NBA Panic Meter For Every Team: 76ers In Serious Trouble, Warning Signs For Lakers

Every week, the 2024-25 NBA season inches closer to critical junctures for all 30 franchises. Every team’s outlook tells a story from early contenders comfortably leading the pack to struggling squads desperate for solutions. Some organizations are exuding calm, while others teeter on the edge of disaster. Where does your team stand? 

Let’s dive into the Panic Meter for every NBA team this season but first explain the levels.

Panic Meter Levels

1: Strong seeding and playoff picture stable

2: Panic isn’t foreseeable

3: Small adjustments will make everything fine

4: Some warning signs but corrections are identifiable

5: Improvements needed 

6: It is time to play better or it could get ugly

7: Anxiety is creeping in with growing pressure

8: Major panic is everywhere

9: Season is in dire trouble, jobs will be on the line

10: Red alert!

Atlanta Hawks

Panic Meter: 6

The 7-9 Hawks have shown flashes of brilliance but remain inconsistent, struggling to find a rhythm that can propel them into contention. While Trae Young continues to deliver offensively, defensive lapses and depth issues are causing unease. Atlanta needs to address its inconsistencies soon to avoid falling out of the playoff picture because outside of Jalen Johnson, there isn’t a single untouchable right now. The Hawks need to realize they might need to make a trade or risk wasting Young’s prime years without benefitting from it.

Boston Celtics

Panic Meter: 1

The reigning NBA champions Celtics are cruising at the second seed in the Eastern Conference (12-3) with a roster that looks championship-ready as always. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are leading the way, and their depth is proving invaluable. There’s no panic here—Boston is right where they need to be and they are playing some excellent basketball on both ends of the court, ranking 2nd in offense (121.5 PPG) and 4th in net rating (+9.8).

Brooklyn Nets

Panic Meter: 6

Brooklyn’s experiment with youth and defense has hit a wall as their offensive firepower remains limited. Cam Thomas is carrying the scoring load, but the 6-9 Nets needs more reliable production from its supporting cast to climb out of mediocrity. The Nets just have to wait the season out and first get out from Ben Simmons’ contract, which will expire at the end of the year. As a result, there is a reasonable amount of panic for them.

Charlotte Hornets

Panic Meter: 5

The Hornets are hanging around in the middle of the pack at 6-9, with LaMelo Ball’s elite offensive abilities keeping them competitive. However, their defense continues to be a glaring weakness, leaving them vulnerable to extended losing streaks if adjustments aren’t made. However, the Hornets are showing desire when they are playing and they can beat almost any team on a good night. As long as LaMelo continues playing like a superstar, the panic will be manageable in Charlotte.

Chicago Bulls

Panic Meter: 6

Chicago’s stagnation has frustrated fans, and there is no clear path to improvement. The Zach LaVine return feels a little stale, and the team’s lack of development in younger players is putting pressure on the front office to shake things up. The Bulls have been competitive in some games, but they are one losing streak away from gearing up into more panic about what they want to do with their roster for the long term because, at 6-10, it hasn’t been that great. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

Panic Meter: 1

The 16-1 Cavaliers are thriving with their core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley firing on all cylinders. They’re a force in the East and have no major concerns, staying firmly in the contender conversation with the best record in the NBA. Starting the season 15-0 essentially means there is non-existing panic right now in Cleveland, something Cavaliers fans aren’t used to feeling without LeBron James.

Dallas Mavericks

Panic Meter: 3

The 8-7 Dallas Mavericks do not have a great record but they are not panicking. They made the NBA Finals last year with the same inconsistencies they are facing this season, but this time they added former four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson to the team. The Mavericks can turn it on once the playoffs arrive and there isn’t a true force in the West to get in their way if they want to make the Finals again.

Denver Nuggets

Panic Meter: 4

The former NBA champions aren’t dominating but remain comfortably in the mix with an 8-5 record in the West. Nikola Jokic continues to be the engine of the team, but a slight dip in bench production has raised mild concerns as they push through the season grind. Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will come back to haunt them and despite the growing presence of Russell Westbrook, the Nuggets have not shown that they have enough pieces to become the top seed in the West again.

