Every East’s NBA Teams Most Underperforming Player
Detroit Pistons:
Blake Griffin
Ever since his latest knee injury in late 2019, Griffin has not been the same player that we were used to seeing during Lob City. Even with Griffin averaging more than 30 minutes per game, in twenty games he was only able to put up 12, 5, and 4. He recently left Detroit for Brooklyn, which means that he will finally have a chance to win a championship.
Orlando Magic:
Aaron Gordon
This was supposed to be the year where Gordon put up 20 ppg and the Magic when 40 plus games. However, the Magic are now the second worst team in the Eastern Conference and he is putting up his usual numbers of 14, 7, and 4. He has some good games (dropped 38 on the Nets) but more often has games where he shoots 3–13 from the field and you wonder why he’s the Magic #2 option. With Gordon’s career stagnating and the Magic looking to start over, this looks like the last few games of his Magic career.
Washington Wizards:
Russell Westbrook
Looking at his stats from the last few games, it does not look like he’s lost a step. As in the last three games vs the Nets, Jazz and Kings, he dropped 29, 35 and 26. However these games don’t fully exemplify the struggles that Westbrook has been going through this year. He is currently averaging one of the lowest point totals and field goal efficiency in his career, for a team with 26 losses. When you picture Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook on the same team, you do not think of 13th place in the Eastern Conference. With they way both of them have been playing, the Wizards have to be one of the most disappointing teams this year.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Kevin Love
The steep drop off of Kevin Love was highly exaggerated until this season. He has played 4 games due to injury, while only averaging 5, 3, and 1. He is shooting 31% from the field and 33% from three point range; this is his worst season of all time. Not to mention that he is earning 31 million per year which means that until 2021, he’ll be the leading cheerleader on the Cavs bench.
Toronto Raptors:
Pascal Siakam
The 2020–2021 campaign has been the first down year of Siakam’s career. During every other season, he had improved in some major category to lead his Raptors towards another playoff appearance. This year however, his scoring has gone down, his efficiency has gone down, and he has missed ten games due to a left knee injury. He is also 0–4 on game winning shots, and has led the Raptors to the bottom of the pitiful Eastern Conference. The Raptors should be a top 3 seed, Siakam should be making the All Star game and be in the conversation for MVP. Instead it seems that everyone has taken a gigantic step back.
Chicago Bulls:
Wendell Carter Jr
It seems like this was going to be the breakout year for Wendell Carter Jr. He had spent a few years developing, and now Carter could star next to LaVine and become the next potent duo. Then all of the sudden, Coby White broke out. White is now averaging 15 ppg, to Carter’s 11 ppg which means that we could soon see a shift of power within the Bulls rotation. In fact, Carter has been stuck at 11 ppg for his entire career, and he is currently averaging his lowest minutes of his entire career which further questions his future role on this team.
Indiana Pacers:
TJ Warren
After his bubble performance where he dropped 50 points and was named regular season bubble MVP, the Pacers expected great things from their new up and coming star. He has responded by missing 37 games, and only averaging 15, 3, and 1. This has been the worst year of his career, and you wonder if all this attention has caught up to him. With the Pacers in no man-land, expect him, Domantas Sabonis, and Malcolm Brogdon to be shipped off for picks before the season ends.
Charlotte Hornets:
Devonte’ Graham
After his breakout campaign in the 19–20 season, Graham was met with more expectations as he and LaMelo were going to be the next great Hornets backcourt. LaMelo has been spectacular this season and was on pace to become Rookie of the Year before his right hand injury. Graham’s season has been very different as Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward have supplanted the 26 year-old guard on the depth chart. His points are way down, his minutes played are down, and his confidence is at a all-time low. If the Hornets do not want any chemistry issues within the locker room, then they must trade either Graham, Rozier, or Hayward.
New York Knicks:
Obi Toppin
Despite the Knicks being the most surprising team to watch this year, their #8 pick has been anything but amazing. He is currently only averaging 4 points on 48% shooting from the field and 30% shooting from three point land. The The Player of the Year at Dayton, now struggles to play more minutes than his fellow rookie who was picked #25. In fact at this point in time, Immanuel Quickley is having a better season than Obi Toppin, who already looks like another New York bust.
Boston Celtics:
Kemba Walker
This has been a very underwhelming year for Walker as he and his Celtics are currently stuck in mediocrity. He has missed almost half of Boston’s games, and has been having no impact when actually on the court. His -1.02 DRPM is 26th out of all point guards in the NBA. Not good for a player who recently was starting in the All Star game.
Miami Heat:
Tyler Herro
At face value, you would think that Herro is having another amazing season. His scoring is up, his rebound, assists, block, and steal totals have gone up. However his efficiency has gone down, and the Heat have struggled even with Herro on the floor for 32 minutes per game. His Usage rate is 67th in the league while his Player Efficiency Rating is 204th. He has to learn to be more steady with the ball, and has to improve is all around play for the Heat to make the finals again.
Atlanta Hawks:
John Collins
Just last season, it looked like Trae Young and John Collins would be a great fit together, and lead the Hawks to prominence. Instead when the Hawks acquired Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo and Danilo Gallinari in free agency, John Collins role in the offense changed from being a top priority to being an afterthought. No longer do the Hawks run pick and roll plays from Young to Collins. No longer is Collins being mentioned as a fringe All Star while averaging 21, and 10. He is now averaging 18 and 8, while constantly being mentioned in trade rumors. This could be the untimely end of a partnership between Collins and the Hawks front office.
Milwaukee Bucks:
Jrue Holiday
With an increased role and more duties being placed on his shoulders, it should come as no surprise that Holiday is currently going through the worst season of his career since 2014. He was supposed to be the point guard that Giannis was looking for, but with the Bucks sporting their worst record in two years, it seems that they have taken a step back instead of showcasing their championship effort.
Brooklyn Nets:
DeAndre Jordan
Jordan does not have a big role on this team as he is asked to average a couple points, feed the ball to the stars, make some nice defensve plays, and then ride the bench. He is doing that to perfection as he is putting up 7 ppg while shooting almost 80% from the field in 23 minutes of play. However due to his massive 21 million dollar contract, you get the feeling that Nets general manager Sean Marks would like to get a bit more production out of the 32 year-old big man.
Philadelphia 76ers:
Danny Green
Green, the three point specialist is shooting below 40% from the three point line for the second straight season. He is also putting up his lowest scoring output in the highest minutes played of his career. If he doesn’t improve soon, then he could be on his 4th team in 4 years.
