NBA Power Rankings: Let the Pistons-Knicks Rivalry Resume

The Knicks have steadily worn away at the early lead the Pistons established in the Eastern Conference behind their impressive 15-2 start to the season, but if there is an aspect of the teams’ budding rivalry–after last year’s taut and controversial first-round playoff series between the two teams was won by New York–that has been missing, it has been the most basic ingredient needed for a rivalry.

That would be playing against each other.

The Pistons and Knicks have yet to face each other this year, but that changes on Tuesday night. That comes at a rough point for both teams, as the Knicks have been slipping without versatile wing Josh Hart, and the Pistons are dealing with new injuries to Jaren Duren and Tobias Harris.

The Knicks entered the Tuesday matchup losers of three straight, while Detroit dropped three of its last five games.  The two teams developed some bad blood during last year’s postseason matchup, and now with a bit of desperation kicking in, more bad blood could be in the offing.

NBA Power Rankings: Celtics Surging

The Pistons have maintained their lead in the Eastern Conference thanks in part to the Knicks’ recent slump, but with Detroit’s own swoon ongoing, the team to watch for these potential new rivals is an old rival of both teams: the Celtics, who are just a half-game behind the Knicks in the East after Sunday’s games. Boston is coming off a 4-1 road trip and the Celtics have won seven of their last eight games, leapfrogging the Knicks in the rankings, if not the standings.

1. Spurs, 25-10.
2. Thunder, 30-6.
3. Pistons, 26-9.
4. Rockets, 21-11.
5. Suns, 21-14.
6. Celtics, 22-12.
7. Knicks, 23-12.
8. Nuggets, 23-12.
9. Lakers, 22-11.
10. Timberwolves, 23-13.
    

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    NBA Part II Rankings: Bucks, Giannis Make Their Move

    Increasingly, it looks like the frustrating situation between the Bucks and star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is a stalemate that will, simply, remain a stalemate. The Bucks won’t trade Antetokounmpo unless he demands it, and Antetokounmpo won’t demand it. So he stays put.

    That might not be so bad for Milwaukee, even if it is a snoozer for the rest of the league. The Bucks have won four out of five, and though they are no the most meaningful wins–Chicago, Charlotte twice, the Kings (and a loss tot he Wizards)–Antetokounmpo has been aggressive and purposeful, averaging 30.6 points on 65.5% shooting, with 9.6 rebounds.

11. Raptors, 21-15.
12. Heat, 20-16.
13. Magic, 20-16.
14. Sixers, 19-14.
15. Warriors, 19-17.
16. Cavaliers, 20-17.
17. Bucks, 16-20.
18. Bulls, 17-18.
19. Trail Blazers, 16-20.
20. Hawks, 17-20. 
    

    GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo

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    NBA Power Rankings Part III: Grizzlies Keep Sliding

    After a 4-11 start, the Grizzlies clawed all the way back to 15-16 just a little more than a week ago, but a series of bad luck and poor execution in tight games has kicked Memphis far down in the standings–they’re No. 10 in the Western Conference–and also in the Power Rankings, where they’ve been relegated to the bottom third.

    Memphis has lost four straight games, all of which were in the crunch-time margin (five points with five minutes to play). And they’ve been blown away in those tight games, with a defensive rating of 129.3, and an offensive rating of 82.9.

21. Grizzlies, 15-20.
22. Clippers, 12-22.
23. Mavericks, 13-23.
24. Jazz, 12-22.
25. Nets, 11-22.
26. Hornets, 12-23.
27. Wizards, 9-25.
28. Kings, 8-27.
29. Pelicans, 8-29.
30. Pacers, 6-30.

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