Detroit Pistons

Panic Meter: 6

The Pistons’ rebuild has taken longer than expected, with injuries and poor execution hampering their progress. Cade Cunningham shows promise and this team looks slightly more competitive this season with a 7-10 record, so perhaps the panic level will decrease as the win-loss column looks better. Until then, there is always a reasonable amount of panic for the franchise who want to be playoff contenders again.

Golden State Warriors

Panic Meter: 2

The 11-3 Golden State Warriors have played some inspired basketball since losing Klay Thompson this summer. Stephen Curry’s humble leadership seems to work again because everyone is playing at a high level in his role. With the best record in the West, there is no panic in Golden State but there might be a little thing on the back of the minds of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr about their talent level once the playoffs arrive.

Houston Rockets

Panic Meter: 4

Houston’s young squad is showing signs of growth under the leadership of Ime Udoka, but inexperience continues to cost them in crunch-time situations. While the future is bright, patience is still required to see this team truly blossom because the franchise still doesn’t have a go-to player. Jalen Green needs to step up into the role of being a closer which means the 11-5 Rockets still have to sort out a few things on the court before becoming a playoff threat.

Indiana Pacers

Panic Meter: 4

Tyrese Haliburton will always have the Pacers in playoff contention, but defensive lapses are holding them back from becoming a serious threat as they fell to 6-9 on the season. If they can tighten up on that end, their trajectory could shift dramatically this season. Regardless, the Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals last year so the team will feel that they can repeat that again this year.

Los Angeles Clippers

Panic Meter: 7

Despite a roster loaded with star talent, the Clippers’ health issues and lack of chemistry are creating significant worries. If Kawhi Leonard can’t consistently stay on the floor, the season could unravel quickly because it has been the James Harden show so far. The 9-7 Clippers seem confused about what they want to achieve, so there is major panic about the plan for the future.

Los Angeles Lakers

Panic Meter: 4

LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain formidable and the 10-5 Lakers have had a good season so far. Some tweaks, especially with their role players, could stabilize their season and ensure they remain in the playoff hunt. Dalton Knecht has been a major bright spot for the Lakers and head coach JJ Redick has been a breath of fresh air, so panic is at a reasonable level although every loss will seem like the end of the world for the Purple and Gold.

Memphis Grizzlies

Panic Meter: 5

The 9-7 Grizzlies are still finding their form and struggling to find consistent play has been the team’s downfall over the last two seasons. While they remain a tough defensive team, their lack of scoring depth could hurt them if they don’t adjust quickly. However, the Grizzlies are very confident in their core because if Morant is healthy and available, they like their chances in the West.

Miami Heat

Panic Meter: 6

The Heat’s lack of firepower outside of Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo is becoming glaring. While their defensive culture remains strong, they need scoring help soon to stay competitive in the East and there is some panic in Miami with a 6-7 record in the East. Whether Jimmy Butler decides to stay or go elsewhere remains to be seen but this is a critical season for the Heat and there will be panic for the entire season if they aren’t winning games.

Milwaukee Bucks

Panic Meter: 7

The Bucks started the season in the worst way possible and their struggles to maintain defensive consistency are a red flag. Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing his part, but the team feels out of sync and needs answers quickly. Panic was at a 10 earlier in the season but the Bucks have put together a few wins and we can never count out what The Greek Freak can do against any opponent. At 6-9, the panic is real but definitely not as bad as it was a few weeks ago. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Panic Meter: 6

The 8-7 Timberwolves are showing flashes of potential with Anthony Edwards leading the charge and Karl-Anthony Towns gone, but inconsistency and questionable rotations continue to hold them back. A clearer identity is needed to calm growing anxieties because there is no doubt Timberwolves fans will wonder why moving Towns so quickly after making the Western Conference Finals was the major decision made this summer.

