Give And Go: Which teams can turn it around and who's for real?

Deron Williams and the Nets are off to a woeful start on offense. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Give And Go is a recurring feature in which The Point Forward’s

Deron Williams and the Nets are off to a woeful start on offense. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Give And Go is a recurring feature in which The Point Forward’s Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney bat an NBA topic du jour back and forth.

This week: Examining the teams that appear to have turned it around, and teams that need turning around, after two weeks of the 2013-14 season. (All stats and records are through Nov. 14.)

1. The Nets are 2-5 with a payroll that exceeds $100 million. How can they turn this around?

Rob Mahoney: Through better offensive flow. Brooklyn plays like a team thinking entirely too hard about its offense. Every move is so deliberate as to sap a possession of its continuity, with a group of new, well-meaning teammates looking to do right by one another to a fault. There's no momentum from one action to the next -- no defender slightly out of position, no offensive player set up to field an easy pass before taking the play in a different direction. It's all so doggedly straightforward that this incredibly deep, talented roster ranks only 27th in points scored per possession. The Nets will get better. The only question is how much the Nets will be able to bridge the divide between their current, depressing scoring marks and the expectation inspired by a team with so many shooters and shot creators.

I tend to think they'll ultimately fall closer to the latter than the former, particularly once the newness of the Nets' roster situation sinks in and the players have a better feel for how they can best contribute in first-year coach Jason Kidd's offense. There's bound to be better timing on kick-out passes from the block and more hope of the ball swinging to the right spot on the floor. The pick-and-roll execution stands to be far cleaner, particularly as Deron Williams and Kevin Garnett (who's had a hell of a time converting wide-open shots as a floor spacer) establish a better rhythm. All of those elements will feed into one another, provided the Nets can find ways to make their offense operation a bit more dynamic. The talent is there. The balance is there. Everything is just stagnant right now with the foundation so stilted. Give it time.

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Ben Golliver: This team has snatched the "Whole is significantly smaller than the sum of its parts" mantle from last year's Lakers in record time. I agree that the underlying issue is uncertainty over the offensive pecking order, for which I blame Williams more than anyone else.

If Dwight Howard didn't exist, I suspect that Williams would be the target of triple the national media animosity that he currently receives. Last year was "put up or shut up" time for Williams after his big extension and drawn-out free agency process; the 2012-13 Nets season, as we all know, was decidedly lacking in the "put up" department. Instead, Williams dealt with questions about his conditioning and health, he suffered through stretches of uneven play, he was blamed (at least partially) for a midseason coaching change and the Nets lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Brooklyn entered this season with a stacked roster on paper. But Williams sat out most of the exhibition season, and his only real preseason work came when he was doing push-ups on the sideline to celebrate three-pointers. Now, seven games into the season, his numbers are unsightly, his Player Efficiency Rating ranks among the worst for starting point guards and Brooklyn's offense is a mess. What else can go wrong? Elite point guards should make their teammates better, their coach better and their organization better; such expectations once seemed reasonable for Williams, but it's been so long since he's been a consistently dominant force that the doubt cloud is really mushrooming here.

A Nets turnaround-- one that puts them in a position to make noise in the postseason -- starts with Williams tapping into the Dr. Jekyll game he showed down the stretch of last season. Mr. Hyde won't cut it, not even when he's surrounded by perennial All-Stars and future Hall of Famers. In the short term, I think that means calling his own number more often and redistributing some of Brooklyn's possessions so that Brook Lopez -- who is taking his fewest shots since 2009-10 -- is featured more prominently.

John Wall is shooting only 37.9 percent for the struggling Wizards. (Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

2. Cleveland (3-6), Washington (2-6) and Detroit (2-5) all made moves to position themselves for the playoffs, and all three are stuck below .500. Which of the three teams has the best chance to pull itself out of the muck?

Golliver: What a "least of three evils" proposition this is. Who or what do I trust most: Pistons coach Mo Cheeks trying to sort out ill-fitting roster parts; a brick-heavy Cavaliers offense that's on its fourth straight year of miserable efficiency; or a Wizards team that's already produced a Randy Wittman post-game meltdown and harsh words from Nene?

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As much as it pains me to say this, I'll go with the Pistons. A tough stretch that has included four consecutive losses to teams enjoying nice starts -- Indiana, Oklahoma City, Portland and Golden State -- has submarined Detroit's record and efficiency numbers. That November's murderer's row has given Detroit a top-five strength of schedule.

