Where Do Hawks Land in Final East Power Rankings?

This was a disastrous season for the New York Knicks.  Derek Fisher’s team struggled to play the highly intellectual triangle offense that GM Phil Jackson wanted installed.  The lone highlight of this season was SF Carmelo Anthony getting voted into the All-Star Game that was held in Madison Square Garden.  He didn’t play a second during the back half of the NBA season because of a knee injury.  Though they never said it publicly, the Knicks tanked this year and end up with the fourth pick in the NBA Draft later this month.  Hopefully Jackson selects someone at four than can at least make this team watchable in 2015-16.. (17-65). Previous: . New York Knicks. 15. team. 27

(18-64). Previous: . Philadelphia 76ers. 14. team. 93. The Sixers have never shy about their intentions to rebuild through the draft.  It’s not that the team didn’t play hard for HC Brett Brown, it’s just that GM Sam Hinkie kept the cabinets bare as on paper his team was the league’s least talented.  Nerlens Noel and Robert Covington are solid building blocks for Philly moving forward.  Though they are picking 3rd, which was the plan all along anyway for Hinkie, I applaud the Sixers’ effort on the court in 2014-15 despite being a roster of mostly D-Leaguers.

38. I could never quite figure out what Orlando was in 2014-15.  They have some nice young players in Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, and Nikola Vucevic but the team never seemed to find an identity under either Jacque Vaughn or James Borrego.  Former Magic PG Scott Skiles takes over a raw but energetic Orlando team.  His peers are quick to say what a good coach he is.  But Skiles hasn’t led an NBA team since Milwaukee nearly three years ago.  If Skiles can establish a defensive culture in Central Florida and spread the floor with jump shots, Orlando isn’t all that far away from being competitive in the Eastern Conference.. (25-57). Previous: . Orlando Magic. 13. team

team. 64. There were positives to a disappointing first season in Motown for Stan Van Gundy.  After releasing Josh Smith, the Pistons played well enough to stay around the playoff mix for a month or so.  Then PG Brandon Jennings had a season-ending injury and Detroit went back to being mediocre.  SVG had his work cut out for him when taking over both GM and HC roles in the Pistons organizations last summer.  He’s a good coach and getting Reggie Jackson from the Thunder in a trade deadline deal might allow the Pistons to compete for a playoff spot in 2016.  This is about where I thought Van Gundy could get this team in Year One.  I do think Detroit is trending in the right direction heading into Year Two with Stan Van Gundy.. (32-50). Previous: . Detroit Pistons. 12

Previous: . Charlotte Hornets. 11. team. 170. To me, the Charlotte Hornets had the most disappointing season of any Eastern Conference team.  Steve Clifford had the then-Bobcats playing .500 basketball and back into the playoffs in 2014.  Though he is one of the game’s most underrated defensive coaches, the offense for the Hornets in 2015 was dreadful.  The Lance Stephenson signing by owner Michael Jordan might have been the worst acquisition made in free agency last offseason.  Mo Williams was the only guy on the Hornets I could trust to make a mid-to-long range shot consistently and he only came over half way through the season from Minnesota.  Charlotte must draft perimeter shooting in this upcoming draft.. (33-49)

Previous: . Miami Heat. 10. team. 110. Miami suffered a big blow when LeBron James went back to Cleveland in 2014-15.  Luol Deng regressed with the Heat after his time in Chicago.  Chris Bosh missed the second half of the season with blood clots.  Yet somehow, the Heat hung around playoff contention all year in the lowly Eastern Conference.  Center Hassan Whiteside’s emergence was one of the more pleasant surprises in the NBA this season.  Though it didn’t pan out initially, the Goran Dragic Trade gives the Heat a solid starting five heading into 2016.  It was going to take some time for the Heat to learn how to play together without LeBron James.  If Eric Spoelstra’s team stays healthy in 2016, Miami can certainly be a playoff team and can contend for a Southeastern Division Championship.. (37-45)

Indiana Pacers. 9. team. 100. I applaud the Pacers’ HC Frank Vogel for nearly getting his decimated team into the playoffs in 2015.  The Paul George injury with the Men’s National team all but ended the Pacers’ season even before it began.  With almost no offense to speak of, Vogel had his team in the playoff race until the final day because the Pacers are still an outstanding defensive team.  With the return of George, the continued emergence of CJ Miles, and the improving play George Hill,  Indiana should find its way back into the playoffs in 2016.. (38-44). Previous:

