If you looked closely, it was always smoke and mirrors. As of Dec. 11, the New York Knicks were 14-10 and sitting in a rosy position when it came to the Eastern Conference Playoff picture. As you might expect, this type of success from one of the league’s most visible franchises arrived with some level of acclaim, including the notion that the Knicks were “back.” The presence of a budding young star in Kristaps Porzingis and a veteran stalwart in Carmelo Anthony helped to provide that optimism, while even the play of Derrick Rose provided some superficial background for belief.
Fast-forward, though, to early 2017 and the Knicks are what the Knicks were supposed to be in the eyes of many. New York has dropped five straight games and, since that 14-10 start, Jeff Hornacek’s team is just 2-8. While some fans bought in with both feet to New York’s apparent renaissance, a closer look at the numbers would indicate that, well, regression was in the offing.
Through that 14-10 start, the Knicks were actually outscored by 2.8 points per 100 possessions. While that might not seem glaring, New York’s net rating was good for only 20th in the NBA and that trailed several mediocre teams, headlined by the Sacramento Kings. Now, that ranking has dropped to 23rd in the NBA (-3.7 points per 100) and much of that can be traced to lackluster defense. So much so, in fact, that Hornacek openly questioned whether his team was “capable” of playing quality basketball at that end of the floor.
In the interest of full disclosure, New York has never been treated as a full-fledged playoff team in this space and that remains the case today. How far have the Knicks fallen? Well, our rankings are here, and you can find out shortly. Let’s roll.
1. Golden State Warriors (30-5, Last week — 1st)
I’ve seen nothing to indicate that I should be “quitting” the Warriors as the No. 1 team on this list. Golden State has won 10 of 11 with the lone loss coming by one point in the arena of the No. 2 team in the rankings. Cleveland fans will undoubtedly crow about that victory, and more importantly their advantage in June, but the Warriors have been the best team this season.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (26-7, Last week — 2nd)
LeBron James hasn’t lost an NBA basketball game in more than a month. Yes, the Cavs have two losses since then, but both came without the best player on Earth and that probably matters. There are nights when it seems like Cleveland is barely trying and that’s just fine. They don’t really need to right now.
3. San Antonio Spurs (28-7, Last week — 3rd)
In what was effectively a showdown for the No. 3 spot, the Spurs blasted the Raptors on Tuesday night to make this an easy decision. Yes, San Antonio bizarrely lost to the Hawks in overtime over the weekend but that isn’t a jarring loss. What was jarring, though, was the dominant way in which Gregg Popovich’s team throttled the East’s No. 2 team.
4. Houston Rockets (27-9, Last week — 5th)
The Rockets keep rolling along and I keep feeling sillier for my preseason skepticism. Granted, the team’s current five-game streak has not come under the harshest of circumstances, but Houston is beating everyone they are supposed to beat. For my money, James Harden is the MVP of the league right now and that is a big-time statement given the nightly absurdity of Russell Westbrook.
5. Toronto Raptors (23-11, Last week — 4th)
Don’t look now, but the Raptors have lost three of four and are inching closer to a showdown for their presumed perch behind Cleveland in the East. The Paul Millsap rumor mill has begun in earnest, but until they can acquire him (or someone else), we have to evaluate Toronto as currently constructed and there might be a rut happening.
6. Boston Celtics (21-14, Last week — 8th)
Brad Stevens’ team has won eight of ten and the Celtics knocked off the Jazz in impressive fashion on Tuesday. Granted, Utah was playing without George Hill and at less than full strength, but this Boston team has begun to turn the corner. Furthermore, early season struggles did nothing to take a 50-win performance off the table. It’s quite possible they reach that threshold.
7. Utah Jazz (22-14, Last week — 7th)
Losing to the Celtics (see above) without George Hill isn’t a black mark of any sort for Utah but they still land below Boston out of principle. I remain the world’s largest Utah Jazz fan that isn’t actually a Utah Jazz fan and I’m a full-fledged believer in this team, even at less than full health.
8. Los Angeles Clippers (23-14, Last week — 9th)
After six straight losses, the Clippers finally won a basketball game on Monday. If we took their recent performance at face value, this ranking would be (much) too high for Los Angeles, but they receive a bit of grace given the absences of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. We’ll reevaluate in full when Paul is back in full force.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-14, Last week — 6th)
The Thunder are just 8-11 when Russell Westbrook falls short of achieving a triple-double. That speaks to the absurd workload that the point guard is taking on this season. While OKC is still impressing as a whole, there has to be at least some discussion of the non-Westbook weaknesses on the roster.
10. Charlotte Hornets (19-16, Last week — 10th)
Back to back losses (at Chicago and home for Cleveland) don’t look great in the standings but I see no reason to worry about the Hornets. Charlotte ranks tenth in net rating (not a coincidence) and they remain solid across the board. Oh, and Kemba Walker should be an All-Star. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (22-15, Last week — 11th)
Memphis could really use a healthy and productive Chandler Parsons. That hasn’t happened yet. The team’s last performance in a lopsided loss to the woeful Lakers wasn’t great, but Memphis has earned the benefit of the doubt to some extent.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (17-16, Last week — 13th)
Did you know that Milwaukee’s net rating is better than what the Celtics, Thunder, Grizzlies, and Hornets can claim? In fact, the Bucks have been preposterously good when Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the floor this season. If they can figure out what happens when he sits next to Jason Kidd, the sky is the limit.
