As we approach the fourth week of the NBA season, it’s worth taking a look at the standings not to see who reigns atop, but who is falling so far behind -- expectedly or otherwise -- that they will matter in the long march toward NBA draft lottery hope this spring. While tanking should be much less prevalent this season due to rejiggered odds, there will still be tanking.
6 NBA teams who have already started up the tank
We have that and more in Friday’s NBA newsletter.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s rank the obvious candidates roughly 7-10 games in.
1. Hawks: Atlanta isn’t messing around. While the Hawks are 2-6, which is better than some of their rivals for last place, Atlanta has played a terrifically weak schedule. It already boasts losses to Cleveland, New York, and Chicago, plus a convincing loss to the Kings on Thursday. (The Kings were expected to be in this club, but might not be.) We knew the Hawks wanted to be bad. They are.
2. Suns: Phoenix is quietly 1-6, albeit against a credible schedule filled with playoff-ish teams other than Dallas (its sole win on opening night). The Suns’ defense is every bit as bad as it was last season, despite the addition of Deandre Ayton and Trevor Ariza. Another top pick is likely coming.
3. Cavaliers: Cleveland surprised itself by quickly dropping into this conversation with an 0-6 start. They fired Ty Lue, put Kevin Love on a shelf (maybe not the shelf -- but would anyone be surprised if this month-long toe injury recovery turned into a season-ender?), and are talking about trading J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver. The tank is on.
4. Bulls: The Bulls and Knicks shared 2-6 records, but Chicago’s scoring differential is twice as worse and they won’t be getting Kristaps Porzingis back at any point. The odds of Fred Hoiberg getting dismissed and Jim Boylen taking over for what seems like a 74th career interim head coach gig seem high. That’s a beautiful gift for a potential tank.
5. Mavericks: Dallas thought Luka Doncic and DeAndre Jordan could get them into the playoffish zone. Nope. At 2-6, the Mavericks have had some tough, tough losses, and those should continue in a tough, tough West. Look, someone in addition to the Suns had to be bad in this conference. We thought it’d be the Kings. They are apparently out (for now). You’re up, Mavs.
6. Knicks: New York would be a perfect new home for Zion Williamson.
That’s it. The Magic will come around to be merely mediocre once Steve Clifford figures out his bizarre roster and the team perhaps makes some moves to make sense of it. The Wizards are not going to tank. The Rockets will be back. The Lakers and Thunder will be in the playoffish zone. The Nets ... well, they are the seventh contender here. Otherwise, these are your tank contenders. Know them. Recognize them. Avoid them at all costs.
Scores
Thunder 111, Hornets 107
Nuggets 110, Cavaliers 91
Clippers 113, Sixers 122
Kings 146, Hawks 115
Bucks 113, Celtics 117
Pelicans 119, Blazers 132
Schedule
National TV schedule for the weekend below. Full schedule here.
On Friday:
Thunder at Wizards, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Timberwolves at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
On Saturday:
Celtics at Pacers, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
On Sunday:
Nothing on national TV but King-Bucks, Wolves-Blazers and Raptors-Lakers on League Pass.
Links
The second episode of Spencer Hall’s storytelling podcast It Seemed Smart is out. It’s about Cannonball Run, aka racing a car across the country as fast as possible on public roads without the knowledge or cooperation of any law enforcement in any state. I have never personally wanted to give myself a decade-long ulcer in commission of several dozen crimes, but I respect those who do. Check it out.
WNBA players opted out of their labor deal on Thursday. Matt Ellentuck explains why and what’s next. Nneka Ogwumike makes the case for the players.
The great Alex Wong watched a Raptors game with Fred VanVleet’s fan club in Wichita.
J.R. Smith wants to be traded. Here are four ways the Cavaliers can accomodate this request.
Yep.
Miles Plumlee makes a play to become the NBA’s resident hipster.
The Knicks-Nets rivalry -- which, to be clear, has never existed in any meaningful way beyond the infamous and, in retrospect, sad Jay Z/Mikhail Prokhorov billboard -- is rising from the ashes, reports person who really wants the Knicks-Nets rivalry to be a thing Kristian Winfield.
Are you excited for college basketball? Me too! Mike Rutherford’s top 100 players and 10 bold predictions. Ricky O’Donnell’s 50 best non-conference games. Our college basketball squad’s top 25 teams. Let’s go.
Kirk Goldsberry is in on the Bucks. (Great game vs. the Celtics on Thursday, by the way. Looking forward to that playoff series.)
Anthony Davis argues DeMarcus Cousins could come back to the Pelicans. Has AD ever met DeMarcus Cousins?
Yep.
Lovely Rob Mahoney piece on Kyle Lowry and the art of the simple pass.
Be excellent to each other.
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