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Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Jan. 14

By John Buhler

Jan 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott (32) celebrates with forward Paul Millsap (4) (grey shirt) near the end of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Bulls 120-105. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott (32) celebrates with forward Paul Millsap (4) (grey shirt) near the end of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Bulls 120-105. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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38. . . Previous: . Orlando Magic. 9. team

The Orlando Magic were going to improve under new head coach Scott Skiles, but I didn’t expect this team to sit over .500 nearly halfway through the season. Their roster is finally playing together as a cohesive unit and the future is still bright in Central Florida for their NBA team.

What I have concerns with the Magic is if they have staying power in the Eastern Conference this season. The Magic along with the Detroit Pistons are the only two outsiders I see possibly making a playoff berth in 2016. Youth, inexperience, and a new head coach may keep the Magic out of the playoffs, but by only a game or so this season.

. Previous: . Boston Celtics. 8. team. 18.

Boston has been in this middle tier all season. They have enough firepower to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs under head coach Brad Stevens for back-to-back seasons, but the Celtics won’t do any better than win a game or two in the first round.

They have an incredibly high floor, but their ceiling is the most finite of any team that will make the playoffs this year in both conferences. That’s fine as the Celtics need more playoff experience before making a real charge in a year or two when they have themselves a new star player to build around.

. . Previous: . Detroit Pistons. 7. team. 64

At about the halfway point of the 2015-16 NBA season, I feel confident that the Detroit Pistons are going to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs as either a seventh or eighth-seed. Stan Van Gundy is too good of a head coach and center Andre Drummond is too big of a physical presence for the Pistons to not make the playoffs again in 2016.

While the Pistons are often grouped together with the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic in these power rankings, what the Pistons have going for it that the other two don’t is that I could see the Pistons potentially getting out of the first round depending on who they draw in their first playoff series. They could even win a game or two in the Eastern Conference Semifinals with the way they shoot from the outside.

Next: Tier II: Eastern Conference Finals Ceiling

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