Five NBA teams that could struggle to start the season

NBA titles aren’t won or lost in October, but a team’s season can be derailed by a slow start. Whether due to injuries or a brutal early schedule, here are five NBA teams who may struggle to start the 2024-25 season.

Memphis Grizzlies

The injuries keep piling up for Memphis. After GG Jackson and Vince Williams, Jr. suffered injuries, Jaren Jackson, Jr. strained his hamstring on the first day of training camp. Then Ja Morant injured his ankle.

Both Jackson and Morant are expected to be back for the opener, but the revamped Grizzlies won’t have had much time on the court together. That includes rookie center Zach Edey, who still looks rough in preseason games. It’s a bad sign that the team is this banged-up before the real games begin, and in the competitive Western Conference, there’s little margin for error.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns once again have a tough schedule, but it’s especially brutal early. They play four of their first five games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, while their home opener is on the second night of a back-to-back against the defending West champs, the Dallas Mavericks. 12 of their first 17 games are against playoff teams from last year, and two more are against the 46-win Sacramento Kings.

That’s not the gentle start you might want when new head coach Mike Budenholzer is bringing in a new offensive system, and the Suns are integrating four new rotation players. Surviving this stretch will be huge for the Suns’ playoff hopes.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have one main priority this season: keep their veterans healthy for the playoffs. That’s going to mean frequent rest for Joel Embiid and Paul George, both who have been managing knee ailments already. Meanwhile, the team could have as many as 10 new players who weren’t on last season’s roster.

While they’re getting up to speed, the 76ers play 11 likely playoff teams in their first 14 games, which includes a three-game West Coast road trip and brutal back-to-back games against the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Sixers should be fine overall, but the season could easily start sluggishly for the Eastern contenders.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers may have the hardest schedule in the NBA this season, and they don’t get to ease into it. 13 of their first 15 games are against teams that made at least the play-in last season, while the other two are against the improved San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies. Portland plays four back-to-backs in the season’s first three weeks, meaning four of their first 13 games will be on short rest.

They’ll also likely start the season without Shaedon Sharpe and center Robert Williams, who are both rehabbing injuries. As if the opening stretch wasn’t difficult enough for Portland.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers open their brand-new arena Oct. 23, but they don’t get a lot of easy games early. Even considering their home matchup with the Blazers, the Clippers could be underdogs in eight of their first nine games.

Especially if Kawhi Leonard is out. The Clippers star missed four of the team’s six playoff games in April, then had knee surgery in May. Leonard withdrew from the Olympic basketball team, and was held out of drills and all training camp games. The early grind would be tough with Leonard, and will be especially tough if the Clippers won’t have The Claw to start the season.