Two weeks into the 2026-27 NBA season, several teams are raising alarm bells despite the small sample size. CBS Sports evaluates five struggling teams with a panic meter rating.
New York Knicks (3-4)
The defending champions have started slowly, losing four games by single digits. Coach Mike Brown cites offensive stagnation, with the team ranking 28th in late-clock shooting efficiency compared to fourth last season. Jalen Brunson's shooting is down after offseason wrist surgery, but the Knicks' proven formula and strong backup center play keep panic low at 3 out of 10.
Utah Jazz (1-6)
Rookie Darryn Peterson has struggled, averaging 13.4 points and 3.3 assists while failing to attack the rim. The Jazz rank 29th in offense, and the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr. (torn MCL) hurts interior defense. However, with a young, asset-rich roster and a championship window years away, panic is moderate at 5 out of 10.
Denver Nuggets (3-3)
Nikola Jokić's decline is the primary concern: his 3-point shooting (7-of-31), intermediate finishing, and free-throw rate have dropped significantly. His defensive rebounding rate is below 22% after never falling under 26% as a starter. The Nuggets' championship hopes rely on Jokić returning to MVP form; panic meter sits at 6 out of 10.
Phoenix Suns (1-4)
The Suns' offense performs far better with Collin Gillespie on the floor (119.4 offensive rating) than without (110.2), yet Jalen Green remains the starter. Phoenix has lost its high-effort identity, ranking 30th in defensive rating, 26th in deflections, and 27th in loose balls recovered. With limited draft capital and a supermax contract for Devin Booker, panic is high at 7 out of 10.
Miami Heat (2-5)
Miami's defense, expected to be top-five, ranks in the bottom five. The roster lacks two-way players; only Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell, and Andrew Wiggins create their own shots. Transition offense ranks 24th in efficiency. With minimal draft assets and Antetokounmpo in his 30s, panic reaches 8 out of 10.
