Week 19 is here. We examine the power balance as well as explore which player on each team has been disappointing this season.
- Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 52-9
Previous: 1
At 52-9, Milwaukee doesn’t truly have anyone who has been all that disappointing this season. The reverse consolation prize goes to Wesley Matthews, who is putting up just 7.5 PPG this season, the lowest mark of his career.
Disappointing: Wesley Matthews
- Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 46-13
Previous: 2
At age 33, Rajon Rondo hasn’t played as well this season, due in large part to point guard LeBron James. Still, Rondo has been fine; the Lakers don’t truly have any disappointing players.
Disappointing: Rajon Rondo
- Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 41-19
Previous: 5
Has Paul George been disappointing this season? While he isn’t an MVP candidate anymore, he’s coming back from injury and still been solid this year. The pick goes to JaMychal Green, who has had a reduced bench role this season.
Disappointing: JaMychal Green
- Boston Celtics
Record: 41-18
Previous: 4
To be fair, Romeo Langford is only 20. However, the 14th pick in the draft has provided next to nothing in the minutes he’s played: a -4.1 BPM and a horrible 6.5 PER.
Disappointing: Romeo Langford
- Toronto Raptors
Record: 42-18
Previous: 3
Again, there isn’t anyone on the team who has been truly disappointing. Everyone besides Marc Gasol has stepped up scoring-wise since Kawhi Leonard left, so Gasol gets this pick.
Disappointing: Marc Gasol
- Denver Nuggets
Record: 41-19
Previous: 6
At age 25, Gary Harris is putting up the worst scoring numbers and shooting percentages since his age 19 rookie season. Denver will need him to play better down the stretch if they want to make a playoff run.
Disappointing: Gary Harris
- Miami Heat
Record: 39-22
Previous: 9
Honestly, no one on the Heat has been disappointing. Kelly Olynyk doesn’t deserve the nomination but someone has to fill the void. Olynyk has seen his scoring numbers drop to the lowest mark of his career.
Disappointing: Kelly Olynyk
- Houston Rockets
Record: 39-21
Previous: 7
Once considered to be an elite shooter, Eric Gordon has seen his three-point percentage drop to 32.6 percent this season. Houston will need him to shoot better if they want the small-ball experiment to work.
Disappointing: Eric Gordon
- Utah Jazz
Record: 38-22
Previous: 10
Obvious pick: Mike Conley hasn’t fit in well with his new team this season. Putting him next to another ball-dominant point guard in Donovan Mitchell hurts Utah’s spacing. The Jazz played their best basketball when Conley was injured for an extended time.
Disappointing: Mike Conley
- Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 37-23
Previous: 8
At age 21, Terrance Ferguson has yet to make that leap forward in development. He is putting up just 4.4 PPG on 37.8 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from deep this season.
Disappointing: Terrance Ferguson
- Indiana Pacers
Record: 37-24
Previous: 13
Since coming back from injury, Victor Oladipo has looked entirely out of sync. His numbers are down across the board, with his BPM dropping from 2.9 to -5.6 so far this season.
Disappointing: Victor Oladipo
- Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 37-24
Previous: 11
After signing a four-year, $109 million contract, Al Horford has not fit in at all with his new team. Part of it is on Brett Brown for sticking him on the three-point line. However, Horford’s shooting numbers are down and he’s likely going back to the bench once Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid return.
Disappointing: Al Horford
- Dallas Mavericks
Record: 37-25
Previous: 12
After signing a three-year, $28 million contract with Dallas in the offseason, Wright has provided very little as the Mavericks’ third point guard. With Jalen Brunson hurt, the Mavericks will need Wright to play better going forward.
Disappointing: Delon Wright
- Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 30-31
Previous: 15
No one really; this team has outperformed all expectations. However, after starting for much of last season, Kyle Anderson has seen a significantly reduced role this season, and his scoring numbers have dropped considerably.
Disappointing: Kyle Anderson
- New Orleans Pelicans Record: 26-34 Previous: 16
Expected to be the Pelicans’ backup point guard, Frank Jackson is shooting just 39.5 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from deep. His playing time has dwindled recently, as well.