I expected more from the Pistons' defense, given the acquisition of Josh Smith and the size problems they can present, and their No. 30 ranking in efficiency surely won't last. Right? Their below-average rebounding rate won't last. Right? As frustrating as their offense can be -- the Pistons are 28th in three-point percentage and Smith is letting it rip from deep more than five times per game, an unconscionable rate -- that side of the ball has actually been cause for optimism. Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe are off to productive starts, even if Cheeks needs to stagger the Drummond/Monroe/Smith trio, as that group possesses a terrible -15.7 net rating when used together. Combine the rough schedule and the unexpectedly skewed early numbers, and I'm inclined to believe Detroit is the biggest underachiever from this bunch. I'm not totally sold on the Pistons' ceiling, but they are better than this.

Mahoney: I'll take the Wizards, who are the best of the three teams in pace-adjusted scoring margin. Going deeper, though, I just don't believe that Washington's defense, which is ranked 20th, is as poor as is broadly represented. The starting lineup of John Wall, Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza, Nene and Marcin Gortat has defended remarkably well, allowing a level of scoring per possession that would rank in the top five on a team level. The damage is being done deeper in the rotation, and though there might be little way around playing problematic defenders such as Kevin Seraphin and Al Harrington, I think there's still enough lineup wiggle room for Washington to shore up things.

Plus, the Wizards have lost some winnable games while trudging through one the 10 toughest schedules. A little more time could help Wall find his shot (enough to top the 40 percent mark, anyway), Nene get a touch healthier (he's averaging just 29.7 minutes) and some younger players to settle into their roles. There's a playoff team in here somewhere, if also one that predictably blows leads late in games and lets opponents hang around far longer than it should.

Kevin Love is averaging 27.1 points, 14.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

3. Portland (6-2), Minnesota (6-3) and Dallas (5-3) all missed the postseason last year and have hopped into the Western Conference's top eight with strong starts. Which of these three teams has the best chance to sustain its success?

Mahoney: The Timberwolves, who have displayed more potential for playing two-way basketball than either the Mavericks or Trail Blazers. Those two high-scoring, poor-defending teams are both performing more or less as expected, if with slightly exaggerated records to show for it. They've been impressive, no doubt, but I suspect that their win totals will taper a bit to more accurately reflect their defensive weaknesses.

MANNIX: Love bullish on Wolves' prospects

Minnesota isn't especially stingy by any means, but it's played a brand of defense that perfectly accentuates its up-tempo style. The Wolves have pursued the ball aggressively, especially in jumping passing lanes, without fouling. Both of those factors serve to reinforce Minnesota's stylistic bent, as maximizing turnovers and minimizing stoppages in play allow for more consistent fast breaking. With that, the trap is set. The speed of the game naturally lulls opponents into transition autopilot, and it certainly doesn't hurt that the Wolves make it all look so easy. Corey Brewer streaks out for uncontested buckets. Kevin Martin seems to convert every open look he finds. Ricky Rubio makes the right pass with startling frequency, and Kevin Love brings an uncommon skill set to contribute in every capacity possible.

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What's overlooked is the unique quality of that bunch, as well as the discipline that's required to run as the Timberwolves do. Opponents often suffer lapses in judgment when they're entranced by the rhythms of the break, which tends to serve Minnesota well in avoiding problematic mismatches. The Wolves are not a team without defensive weakness. Martin, in particular, is quite terrible on that end, and Brewer, Love and Nikola Pekovic are each exploitable, not to mention Minnesota's more limited reserves. Yet consistent fast breaking leaves precious little time for opponents to consider every matchup on the board, and thus -- oddly enough -- helps the Wolves hide in plain sight.

Preventing open-court opportunities is one of the core tenets of traditional team defense, but according to Synergy Sports, Minnesota has been the league's best team at contesting opponents in transition. The statistical difference between the Wolves establishing a set defense or scrambling back on the break has been marginal at best. If offensive rebounds and broken players are removed from the calculation, Minnesota's half-court defense yields 0.89 points per play to the transition defense's 0.9. In that, Minnesota is validated in its efforts to run as much as possible, knowing full well that it has the tools to disrupt opponents when they do the same.

Golliver: My great hope is that none of these three teams suffers a meaningful injury setback, as they all rank among the best early-season stories. Their collective presence takes the West's playoff chase to a whole different level.

I agree that the smartest money for now is on the Timberwolves, who have three blowout victories and are two possessions away from being 8-1. Their schedule hasn't been overly taxing, but they've beaten some good teams. More important, they've looked comfortable and loose doing it. The last two weeks have offered an extended glimpse at the game-changing potency of the Rubio/Love combination, and it's been pretty glorious. The top 10 highlights from Rubio and the nightly video game stats from Love have formed the basis of a scary-good, nicely balanced starting five that is posting a +8 net rating. Outside of Martin's outrageous 55.8 percent three-point shooting, which will regress, the Timberwolves appear fluke-free.

