Are we the 2nd worst team in the NBA now?

[footey]

I know that our record is about the 6th worst at the moment, but losing 8 of our last 9, hard to see any of the teams that are worse than us besides the Sixers.

Depressing.

I started the season with decent hopes we could crack 35-40 wins and slip into the play-offs and gain valuable experience.  I had no idea we would be such a bad team defensively.

Last year, I came around to rooting to tank.  I really do not want to think about that this early in the season.  I have not been able to catch but a few of the games on the tube.  Is there hope of a turn around?  The first quarter and half tonight we seemed to be firing on all cylinders. 

What the heck happened?

And why doesn't Kelly shoot more?  Is it he can't get open, or he just has lost confidence?  Shooters should shoot.

Has Rondo forgotten how to score?  Maybe his prior modest scoring prowess was a product of being surrounded by 3 hall of famers. Nice to see he can still rebound and assist. But come on, 'do.

[Chris22]

We need to get Smart back.
That will help some.
Also we need to play more Eastern Conference teams.

[Vox_Populi]

I don't think so. We've had the fourth hardest schedule so far. And we've led by double digits in more than a few. 

This team is not as bad as the record shows. But the defense is as bad as advertised and that's probably the biggest problem.

[Who]

I believe it's just the schedule. It has been brutal. Team will do better over next few weeks.

[eugen]

Are we the 2nd worst team in the NBA now?

Are we the 2nd worst team in the NBA now? Yes...but we have the "best" coach of the NBA

[Tr1boy]

we wont win another game with Rondo starting unless we face a bottom 3 team in the league.

[D.o.s.]

Easy December should be nice. I'm hesitant to put my party on and tweak people's noses because I was adamant that this team was worse than last year's squad, but... we're worse than last year's team right now. And we were pretty bad last year.

[greece66]

Easy December should be nice. I'm hesitant to put my party on and tweak people's noses because I was adamant that this team was worse than last year's squad, but... we're worse than last year's team right now. And we were pretty bad last year.

The difference between last year and this year IMO is that now (regardless of the w record) there is a sense of direction and development. Last year was in all respects a mess.

[BballTim]

we wont win another game with Rondo starting unless we face a bottom 3 team in the league.

  If the over/under on this is 1, put me down for "over".

[hwangjini_1]

Easy December should be nice. I'm hesitant to put my party on and tweak people's noses because I was adamant that this team was worse than last year's squad, but... we're worse than last year's team right now. And we were pretty bad last year.

The difference between last year and this year IMO is that now (regardless of the w record) there is a sense of direction and development. Last year was in all respects a mess.

good points.

as for the celtics being he second worse team, the OP didnt provide much support for this lament, but based upon the nba power ratings there are 7 teams more putrid than our beloved celtics. i dont know whether to rejoice or weep. 

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings

[GratefulCs]

I don't think so. We've had the fourth hardest schedule so far. And we've led by double digits in more than a few. 

This team is not as bad as the record shows. But the defense is as bad as advertised and that's probably the biggest problem.

Bingo!

We're not that good, but not as bad as some might think

With a tough schedule, we were able to keep it close against some strong opponents.

We've also had some stretches where we look pretty darn good.

It's maddening sometimes, but this team sure is entertaining.. Even if we are a bottom feeder

[greece66]

Easy December should be nice. I'm hesitant to put my party on and tweak people's noses because I was adamant that this team was worse than last year's squad, but... we're worse than last year's team right now. And we were pretty bad last year.

The difference between last year and this year IMO is that now (regardless of the w record) there is a sense of direction and development. Last year was in all respects a mess.

good points.

as for the celtics being he second worse team, the OP didnt provide much support for this lament, but based upon the nba power ratings there are 7 teams more putrid than our beloved celtics. i dont know whether to rejoice or weep. 

