Eastern Conference power rankings: Indy sets pace
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
1. Indiana Pacers (3-0): What a start Paul George and Lance Stephenson are having. Hot 3-point shooting has helped fuel the East’s only undefeated team.
2. Miami Heat (2-2): Motivation has to be a problem coming off two straight championships. Weeknight games against Milwaukee feel like small potatoes after a classic NBA Finals in June.
3. Chicago Bulls (1-2): Derrick Rose’s preseason did not carry over. He made a game-winning shot for the Bulls’ lone victory, but has otherwise been off his game. Chicago visits Indianapolis Wednesday.
4. Brooklyn Nets (1-2): How do you explain beating Miami but losing to Orlando and Cleveland? The Nets are still finding their chemistry.
5. Detroit Pistons (2-1): Maurice Cheeks’ Motor City tenure actually should have begun 3-0. The Pistons blew a six-point cushion late in Memphis and lost in overtime.
6. Philadelphia 76ers (3-1): Stunning Miami and Chicago is enough to surge this high in the rankings. Michael Carter-Williams looks like the next big thing at point guard.
7. New York Knicks (1-2): Scoring is oddly difficult with J.R. Smith on the mend from knee surgery.
8. Toronto Raptors (2-1): Nobody on the roster, with the exception of Jonas Valanciunas, should be untouchable. This team ultimately is going nowhere.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2): That offense has been beyond ugly, which will feed pessimism about coach Mike Brown’s strategies in that aspect.
10. Orlando Magic (2-2): Jacque Vaughn seems to be a promising coach, and Rob Hennigan is proving his chops as a general manager. Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic are the result of his handiwork.
11. Atlanta Hawks (1-2): It’s amazing how underappreciated Josh Smith’s defense is. Losing him has already revealed his value to Atlanta’s play on that end of the floor.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (1-2): The product looks different without Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, but the results might actually be worse.
13. Charlotte Bobcats (1-2): Owner Michael Jordan is still in search of a franchise cornerstone. Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are complementary pieces.
14. Washington Wizards (0-3): No one does poor starts quite like the Wizards, who have opened 4-28, 4-20, 6-19, 7-16 and 4-23 in the past five seasons.
15. Boston Celtics (0-4): Brad Stevens’ team has been in three games down the stretch. Without Rajon Rondo, a lack of playmakers makes it nearly impossible to finish in crunch time.
