Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Jan. 7

It seems highly unlikely that the Washington Wizards organization will keep head coach Randy Wittman beyond this year. While Washington has been able to win big games in the postseason under Wittman the last two years, it seems like a long shot that the Wizards will get back in them this spring with a sub-.500 record.

Washington is one of three teams in the Eastern Conference to have a losing record at home (8-10) this season. They are a bottom third team in both offensive efficiency (103.4, 25th) and defensive efficiency (106.6, 20th). It’s hard to admit, but the Washington Wizards aren’t going to play a part in the Eastern Conference Playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

Charlotte has the longest active losing streak in the NBA at five games. The Hornets are an incredibly streaky team, playing great at home (13-7) and terribly on the road (4-11). They don’t play well in the Southeast Division (2-5) and losing eight of their last 10 games has dropped them considerably in the East the last two weeks.

The Hornets are a difficult team to forecast if they are playoff caliber or not. They aren’t an inefficient team by any means, 10th in offense (105.4) and 13th in defense (104.3), but they have to play better in the Eastern Conference (10-11) if they want to get make the playoffs after missing out last season.

The New York Knicks are not a bad basketball team. Are they are good team? Possibly, as they did handle the Atlanta Hawks twice in a three-day span to move within a game of .500. They have already eclipsed their win total from last season and a 40 to 45 win season seems realistic at this point.

The Triangle Offense has the Knicks playing at a slow, but effective pace (93.4, 26th). They have great starters like Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, but I have concerns about both the depth of the roster and head coach Derek Fisher. Both may hold the Knicks back from the postseason this spring.

Next: Tier III: Likely First Round Exit