Portland just might be built to last, too, even with its continued issues protecting the paint. The climate around the Blazers' locker room has changed after a 2012-13 season that ended with a deflating 13-game losing streak. The team's offensive success (No. 3 in efficiency) has played a big role in keeping everyone happy. LaMarcus Aldridge noted this week that the points are flowing more easily than they have in years, and Damian Lillard has enjoyed a nice start, too.

Productive bench play has keyed Portland's success, particularly guard Mo Williams (a key initiator of drive-and-kick basketball) and forward Joel Freeland (a dirty-work guy who has transformed his body and game after an atrocious rookie year). Portland's scorching outside shooting will likely come back to earth, but its newfound confidence and depth definitely make it a team to watch. A soft schedule over the rest of November gives the Blazers an opportunity to stay at or near the top of the Northwest Division.

Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies have unexpectedly struggled on defense. (Danny Johnston/AP)

4. Denver (3-4) and Memphis (3-5) parted ways with their coaches after strong 2012-13 seasons, and both teams are currently outside the playoff picture in the West. Which of the two is more likely to regain its footing?

Golliver: The Grizzlies. One of the most shocking developments this season is that Memphis, which ranked No. 2 in defensive efficiency last season and returned seven of its top players by minutes played, is 26th in that category this season. A coaching change, from Lionel Hollins to David Joerger, was bound to cause some speed bumps, but there are way too many talented defensive players -- Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Tony Allen, to start -- for Memphis to be this porous. Three of Memphis' five losses have come on the road to hot-starting teams (San Antonio, Dallas and Indiana), and playing the third-toughest schedule helps put the Grizzlies' record into context.

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As for the Nuggets, things could actually be worse, even though they've yet to notch a signature win (barely beating the Hawks and handling the bottom-feeding Jazz and Lakers don't count). Everything coming out of the Mile High City has been troubling -- Brian Shaw's philosophical statements, Ty Lawson's concerns with the offense, the Kenneth Faried trade rumors -- and I don't think Danilo Gallinari's return, whenever it takes place, will be enough to fix the problems created by the organization's dramatic change of direction.

Mahoney: Memphis, without caveat. The Grizzlies aren't so safe a team as to be above concern at this point, as their defense has been riddled with uncharacteristic breakdowns. Denver is just a far bigger mess, lacking overall talent and the ability to maximize the abilities of its best players. Shaw has employed an offense that constricts Lawson and puts big men in uncomfortable positions, bringing last season's juggernaut down to ho-hum scoring efficiency. The defense has been mediocre enough to help compensate (and earn a correspondingly middling record), though largely because the Nuggets have faced only two above-average offenses.

Things will spiral for Denver in a way I don't fear for Memphis yet. That may be naive, but the Grizzlies deserve the benefit of the doubt as incumbent conference finalists with a more stable core.

Michael Carter-Williams (left) and Eric Bledsoe have fueled surprising starts for Philadelphia and Phoenix, respectively. (AP; Getty Images)

5. Philadelphia (5-4) and Phoenix (5-3) remain above .500 more than two weeks into the season after being accused of tanking for stripped down their rosters. Which of these surprising turnarounds has been your favorite?

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Mahoney: There's no wrong answer here, but I'll opt for the Sixers. The supposed worst team in the league has upset the Heat, Bulls and Rockets, due in no small part to the way that Michael Carter-Williams and Evan Turner, among others, have crushed any plausible expectation for their performance. Tempo, it seems, is its own providence. With free rein and an ultra-aggressive approach in transition, both guards have filled the box score at a jaw-dropping clip. Their success seems a fair bit flimsier than that of the tough-defending, Eric Bledsoe-fueled Suns, though the fleeting nature of it all makes it that much sweeter. Someday the dream must end, but for now I'm still dizzied by the unexpected charisma of one of the league's most deliberate tankers.

Golliver: I'll gladly go Suns. BestTickets.com's NBA census has the Suns as the 11th-youngest team, with an average age of 25.4, but Phoenix's regular rotation really has only four true "vets": Goran Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Channing Frye and Gerald Green. Of those four, Frye is the only one who is 30 or older. Somehow, despite that youth and the fact that this is Jeff Hornacek's first head-coaching job, the Suns rank fifth in defensive efficiency after finishing 24th last season.

What's more, Phoenix traded Gortat, last year's starting center, just before the start of the season. Center Emeka Okafor, acquired for Gortat, has not suited up because of a neck injury, and ankle problems have limited 2013 lottery pick Alex Len. In other words, Hornacek has somehow turned a height-challenged and experience-challenged group into an elite defense (at least for now). That's remarkable.