Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Feb. 4

The 2015-16 Orlando Magic aren’t fooling anybody anymore. They like the Brooklyn Nets are 1-9 in their last 10 games under head coach Scott Skiles. Was this a playoff team at the start of the year? No, but Skiles’ reputation as a head coach is definitely on the line.

He’s usually able to get a young, but talented team to improve and challenge for a sixth to eighth seed. However, the Magic seem to have too many young players on their team with incomplete games that are hurting the team’s growth. Polishing these young players will take the rest of this year and then some for Scott Skiles.

I think we need to come to an understanding that the Washington Wizards are not a playoff team in 2015-16 and that this team probably needs to go through a serious rebuilding process. Yes, John Wall is a cornerstone of the franchise, but can management truly build a winner around him?

Bradley Beal is too fragile to become a star in this league and the front office has pushed for a small ball youth movement that just isn’t working out for head coach Randy Wittman in DC this season. The Wizards are shockingly one of the few teams that made the playoffs last year that won’t play in them again this spring.

There is a lot to like about this year’s New York Knicks team. Carmelo Anthony seems to have great chemistry with the starting five of New York and Kristaps Porzingis is an All-Rookie Team player in his first year in the United States.

What the Knicks need to probably do to get over the top and into the Eastern Conference Playoffs in 2016-17 is to find a better, more qualified coach that Derek Fisher to lead the club next season. The Knicks are at the point as a franchise where a decent head coach could make a world of difference for this up-and-coming basketball team.

Next: Tier III: Likely First Round Playoff Exit