The Pistons were primed to make a playoff push after the trade deadline, but are losers of 10 straight.
Previous Powerless Rankings: 3/3
1. | New York Knicks | (13-53) Previous Ranking: 3 (-2)
The Knicks were officially eliminated from the playoffs this weekend following the loss to the Golden State Warriors. They will likely end up with the worst record in the league, but are thinking about trading away their 2015 1st round pick. Makes sense.
2. | Minnesota Timberwolves | (14-51) Previous Ranking: 4 (-2)
In a bit of positive news, the Timberwolves were the only team to respond to a 16 year old who wrote letters to all 30 NBA teams asking why he should be a fan of their team. Pretty cool.
3. | Philadelphia 76ers | (15-51) Previous Ranking: 2 (+1)
Nerlens Noel has been playing well of late, and the Sixers have to be happy with the signing of Robert Covington, who is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game in just 27.9 minutes.
4. | Detroit Pistons | (23-43) Previous Ranking: 8 (-5)
Detroit’s hopes at making the playoffs may be gone, as the team has lost 10 in a row, and Andre Drummond suffered a concussion in their most recent game against the Utah Jazz.
5. | Orlando Magic | (21-47) Previous Ranking: 6 (-1)
They rode the “new manager bump” as soccer pundits like to say, winning a few games following the firing of Jacque Vaughn. Currently, they are losers of four straight, but they have to be encouraged by Victor Oladipo, who is averaging 22 points (with a field goal percentage of 44.8), and 5.3 assists per game for the month of March.
6. | Los Angeles Lakers | (17-48) Previous Ranking: 5 (+1)
It’s a real shame Julius Randle was lost for the season due to injury. The Lakers aren’t giving fans a lot of reasons to be excited for the future, and Randle could have at least provided that.
7. | Sacramento Kings | (22-43) Previous Ranking: 7 (-)
The Kings are in a familiar place — bad, but not horribly bad. George Karl hasn’t been able to drastically change the Kings’ fortunes yet, and may not be able to until the offseason.
8. | Denver Nuggets | (26-41) Previous Ranking: 1 (+7)
After shelling them in the last Powerless Rankings, the Nuggets have found a bit of a groove, and currently ride a four game winning streak. Judging by their streakiness, expect them to be back down the rankings in two weeks.
9. | Brooklyn Nets | (26-38) Previous Ranking: 12 (-3)
The Nets sit three games out of 8th place, and it is almost time for them to panic. If they miss the playoffs, they forego their upcoming draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks.
10. | Miami Heat | (29-36) Previous Ranking: 13 (-3)
The Heat can’t stay healthy, and their most promising prospect Hassan Whiteside can’t get out of his own way, after being ejected for a flagrant-2 last Monday against the Boston Celtics. However, they are only a half a game outside of the playoffs.
11. | Boston Celtics | (29-36) Previous Ranking: 10 (+1)
Apparently Celtics head coach Brad Stevens cursed during his halftime speech against the Magic, something he rarely does, and it sparked the team to beat the Magic.
12. | Charlotte Hornets | (29-36) Previous Ranking: 11 (+1)
The Hornets almost went 0-3 in a three game home stand last week, but used a strong second half to beat the Chicago Bulls. They face a tough five game west coast road trip, which could determine what side of the playoff line they stand on.
13. | Utah Jazz | (29-36) Previous Ranking: 9 (+4)
They have the best record since the All-Star break, and have won five in a row. Rudy Gobert has been a monster on the boards, averaging 15.3 a game in the month of March.
14. | Indiana Pacers | (30-35) Previous Ranking: NR
The Pacers got a little healthy, and have climbed up the rankings into 7th. Despite previous reports that suggested Paul George might be back this month, a teammate of his tells USA Today Sports that he is, “not even close to 100 percent.”
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