It seems like every season, there is at least one NBA team that gets off to a hot start and has people jumping onto its bandwagon, only to fizzle out by the second half of the season.
These two teams are looking good right now, but look for them to take a step back by the end of the season and be mere pretenders rather than championship contenders.
Utah Jazz
When the Jazz started 10-3, they were the NBA’s feel-good story.
Over the summer, executive Danny Ainge had decided to hit the proverbial reset button by trading All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and therefore it was presumed Utah would be doing nothing else but getting into the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes this season.
Despite lacking any very likely All-Stars, it was one of the league’s highest-scoring teams during that 10-3 sprint, and even now, it still ranks fourth in points per game and third in offensive rating.
But now, the Jazz are just 14-12 and in ninth place in the Western Conference.
A week ago the Utah Jazz were the first seed in the Western Conference.
Today, they are now in 9th place 😳 pic.twitter.com/HCWVikF4FO
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 29, 2022
They may not be a lock to even reach the play-in tournament at this point.
New Orleans Pelicans
Many have been high on New Orleans’ potential this season, but not many expected it to hold a 15-8 record and be in second place in the West at this point.
It ranks in the top six in offensive and defensive rating, and it has done so even though Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson have missed some games.
The Pelicans, however, are a piece or two short of a full puzzle, so while they will likely make the playoffs again, don’t expect them to make much noise there.