Disappointing: Frank Jackson
- Sacramento Kings
Record: 26-34
Previous: 18
Poor Marvin Bagley III. He may always be remembered as the guy taken ahead of Luka Doncic. In his second season, Bagley has dealt with more injuries, playing only 13 of 60 possible games this year.
Disappointing: Marvin Bagley III
- Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 27-35
Previous: 17
It’s tough to point to one specific guy who has been disappointing on this team. Everyone besides Hassan Whiteside has taken a step back defensively, which has hurt them late in games. Zach Collins getting injured three games into the season has hurt a lot, as well.
Disappointing: Zach Collins
- Orlando Magic
Record: 27-34
Previous: 20
Every year, Aaron Gordon has been expected to take a big leap, and yet he still never has. At age 24, he is putting up just 14.4 PPG this season, the lowest mark of his career since his age 21 season.
Disappointing: Aaron Gordon
- Brooklyn Nets
Record: 26-33
Previous: 14
Brooklyn traded their first-round pick from last season to get Taurean Prince from Atlanta, but he hasn’t played well this season. Prince is currently averaging just 12.4 PPG on 38.7 percent from the field, despite starting most nights.
Disappointing: Taurean Prince
- San Antonio Spurs
Record: 25-34
Previous: 19
To be fair, Dejounte Murray hasn’t been bad, and he is coming off a torn ACL. However, many thought he would be a star after the 2017-18 season and he’s still nowhere close to that level.
Disappointing: Dejounte Murray
- Washington Wizards
Record: 22-37
Previous: 22
On a team full of Bradley Beal, Davis Bertans, and G-Leaguers, it’s tough to have anyone truly disappointing. John Wall is making $37.8 million this season to sit on the bench recovering from a torn Achilles.
Disappointing: John Wall
- Chicago Bulls
Record: 21-40
Previous: 23
Prior to suffering a pelvis injury, Lauri Markkanen was putting up the worst numbers of his career. Once he returns, Markkanen will have to play better if Chicago wants to make the playoffs this season.
Disappointing: Lauri Markkanen
- Phoenix Suns
Record: 24-37
Previous: 21
Expected to be the team’s starting power forward, Dario Saric has provided next to nothing for Phoenix this season. His 9.5 PPG average this season is the lowest mark of his career; he will be a restricted free agent in July.
Disappointing: Dario Saric
- Charlotte Hornets
Record: 21-39
Previous: 25
With 21 wins, Charlotte has already exceeded expectations. However, Nicolas Batum has fallen off a cliff this season, putting up just 3.6 PPG despite making $25.5 million.
Disappointing: Nicolas Batum
- New York Knicks
Record: 19-42
Previous: 26
Guess what? Leon Rose is 1-0 as the president of the New York Knicks. That’s a good start for the former player-agent. Dennis Smith, Jr., in Year 3, has taken a massive step back, shooting just 34.1 percent from the field this season.
Disappointing: Dennis Smith, Jr.
- Atlanta Hawks
Record: 19-44
Previous: 24
Atlanta has a roster of young players, so it’s tough to pick one necessarily disappointing guy. Arguably the only player who plays defense on this team, Deandre Bembry, has been out for nearly two months with an abdominal injury.
Disappointing: Deandre Bembry
- Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 17-42
Previous: 27
The sixth overall pick, Jarrett Culver, has looked stagnant as a rookie, putting up just 9.1 PPG on 39.4 percent from the field this season.
Disappointing: Jarrett Culver
- Detroit Pistons
Record: 20-42
Previous: 29
Before having season-ending surgery, Blake Griffin had fallen off a cliff at age 30. His 15.5 PPG and 35.2 percent from the field were far and away the lowest marks of his career.
Disappointing: Blake Griffin
- Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 17-44
Previous: 28
Since coming to Cleveland, Andre Drummond has gotten boxed out of the Cavaliers’ offense, and his scoring numbers have dropped. The Cavaliers may have an issue on their hands if he opts into his player option for next season.
Disappointing: Andre Drummond
- Golden State Warriors
Record: 13-48
Previous: 30
The 28th pick in the draft, Jordan Poole, has been one of the worst players in the NBA this season. But Poole is young and could have a bright future in the NBA.
Disappointing: Jordan Poole
