Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Dec. 3

Washington needs to do one of two things in 2015-16: get a new head coach instead of Randy Wittman or ride out the youthfulness of this year’s team to see if that can get back in the playoffs. Like Milwaukee, the Wizards struggles are surprising, if not more than the Bucks’.

The Wizards are lousy in offensive efficiency at 28th (100.0) and in allowing the 25th most points per game (104.1). Their pace is too high for the team to handle. Just because your team is third in the NBA in overall possessions (99.4) doesn’t indicate good basketball. The Wizards are not taking care of the basketball and are turning it over way too often to stay a playoff team at this point in 2015-16.

The Triangle Offense takes time. It seems as though HC Derek Fisher is doing a better job in year two leading the New York Knicks. He has a fantastic rookie center piece in Kristaps Porzingis. GM Phil Jackson has also brought in some great role players to complement the new era of Knicks basketball.

The problem is that Carmelo Anthony, while he may work wonderfully in the Triangle, is to isolation-prone to stay an effective superstar on an ascending team. It may disturb many that pack MSG every night, but if the Knicks move ‘Melo to a contender, they may have a better chance of making the playoffs in the next two years than they would have otherwise. Just use Kobe Bryant’s recent decay as a learning tool when handling Anthony.

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HC Scott Skiles is doing what he does with young teams: taking a perennial doormat and making them competitive. The Orlando Magic are 10-8 and are currently in 7th place in the Eastern Conference. They’ve become a sound fundamental team under Skiles in only 18 games.

The Magic are in the top half of the NBA in all four key offensive and defensive metrics. They are playing at a below average pace (20th in the NBA at 95.8), but it is working well for this young Magic team. It wouldn’t shock me if the Magic do as well as getting the 7th-seed in the East this year. However, they still are probably a year away and that’s why they are 10th this week.

Next: Tier III: Probable First-Round Exit