NBA Tank Rankings: An unkind 2016 in Orlando
By Brad Rowland
The NBA world has been dominated by two inherently negative stories over the past week. First, the Cleveland Cavaliers parted ways with head coach David Blatt despite holding the number one seed (and a comfy advantage) in the Eastern Conference. Shortly thereafter, Clippers star Blake Griffin suffered a broken hand in a reported physical altercation with a member of the team’s equipment staff.
In short, it’s been a wild week for the league.
In this space, we will not further evaluate either of those story lines, but what we will do is address the negative side of the league… in terms of on-court performance. The worst of the worst occupy these rankings each week as we break down the bottom five teams in the NBA at any given moment, and when it comes to ping-pong balls for the 2016 NBA Draft, these organizations are fully invested in acquiring them.
Let’s get to this week’s list, counting down from five to one.
93. <p>I’m as confused as you are, but the Sixers have been borderline respectable lately.</p> <p>Their 7-40 record doesn’t exactly scream relevance, but Philadelphia is 3-3 in their last six games, and since Dec. 30, the 76ers are a super reasonable 5-9. Over that 14-game sample, Brett Brown has club in the middle of the pack defensively, allowing just 104.4 points per 100 possessions, and with an offense that has emerged from the bottom five over that same timeframe, respectability comes into view.</p> <p>Make no mistake, there was no consideration to removing the Sixers from the bottom five altogether, but there is real progress in Philly. Props to Ish Smith and company.</p>. (7-40). Previous: . Philadelphia 76ers. 5. team
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