NBA's Slow Starters

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Nov 21, 2008

NBA's Slow Starters

Tracy McGrady | Houston Rockets

(All stats and records are through Nov. 20) A lingering knee injury has limited McGrady's explosiveness and even prompted him to consider shutting it down until his health improved. He had two- and three-point performances in back-to-back games, and scored in single digits two other times in the Rockets' first 11 contests. A career 22-point scorer, McGrady is averaging 15.9 points (on 39.5 percent shooting from the field). Who would you add to the list? Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

Andre Iguodala | Philadelphia 76ers

Expectations naturally increased after Iguodala signed a six-year, $80 million extension last offseason. But the versatile swingman has struggled offensively as the 76ers work to incorporate power forward Elton Brand into their attack. Iguodala's scoring average has dipped to 12.8 (from 19.9 last season) and his shooting percentage (38.1) is well below his career mark (46.5).

Luol Deng | Chicago Bulls

Like Andre Iguodala, Deng has yet to get it going after signing a lucrative deal (six years, $71 million) over the summer. Deng was an efficient scorer the previous three seasons, but he's opened 2008-09 by hitting only 39.3 percent to account for his pedestrian 14.4-point average. He is averaging 9.0 points (on 30.2 percent shooting) in road games.

Ricky Davis | Los Angeles Clippers

There's plenty of blame to go around for the Clippers' dreadful start, but Davis stands out for averaging 4.7 points and shooting 29.9 percent from the field in 20.9 minutes. His paltry production would seem to open the door for shooting guard Eric Gordon to seize more minutes off the bench, but the rookie hasn't inspired much confidence either (3.8 points, 33.3 percent)

J.R. Smith | Denver Nuggets

The streaky shooter went on a tear after the All-Star break last season, a hot streak that suggested bigger things to come and helped him earn a three-year, $16.5 million deal in the offseason. But that high level of production (15.7 points, 49.3 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three-point range over a 30-game stretch) has proved elusive so far this season, especially from beyond the arc, where Smith is hitting only 29.2 percent.

Earl Watson | Oklahoma City Thunder

The veteran point guard denied a published report that he has requested a trade. Not that he's doing much to enhance his value: He is shooting 34.6 percent during the Thunder's terrible start, though that paltry mark is well ahead of rookie backup Russell Westbrook's 31.7 percent.

Randy Foye | Minnesota Timberwolves

The No. 7 pick in the 2006 draft has been unable to nail down the Wolves' starting point guard job. He was benched after four games (on the heels of 3-for-14 and 0-for-10 shooting efforts) in favor of Sebastian Telfair, who himself hasn't made a convincing case to start. Coach Randy Wittman recently reinserted Foye into the starting lineup as struggling Minnesota continues to search for the right combinations.

Sean May | Charlotte Bobcats

Charlotte was hoping that May, returning after missing the entire 2007-08 season with a knee injury, could fill its yawning need for frontcourt help. But May's conditioning lagged to the point that coach Larry Brown deactivated him for five games. May has since rejoined the starting lineup, though his minutes have been scarce.

Peja Stojakovic | New Orleans Hornets

Stojakovic's subpar production (11.6 points, 37.4 percent shooting) helps explain why the Hornets opened a sluggish 5-5, including a surprising home loss to Sacramento.

Mike Conley | Memphis Grizzlies

Coach Marc Iavaroni said recently that the No. 4 pick in the 2007 draft wasn't playing hard enough. Conley, meanwhile, admitted last week that he wasn't playing with confidence. Memphis has stayed with him as the starting point guard even though he is shooting 33.8 percent, including 1-of-15 from three-point range. Who would you add to the list? Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.