It’s that time of year again in the NBA.
Time for the annual get-away games this week where teams around the league take the floor one last time before embarking on NBA All- Star weekend — this time in Orlando — or to take advantage of some much needed time away from the game to rest up both physically and mentally. And in this condensed scheduled season with back-to-back games more common than a Jeremy Lin name pun, a number of teams couldn’t be more ready for a break.
Here’s a closer look at five teams anxious for their hoops hiatus to start:
Charlotte – You can’t start the season 4-27 with the worst record in the NBA and not be thankful for the chance to get away from the craziness for a little bit. Charlotte’s recent loss came Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, just days after they stopped a 16-game skid against Toronto, which was their first win since January 14 versus Golden State. The Bobcats are averaging a league-low 86.9 points per game, are 2-16 on the road this season, and rank 27th in the NBA in field-goal percentage. Painful. The bright spot…who are we kidding? The silver-lining is nowhere to be found unless you look toward the NBA Draft and rookie Bismack Biyombo, who went for 8 points, 13 rebounds and 7 blocks in the win over the Raptors last week.
Sacramento – The Kings (10-21) own the longest current losing streak in the league at five games, and to make matters worse face the Heat in Miami on Tuesday night, with LeBron James and company tied for the best record in the NBA (25-7) and winners of six-straight. The Kings have tried to stop the bleeding all season long. Back in early January when Sacramento was 2-5 and last in the Pacific Division, they fired head coach Paul Westphal for the Kings shaky start and feuding with DeMarcus Cousins. Insert Keith Smart and eight more wins. If the Kings aren’t careful they will lose more than just a bunch of basketball games this season — perhaps even their franchise. Will some rest and relaxation be enough to turn this team around?
Boston – It may be time to blow up the Celtics, that is unless they implode first. This is a franchise that won an NBA Championship in 2008, took home the Atlantic Division title last season, and are barely staying afloat at .500 in the East this season at 15-16. They have lost four-straight and are without Rajon Rondo (serving a two-game suspension), Kevin Garnett (hip), Brandon Bass (sore right knee) and recently lost Jermaine O’Neal (sprained left wrist) and Chris Wilcox (right adductor strain) as well to injuries. At the start of the season, the knock on the Celtics were they were getting old. But the truth is, this team just can’t stay health as Doc Rivers has used 11 different starting line-ups in 31 games this season.
Philadelphia – Ok, so everyone is surprised to see the Sixers on this list. Well, guess what? A lot more people are shocked to see Doug Collins’ squad perched atop the Atlantic Division (20-12), especially after playing nine of their last 11 games against teams currently in the top five of the Western and Eastern Conference. This mini-three game losing streak — their first of the season by the way — may be nothing to worry about, but with the start Philly has had to this season thanks to veterans Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand, getting the chance to recoup mentally will help prepare them for a tough second half of the season. This will particularly benefit the play of Lou Williams (15.9 points per game) and Jrue Holiday (13.6 ppg), who currently are the Sixers’ leading and second leading scorers on the team.
Portland – If you are looking for the most up and down team in the league, look no further than the Portland Trail Blazers (17-16). And this isn’t a nod to any up-tempo aspirations head coach Nate McMillan has this season, but instead to the Blazers helter skelter play within games and throughout the first half of this season. They started the season 11-1 at the Rose Garden. They’ve since lost four of their last five at home. Hit a bunch of three-pointers. Fail to rebound and become turnover happy. Have all-star LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum lead the team in scoring on various nights (and both have been hobbled by injuries of late). Watch Ray Felton and Wesley Matthews struggle for 48-minutes straight on the regular. If smoke isn’t emanating from McMillan being on the hot seat, then it’s likely fuming from his ears with both frustration and disappointment mounting this season in Rip City after such lofty expectations. To make matters worse Portland faces the San Antonio Spurs — winners of 11 in a row — at the Rose Garden on Tuesday night. Portland’s break can’t come soon enough.
