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Home > NBA News & Analysis > The 5 Most Disappointing Teams In The 2020-21 NBA Season

The 5 Most Disappointing Teams In The 2020-21 NBA Season

Eddie Bitar
Feb 4, 2021
6 Min Read
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With the 2021 NBA season well underway, it is clear who the best teams in the NBA are. The Lakers are the reigning champions while the Clippers and Jazz compete with them in the West. In the East, the Nets have the most talented starting lineup in recent memory and the Buck and 76ers are title contenders as well.

Contents
  • 5. Minnesota Timberwolves
  • 4. New Orleans Pelicans
  • 3. Dallas Mavericks
  • 2. Miami Heat
  • 1. Washington Wizards

While these teams have performed to their expectations, others have been putrid and downright disappointing. Despite having talented rosters and excellent coaches, they have not managed to get the job done.

Here are the 5 most disappointing teams in the NBA season so far.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Team Record: 5-16

d'angelo russell

The Minnesota Timberwolves should be doing much better. They have superstar talent in Karl Anthony-Towns and an All-Star caliber guard in D’Angelo Russell. Most importantly, the two stars get along with each other like a house on fire. But for some reason, it has not worked out at all.

The Wolves are ranked 27th in PPG and 25th in opponent PPG. They simply can’t find a consistent performer other than Towns, and the young man has experienced a very tough year to say the very least. While (very legitimate) personal issues and chemistry-building could be holding Minnesota back, the question comes up again on why Jimmy Butler forced his way out of Minnesota.

4. New Orleans Pelicans

Team Record: 8-12

(via The New York Times)

The Pelicans were expected to be a heck of a team this season. Brandon Ingram is fresh off his first All-Star season last year and has looked great this year as well. Lonzo Ball is still not a great player, but he’s a good all-around point guard and is very unselfish. The Pelicans made big moves to acquire Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams to form a great starting lineup with franchise star Zion Williamson.

But the Pelicans still look young, inconsistent, and not a threat to the better teams in the league. New Orleans is ranked 21st in team defense and only 18th in assists, which means Stan Van Gundy and the Pelicans have a lot of work to do to make this team competitive. They certainly have the star power to do it but time will tell.

3. Dallas Mavericks

Team Record: 9-13

Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks are on this list rather harshly, because Kristaps Porzingis has been out with injury. But for some reason, even with the big man’s injury, the Mavericks look worse than last year. Teams prepare for Luka better now and are forcing him into contested shots as much as possible. Doncic came in last season and blew everyone away, but that surprise tactic doesn’t work anymore.

The Mavericks are ranked 23rd in PPG, meaning Luka is the only source of the offense right now. Dallas needs Porzingis back to full health as soon as possible because the way they are playing right now, the Playoffs could be out of the question.

2. Miami Heat

Team Record: 7-14

(via SunSentinel)

The biggest drop off of the season has been the former NBA Finalist Miami Heat. The Heat outplayed and outworked every team in last season’s postseason to make it to the Finals, but they haven’t done that this year. In all fairness, their leader and best player Jimmy Butler has been out and that has left a huge gap in the team.

Only Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo have played well for the team as Tyler Herro starts to find his rhythm again. The Heat look to be in shambles right now and all eyes on Pat Riley and the organization to make the move to acquire offensive star Bradley Beal to make another push in the playoffs.

1. Washington Wizards

Team Record: 5-13

(via EssentiallySports)

By far the most disappointing team has been the Washington Wizards. The Wizards seemingly won the John Wall for Russell Westbrook deal this off-season, and many thought the duo of Westbrook and Bradley Beal would cause havoc in the East. Especially with the signing of Davis and the development of Rui Hachimura, the Wizards were a guaranteed playoff team to start this season in many people’s minds.

But that is far from the truth. Washington is currently 14th in the East and have an absolutely atrocious defense. In fact, they are ranked dead last in opponent PPG. Their entire offense involves Bradley Beal taking all the shots, with the occasional Westbrook drive to the rim. Westbrook looks older and less efficient than ever, and the team is, unfortunately, a very poor one-man show.

Next

The Blockbuster Trade Idea: Mavericks Could Land Russell Westbrook For Four Players And Two Draft Picks

Re-Drafting The 2015 NBA Draft Class: Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Kristaps Porzingis

NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers Can Land DeMar DeRozan And Create A Powerful Big Three

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2021 NBA All-Star Predictions: East Starters And West Starters

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ByEddie Bitar
Eddie Bitar is a senior staff writer for Fadeaway World from Denver, Colorado. Since joining the team in 2017, Eddie has applied his academic background in economics and finance to enhance his sports journalism. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree from and later a Master's degree in Finance from Utrecht in 2018, he integrates statistical analysis into his articles. This unique approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of basketball through the lens of financial and economic concepts.Eddie's work has not only been a staple at Fadeaway World but has also been featured in prominent publications such as Sports Illustrated. His ability to break down complex data and present it in an accessible way creates an engaging and informative way to visualize both individual and team statistics. From finding the top 3 point shooters of every NBA franchise to ranking players by cost per point, Eddie is constantly finding new angles to use historical data that other NBA analysts may be overlooking.A lifelong basketball fan, Eddie grew up trying to mimic Jason Kidd's game. When asked which NBA player, past or present, he would most like to interview, Eddie's choice is clear: Jason Kidd. He admires Kidd's genius at playing point guard and his ability to lead a team to two NBA Finals appearances. Eddie believes Kidd is an underrated star who deserves more praise, and he would relish the opportunity to pick his brain and discuss the intricacies of the game.
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