks 26th in the NBA.
Once shots start falling for the key scorers, wins will come. But for now, Indiana is stuck trying to forget about an 0-3 record while continuing to learn its new style of play.
Houston Rockets
It’s nowhere near time to panic in Houston, but there’s no denying it was an ugly opening to the 2015-16 campaign. Throughout the four-game stretch, Harden shot a putrid 30 percent from the field, connecting on just 24 of his 80 attempts. Additionally, the shooting guard wasn’t much of that and misfired on 37 of his 44 triples.
Harden wasn’t alone, of course. Three-and-D specialist Trevor Ariza has managed a 30.4 percent clip from long range, Dwight Howard has only played two games and Ty Lawson is still adjusting to a new team.
“Sometimes you need your [butt] whipped — it’s the only way you’re going to learn,” Howard said, per ESPN’s Calvin Watkins.” Well, the Rockets lost three straight outings by 20 points or more. They’ll turn it around—and started to with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder—but that was a bad week.