NBA: 5 Most Disappointing Teams So Far In 2016-17

Apr 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Dallas Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (27) rebound in the fourth quarter at Target Center. The Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 88-78. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics finished the 2015-16 campaign with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference.

After falling to the Atlanta Hawks in opening round of last year’s playoffs, they signed one of the biggest marquee free agents (outside of Kevin Durant) during the offseason in Al Horford.

With a versatile big man in the mix, many expected the Celtics to not only become a perennial playoff contender, but also take the next step toward elevating themselves as one of the top-tiered teams in the East.

But thanks to Horford and Jae Crowder sustaining early injuries, the Celtics have gotten off to a slow start, winning 13 of their first 24 games. Furthermore, after finishing fourth in defensive rating a year ago, the Celts are currently ranked 17th in this category.

Although the Celtics have not established themselves as the second-best squad in the eastern conference, they trail the first place Cavaliers by just five games.

Along with that, two of the three teams in front of them — the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks — have been kind of up and down this season.

That being said, there is still more than enough time for the Celtics to move up in the standings and supplant the Raptors as the No. 2 team in the conference.