Its neither heaven nor hell. You're not great, you're not terrible.... you're in purgatory. Yes, it exists even in basketball. So how do we define purgatory for the sake of this article? Simple, any team that has legitimate hopes for the playoffs and more on their mind coming into the 2015-16 season, yet the teams constructed (at least today) does not have the firepower to get to the title game. Rebuilding teams, such as the Knicks, Wolves, Jazz and Magic will not be included due to the fact they are in the earlier stages of their rebuilding phases and have no legitimate deep playoff run hopes.
5: Atlanta Hawks
What has happened in Atlanta? Yes Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore are looking good, but between losing DeMarre Carrol, Kyle Korver's enormous drop off, and Jeff Teague just not being the same player as last year, this team just doesn't have the presence such as teams like the Raptors and the Cavs do. This was built top to bottom defensively last year, yet their OPPG has actually risen by over 2 points this year. Hope is not lost, with good consistent play from Milsap and Horford the Hawks are still in good position to make a run, but they must make a trade of some sort to have any hope of beating the East's top teams.
4: Memphis Grizzlies
I'm going to probably get some flack for this, but hear me out. As currently constructed the Grizzlies have a solid team, so why are they in this spot? Solely because of the conference they are in. When you know you're going to be dealing with teams such as the Warriors, Spurs, and even the Clippers you must up your arsenal. Yet the grizzlies didn't have much turnover from last year only losing notable players in Tayshaun Prince and Kosta Koufos (at the trade deadline, yet his presence is still missed). The players brought in to replace the production in Mario Chalmers and Vince Carter are good role players but don't quite put fear into an opponent. Yet Memphis has a scarier problem. Gasol, Randolph, Lee, Allen and Green have all been scoring less by an average of about a point or more this year compared to last. If this team can somehow pull off a big trade at the deadline they still have a shot at being the dark horse for the title, but barring that scenario, this team will maybe make it out of the first round but never further. With Gasol and Randolph aging and Conely potentially leaving come free agency,it might be time to blow it up and start from scratch.
3: Houston Rockets
Disappointment is an understatement. Firing Kevin McHale was a bit of a head scratcher at the beginning of the season. Combined with the decline of James Harden's MVP caliber play of last season and Dwight Howard's usual trade drama, this team just seems like a mess. They have holes everywhere, and while they could still make some trades and hope to salvage their season, there is no way they are making it past the top three teams in the west. This is the prime example of trying to band-aid a situation too many times and being stuck with the results. The rockets must retool somehow while Harden is still under contract and in his prime. Otherwise this team is destined for a small playoff run and then ousted by one of the more well put together teams in the West, not even considering the up and coming teams in the conference such as New Orleans and eventually Minnesota. Houston, we have a problem
2: Washington Wizards
John Wall is a great player, they have great role players in Otto Porter Jr and Bradley Beal. Yet this team is just built all wrong. With mostly just role players they have no Robin to Wall's Batman like last year when having Paul Pierce. Wall is only 25, so they have some time to retool, yet with consistent mediocrity from most positions they aren't built to win long term. There is no fall back option if Wall has a bad game, or in the future decides to leave. The frustration on the team is palpable, actually falling out of the playoffs recently (in the 10th spot as of this today). A second scoring option is a must if this team ever hopes of making it to the Eastern Conference Finals or further. With young teams making great strides in rebuilding as of late. The future is now for the wizard's, they just have to capitalize.
Honorable mentions:
Milwaukee Bucks:
Most of their deals from the past year since last deadline have not panned out. They were never looked at as any sort of favorite to make a deep playoff push or to win a title so that keeps them off this list.
Miami Heat:
Aging veterans and a stronger conference hasn't boded well for this team, yet Riley's continued savvy for finding solid players through the draft and undrafted players keep them off the main list.
Detroit Pistons:
Losing Monroe has been tough, yet Drummond is looking good. With only a few pieces away from a legitimate contender and a young core, this team has plenty of reason for optimism
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis needs a sidekick, and this team must get a bit younger to compete in this stacked conference. Failure to do so will lead them to being on this list next year
1: Chicago Bulls
The drop-off from this team has been a sobering experience for Bull's fans. Currently falling to the 6th spot in the East, they have been a complete mess. Some point to Joakim Noah's injury but this would have happened even if he was playing. The East just isn't the pushover it has been for the past few years, with teams like Indiana bouncing back, the Raptors capitalizing on their young and explosive team, and even young teams like the Celtics, Knicks, and Magic building their teams up to make a run in the future. We haven't even mentioned the Cavs still being the titan everyone is trying to topple standing in the way of the Bulls continuous tries to make it to the top of the mountain. Pau Gasol's age is starting to become apparent, Rose has flashes of his former brilliance but for the most part is a shell of what he used to be.
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