NBA Panic Meter: 10 Teams To Monitor

Nov 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) goes past Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) to the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) goes past Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) to the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA
Nov 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) goes past Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) to the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

We’re not even two weeks into the NBA season, and already the the hot takes are running wild. Are the Sacramento Kings this year’s Phoenix Suns? Is Anthony Davis a realistic MVP candidate? Is this finally the season the Memphis Grizzlies grit-n-grind their way to the top? These are the more optimistic examples, but most of the hot takes are far more negative.

Namely, any time a team starts off with a bad record, or doesn’t blow us away when they’re supposed to compete for a playoff spot, we inch our hands closer and closer to the panic button.

So far, there are 10 teams that fit those two categories. We knew teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves were going to be rebuilding/bad, but what about the teams that have a shot at making the postseason? Here’s a look at 10 teams that have struggled out the gate, including a rating from 1-10 on our NBA Panic Meter about how concerned we should be.

Next: The Hawks Need To Get Acclimated