Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics dribbles downcourt during the Celtics home opener against the Toronto Raptors; NBA (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The NBA season is less than 10 games into the regular season and some teams are already struggling. While there are no winless teams still, some are still having some serious issues.
There are a total of seven teams that have only won a single game at the time of writing this. Meanwhile, there are seven other teams who have already won five games.
Some of the teams towards the top of the conferences were projected to be playoff teams, and some who are towards the top were projected to barely make the play-in.
With such a weird season fully underway, should any of these struggling teams be worried? Which teams need to be hitting the panic button right about now?
NBA teams who need to hit the panic button: Boston Celtics
Despite losing two of their regular starters from last season, some could argue that Boston’s roster got better this season on paper. Unfortunately, that is not showing on the court right now.
The Boston Celtics are off to a 2-4 start to the year, including two devastating losses in double overtime. It’s been an ugly start to the season for new head coach Ime Udoka, to say the least.
Jayson Tatum is playing inconsistent, Marcus Smart has been shooting terribly, and they just can’t seem to put things together. Things are not going well in Boston.
The one highlight to their year is that Al Horford and Robert Williams look great on both ends of the floor. Other than that, panic might be starting to set in for Celtics fans right now.
that is not showing on the court right now.</a></p>
<p>The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"https://hardwoodhoudini.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston Celtics</a> are off to a 2-4 start to the year, including two devastating losses in double overtime. It’s been an ugly start to the season for new head coach Ime Udoka, to say the least.</p>
<p>Jayson Tatum is playing inconsistent, Marcus Smart has been shooting terribly, and they just can’t seem to put things together. Things are not going well in Boston.</p>
<p>The one highlight to their year is that Al Horford and Robert Williams look great on both ends of the floor. Other than that, panic might be starting to set in for Celtics fans right now.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_437341" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-437341 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F11%2F1347802172.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/11/1347802172.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/11/1347802172-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>NBA teams who need to hit the panic button: New Orleans Pelicans</h2>
<p>The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"https://pelicandebrief.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Orleans Pelicans</a> are 1-6 so far this season. Zion Williamson may be out, but this team is still talented enough to win more than one of their first seven games.</p>
<p>Their record is currently tied for the worst in the NBA, and things are looking rough in Louisiana. Brandon Ingram has been on fire shooting-wise, but it just hasn’t translated to wins just yet.</p>
<p>They are bottom ten in the league in both points per game and opponents’ points per game. The Pelicans just can’t seem to put things together on either side of the floor.</p>
<p>Ingram and Jonas Valacniunas are the only real positives outside of a couple of their rookies. However, with the way this team is trending, they should have a lot more things going well than just a couple of rookies.</p>
<p>With talent such as Ingram and Williamson on the roster, this is a squad that should be fighting for the playoffs. Instead, it looks like they could be fighting for Chet Holmgren.</p>
<p>Speaking of Williamson, he looks as though he’s in the worst shape of his career. Dealing with injuries is never easy, but this is taking it to a whole other level.</p>
<p>There were recent reports that said Williamson was over 300 pounds at points this offseason. That’s just unacceptable for an NBA player who relies on his athleticism.</p>
<p>Pelicans fans should be ready to hit that panic button any day now. Right now, things are looking as bad as can be for New Orleans.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Team #3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_437342" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-437342 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F11%2F1348813976.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/11/1348813976.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/11/1348813976-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Justin Holiday #8 and Chris Duarte #3 of the Indiana Pacers celebrate after beating the Miami Heat (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>NBA teams who need to hit the panic button: Indiana Pacers</h2>
<p>The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"https://8points9seconds.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indiana Pacers</a> are another one of those teams who have only managed to win one game this season. Weirdly enough, however, their one win came against a team that has only lost one game – the Miami Heat.</p>
<p>In fairness to Indiana, they have been dealing with some injuries this year. That being said, it feels as though the Pacers are always dealing with injuries.</p>
<p>While that may not be through any fault of their own, the trend cannot be ignored. However, things seem to be a bit worse this season than in previous years.</p>
<p>The only good storyline coming out of Indiana this year is <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/26/nba-rookie-ladder-week-1-small-sample/">rookie Chris Duarte.</a> He looks great, but outside of that, the losses are piling up for the Pacers and new head coach Rick Carlisle.</p>
<p>After the mess last season involving head coach Nate Bjorkgren, most people assumed that their problems were over. Now it seems as though the head coach was not the issue in Indiana.</p>
<p>The Pacers have always been one of those teams who are good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to make that push in the postseason. Now, they might not even be good enough to make the playoffs.</p>
<p>With all the talent in the East, the Pacers could end up struggling. Maybe it’s time to not only hit the panic button but also think about hitting that reset button.</p>
<p>Indiana has consistently refused to rebuild their roster. However, they might not have a choice this time around if the team continues to play like this.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA Power Rankings Week 3" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/31/nba-power-rankings-week-3-scorching-heat/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/01/nba-teams-hit-panic-button/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/31/nba-power-rankings-week-3-scorching-heat/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Power Rankings Week 3 </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">
