With the NBA All-Star Weekend in the rearview, it's time for the stretch run of the season as teams continue to jostle for playoff positioning.
The Suns and Warriors have found their groove and are looking down at the standings, while the Heat and Bulls have weathered a ton of injuries to sit at the top of the East, but it hasn't been smooth sailing for everyone.
From championship contenders in the Lakers, Nets and Jazz to the playoff hopefuls in the Knicks, Hornets and Pelicans, is it time to panic just yet?
Let's break out the panic meter to weigh in on each team's outlook for the remainder of the season.
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Los Angeles Lakers
Panic Rating: 6
I'll give the Lakers a break to a degree given they haven't had their full roster available for any real stretches this season, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook only playing 20 games together through the first 58 of the season, fielding 28 different starting lineups already.
Their injury woes returned just before the break with Davis ruled out at least until mid-March and after an inactive trade deadline, the Lakers roster is what it is moving forward.
In Davis' absence, we've seen LeBron turn in some superhuman performances, operating as a swiss-army knife small-ball five, while averaging 32.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games without his big man, but is that feasible for the remainder of the regular season?
At 27-31, sitting ninth in the Western Conference, it only gets harder from here, with the Lakers having the third-toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon. They're 6.0 games back of a guaranteed playoff spot and a route via the Play-In Tournament looks likely.
If they can't get healthy before the playoffs come round, another early exit could be on the cards.
Brooklyn Nets
Panic Rating: 3
The Nets find themselves in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference coming out of the All-Star break, not exactly ideal for a team that entered the season as the championship favorites.
As it stands, they're 7.0 games back of the conference-leading Bulls and 4.5 back of cracking into the top four, so they're not really that far out of making a run, but the concerns for them are figuring out what this new-look team exactly is post-James Harden.
Kevin Durant remains sidelined, Ben Simmons is yet to suit up in a Nets uniform and Kyrie Irving remains eligible only for road games, making their hopes of finding some consistency a bit difficult.
Once they get their full lineup on the court, any concerns about their playoff hopes will quickly evaporate, but will they be able to paper over the cracks with just 23 regular season games to go?
It's not time to panic just yet, but they have to get things moving soon.
Utah Jazz
Panic Rating: 7
After a rough start to the new year, the Jazz reeled off a six-game win streak to steady the ship, clinging to the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, with the Mavericks and Nuggets lurking behind.
The absences of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell for stretches haven't helped them build any consistency and it doesn't get any easier with five of their first six games out of the All-Star break coming on the road, while they own the fifth-toughest schedule for the remainder of the season.
More worrying has been their defensive drop-off, currently ranking 10th in the league. While Gobert anchors things inside, they aren't getting enough protection on the perimeter between Mike Conley Jr., Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O'Neale.
Their moves at the trade deadline didn't do much to ease that burden, bringing in Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Juancho Hernangomez.
The Jazz are still one of the better teams in the West, but a championship run looks less likely as the season progresses.
New York Knicks
Panic Rating: 7
Coming off a playoff appearance after finishing fourth in the East last season, the Knicks are well below their preseason expectations, currently 3.5 games back of the final Play-In spot, having lost 13 of their past 16 games
The Knicks' issues are aplenty, none more obvious than their huge drop-off on the defensive end, going from fourth in the league last season to 17th in 2021-22, giving up 108.4 points per 100 possessions. Can Tom Thibodeau get them back on track after the break?
Compounding their issues has been the dip in form of Julius Randle, as well as their offseason reinforcements on the perimeter in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier struggling to mesh with any lineups. Derrick Rose's return should help steady the offense, but without a clear-cut identity this season, they're heading into freefall territory.
A late surge could see them sneak into the postseason picture, but that seems unlikely in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.
Charlotte Hornets
Panic Meter: 5
The All-Star break couldn't have come sooner for the Hornets, who lost nine of their last 10 games heading into the break.
Things have been tough without Gordon Hayward (ankle), going 3-9 in his absence. With no timetable for his return, the Hornets have to get things back on track quick.
Per Tankathon, the Hornets have the 10th easiest remaining schedule. At 29-31, they're still in the mix for a Play-In seed.
It's not time to panic just yet, but with the likes of Atlanta, Washington and New York looking up at them in the standings, they can't afford to waste any more time.
New Orleans Pelicans
Panic Meter: 10
What is going on in New Orleans?
Zion Williamson has yet to play a game this season for the Pelicans and looks set to require a second surgery on his injured foot.
Adding to that, former teammate JJ Redick's recent comments about Williamson being a "detached teammate" and the franchise leaving him out of a promotional season ticket email to fans paints a mysterious picture regarding his future in New Orleans.
That alone registers a 10 on the Panic Meter.
Interesting 🤨
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) February 21, 2022
The #WBD #Pelicans just sent email to season ticket holders about renewals for 2022-23 season and…
NO MENTION OF ZION 😳 pic.twitter.com/Qqu9kibRWk
On the court, things aren't looking much better despite the acquisition of CJ McCollum, going 1-4 in the five games before the All-Star break, currently sitting in the 12 seed at 23-36, 2.0 games back of the Trail Blazers for the final spot in the Play-In seeds.