Previous: . Toronto Raptors. 8. team. 81. What happened to the Raptors in the second half of the season?  This team’s backcourt could out-shoot just about anybody in the first half.  Of all the teams the Hawks could have played in potential playoff matchups, I wanted to avoid the Raps at all cost, as Dwayne Casey’s club seemed to have Coach Bud’s number.  The defense for Toronto was problematic from season’s beginnings and the team had to win shootouts to come away with victories.  But once the backcourt started dealing with injuries, the team lost its identity and became ineffective.  Of all the sixteen teams to make the postseason, Toronto looked the worst by far as Washington annihilated them in the first round.  If GM Masai Ujiri didn’t like this incarnation of this Raptors’ team, Toronto might be rebuilding these next few years.. (49-33)

7. team. 18. Brad Stevens is an amazing coach!  He took a team of role players into the playoffs.  The Celtics could have easily tanked in 2015, but this team benefited by gaining valuable postseason experience.  I’d take four games against the Eastern Conference Champion and a 16th overall pick than sitting at home in May with the 11th pick.  With the way the Celtics played for Stevens in 2015, GM Danny Ainge might be able to convince an All-Star caliber player to come to Boston this summer.  I wouldn’t be shocked if the Celtics win the Atlantic Division next season.. (40-42). Previous: . Boston Celtics

147. Brooklyn had to find a way into the playoffs as Atlanta had the rights to swap first round picks with the Nets in 2015.  The Nets spoiled the Hawks’ hopes of picking in the lottery as the Hawks and Nets met each other in the first round of the playoffs.  Brooklyn played well in the opening round as C Brook Lopez looked like the All-Star we all know he is.  The Nets have some solid players that are under bad contracts again next year.  Though Brooklyn stays competitive as is, the front office might want to look to move some guys in 2016.  Joe Johnson will have an expiring contract this upcoming season.. (38-44). Previous: . Brooklyn Nets. 6. team

89. Jason Kidd did an incredible job in his first year with the Bucks.  He took a team that won 15 games in 2014 into the playoffs with a .500 record.  Milwaukee was a dominant defensive team for Kidd, but struggled to put the ball in the basket.  The return of Jabari Parker from injury, along with the continued development of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Carter-Williams might make the Bucks one of the most exciting teams to watch these next few years.  This team is very close to being very good.  If they can get outside shooting to complement that aggressive style of defense, look out!. (41-41). Previous: . Milwaukee Bucks. 5. team

(50-32). Previous: . Chicago Bulls. 4. team. 24. In Tom Thibodeau’s swan song with the Bulls, his team won 50 games and finished in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference.  But once again, the team ran out of gas in the playoffs, playing uninspired basketball in Games 5 and 6 against rival Cleveland in the Eastern Semis.  Thibs was let go and in comes The Mayor Fred Hoiberg to get Chicago back to the NBA Finals.  The strained relationship between Thibodeau and the front office marred a decent season by the Bulls.  But injuries to key players and a horrible front office divorce prevented the Bulls from reaching their realistic goal of an NBA Championship in 2015.

3. team. 142. Randy Wittman knows how to win road playoff games.  He had his Wizards team playing their best basketball down the stretch.  After clobbering Toronto, the Wiz played in an intense series with division rival Atlanta in Round 2.  Had John Wall been healthy in the second round, the Wizards could have made the Eastern Finals.  What put Washington in position to navigate a deep playoff run was their improved outside shooting.  Paul Pierce and Otto Porter, Jr. didn’t miss from the outside.  If Pierce returns to DC and with the outstanding young backcourt of Wall and Bradley Beal, Washington could potentially come out of the East in 2016.  Atlanta and Washington will fight for the division title in 2016.. (46-36). Previous: . Washington Wizards

125. While we still might try to convince ourselves that Atlanta was the best team in the East in 2015, you can’t really say that now after getting swept by Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Injuries out on the perimeter and in the low post proved costly as Atlanta was a shell of itself in the ECF routing by Cleveland.  Atlanta will be a serious contender to win the East and even an NBA Championship in Coach Bud’s third season.  It was a marvelous season for the Atlanta Hawks but you have to win the East to say you’re the best team in the conference.. (60-22). Previous: . Atlanta Hawks. 2. team

156. What can I say?  LeBron James is still the best basketball player on Planet Earth.  With Kevin Love out for the season and Kyrie Irving dealing with nagging injuries, James has taken a team of role players into the NBA Finals.  This team is lethal from the outside and difficult to score on down low.  While Golden State looms large waiting for the Cavs to come to Oakland, if LeBron James carries his team like he did against the Hawks, this could be one of the best NBA Finals in recent memory.. (53-29). Previous: . Cleveland Cavaliers. 1. team