The NBA season is in full swing as expectations for players rises and falls. Here’s a look at the underperformers and overachievers for Week 7.
With December right around the corner, the brunt of the 2017-18 NBA schedule is just about underway. As a result, we’ll start taking a look at some players trending in the overachiever and underperformer categories.
An overachiever is a player, coach or team considered to have exceeded all expectations set before them. This could be a potential Most Improved Player candidate or a player who was thrown into the fire early due to injury.
New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis could be considered an overachiever depending on how you look at it. Porzingis is fifth in the NBA in scoring (25.8 points per game) after averaging just 18.1 points last season. The Knicks are just 11-10 this season, but they’re playing on a whole ‘nother level thanks to the efforts of Porzingis.
An underperformer is a player, coach or team consider to be performing well below the expectations set before them. They’ve otherwise put on an underwhelming display of things so far this season.
For example, Miami Heat big man Hassan Whiteside could be considered an underperformer by regular standards. Whiteside is averaging 14.9 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 15 appearances for the Heat, who have a 10-11 record. So far, his production is down from a season ago (17.0 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game). His NBA 2K18 rating may need to take a hit or two to wake him up.
Here’s a look at this week’s underperformers and overachievers.