NBA Tank Rankings: 76ers rise from the ashes

2. team. 20. <p>As the calendar flipped to 2016, the Lakers reeled off three consecutive victories and, albeit briefly, emerged from the conversation as an “elite” tanking team in this space. That goodwill has now expired.</p> <p>Since Byron Scott and his team emerged with that trio of wins, the Lakers are just 1-9 and, currently, the team is riding a five-game losing streak. Los Angeles has been utterly brutal on both sides of the ball during this latest stretch, ranking among the league’s bottom three in both offensive and defensive rating, and even with Kobe Bryant playing (relatively) improved basketball when compared to his early-season performance, it hasn’t been enough to sustain respectability.</p> <p>This is a transition year in L.A. and everybody knows it, but that doesn’t make it a lot of fun from the perspective of Lakers fans.</p>. (9-36). Previous: . Los Angeles Lakers

<p>When the Suns snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over Charlotte on Jan. 6, it looked briefly as if the team would emerge from its extended funk. That feeling has now fully evaporated.</p> <p>Phoenix is now a paltry 1-15 (!) since mid-December, and during that time, the numbers are staggeringly bad. The Suns have the worst defense in the NBA (111.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) and the second-worst offense in the league (96.7 points per 100) over that time, and being outscored by more than 15 points per 100 is inexplicably brutal.</p> <p>We are at the point in the season where Jeff Hornacek is basically just trying stuff, and that is the right move given that the Suns are absolutely dead with regard to the playoff picture. Still, Phoenix should be docked when considering their record when compared to their talent level, and the Suns have been the worst team in the league for more than a month to “earn” this nod.</p>. (13-31). Previous: . Phoenix Suns. 1. team. 66