Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Jan. 28

Orlando, along with the dysfunctional Los Angeles Lakers, are playing the worst basketball in the NBA the last two weeks. The Magic have lost a league-worst seven straight games and are 1-9 in their last 10.

Just when we thought that head coach Scott Skiles had his young Magic team committed to becoming a strong defensive first basketball team, it seems that bottom of this team has fallen out. I doubt that the Magic will again lose 50 games this season, but Orlando will need to somehow right the ship should they wish to make the playoffs for the first time since the end of the Dwight Howard/Stan Van Gundy era in Central Florida.

Washington is basically in win-now mode, but the Wizards aren’t doing a good enough job of winning to keep this roster intact for the long-term. The pipe dream of signing DC native Kevin Durant is now a near impossibility. Washington may have to end up overpaying for often injured shooting guard Bradley Beal to play alongside peak John Wall.

The Wizards may have to go into rebuilding mode at the end of the season if they can’t get into the Eastern Conference Playoffs. They’ll need to figure out their frontcourt and add depth to their bench because head coach Randy Wittman can’t keep playing the same eight people and expect different results in DC.

The New York Knicks have expressed great interest in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks to acquire point guard Jeff Teague. I don’t think that the Hawks will want the Knicks starting point guard Jose Calderon, but I can understand the Knicks’ decision to want to improve their roster to try to get into the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Their starting lineup is strong, the bench is getting better, and while head coach Derek Fisher may not stand as the long-term solution for general manager Phil Jackson, New York will contend next year and possibly this spring for a playoff spot if they make a few moves before the NBA trade deadline.

Next: Tier III: Likely First Round Playoff Exit