Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Nov. 12

I may have undersold the Knicks. A healthy Carmelo Anthony, a strong defensive presence of Robin Lopez, and of course Kristaps Porzingis gives this team certainly more than they had last year. Could New York make the playoffs? As an 8-seed maybe, but the culture within the organization still makes any basketball junkie uneasy about what the 2015-16 New York Knicks can become. Should Porzingis play at an All-Rookie level, then this team has a shot a playing .500 ball.

I’m not sure what to make of this team. I want to say this is a team that plays great defense, but has major spacing issues and outside shooting problems on offense. How rookie Frank Kaminsky fits into their plans, I don’t know. Cody Zeller is kind of the same player as he. Al Jefferson is still fun to watch, but Kemba Walker needs to take the next step if this team wants to sniff the 8-seed. He has to become a better shooter.

Milwaukee came out of the gates a little slow, but have gotten themselves back to a game of being .500. I had a sneaking suspicion that the 2nd rated defense in the NBA from last season would take a step back. Though this was a good playoff team last year, the Bucks will still have growing pains in their second year under HC Jason Kidd. The future is blinding bright in Brew Town, but headaches are still part of the process with young studs like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and Michael Carter-Williams.

Next: Probable First Round Exit