New Orleans Pelicans

Panic Meter: 8

The Pelicans’ inability to stay healthy, particularly with Zion Williamson, is raising major concerns. When fully loaded, this team is dangerous, but their recurring injury woes leave their season’s fate hanging in the balance. The Pelicans have only won four games this season (4-12) and perhaps the trade rumors surrounding their team need to come to something because it just hasn’t worked.

New York Knicks

Panic Meter: 4

The 9-6 Knicks are steady but uninspiring at times this season, lacking the team chemistry to compete with elite teams in the East. However, the Knicks will be a problem once their players click with each other. Jalen Brunson has been excellent and there is plenty of talent around him, but it takes time to build a culture with new players which yields some reasonable panic.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Panic Meter: 3

The Thunder’s core, led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, continues to impress as they exceed expectations. Their progress has fans excited rather than panicked even if Chet Holmgren will likely miss the next two months with injury. With 12 wins in 16 games, the Thunder are an elite basketball team and the little panic they have is about Holmgren’s health.

Orlando Magic

Panic Meter: 4

Orlando was trending upwards with their young duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but Banchero’s injury came at a terrible time. Their lack of a star presence could limit their ability to sustain success this season because there is no way they can replace Banchero’s impact right now. Still, the Magic have played well, holding a 9-7 record and doing their best to make up for their star player’s absence as best they can.

Philadelphia 76ers

Panic Meter: 10

The 76ers are in full-blown panic mode after a disastrous 2-12 start. Trade rumors swirl around key players, and team chemistry is at an all-time low with Tyrese Maxey taking the leadership role to call out Joel Embiid. If things don’t improve, the fallout could be catastrophic for the franchise because Philly fans will eventually start turning on the franchise quicker than you would think.

Phoenix Suns

Panic Meter: 4

The 9-7 Suns are solid but not yet dominant, as they continue to gel with a stacked roster featuring Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. Minor tweaks could elevate them to true contender status but they have played some good basketball since the start of the year. The problem with the Suns is that it will be championship or bust so not having one of the top three seeds in the West will always cause some panic.

Portland Trail Blazers

Panic Meter: 6

Post-Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers have been in a tough spot, with Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons trying to prove they can be franchise players. The rebuild looks far from complete, and some frustration is mounting. However, the Trail Blazers are only three games under .500 (6-9) so perhaps they can turn things around before panic starts to increase.

Sacramento Kings

Panic Meter: 6

The Sacramento Kings expected to be a title contender after signing DeMar DeRozan this summer but that hasn’t materialized in the standings. Holding an 8-7 record is slightly underwhelming and disappointing for Kings fans, and there is a reasonable amount of panic because of that. The Kings can easily correct this stance by getting their record to at least a few games over .500 over the next few weeks, but it could also go the other way as well.

San Antonio Spurs

Panic Meter: 5

Victor Wembanyama’s brilliance is giving Spurs fans hope, but the team’s overall lack of experience is causing growing pains. Thanks to the addition of Chris Paul, they have been more competitive, but consistency is still elusive and we do not expect much from the Spurs this year. Adding in Gregg Popovich’s concerning health issues and the Spurs aren’t in the worst position at 8-8.

Toronto Raptors

Panic Meter: 7

The Raptors are stuck in a no-man’s-land, with neither a clear path to contention nor a full commitment to a rebuild. This lack of direction is causing frustration among fans and raising questions about their future because Scottie Barnes is the only true All-Star-caliber player on the team. With four wins on the season (4-12), the Raptors need to turn things around quickly.

Utah Jazz

Panic Meter: 9

Utah’s season has spiraled as their roster struggles to compete in a tough Western Conference. Without a clear star or consistent playmakers, they’re quickly losing ground and facing a long road back to relevance. Utah’s three wins (3-12) are indicative of a team that struggles on both ends of the court and the Jazz might be better off trading Lauri Markkanen for future draft assets.

Washington Wizards

Panic Meter: 9

The 2-11 Washington Wizards are the worst team in the league behind the lowly 76ers, lacking both talent and direction. With no immediate solutions in sight, the focus has already shifted to next year’s draft as their season unravels. Winning only two games and not having an established franchise star, the Wizards need to find a way to move both Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole to embrace the tank. 

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