13. Washington Wizards (16-18, Last week — 12th)
After a hot stretch that inspired several “the Wizards are back!” narratives, Washington has dropped two straight. There is nothing wrong with losing road games in the state of Texas, though, and I’m actually buying the Wizards. Health is always the biggest factor but, right now, they look like a contender for the fourth spot in the East alongside Charlotte.
14. Atlanta Hawks (18-16, Last week — 18th)
Atlanta suffered one of the biggest drops last week and bounced back quite nicely this time around. That is what happens when a team wins three games in a row, including an OT win over San Antonio. There is room for some level of optimism for Dwight Howard, Paul Millsap, and company right now.
15. Indiana Pacers (18-18, Last week — 21st)
Like the Hawks before them, the Pacers have three straight wins. It should be noted that they are considerably less impressive in quality (Chicago, Orlando, Detroit), but in the East it doesn’t matter who you beat. At this moment, Indiana is still below-average on both ends of the floor but they are staying afloat.
16. Chicago Bulls (17-18, Last week — 14th)
We’ll learn a lot about Chicago on Wednesday, as the Bulls travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavs on national television. For now, this is a space-challenged offense and a defense that doesn’t blow anyone away. Let’s just say I’m regretting this.
17. New Orleans Pelicans (14-22, Last week — 22nd)
Since a hideous 1-9 start, the Pelicans are 13-13 with a net rating that is basically indicative of a .500 team. That is the team that New Orleans probably should be and how I will rank them provided Anthony Davis can stay on the floor. Can they contend for the eighth seed? Absolutely. Especially now that they finally got that Donatas Motiejunas deal done.
18. Sacramento Kings (15-19, Last week — 17th)
Five wins in seven games, including three victories on the road, is relatively impressive. Beyond that, one of the triumphs came against a direct competitor in the Nuggets and that breaks what would basically be a tie between the two teams this week. Boogie Cousins is also fun… when he’s just playing basketball.
19. Orlando Magic (16-20, Last week — 20th)
I’m choosing to ignore all of the signs that indicate Orlando’s record is unsustainably positive. Don’t ask me why.
20. Denver Nuggets (14-21, Last week — 19th)
Not even I can defend the Nuggets in full-blown fashion after three straight losses. Long-time readers will know that I cape for Denver virtually every week, but two of those defeats came to the Sixers and Kings, and that won’t do it. The Nuggets have a move (or two) to make and they might want to pull the trigger sooner rather than later.
21. Dallas Mavericks (11-24, Last week — 25th)
Much like the Pelicans, Dallas has been borderline competent since a disastrous start. Some of that is getting healthy and some it is just regression, but the Mavs aren’t embarrassing right now. This uptick should probably prompt a discussion about whether Dallas should be tanking, but they seem to be more interested in promoting Harrison Barnes as an All-Star.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (15-21, Last week — 24th)
There are signs of life in Portland after two victories this week but I can’t see beyond the league’s 29th-ranked defense. The consensus seems to be that the Blazers will figure it out in order to win the jumbled race for the eight-seed but I’m not convinced. At all.
23. Detroit Pistons (16-21, Last week — 15th)
Aside from beating the LeBron-less Cavs and the moribund Heat, Detroit has been a mess over the past ten games or so. The Pistons are now enjoying near-full health, but Stan Van Gundy appears to be at his wit’s end. It’s easy to see why; this isn’t a very good basketball team right now.
24. New York Knicks (16-18, Last week — 16th)
Maybe this is too harsh for this week’s headliners but I really don’t think it is.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-24, Last week — 23rd)
Losing to the Sixers isn’t as bad as it sounds right now, but dropping a home game to the Blazers is worse than many would perceive. Every time Minnesota takes an apparent step forward, they slide again. This team is quite the mystery.
26. Los Angeles Lakers (13-25, Last week — 27th)
Only one team can claim to be worse than Portland defensively and it’s the Lakers. On the bright side, Los Angeles does have fun young talent and might be able to keep their draft pick with a lucky bounce of a ping-pong ball in May.
27. Phoenix Suns (11-25, Last week — 29th)
Wins over Toronto (yay!) and Miami (okay!) this week send Phoenix rising a bit. This is still a team that falls within the bottom ten on both offense and defense but, unlike two of the three teams below them, the Suns do have intriguing young talent to watch on a nightly basis.
28. Philadelphia 76ers (9-24, Last week — 30th)
Robert Covington’s acrobatic buzzer-beater lifted the Sixers to a second straight (!) win on Tuesday, and that is enough to force Philly out of the No. 30 slot. In fact, the Sixers have been borderline competent in the recent past and, when Ben Simmons returns, they could be even better.
29. Miami Heat (10-26, Last week — 26th)
The tank is on in full when it comes to the Heat. Miami’s roster is banged up with injuries, but the team has dropped six in a row. Offensively it’s not exactly a pleasurable experience to watch the Heat right now. Pat Riley shouldn’t be shy about letting things get out of hand, and it doesn’t look like he will be.
30. Brooklyn Nets (8-25, Last week — 28th)
The once-plucky Nets have one victory since mid-December and two since the start of December. Brooklyn is often competitive but, for now, they’ve “earned” the basement given the uptick Philly has sustained in recent days.