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings

I am going to stay up till late to watch Philly vs Pistons. This is a real tankathon!
As for your point, I think we are in a really awkward situation. My feeling (pls before ppl start pelting tomatoes on me, consider I am saying that I think other people are doing) is that we are not interested in a mid-term fix that would help us get to the playoffs. At least, we did not go after such a deal in the summer.
Part of the reason is retaining flexibility for the infamous trade of the rim protector/go to scorer/you name it, the other part is that next's year draft is a promising one, especially with our needs in rim protection in mind.
But, the East is so [dang] weak that it looks like we might have to reconsider.
-You have Philly- lots of talent, but they really are a college team with a few d-leaguers (only exception IMO: Shved).
-Pistons are awful. I actually will watch the game to find out which of the two is worse.
-Knicks despite the Messiah's arrival are a mess and Melo is simply piling up empty stats
-Indiana is more akin to a hospital than a team
-Orlando, Charlotte and Brooklyn are underwhelming. Too early to pass judgment on any of the three but they especially Charlotte is disappointing.
Even Chicago and Cleveland (at least for now) are far from being powerhouses.

I for one did not expect the East to be that weak- I actually remember commentators repeating some months ago that the East would actually be more competitive this year.
And then you have the West, with decent teams like Utah and NOP having to play against superteams game after game.
Point is, it is very hard at this stage to say which path is best for the team (there was a relevant post today in this blog). What I am worried about is we do not get in the playoffs and still do not finish in the bottom 10. My feeling is (same warning as before) the front office will wait a couple of months till they have a clearer image and make their decisions.

PS This thing automatically rewrites d.a.m.n. as dang. Cute.

[wayupnorth]

Are we the 2nd worst team in the NBA now?

Are we the 2nd worst team in the NBA now? Yes...but we have the "best" coach of the NBA

Really?

 

[wayupnorth]

we wont win another game with Rondo starting unless we face a bottom 3 team in the league.

What a joke

[chambers]

No, we aren't the 2nd worst.
I'd say we are about the 4th to 6th worst team. What's keeping us from being a bottom 4 team is indeed our coach. His offense that made scrubby Butler teams compete with the best talent in the NCAA is actually working against NBA teams. I'm amazed at how quickly he's adjusted to the NBA. Thank god we don't have any good shooters or rim protector because we'd be a 6th seed in the East with no problems if we did. Who knows, with Zeller defending the paint (making it easier on Sully) and also running the pick and roll with Rondo, we may just end up battling for the 8th seed in this horrid conference. It's unlikely though because most NBA teams don't guard the pick and roll like the Lakers do. (like their eyes are closed!).

Teams we are better than:
-Philly- durrrr.
-Lakers- open tank job when you play Robert Sacre that many minutes vs a bottom team like us.
-Minnesota.
-Detroit- open tank job as Van Gundy aims to put decent draft pieces around Drummond, Caldwell Pope and Knight. They might creep up to a similar record to us depending on the ease of schedule.

After that, I'd say that the Knicks and Jazz are right there with us in a three team race for the 5th worst team.

What's going to help our draft position however, is the probable trading of Bass, Thornton, Turner and hopefully Wallace.

 I'm still not sure what will happen with Jeff Green.
Paul George's injury and his scandal with Hibbert's girlfriend may have given us one of the opportunities that Danny Ainge waits for- a disgruntled championship impact player needing a change of scenery and coming out of contract. I believe Danny desperately tried to trade Green last year, but couldn't find any takers for any kind of decent return.
 But 6 months later, Jeff Green being one of Hibbert's best buddies could be a large part of getting Hibbert over to Beantown. Danny will just have to convince Green to a friendly deal. After all we did look after him with his last contract so it's very possible. I am not a fan of Green and don't want to pay him more than $12 million a year under the new cap- but if it means getting Hibbert here and signed long term, then I guess I'd agree to it- it just means that moving Avery Bradley becomes mission number one.

Back to the OP's topic...
I'd say the answer is somewhere around the 5th, 6th, or 7th worst team. Without Stevens we'd be right there with the Lakers battling for 2nd or 3rd because our terrible defense wouldn't be countered by a decent offense. However if we trade Bass, Thornton and Turner I'm not sure how much Stevens can do to stop the pain, and by season's end a bottom 4 finish is not out of the question.
But hey, no pain, no gain.